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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rxcuriousity on February 14, 2002, at 14:38:55
Has anyone had experience with using Provigil to augment the antidepressant properties of Effexor? My doctor is pretty confident that its effects will be limited to promoting wakefulness/alertness and focussing my attention.
I am looking for something that will restore motivation, give me energy, brighten my mood, focus my attention, not make me anxious (as I prone to anxiety) or agitated. I know . . . I want a miracle pill.
We added 100mg of Wellbutrin SR to my 225mg of Effexor, and I don't really like the addition. Wellbutrin makes me feel like I have a head cold with low-grade fever and constipates me. I do have more energy that when I was using Effexor alone, but with occasional agitation.
My doctor is partial to trying thyroid hormones next. I'm a bit apprehensive (Side effects/Long term effects).
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by IsoM on February 14, 2002, at 16:30:16
In reply to Using Provigil or T3 as an Adjuvant, posted by Rxcuriousity on February 14, 2002, at 14:38:55
I've no advice for you but can give you my experiences.
I can't take Effexor (severe anorexia problems with it) but have taken SSRIs in the past & currently am on 40 mg Celexa, 88 mcg Synthroid, & 600 mg adrafinil (Provigil [modafinil] is one of adrafinil's metabolites).
Celexa just doesn't do it enough for me in winter. I have yr-round depression but it significantly gets worse in winter & I tend to fight a losing battle till late spring rolls around. I also have mild/medium narcolepsy & ADHD. When I get going, I'm travelling 100mph, but otherwise my motor barely idles.
Due to the narcolepsy & constant struggle to stay awake, I thought I'd try adrafinil. It was supposed to help memory which always suffers when I'm down. FOR ME [disclaimer], it's wonderful! Not only memory improvement & all-day alertness, but a huge mood improvement too. I'm really happy - not giddy happy but a calm, relaxed happiness. I tend to be a jittery type person but I don't feel like that now. I've always had enormorous energy but only in bursts, then burnt out feeling. It's now all day energy but I can nap if need to, sit & read for hours & not fall asleep, I sing & dance about the place a lot more now, even singing at work, but not too loud.
The most surprising thing for me is my improved ability to sleep at night. My sleep is getting better. If I wake at night now, I fall back asleep right away. I don't remember so many dreams like before (I seemed to spend all my sleep time dreaming - I know it's not true but my sleep was so light), & I feel rested when I wake up & haven't been sleeping for as many hours like I used to.
While I included a little disclaimer, I wish more people whould give it a serious try. It seems to boost over-all brain metabolism & adrafinil is supposed to be widely used in France as an antidepressant. I think Provigil probably would do the same too.
About the Synthroid. My thyroid function was low but for me to feel good, I need to keep my TSH level around 1-2. I can tell if I have too much Synthroid as I get feeling antsy & jittery but in a different way than I nromally do. No jitteriness anymore while on adrafinil.
Posted by dennison on February 14, 2002, at 22:24:05
In reply to Using Provigil or T3 as an Adjuvant, posted by Rxcuriousity on February 14, 2002, at 14:38:55
> Has anyone had experience with using Provigil to augment the antidepressant properties of Effexor? My doctor is pretty confident that its effects will be limited to promoting wakefulness/alertness and focussing my attention.
>
> I am looking for something that will restore motivation, give me energy, brighten my mood, focus my attention, not make me anxious (as I prone to anxiety) or agitated. I know . . . I want a miracle pill.
>
> We added 100mg of Wellbutrin SR to my 225mg of Effexor, and I don't really like the addition. Wellbutrin makes me feel like I have a head cold with low-grade fever and constipates me. I do have more energy that when I was using Effexor alone, but with occasional agitation.
>
> My doctor is partial to trying thyroid hormones next. I'm a bit apprehensive (Side effects/Long term effects).
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.Hi-Rxcuriousity!!!! Have taken both provigil "modafinil" and cytomel as augmentating agents to boost antidepessant effectiveness. Provigil was a poor experience I was very enthusiastic about it's potential, was no help though. Mental clouding effect was intense though, as well as body aches and pains. Know of quite a few people that have tried it,none are still on it, couple felt initially they had some small effect on energy but all had severe cognitive problems on it,strange for a med that was proposed as an alerting vigilance enhancing med.:(:( "Cytomel" the t3 version" of thyroid and synthroid or levoxyl"the t4 version " of thyroid have used both, and armour thyroid too, the combination "t3 + t4" version of thyroid!! My experience is the thyroid augmentation route has been the most dramatic compared to lithium, provigil and even cylert. Ok here's the hard-part though I find you have to take some t3 and some t4 each day,very small amounts of each but combo seems to be like day n night compared to taking either t3 or t4 alone!! I take in range of about 25 > >50 micrograms t4 "levoxyl" and 5 or 10 micrograms t3 "cytomel" !!! Since I have both I can essentially formulate my most effective dose and approach. Armour thyroid which is a 4 to 1 ratio of "t4 & t3" mixture is essentially the same. If you try the straight cytomel and you feel it's not up to par suggest the armour thyroid "t4 + t3". I bet you'll see a profound difference!!! Good Luck!!! :):)
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