![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 9, 2003, at 4:28:42
In reply to My ADHD Comorbid Tale (or morbid lol) + ??'s, posted by Azurebay on June 8, 2003, at 15:11:26
> Hi All,
>
> It's been quite some time since I actively posted on this site, but for some reason it feels like either my story may help someone or some person may reciprocate with a missing link in my equation.
>
> Here's the med cocktail I currently take:
>
> MPH (methylphenidate) 20mg tid
> Celexa 10 mg daily
> Aricept 5 mg daily
> Zyprexa (small doses of aprox 2.5-5mg)
> Xanax 1mg tid or prn
>
> The primary disorder stems from ADD/ADHD of the inattentive type. If you're familiar with Dr. Daniel Amen's work, I would most likely fall into his ADHD category of "Ring of Fire," simply meaning a combination of ADHD disorders that show up on SPECT scans like a fire throughout many parts of the brain.
>
> At first, maybe a year ago, I was quite skeptical about Amen's theories. I almost gave up completely on the whole thing after trying literally dozens of med combinations. Now I'm more of a believe (and btw, so is my pdoc after researching his books and websites - www.brainplace.com or www.amenclinic.com).
>
> It's my hope that those of you struggling with ADHD and co-existing conditions have the strength to find the combo that is right for YOU and your neuro-chemistry! It's taken me years of experimentation and research, mostly on my own, to find what works the best for me... and I still search for that one missing link, as I suspect many of us do :)
>
> The lifesaver, which I once cursed as being "the worst drug ever," has become a godsend in this whole equation. That drug is Zyprexa in small doses! For some reason it stabilizes my brain's ability to be cohesively functional, despite what I've read about it's dopamine and serotonin antagonism, probably when taken at higher doses. I take it daily, but never more than 5mg.
>
> The Celexa is in the equation because for me it's almost stimulating - quite the opposite reaction for many folks, and it's been a constant for several years in addressing both depression and anxiety that dates back to childhood.
>
> The Xanax is in the cocktail because it truly keeps a addictive tendency under control without undue side-effects. Ya, they can say whatever they want about the warnings of addicts becoming addicted to benzos, but that's not my case.
>
> Aricept, typically used for alzheimers and dementia, is like taking my brain from 64MB of RAM to 512MB LOL. I know it's an unusual add-on drug, but it does something remarkable. In other words, it either counteracts or in some manner helps my brain function with more clarity and creative vision.
>
> Now, with all that said and without listing the pages upon pages of drugs and supplements that have been tried and failed in my life, I would kindly ask your comments about one matter.
>
> I feel a certain APATHY or lack of motivation. Hell, I've written articles for major magazines and been a copywriter for several major companies, but I feel as if my "drive" to actually follow my passion in life is not all there.
>
> Does this make sense to anyone? Or can anyone relate to this given the same or similar ADHD and combinations of meds?
>
> I know one would first think about the benzo, then the Zyprexa, but both work well. Could it possibly be that I'm on the wrong dosage of MPH or even the wrong one, like Adderall, perhaps would work better? Hmmm maybe SSRI induced apathy, although a recent study showed that Zyprexa tends to reverse SSRI induced apathy?
>
> Just thinking outloud, but your comments would be deeply appreciated.
>
> And any of you are welcome to email me directly if I may be of support: azurebay@msn.com
>
> With Thanks... and Smiles Always,
>
> Von
> aka Azure
Posted by lillabelle on June 14, 2003, at 3:48:33
In reply to My ADHD Comorbid Tale (or morbid lol) « Azurebay, posted by Dr. Bob on June 9, 2003, at 4:28:42
Hello there, I responded to your post with enthusism as I can relate to many of your comments. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer, but then who does? Our brains are so incredibly intricate and unique that the whole med business is a big crap shoot, in my humble opinion. Anyway, I am bipolar2 and I strongly suspect ADD. (What are your ADD symptons?) As the two often overlap, it's difficult to know. Your med cocktail sounds interesting, but what is MHX?? For me all the SSRI's spell APATHY, and that's that. I would love to try a pstim, but have had such godawful reactions (paranoia, anxiety and raciness to the max) to ritalin, phentermine (diet pill) and even cocaine, that I am afraid to try the others. Like you I take a teeny amount of an anti-p, only I take sulpride and as often as I have tried to drop it I realize I need it. I also take 100mg of lamictal and 200mg of serzone and 75mg of trazadone at night to sleep. Have you tried strattera? I haven't, many on this board have found good results for ADD. What about provigil, adderal et al? As for the lack of motivation thing, I'm with you. It's hell for me to get up in the am and to get started. I do accomplish quite a bit, in the long run, but never with the kind of zeal I'm longing for. Good luck with finding something that works! Lilla
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.