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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on December 10, 2004, at 10:54:30
Hi,
Some people find psychostimulants useful for the treatment of depression, especially people with serious medical conditions such as cancer which can cause profound fatigue and weakness. Other people develop depression during treatment with psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin).
Has anyone found stimulants useful for their depression? How long did the effects last?
Has anyone here suffered from depression caused by a stimulant? What was it like and how did you deal with it?
Ed.
Posted by SDW on December 10, 2004, at 19:32:45
In reply to Psychostimulants and depression, posted by ed_uk on December 10, 2004, at 10:54:30
Hello Ed,
I have been taking Parnate and Amphetamine (Adderal) for over one year(with no BP problems).
I started the psychostimulants when the Parnate started to lose its effectiveness and I began experiencing severe fatigue and anhedonia (My current diagnosis is Dysthymic Disorder.)
The Amphetamine lets me function half-normally with the fatigue and improves concentration, but it doesn't really help the depressive symptoms. I still suffer from lack of motivation and anhedonia. I am hoping to up my Parnate (from 60 to 90) and add a DA agonist or perhaps Wellbutrin so that I can discontinue the Amphetamine. I do have some concerns about the risks of long-term amphetamine use.
I Hope that answers some of your questions anyway.
Stephen
Male, 36 - USA
Posted by iris2 on December 11, 2004, at 13:39:50
In reply to Psychostimulants and depression, posted by ed_uk on December 10, 2004, at 10:54:30
I started taking ritalin when Parnate caused hypotention. Parnate pooped out and I have continued to take ritalin between and with every trial of antidepressant since. I am still very depressed but the ritalin helps me to get out of bed and have less fatigue. In the last year or so it has worked less. I have gone off of it several times to determine if it is actually doing anything and every time I become completely disfunctional. As with the last poster it does nothing for anhedonia or motivation. It does make me talk incessantly sometimes. Now that I read this post I realise that I need to increase the dose again. Thanks for the reminder.
irene
Posted by paulbwell on December 14, 2004, at 14:20:50
In reply to Psychostimulants and depression, posted by ed_uk on December 10, 2004, at 10:54:30
> Hi,
>
> Some people find psychostimulants useful for the treatment of depression, especially people with serious medical conditions such as cancer which can cause profound fatigue and weakness. Other people develop depression during treatment with psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin).
>
> Has anyone found stimulants useful for their depression? How long did the effects last?
>
> Has anyone here suffered from depression caused by a stimulant? What was it like and how did you deal with it?
>
> Ed.Hi ED
I have taken 5 ADs and the best I have found is Methylphenidate. Started at 10mgs BID then got to 70-80mgs some days. I found it to be a VERY quick acting AD, and felt great, many times after taking it. I became fond of the chilling tingle down my body as it took affect. It was short acting, as you know and i had to dose 4-5 times a a day.
After taking it for some time some, + effects wore out some, and it tended to make me feel cold alot, reguardless of the weather, I also found myself staying in more, with little motivation to go out.
I don't know if it's addictive, or habit forming but I still long for it back again, some months after ceasing it's use.
Cheers
Posted by pablo1 on December 15, 2004, at 9:18:49
In reply to Psychostimulants and depression, posted by ed_uk on December 10, 2004, at 10:54:30
I just read about a study with rats suggesting long term juvenile stimulant use can increase depression later in life. It was a pretty sketchy article though.
I found the pure dopamine meds like amisulpride & amineptine more uplifting than ritalin but have not tried any of those for a long time. Stimulants used to be prescribed for depression decades ago.
This is the end of the thread.
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