I've come to the point where I'm wondering if meds will help. I have periods on the Dex where I'm very anxious. I sweat and pick at my fingers to a degree that I'm not comfortable with.

What are the smart choices to be making for anti-anxiety meds in combination with the Dex?

Dex is quite clean as far as side effects go or at least that's what I've experienced. Many of the others that aren't stims seem to come with quite a bit more baggage.

I had considered Welbutrin and was cleared to do a trial but never picked it up. Is that the safest/best place to begin?

I have tried reducing the dose with a loss in effectiveness in the benefits. I take 10mg long acting in the morning and another 5mg short acting in the late afternoon. Sometimes for social events I've taken another 5mg later in the evening.
ian

My personal favorite is Remeron (mirtazipine). I take it along with my dexedrine. I originally started taking it for minor depression, but I've realized over the last couple of years that I am more anxious than I previously thought - I noticed this when I stopped taking the Remeron, when symptoms of anxiety came back, in particular my IBS (Iritable bowel syndrome) which is triggered by stress.
So now I take Remeron full time even though I am not depressed - I'm a happier less stressed person this way, my IBS is almost non-existant, and I get a good nights sleep - 'cus Remeron will make you sleepy so if you try it you'll want to take it before bed. I'm not bothered by this sleepiness in the AM and I don't feel "dopey" throughout the day.

mirtazipine has a reputation for making carbohydrates irresistible. Has this been an issue for you?

Is this a fairly new drug and do you think I'm going to have trouble pitching it's use to my doctor? She's quite compliant normally. I am wondering what might be the "entry" level drug for my situation from a physicians perspective? Any clues?

For the past two days I've been doing some trenching by hand and it's pretty heavy going. I have a few sore spots today but I'll go back at it at least for a while today at least. I noticed that even as tired as I was last night I still had a distinct nervous edge. I was half expecting to get a reprieve from the anxiety with that heavy work-out but no. I was disappointed but it makes the point that no matter how well I manage, I can't get away from this anxiety.

I used to use the term "better living through chemistry" so flippantly but not any more. I am developing some respect. The Dexedrine continues to have a positive impact.

I also take Ativan (lorazepam) in 1mg tablets under my tongue before bed. I notice that the Remeron (mirtazipine) is said to help with insomnia. Was this a problem that was addressed by the Remeron for you too? I've seen some caution listed on some sites and then not on others regarding using the two together.

Do you have any respect for the crazymeds site?

Thanks for your insight and experience.
ian

I have a huge sweet tooth, so I couldn't tell you if Remeron does this to me or not - how would I tell the difference!
A doctor will often have a favorite drug to use. Paxil is often used for anxiety - I didn't like it myself.
Remeron is not so new that a Dr would hesitate to use it - it's been around for 8 years, I think.
It is definately used for insomnia, and it helps me there - I LOVE that it makes me sleepy - and that it helps me sleep through the night. The somnolence can be a problem for some people, especially when taking a low dose at the beginning - the sleepiness is worse at lower doses (15mg) than at moderate doses (I take 30mg) due to the way the effects on the neurotransmitters differ at dosage so you might actually want to take 30mg right off the bat if you are worried about being knocked out.

That's a big help, thanks. I meet with my doctor on the tenth of next month and we'll cover this then.
ian

I cant help yopu with those questions Ian but here is a website that might help some.

ASK EROWID (http://www.erowid.org/ask/ask.cgi?ID=2846)


Very interesting reading here.

On the Dexadrine, I am no longer taking it on a regular base as I like it too much,

Not only does it give me clarety of thought but I am experencing the most fabulous "Body Stone" at the same time.

I found myself getting very addicted to being straight , GRIN , so I had to go back to being "ADD high again" ...............

Awwwww.......... that really breakes my heart .............

Id still rather smoke a small pipe full

About crazymeds, I'd like to point out that it warns against taking Strattera and Wellbutrin together, yet that's exactly what my psychiatrist has prescribed me and it works great.

I like Crazymeds myself - I like the style in which it's written, and the info is pretty good - it has good links, particularly to the proscribing information pages. Personal accounts you always have to take with a grain of salt, since the variation from person to person is great. I don't always like the way they sometimes scare people about a particular drug - saying it's got very bad side effects, etc. since it may scare people away from something that might help them.

His links were a good indicator to me that he wasn't living in a vacuum at least. I also like the way it's written.
Is there anything that shouldn't be taken without a grain of salt? < g >
ian

Yess...that spinning stillness...if you take a little too much...it's just a little too fabulous...one of those side-effects you kinda don't mind...ask Erowid indeed....

I thought that's what these leather straps were for.. maybe not.. heh

whats up w/ the bush quote? is it W04 ish? surely you jest...

chaotic..
i do adderall 20mgs and 300mgs of wellbutrin..
i am feeling anxiety side effects which sucks..
i tried to add 10 mgs to my cocktail and it was a zombifier..
thinking about trying to do 5 mgs of lexepro to aid w the anxiety

what is body stone?

what is crazymeds?

i'm clueless

A Bodystone I can explain (I Think)

Speed (Methodrine) give a body stone ..... That is where you body fells so good and it can be in many ways

where you can feel your body is relaxed , not hurting anywhere , just feels good

or

where your body is RUSHING , you can feel your blood pumping through your veins

or

where you just have a feeling of euphoria that extends to evey part of your body

but your mind is perfectly clear and you can think , work, drive, talk , whatever

but why would you want to do any of the above when you would just rather enjoy how wonderful your body feels.

LSD, and other such halucinagenic drugs affect the mind where most of the time you aren't even aware you have a body let alone care about it

--------------

Crazymeds ---- I dont know what is meant by that

I take a combo of trazodone and dexedrine and the traz is very effective as far as killing anxiety...but then I think I have a low anxiety threshold anyway...with me it's more about waking up sufficiently...I've always been at the low end of mental energy...

The Bush quote is simply a slam against somebody who probably needs adderall to make more sense, but would rather be defiantly ignorant and shove it down everybody's throat in the form of that and other utterly insipid statements...

LOLL
that is quite funny douglas..
i was just wondering..
yeah i'm feeling very blue this week. in more ways than one if you know what i mean.

I'm missing my lorazepam something fierce. I have been taking 1mg before bed to help me sleep and it has been working very well for several months.

On Wednesday I was prescribed Remeron (mirtazipine) at 15mg and was counselled not to take the lorazepam but instead to rely on the Remeron to help me in getting to sleep.

I have been taking the Remeron at night but I didn't sleep at all the first night. I made sure that yesterday I didn't nap at all so that I'd have a better chance of falling asleep but after two hours I was still in my old pattern of extremely light dozing with intense dreams and very superficial rest.

The literature I got with my Remeron perscription said it would be at least a couple of weeks for the meds to reach a steady state.

I hate these fitful nights. I don't choose "hate" casually.

Am I likely to see an increase in the sleepy characteristics over the next couple of weeks or more?

Is dropping the lorazepam adding to the turmoil?

Any thoughts on getting around the lack of sleep would be appreciated.
ian

Well, I have a friend who does better with a benzodiazepine (valium, klonopin, ativan ((lorazepam)), etc.) than the tranquilizing antidepressants. I haven't tried Remeron. I find trazodone to be an effective counterbalance med against possible insomnia from the Dexedrine I take. With me I have more of Light Sleeper problem. Still, I don't seem to have the sleep problems others do, like yourself. I just have found that the combo of Dexedrine and trazodone (trazodone taken around 9 pm, 50-100mg) works well. I am focused but relaxed. I am awake when I should be awake, and drowsy and falling asleep at the appropriate times too.

People who find that a lorazepam or valium in small doses works well against an ADD stimulant tend to stay with that. I guess it's always good to take a doctor's suggestion to get away from something that he or she feels might be "habit-forming," but let's face it, we have unique mood disorders where the usual addictive caveats for these Sch. II & III meds don't really apply.

What gets other people high and addicted, just makes us normal. That's just how it is.

The lorazepam was prescribed not as a counter to the dex. I can sleep as well as I ever sleep on the dex. I just am so busy when I sleep that it hardly qualifies as sleep whether I am using dex or not.

I am too busy at night to get any rest and the lorazepam doused those flames and I'm gone until morning. I like it but I don't think the doctor was concerned about addictions and neither am I at this point. I do want to get some *$%#^&^ sleep though. < g > Talking to my pharmacist today leads me to believe the doctors concerns were just about compounding the effects of one or the other or both.

From what I can gather this is a pretty low dose of the stuff at 15mg/day so maybe that's the issue. I don't know.

I'm dreading tonight but I think I'll just take the lorazepam every second night and see if the problem goes away as the Remeron kicks in over the next little while.
ian

Sounds like you got a handle on it.

I know when I first started the Remeron at 15mg, I'd practically drop like I'd been pole-axed, it made me so sleepy! The 30mg I take now works perfectly for me, sleepy, but not the "wake-up-in-the-morning-still-on-the-couch" kind of sleepy that the 15mg dosage brought about. Hopefully it will kick in for you soon and work as well for you as it does for me. I find that Remeron is not like a sleeping pill in that it doesn't ALWAYS deal with my insomnia - particularly if I've got a lot on my mind - unlike a hypnotic or other sleeping pill which may have a more pronounced effect.

From what I can find (pharmacy didn't call back) I could be having some rebound on the lorazepam as far as the restlessness goes. I took one tonight then I'll take half for three days then half every second day and then cut off and hope that gets that part eliminated.

From all I've read I was so looking forward to going to bed and dying! I'm a crappy sleeper and the lorazepam has been wonderful for getting a break.

Anyway we'll see what happens. Thanks for your help guys.
ian

XANAX!!! SSRI's Suck!!!