My Dr. is putting me on Dexedrine.....

Tell me what you think of this med. if you've been on it

I have been on Dex since April 23rd. I was originally prescribed
10mg in the am and 10 mg. in the afternoon. I take them at 10am and 3pm unless I know I will be up late at work. I work nights 8pm-3am a feww days a week. In the nightclub business. I felt the effects of the meds but was not as motivated or as content as I would like to ahve been. In early June I went back to the psych. and trold him I thought the Prozac was not working well for my depression, he said to give it more time. He also upped the Dex to 20mg in am and 20mg. in afternoon. Since then I have certainly been more driven, probably from the dexadrine rather that happiness, but I am alot calmer and the chatter and anxiety have gone away. I do not know what your exact condition is other than ADD but it is working for me. I was treated for depression as the primary cause of my problems but after 16 months and not alot of success with the anti-depressants my psych. , I guess started treating me by diagnosing ADD with comorbid depression. So, all i all I am doing fine so far, wish I was a little more happy and content and feeling more sense of well being but I am just letting things get a little better each day. I think I'm afraid to all the suden say I'm great and things are great, life is great etc... because I'm afraid of the fall if the anti-depressants poop out. So I'll just enjoy the day today and hope for a good day tomorrow. One word of advice, don't take the Dex too late in the day if you want to sleep that night. But as with a stimulant and ADD it calms me to the point that I can take a nice nap a few hours after taking the Dex. Good luck, keep me posted on your progress.
Bart

I was on Dex for several weeks a few years ago, the only medication I was on and prescribed just for ADD. I got a lot of work done but couldn't really tell if the med was helping or not. I couldn't sleep (one reason I got so much done!) and didn't eat much either so I was switched to something else.

However I might be in that small percentage that nothing seems to work.

Mark

How much Dex were you taking and at what time, sometimes a larger dose in the am and a smaller one in the pm might work.
I due to drug abuse with crystal in my past learned to eat work sleep and function on amphetamines. But a stimulant should somewhat calm your mind even though your body wants to go do something. Good Luck

Paula -- I've never been on this...but since you're cool and I care about you...and I know you've been struggling for a while with just the Wellbutrin....and you did share about your appointment today.....please do keep us posted....obviously there are a LOT of people here who have been on this med....and there's a whole other thread about meds people have been on.....including dexadrine....good luck....:)

Right now, I'm chatty, spacy, antsy, super forgetful, can't finish my sentences,studdering, I've been on- line way to much ! Can't sit still, have songs playing in my head. Today an issue come up at work, it's awful and I could be in big trouble, even lose my job. I'm obsessing way to much about it.....

I haven't felt like this in a long time.....

On the Wellburtin I was gaining weight again(not good). Because I'm already way too over weight I was afraid to ask my Dr. if the meds where doing this to me. I was afraid he'd think I was trying to find an excuse for being fat.He said many people taking anti-depressives do have this problem. I was becoming anti social, I was sleeply, grouchy,I didn't want to be touched, I had no interest in my talking to my friends. I would get so angry so quickly ! I was yelling at my kids for nothing.....

paula: i was on this for a short time and it kept me up all nite and during day felt too hyper. so i came off it.

Paula -- Just for your information -- with ME on the Wellbutrin -- I never felt as though if I gained any weight -- that it was because of the Wellbutrin...if anything, it took away my appetite and I lost it...but anway, your symptoms today sound extreme. Any chance he gave you too big of a dose to start off with? Just a thought, but in any event, if you continue to have these symptoms, I would call him....okay?:)

Originally posted by fasttalkingmom
Right now, I'm chatty, spacy, antsy, super forgetful, can't finish my sentences,studdering, I've been on- line way to much ! Can't sit still, have songs playing in my head. Today an issue come up at work, it's awful and I could be in big trouble, even lose my job. I'm obsessing way to much about it.....

I haven't felt like this in a long time.....

On the Wellburtin I was gaining weight again(not good). Because I'm already way too over weight I was afraid to ask my Dr. if the meds where doing this to me. I was afraid he'd think I was trying to find an excuse for being fat.He said many people taking anti-depressives do have this problem. I was becoming anti social, I was sleeply, grouchy,I didn't want to be touched, I had no interest in my talking to my friends. I would get so angry so quickly ! I was yelling at my kids for nothing.....


If this is on the DEXADRINE I was the same way so I cut back my dose by 1/2 then once I got used to it slowly increased as needed

I will talk to you sometime when your online about the dexadrine

Oh dear...No no no ....the post above is how Iam because am not on any meds.... Sorry, I see I didnt say that..... :o

I went to get my prescription for the Dexedrine today. Found out my Ins. company wont pay for it. I had was prescription for 18 day to start with and it was going to cost $35.00 !!! I left a message for my Dr. I'll just wait and see what he say. My Dr. can get an override is what the pharmacy says... What a pain

Right....I used to have to go through that "override" stuff too, Paula...when I was on a county insurance plan...hang in there....it will come through...$35.00 for just eighteen days' worth of meds is a bit steep....BUT if you can get thirty days' worth for that price - it's not TOO bad....hopefully your co-pay will be a lot less....

I have heard other people talk about their insurance companies not paying for adults ADD med too. Dexedrine seems like a relativley inexpensive medication if an 18 day supply would cost $35 out of pocket. I know $35 is a lot for us though. That's just crazy that the insurance company won't cover it.

It amazes me how much medication actually costs. I was having problem with my insurance company last year and was prescribed an antibiotic for 10 days for a sinus infection. I asked the pharmicist how much it woud me out of pocket and he told me it was over $200.

I was really surprised when I picked up my first Rx of Dexedrine.
Normally my co-pay is $25 for meds. I got 180 pills of 10mg. Dex and my co-pay was only $7. I have Blue Shield Ins.

I have HMO Blue....brand name Rx co-pay is $20- $25.00 generic is $15.00....

For us (myself my daughter and husband) Rx co-payments per month is a little over $100.00 !!!

Yes, when you have to be on a lot of meds -- and there are lots of people -- even the co-pays add up...my co-pays at school for name-brands were $40.00 each....YUCK...and Wellbutrin has no generic equivalent yet....

I hope it works out for you Paula...that you get that override with the Dexedrine....and that you only have to end up paying $20.00

Took one Dexedrine today....My tummy hurt me a little and I felt a bit nauseousbut it wasn't bad.....On the possitive side, I felt a bit more focused.

I was only able to take one pill today, I took it late in the day. I'm starting out on 1, 5 mg pill twice a day....

My hopes are high ;)

Paula

I was taking 2 5 mg with my morning coffee

It sure gave me the morning buzz I needed to get up and going

made me talk to much though Grin

Oh no ! and I already talk alot....lol...

Maybe I'll skip the morning coffee and a pill ... Do you think if I took the med. early moring and had coffee lets say later in the morning when I got home about 3 hours later it would not combined with the meds as much?...

I did have that problem being a bit to hyper and talking my brains out when I had coffee and a Ritalin or The Wellburtrin...

Some experts suggest taking AD/HD medication 30-60 minutes before you actually get up in the morning. I think that's more for people who have trouble getting out of bed in the morning.

I cant say as I like to talk to begin with

I would say you will have to find your own level of medication

Just take it a little bit at a time and keep a mental picture of what your like based on how much you are taking

[i]Originally posted by Garry Lawton
{/B}I would say you will have to find your own level of medication
Just take it a little bit at a time and keep a mental picture of what your like based on how much you are taking{/B}

Good point Garry !

When I went on the Wellbrutrin it stopped my talking. Friends and co-workers where asking me if I was ok. I was not joining in on conversation which is not like me. My contact with my friends is usally by phone and I'd not call them just because I didnt "feel" like talking and if they called me I'd not pick up the phone....

:==

Hey I started on Dexidrine a few days ago, when I found that Ritalin wasn't doing it for me like I thought it should. The doctor told me to try out 10 - 15 mg twice a day. I'm finding the 15 mg doeses of Dexedrine work really well for me, they last much much longer and don't make me feel caffeinated like Ritalin did. My concentration has really improved. I don't get the "rebound effect"--burst of hyperness-- I used to get when I was coming off of the day's Ritalin. I also have an easier time getting to bed, but someone else said that it kept them awake more than Ritalin.
I've heard other people say Dexedrine made them more irratable. Yeah, I am getting kind of annoyed at little things more often, but at the same time it seems to have helped keep down the anxious feeling I always got when I'd get a sudden urge to go do something else because of some random thing. I'm also experiencing loss of appetite, but I'm still able to eat my three square meals a day. And lastly, I've been getting dry mouth and queasiness in my intestines, but carrying around water with me has helped that out. So Dexedrine has been positive for me, but everyone experiences these things differently.

Same effect as Mr Cooly - Another canadian on dex! Lots of side effects at first - lost 30 lbs - I didn want to and was going to stop taking them - by the time I seen my doc. on this I found that the wieght loss / low appatite was fading - have gained a lot of the wieght back now -

no noticable negative side effects - except a little more "focused" temper that is diminishing as i learn new ways to deal with things. The dex seems to have opened a "window" if you will that makes everything seem clearer.

At first It was irritating, the world seemed a harsh and cold place! I did not seem to realize the extent that I was removed from the reality the "nories" seem to be in! Caused lots of depression that is now being coped with - without any other drugs.

I have found many positive changes that I would not have had, if I had abbandoned the "drug" therepy.

It was VERY DIFFICULT !!!

But I wanted some change BAD! It only recently seems to be paying off.

I have found the dex way better than rittalin.

Stick with the meds as long as you see potential for posative growth. I found when I actually got the dose correct (not saying it is perfect yet - but im close and its been 8 months) My sleep has improved. Appatite is actually more "normal" at my currant dose (about 30 - 40 mg / day am and pm) than before I started on the meds.

For me the problem was refusing to acknolage I had any problem and taking the meds sporatically and then it was taking too low a dose. In this case more was better. And that holds true only to a point! I take too much - drowsy!!! Los of drive - non productive -nasty rebound when it wears off that lasts as long as the drug itself - 3-5hours or more.

We are so used to the agitaded / panicky / irritated/...... upset / angry / internalized - why the hell do people have to be that way ... sort of feeling that when the Meds clear things up and we
interprete this as being "high". Its so nice to feel that quiete relaxed state of mind.

I have since learned that its what most people feel like all the time! - the normies that is.

After a month of taking it every day and fairly regular - occasional miss / double dose - memory problems you know... I find that I feel like im getting my old personality back but without the yuothfull sillieness that used to be with it. Feeling a bit more in contol overall - Marital problems are clearing up - all slow but steady

It seems to get better with time -

wow! Just noticed i seem to be in some kind of Hyper focus mode ...
Sorry for the long post - I was realy starting to get into this!

Good luck to all !
Its not the cure but it sure stops the bleading.