My DEX Trial....need some help:)

[DunnWorrE]

Hello guyz,

Im 22yrs and I was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. I've been on several different meds and so far i've havent gotten much outta them. This past two weeks ive been trying out the 'dex' and i have to say that things are sorta going downhill. My inital dosage was 5mg twicedaily.....things seemed pretty good.....i actually didnt fall asleep in my morning class and was fully energized (i know for alot of ppl dex really helps in this area). Attention wise, i felt slighty better than avg..for me..it juss felt like the energy boost it gives me enables myself to better manage my focus and concentration (more energy - more control over thoughts). Socially, ive noticed improvements as i dont have the anxiety that normally occurs when approaching ppl.
Anyhow, aside from the fairly satisfying results, ive been dealing with some problems with the med. While medicated, my head feels warm and numb....i really feel flushed and i noticed i tap my feet alot more in class than usual...its like ive had too much coffee and the feeling is really unnatural. When reading..i find the biggest change.....before reading was a choir for me...but while on dex...its almost nearly impposible.....ive noticed my mind wanders and races and rather i juss dart from sentance to sentance. Its really strange b/c i meditate too and since ive been on dex my meditation sessions have been really improving.....my mind is calmer and i can actually focus......yet when im concetrating on written text all hell breaks loose. I know it isnt helping with my mental abilites as i am unable to soak up any info.

Ive adjusted my doasge (ranged from 2.5mg -10mg) over the past few days but it only made things worse or nothing happened and so ive come to the conclusion that the only benefit dex willl give me is the energy boost(when i say boost i mean i feel more giddy like im so charged that I tend look past things i would normally worry about, which coorelates w/ my social improvements - kinda like what alcohol does) All in all the drawbacks so far with dex, out weigh the benefits.

I was wondering if anyone could relate to my experience w/ dex and if u could offer some advice as to what route i should take next medication-wise.
I know, anti-anxiety meds and stimulants have been combined for treatment yet there are so many meds out there...i was hoping may someone could narrow it down for me......
ive tried adderall, ritalin and so far dex has worked the 'best' for me.

Or should i juss contiue with the dex and hope that the side effects, specially the overstimlated feeling, goes away. (if i could get the energy boost without having to feel like im on overdrive would be nice

Thanks for any feedback

Cheers

[attention]

Maybe you don't have ADHD, or the overstimulation will go away, 5mgs is not much-you must be stimulant sensitive. try dosage lowing?

How was Adderall and Ritalin?

[solitary bee]

there could be other reasons for whatever problem you have. possibly you don't actually have ADHD at all. maybe you have a sleep disorder?

[theluckyone]

Sounds like you have a minor add and the stim is just too much for you. You may benefit from a non-stim like strattera or a multi like wellbutrin. Dex affects dopamine which is why you get all happy. strattera and wellbutrin affect Norepinephrin (Noradrenalin) which may give you the boost without the psychosis. There are a lot of options like you say, but this also means that there is a lot of possibility that something does exist that can help you. If you have been an adrenaline junkie (motocross, snowsports etc..) and have always needed to push the envelope for some reason then ask your doctor about these two meds.

I myself am also 22 but got diagnosed a month ago.

[superdicious]

Dunn, I can understand where you are coming from. I also just started Dex. And like you, at first for a couple days, it was great. I focused so much better, actually sat and did homeowrk, and stuck to tasks, and enjoyed it! I did however have bad headaches at the front of my head, and rapid heartbeat. Well - for some odd reason, the next day on them was not so good. I had such a SPLITTING headache I did not attend school. I was anxious, nervous, had a fast heart beat, even felt sad and depressed (and I am NEVER like that), and even had muscle tension. I felt WIERD, too wierd to use them again. I quit them. I am not going to use any more chemical drugs. I am going for the natural stuff.. and see what I find.
Also, I know of people who have been perfectly healthy, and suddenly or eventually developed heart problems and high blood pressure from these stimulants. So all of it has scared me away... I don't want to scare you away too. It is everyone's personal choice.
Even now that I have stopped taking them, it has been a couple of days, and I don't think it is still out of my system, because I am still a little bit anxious and wierd feeling, I am still not completely myself yet, and I sure hope I will be!

[attention]

Hey The lucky one,

You got diagnosed 1 month ago and are already on 240mgs Dex/Addy, thats a huge increase in one month, Have you tried Ritalin? or Desoxyn. It's unusual to be on such a huge dose after 1 month.

Cheers

[theluckyone]

I know that the dose is very...very high compared to the average; There has never been a point in my life where 'average' has ever applied. All I can say is that Im the lucky one, almost died twice (my fault), and I've be given lab rat status: High doses of the worst kind of painkillers and anti-depressants all to find out the root cause is treatable but uncurable. Now I have to take these meds everyday until they come up with a better treatment. It's obvious that I'm a little bitter about it all, but I never thought that it was hopeless (just expensive).
Oh and I'm allergic to something in ritalin. Desoxy(meth) is unavailable here because the pharmacy kept on getting robbed for it. Besides, I tried it and it had a similar effect to dex just lasted an extra hour. It made my skin breakout so I was pretty much over it after 2 days.

It's unusual and hard to imagine for some persons(Pharmacist) but it works and that is what I really care about. Seriously, a new world opened around me; it's time to do things right this next 22 years.

[DunnWorrE]

thnx for all the reply guyz

ive been diagnosed from two doctors, both classifiying my status as ADHD inattentive type so i believe my an attention deficieny is defineitly an issue for me. The real problem is that ive always been pretty sensitive to drugs and have often had to withdrawl from meds due to side effects at min dosages.

Ritalin had a real negative effect on me.....i remebering feeling tottaly nauscous w/out and benefits to concetration or energly levels...
As for Adderalll XR, it was more less the same as dex yet i discontiued using it b/c it was too costly.

As for some of the anti-depresenats my doc had prescricbed to help w. my Adhd/anxiety I have tried Zoloft and Desipramine. With Zoloft it didnt help at all, yet only made me feel more lethargic and queasy. I withdrew from the med at a fairly low dose cause of the nasty effects it was giving me. Desipramine was much of an improvement giving me great energy boost, speccially in the mornings. (it was an unqiue experience for me juss cause ive never felt such a lift in the mornings, ever in my life). As for attention difficulties, it had no effect whats so ever.

The reason i place alot of emphasis on the energy boosting effects of these meds is b/c it is an area i have alot of trouble with....most of my life ive been lethargic and ive been to many doctors and tried many different supplements and herbs to help cope w/ my probelm but so far i havent yet found any real solutions.

As for trying out meds like strattera and wellburtin, im very much interested in the former, yet from what doc told me of the pricing its something i cant really afford right now.....

Wellburtin, im a bit more skeptical of juss cause the fact that my twin brother has tried it and the only benefits he got was the same as i did when using Desiprmine (high energy levels in the morning).

Im curious do they both work on the same neurotransmitters?

On a side note, I know anxiety plays a part in im attention buyt lately ive been learning to control my emotions. With my anxiety in check ive have left to deal with the energy drain, slight OCD and especially the brain fog impairs my mental efforts.

as for sleeping probelms...i cant say my sleeping patterns are perfect but i dont have any real trouble falling asleep.
For me, i reallu hope this overstimualted feeling goes away as w/ dex im alot more motivated in terms of work and in life.


Cheers

[theluckyone]

Originally Posted by DunnWorrE

Im curious do they both work on the same neurotransmitters?

Yes, and no.

Strattera works on Norepinephrine (Noradrenalin), which is a stimulating neurotransmitter like dopamine. And it is very expensive I know, but I am so impressed with how well it works so...it's worth using a credit card on. #130 10mg capsules=$119.36 copay (~1/4 cost)

Wellbutrin is suspected to work on balancing Norepinephrin, Dopamine and Serotonin levels but the exact function is not known. It worked ~ok with me, helped to quit smoking but started giving me a headache when taken with the stimulants. Totally has a stim effect that lasts an hour or so right after taking so really helps prevent going back to sleep in morning. Plus it is a lot less expensive.

Have you tried talking to a nutrition expert about the energy loss. Also an endocrinologist (hormone doctor) might be worth checking out.

[DunnWorrE]

ive gone to my family doctor to check out my thyriod gland and after a quick physical he told me i was ok.....it is probably best if i have an endocrinologist check it out though......as for a nutritionist my brother had called to make an appointment but the appointment fee was a little too steep for us at the time

'theluckyone', i was just wondering...what kind of benefits does strattera give u and if so do they carry along any serious side effects....

I have already tried Desipramine, does this mean i should give Strattera a shot given that they both work on the same neurotransmitter, Norepinephrine?

thank for ur feedback

[theluckyone]

Strattera helps my depression and anxiety, helps with motivation and energy, and seems to also have some effect on how excited or stoked I get about achievements. I tend to bask in accomplishment more. Side effects? expensive$$$

Strattera is new and it has helped like 3 million people worldwide since early this year. Probably couldn't hurt (except your wallet) to try it. It took 3 days to start for me, its possible it could take up to a month to start working so give it a fair chance