4 replies to this topic

[Katty0]

I am on 20 mg of adderall XR and 5mg of Adderall.  I was on 5mg of Ambien but that would keep me in a "fog" the whole next day.  Now I take 1mg of Lunesta and it works ok but I still wake up sometime at night...

 

They aren't working for me at all.  I drink excessive amounts of caffiene to make it through the work day and still nap during lunch and pass out when I get home.

 

I'm also suffering from depression from not having any energy to do anything. 

 

My Dr. doesnt seem to want to listen to me about my concern the medicine isnt working and states that A) he can't go any higher on the adderall; That the adderall is an anti-depressant and I dont need anything else; And C) that there isnt anything else he can do. 

 

I am seriously considering getting a new Dr. but I live in a small town and I don't have many choices and none of them are experienced in treating Narcolepsy. 

 

I need help on what to tell him...

[DeathRabbit]

Honestly, I would get a new doctor; if he is saying Adderall is an antidepressant, he's a damn quack or just doesn't give a *BEEP*. I personally have come to believe that stimulants aren't the answer. The longer one is on them, the less they help, so the higher dosage you have to have. But even if they aren't in your system enough to be therapeutic by bed time, any presence of them at all just trashes one's ability to bulk sleep through the night. I have been off the stimulants for almost a month and I'm sleeping better than I have in ages, which has helped tremendously with the brain fog and eds. I still have some on hand, in case of emergency, but I'm doing my best to take them and I've even started avoiding caffeine. It wasn't easy weaning myself off them, but I gotta say, it's worth it. If you decide you absolutely have to have the stimmies, I would suggest going on a week long med holiday. That week will suck, but when you go back on them, they'll be much more effective for a while.

[kyethra]

you need a new doctor, a board certified neurologist and sleep specialist with experience in narcolepsy.  you may have to travel to do that, but it can be worth it. 

[MINItron]

I agree with Kyethra. Adderall does work on some of the same neurotransmitters as antidepressants, but not at a level that is generally therapeutic for depression. They have to be used carefully though because they can cause bad reactions. SSRIs for instance can, rarely, cause serotonin syndrome when used with Adderall if they aren't dosed and monitored properly.

[Megssosleepy]

I agree with Kyethra. Adderall does work on some of the same neurotransmitters as antidepressants, but not at a level that is generally therapeutic for depression. They have to be used carefully though because they can cause bad reactions. SSRIs for instance can, rarely, cause serotonin syndrome when used with Adderall if they aren't dosed and monitored properly.

 

I know first hand about Serotonin Syndrome. It is not fun!

 

I also suggest getting a new Doc.  I feel like most would offer Xyrem at the very least.  Has your doc mentioned it?