G'day Jerry83
Thanks for your comment. You're right. When the Doctor talked about the presence of a mood disorder, his conclusion was Bipolar. This is what the Epilim is for. Since going up to 2000mg a day (from 1000mg), I have definitely seen a decrease in the severity of the depressive / angry states, but not much of a difference in the regularity.
Thanks too, ADD&Proud for your info on Straterra. I had heard of the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor type drugs. I'm not sure why my doctor has gone with a stimulant first, but maybe oneday, he will try me on this type of Med. He has also suggested that the long lasting forms of stimulant might work for me better. The only reason he hasn't prescribed these yet are because of the cost. Normal Ritalin are on the Pharmaceutical Benefits list here (Australia) and the other types are not. Cost difference amounts to a bit more than double.
Thanks again.
bornagain hippy: Those mood swings you describe.. Couldn't it be that you are bipolar?
Strattera however has several interesting features that makes it of great interest.
1. It is not a Schedule II drug. That means that your physician can now:
a. Give free samples
b. Write a prescription for more than a month at a time
c. Call prescriptions into the pharmacy, rather than requiring you to pick them up each month
2. Less abuse potential. It appears to have no abuse potential if it ends up in the hands of someone who who would wish to abuse it. It does not become addicting in high doses.
3. It is not a stimulant. Rather it is an NRI, an norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Norepinephrine has been known to play a key role in ADHD and depression for a long time. Some of the older antidepressants that impact norepinephrine, such as imipramine (Tofranil) and desipramine (Norpramin) have been used for the treatment of ADHD. However their side effect profile is quite severe, and requires close monitoring for heart rhythm problem. Thus careful monitoring should be done. In addition, those older antidepressants cause many physically uncomfortable side effects, such as dry mouth.
4. It is the only drug that has specifically been approved by the FDA for adults. This is more a big deal for the Lilly Company than anyone else. It is the only drug that can legally be marketed to help adult ADHD. Remember, that it is quite proper for a physician to use a drug for purposes other than what has been approved by the FDA. So adults have many choices other than Strattera.
5. It may also be more easily prescribed to those adolescents and adults who are "addiction prone." There has always been a great concern for giving stimulants to those who have problems with alcohol or drugs. This has unfortunately kept many people away from treatment, since it is well known substance abuse is a great risk factor for those with ADHD. This may open the door for many more people for treatment. Strattera does not stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain as do the stimulants.
6. It appears to provide 24-hours per day coverage. The stimulants last no longer than part of a day, ranging from 4-12 hours. Since Strattera carries over until the next day, this will help the "getting going" that is so difficult with most people with ADHD.
7. Since it has antidepressant properties, it may provide especially effective treatment for those with depressive and anxious features alongside ADD/ADHD.
8. It does not appear to make tics or Tourette's Syndrome worse, as the stimulants often do.
I'll share. Strattera has been a godsend for me. It was really like coming out of a fog. Sometimes the fog comes back in.... but it's usually when I'm tired and the brain literally needs a break.
I started on 40mg. Then 60mg. Then when I noticed that I wasn't seeing the focus that I needed the doc upped me to 120mg. But, that caused me to have horrible slumps in the afternoon. Bad bad drowsiness. So I backed myself back off to 60mg. just to be able to take care of the stuff that couldn't wait until I woke up from the nap.
With the strattera (60mg) I am focused enough to maintain. I'm not the ball of fire that I am on the 120mg. But it's good enough. At least until I see the doctor.
Hi, Although well aware of the fact that I could look it up myself, would you mind very much telling me what Straterra is exactly. My doctor has mentioned that there are various types of medication which are different because of they way they "fix" the wiring / chemical problems in the (our) brain. I'm on Ritalin and this is the only ADD drug I've tried since my diagnosis. Currently I'm on 3 10mg tablets, 4 times a day. My doctor conceedes that this is quite high, but two pharmacists have told me that, having checked with the manufacturer and the controlling body, that this dose is way over the recommended limit. My ADD seems to exsist with a mood disorder which has long caused me to have periods of "good times" (usually couple of weeks), then "bad" for 2-4 days. Since going up the 12 ritalins a day, the positive focus and motivation effects are the best ever, but at least 3 times a day, for a period of about 60-90 mins (i.e. 1 hr b4 next pill and half an hour after I take it), the mood swings are pretty nasty. Not just unmotivated and sooky, but extremely frustrated and intense anger. For a couple of months, I've been on Epilim for the mood thing, but only a very small dose (can't remeber how much but virtually a kids dose). I saw the Doctor 5 days ago and he doubled the amount of Epilim so, early to tell, but this might address the angry episodes. I was on Lexapro once (before the ADD came into the picture) but it did nothing in terms of mood change / stability. So, if anyone can be bothered - What is Straterra? While I'm at it, What is Concerta? ThanksHi, Although well aware of the fact that I could look it up myself, would you mind very much telling me what Straterra is exactly. My doctor has mentioned that there are various types of medication which are different because of they way they "fix" the wiring / chemical problems in the (our) brain. I'm on Ritalin and this is the only ADD drug I've tried since my diagnosis. Currently I'm on 3 10mg tablets, 4 times a day. My doctor conceedes that this is quite high, but two pharmacists have told me that, having checked with the manufacturer and the controlling body, that this dose is way over the recommended limit. My ADD seems to exsist with a mood disorder which has long caused me to have periods of "good times" (usually couple of weeks), then "bad" for 2-4 days. Since going up the 12 ritalins a day, the positive focus and motivation effects are the best ever, but at least 3 times a day, for a period of about 60-90 mins (i.e. 1 hr b4 next pill and half an hour after I take it), the mood swings are pretty nasty. Not just unmotivated and sooky, but extremely frustrated and intense anger. For a couple of months, I've been on Epilim for the mood thing, but only a very small dose (can't remeber how much but virtually a kids dose). I saw the Doctor 5 days ago and he doubled the amount of Epilim so, early to tell, but this might address the angry episodes. I was on Lexapro once (before the ADD came into the picture) but it did nothing in terms of mood change / stability. So, if anyone can be bothered - What is Straterra? While I'm at it, What is Concerta? Thanks