Posted by fachad on March 8, 2002, at 21:59:43
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and apathy » fachad, posted by Raga on March 8, 2002, at 17:18:14
Methylphenedate (Ritalin) cured the apathy.
Two especially interesting things emerged from my successful Ritalin treatment of SSRI induced apathy.
First, it was (or seemed to me) to be actually curative. By this I mean that I went a long time in severe post-SSRI apathy, then I took Ritalin, then when I quit Ritalin, I returned to my pre-SSRI, not my post-SSRI, level of functioning.
Ritalin had really seemed to "cure" the severe anergia induced by SSRIs, independent of continuing to take it to manage the symptoms. I did go back on Ritalin because I did better on it than off it. But even if I had not re-initated it, I would have been better off than if I'd never taken it.
Second, Ritalin remained effective for a subset of my depressive symptoms even after I had developed complete tolerance to the stimulant effects. Ritalin seems to have (for me anyway)some AD properties that persist long (7 yrs) after tolerance to the stimulant effects develop.
I quit Ritalin for a Provigil trial last year, but after a few months it (PV) was doing no good. I'm not sure it ever did that much good for me but I am easier on a drug for a month or two to give it a fair chance.
Currently I'm on Dexadrine. I asked my pdoc if I could switch, mostly from curosity and the fact that I had been taking Ritalin for about 7 yrs straight except for the Provigil trial and I wanted to see if there was anything better out there.
I'm giving Dexadrine a chance, but as much as I wanted it to work, and was excited about trying it, I'm starting to suspect that Ritalin is a better choice for me.
Just my experience. Others may respond differently.
> I too have been on Wellbutrin and it has done zero for apathy and lethargy. In fact, I feel quite a bit mellower. It has, however, helped with my focus a bit (I'm ADD).
>
> Fachad, how did you treat your apathy and lethargy?
poster:fachad
thread:97043
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97130.html