![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mell on January 9, 2007, at 16:33:00
Is anyone else on Focalin XR? I just started today. I also take Klonopin. Are people having good experiences with Focalin XR?
Thanks,
mell
Posted by lymom3 on January 9, 2007, at 19:57:53
In reply to Just started Focalin XR, posted by mell on January 9, 2007, at 16:33:00
My son takes it and it has been the only stimulant that has worked for him. He has been on it for almost 2 years now.
On the other hand, I gave it a shot for myself and while it worked, it made me very depressed after taking it. Once the dose wore off, I was fine agein.
Two stories; one good, one not...guess that doesn't help you too much!!
Posted by mell on January 9, 2007, at 20:06:56
In reply to Re: Just started Focalin XR » mell, posted by lymom3 on January 9, 2007, at 19:57:53
Thank you for your reply! I am pretty optimistic so far. I am thrilled that I didn't have any troublesome side effects today. I will continue to see how this does. I'm staying hopeful.
> My son takes it and it has been the only stimulant that has worked for him. He has been on it for almost 2 years now.
>
> On the other hand, I gave it a shot for myself and while it worked, it made me very depressed after taking it. Once the dose wore off, I was fine agein.
>
> Two stories; one good, one not...guess that doesn't help you too much!!
>
Posted by stargazer on January 9, 2007, at 22:34:07
In reply to Just started Focalin XR, posted by mell on January 9, 2007, at 16:33:00
Are you taking it for depression or ADD? I will be curious as to your response since I am looking at various meds to combine with Emsam to improve focus and concentration.
Good luck with the trial.
Stargazer
Posted by blueberry1 on January 10, 2007, at 5:06:32
In reply to Just started Focalin XR, posted by mell on January 9, 2007, at 16:33:00
What is it? Is it similar to Ritalin? Or Adderall? What does it do?
Posted by liliths on January 10, 2007, at 6:35:00
In reply to Re: Just started Focalin XR/Mell, posted by stargazer on January 9, 2007, at 22:34:07
hi Stargazer
I too was looking at supplementing my focalin (for ADD) with EMSAM but someone on this board has suggested there may be a synergistic response to an Adderrall/EMSAM combo and has been using that, even though it's not normally prescribed
is your pdoc willing to prescribe both the stim and the EMSAM? There are warnings about it and I think it would take an educated pdoc to be willing to try it
also have you any experience with MAOI's in the past? How's your blood pressure? Mine and Liama's are normally low with MAOI's actually making them much lower - the stims in this case would help. But MAOI's often carry possible hypertensive problems which, if you've responded like that to say Nardil or Parnate, or have high bp to begin with, might make it a dangerous combo
I'd be curious to hear your story.what put you on the stim/EMSAM combo trail to begin with? :)
please keep me updated on what you try?
good luck!
namaste,
lilith> Are you taking it for depression or ADD? I will be curious as to your response since I am looking at various meds to combine with Emsam to improve focus and concentration.
>
> Good luck with the trial.
>
> Stargazer
Posted by mell on January 10, 2007, at 6:47:44
In reply to Re: Just started Focalin XR/Mell, posted by stargazer on January 9, 2007, at 22:34:07
Bipolar II is technically my diagnosis. My pdoc says Focalin XR should help me with my focus and concentration. I think I also have ADD, but I have not been officially diagnosed with it. There do seem to be some similarities with the 2 diagnoses.
I just took my second day's dose. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will be a good med for me!
> Are you taking it for depression or ADD? I will be curious as to your response since I am looking at various meds to combine with Emsam to improve focus and concentration.
>
> Good luck with the trial.
>
> Stargazer
Posted by mell on January 10, 2007, at 6:53:09
In reply to Re: Just started Focalin XR, posted by blueberry1 on January 10, 2007, at 5:06:32
It's supposed to be a more refined version of ritalin... only containing the "active" component of it. It's one of the ADD drugs, the newest one, I think.
I'm on it for bipolar II, to help me with my focus, but I do believe that I have some undiagnosed ADD also.
It's supposed to be good for improving focus and concentration without much side effects.mell
> What is it? Is it similar to Ritalin? Or Adderall? What does it do?
Posted by liliths on January 10, 2007, at 7:11:32
In reply to Re: Just started Focalin XR » blueberry1, posted by mell on January 10, 2007, at 6:53:09
hi Mell,
just wanted you to know I just posted a long response on the other thread you wrote me
IMHO, it usually takes at least a few days to get an idea about how the stims are going to work. When I was first diagnosed with ADD, my pdoc allowed me to do some trials with ritalin vs. Concerta. Even though you 'feel' the stims immediately, it did take almost a week to realize how the Concerta was working and that it WAS better than straight ritalin for me. Concerta is softer and much less noticable.
Focalin was immediate but I recently tried to taper my dose and it wasn't until the 5th day that I began falling apart and crying. I felt fine the first few days
hope you're doing well... look forward to getting some info from all those questions I asked LOL
namaste,
lilith> It's supposed to be a more refined version of ritalin... only containing the "active" component of it. It's one of the ADD drugs, the newest one, I think.
> I'm on it for bipolar II, to help me with my focus, but I do believe that I have some undiagnosed ADD also.
> It's supposed to be good for improving focus and concentration without much side effects.
>
> mell
>
> > What is it? Is it similar to Ritalin? Or Adderall? What does it do?
>
>
Posted by stargazer on January 11, 2007, at 17:30:36
In reply to Re: Just started Focalin XR/Mell » stargazer, posted by liliths on January 10, 2007, at 6:35:00
Hi Lilith...
Currently on Emsam 6 about 2 mo now...but I want to add a stimulant or something for ADD symptoms which I have come to believe is what has never allowed me to be completely free of symptoms.
I was on Adderall, last year along with Wellbutrin and Celexa and felt OK, not great though. I had an idea to retry Marplan (MAO) which worked many years ago (early 90's) before the manufacturor stopped making it.
Long story short... many different meds tried this past year stating with Marplan. Unfortunately, it didn't do squat the second time around (supposedly differnt formulation than original Marplan).
I asked pdoc if I could try Nardil again (worked years ago, then pooped out) and he suggested Emsam instead based on no dietary issues.
Last few weeks on Emsam, after an initial improvement in my mood and energy level, I continued to just feel unmotivated, realizing symptoms of ADD are always with me, i.e distracted, unfocused, but unable to complete anything.
I probably read Laima's posts and started thinking about stimulants again but knew they were contraindicated w Emsam, except she was using them! But I'm convinced a stimulant or drug for ADD is the missing link in my treatment. Hope I'm right.
I too have low BP and have been monitoring BP and pulse as I experiment with small doses (2.5 mg) of amphetamine(generic Adderall). Last 2 days only took 2 doses/day. BP stays low 110/70, pulse went from 70 to 90 but today didn't go up as much. I like how i'm feeling, starting to do things i have put off for months like look for a job!
It's sad when you have to direct your treatment so much. I think my pdoc has ADD... I have told him about my response to Adderall in the past and I told him that I felt I needed Adderall again prior to retrying many other meds for depression. He proceeded with the full court AD approach, throwing in Lamictal and Seroquel, YUK!
What's so difficult about giving me the stims although now w Emsam it is more complicated, but perhaps Strattera, Provigil or Focalin? Need to research them tonight! Appt tomorrow, yikes..hope he doesn't freak out w my drug trial.
SG
Posted by liliths on January 12, 2007, at 7:26:29
In reply to Re: Just started Focalin XR/lilith, posted by stargazer on January 11, 2007, at 17:30:36
hi Stargazer
what do you think of the EMSAM? I really curious whether you think it's helping or not. I had tried the older MAOI's many years ago and though I had initial success on them, I also experienced some really bad side effects, including rapid, uncontrollable weight gain, which caused me to discontinue them
Liama's pdoc seems to feel that there is a synergistic effect between the EMSAM and adderall so I'd suggest trying that as a first line choice in adding a stim
did you also have the much lowered bp from traditional MAOI's that both Liama and I experienced? I think if you have a tendency to low bp and tend to be active (when motivated :), it does sound like it might be an effective combo for you. I'm really interested in what you think of EMSAM
please keep us posted
I'm extremely curious as to whether I should try the EMSAM myself
good luck - I'm rooting for you :)
namaste,
lilith> Hi Lilith...
>
> Currently on Emsam 6 about 2 mo now...but I want to add a stimulant or something for ADD symptoms which I have come to believe is what has never allowed me to be completely free of symptoms.
>
> I was on Adderall, last year along with Wellbutrin and Celexa and felt OK, not great though. I had an idea to retry Marplan (MAO) which worked many years ago (early 90's) before the manufacturor stopped making it.
>
> Long story short... many different meds tried this past year stating with Marplan. Unfortunately, it didn't do squat the second time around (supposedly differnt formulation than original Marplan).
>
> I asked pdoc if I could try Nardil again (worked years ago, then pooped out) and he suggested Emsam instead based on no dietary issues.
>
> Last few weeks on Emsam, after an initial improvement in my mood and energy level, I continued to just feel unmotivated, realizing symptoms of ADD are always with me, i.e distracted, unfocused, but unable to complete anything.
>
> I probably read Laima's posts and started thinking about stimulants again but knew they were contraindicated w Emsam, except she was using them! But I'm convinced a stimulant or drug for ADD is the missing link in my treatment. Hope I'm right.
>
> I too have low BP and have been monitoring BP and pulse as I experiment with small doses (2.5 mg) of amphetamine(generic Adderall). Last 2 days only took 2 doses/day. BP stays low 110/70, pulse went from 70 to 90 but today didn't go up as much. I like how i'm feeling, starting to do things i have put off for months like look for a job!
>
> It's sad when you have to direct your treatment so much. I think my pdoc has ADD... I have told him about my response to Adderall in the past and I told him that I felt I needed Adderall again prior to retrying many other meds for depression. He proceeded with the full court AD approach, throwing in Lamictal and Seroquel, YUK!
>
> What's so difficult about giving me the stims although now w Emsam it is more complicated, but perhaps Strattera, Provigil or Focalin? Need to research them tonight! Appt tomorrow, yikes..hope he doesn't freak out w my drug trial.
>
> SG
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.