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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by conundrum on May 12, 2010, at 12:44:10
Just wanted to hear from those who have taken atypical antipsychotics which ones have helped with motivation and concentration the most. Also if you found some that helped could you post how long you were taking them?
Posted by Tomatheus on May 12, 2010, at 16:48:17
In reply to What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration?, posted by conundrum on May 12, 2010, at 12:44:10
Conundrum,
I've tried Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperdal, Geodon, and Abilify, and none of them improved my concentration (and my concentration is pretty poor these days). Of the atypicals that I've stayed on for more than a few days, all of them reduced my motivation.
Tomatheus
Posted by bleauberry on May 12, 2010, at 17:47:58
In reply to What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration?, posted by conundrum on May 12, 2010, at 12:44:10
Abilify is noted to be helpful often enough that people mention it here from time to time. The doses are almost always between 1mg to 5mg, sometimes even just 1mg every other day.
My own experience is that the only one that helps the symptoms you described is amisulpride. But even with it, the dose has to be 25mg. Studies always use 50mg or 100mg. To me it felt like an antipsychotic at those doses. It is a finicky med, changing colors significantly with small dose changes. It never got me close to remission or anything, but definitely got me doing things I had been proscrastinating. I was motivated and got a lot done. More energy, clearer headed.
The problem is likely deeper than any psych med is going to cure. They might help soften the symptoms a bit for a time. But something else is causing the stuff. I can't put my finger on it, but for sure my symptoms similar to yours are caused by either: candidiasis, lead and mercury, or lyme. Most likely a combination of them all. That's because I Herx badly on Diflucan and then feel improved. I had one miracle day while on Doxycycline. The one that helps me the most though, hands down, is DMSA (a mercury/lead chelating medicine FDA approved for children). I feel the best when on a round of that stuff. Don't know what that means, but it looks pretty obvious.
I guess I'm saying we can try all the meds we want and sooner and later find something that will help but hardly ever be a cure. That is, until we try other things to see what happens. Things that have our symptoms at the top of the list of what they do. Candida causes depression, fatigue, and brain fog. Lyme does too. And so does an accumulation of metals. No one could even test or guess if they have these things, accurately, without taking meds that treat them to see what happens. All we know for sure is, the symptoms of them are definitely present. Pure logic I guess, but seems like rocket science to many.
Posted by Zyprexa on May 12, 2010, at 22:57:27
In reply to What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration?, posted by conundrum on May 12, 2010, at 12:44:10
I was paranoid, psychotic and afraid to leave the house untill I took zyprexa 10mg. And everything changed imediatly. I've been taking it for 12 years now and have nothing but great results. I've tried risperdal, geodon, and abilify. When I went on those and off the zyprexa I sliped right back into paranoia and reclusivenis, hearing voices and no motivation. Abilify was the worst for me it actualy made me worse, and 3 years later still recovering from it. Zyprexa helped me sleep and eat again. It also made me normal again. Oh yes it helps my concentration, more than before I needed meds.
Posted by Conundrum on May 12, 2010, at 23:14:35
In reply to Re: What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration?, posted by Zyprexa on May 12, 2010, at 22:57:27
Did you gain a lot of weight with zyprexa?
Posted by SLS on May 13, 2010, at 6:21:59
In reply to What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration?, posted by conundrum on May 12, 2010, at 12:44:10
> Just wanted to hear from those who have taken atypical antipsychotics which ones have helped with motivation and concentration the most. Also if you found some that helped could you post how long you were taking them?
My knee-jerk reaction to your question was to mention Zyprexa. The first time I tried Zyprexa, I experienced what I would describe as clarity of thought along with motivation. I now take Abilify 10mg and find that it helps somewhat with motivation, but not so much with concentration. Zyprexa often produces weight-gain and insulin resistence early in treatment. Abilify can produce weight-gain, but it seems to be a delayed effect that develops gradually. It can also produce an increase in trigylcerides.
- Scott
Posted by conundrum on May 13, 2010, at 11:14:12
In reply to Re: What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration? » conundrum, posted by SLS on May 13, 2010, at 6:21:59
I think the reason zyprexa increase concentration and motivation is cuz its a 5 ht2C antagonist. Prozac does this for me as well at low doses and it is also a 5 HT2C antagonist. Some others have had this happen with remeron. The other Atypicals don't bind as well to this receptor as Zyprexa in relation to their other effects.
Posted by Zyprexa on May 13, 2010, at 17:48:52
In reply to Re: What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration? » Zyprexa, posted by Conundrum on May 12, 2010, at 23:14:35
I was under weight before the zyprexa and having a hard time eating. I was 150 lbs, 5'10". Now I'm 220 lbs. So a little over weight. But have not gained any weight over the last 2 years. I'm taking 15 mg zyprexa now. And not gaining more weight.
Posted by emmanuel98 on May 13, 2010, at 19:28:17
In reply to Re: What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration? » Conundrum, posted by Zyprexa on May 13, 2010, at 17:48:52
Abilify, zyprexa and risperdall all worked for me. Made me calm, focused, able to concentrate. But all three made me gain a ton of weight.
Posted by bleauberry on May 14, 2010, at 17:55:58
In reply to Re: What AAP helps most with motivation/concentration? » Conundrum, posted by Zyprexa on May 13, 2010, at 17:48:52
150 pounds at 5' 10". LOL. Try 128 pounds at 6'. That's me. Even when on zyprexa the highest it ever got was 145.
Zyprexa doesn't do for me what it once did. Even though we parted ways 3 years ago, I am a huge fan of that med. Every time I see your posts I am reminded why.
This is the end of the thread.
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