Is there any A/D that can motivate me?

[etinin]

MAOI'S like Parnate, Nardil and Emsam were the only class of antidepressants to give me motivation energy and a love for life. Unlike 95% of most antidepressants which just work on norepinephrine and seretonin, MAOI's boost levels of dopamine, the feel good chemical in tour brain that plays a role in ADHD and motivation. MAOI stands for Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor. Monoamine oxidase is a chemical naturally found in your brain that breaks down neurotransmitters such as dopamin seretonin and norepinephrine among others. The inhibitor blocks this chemical, thus the level of all neurotransmitters go up and viola subsequent neurotransmission. Good luck finding a doc who will prescribe these though as they have an interaction with certain foods that can trigger a hypertensive crisis leading to stroke which is not good obviously.

Meh, and they are scary for someone like me. I had hypertensive crises of up to 20:14 with 18 years of age. I'll only consider them if I find a doctor who really is willing to vouch for them.

[audacity]

MAOI's have proved effective when other antidepressants have failed (especially for low energy and social anxiety), but your diet and medication choices will be severely restricted. No beer or wine, no cheese, no chocolate, no chinese food, no yogurt, no caviar or canned fish, no cough syrup or cold medicine if you get sick, majority of psychotropic medications are automatically contraindicated, and so on.

It's a huge lifestyle change. But there are many doctors who vouch for them as a third-line choice, especially when social anxiety is involved also.

I think quite a few of combined depression/ADHD diagnoses are excuses to use Ritalin and Adderall as antidepressant boosters. Because they work well for that purpose, and do not have all the food/drug interactions of MAOI's. Have you looked into that?

[etinin]

MAOI's have proved effective when other antidepressants have failed (especially for low energy and social anxiety), but your diet and medication choices will be severely restricted. No beer or wine, no cheese, no chocolate, no chinese food, no yogurt, no caviar or canned fish, no cough syrup or cold medicine if you get sick, majority of psychotropic medications are automatically contraindicated, and so on.

It's a huge lifestyle change. But there are many doctors who vouch for them as a third-line choice, especially when social anxiety is involved also.

I think quite a few of combined depression/ADHD diagnoses are excuses to use Ritalin and Adderall as antidepressant boosters. Because they work well for that purpose, and do not have all the food/drug interactions of MAOI's. Have you looked into that?

Yeah, it's rational. Doctors usually try everything else they can first. Doc now wants me to try desvenlafaxine, but I know it's not gonna be any better than escitalopram+wellbutrin and will probably present the same side effects and escitalopram.

Besides SSRIs, the only meds capable of affecting motivation are Wellbutrin, ADHD meds and opiates. Thing is that Wellbutrin in some cases stop working, like it did for me. Opiates aren't used for that purpose, since it'd be considered "too recreational". That leaves doctors with ADHD meds left.

[mdavis6565]

I like Kratom personally but it can be risky like opiates. From what I have found so far and what I have read from others like teresita the risk is not great when used the way I do (smaller doses and no extracts or enhanced product). It does motivate me quite a bit.

[slick76]

I was reading about Kanna the other day (Sceletium tortuosum) and willing to try the Kratom but how many grams, mg per day? I don't wanna get sedated, just relaxed and motivated.

[mdavis6565]

Kratom actually varies batch by batch but I generally take between 2-3 grams in a tea. Often I will take an hour or so to actually drink it all, but I have found this range not to be sedating at all. I usually have a couple of these through out my work day and it keeps me moving. It is very bitter so if you want to take it this way you will want a lot of sugar or sweetner. For example in a large coffee (22oz) I will usually take 2-3 sugars but in one of my kratom teas I use 8-10.

[dingleberry]

Kratom actually varies batch by batch but I generally take between 2-3 grams in a tea. Often I will take an hour or so to actually drink it all, but I have found this range not to be sedating at all. I usually have a couple of these through out my work day and it keeps me moving. It is very bitter so if you want to take it this way you will want a lot of sugar or sweetner. For example in a large coffee (22oz) I will usually take 2-3 sugars but in one of my kratom teas I use 8-10.

Tea.....uuuuuuuuhhhhhh....urrrrrch.....BLECH...Urg ghhggha gha cha cha blurch.


Excuse me, sorry I just had to vomit. I suggest all man up and learn how to toss and wash. More effective, less time consuming, can do it at work school or on a train, or on a plane! I dont want to go through it if you need detailed instructions PM me. Tea.....bleh!!!!

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Never, ever will I understand tea drinkers or their motive to do so much work for such less effective results...sigh...

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@slick76
pm me ill give you the two best sites cant go wrong very chronic kratom just watch out for addiction it sneaks up on you and is eerily similar to opiates.

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@mdavis6565 A tablespoons worth is all you need. Just dump it in your mouth. Begin breathing through your nose only, pour some (not allot!) of water in your mouth, swish around, use your tounge, move it all around , shake your head, whatever, until it is emulsified in the water, then swallow. then follow with more water. This is toss and wash. Other method is to make capsules but this way is cheaper and certainly more manly (jk :P) but yeah thats toss and wash be careful not to breath any dust in hence breath through your nose until ready to swallow, do it quick and dont choke, you wont if you swished it good and its fully emulsified before you swallow the amalgam (mixture). then clean your mouth and teeth out with more swigs of H20.

[mdavis6565]

Yeah I know what toss and wash is but I don't find the tea to be bad tasting at all it just needs to be sweetened a lot; however, once the bitterness is counterbalanced by the sugar or sweetener I find the flavor to be fine. I don't go to school but I make it at work all the time - people ask me what it is and I just say its tea from Thailand. Anyway I am using Kratom forest but if you know of a better supplier I would be happy to hear it.

[madcap]

The most stimulating antidepressants I know of are, in order of effectiveness:

protriptyline

I've seen this one at work and, given 10 days or so, it will get you up off your butt and doing stuff again. It does need to be monitored to make sure you don't become too stimulated.

buproprion

(Wellbutrin) is less intense but still a stimulant. It's pretty unique and could make a good starter antidepressant. It can have side effects too, like seizures in a small group of patients.

You can find the one that's right for you. Talk it out with your doctor and try to avoid most of the atypical antipsychotics they're trying to heave on patients these days. They're expensive and can have permanent side effects.

I wish you the luck you need and more. It can come your way, just give it a chance!

I asked my doctor for protriptyline but apparently it's not available in australia so he put me on amitriptyline

[chris100]

I have tried so many of them and i cant find one that works for me. Good luck to you.

[antithesis]

Emsam works well for me.

[madcap]

So after a bit of research I found that amitriptyline targets serotonin rather than norepinephrine, so it's not at all the same as protriptyline as the doctor would have me believe. I've only been taking it a few days and it seems to be having the opposite of the desired effect.

How long should I continue taking it before going back to the doc and asking for something more stimulating like Wellbutrin?

[Healthy_Chef]

During my college days I began losing motivation by my third year. The Doctor in the student health center recomended Prozac and it sure worked Like a charm!!!

[crucibelle]

Emsam works well for me.

@antithesis -- I've been considering Emsam for myself. My psychiatrist will pretty much give me anything I ask for, but... I'm worried about this one. Is it true that you don't need to make dietary changes with this patch? I know it is an MAOI, but I think I read since the medicine is delivered thru the skin vs stomach, one doesn't have to make dietary changes.

[etinin]

@antithesis -- I've been considering Emsam for myself. My psychiatrist will pretty much give me anything I ask for, but... I'm worried about this one. Is it true that you don't need to make dietary changes with this patch? I know it is an MAOI, but I think I read since the medicine is delivered thru the skin vs stomach, one doesn't have to make dietary changes.

I believe you still have to. Else a little meal with too many monoamines might blow your heart up. The problem, I believe, is the medicine getting to your bloodstream with no (or few) enzymes to metabolize it.

EDIT:
FDA says that dosages of up to 6mg/24h are safe WITHOUT dietary restrictions. Caution is still recommended for higher dosages due to theoretical concerns.

[kimmyleigh]

I have been on Wellbutrin, and it worked alright, except for one side effect I could not stand--bloating! It was not a big deal, but after days and days, it gets annoying! I tried anti-gas stuff, probiotic stuff, more fiber, more water (it seems I couldn't drink enough water either), it wouldn't go away! Anyone else experienced that?

[crucibelle]

I believe you still have to. Else a little meal with too many monoamines might blow your heart up. The problem, I believe, is the medicine getting to your bloodstream with no (or few) enzymes to metabolize it.

EDIT:
FDA says that dosages of up to 6mg/24h are safe WITHOUT dietary restrictions. Caution is still recommended for higher dosages due to theoretical concerns.

Thank you for the info, @etinin ! Very helpful.

[kcfunguy50]

Wellbutrin is what you want, definitely. I've been on it for a few months now and it makes a huge difference. I was prescribed it for adult ADD and a dash of depression. I don't feel addicted to it at all, an there's no real "rush," but I have higher energy and a more positive outlook. I encourage you to ask your doctor about it!