Hey, everybody!
I am a student with a diagnosis of ADHD-PI (primarily inattentive) with Bipolar NOS, depressive episodes marked by anxiety, that are in remission due to therapy and psychiatric medication.
My psychiatrist is awesome! He is really supportive of my studies in school and nootropic ideas; he currently prescribes [subjective rating]:
Aplenzin (bupropion hydrobromide) 522mg. [5/10]
Nuvigil (armodafinil) 250mg. [7/10]
Nameda XR (memantine) 28mg. [5/10]
Vyvanse (lisdexamphetamine) 70mg. [7.5/10]
Zenzedi (dexamphetamine) 15mg. X 2 [8/10]
other medications he prescribes that keep me sane lol:
Klonopin (clonazepam) 1mg. X 3 (PRN) [8/10]
Lyrica (pregabalin) 300mg. X 3 (TID) [9/10]
Latuda (lurasidone) 40mg. QHS CF [9.01/10]
Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate) 800mg. QD [?/10]
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The Aplenzin is a branded form of Wellbutrin (bupropion hydro*chloride*); Aplenzin is bupropion hydro*bromide*, a different salt thus the mg. bioequivalence difference from Wellbutrin, and besides Forfivo, it is the only preparation that allows for a 450mg. equipotent dosage of bupropion in a single pill. I honestly don't notice much from bupropion except that I use dipping tobacco less frequently (makes sense as it is a nicotinic antagonist) and maybe have some depression relief (makes sense as it is prescribed as an antidepressant).
The Nuvigil is very awesome. I have noticed some increased motivation while doing tasks that I didn't get with amphetamine therapy alone. (that I have a tolerance to now). While there is some tolerance built up to it, that is expected. It does a subtle job of doing what it is expected to do: keep you awake. I dose it around 11AM, and I don't get that after-lunch fatigue that used to bother me, and it lasts and doesn't keep me awake at night. I'm a big supporter of the medication.
Memantine was prescribed for amphetamine tolerance and as a nootropic. I have probably seen some placebo effects from it. I haven't noticed much. I haven't seen my amphetamine tolerance *grow* which is a good thing. Also, I think it does help me some with my cognition, but it might be placebo. It has no side effects that I contribute to it; so, I give it a thumbs up.
Vyvanse and Zenzedi have lost their punch, but they are the most effective of the nootropic stack. They still "work"; I'm on a good dosage. I take Vyvanse in the morning with one 15mg. dexamphetamine IR, and I redose a 15mg. IR around 2PM. I've found this to be the best way.
The clonazepam I'm fairly responsible with, but I tend to use my three a day lol.
The Lyrica is for anxiety as well, but it is not written PRN on purpose as it is also a mood stabilizer. I've found that taking 300mg. in the morning lets me have smooth sailing until lunch when I take another 300mg., and I take 300mg. around dinner time. A bit of tolerance built up to this one, but it is a very effective anxiety medication and a "mood brightener". Works good as an antidepressant. Very important medication. It has changed my quality of life; people say that I'm just a better person to be around since taking Lyrica. It's almost cured my social anxiety too. I take the maximum amount of pregabalin you can take. Most information will commentate 600mg. as the maximal dosage; however, it is in fact 900mg. and it took a little call to the insurance company to get it approved, but it was easy.
Latuda (lurasidone) is an amazing medication for my bipolar disorder. I know that an antipsychotic is the opposite of a nootropic lol, but look up lurasidone and you'll find that this one is rather mild, and it even antagonizes the 5-HT7 receptors heavy-duty which can be beneficial for cognition. No affinity for histamine receptors as well. I took it and after four days, I noticed an extreme difference in my outlook on life; so, I *have to* take this medication. A+
The Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate) is hard to rate. It is the "fanciest" form of Tegretol (carbamazepine) yet. Basically, it is a metabolite of it that has less drug interactions, I believe. I was put on it when it first came out last year or maybe the beginning of this year as my primary mood stabilizer. It's almost like taking a sugar pill. I've noticed no side effects but no effect either. My psychiatrist said that this is actually very good and probable as this is a very "clean" medicament. He wants it to be noticeable only if I go manic, and if I do go manic, for it to take action at that point to settle me down, but in the mean time it's supposed to stay in the backseat. "The Lyrica helps out at calcium channels and this (Aptiom) helps out at sodium channels and your Klonopin, which don't lie to me, I know you take it everyday, please don't take more than two at a time, and you're only supposed to take one, please, quells GABA receptors which are everywhere." That's how he explained it to me.
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I'd prefer to get my medication via my psychiatrist because my insurance will pay for it, and I have very good insurance. My copay on Aptiom, for instance, is only $40 and that's the most expensive "tier" of copay. Also, I'd like the medication to be monitored by a health professional. He's very friendly and receptive to my ideas and dosage adjustments, etc. I think he has my medication just right too. I have his email address, and I've emailed him one time, and he responded back within a few hours with a nice response.
What prescription medication suggestions can I bring up to him at my next appointment that may improve my quality of life? I appreciate any responses. I hope that the information I provided on the medication I take helps somebody as well.
Thanks!
Edited by Warhawk, 11 July 2014 - 04:27 PM.
