• Neuroscience & Pharmacology Discussion Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Recent Journal Articles Chemistry Mega-Thread
    FREE Chemistry Databases! Self-Education Guide

  • N&PD Moderators: Skorpio | someguyontheinternet

Dexamphetamine & Sodium Valporate for ADD/ADHD

A

AlexxRed

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 2, 2002
Messages
293
Location
melbourne, Australia
Hi all,

I'll be blunt. I've been asking some questions in this forum recently regarding ADD/ADHD Meds. Forgive my lack of scientific knowledge but I was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD around 5-6 year ago and at the time did not want to know about it.

And am now in some serious post grad study and figured this forum would be the best place for answers.

I've been prescribed Dex amphetamines (15mg daily). I'm finding it helpful but some of the side effects not so. Insomnia being one. I know that this may disappear in time but I suspect my Insomnia my not simply be dex related.

I've pulled up totally on the hard party lifestyle. But still drink a bit to much (it's not a bottle of scotch a night but 6 beers is not uncommon).

Have posted some people privately about all this so forgive my doubling up but after years of neglect and then to be dealing with it whilst under pressure this is hard stuff...any thoughts overall are welcomed.

First exercise and management are important and I'm making this my no.1

Having said that I have little time. Meds & management of might really be crucial. I'm taking the Dex at a conservative (10mg) but wondering about combining it with Sodium Valproate.

I've seen this combo talked about here before as effective. I'd like to esp know more about the dosage of the SV?

...all opinions, input and ideas appreciated!

Also thought about using Pregabalin...anyone comment on this??

Cheers

Alex
 
AlexxRed said:
Hi all,

I'll be blunt. I've been asking some questions in this forum recently regarding ADD/ADHD Meds. Forgive my lack of scientific knowledge but I was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD around 5-6 year ago and at the time did not want to know about it.

And am now in some serious post grad study and figured this forum would be the best place for answers.

I've been prescribed Dex amphetamines (15mg daily). I'm finding it helpful but some of the side effects not so. Insomnia being one. I know that this may disappear in time but I suspect my Insomnia my not simply be dex related.

I've pulled up totally on the hard party lifestyle. But still drink a bit to much (it's not a bottle of scotch a night but 6 beers is not uncommon).

Have posted some people privately about all this so forgive my doubling up but after years of neglect and then to be dealing with it whilst under pressure this is hard stuff...any thoughts overall are welcomed.

First exercise and management are important and I'm making this my no.1

Having said that I have little time. Meds & management of might really be crucial. I'm taking the Dex at a conservative (10mg) but wondering about combining it with Sodium Valproate.

I've seen this combo talked about here before as effective. I'd like to esp know more about the dosage of the SV?

...all opinions, input and ideas appreciated!

Also thought about using Pregabalin...anyone comment on this??

Cheers

Alex
Click to expand...

I got ADD (not ADHD) and Bi-Polar (type II) and take 10mg of Dex a day, and 500mg of Sodium Valproate (after dinner) and it gives me a GREAT sleep, and stops ALL the Dex side effects.

Great combo.

i personally think that most people on Dex should take Sodium Valproate as well, as there is ALOT of cross over with Bipolar and ADHD.

If you start taking Sodium Valproate you will have to cut down drinking, or stop drinking alcohol, because they do not go well together. On the sodium Valproate your desire to drink will go down ALOT anyway, because you get the same 'relaxed' feeling from Sodium Valproate that you get from Alcohol, but Sodium valproate increases impulse control, while alcohol lowers impulse control (for most people).

Drinking lots on Dex is not good in the long run anyway - never seen that combo do anyone any good in the long run (if you are talking about mental or physical health).

I got a good mate (who has ADHD and Bi-Polar type II) who is on 20mg of Dex a day, and 1000mg of Sodium Val in the morning, and 1000mg of Sodium Val at night, and it works really well for him. But when i try to take that dose, i feel really flat and bad, and feel like a 'squashed' personality, so i keep to my dose which is working very well for me. Every one is different, and needs different doses, even if most doctors give the same dose to every one !!!!!!!
 
Last edited:
i just began Lyrica pregabalin today, too early to make any statement tho, sorry ! but I dont see how it would help ADD. made me halfway finish 4 projects today , active , yes I was, but nothing is copmpleted !
 
i just replied to your post about face/jaw pain. if this pain is caused by you clenching your jaw, the amphetamine is probably making it worse. stimulants often cause compulsive behaviors in people and jaw clenching is not uncommon.

i've taken sodium valproate before for mood stabilization - why did you choose it in particular? there are a lot of medications for insomnia...anything from over the counter sleep meds like diphenhydramine, doxylamine, melatonin, kava kava, valerian root etc., to prescription meds like ambien, sonata, trazadone, rozerem, etc. sodium valproate does make you drowsy. do you think you have mood instability or is your main problem insomnia?
 
I also have ADD (inattentive type) and Bipolar II (primarily depressive type) and take dexamphetamine with phenytoin and a small dose of lithium at night.

PS: for the jaw clenching, consider adding a magnesium supplement to your diet (150% DV in divided doses), as magnesium can really help eliminate stimulant-induced mouth tension. Also, if you clench your teeth really hard at night (a lot of people with anxiety/insomnia clench their teeth at night), consider asking a dentist for a custom-molded mouthguard.
 
I second the magnesium. Every day take 500mg amino-acid-chelated magnesium for high bioavailability. If this gives you the trots, scale it back to 250mg. Not only will this prevent the cramping and gurning that amphetamines cause, but it helps with amphetamine tolerance *A BIT* (expect no miracles).

Magnesium is a natural sedative. A magnesium salt solution is routinely injected into ER patients who are in shock. Before you pile on ANY more supplements to help you sleep at night, try just using magnesium with your amps -- you may find this takes care of the problem most of the time.

For those nights you absolutely can't sleep, I recommend kava kava as a sleep aid.
 
I'll be sure to give the magnesium a go. The last thing I want to do is resort to sedatives.

Only problem is that the pain I get is not your typical jaw pain from stimulants and teeth clenching/grinding, which tends to be like a hat band headache

I'm reasonably certain that grinding or clenching is not causing it BUT hey I could be wrong & to be honest I hope I am.
 
Hey, I just started this combo recintly and have found it very good but have not been stable in my med use (due to mega unstable life events ) soI can't be too specific.

On the subject of insomnia which I also suffer greatlyfrom, the few dosesI had of pharmacetical grade melitonin made me sleep like a baby AND feel fantastic the next Day! The Stuff you get in the US (as with all suppliments sold in the US as is my understanding) have shitty legislation over quality. You need a european brand.

I tried gabapentin, alot of fun but not theraputic, up down up down and you get a come down too
 
Ive been taking adderall for the better part of six years. I feel as if it builds toxicity over time, which contribute to more "jaw clenching" stress, depression, etc. If you are taking pure dextroamphetamine (dexadrine) , these problems should be less. Adderall due to its levoamphetamine salts, makes these worse. If you do decide on the sedative, Klonopin goes well with adderall, because it stays in your system for a long time, and just makes you feel good on adderall, without the nasty side effects.. in my experience.
 
If you couldn't it would be quite pathetic. melatonin is EVERYWHERE in the USA. bu then again, USA is #1........
 
^^^^
Just regarding your reply & the combo of Adderall & Klonopin is that something you are using regularly or just occasionally?

Please don't take this as preaching & my apologies if you already know this but long term benzo + Adderall use could really spell trouble.

I'm not surprised they feel great together. Much like 14b or GHB & stimulants. And you could function quite well for a long time on small amounts...but then if you stop...ouch.
 
Yes im quite aware of the horrific benzo WD, and the amphetamine psychosis upon a discontinuation of high doses. I've been threw heroin WD a couple times, and i've been threw K-pin + adderall withdrawal. It takes tremedous discipline, scheduling, cycling, etc. but as Ive always said in the past; Adderall alone is WORSE for your mind, than when used with a general sedative, or antidepressant. In terms of health problems, we willl see...
 
You can't walk in anywhere in Oz and get your melitonin. You have to get a doctors scrip and get it made up by a compounding pharmacy. Same with Dhea
 
I am on a 40mg-60mg a day Dex dose and 100mg-200mg Val dose for ADHD.

For a bit i was on a 60mg Dex and 500mg Val dose and I found myself becoming slow in the head. My vocabulary would shrink and my ability to make decisions would diminish. With the smaller dose it is enough to allow myself to think clearly while on the dex.
 
talke about taking an old thread back from the dead!^

Do you mean valium or Valporate? what is sodium valporate used for?

obviously it defeats the purpose of dexamphetamine ; which is to think CLEARER
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top