[Rose76]

I'm getting sucked down in the quicksand of worsening depression. For a few years now, I've used only amitriptyline at a modest dose of 50 mg every eve. Prior to that I was put on a parade of meds, most of which were useless. So I accepted that most of the solution was just not going to be pharmaceutical.

But I'm becoming a zombie, and I thought maybe a stimulant would help. I was given Ritalin for a few months back some years ago. It did seem to help me wake up in the morning. Not being able to wake up and stay awake is becoming a huge problem for me.

Does anyone out there have anything encouraging to say about stimulants helping them? I'm desperate for some kind of help.

[gayleggg]

I take ritalin to help keep me awake and going. It has really helped with the lethargy.

[Rose76]

Thanks, gaylegg. Lethargy is what I'm having a lot of. I've always had a hard time keeping to a normal sleep schedule, but this is just awful. In the morning, even after enough hours of sleep, I can't shake off the sleepiness. I've given up trying. I go back . . . sleep some more and don't really come alive till after 5 p.m.

Once I really wake up, sometimes I can't go back to sleep at a reasonable hour. About every 4rth night, I'm up all night. It's just chaotic. I can't find the willpower to make myself stay out of bed in the daytime. I don't have suicidal thinking, but I wish I could just go to sleep forever.

Maybe some Ritalin would help me break this pattern.

[kecanoe]

I take NuVigil as needed. It keeps me awake without raising anxiety. Sometimes I have problems going to sleep after taking it in the morning.

[AncientMelody]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I'm getting sucked down in the quicksand of worsening depression. For a few years now, I've used only amitriptyline at a modest dose of 50 mg every eve. Prior to that I was put on a parade of meds, most of which were useless. So I accepted that most of the solution was just not going to be pharmaceutical.

But I'm becoming a zombie, and I thought maybe a stimulant would help. I was given Ritalin for a few months back some years ago. It did seem to help me wake up in the morning. Not being able to wake up and stay awake is becoming a huge problem for me.

Does anyone out there have anything encouraging to say about stimulants helping them? I'm desperate for some kind of help.

Have you tried Wellbutrin? I'm not depressed (my main psych issue is anxiety) however, I deal with chronic fatigue, and the "not being able to wake up and stay awake" describes my personal experience very well. My psychiatrist has recently started Wellbutrin off-label to help with the fatigue. The effect is modest but beneficial for me.

[Rose76]

Thanks, both of you above. I had heard about Provigil, so I wonder if NuVigil is a similar med. Looks like they have different generic names.

I am aware of Wellbutrin, but didn't know it could help fatigue. Thanks for the info.