Adderrall, and Amantadine!: For fatigue... - My MSAA Community

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Adderrall, and Amantadine!

Kj9681 profile image
19 Replies

For fatigue! Thoughts?

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Kj9681
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suznj325 profile image
suznj325

My neuro had me take amantadine for fatigue...& it worked really well for about three weeks... then not so much. At 4 weeks I was back to square one so she said to stop. She asked if I was depressed (duh!). I'm actually bipolar...so there's that! Anyway, she prescribed 20mg of Prozac. I'm not a ball of energy... but I haven't had any fatigue in awhile, either!

Kj9681 profile image
Kj9681 in reply to suznj325

Wow! I take Zoloft...I never really know what the “desired” affect I’m supposed to feel.

All I know is, my neurologist placed me on a new regimen for fatigue(A&A), and today I was all over! We’ll see.

kdali profile image
kdali

I take amantadine in the morning, along with other things. I don’t take the second dose anymore.

RoseySawyer profile image
RoseySawyer

I use to take Addies (Adderall) for my ADHD and I still fell asleep. (Of course MS is a downer on your body itself) I'm also Bipolar and I use to take Lamotrigine for that. Cymbalta for my depression and nerve pain. I no longer have insurance so I stopped all those medication. But I'm doing good. I just eat healthier and my focus has been alot better. My bipolar has calm down alot!!! I just take deep breathes and calm myself down. I only take Vitamins daily and my infusion (Rituxan) every six months. As soon as open enrollment for insurance comes I will be insured again but I don't think I want to go back on all those meds. 😊❤🌷

Kj9681 profile image
Kj9681 in reply to RoseySawyer

Best of luck to you with treating your MS the way you see fit! It’s like a similarly different journey we all must take. I hope you continue to do well!

suznj325 profile image
suznj325 in reply to RoseySawyer

Same here... I took Lamotrigine/Lamictol for YEARS... then for whatever reason, had a crazy reaction & broke out in a rash all over my mid-section & legs! My dictor had mme stop immediately. I think it was a different formulary. So far, the bipolar 'issues' have lessened, thankfully. I say this half joking... MS fatigue is a real downer in a manic phase!

Sukie427 profile image
Sukie427

I have never had any luck with Amantadine (a/k/a Symetryl) and I don't know that much about Adderal. I knew a girl when we lived in FLA that was addicted to it, though (as she was also to pain killers and alcohol) and when she took it she acted like the Tasmanian Devil. Don't know how it works when it's being taken properly and not being abused or in conjunction with other drugs.

Kj9681 profile image
Kj9681 in reply to Sukie427

Funny. Not funny! Thanks for sharing.

Jackjosh profile image
Jackjosh

I asked about Adderall one time but they wouldn't give it to me told them I wanted some energy and all that but they wanted to try other stuff it could possibly work maybe my new doctor will try it I don't know

Kj9681 profile image
Kj9681 in reply to Jackjosh

It’s working for me...day 2. Can’t believe it!

Amerilove1 profile image
Amerilove1 in reply to Kj9681

So glad it’s working for you!

Jackjosh profile image
Jackjosh

I've never heard of amantadine

GeorgiaJunebug profile image
GeorgiaJunebug

Hi, I took Amantadine years ago for fatigue help prior to taking Provigil. Amantadine was helpful for me for a while- until my fatigue levels grew-, it’s relatively inexpensive when compared to Provigil and being an anti-viral you don’t pick up viral infections so no viral flu or colds. Staying well is pretty nice since it takes me forever to get over regular illnesses that others seem to pop back from easily.

My neurologist offered me Vyvance as a supplement to my daily Provigil. Honestly, I could tell absolutely no difference when I added it in as a boost to the Provigil. ( Granted, it was a 30 mg tablet so I may have needed a larger dose?)

If you are on the search for a help for fatigue and you are past the help that Amantadine can give you, consider Provigil as an option. From what I was told, this medication was developed by the government to keep pilots awake for long missions.

Provigil has been the one medication that can give me close to a “normal” level of energy. Some days, it doesn’t help me at all- I can take 200 mgs and go right back to sleep. So, it’s not always a given to work.

Also, if you try this medication, try the brand name version of the medication and then try the generic version of Provigil too. I’m a proponent of generic medications as ( I did research and development of product, government regulatory testing, etc. in a poultry vaccine company for years) a general rule. The two medications should be mirror images. However, I cannot take the generic form of Provigil as it does absolutely nothing to help me. I did some of my own “testing” and found that it wasn’t psychosomatic- the brand name does work for me while the generic does not. When I asked my neurologist about this, he said I wasn’t his only patient who told him the generic wasn’t helping. There must be some ingredients which are different on a molecular level which dramatically change the effectivity.

Bottom line, try the options out there. Personally, I’d try the Amantadine first, then work up to the “big guns” of Provigil. If you need to add in the Vyvance as a booster, your neurologist might give you that option to stretch the Amantadine if it’s not enough for your fatigue level.

Hope you can find something that can help you get some of your lost energy back!

RoseySawyer profile image
RoseySawyer in reply to GeorgiaJunebug

Vyvance is for ADHD. It has adderral in it and a mood stabilizer. Adderral is good but when you run out of it before the next fill or abuse it, it can make you moody and your attitudes change.

PunkChic profile image
PunkChic

I tried Amantadine but it did nothing for me so my neuro prescribed Ritalin and I take it on occasion like a longer car ride. It helps keep me focused but I don’t like the side effects. My neuro said that Amantadine is more for physical fatigue while Ritalin is for mental fatigue like that need for a nap in the AM when you’ve had a good nights sleep.

Yooper profile image
Yooper

I tried Amantadine years ago. Didn't like because I felt nervous/jittery. I started Adderall a week ago. Don't feel any different. Maybe a little clearer thinking.

timothy228 profile image
timothy228

i take modafinil 200mg some days seems to help was used for night and shift work but as we all know some days are better than others when my fatigue gets bad nothing helps i could lay round for days the other thing that reaiiy bugs me is my balance issues i if you dont know me you would swear i was drunk have not had a drink in 25yrs!check out horse miracles.org been there once few weeks back for sure going back for more really really help me with one visit stress free with one visit would have never believed it if i did not go and check it out myself good luck

hairbrain4 profile image
hairbrain4

I take Modafinil 200mg. In the winter I only need to take 100mg. I tried the Amantidine & it made me more tired.

jackiesj profile image
jackiesj

I asked my phsyc. about med for fatigue and he told me if I had med for pain or spasms and anxiety why would he prescribe something for energy unless I got off the others that seem to be sedative.No my body is not sedate and I want to do things....I think one day he will live in this body?Full nights sleep does help....a lot.i swear by vitamins.Hope something works for us...