[FullMtlAlcoholc]

Like you, I once was on a roller-coaster of cognition enhancing drugs. I did find that I was more productive, but only if I planned out what exactly I wanted to do beforehand and removed all distractions from my workspace. (Phone on airplane mode in another room, email/chat closed, websites blocked, etc.) However, the side effects made it rarely worth it.

However, I started going to see a new doctor. He recommended to Selegiline. I had some reservations, as it is officially classified as a MAOI, but he had some impressive credentials (PhD in neurobiology and MD, Postdoc in psychopharmacology and neuronal regeneration, APA President, wrote APA Textbook of Psychopharmacology) and seemed personally familiar with it.

It has been a revelation for me. It provides similar benefits without the tunnel-vision or distractibility. Most importantly, it doesn't have a noticeable narcotic/stimulant effect, nor does it have the dietary restrictions of MAOI. It does partly metabolize into Levoamphetamine and levomethamphetamine, but it's a minimal amount and you don't feel it. I'm still young, so I cannot attest to its supposed anti-aging/neuroprotective qualities.

[joelmeckert]

I had some excellent results with selegiline / Deprenyl in my 20's, Cyprenil (liquid) seemed to be the best. I had mad cash back then and could afford to spend money on life extension and cognitive enhancers. It certainly helped me focus.

[perfectfire]

> Selegiline

Interesting. I just moved and my new doctor just recently suggested maybe trying MAOI's. I've found a medication that has been absolutely wonderful for depression, but I have yet to find anything that helps with anxiety other than Klonopin and that's definitely not a long-term solution (I'm tapering off of it for the second time right now). I haven't been taking stimulants for ADHD though, I've been taking them for narcolepsy.

I'll definitely look into Selegiline now, thanks!

Edit: Oh wait:

> it doesn't have a noticeable narcotic/stimulant effect

I kind of need the stimulant effect because of the narcolepsy.

[FullMtlAlcoholc]

Modern SSRI's are not more effective at treating depression or anxiety than drugs from the 1960's including MAOI's. In fact, MAOIS raise the level of 3 neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine) while SSRI's usually only effect serotonin. I believe effexor inhibits one more neurotransmitter. They fell out of favor because they required such a strict diet and had severe interactions with many OTC medications.

I've never heavily researched the exact pharmacology, but the patch version of Selegeiiline is completely safe as long as you don't gorge yourself on aged, aromatic cheeses or a bucket of miso soup. The only thing I've had to restrict is ingesting amino acid supplements as it's high in tyrosine.

I'd still check it out as I have recently discovered that Selegiline is the Holy Grail of nootropics. Medications for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's tend to have neuroprotective properties and there is even decent evidence of neurogenesis.

> I kind of need the stimulant effect because of the narcolepsy.

The first few days I was on the medication, I did feel an adderall-like effect. My doctor told me that the 10mg patch does metabolize to about a 5-10 mg dose of adderall. Perhaps your doctor will prescribe a higher dosage to counter that effect.

BTW, you have to be one of the few people I've talked to that took Provigil for it's intended effect.

[perfectfire]

I've been through so many anti-depressants, but I've found something really works well. It's actually an anti-psychotic. Not an S[S|N]RI combined with an anti-psychotic, just the anti-psychotic alone does the job really well.

When I looked up Selegiline I recognized the brand name and patch delivery mechanism. It sounds good, but I don't really need the anti-depressant effect. I went on to look at Moclobemide which looks like exactly what I need. Unfortunately it's not available in the United States, but if the only thing standing in my way of not feeling panicky and anxious all the time and not having any libido is buying something on the internet I think I need to research what are some good online pharmacies.