Medication to reduce feeling overstimulated

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anathemaviolet
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05 Jun 2008, 2:23 am

Finally, some hope for my Asperger-related problem with visual and auditory overstimulation. (I swear, I'm not an advertiser or spammer! This is real. See my other posts. I'm a therapist in training with some residual Asperger symptoms, although I've overcome my social skills deficits.)

I'm quite pleased with a prescription medication that the neurologist prescribed me, even though I figured out on my own that it would help me through internet research. I've been on a generic, long-acting alpha blocker (blocks a type of adrenaline receptor) called doxazosin at 1 mg per day since Saturday and feel much more serene and less overstimulated. It's actually meant as an anti-hypertension (blood pressure) medication that's also used for prostate problems. My theory as put forth in a previous personal blog post was right - I do get relief from less norepinephrine activity in my brain, which is excessively produced when the senses of an Aspie are stimulated or my attention is shifted too rapidly.

These are the benefits I've noticed so far, plus some hopeful guesses:
-No more head pain or burning discomfort from being too active in the city and at work. A cool feeling in the head. (I live in L.A., where it's bright and active with loads of traffic.)
-Warmer hands and feet (better circulation).
-Easier socializing with strangers (can handle novel sensory stimuli with less distraction).
-Better endurance and greater willingness to do tasks, including housecleaning. It's about time this place looked decent, since it's been hard to clean regularly with the previous head pain and fatigue. Cleaning requires lots of attention shifting.
-More interest in reading books rather than searching the internet for hours.
-More restful and faster sleep. Hopefully, I'll have the ability to get up on mornings without day-long migraines for once.
-Less resistance to driving long distances.
-Less drive to seek understanding of my struggles from others. I guess the purpose of that drive was to get some resolution, which I've now more or less got.
-MUCH LESS SENSORY AND MENTAL FATIGUE WHEN SEEING SEVERAL THERAPY CLIENTS IN A ROW. This one will save my career. I was having a crisis recently over whether it was the right career for me, but that's now over.
-Clearer, more moderate appetite signals.

I can't believe a doctor finally listened to me. When I explained that this drug helps me, since I was already on it before seeing him for the first time but needed him to now prescribe it regularly, he said "You can't argue with success" and immediately asked me if I wanted a 30-day or 90-day prescription. It even has 3 refills on it. I'm definitely going to keep using this guy.

This could be mildly life-changing in terms of comfort level and capacity to do activities. I hope this info might help others on here...



schleppenheimer
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05 Jun 2008, 7:42 am

Thank you for posting this information -- I'm hoping that more research will be done on this, in case it is the type of thing that would be helpful for children and/or young adults in school, in that it might a) decrease their school anxiety, and b) help them to socialize.

Kris



lastcrazyhorn
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05 Jun 2008, 8:04 am

I take Toprol XL - a beta blocker meant for seniors with heart problems. It lowers my heart rate by about 16 points.

I'll tell you though; if you don't want meds, wearing a weighted vest for an hour or so each day and while you sleep is just about as good as anything. I used to be on anti-anxiety meds, but I'm off of them now thanks to the vest.


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Danielismyname
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05 Jun 2008, 8:52 am

I use Diazepam to help with sensory overstimulation; it dampens my senses, which in turn alleviates the pain I feel from the [human] environment.



aspiesavant
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08 Feb 2015, 3:59 pm

I tried Ritalin (officially prescribed). buth that made me very unstable.

I tried dextroamphetamine (officially prescribed), but that may me rather numb.

I tried various illegal substances including LSD, levoamphetamine, methylone and 2-FMA (self-medicated). Those did benefit me a lot, but the stimulants to tend to be addictive and result in dependence.

Currently, I try to stay free from any medication most of the time, although I do self-medicate occasionally.