Low Dose Stimulant for Depression

[The Dreamer]

My cat suffers from depression. Most days he sits around and can barely find the energy to do the things that interest him much less those that he has to do. He is overweight but can't seem to kick his fat habits because eating right and exercise take energy that he just doesn't have.

He's tried conventional drugs and they make him less sad but rob him of even more of his energy.

So a couple of weeks ago he started taking a little weed butter in some Ramen noodles on a whim and found that his outlook on life is much better. He doesn't have to get high on it but every day he takes a little around dinner time and it makes him happier.

However, he still has no energy. He's happy but he sits on the couch and is happy. So He's looking for something to give him a little lift. Preferably something the America authorities won't bust him for. My cat wouldn't make it in prison.

He's tried Kratom with some success but it gives him headaches and seems to require him to up the dosage every so often. Remember He wants to take this everyday to feel normal so he's really concerned about side-effects that might hurt him over time. He also doesn't want something like caffine that gives you the jitters or makes you crash afterward. Kratom is pretty damn close honestly.

Any ideas? My cat needs help.

[Heretic.Ape.]

I personally advise against stimulants for mood disorders. The things that work best aren't drugs. Phamaceuticals have success rates roughly on par with a plecebo and using recreational drugs for daily maintainance is bound to lead to much more trouble and thus compounded depression.
The things that work are things you don't want to hear when you're depressed (I know, I have bipolar):

-Go out and do something you enjoy
-hang out with good people and try to meet some new good people (even if you feel anti-social... especially if you feel anti-social)
-keep occupied, don't sit around ruminating on how you feel
-keep a journal, writing for just a half-hour or so a day about your feelings
-take a walk
-listen to some good music, watch a funny movie, etc
-keep busy
-keep busy
-keep busy
-get some sleep at night (if you have insomnia the whole keeping busy during the day will help much more than you think)
-don't worry about making your life perfect. There's no such thing. Being content with good enough beats the hell out of being depressed with high intentions.

Just some thoughts from a very experienced person who has tried everything.
h.a.

Edit: looking for support and/or people to talk to about mental health issues... join Assorted Nuts

Reputation Comments on this post:

good advice

[The Dreamer]

Well, my cats only been taking the weed for a couple of weeks but it seems to be working wonders so far. Other than the laziness which seems to have worsened a little. Keep in mind that bipolar and depression are two very different issues.

But due to the positive attitude alone he's been exercising regularly and thinking a little more in depth about what he eats. He also says he feels a lot more comfortable around people that he doesn't know.

These things that depressed cats don't want to hear are things that he's tried. The conclusion I've come to is that while doing those things is what actually makes a life good doing them with any consistency can still be very hard for some. Hopefully, if he can get his head working right (or at least better than it has been) he can start doing those things and perhaps even get to the point where he can be happy by himself. But right now all his efforts seem to fall on dead ears within his own mind unless he alters his consciousness slightly.

Thanks for the comment though. My cat has seen people abuse drugs instead of dealing with their issues and that's not what he's looking for (he's tried that already). He'd just like something that puts him in a mood that makes him more inclined to do the sorts of things you listed above.

[Heretic.Ape.]

My monkey also has great things to say about cannabis with mood issues. He doesn't like recommending it broadly because cannabis has been reported to have adverse affects on some people who suffer from mental health problems.
Best of luck to your cat.

[The Dreamer]

Yes my cat has definitely seen already unstable people 'go over the edge' after doing it consistently for long periods of time.

But they did it A LOT.

[ShawnD]

Try giving your cat some ephedrine. It may not be as good a stimulant as Adderall or Dexedrine, but it's worth a shot. Your cat will be frisky again in no time

[Felix Guattari]

The only 'stimulant' which I think could be unproblematically recommended for depression is modafinil. If dopamine is implicated in your depression (often is), a conventional (i.e., amps. and me'phenidate) will just deplete the already dwindling supplies.
The other stimulantesque med which might be of some efficacy is bupropion (wellbutrin). While it is chemically a phenethylamine and has some definite dopaminergic properties, it doesn't seem to cause as bad dopamine depletion as the regular suspects.

Beyond the properly stimulant realm, some nootropics (for SWiM) effect a similar feeling of 'clarification' and motivation which SWiY could find useful. Those of greatest note here are the 'racetams.

Unless your diet is absolutely impeccable (no one's is), it's worth investing in a good brain-health oriented multivit as well.

While you could go it alone with the noots, vits and modafinil, it might be worth getting a recommendation for a good psych (i.e., one that won't simply give you an SSRI). You say you've given 'conventional drugs' a shot, but what drugs? A shockingly small percentage of the population responds well to SSRI monotherapy; often its a matter of finding a better combo that comes closer to doing something which you find more favourable.

Hope this helps.