why is adderall not working 4 me? | ADHD Information
hi - my name is LeeAnn - i'm 35, yesterday, as a matter of fact.... i didn't even tell anyone it was my b'day - not like me.. i have read alot of posts and i am soooo confused - - i was diagnosed last tuesday with adhd - - always known but..... anyway, i started off taking 20mg adderall twice a day. i felt weird.. then i went to 10mg twice a day still felt weird. then, yesterday, i went to 5 mg twice a day. still felt weird..i have been lethargic, no personality, sad, extremelt depressed. i haven't wanted to go to work, see anyone, talk to anyone or anything. i don't know wht if it seems to work for all of you, why in the world would i be having such adverse reactions? it has made me focus a little bit more, but not like i am hearing from people on this forum. seriously, i am a very funny, goofy, crazy ha ha person, but with this, i feel like a ZOMBIE in a mental institution. my mom just said that all she's seen me do for a week is bite my fingernails and stare into space. i have called my dr. does anyone think the straterra may be better suited for me? what about ritalin?
i know i'm wired differently than most, but i thought if a lot of people with add take it and it works so well, that it would work for me too. please tell me ya'll are not having these feelings? i think i'd rather forget things, lose things and never get anything done rather than feel like this. can anyone help or does anyone have any suggestions as to why?
it has made me sooooo depressed like i'm a big fat loser!!!!!
help me!!!!!
Just a thought, and I'll probably get roasted by someone for saying so, but it might be that those warnings are there now because your body/brain at the moment is still able to fight against what it can't cope with - but its very possible that if whats its warning against keeps coming and so it starts losing the fight then those warnings won't be clear any more because your brain can become too affected by the 'foreign' chemicals its warning against now to realise whats wrong.
Does that make sense to you?
Anway, best of luck.
curus38666.4240740741
LeaAnn, I'm sorry you're feeling so bad.
Does it make any sense (I'm not so good at explaining) if I suggest this, and its only a suggestion:
Listen to your body (including your brain and mind) and what its trying to tell you about how you were a few days ago, how you are now and how its coping with chemicals. Your body gives you warning signals all the time - something's too hot so you don't continue to burn yourself for instance - and is pretty good at protecting you generally through life against things that it can't cope with.
Whatever you choose to do, I hope you feel much better soon.
Are you sure you have ADHD and not another disorder that mimics it?
To Bugs, don't let her get to you. By her admission she is a CHILD. She is 19 years old and in college. I wouldn't let her get you agitated. I doubt she has much of a serious audience here. Who cares about it's gender anyways? It has an agenda. Don't feed the troll by talkling directly to her.
psm090438668.2981365741[QUOTE=cluster]it does a little - - i'm getting the feeling you may not like any meds? am i on the right track? i just wonder if a non stimulant med may be the better route?[/QUOTE]
No - I'm not against all meds, though I think they are VERY much overprescribed and should be a last resort only with the most serious problems and when all other therapies have been explored and exhausted (which would probably cut most people off the prescription list), and never be used for infants whose brains are developing particularly as nobody has any idea what results it might have on their well being in the future. 
When used as a last resort, then I'm FOR informed choice which means both positive and negative sides of medication being dislosed and made equally available so that people can weigh things up and truly make an informed choice as to risks as well as benefits - not that my views are important as I'm simply putting ideas your way like anyone else, more things to think about thats all. But you asked, so I'm answering with my own views.
A question: Did you come off escitalopram/lexapro when you went on the stimulant?
You didn't mention Lexapro in the first post so it may be that if you changed from SSRI to stimulant it might be withdrawal from the lexapro more than a stimulant issue, or a mixture of both. Only you know the answer to that to be able to work out if its possible.
IF thats whats happened, or if even if you fairly recently came off lexapro without tapering off, it might be an idea to read through this and then talk to your doctor?
http://www.ssri-uksupport.com/files/protocolwithdrawalssris. pdf
That one is from a site that uses pdf formats rather than just a web page but I'm using theirs here because its probably easier to print out from pdf, but in case you have a problem with Acrobat reader here's the same article from another site:
http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm
(this one's not too bad for printing out either).
If it isn't relevant to you, then just ignore it.
curus38666.5954050926
curus,
Celexa and lexapro are both made by Forest Labs. They're pretty much the same drug except Celexa seems to be slightly milder during withdrawals.
LeeAnn,
If you are getting worse every day, you can always just pop a Lexapro pill and everything will be "normal" within an hour. The downside is that you would be starting over with your withdrawal from Lexapro.
Your posts are rational, so that's a good sign... and I'm not joking.
At the 6 week mark, you'll realize that you're not getting worse and that some of the worst symptoms have eased. That's when you'll feel confident about "surviving" the next day. Then, life quickly gets better.
If it's too rough now, you can just follow curus' post on withdrawal procedures. It's up to you.
Cluster - you know how you feel, and you have the Protocol - please decide for yourself but whichever way you go PLEASE for your own health just don't dismiss things because a few people don't want you to have the information and so try to discredit it.
All the best Cluster.
it is morphing and talking to itself..trying to hijack the thread to confuse the poster so she leaves..
and nothing further happens..
well except that I usually pm the original poster and tell them my version, personally and FIRST.
I win..
Next game please....
bugzappers38666.6841087963
"....when i take any meds like pain meds (like a month ago after a dental implant) or antihistamine, EVERY MED has an adverse effect on me...."
Cluster, that bit really worries me. If all meds have an adverse effect on you then please rethink whether you need drugs? Because even in people who don't normally get adverse effects it sometimes turns on them eventually and leave them with chemical sensitivity - and when it does its a bit late to do much about it. So I hope you'll think about it seriously.
Now for the feeling "so whacked":
I disagree slightly with Reality where he says withdrawal lasts 6 weeks, cos it isn't necessarily the case - sometimes it can be very much longer. But maybe he means that after six weeks its no longer classed as 'withdrawal symptoms' but as the damage done to the body/brain, he's probably right if thats what he means A part of those symptoms is often described as feeling so ill that people hardly function, feel like they're almost dying, things like that. You'll see in the post directly before this one (unless you've posted in the meantime LOL) that the Protocol includes: "Fatigue/Malaise". That too is part of the withdrawal.
Thing is that SSRI cold turkey (and one every other day for a week is near enough cold turkey) more often seems to be the cause of the LONGER withdrawal symptoms/long term damage (whatever term it goes under) but hopefully it can still be avoided at this stage because you haven't long come off them, had you been off them for a month or two it wouldn't work:
Print out (as prof Healy suggest in the article) the protocol for withdrawal and give it your doc.
Ask him/her if you should go back on to the Lexapro, (or perhaps Prozac liquid as per recommended, but that doesn't suit EVERYONE) stabilise for a week or two and then then start the tapering. Then take it as SLOWLY AS YOU NEED.
If you come down a mg or whatever and you get a really bad reaction, then go back up, wait a week or two then go down LESS and stay at that level for a while before attempting the next move.
If you go back on pill version, then many people have found it useful to have a pill cutter (cutting them in half when needed), a razor (for cutting into quarters at the relevant stage) and towards the final stages of tapering (the last 10 mgs) which are usually the most problematic, a metal nail file so that you can try to file off the tiniest parts if necessary.
You may need a lot of patience. Some people take a year of slow tapering if they find drops in dose too much - hopefully it won't be so bad for you, but you need to be aware that it could be a long haul.
If your doc is a good one and willing to take info on board, then he won't think you're wacked at all, he'll realise that its withdrawal.
I'm going offline now. Feel free to pm me if you want to and I'll pick it up next time I'm here.
Please take care Cluster.
I agree with curus.
If you have just come off Lexapro, you may be having some "discontinuation syndrome" problems with it.
The 2 most common side effects of quitting or changing doses of antidepressants are DEPRESSION and SUICIDE.... and it has absolutely nothing to do with your "mental illness coming back"... especially when the original diagnosis was anxiety.
Side effects of quitting antidepressants will last about 6 weeks after the last pill.
yes, yes, yes!!! i stopped taking the lexapro about 2 1/2 weeks ago - and the only tapering off i did was instead of 1 a day, i took one every other for about a week - so i did taper off some...but.... maybe that is some of the issue. i am still waiting for the dr. to call me back - i didn't take the adderall today and i do feel better, however, i still don't feel like LeeAnn again. and i did not know that it took 6 weeks to stop the withdrawals of anti depressants. i appreciate ya'lls input, though, even though both of ya'll really don't like meds as a first or second, or third option.
.
any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. seriously!
this is something else that is strange to me. how can a stimulant make me tired? god is my system wacked. i've never done DRUGS per se so i have never known what a stimulant would do. i'm glad i didn't waaste my time and money with drugs as a kid. i wouldv'e been disappointed.
but ya know, when i take any meds like pain meds (like a month ago after a dental implant) or antihistamine, EVERY MED has an adverse effect on me. i did take a valium when i was 19 and i vacuumed the entire apt and cleaned like a lunatic.... so really, everything has an adverse effect on me.
thanks!
this dr. really is going to think i'm wacked - -
LeeAnn,
How long were you on Lexapro and at how high a dose when you stopped ?
You don't have to tell.... it's just that if you were on it for more than 6 months at a medium to high dose, it'll take the whole 6 weeks to feel better. And it probably is causing your tiredness.
Look on the bright side... if you picked up any weight while on Lexapro, it will start coming off after 6 weeks... from THE LAST PILL. LOL.
Cluster - taking your FIRST paragraph first:
taking one every other day for a week isn't what tapering is all about, PLEASE for your own safety take note of the protocol in the article I posted above somewhere:
This part is how to taper off - its all approximate cos nobody could write one that suits everyone as it depends on individual metabolism as to long its going to take, I'm going to put bits of it in bold - its not in bold on the article itself, also I think its Celexa that Lexapro is the same as (different manufacturer) so GUESSING that as Celexa is 20 mgs and the equivalent of the same amount (20 mgs) of Prozac then so probably is Lexapro, but check that one:
"...Withdrawal from SSRIs is something to be done in consultation with your physician. You may wish to show this to your GP. Over-rapid withdrawal may even be medically hazardous, particularly in older persons.
Convert the dose of SSRI you are on to an equivalent dose of Prozac liquid. Seroxat/Paxil 20mg, Efexor 75mg, Cipramil/Celexa 20mgs. Lustrat/Zoloft 50mgs are equivalent to 20mg of Prozac liquid. The rationale for this is that Prozac has a very long half-life, which helps to minimise withdrawal problems. The liquid form permits the dose to be reduced more slowly than can be done with pills.
Stabilise on the Prozac for a week, then halve the dose.
If there has been no problem with step 2, the dose can be further halved. Alternatively if there has been a problem from this point on the dose can be reduced even more slowly in weekly increments.
From a dose of Prozac 10mgs liquid, consider reducing by 1mg every few days over the course of several weeks - or months if need be. With Prozac liquid this can be done by dilution.
If there are difficulties at any particular stage the answer is to wait at that stage for a longer period of time before reducing further.
Withdrawal and dependence are physical phenomena. But some people can get understandably phobic about withdrawal particularly if the experience is literally shocking. If you think you may have become phobic, a clinical psychologist may be able to help manage the phobic problem.
Self-help support groups can be invaluable. Join one. If there are none nearby, consider setting one up. There will be lots of other people with a similar problem.
There is anecdotal evidence and some theoretical grounds to believe that another option is to substitute St John's Wort for the SSRI. If a dose of 3 tablets of St John's Wort is tolerated instead of the SSRI, this can then be reduced slowly - by one pill per fortnight or even per month.
Some people for understandable reasons may prefer this approach. But it needs to be noted that St John's Wort has its own set of interactions with other pills and its own problems and you may wish to consult your physician if this is the option you choose..."
Will answer the rest in a fresh post or it'll get too long.
[QUOTE=cluster] yes, yes, yes!!! i stopped taking the lexapro about 2 1/2 weeks ago - and the only tapering off i did was instead of 1 a day, i took one every other for about a week - so i did taper off some...but.... maybe that is some of the issue. i am still waiting for the dr. to call me back - i didn't take the adderall today and i do feel better, however, i still don't feel like LeeAnn again. and i did not know that it took 6 weeks to stop the withdrawals of anti depressants. i appreciate ya'lls input, though, even though both of ya'll really don't like meds as a first or second, or third option. .
any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. seriously!
this is something else that is strange to me. how can a stimulant make me tired? god is my system wacked. i've never done DRUGS per se so i have never known what a stimulant would do. i'm glad i didn't waaste my time and money with drugs as a kid. i wouldv'e been disappointed. but ya know, when i take any meds like pain meds (like a month ago after a dental implant) or antihistamine, EVERY MED has an adverse effect on me. i did take a valium when i was 19 and i vacuumed the entire apt and cleaned like a lunatic.... so really, everything has an adverse effect on me.
thanks!
this dr. really is going to think i'm wacked - -
[/QUOTE]
Gotta copy it over the answer the rest as its now on a new page so I can't scroll up to read it.
Still with the first paragraph, a LOT of people say they don't feel like "me" anymore when they've had an adverse effect from either the SSRI or from withdrawal from it. It may be related to a feeling of 'unreality' somehow? That I'd think is almost certainly the SSRI/withdrawal rather than the stimulant, but I don't know whether stimulants can do that too.
I can't really give an opinion about the issue of a stimulant making you tired, because you've got withdrawal AND stimulant problems that can be taken either way.
BUT... as far as SSRI withdrawal is concerned, from the same Protocol for Withdrawal is this part:
"...The common symptoms on withdrawal from SSRIs break down into two groups(2). The first group may be unlike anything you have had before and include:
Dizziness
Headache
Muscle Spasms
Tremor
Electric Shock-like Sensations
Other Strange Tingling or Painful Sensations
Nausea, Diarrhoea, Flatulence
Dreams, including Vivid Dreams
Agitation
The second group overlaps with general nervousness and may lead to you or your physician to think that all you have are features of your original problem. These symptoms include:
Depression
Lability of Mood
Irritability
Agitation
Confusion
Fatigue/Malaise
Flu-like Feelings
Insomnia or Drowsiness
Mood Swings
Sweating
Feelings of Unreality
Feelings of being Hot or Cold..."
And the next part of replying on another fresh post to keep them shorter.
Ok, first off ignore everything to this point. You have been under the control of anti believers.
Two of them bouncing off each other.
curus and reality.
Second of all. the information they give out is something that is either, made up, or not experienced by them.
I am going to take a stab and say that adderall is not for you.
There are other medications out there that may be what you need.
You need to tell your dr what your experiencing.
I sense you have trouble relaying all the important stuff to him, you need to write it all down for him to read. We all tend to have that.
At any rate, He may want you to give it a little longer to see if it just takes time to start your system.
To address your question further, I have one for you. Why are you starting at 20mg and going down?
unless your trying to find the spot it starts working for you.
I also would like to know, are you on adderall xr or ir or both? there is a difference.
I know everyone has presented you with a cut and dry response, but things are a little more complicated than withdrawls, and I am sure your past that point.
You said a magic phrase that told me this is not withdrawls.
bugzappers38666.6700578704
I still don't understand how this forum effects reality or curus or why persist in using this forum as a soap box for their personal beliefs or issues.
It only hinders those here for a genuine reason.
exactly sdw.and if they are allowed to post drivel and scare off people, then they win.
you have to keep posting and never relent.
I will continue to post as long and as much as possible to annoy them with the truth.
no matter how infuriating I or they may become.
Typically, I get off a thread as soon as I see reality post (though curus doesn't bother me nearly as much... at least he diseminates information and encouragement rather than condemnation), but I would like to comment on this. First, escitalopram may be part of the problem. Unfortunately, you won't know for several weeks. It's rarely advisable to make two drug changes at once, for exactly this reason. You don't know what symptoms are due to what drug. My best suggestion is to give it time. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome can last, as others have pointed out, up to six weeks and even two months. For others it lasts two weeks or so. In any case, your neurotransmitters will have to reaclimate themselves at their own speed.
As far as the Adderall, which I believe was your original question, I have two answers. One is pharmacological, the other personal. Pharmacologically, amphetamine may result in some of the symptoms you mentioned, but that probably indicates that your body is adjusting to the drug. It may also indicate that the dose has been too high. Bare in mind that in clinical practice, low(er) doses are used to improve attention, and higher doses are used for distractibility and hyperactivity. The point being that higher doses result in increased inhibition, which would explain the decrease in impulsivity you may be experiencing. Your brain is suddenly thinking of every possible ramification before you decide it's safe to think. In a way that's what the drug is supposed to do, but it can be an undesirable effect because it can lead to feeling "flat" or "zombie-like." Low doses can actually have the opposite effect. What I'm suggesting in all this is that you give it some time and play with the dosing (with your doc, of course) before you give up. Strattera is a decent drug, but it doesn't work well for up to half the people who take it, and it can cause more side effects than stimulants. These include sexual side effects, feelings of depersonalization (losing your personality), and sometimes depression. It's not a wonder drug just because it's non-stimulant, and that fact has finally come to the attention of the medical community, and prescribing of the drug has curtailed sharply. I would consider it an acceptable second-line option when stims have failed or are inappropriate, but not a first-line choice.
Now for the personal... before med school, I was an acting major (quite a departure, huh?... poverty and I don't agree). I had the same problem starting adderall. Started at 20 bid, and felt so overly inhibited that I sweat through my costume during performances. I would shake anytime I had to get in front of people, and I felt like all the witty repoirte I had taken pride in had evaporated. I hated it. I hated every second of it, and I hated the person I had become... a non-entity, incapable of any emotion. I felt like I could stare at walls and watch paint peel. Miserable. I tried to go off Adderall many times that first year, and each time ended up on academic probation (and I am a very intelligent guy, just unfocused). I was in a dilema, and I decided that Adderall was a necessary evil for that particular time. After 6 months or so, the inhibition ceased. I was happier and more functional than I had ever been. It was, without a doubt, the best thing that ever happened to me. But it wasn't easy, make no mistake. I went through 6 months of hell to get to that point.
I'm not trying to scare you. Many people try adderall with nothing but good results from the beginning. I was not so lucky, and it sounds like you're not either. The body and brain have to adapt. What I CAN tell you is that my life has changed 180 degrees, and much of that is thanks to the adderall. My personality is intact, my sardonic sense of humor is as sharp as it ever was, and I have the ability to succeed in ways I never fathomed before. For me, the pain of the transition was well worth it, and I loathe to think of where I would be had I made the choice to discontinue adderall because it was temporarily uncomfortable. I urge you to consider carefully the ramifications of your decisions, and give time time to heal. If you wait it out, you will be able to truly gauge whether or not this is a good med for you. Time.
shakespeare38666.7128240741I tell you what Bugs. I'll leave you carrying on in this thread, changing your messages back and forth, making what sound particularly paranoid accusations of one poster being another one etc., lying and twisting everything around.
I've got better things to do that spend time with you.
Cluster knows she can pm me if she needs or wants to.
Enjoy yourself.
aww, running away from a fight you start but can't win?
iddent he cute.
do us a favor pal.
DON'T COME BACK, and keep YOUR PAL REALITY THERE AS WELL.
bugzappers38666.7160532407
Shakespeare, sorry didn't see you there, wasn't ignoring you, I agree with quite a lot of what you say (shock LOL!), and you've definitely given more useful views for Cluster to consider. And I'm a she not a he - but it doesn't matter
Aw Bugs - I said I was going offline at the end of the long message just after you and someone else had posted, while I was writing that I didn't even know you'd posted. I don't run away from anything - but I TRY to not engage with hostile confrontational and irrational people.
Hopefully I'll be able to resist better next time. So a final (hopefully) goodbye to you personally.
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Sorry... don't know why I envisioned you as a "he." I'll be gender appropriate next time...[/QUOTE]
ROTFL - don't apologise. Just so long as I don't LOOK like a he. 
Not that I've got anything against men's looks, just don't think it would suit me.
Bye for now.
Oh now we try the I am human and can touchy feely crap.Spare us o keeper of the truth.
And stick your truth where the sun don't shine.
and as far as mean, I have not yet begun to become mean. This is play for me.
if you had any clue of ad/hd, you would know there are different manifestations.
bugzappers38666.7312384259 I bet they are dying to know how I KNOW it is not withdrawls.
Simple.
She clearly stated she stopped the adderall today, and she feels MUCH BETTER.
the feelings you talk of can be a possible side of adderall. Meaness is a side too.
Please read your pamphlet for adderall, or go to the adderall site and read prescribing info.
BUT
simply put, this is from the adderall.
you need to talk to your dr and see if your going to try another medication.
best of luck.
I do apologize for the hijacking of your post.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLUSTER..
seems no one reads your post at all.
bugzappers38666.696099537[QUOTE=reality]
curus,
Celexa and lexapro are both made by Forest Labs. They're pretty much the same drug except Celexa seems to be slightly milder during withdrawals.[/QUOTE]
You might be right Reality, though I think ones made by one subsidiary of the main (as in Lundbeck and Forest labs or vice versa) and perhaps thats where I've got it wrong.
And yes, maybe its not worth Cluster going back on, but sometimes withdrawal can be severe and 2 and half week after coming off means she's only in the first few days of actual symptoms and it can still get worse. So I think I'd go for the tapering off if it was me - but so long as she knows its an option still, then she's got a bit of time to decide whether its managable as is.
AND BUG - I think you'll find she's been feeling like this (and its been commented on by her parent, I think) for a few days. Which about matches the withdrawal period of c. 2 weeks before effects generally start to show on a drug with a fairly long half life of approx 37 hours. Please don't apologise for my posts!
Hey STOOPID, read my last post, just before your post.. oh wait you can't acknowledge it. Never mind. I will repost it.she clearly stated she stopped the adderall today, and she feels MUCH BETTER
simply put, this is from the adderall.
you need to talk to your dr and see if your going to try another medication.
best of luck.
bugzappers38666.694224537 This is why you always listen to a professional dr and not us when it comes to your meds. You never know who is helping, or not or who has an agenda, or who wants to hurt you.
I wish I could be more positive, but the trolls speak for themselves.
STILL, HAPPY BD. I just turned 36, so I can kinda sympathize.
shhhh, my bd... no.. who told you that. I am 29 and going backwards.
lets see the bot trolls post anything other than black and white.
bugzappers38666.6974421296
[QUOTE=cluster] i didn't take the adderall today and i do feel better.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=cluster] i feel like a ZOMBIE in a mental institution. my mom just said that all she's seen me do for a week is bite my fingernails and stare into space. [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=cluster]i was diagnosed last tuesday with adhd [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=cluster] i stopped taking the lexapro about 2 1/2 weeks ago [/QUOTE]
As I said, Bug - it could be either, or a mixture of both, but its LIKELY TO BE WITHDRAWAL from the Lexapro.
By the way it was her birthday YESTERDAY.
[QUOTE=bugzappers] I bet they are dying to know how I KNOW it is not withdrawls.
Simple.
She clearly stated she stopped the adderall today, and she feels MUCH BETTER.
the feelings you talk of can be a possible side of adderall. Meaness is a side too.
Please read your pamphlet for adderall, or go to the adderall site and read prescribing info.
BUT
simply put, this is from the adderall.
you need to talk to your dr and see if your going to try another medication.
best of luck.
I do apologize for the hijacking of your post.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLUSTER..
seems no one reads your post at all.
[/QUOTE]
Although you've edited amended you comment that she stopped the medication today and that things took a nose dive for the worst, and changed it to feeling better, you still haven't edited out your Happy Birthday Cluster. I read her post carefully. She said:
[QUOTE=cluster] hi - my name is LeeAnn - i'm 35, yesterday, as a matter of fact.... i didn't even tell anyone it was my b'day - not like me [/QUOTE]
Cluster, please pm me if you need any more help and I'll answer when I come back next time. Take care.
Yeah so, it was her bd yesterday, you still failed to acknowledge it.
See in AMERICA we can say Happy BD to someone, even if it was yesterday or tomorrow, or last week, or next week..
why, because we are not pessimists. we are realists, and we have a past, present and assured future. and we also are tenacious. So to wish her a happy bd could be a combination of all tenses. So shut it.
your robotic answers and euorpean spelling tells me the streets in france are not safe for another night.
And all week comprised of till she stopped the adderall, then felt better, not totally herself, but better. Well that says one thing, if she stops adderall, and she felt better, she is having problems with adderall.
but you don't know that since cracker jacks testing for your degree did not have that question on the test.
again, you don't have ANY of the experience, WHY do you insist on answering blindly?
you do realize that your answers may cause someone to have an extreme reaction, and possibly die because of your misinformation.
See, here is what you don't get.
ADDERALL IS FAST ACTING.
If she stopped and the next day felt better.
It is the adderall, duh.. and for someone leaning to both, your posts of this
" disagree slightly with Reality where he says withdrawal lasts 6 weeks, cos it isn't necessarily the case - sometimes it can be very much longer. But maybe he means that after six weeks its no longer classed as 'withdrawal symptoms' but as the damage done to the body/brain, he's probably right if thats what he means
A part of those symptoms is often described as feeling so ill that
people hardly function, feel like they're almost dying, things like
that. You'll see in the post directly before this one (unless you've
posted in the meantime LOL) that the Protocol includes: "Fatigue/Malaise". That too is part of the withdrawal.
Thing is that SSRI cold turkey (and one every other day for a week is near enough cold turkey) more often seems to be the cause of the LONGER withdrawal symptoms/long term damage (whatever term it goes under) but hopefully it can still be avoided at this stage because you haven't long come off them, had you been off them for a month or two it wouldn't work:
Print out (as prof Healy suggest in the article) the protocol for withdrawal and give it your doc.
Ask him/her if you should go back on to the Lexapro, (or perhaps Prozac liquid as per recommended, but that doesn't suit EVERYONE) stabilise for a week or two and then then start the tapering. Then take it as SLOWLY AS YOU NEED."
leads me to think you lie as well.welcome admitted curus/reality.. We have a liar, i mean winner.
So you both post in european language type spellings, both talk of holidays, we call vacations in the US, and both post the same drivel from the same sites. and your not the same group or person... nice try.
ps. better is still better. And I am at liberty to edit my posts as I see fit. I don't answer to you and won't.
BUT..
I did make you go back and look, and change your view... to middle of road.
I win again.... this is fun..
bugzappers38666.7125810185it does a little - - i'm getting the feeling you may not like any meds? am i on the right track? i just wonder if a non stimulant med may be the better route?
You said you were recently diagnosed as well, is that correct? Is it possible that you may depressed because of the diagnosis? Depression can show symptons similar to what you are displaying (from personal experience, not medical)
I am not a doctor, but I don't think that adderrall helps with depression but it can be used in conjunction with another medication to help with it.
Also remember, one person's treasure... straterra started out working wonders for me, but after about 6 mths it did not do as well, neither did concerta, but adderal seems to help. Others of course find other medications work better, or may also find a "cocktail" - combination of medications - work best for them.
It does depend on your symptoms, and also if you may have other issues outside of ADD or HD.. maybe depression, another disorder, that you may also deal with day to day.
Hope that helps
exactly - as far as another ISSUE. i thought i had beat the depression - has been awhile - but..... it is always lurking around. i will see what the dr. suggests this afternoon when he makes his calls. maybe being put back on the lexapro and changing to strattera may help - do you think ritalin or strattera would be the next step? dr. has mentioned ritalin more than once. he hasn't mentioned strattera, only i have. i am very new at this. i know i ask alot of questions, but i'm learning, plus, it takes awhile for stuff to sink in..... i wonder why!!!!!!