Rit LA & Prozac | ADHD Information

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(Posting this both on parent's board and here. I'd love to hear from people who've had positive and negative experiences with Ritalin & Prozac combined.)

What a week!  The upshot is we met with the doctor yesterday about some negative mood effects DS seems to get if his dose of Ritalin LA is high enough to offer ADHD symptom control.  For example, 20 mg Ritalin LA provides excellent symptom control for ADHD all through the school day, but he gets a mood "dip" each morning after taking it. Similar issues with Concerta, even at the lowest dose.

Trial of Ritalin LA 10 mg was a "woo-woo" look out kind of experience where I remembered that we are treating the ADHD so he will survive into adulthood (and me too!) Hyper with a big H, and lots of trouble paying attention to anything.  Really FAST!! I'm exhausted.

Trial of short-acting Ritalin, 7.5 mg twice a day was better, but lots of ups and downs. He'd have to take this every three hours for it to work I think.

So, all that said, we met with doc yesterday and he thinks the mood issues are comorbid, and we are just able to see them when the ADHD is "off."  Was willing to either try another ADHD med (we tried Adderall, BTW -- truly awful side effects) or augment Ritalin LA 20 mg. with 10 mg Prozac.

We started the combination today.  I couldn't face another brand new ADHD med, and I've had positive experiences with Prozac myself, so it seemed like the thing to try.

I'm so conflicted about this. I don't want to be adding medications, but the ADHD simply can't be untreated for this kid.

Any experiences out there? Thanks!! You sound like Felicity Huffman who plays Lynette Scarvo in Desperate Housewives with her two uncontrollable boys.  I hope Prozac works out for your son with his Ritalin.  Reason being, when I was on an SSRI, like most, it numbs you emotionally, and when you take a stimulant, you all of the sudden get to feel like what it feels to feel again for those few hours until it works out.  Afterwards, you're really paranoid, so keep a close eye on your son to see if he does okay.