Adderall and other drugs | ADHD Information
I take Paxil and Klonopin/Clonazapan. I'm wondering if you just have ADHD because those meds are not for ADHD. One is an antidepressanat and the other is a tranquilizer. They work well for me. I have a mood disorder and general anxiety/panic attacks. However, I'd be afraid to take a stimulant with them. I'm guessing I'd feel overly jittery, and I wouldn't want to take a stimulant with a downer (Clonazapen). What are you dx. besides ADHD? Who is medicating you? Is it a Psychiatrist? [QUOTE=OlderMom]I take Paxil and Klonopin/Clonazapan. I'm wondering if you just have ADHD because those meds are not for ADHD. [/QUOTE]Sorry, but this is totally untrue. Many, many people with ADD take SSRI antidepressants. Lots and lots of people with ADD can and do take benzodiazepine sedatives as well.
Angie: Welcome. While many people an and do take similar combos - each person is different with respect to their reactions to any one of the meds you mentioned.
What are you most unhappy with? What symptoms or side effects?
jonquiljo38833.8745717593
Hi There!!!
First off I am delighted to have run across this whole site! Like so many others, I am an adult ( 26, a Mommy, a Teacher, etc) who just found out why I was just so darn whacky all those years. Apparently I have ADHD, which was a shock, cause I was expecting plain ole ADD (plain, ha!) and didn't even realize I was hyper...LMAO...I thought I was just really spastic!
Well, anyhoo, my question is first about Adderall and Valium (or those type drugs in general). Does anyone take this combo (or one similar, say, Ativan, or Clonopin)? What are the effects, if any? TIA!
Also, my DR told me that even though I will be taking Adderall now (didn't mention how I hate it so far, but hey, gotta hang in there, yep?) I have to continue taking Paxil (20mg) daily. Well, I don't know if I'm digging this combo. Does anyone have any experience with those? Annnnnd, if you would please share, I'd be forever grateful
Looking forward to getting to know y'all!
Angie 
Angie, Welcome!
I take Adderall, Lexapro and sometimes a little Xanax if needed. The SSRI anti-depressant works very well with the Adderall in my case. I was already on Lexapro for about 6 months before I started the Adderall. There's lots of folks on this board that take anti-depressants with stimulants. They work on different things...the paxil works on seratonin while the adderall works on dopamine. And as for the benzo, my doc gives them to me for those evenings I can't seem to unwind. Hang in there girl...it will be fine...I promise. BTW, are you really an Angela?
[QUOTE=jonquiljo] [QUOTE=OlderMom]I take Paxil and Klonopin/Clonazapan. I'm wondering if you just have ADHD because those meds are not for ADHD. [/QUOTE]Sorry, but this is totally untrue. Many, many people with ADD take SSRI antidepressants. Lots and lots of people with ADD can and do take benzodiazepine sedatives as well.
Angie: Welcome. While many people an and do take similar combos - each person is different with respect to their reactions to any one of the meds you mentioned.
What are you most unhappy with? What symptoms or side effects?
[/QUOTE]
True people take anti-depressants and many other meds to treat ADD but they are not specifically for ADHD.
Usually those meds are given when you have a co-morbid condition like depression or anxiety. Those meds are also given if you weren't helped by the common ADD meds or if you can't take ADD meds because of a medical condition. Plus there are a lot of adults who were misdiagnosed with depression or told they can't have ADD because it's a childhood disorder so they are treated for depression and not actually being treated for ADD.
Of course it doesn't matter what you take as long as it helps. People react so differently to medications that unfortunately there is no way to determine what will help you until you try it and see the results.
Well, I have been taking Paxil for years cause of depression/anxiety. I was given a script fpr the other (to be honest I don't quite remember which one it is, hence the general "those type drugs") quite awhile back that I only take every now and then for anxiety. By that I mean once every few months. They only just figured out about the ADHD. The Paxil/other combo wasn't for that at all. I am hoping I was mis-diagnosed for depression, as my Psych said it is very likely.
Ummm, let's see (scanning replies) I go to a Psychologist who tested me and my Primary Care Dr writes my scripts. They work closely together.
As for what I don't like, and it may just take a couple weeks to get better adjusted, is how angry I feel on the Adderall. Not a constant anger, but if something happens that will normally make me aggravated, now I explode about it. And that ain't cool. I know if I forget my Paxil (not too often I forget it) that tends to happen, it just seems that it's much worse now. I guess I had just make a better effort to be on top of taking it correctly.
I appreciate all the replies! Thank you!!
Yep! An Angela Renee' as a matter of fact ;)Angela Gail here! Nice to meet ya, fellow ADD sista!