comorbidities? | ADHD Information

It took my Dr. a while to get back to the ADD issue with me, and stimulants were reluctaintly prescribed. But they help me.

I would suggest taking notes, write down what you are experienceing in a jornal, I go over the day in an OpenOffice.org document at the end of the day... if I remeber... or if I don't get distracted on the computer posting to a messege board... uhh, yeah.

So anyway, take notes, like a captans log on star trek (ok meds wearing off now I guess) ;-)  and take them with you when you see the Dr.

I'm sure this comes up a lot, but I'm new and don't have the patience to troll through past posts.

I had a very nervous reaction to Adderall XR.  At lower doses the drug dealt with the fog, helped my sleep pattern, helped my mood, and enabled me to focus on some things.  It didn't do so great with the motivation, unfortunately.  It also removed any urge I ever had to turn the television on.  At 15mg, however, I felt stoned.  I got hyperfocused (still not on what I was supposed to be doing), experienced chest tightness, got jittery and jumpy, wasn't eating, was up longer, and felt moody/generally crappy.  This was in the course of preparing for finals for my first year of law school, which the inattention problems had pretty much made impossible to begin with.

I saw a psych immediately because I'd had some manic problems with Prozac a few years ago.  However, she doubts the attention diagnosis and wants to focus on the anxiety issues.  I guess the good news is that she doesn't think I'm bipolar.  I have no doubts about the AD/HD, though, and I found that the Adderall was actually helping with some things.

I'm having trouble talking with her about the differences in how I experience attention problems because of anxiety/depression or AD/HD.  What I really wanted to try is some stim combined with C/B therapy to try and get some structures up and running.  I was hoping the anxiety problems would fix themselves with that.

So, anyone here have comorbidities?  Any experiences in talking to docs, and getting diagnoses correct?  Medications?  I want to get this right, but I'm worried I'm just not communicating what I'm feeling correctly to her.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Anxiety disorders are tough.  I think I am the jumpiest person on this planet , serious anxiety issues plus a host of other things.  Anyway, you don't have to search through everything.  Here are a couple of polls on the subject.  You'll find you are not alone.  OCD should have been put into the anxiety disorder choice because it is an Anxiety Disorder.  But, yes Anxiety seems to coexist comorbidly with AD/Hd quite frequently.

http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17763& KW=Countrygirl

http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13627& KW=Miss+Frizzle

yeah, i agree with screen name.  take notes.  take it slow.  be prepared to listen to what she has to say of course - but don't let anyone bully you in taking something you don't want to take.  if you know how you feel.

but bear in mind that she does have some experience, tho and might be able to recognise your symptoms as being classically whatever (anxiety/depression) even though it doesn't feel that way to you.

i personally HATE the idea of Strattera but it is a non-stim option for Adderal.  it is an SNRI - these are fairly new and honestly, anyone who is taking it now is essentially a guinea pig for later generations (they have NO clue what the long term side-effects may be however much they may postulate - it's just way too new).  Strattera also can have terrible withdrawal symptoms and takes a while to work.  but some people love it - and if you are having anxiety issues it could be an option.

you could also look into other stims - such as ritalin.  it might be better for you.

it can be a real trial and error system getting on the meds that work for you - so don't be a total stick in the mud re. Adderall - there are other options out there.

i know plenty of people here are on Concerta and Wellbutrin (i think for the anxiety).  CountryGirl is on a similar combination - maybe put out a post to her (she is normally on at least every other day or so). 

the other possible problem might be that it is the XR - to which you don't react well.   KDL Maj - had a similar problem she posted recently - she had been doing fine on the short acting version but the XL really threw her off.  it could be the same for you.  good luck.


chjones38849.7164814815Hi!I'm new to these posts but already feel enormous relief hearing of common struggles,coping mechanisms,and of learning when to not take things too seriously!As for comorbidities!...I think I've had more than my share!(Those horror stories can wait!)...But I've done alot of reading,researching every which way to come at these problems,and you know what I've found?Lots of doctors resent us attempting to educate them on our needs,our symptoms,and our recommendations for treatment!But how is a doctor going to be able to ever know you the way you do?Will they ask you the right questions,will you forget to ask him or her the right questions?Someone said to write all of your concerns down and be prepared!Nothing could be more important than that bit of advice!Another thing,doctors are very busy people,so how can they be expected to keep up with every new medical journal that comes out?We are the ones who have our finger on the pulse of this problem,so it is our responsibility to find a doctor who will take us seriously.Now for a bit of personal info,..my Comorbidity d'jour is Depression,with a capital D!For a long time I was just on Wellbutrin,as much as 450 mg.a day,but my tolerance is high,and my symptoms were wearing me down,not knowing why.When I found out about ADHD,it was like the light at the end of the tunnel!No wonder I was depressed!And it's treatable!Whew!So I got busy,and found out that Wellbutrin and Adderall do the trick for me.Together they help each other to help me.The adderall increases the effectiveness of the wellbutrin,and I can focus and see results where before there was only increasing despair.Look up certain drug combinations for your specific symptoms,and see what you would recommend if you were the doctor!...and by the way,Good Luck!