ADHD/Depression HELP! | ADHD Information
I also suffer from depression + ADHD, insomnia, and I have temporal lobe issues. I am currently taking Ritalin for the ADHD, Topamax for the temporal lobe stuff (no longer taking this because we are trying to get pregnant with baby #2, so I am taking GABA which also helps w/tem. lobe but is safe during preg), and Zoloft for depression. The Zoloft also made me fall asleep. For the first time ever I zonked out on the couch while my little guy was watching playhouse disney...woke up 2 hours later when he told me he was hungry! I never, ever fall asleep during the day. I have tried taking naps and it never happens for me. Even if I have only slept a few hours, so I knew it was the med. My doctor had me take it at night instead, about an hour before bed, and WOW what a difference!! It has not only helped my depression, but now I sleep like a baby, and don't need sleep meds. Did you try switching the Zoloft to the evening? It has been the best antidepressant for me after trying Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Lexapro. And no weight gain. In fact, I am still losing weight while on it. (with dieting and exercising)I currently suffer from not only ADHD, anxiety disorder, insomnia, and newest to the list is depression...mostly worse this time of year. Im 27/F, on Adderall xr 40mg, Xanax 2mg daily, and Lunesta. I go back to the DR tomorrow, and would like to know if anyone here knows what anti depressants work better with what i am on now. I tried Lexapro and went insane, Zoloft put me to sleep, literally on the job, and I dont know what to do next! I dont know how much longer my boyfriend, friends and family can deal with me being like this! HELP PLEASE!
My ADD causes insomnia, anxiety and depression in me as well, I have tried various ADD drugs but didn't really like the side effects--my best was ritalin. I currently take only cymbalta which helps little with my ADD, but greatly with depression, anxiety, insomnia and my mood. The by-product of which is I care less that I have ADD so my symptoms don't get to me as bad. I also had very good luck with wellbutrin but then it quit working. I would try getting down to one pill it's easier to manage. Good Luck to you...Actually, I DO suffer from SAD, and have for years. They tried light therapy, then Zoloft, THEN Lexapro, and I nearly went CRAZY! I was out of control. I went to the dr today and asked him to lower my Adderall dosage, and he did. He also recommended/gave me a script for Effexor XR for the winter. I am keeping my fingers crossed....at least until this SAD goes somewhat away by Feb/March or so! Thanx so much for everyones comments on this!
i've had very similar problems. i've been depressed most of my life. self-
hate/self destruction. suicidal. you name it, i've probably done it except
for successfully killing myself.
i was put on effexor, then wellbutrin. wellbutrin worked magnificently for
a month or two and stopped working and i slipped in mega depression. i
then got moved on to ritalin... which i didn't think would do much, esp.
since i wasn't in school for the summer....
surprisingly ritalin has been the real life saver for me. i stop getting so
frustrated. the frustration really kills me. i'm on 2x20mg ritalin and
2x150wellbutrin a day. i'm not sure whether the wellbutrin is helping
much, but this combination seems to be the only thing that's worked....
so i'll just play along.
it's hard to say... from what i hear alot of meds is really about trial and
error. which kind of sucks... isn't the psychiatrist supposed to know what
does what? why should i have to go through an indefinite period of
misery when someone has a degree who is supposedly meant to help w/
this.
but unfortunately, alot has been trial and error. i've heard wellbutrin and
ritalin has been a good combination for a few people. but i'm not sure
whether this combo is good for major anxiety. for some people wellbutrin
makes them even more anxious and then depressed.I'm mostly ADD & depression (not a surprise, because having ADD can be really depressing...) with some anxiety issues.
My best combination of drugs has been Adderall xr at 25 mg and Welbutrin XL 300 mg (I take each once a day.)
I've been on paxil in the past, but had some lousy reactions (night sweats, teeth grinding) as well as the weird semi-electrical shock feeling (there is some word for it, but I can't remember it right now) if I forgot to take it for a day or two. (but then paxil is supposed to treat anxiety where welbutrin is not... and not everyone has the weirdo reactions.)
I agree with the getting down to one (or two) pills a day, especially since there are some that are recommended for several of your problems. Oh, and if you are not doing it already... when you take the drugs can really matter. Adderall is my "first thing in the day" drug. Since everyone reacts differently it can take a loooonnng time to figure out what works best for you... if you stick with it, though... you may just find the right combination.
You probably will have to use the old trial and error method and see what works. I have adhd and would go into depressed cycles cause I would get frustrated with my impulsive choices and get mad at myself. Negative self talk would kill me. I constantly was in trouble in many ways and felt like a failure in life and my confidence was going down the tubes. Once I accepted the fact for myself that I could not tame my adhd symptoms by myself or with any kind of therapy alone, I gave meds a try and am doing pretty well on concerta. Soooo........the doc should be able to help you decide what is up and which problem is most influeancing your life in a way that affects the quality of your life and treat you. I do know that some people need to take more than one medication to treat more than one condition - so don't be totally opposed to trying that. Good luck!!!
I recently read (just last night as a matter of fact), that many women with ADD also have another condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This causes one to have difficulty rising in the morning, to feel lethargic and depressed and to overeat during the dark months of the year. It's treated with light therapy. It might be a longshot, but it's definately something I'm going to look into further. You might want to mention it to the doc or look into it yourself.
I just started on Adderall and I have my fingers crossed that it won't take too much trial and error to get it right. Hang in there!