Bad side effects from meds | ADHD Information

Hi, I am a 41 yr old mother of 3 and also suffer from add and anxiety. I have always suffered add symtoms but was never really treated until I decided to go back to school. To make a long story short, my add symtoms became much worse when I was trying to carry 16 credits, work and raise 3 children. I then had a mini break down from trying to take on to much. Looking back I wish I would have listened to my husband when he told me he thought I was going to overwhelm myself (which ended up happening.) I am currently on 4 different meds that make me feel sick all the time. Adderall xr 20mg. valium 10mg in the morning and then 10mg valium and 30mg temazapam to help me sleep. I have always had issues with sleeping. I felt better when I was not on any meds. (before school) Now I am losing weight (went from 120 to 107 and always feel weak sick to my stomach and spacy. Oh I also forgot to mention that I am also on 60mgs of mertazapine. (which was just upped from 45 mgs) I feel like crap all the time and just want to feel healthy and good again. I have tried many different meds and still have ongoing anxiety and add. I think my next step is to see a nutritionist because of the way I feel. I also feel very weak and have a hard time breathing and still not sleeping well. My weight is still going down along with my energy and appetite. My body always feels heavy. The only thing that the adderall seems to be helpful with is waking me up in the morning. I unfortunatly have to be on somthing to help me sleep at night due to always having issues with insomnia. Can the symtoms of add cause anxiety and insomnia and if so what can I do about it. I am going to have to talk to my doc about adderall xr. I have tried all add meds except for focalin. Adderall just seems to make me so feel so anxous and speeds my heart rate to 94bpm. I just don't know what else to do. I am sick of the meds as they do not seem to be helping but instead making me sick. I feel like I have the flu most days not to mention my body aches (especially in my back and neck.) My next step is going to be the nutritionist. I really do think the side effects of my meds are making me sick. My nails are brittle, weight loss and other above mentioned issues. My husband said he thought I was better when I was off the meds. Help, is anyone else out there feeling the same or does anyone have any input on what add meds I could take that would not make my heart race and without weight loss. I have tried Strattera and ridalin and they had ill efffect on me. I truly think I need a body cleanse of the toxins that have been pumped in me within the past year and 2 months. I am open to anyone who has suffered from being on a med coctail and would love to know if there is someone else who is at least feeling or has gone through what I am going through right now. Could my meds be making me this sick????Oh, I also wanted to add that before my break down I did have add but was at a healthy weight of 120 and felt healthy as well. I have also experienced a few allergic reations one being to mulch. I broke out into a rash on my knees (which never happened before I was on meds) I also break out from the sulfites in wine. (I found this out on New Years Eve from one glass. I also seem to be having an issue with water retention and I have a vericose vein that has never bothered me until now. The veins in my legs get worse apon standing along with the swelling in my extremeties. I feel like I am always complaining about the way I feel (as I am no hypocondriact. I just want to feel healthy and good agian.I have always been a very active and healthy person up until my break down and the meds. Help!!!!! Any advise would be great! I just want to feel healthy and able to work out and be the old me again. Should I see a nutritionist???? My doc did not seem to help any. They sent me back to my p doc and that is when he upped my dose of mertazapine (which does not seem to be helping.)

there are other non stimulant options.

The alternatives board here discusses many supplements and alternative therapies.

My daughter also has adhd/anxiety. She cannot tolerate stimulants. She is currently taking Desipramine. It is a tricyclic antidepressant and should help with her ADHD and her anxiety. There are otehr TCA's that the side effects are sleepiness and weight gain, may be an option for you. She took Nortryptiline for 1 1 1/2 years with good success for ADHD and anxiety. It was TOO sedating for her and she was falling asleep, but she was only 10, you may do better and sounds like would benefit from the sedating effects. Another nonstimulant choice some people are using is Wellbutrin.

Swelling and water retention would be things that you need to see an MD for ASAP, could be something serious.