Hi,
I am desperately trying to find pertinent information about Adderall, depression, and whether antidepressants can be combined with and/or have been shown to be helpful when paired with Adderall.
Here's the background info:
I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. My entire life I'd always just thought I was different then every body else; that somehow everyone else could just do things that I was unable to do. At 23, my psychologist inquired as to whether I had ever been tested for ADHD, and whether or not I really knew what ADHD was. I started researching, and remember being blown away at finding out what ADHD really was... it was me. I was astonished that I had exhibited so many of the symptoms for as long as I could remember, and yet had never had any idea that there was a legitimate medical reason, not to mention any idea that my situation, a lifetime of feelings of inadequacy and being different from my peers, was not as unique as I'd believed.
I followed up with an ADHD testing certified psychologist to determine the legitimacy of my suspicion and was diagnosed with ADHD-predominantly inattentive type. Then, at this professional's recommendation I followed up with a psychiatrist, and was placed on Adderall XR. Initially, he placed me on the starting adult dose of 20mg. I was lucky to have found a psychiatrist who worked rigorously with me over the following months to find just the right medication and dosage, and after trying a number or drugs and doses, found that 40mgs of Adderall XR per day provided me optimum results.
The effects of the medication were immediate for me; I felt like I'd suddenly emerged from a haze surrounding my brain's ability to perform. I'd never in my life been able to do the things I could suddenly do, like: study for longer than 30 minutes, concentrate on the task at hand, house work, arrange my thoughts clearly, etc. In many ways, I was jubilated with my increasing confidence and ability to demonstrate my full potential. Overall, being properly diagnosed and treated for the first time seemed to be enhancing the quality of my life and self-worth.
However, its been a little over a year since I was diagnosed and first began taking medication, the last 6 months of which I've consistently on the 40mg dosage of Adderall, and I feel like I'm falling apart. I want to be as honest as possible here, because I'm really in need of guidance/help/knowledge/advice/information. I no longer see the psychiatrist I was working with because I've since moved. He forwarded my prescribing information to my general practitioner who now writes my scrip (I know I need to, and I absolutely will find a psychiatrist asap after the Holiday, obviously that's got to happen if I'm going to resolve anything... but things seem to have come to a head right before the holiday, so finding a psychiatrist is out till next week). I'm hoping someone might have some know something about a few things so I can stop stressing out.
Here's the problem now and the questions:
I feel like the adderall might be causing depression for me. I'm not even certain I am depressed (maybe because I don't want to believe I am), but I feel like I'm purposely isolating myself, like I'm less sociable, I can't concentrate the way I remember being able to concentrate initially, I feel like everyone thinks I'm too uptight and critical (when I don't mean to be), I feel content at being alone even though I know it's not really what I want, I feel like others find me impossible to deal with or relate to... Generally, I feel paranoid that I am collapsing in on myself; unsure if others perceive me this way; and scared as to whether it is the adderall that is allowing these problems to manifest /worsen, or if this is just who I am as a person... and all of this combined, I think, is making me depressed and creating a vicious cycle which worsens my paranoia about all of the above mentioned. I can, and lately have been skipping Adderall on certain days, but the truth is, as a full time student, and with the pride I've found in my academic ability, I hesitant to miss days of my medication. The simple fact is --and this is nothing new, I can't even focus, much less retain what I did hear in a class lecture if I don't take the Adderall; my not taking it isn't much of an option for me.
The last detail, I guess, is that I've had times of feeling anxious about who I am and my self worth since high school... well before I was diagnosed. I'll keep it simple and just say that I grew up in an extremely critical environment (both socially, academically and in my home setting) that constantly reinforced the idea that whatever inadequacies I demonstrated were the result of my personal choices, and thus a personality flaw... I really felt like I'd found the answer in my diagnosis... that the truth was that many of the symptoms I'd become so convinced were just personality flaws (and thus my fault) were just nonexistent when I was on the medication I needed. Prior estimations by others and any fears about not measuring up were shattered... a year ago I felt vindicated. But, now, I'm feeling those insecurities creep back as I wonder whether I am just incapable of being the happy, and the mostly content woman I feel like I once was able to be, or if its the drugs causing that.
So, my questions:
1) Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did you find something that made it subside, or did it go away on it's own.... do you still struggle with it?
2) Are there antidepressants that can be combined with Adderall?
3) Are there any combinations of AD and Adderall that actually enhance one another? If so, what were your experiences?
4) Has anyone found ways to manage and thus overcome this where they feel like their lives are back on track and happily moving forward?
Thank you in advance anyone and everyone who has any information they think might be helpful. I'm really feeling hopeless that this might just be, as a person, who I am or something.
I had been taking about 15mg Adderall a day for about 8mos and made all kinds of progress, but then it stopped working and everything irritated me and I socially isolated myselff. Adderalls effect has alot to do with your environment Ive found. I went off of it for a couple months or so and did alot of physical exercise on a daily basis which seemed to help. I am back on it and the same dose, but it doesnt seem quite as helpful as it once was.
[QUOTE=JoannaB]Hi,I thought this was in another post?
So, my questions:
1) Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did you find something that made it subside, or did it go away on it's own.... do you still struggle with it?
ADHD is often "co-morbid". A full-range ADHD test usually covers this. Were those tests done, as well?
2) Are there antidepressants that can be combined with Adderall?
Yes, it it's necessary. Or the ADHD meds can be changed to something that covers both problems. Strattera, for one.
3) Are there any combinations of AD and Adderall that actually enhance one another? If so, what were your experiences?
This would be something to discuss with your psych, depending on all the symptoms that may be present.
4) Has anyone found ways to manage and thus overcome this where they feel like their lives are back on track and happily moving forward?
Thank you in advance anyone and everyone who has any information they think might be helpful. I'm really feeling hopeless that this might just be, as a person, who I am or something.
[/QUOTE]If you're chronically unhappy it's not "personality" it's usually something else. And that needs looking into.
I won't lie, I didn't read your posts with much focus but I did read your questions and what stood out for me was that you said that you're taking Adderall XR and are getting depressed. I know EXACTLY what you're talking about because I took Adderall XR for about a year. At first, like you, stuff worked wonders but towards the end, I've never been more depressed and constantly thought about killing myself. I got off XR and switched to Adderall IR and never had this problem. Even when I was trying out new meds (tried out every once that exists) because I grew tolerant to Adderall IR, I still have never had this problem. I'm back on Addreall IR along with Vyvanse and haven't been depressed because of my meds since. Everybody is different and reacts differently to this stuff but I'd give switching off XR a shot.
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