Hello everyone. I've been lurking for the past couple of weeks, and some of the information I have found on this forum has been very helpful. So, I decided it was time to take the plunge and become an active participant.

Anyhow, here's my story. I have been diagnosed with Major Depression. Although, believe me, I could tell from the way I feel all the time that a formal diagnosis wasn't needed to tell me I was depressed.

Depression has been with me a few years, (I'm a 43 year old male) but significantly worse the last year. Back on November 13th, I was sent to the hospital for a one month Mental Health Outpatient program. Upon my departure, they put me on Remeron. I simply haven't had any luck on any of the standard SSRI's. I went off Remeron on Thursday of this week (it's Sunday now) due to unmanagable sedation and puffiness around the eyes.

So, my Doctor thought I might also be displaying some symptoms of ADD, and decided to try me on Adderall XR.

Took 10 mg yesterday, early a.m. Had about 1 hour of focus about 5 hours in, but the rest of the day (and night) I felt quite edgy and even less focused then usual. Woke up all through the night last night..but that could also be partly the coming off of the Remeron.

So, here's my questions:
1) Has anyone also had edginess and confusion at the start, and found that Adderall XR did work for them in the long run? Or is this most likely a sign that I don't have ADD.
2) Anyone also have Clinical / Major depression and found that Adderall XR was able to alleviate the depression.

I opened up the pill this morning. Put about half on applesauce, as recommended..and thought I would try 5mg instead today.

Thanks for the help. It's great to find a forum like this one. Relieves a bit of the hopelessness.

And still not sure if I have ADHD or not, but here are some of my symptoms:

a) Above average intelligence. (Not sure if this relates to ADHD or not. But, I add it here to show that my lack of comprehenson is often related not to intellectual ability, but instead concentration).
b) Often have a hard time talking. My mind is racing on multiple tasks at any given time.
c) If I am talking, and someone interrupts me, it is almost as if I am startled. By this I mean, instead of being able to respond to another person's comments, I am knocked off my track..and have to really fight to keep the conversation flowing.
d) Start many projects. Never finish any. Always looking for the rush from planning and starting, but not finishing. Although, as the depression has depended, my drive to start anyhting has also pretty much disappeared.
e) Difficulty concentrating in meetings. During my school & Univ. years, I was also always bored in class. I would take what I could from the class...often falling asleep. Then learn the material on my own, after class.

Anything sounding familar to other's ADHD experiences?

Hey dewpoint,

The same thing happened with me when I started adderall, but the symtoms subsided after a few days and then I eventually had my dose upped from 10mg xr to 30mg for full effects.  I was just diagnosed at 27 years old and have always had depression issues.  I'm sure that depression was due to my ADD.  I've never shown my full potential and this severly affected my self esteem.

Oh also I took a sleeping pill for the first couple days then didn't need it anymore.

Thanks for the reply!

Have you found that Adderall has helped or, even better, alleviated your depression? Also, are you taking anything else with Adderall, or is this your only med?

Always nice to hear when others have managed to find some relief from their ailments! Best of luck to you.

It's helped dramatically, I've always know that I'm really smart, but it seems things never worked out for me.  I've been taking the meds for a few months only, so time will only tell if bouts of depression come back, but so far so good.  My house is clean, I haven't locked my keys in my car, I read an entire book in a couple days, life is good. 

To answer your other question, I'm not on any other meds, but I have been in the past.  Wellbutrin, paxil, prozac you name it. They just helped with symtoms of my underlying disorder.  What I needed was clarity, being able to finnish a task, getting the intelligent ideas I have in my head out in words.  Some friends of mine used to say having a conversation with me before was painful and now they say they've noticed a real change.  I hope things go well for you.

Well, I'm on day 3 of Adderall XR. First day 10mg, 2nd day 5mg & back up to 10 again today.

Still feeling kind of wired. Edgy...easy to startle...that sort of thing. Anyone else feel this way when they first started? Or, are these signs that Adderall won't work for me.

Again, thanks for any help you can throw my way.

Take care!

P.S.

lanette, great to hear that you have had success. Hearing about people who have successfully fought off the demons is so inspiring.

I felt really edgy and wired for at least a week maybe longer.  Some people say they can't stand the xr (long acting version), but they feel fine on the short acting type, maybe you could ask your doc about that. 

Oh and another thing it's hard to half this stuff because you need to make sure you get the even amount of colored beads, some disolve right away and then the others 4 hours later.