I am brand new to this web site and ADHD, but I am not brand new to meds. I just got diagnosed officially this week with ADHD even though I have had the symptoms all my life and my husband has suspected the last few years since we've read up on it. Anyway, I just started adderall, and I can tell such a difference. I finally found a Dr. who knew what he was talking about. I feel like I have litterally been on every medication there is and am currently on adderall (just started), prozac, wellbutrin, valium, topamax (a mood stabalizer), ms-contin (morphine), hydrocodone, and soma (muscle relaxer). I also take imitrex for migraines, but not on a daily basis. I'm on all the pain meds for neck and back injuries, and I also have severe migraines. I don't mean to be yapping about all this other stuff because I know you wanted to know about the mood stabilizers. I'm not a medical doctor, but I have been through the ringer with the meds. First of all if you are not bi-polar, I wouldn't recommend a mood stabilizer. The only reason I am on topamax is for migraines. I had a Dr. try to tell me I was bi-polar, my husband and I both mentioned ADD, she said, no, you are high anxiety and extremely hyper, we need you on a mood stabilizer. She gave me Depakote, which she said would also help my migraines. I was a zombie... and in the worse depression imaginable. She told me to double my dose. I was stupid enough to listen to her, and it made me completely suicidal. I mean to where my husband had to leave work and stay with me until the meds wore off. I was smart enough to realize it was the medication, so that's what kept me going through my suicidal time. The Dr. still insisted I needed even more, and that my body just needed to adjust. I never went back to her. Then I did alot of research on it. If you aren't truly bi-polar, mood-stabilizers can throw you into major depression, because they are meant to calm the extreme highs people get. That is why it is extremely important to be on an anti-depressant along with it, which it sounds like you are. But that still didn't help me. Anyway, I eventually got the nerve to try topamax way later because my migraines were sooo bad! But I started out extremely low and increased it very very slowly. It still makes me dingy. The Dr. calls it "Dumb Blond in a Bottle", but it is the only thing that helps with the headaches, and it doesn't make me suicidal, but it only made the ADHD symptoms magnified about 1000 times. Anyway after going to this new doctor, I feel like I was correctly diagnosed, after all my research on ADHD and knowing how I was growing up. I feel so much better in just this short time, and I'm not even taking my full dosage yet. I say all this because the Dr. told me that adderall actually works as an anti-depressant if you are ADHD because it starts to make you feel better about yourself. He said the key is finding the right dosage for your body. He said it will also take away the anxiety at the correct dose. I don't know if all this is true, since I am so new, but it gives me hope. Anyway, we are going to try to find my correct dose and start weaning me off the other anti-depressants. I have also been able to cut down in my pain meds. My goal is to eventually get off the topamax, but I don't know if that will happen. It is like a life saver for me, to finally feel like I actually have a brain. Anyway I don't know if I helped you at all, but if I were you I would try to stay clear of the mood stabilizers, unless you are bi-polar or have severe migraines. Good Luck!
Walking Pharmacy
I have been diagnosed with ADHD four years ago and on atomoxetine. This stuff works great because it is also an antidepressant. What I find most helpful about it is it controls my impulse control. I know think a bit before I speak.