Supersensitive to stimulants | ADHD Information

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Thanks for everyone's feedback.  I think I want to try some more of the non stimulant meds.  I hate having panic attacks, it feels really terrible.

I am just curious if anyone is supersensitive to stimulants.  I seem to be just that, when I take too much it brings on an anxiety attack.   I have been through almost all the stimulants with anxiety attacks coming frequently.  I need the stimulants because stratterra is ineffective.  I am also Bipolar and take Depakote and Geodon for that, but I don't think it has anything to do with that.  Thanks for your feedback.

Jonathan

Maybe you should get your heart checked out. Not to say anything is wrong, but some poeple are more sensitive to stimulants than others. The stimulants could be making your heart race, simulating a panic attack. Now this isn't to say those of you sensitive to stimulants don't need them, but I'm on a high dosage of stimulants and don't 'feel' anything. However, they do seem to be working for me, and that is something I prefer, actually. Because I don't 'feel' like I'm on anything, yet I am getting the benefits of the meds.I guess I wouldn't call it supersensitive but I suffered from too many side effects from stimulants to stay on them.  They did kind of keep me in a heightened state so I can easily see where someone could easily get anxiety attacks off of them.  I'm really sensitive to them too. I take very small doses compared to other people.

usually psychiatrists will test for depression or anxiety before they give stimulants to an individual.  Stimulants make your heart race faster, which increases anxiety, and may make you feel depressed as well.

If you suffer from panic attacks and want to stay on stimulant medication, your best bet would be to take an ssri (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).  This will decrease levels of anxiety and depression.

stimulants in high dosages make me feel like I'm gonna die.

This happened at a doctors office. He gave me a stimulant sample- dont remember the dosage. My heart started racing like crazy, my eyes were going nuts, and I felt like I could not breathe normally. I have never had a panic attack, and am not a nervous person. He asked: Are you nervous? I said: I don't feel nervous, but my body's acting nervous according to definitions of what bodies do when they're nervous...He checked my blood pressure a bunch of times and gave me some shots- I have no idea because I was going so nuts- kicking and trying to keep my eyes closed and breathing...
Im on stratterra, I have had little or no effect from it yet. But its only been a little over a week.Try strattera instead