Hello everyone,
I just decided to do some research on the meds that I am taking, (I always did research on them, just not taking them TOGETHER)
Ok, I just got back from Wallgreens where I picked up my Adderall XR 40mg a day and my Lexapro 20 MG 1x a day. Now the pharmacist, who seemed that she knew exactly what she was talking about, told me to talk to my doctor, because taking Adderall with Lexapro can cause what is known as "Serotonin Syndrome", which is fatal! She didn't even really want to give me the Lexapro (I just started 20mg a day, I've been on 10mg for about 6 months, before that was Effexor, which mania occured and I walked out of my job crying and wanting to break down a wall for no reason at all!!!) I also just started the XR, before today, was 20mg 2x a day, and the 2nd dose kept me up all night.
OK, MAIN CONCERN IS....SHE STATED THAT THESE MIXED TOGETHER CAUSE SEROTONIN SYNDROME. SHE EVEN HANDED ME A PRINT OUT FROM HER COMPUTER IN WHICH SHE HAD ENTERED THE TWO DRUGS TOGETHER AND THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TAKING BOTH OF THESE.
NOW, I DON'T NOTICE A DIFFERENCE, THAT IS BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS ON MY ADDERALL. ADDERALL IS LIKE MY CUP OF COFFEE, I DO NOT GET UP UNLESS I HAVE IT, OTHERWISE I WILL LAY IN BED ALL DAY AND AVOID INTERACTION WITH ANYONE, EVEN MY MOTHER (IM A 24 YO MAN)
DOES ANYONE HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS? OR IS ANYONE ON THE SAME DRUGS?? ANYTHING WOULD HELP, IM CALLING THE DR. IN THE A.M.
Ok to start off i have no medical experience or anything like that. However i was started on lexapro about 1.5 months ago for what appeared to my GP that it was depression, (i'm 20). So she put me on lexparo 10mg since then. She also sent me to a psychiotrist (sp) and he belived i might have adhd so long story short i am now on 40mg bid along with the 10mg lexapro. I could feel the lexapro helping and still wonder if i would have any problems with depression-anxiety wirh out it. I am grateful i am on it now because it has made my life better and the adderall just kicked it up a notch due to high self-esteem and the ability to concentrate in class. However back to the point i am still on lexapro and i researched alot in seotoine syndrome and from what i understand most people who had this problem was on large doses od Anti-Depresents, mostly of the older kind but also for the most part serotonin syndrome is only deadly with severe overload of serotoine. So i wouldn't worry about it just watch for the side effects of it and if you think there is a problem don't allow the benifits of a drug geperdize your health.Hi,
Was reading about your worries and thought I would respond. My sister is 41 and takes 10mg Adderal xr in the morning and then 10 mg Adderal xr around 1pm when the first dose starts to wear off. If she forgets to take the afternoon dose and remembers it like at 4pm, she just skips it so she doesn't get insomnia. She also takes 10mg of Lexapro each morning. She has been taking this combination for a liitle over a year and is happy, productive and very relieved she can finally think and function. If you are worried about combining the 2 drugs in the morning, call the nurse in your doctor's office and she can probably talk you out of your worries over the phone. You might look into splitting your Adderal xr so you only take half in the morning with your Lexapro so everything won't be in your system all at once. It may not matter how you take the meds in Reality, (your nurse or doctor will tell you what is best) but you might feel more comfortable with taking 2 separate doses of the Adderal xr.
I am a med student going into psychiatry. I also have bipolar disorder and ADHD. That being said, I have a fair amount of knowledge on these meds both academically and personally. Your pharmacist is right, kind of. The risk of serotonin syndrome is real, but very slight. Many, many people (including myself) take serotonergic antidepressants along with stimulants and have great success. Also, serotonin syndrome is relatively slow to develop, meaning you have lots of warning signs before it reaches the critical stage. Watch for signs like irregular heartbeat, fever, loss of identity, etc. I think your pharmacist is way overestimating the risk involved. If you are really uncomfortable, talk to your doc about it, but I wouldn't worry. You're looking at a risk that occurs in less than one percent of people out of the millions who take similar combinations. Good luck!
I'm the same way---without Adderall I would stay in bed---get nothing done.
I know the feeling, but in all seriousness, how bad are the withdrawals going to be when we decide that we do not want our lives based on the power of a pill? Im approaching my last year in college and after that, I want nothing to do with it, while yes, the benefits are amazing, the negative surrounding it, is that without it, after a month or two, it's like not having coffee in the morning or a heavy smoker quitting cold turkey, it could be done, but sever withdrawals occur, and facing everyday life after decidinging to stop seems almost impossible.
Any feedback on this?
[QUOTE=CharlieNumbaz]Hello everyone,
I just decided to do some research on the meds that I am taking, (I always did research on them, just not taking them TOGETHER)
Ok, I just got back from Wallgreens where I picked up my Adderall XR 40mg a day and my Lexapro 20 MG 1x a day. Now the pharmacist, who seemed that she knew exactly what she was talking about, told me to talk to my doctor, because taking Adderall with Lexapro can cause what is known as "Serotonin Syndrome", which is fatal! She didn't even really want to give me the Lexapro (I just started 20mg a day, I've been on 10mg for about 6 months, before that was Effexor, which mania occured and I walked out of my job crying and wanting to break down a wall for no reason at all!!!) I also just started the XR, before today, was 20mg 2x a day, and the 2nd dose kept me up all night.
OK, MAIN CONCERN IS....SHE STATED THAT THESE MIXED TOGETHER CAUSE SEROTONIN SYNDROME. SHE EVEN HANDED ME A PRINT OUT FROM HER COMPUTER IN WHICH SHE HAD ENTERED THE TWO DRUGS TOGETHER AND THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TAKING BOTH OF THESE.
NOW, I DON'T NOTICE A DIFFERENCE, THAT IS BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS ON MY ADDERALL. ADDERALL IS LIKE MY CUP OF COFFEE, I DO NOT GET UP UNLESS I HAVE IT, OTHERWISE I WILL LAY IN BED ALL DAY AND AVOID INTERACTION WITH ANYONE, EVEN MY MOTHER (IM A 24 YO MAN)
DOES ANYONE HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS? OR IS ANYONE ON THE SAME DRUGS?? ANYTHING WOULD HELP, IM CALLING THE DR. IN THE A.M.
[/QUOTE]
It must be a Walgreens! For the past six months, each month I would get the same 'advisement'. I researched the topic myself and decided to ignore Walgreens.
I'm the same way---without Adderall I would stay in bed---get nothing done.
Elaine
shakespeare
I hear what you're sayin. I'm just curious to know what you're on that works so well for you. I'm about to graduate as a biology major, and am also very intrigued my science, psychiatry, and medicine. I hear about the success stories too, and I also know that there's a lot of you out there. And also that there's of course a lot more involved than just what one is taking. But I guess I'd just have to say that I have a few problems that I'm tryin to sort out, so I thought I'd just join into this dicussion briefly. I was surfing on the web because still a few times a week I think about going back on meds. It's been two years.
I decided to quit taking my pills due to the costs just outweighing the benefits. Plus I didn't want to become impotent! And I also just wanted to try to make it without the meds, without having the constant roller coaster ride. I wanted to be back on the same page as everyone else again, you know what I mean. and I've have been trying to rough it for the past two years and learn to cope. I'm not just ready to quite throw in the towel just yet either.. But so.... hears my quick story:
I was put on just adderall and took it for about four years (from ages 24-28). Then after a while it was driving me a little mad, and I'd get too speeded out and anxious at times, so I was put on Lexapro too (10mg) although I'd often just take a half, cause it's a powerful drug. IT WAS A GREAT COMBO FOR QUITE A WHILE, I'LL ADMIT, although occassionally it would even get me into trouble because I'd just say and do whatever I wanted too. Plus due to the slight stomach aches that Lex would give me at times, I started smoking pot on a daily basis to offset all the side effects.. AND IT WORKED GREAT!! Eventhough sometimes people just thought I was on another planet when they didn't know me.
My psychiatrist told me I always looked like I shoulda been on a beach in Jamaica. The funny thing is that I could still function, never anxious or paranoid, and would still ace my exams!!
NOW DON"T GET ME WRONG PEOPLE. I'M NOT TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS COMBINATION. THERE'S A REASON I QUIT IT ALL, AND IT WASN"T WORKING WELL.
It just wasn't real.
I liked the serotonin (what I called the chill pill), and the stimulant combo. because the adderall made me just a little more on point, and hip! And I was without anxiety. I could talk to anyone. And it was justy great sometimes. But just sometimes almost too euphoric like.
But so I'm just wondering if YOU or ANYONE ELSE knows of any other better combo, or if any of you are also taking Lexapro with Adderall and also having great success. Because sometimes I honestly think of going back to it all. I'm getting ready to throw the towel back in. I'm not getting any younger and I'm not married yet, and sure used to meet a hell of a lot more girls when I was on the meds...
So, sorry if this was long, or all over the place, but this was/is my story. Please, I would love to hear your replies. Especially you too Shakespeare! Peace and good luck to all! Boston~