Help with Adderral and Depression

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Permalink Reply by jen on February 26, 2010 at 2:39am

After I was first diagnosed and put on Ritalin I was having crazy mood swings kind of like what you describe. I noticed it was happening more when the meds were starting to wear off. I think I was on Ritalin for about a month?? Maybe 3 1/2 weeks... anyway it was not as bad at that point. I was just switched to regular Adderall this week and yesterday was feeling very anxious. I think it is just the medicine. What they call rebound too maybe? I think you have a good plan of just talking to your doctor about it. Maybe give it another week or two to get used to the meds and then try antidepressants? I am like you, I HATE that stuff. I don't want to be on it for anything. I know that is sometimes a treatment for ADD, but I would probably never go on an antidep. again.

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Permalink Reply by Cristina on March 3, 2010 at 6:20pm

Antidepressants suck.

Gained 100 lbs over the course of nine years on Effexor XR. I know it was the Effexor, too, because one it was out of my system I stopped the cycle of binge eating completely.

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Permalink Reply by Angie on March 3, 2010 at 11:40pm

Hi, have been on an antidepressant for about 8 yrs (Prozac) and was on paxil prior to this for a coupl of years. I have difficulty with time mgnt as well as organizing when things get piled up and I get overwhelmed. On the other hand I can be very meticulous when things are partially in order and I have the time to work on a certain area. I got my doctor to put me on Adderal about 5 yrs ago as our only dtr was starting 1st grade and was assessed as having AD/HD so as I began to read more and more about it I found that many times a mother can have it as well as her daughter. The Adderal did help some as I had more energy and motivation as well as increased ability to focus (sometimes however this was more of a hyperfocus in certain areas) I did find also that this Adderal also was too stimulating and since I had anxiety at times (eve more so recently) I would ask the doctor to decrease it fro the extended release kind (XR) to the regular. I wanted to be as organized as I could be in order to help our daughter and actually meds that we tried for a few months were not very effective with her so we have tried other interventions as well as some innovative treatments with her which if we can ever afford i would like to try myself such as nuero feedback and sensory learning treatment which is the one our dtr took with good results.
So in answer to your question I still do get very anxious at times, I worked as a social worker for yrs with psychiatric pts yet have bee a stay-at-home mother for about 4-5 yrs now and find my-self because of recent "Big-time stressors" more anxious, depressed, with frequent crying episodes just like you are describing and yes even isolating myself even more. What horrible side effects did you have with the antidepressants? What did your doctor say? I have had emotional issues just like you are describing also and even wondered if i might have a mild form of bipolar depression disorder, because i have looked up symptoms of that. Do you also get agitated easily at times and even real angry. I do at times and then it seems I want to blame someone even close to me because they are not or have not been there for me when I needed support the most. I just want to feel like a whole person again and not just going throught the "motions" of life at times. I mean I even get tearful when one of those commercials comes on about "feeling depressed" advertising a certain medication.
Can you relate to this? I am anxious to hear what your doctor reccommended. Ihave called my doctors office also and left message re my depression and crying spells and request for a medication change to help me.

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Permalink Reply by autumn on March 4, 2010 at 11:52am

Hi Angie,
Sorry I had not updated since I went to the doctor. I have been trying to deal with the side effects of the medication. My doctor put me on 75mg Effexor XR for my depression and the side effects have been awful for me. I take it at night so the next day I kind of felt better it was weird, I didn't feel depressed maybe it was just the fact that I was on something. I have been feeling nausea, my body feels tingly, I got the runs, feel high anxiety at times and yesterday I was feeling ok in the am and by the afternoon felt run down and depressed. I know it is to early and these antidepressants take time to take effect and for my body to get used to. However if I continue to have the runs I will need to take something else because I don't have a gallbladder so because of this it makes it worse. Before I started the Adderral I did feel angry all the time and tend to not even want to people even my own family sometimes. Even speaking was a chore and when my son would act up I would yell threats instead of speaking to him calmly. With the Adderral I am calmer and now can speak to him even when he being sarcastic in a calm manner and explain how I feel to him about his behavior. It has been a godsend for me. I am positive the anxiety is from the depression and not from the Adderral because on the Adderral I don't feel anxiety and as soon as I got on the antidepressant and it heightened my senses, you know that feeling of being out of body, that has made me have high anxiety. I was already having the anxiety before the Adderral so I will just give it time that is all I can do right now. I find that taking the Adderral later in the day about 11am works for me because I stay up late and am more productive in the evening. I also am a stay at home mom right now I left my job last July due to these problems and my high stress job. I was placed on meds for bipolar and they did not work so that was phased out. I think my depression has gotten so bad that when I do have a good day it has to do with no stress happening that day. The day before I went to my doctor I was so depressed I sat and watched episode after episode of the Locater I think it was a marathon. The Locator is that show where they find missing relatives.. Well I cried through everyone, even the our dogs were staring at me like what is going on. My son also has ADD he is 8 but I am holding back taking him to a doctor right now because he is a high achiever in school and other than being very hyper at home he is doing ok. Are you on anything else other than the Adderral? How old are you? I am 43 and have noticed that as I have gotten older my moods have been more up and down.




Angie Calvert said:

Hi, have been on an antidepressant for about 8 yrs (Prozac) and was on paxil prior to this for a coupl of years. I have difficulty with time mgnt as well as organizing when things get piled up and I get overwhelmed. On the other hand I can be very meticulous when things are partially in order and I have the time to work on a certain area. I got my doctor to put me on Adderal about 5 yrs ago as our only dtr was starting 1st grade and was assessed as having AD/HD so as I began to read more and more about it I found that many times a mother can have it as well as her daughter. The Adderal did help some as I had more energy and motivation as well as increased ability to focus (sometimes however this was more of a hyperfocus in certain areas) I did find also that this Adderal also was too stimulating and since I had anxiety at times (eve more so recently) I would ask the doctor to decrease it fro the extended release kind (XR) to the regular. I wanted to be as organized as I could be in order to help our daughter and actually meds that we tried for a few months were not very effective with her so we have tried other interventions as well as some innovative treatments with her which if we can ever afford i would like to try myself such as nuero feedback and sensory learning treatment which is the one our dtr took with good results.
So in answer to your question I still do get very anxious at times, I worked as a social worker for yrs with psychiatric pts yet have bee a stay-at-home mother for about 4-5 yrs now and find my-self because of recent "Big-time stressors" more anxious, depressed, with frequent crying episodes just like you are describing and yes even isolating myself even more. What horrible side effects did you have with the antidepressants? What did your doctor say? I have had emotional issues just like you are describing also and even wondered if i might have a mild form of bipolar depression disorder, because i have looked up symptoms of that. Do you also get agitated easily at times and even real angry. I do at times and then it seems I want to blame someone even close to me because they are not or have not been there for me when I needed support the most. I just want to feel like a whole person again and not just going throught the "motions" of life at times. I mean I even get tearful when one of those commercials comes on about "feeling depressed" advertising a certain medication.
Can you relate to this? I am anxious to hear what your doctor reccommended. Ihave called my doctors office also and left message re my depression and crying spells and request for a medication change to help me.

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Permalink Reply by autumn on March 4, 2010 at 12:01pm

I was placed on Effexor XR this past week and right now it has been the opposite for me I have been nauseas and have been eating less and don't feel as hungry. I have read that it is different for everyone. Did you feel like eating alot form the start or was it later after your body got used to the med? I also noticed that food that I would eat before even though I don't like them much, now I can't even stand to eat. I don't crave sweets either but that is the Adderral, because I noticed that from the Adderral right away, I stoped craving sweets.

Cristina said:

Antidepressants suck.

Gained 100 lbs over the course of nine years on Effexor XR. I know it was the Effexor, too, because one it was out of my system I stopped the cycle of binge eating completely.

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Permalink Reply by Patty Deatsch on March 4, 2010 at 6:17pm

I can relate to your story. I was diagnoised about 14 years ago when my son was first diagnoised it was a relief to know I wasn't crazy anyway I was on several meds before my dr found the one that was best and that's Adderall XR and it takes time to figure out the right dose. I'm also on an antidepressant (which there are many, many to try) and I also take Xanez for anxiety and social phobia and then I also take meds for bi-polar. Just hang in there and it takes time to get the dosages right. Hopes this helps a little.

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Permalink Reply by Donna on April 14, 2010 at 11:43am

I am new to this forum, and am looking for some input as well. Your title caught my eye as I am also dealing with depression & anxiety, as well as ADHD. I have had great success with Zoloft. I have been taking it for over 4 years. I do agree that the symptoms of the 3 mentioned problems all seem to be related, and it is very hard to figure out what the problem is. I just started Adderall yesterday (because the ADHD is a new dx for me) and am hoping it helps my concentration and focus. I had a discussion with my therapist and psych just yesterday, about how to figure out which is the best med, and how to differentiate between the different problems. I do feel like that for me, the times when I am most anxious are when I am unable to concentrate and make decisions. I am hoping that by adding the med for ADHD, it will balance out the depression & anxiety as well. I think that the most frustrating part of this whole thing, is that there is really no clear cut answer. It comes down to each person trying to find the right combo of meds and behavior modifications. It is hard to think about the overwhelming trials of different meds, (weaning up to treatment dose, and then weaning back down if it doesn't work) when you are already feeling so terrible. I hope it helps to know that there are others out here...Donna

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Permalink Reply by autumn on April 14, 2010 at 12:49pm

Hi Donna,
Yes, it does help to know that there are others out there, thank you for your reply. If only we could find the magic pill:) I have now been on the Effexor XR for about 6 weeks and it really did not start to kick in until this past week. My anxiety level has dropped pretty much and I don't feel as uncomfortable when I go out and am around others. Today I will be going out with my husband for lunch, this will be a big test for me, since the last time I felt horrible and cried. My anxiety around others is ridiculous I hate how I feel because part of me wants to talk and be social but the other part dosen't because of the bad feelings. When my anxiety is high I can describe it as sort of an out of body feeling and if someone is speaking to me I can't even hear them because I am so focused on the feeling and it is really weird. Right now I struggle with the social aspect the most because I have a huge extended family and I am always being invited to something. I am always making up excuses as to why I can't come but it really is getting old and I know people notice, but what can I do. I also make and sell jewelry but the home shows I want to do have been put on hold because of the anxiety. I was given the opportunity to do a show and have models wear my jewelry but have not gone through with it, again I had to make an excuse. When I was told I come early to speak with the models and get to know them, a red flag went up. Good gosh if only everyone went through these feelings for at least a week in their lifetime maybe they could relate. But I wasn't about to tell the coordinator of this show my problems, she would probably think I was weird and besides it is no ones business to know my problems, unless I want to tell them. Thank goddness my husband sells my jewelry at his large company and I do make income from it. Right now I am hanging in there. Thanks for your response.

Donna said:

I am new to this forum, and am looking for some input as well. Your title caught my eye as I am also dealing with depression & anxiety, as well as ADHD. I have had great success with Zoloft. I have been taking it for over 4 years. I do agree that the symptoms of the 3 mentioned problems all seem to be related, and it is very hard to figure out what the problem is. I just started Adderall yesterday (because the ADHD is a new dx for me) and am hoping it helps my concentration and focus. I had a discussion with my therapist and psych just yesterday, about how to figure out which is the best med, and how to differentiate between the different problems. I do feel like that for me, the times when I am most anxious are when I am unable to concentrate and make decisions. I am hoping that by adding the med for ADHD, it will balance out the depression & anxiety as well. I think that the most frustrating part of this whole thing, is that there is really no clear cut answer. It comes down to each person trying to find the right combo of meds and behavior modifications. It is hard to think about the overwhelming trials of different meds, (weaning up to treatment dose, and then weaning back down if it doesn't work) when you are already feeling so terrible. I hope it helps to know that there are others out here...Donna

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