Does Ritalin help with anxiety too? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

Sportbikechic · 01-04-2007, 01:23 PM

I have ADD and anxiety. My doctor first tried to target the anxiety (Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Wellbutrin) I had sexual side effects with the first three and migraine headaches with the Wellbutrin xl. I am a migraine sufferer anyway, so it just made it more frequent.

Doc. said the next step may be to target the ADD. But I am concerned with the anxiety piece.

Please help me!!

ScAttErBrAiNed · 01-05-2007, 03:13 PM

I'm glad you brought that up because I thought I was the only one. I was originally diagnosed with GAD when I was ~8-9 yrs. old [removed], but my biggest issues are emetophobia (fear of vomiting) and social anxiety. I already had 2 doctors tell me they are concerned about putting me on stims b/c of the anxiety (because of my phobia I was not eating, so my current doctor, who I do not want to go to anymore, thinks I'm anorexic).

enough said, I'm glad to hear there are docs out there that will treat ADD patients who also have an anxiety issue. My therapist says from her exerience docs will treat the disorders separately but simultaneously (ie. like giving you a benzo and a stim), but I really can't say much else. please keep me posted, I would like to know more about treating these two disorders together, and reactions to stims when you have an anxiety disorder as well.

good luck with that I hope it works out well for you!!

Sportbikechic · 01-06-2007, 10:05 AM

Thank You for the well wishes

I actually started Strattera yesterday. My doctor wants to go this route first, then try Ritalin if need be. I have tried Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, and Wellbutrin in the past for my anxiety. But we have learned that the ADD is still prevalant. So maybe we need to target that first. I will say that the Prozac did help the ADD, but I had sexual side effects.

Not good!!

Good Luck to you!!