I am trying to research medicine for my daughter, and was wondering if Prozac has been used with success for ADD?

i haven't heard of any cases where it has worked, but due to the fact that it is in fact a stimulant, it could possibly work in some cases, but i doubt its advised, i'm not a medical professional so i couldn't tell you if it would work because i don't know the specific chemicals in it and which ones would help or contradict with ADHD people, so, i don't really know for certain and i wouldn't really want to test it o_O sorry

and if anyone has any real information, please share, i'm curious too lol

Prozac is not actually a stimulant, but rather it is an antidepressant. It's effect on psycho motor function varies from person to person, but you are correct in that it is considered to be one of the most "activating" antidepressants. Prozac is more likely to increase restless behavior, and often has a "de focusing" effect, as it is also classified as an "anti obsessional". In some patients who have co-morbid anxiety or depression I can imagine that this medication would be a very nice adjunct to a typical stimulant, but I have trouble seeing it being used alone. One antidepressant that has promise is Wellbutrin, which is classified as a stimulant as well as an antidepressant. It's effect on the brain is similar to that of Ritalin (dopamine and nor-epinephrine re-uptake), and some studies have shown it to have similar promise. Wellbutrin does have a reputation for causing anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure and aggression however, and if it is used with a classic stimulant the dose of one of the two drugs will need to be cut as they will enhance eachother. I personally am on a combination of Wellbutrin and Adderall and I am seeing great results. I can't imagine where I'd be without Wellbutrin. I hope that helps!

Ah, the information i got classified it as a stimulant, but being an "activating" anti-depressant does make sense. Thanks for clearing that up for me, pepperment lol

Prozac is an SSRI. It is not in the same class as stimulants like Adderall, which are amphetamine-type drugs.

Nor is Prozac in the same class as Wellbutrin & Effexor, the "stimulating antidepressants," which share some similarities with Strattera, another drug often prescribed for ADD/ADHD.

However, Prozac is definitely a mood-brightener for many people. And for some, an energizer. If an individual's primary problem is distraction/inattentiveness due to anxiety or depression, Prozac may be helpful. However, if the primary problem is underactivation of the prefrontal cortex of the brain due to inadequate dopamine, Prozac & other SSRIs may be counterproductive. Some people do best with a combination of a stimulant & an SSRI; for others, though, this can trigger mania or hypomania.

A really great resource is the book, Healing ADHD, by Daniel Amen. The book describes 6 different subtypes of ADHD, and which subtypes benefit from which meds, including SSRIs. Dr. Amen is a board-certified child psychiatrist who developed his subtyping on the basis of hundreds of SPECT imaging studies done on individuals. When the correct med for the individual is given, the SPECT repeat study will show normalization of the area of the brain that had previously been functioning abnormally (overactive/underactive). You may be able to find this book at your local public library.