ADD and Depression.......

[hillies]

Two years ago I was diagnosed with Depression; however, I was never satisfied with that diagnosis, especially since I'm a psychology major. So, out of frustration, I started fresh with a new doctor in May. The doctor listened to me a lot more and sent me for neuropsychiatric testing at a specialist. After taking the MMPI , sentence completion test (the first two would indicate depression), TOVA, and a short-term memory test (the second two would indicate ADD), I was diagnosed with ADD with anxiety. So in my case, it was true that my undiagnosed ADD (I'm 19) was causing my depression because I would get so frustrated that I couldn't complete a certain task that I would get anxiety, and over time, anxiety would turn into depression. I'm now on Adderall with no symptoms of either ADD, depression, or anxiety. Hope this helps!

[mellowfish]

Originally Posted by daisy-duke77

... Do you think i would benefit from taking a med for ADD? Im taking Wellbutrin XL and Buspar. Can you mix ADD med's with other med's? I have heard that Adderall can be addicting? What makes it addicting?

If you have adhd with depression and no AD's are working for you, the ADHD could well be the antagonist. If you find any success with a med for ADHD, an anti-depressant may begin "working" quite well. Many people take 2 or more meds that include their ADHD meds. The big factor is combining stimulant meds with WB and some others that lower the threshold for seizures.

Adderall is a stimulant med, just as drugs like cocaine and "crystal meth" are abused, adderall can be as well (in fact, Adderall is a mixture of combined amphetamine salts). If it is used theraputically as intended, there should not be addiction or abuse.

From my own personal experience, ritalin has worked very well for me. All the while I was taking Wellbutrin XL, but when my dosage was increased to 300mg the ritalin "quit working." Not suprising, considering that both drugs work as dopamine reuptake inhibitors. My dr. switched me to regular old adderall, which does not work for me nearly as well, and I think may be excaberating my depression. I also take Lexapro, which I think is helping me a lot. I'd probably be in pretty good shape if I flushed the WB and went back to ritalin!

[*Spaz*]

Originally Posted by hillies

Two years ago I was diagnosed with Depression; however, I was never satisfied with that diagnosis, especially since I'm a psychology major. So, out of frustration, I started fresh with a new doctor in May. The doctor listened to me a lot more and sent me for neuropsychiatric testing at a specialist. After taking the MMPI , sentence completion test (the first two would indicate depression), TOVA, and a short-term memory test (the second two would indicate ADD), I was diagnosed with ADD with anxiety. So in my case, it was true that my undiagnosed ADD (I'm 19) was causing my depression because I would get so frustrated that I couldn't complete a certain task that I would get anxiety, and over time, anxiety would turn into depression. I'm now on Adderall with no symptoms of either ADD, depression, or anxiety. Hope this helps!

That is exactly what i think I'm going through. If you're not feeling sucessful at work and feel like a loser, how can you not be depressed right?

[Frankielebunj]

I've been in treatments for 15 years for depression and antidepressants NEVER helped me, they made me worse. I recently started taking Concerta for ADD, it seems to help, it helps me focus better and it helps get me out of bed. I also take Trileptal and Klonopin for anxiety, so I'm on a weird combination.
It can be only really be addicting when it is abused, though if there is a history of substance abuse a doctor will be reluctant to dispense it out. If taken daily, at therapeutic levels, it can work wonders. But be careful because like with any drug, it may not work. Everyone is different.