I'm trying to help my husband..need feedback, please read

[adhd_wife]

He is being treated for the other things...so if he doesn't have ADHD, then when he doesn't take his Adderall why is he a basket case and why can't he focus on getting off the couch and getting anything done? He goes into a deep depression, doesn't shower, doesn't really care if he eats, keeps the house closed up, etc. When he is taking the Adderall, he's a different person..gets things done, etc. He just doesn't like what the Adderall does to his mind and how he starts thinking about relapsing. It's too confusing for me LOL

[Toddie]

I hope they find out what the problem is. Sounds like he is pretty depressed. For now, see about getting him up every day and working out as well as taking a shower. Best of luck.

[Jennita]

Since there are no real biological tests for these disorders or standard levels known(for example, a doc would know the normal levels of blood sugar), the drugs are not always going to work. In fact, it is known that past chemical abuses, such as alcohol or drugs, can be a factor that most bi-polar people share although they are not always the only factor, and this raises the question if chemicals themselves cause chemical imbalance. I think that may go for the prescription stuff too, as they act on the brain simular to street drugs. If only your husband had a few years alcohol and/or drug free, he might have recovered. But now being on psych drugs, those are dangerous to cold turkey and must be tapered, around 10% of dose no sooner than every two weeks is the standard. Staying on drugs or getting off would be his decision so I'm not saying he should get off his drugs. Something to consider, though.

Zyprexa may be causing the tiredness...it is a major tranquilizer, stronger than the benzodiazepines like Xanax/Valium family, which are the minors. It's a major downer which could be why it's hard to get off the couch.

[brainfog]

adhd_wife,

He may have a complicated case of bipolar and adhd. Prescribed stimulants don't 'act' the same on the brain as street drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine,etc.) that is the reason they don't 'cause' addiction, however, if he has the addiction gene which is extremely common with AD/HD and the gene is already 'active', meaning the "irreversable switch is thrown" from street drugs, then his addiction disease will 'probably' always be induced further with prescribed stimulant drugs and doses.

Furthermore, even though he may very well had AD/HD it does sound like Adderall is 'throwing' him into a manic stage, since he is acting with actions he cannot control.

Stimulants are commonly used to help treat depression in those without the addiction gene and those individuals who haven't responded to traditional antidepressants.

Now, if he is bi-polar, SSRI antidepressants are typically a "no-no". In general this is thought to be due to their actions on the serotonergic system. Since you said he is taking Effexor, this is not an SSRI but a PMRI, which still *does* partially act on serotonin in the brain, thus may be inducing mania as well.

The first action a doctor will do before treating the AD/HD is to stabalize his bi-polar. It sounds like everything is screwed up and the Effexor and adderall may be working against the lithium.

Now I read your post fast but I don't recall why he had him taking a antipsychotic. Why did the pdoc say he's taking it for ?

Talk to your doctor about Wellbutrin SR or XL, or possibly a tricyclic AD with lithium before you add in a different stimulant, such as possibly concerta/ritalin. If you even can.. If he lives in California at this point it may be illegal to prescribe him a stimulant if he had already abused it in the past.

[This message has been edited by brainfog (edited 10-14-2003).]

[Jennita]

adhd wife,

Let me rephrase, the prescriptions act on the same receptors in the brain as do street drugs, because they are street drugs. The difference is control and better lab conditions only. However, they do cause addiction; one clue is if a dose works for awhile then doesn't, and a higher dose is needed...that's tolerance development and a sign of dependancy. Dependancy is more physical, is only a small part of true addiction which has added components of compulsion/social/euphoria-seeking behaviors in order to be true addiction. So alot of people on small doses who haven't developed tolerance are not addicted yet.

However, obviously your husband became addicted to Adderall. With all his past addictions, hard to say if his brain can do without some sort of chemical(although many addicts make it to a drug-free life) without extreme difficulty.

Has he ever tried fish oil capsules, or plain old caffiene for a lift? That might help, although as I said before he is on a major tranquilizer and that could be knocking the energy out of him; maybe lowering that dosage would show some improvements by itself. However, I am not a doctor or health professional so you may want more opinions. Hope you find an answer.