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I'm struggling to adjust my Ritalin dosage. It really helps with cognition/focus (and even mood balance), pdoc recently increased my dose. I take 30mg (LA) morning, and now 10mg (LA) in late afternoon. I'm OK on morning dose until about 2pm after I eat lunch...then energy really tapers off, I start to get more distracted, then I take afternoon dose by 4pm. The afternoon dose makes me immediately sleepy. This effect seems really paradoxical! Is there something I can do to reduce this? Caffeine?? IR form only lasts like 2 hours & I crash, so I want to avoid that. Where I live, its tough to get anything other than Ritalin... I read that some stimulants (such as Ritalin & Adderall) are better for reducing Hyperactivity - which may be why I feel so sleepy/dazed when taking it in afternoons? I've never been hyperactive.... Would Vyvanse be better in this regard (helping with both focus + causing less sleepiness)?

Started using my new fitness tracker. Tracks sleep & heartrate also. I'm not sure how accurate it is (500 great reviews said it was). But I'm quite worried with results I'm getting. My resting Heartrate jumps around erratically from 70-100. After sitting at breakfast it's like 90-115. I am healthy weight/slim, eat really well, usually fit (though really inactive last 3-4 mos). Literally, when I woke up today (before any meds), I tracked, and it jumped all around from 68-95. I hadn't even got out of bed!! The other day, I did 5 minutes of jumping jacks, then tested....it was 120-130, heart pounding in ears, really tight chest, with slight cough/phlegm congestion in throat....I do some stretching, forward bends then feel very dizzy. Is this normal or am I just really out of shape? I have low blood pressure and when I run lately, HR goes up to 180 which is max. Is this dangerous? @mikl_pls ? How long do you have to be doing fitness in order to get it down to fit/normal?? Oh, too add, I did an ECG a couple years ago, and nothing abnormal was found. Also did a "Fitness test" on a bike with oxygen mask (5 years ago though) doctor just said I was unfit.

3 years ago, I tested as "subclinical hypothyroid" and was put on Levothyrox. TSH went down to around 2, with slight improvement of symptoms (can't say it was dramatic).. but coldness and fatigue went away a bit. Fast forward, I ended up going off over a year ago (moved, new docs etc), didn't notice a huge difference after I stopped the Levo. A year ago my TSH was 3. Then when I started Ritalin, I initially wasn't fatigued, my bodytemp is warmer/sweatier with Effexor. Does Ritalin affect your Thyroid? I was told some A/Ps and A/Ds can. I'll soon get a blood test. I sleep a ton yet NEVER have energy, my vision is suddenly awful very blurry, dry eyes...I have itchy, red, dry skin that is not helped by moisturisers and sensitive skin products. I guess I don't know if these things are Thyroid-related symptoms, or side effects from my psych meds or both!

Pdoc FINALLY upped Ritalin (LA) to 30mg in morning, and I take 10mg (IR) in afternoon. Been on consistently about 1.5 years (note, it’s a real pain to get it here, they treat it like street meth & it’s the most benign stimulant!!) I have bad energy crashes within 5 hours, then crave chocolate (which I usually dislike), I have more coffee. The IR 10mg in afternoon seems to do nothing. Trying the 20mg IR in afternoon, which might be better, but wears off in 2 hours, I don’t want to mess up my sleep or jack up my heart rate. Note, I’m not taking for ADD (but for depression add-on) my physical energy, alertness & motivation just crashes now. I just get tired & need to nap. Any ideas? (I’m 50kg) Pdoc says they dose per kg, usually 50mg-60mg max for me. If I increase again, I’ll quickly be screwed (it initially worked so well!). I know Adderall is more potent, but worried about neurotoxicity and irreparable brain damage when I eventually go off (don’t plan on being on forever). I’ve heard Adderall is more “speedy” and can be agitating as well.

Hi Everyone! So I switched from Ritalin to Adderall about a year ago to control the symptoms of my obnoxious ADD, and it works really well to help me kind of, quiet my manic mind enough to feel motivated and capable to start and finish whatever I'm working on. Great med, The only problem is that I have lost a pretty intense amount of weight since I started taking it, and it doesn't seem to be getting much better. Did anyone else have this problem with adderall for so long? Any suggestions? Thanks! Olive <3

Just to preface, I don't take Ritalin for ADHD...it's more for Depression, motivation, procrastination, mental stamina purposes. Has anyone found that you get TOO focused on it? Maybe because I don't actually have ADHD, but I start working on 1 thing and become OBSESSIVELY focused on it (like it brings out the uber perfectionist in me). I forget to eat, I don't take breaks from my desk, and then my brain just shuts off from exhaustion. At the end, I've accomplished only 1-2 tasks. I have great difficulty switching tasks or getting all "priority" things done, because I get so stuck on working for HOURS on the same little thing! Basically, my processing speed is much slower, I can't adjust to "fast paced" situations, because I mull on things, make revisions over & over & over etc. On the other hand, if i go without taking it, I lay around, procrastinate, lack all motivation, and I'm unable to start anything at all. Not sure how to solve this? Do other stimulants work in the same way?

I just re-instated Ritalin (after about a 3-month break) My pdoc said I could "play" with the dosage a bit, because I was previously on a low dose (20mg extended morning, sometimes added 10mgIR afternoons). Problem is, coverage is very inconsistent. I've started loads of focus-intensive work/required research/reading projects, and I really depend on it more to function in this role. I'm getting really varied effects from it...not sure what to do. It helps me focus on detailed tasks - and I start out feeling no appetite/nauseous (which is normal effect, I always eat decent breakfast like oats/yogurt/water, about 40 minutes after taking it), but then I'm starving like 3 hours later, and really physically tired fairly quickly (on extended dose)...I took a 10mgIR dose (after eating lunch, feeling physically tired) and I can still mentally focus fine, but still feel very tired, like I need to lay down and I'm still abnormally hungry!! Is it simply not working as it should, or am I metabolising too fast? I'm not sure how to adjust my dosage or what works best for you guys? Really bummed out, I need this to work. I don't want to be popping it like candy all day!

Since starting Wellbutrin last august i have felt fairly stable as far as my depression goes. I have felt normal and sometimes almost upbeat in a way that did not slip into euphoria. I started taking Ritalin last year or this year due to insurance issues with my nuvigil for narcolepsy. I also had a......traumatic?? life experience where I learned that my husband had cheated on me and may have gotten this girl knocked up. We are trying to work things out, and I've been dealing, but it is hard. It constantly plays through my mind. She is always between us. That had a big triggering effect on me. Since then, back in April, I have been utilizing my support group and working on building myself back up and redefining my reality. It is a lot of work, but I have managed and I am learning to deal with it better. Lately though, I have felt my anxiety crawling up. I have also been super emotional. Crying for no obvious reason (in that moment, i will be fine and then something as minor as a sigh can trigger tears). I am aware that wellbutrin can cause issues with anxiety. Mine has always been very high though. Can anxiety cause you to cry like depression does? I'm not saying I'm not depressed right now....Just...I don't even know what I am trying to say or ask. I can't think. My thoughts are so disorganized right now. I did have two cups of coffee this morning.. One day I'll be perfectly fine and stable. The next day I may be overly emotional. The next day I may be good again. The next,awful or bad. I started keeping a mood chart about a month ago and it looks like an active seismograph! From day to day I cannot say how I might feel. To my knowledge I have not been diagnosed with rapid cycling anything, but my pdoc is still getting to know me. I was already medicated when I started seeing him with tweaks here and there. I've also learned I do not deal well with change. My husband started a new job and works as a mechanic during the day and a tow truck driver on nights and weekends so it feels like he is always gone. It going to take a lot of adjustment and I have not been handling it well. I've spent the last year applying for jobs and I cannot get hired anywhere. Part of me is thankful because I"m not sure how I would handle working around people, but a part of me is highly disappointed because I want to work. It feels so controversial. I do not want to just bum around and be completely dependent on anyone, but at the same time I am TERRIFIED of getting into the workforce again. I haven't worked in years because I have been home caring for children. Now, they are all in school and I worry, if I find a job then who will be home with them when they are sick? Who will take them to appointments? Things like that. What if I get a job and I can't control my emotions? I break down or have a very irritable day/s? I stay irritable. I always have. I can fake the happy personality, but I won't excel at my job doing that I don't think. I learn slow. I would once again have to adjust to something new. I avoid watching most tv, and listening to a lot of music as well as being around most people because I'm worried I'll be triggered into one emotion or another and not be able to pull myself out of it. People have asked me more than once why have I not applied for SSI? It seems so final I guess. I guess I'm worried that there will be no turning back if I do that. What else am I going to do though? I'm not doing anything currently except for being a money pit. I need to do something to help our household. I feel...what is the word...inept? useless? I'm not sure. I do not even know if my symptoms are uncontrolled enough to qualify if that is a thing. Do you have to be constantly uncontrolled to qualify? I am sorry the post was so long. I apologize again for being all over the place. I needed to get all of that out, but I had no idea how. I tell everyone that "I am fine." /sigh

Hi, so 15 years ago I was on Dexedrine for several years and it helped me SO much. Well, ended up going off of it a few years ago, cannot remember why, but now that I needed a stimulant again, they’re telling me aderal (sp) is all they prescribe. Or at LEAST they don’t prescribe dex anymore. They say it isn’t made anymore? But I’ve read some here do take it unless those were old posts...Anyway! The adereral makes me irritable and works some but not great like the other did. Im trying to find suggestions of another I could try that won’t give the irritability and something extended release that won’t keep me up all night! Ritalin made me fly through the damned roof. I have bipolar 1 and chronic lethargy, and probable ADD. Any help greatly appreciated. Edit: I’m sorry I cannot figure out how to put all my stats in as a tag line! Really AM getting old, or just too freaking depressed.

My pdoc was hesitant to put me on a moderate/high dose of a stimulant because he knows they've made me manic before, so he put me on 5 mg of Dex 2x a day. I went online to all of those drug forums (first things that popped up in the google search) and the people there basically said that 5 mg isn't worth anything and won't do a thing. However, I took 10 mg in the early afternoon and I'm still wide awake at almost 12:30 so maybe they're wrong? (I took 10 mg because I have to cut the 10 mg pills and I didn't know where the pill cutter was at the time.. long story. From now on I'm only taking 5 mg at a time, found the pill cutter--) 10 mg feels very powerful whereas the people on those websites said it might make you feel mildly high or something. I feel more than mildly high-- I feel euphoric and highly energized. So is 5 mg a worthwhile dosage after all? If 10 mg keeps me awake long into the night, surely 5 mg will do SOMETHING, right?

Does anyone have strong heart pounding sensations from meds? It does not feel like it's racing, just beating really strong sometimes, I notice at bedtime. I wonder if its the combo of Ritalin + Effexor? I've been taking a 2nd Ritalin in the afternoons. I usually have low blood pressure, but wondering if meds can really change that as well? My parents both had heart attacks quite young (50's) If I get an EKG is that really enough to assess that my heart is perfectly fine? Are there other tests to get? I heard that an EKG cannot always predict that you have a heart condition. It did not predict my mothers problems - her EKG never detected anything wrong, yet she would experience missing heart beats and/or tachardia sometimes during the night.

A main symptom of my depression is this debilitating inertia, lack of pleasure/reward and total boredom. It's like the feedback mechanism that motivates me into action & rewards me for taking action in pleasurable activities is completely broken... Despite this lack of reward/pleasure, I do take tons of action as far as forcing myself to exercise 3-4 days per week, eat right, socialize weekly, try creative projects, all kinds of new/different things incl volunteering to engage or distract myself, but I am fighting tooth & nail, ready to give up because I am always crazy bored and i'd rather just lay in bed or waste time online being unproductive (which in turn makes depression more severe). I feel useless and lazy. All of these positive things do not matter, I still feel the same and I'm afraid this will never change. Is there any OTHER solution other that stimulants or dopamine-type meds for this issue? Have stims cured this problem for you? I am afraid to get completely hooked on them. i don't even know if I really have ADD - or whether this issue is an ADD thing?? I know I quickly build tolerance to stimulants, they will stop working & then my reward system will be even more screwed for life never to return! Anyone have any feedback/thoughts around this topic?

Hi guys, I saw a new pdoc recently, and I related to him how I frequently sleep for 20-50 hours at a time because of depression, but he thinks there may be more than just "bipolar depression" causing my body to sleep continuously without interruption for such absurd amounts of time. He recommended the potentiality of stimulants - Adderall, Provigil, Nuvigil. I have absolutely no experience with stimulants! All my meds have always been downers. I have friends who take Adderall and they believe it helps with their depression and bad thoughts. So I got some (haven't seen my regular pdoc yet) and tried it and it works well. But I have an extremely addictive personality, and I'm concerned that me jacking Adderall every day could lead down a bad road, which is why I'm so curious about other opportunities, such as Provigil or Nuvigil. I don't know how the latter two work, but the Adderall as you know is a pure amphetamine mixture, and the kind I've been taking recently is non-time-released, so it gives me a nice kick and puts me into a good mood and I stay out of bed and have actually been having some great days lately (highly unusual for me). But the addiction potential is definitely there, hence the Provigil or Nuvigil options. They're supposed to be much less addictive Will these two drugs give me the KICK that I need in my brain, to stimulate me in a good and fast way like Adderall? My research tells me that the mechanism of action is unknown. But they do stimulate the brain, not just in the same way as Adderall? Although if I recall correctly, in 2012 Provigil is now the official drug of fighter bomber pilots. Also, is it common for someone with my conditions and meds (see signature) to be taking stimulants? Thanks greatly in advance! I'm seeing my regular pdoc first to run all this by him, but I want your expert opinions and experiences so I can research all that I can before I see him. troop

I know there are some amateur pharmacologists here... a question along the topic of neuroplasticity. I've heard that chronic use of antidepressants can eventually "downregulate" your receptors (Serotonin I'm assuming) so that if you ever come off the drug, your brain will never be the same as before, it will never function the same without the med, because your brain adapted/changed due to the medication (or become dependent to function in some way)... I'm wondering if the same thing happens with Stimulant drugs? I'm aware that tolerance builds up if you use them everyday for a year or more, however, what if you use stimulants for 6-9 month periods, then take breaks? Is there a proven way to avoid both the tolerance issue and this receptor "downregulation"? I'm also wondering if ALL psych drugs cause dowregulation of receptors if used everyday for long periods (I've heard the opposite also, like some drugs are neuro-protective)? Can you ever recover (i.e. if you are someone that uses psych medications on an episodic basis)?

Lamictal is working well to balance my mood. Problem is, my apathy & motivation level is still in the dumps. I am also concerned about longterm cognitive effects that many people experience on Lamictal, worsening issues I already have (executive function/mental processing speed, memory difficulties, etc) I was previously on Ritalin (alone) and felt it helped with the above issues. Does being on a Mood Stabilizer cancel out the effects of a stimulant (Ritalin)? I wonder if the Lamictal will dampen Ritalin's effects because it is used to cut mania/high stimulation/impulses? Any thoughts?

My prescriber of psychiatric meds has decided to try me on adderall for my ongoing depression. I'm on two mood stabilizers so hopefully hypomania will not be an issue... has anyone had any experience trying stimulants as a treatment for bipolar depression?

Newly diagnosed with Bipolar2 (predominantly depressed) My previous diagnosis was major depression. I'm now on a mood stabilizer (Lamictal) which is effective, but I want to get back on a stimulant (was on Ritalin) to help with ADD symptoms as needed for work. I have 20-years of chronic depression/increasing apathy that will not go away. I've been on the gamut of SSRI's and SNRI's, even Abilify and high-dose Wellbutrin for long periods, and none of these effectively targeted the depression, just gave me annoying side effects. I think I need something that directly targets Dopamine (not Serotonin or Norepinephrine). Problem is, i was never officially diagnosed as ADD as a child because this diagnosis was not common in the 70's (I have had the problematic symptoms my ENTIRE LIFE but untreated) No pdoc wants to prescribe me a stimulant, no one around does testing/diagnosis for Adult ADD. My question is: How many people here have been prescribed Stimulants since childhood? If not, and you have other co-morbid mood issues - How was it that you were prescribed a stimulant? Ritalin is the only med that noticeably helped me with no major side effects (was on 20mg for 9 months), but since I've run out (and newly diagnosed Bipolar2), no one will prescribe it. I've never had Mania, just some intense mood-cycling dips (never euphoria/enthusiasm, but the opposite: intense depression/dysphoria) which seems to be corrected by my mood stabilizer. Please give me your impression/thoughts.....I am very saddened to have finally found something that helps my major symptoms with no immediate side effects. I don't understand why doctors think stimulants are so detrimental/ineffective, yet they readily pass out dangerous/powerful antipsychotics & addictive benzos (to people that aren't even psychotic, schizophrenic or have panic disorder)?

I am taking Vyvanse 20 mg and I am feeling very tired on it. So, I doubled up on it to see if a stronger dose would help. I feel it but I also still feel lethargic and unwilling to do anything. Has this ever happened to anyone? Will it go away? Any other advice on what to do?

Hello, Could someone please honestly tell me because I can't trust myself because I'm a recovering drug addict. (Id like to put a disclaimer right here that I don't follow 12-step dogma so please don't start preaching that even though it does work for many) anyways, new diagnosis I'm a 33-year-old male finally told that I have a little bit of aspbergers disorder which is now technically on the autism spectrum and ADHD to go together with my OCD, and GAD oh I can't forget about the clinical depression either. I was a severe opioid and benzo addict taking crazy amounts I am now medicated but I'm worried about the amount of stimulants. I have never abused stimulants other than MDMA really and I don't know much about them. I was just put on Adderall XR seven months ago now I'm a 6 foot tall 240 pound male. It was amazing to see the effects that it had. I can finally look people in the eyes and my brain was finally slow. It was like for years they tried to numb with the stupid benzo's but my brain would still race. However, the dosing scares me because I don't know anyone else that takes this. I take 60 mg in the morning and another 30 mg capsule at 1400. They don't last 12 hours and I work about 10 hours a day so I find the 90 mg keeps me good for the majority actually really good for thee whole day and I still sleep for 6 to 8 hours But I didn't quit shooting up heroin to die from a heart attack..so can any of you give me some input please. Ps. By the way I also take 60 mg of Paxil and 4 mg of Xanax which sounds high but is pretty good considering before the Adderall I was taking eight and this was prescribed by my addiction Doctor. I honestly was not abusing that. I needed that to function soon as I went on the Adderall I stopped having the stupid panic attacks and have managed to cut my dose in half. I also take an opioid called Suboxone which is used to treat addiction. So yes technically I'm on amphetamine, benzodiazepine and opioid and an SSRI but, I'm the happiest I've ever been and I'm actually functioning and holding down a job and stuff for the first time in my life. I could really use some helpful opinions

I was diagnosed with ADHD five years ago. I am 28, ambitious, career driven, and have completed several years of graduate school. Now I am job hunting and having some success but I am under a lot of stress (which is my point). My dosage of Adderall was played with for about a year until we decided on one 20mg of extended release in the morning and one 20mg of short term release in the afternoon. A few times in the past I have developed a tolerance and I have always resisted the suggestion of an increased dosage. My ADHD is bad, but I felt dependent upon it. Now, however, Its getting really bad. About two months ago I gave Concetta and Ritalin a try and lasted about 6 weeks before I told the doctor that they weren't working as effectively. i have been back on Adderall for6 weeks and will be going back to the doctor on Friday, which is nine days before I am actually due for a re-fill. I tried Vyvanse in the past, and was really spaced out on it, and I don't remember my dosage. Now, I am lazy, unfocused, unproductive, and sleeping a ton! I still feel Adderall is the best drug for me, because of how I felt on it when I went back to it a few weeks ago. But I need a dosage change, or something.. Does anyone have any idea of what I can ask my doctor to go to? - would taking a 30mg of extended release in the morning and 10 in the afternoon be enough of a change to affect someone whose built up a tolerance? - would asking about the same dosage in Ritilian help? I am hesitant to ask for a dosage increase in adderall, but is that the best answer? I have been really good with my meds my whole life, and my doctor isn't going to accuse me of anything if I do. Can't necessarily say the same thing about the pharmacist though. Anyways, any advice would help!

I've been on a course of Luvox, Klonopin, and Lamictal since 2009 for the treatment of a very rare Dissociative Condition (Chronic Depersonalization and Derealization) I "inherited" in 2008 (due to Zyprexa withdrawals and medication mismanagement by my Psychiatrist at that time). Since that time I've been very lucky to get the proper diagnosis and receive treatment that is in tune with the University of London Depersonalization Research Institute and have had some very good Psychiatrists and Neurologists work with me. However, now in 2016 I've tried to improve my quality of life and productivity by adding "stimulants" to my regimen to help me be more productive and less sedentary all of the time. This is also in line with some Dr.'s thought on Chronic Depersonalization (Such as Dr. Alan Torch in the book "Feeling Unreal" - as he finds it helps "lift" people who suffer from Dissociation out of that state and closer to reality - along with the SSRI and Klonopin - which is a staple in treating Depersonalization). I tried Adderal - which was great - but exacerbated my facial pain syndrome (another condition I have) - so I had to discontinue. I tried Ritalin - which was GREAT - it helped with my depression, ruminations, and my productivity - however it too exacerbated my facial pain - so I had to discontinue. I met with my Pdoc following this and was very distraught - as these medications were helping me reach my full potential. So I asked if i should lower my Luvox. I currently take 150mg (50mg 3x daily) - to see if that would help with the sedation and apathy I experience (after being on Ritalin it was easy to see how sedentary and apathetic I really am) - we also discussed the addition of Strattera - given it is a stimulant but won't stimulate the central nervous system so it likely won't exacerbate my existing facial pain. The plan we came up with was to lower my Luvox by 50mg - skip the afternoon dose - so I would continue with my 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night. I was to do this for a week and THEN (if no problems were present from missing this dose) begin the Straterra. I skipped the Luvox afternoon dose as planned - and for the week I was "okay" other than a few days I didn't have any excessive ruminations or songs playing in my head or depersonalization like symptoms. Then I introduced Strattera at 18mg. After 2 days I stopped - It caused me to depersonalize more and additionally it caused EXCESSIVE ruminations - songs playing in my head, words repeating themselves when I'm watching TV, before I say something in person I'd say it in my head, and so on. It also made me feel "weird". It has now been 2 days since stopping the Strattera and I am still experiecing these symptoms and more - although I can focus and I do have similar symptoms like this from time to time (when my depersonalization is really bad) I've never had it be this consistent (although I'm not full blown depersonalized which I know all too well - its a horrible horrible thing to lose your sense of self - this is something different - although since I'm stuck in my head partially there is an extent of depersonalization and derealization involved). I'm also experiencing dizziness, anxiety, and I can't stop these ruminations. My questions are - 1) Could this be the Luvox withdrawal? Despite feeling "okay" during the first week - is it possible that it took a week or so for the withdrawal affects to kick in? From what I've read Luvox should be titrated very very slowly - not at a drop of 50mg but from 10% of what your dose is - over a longer period. My Psychiatrist is quite good so I'm quite alarmed at this advice. 2) Since I introduced Strattera which seems to have exacerbated and/or caused this - could it be the Strattera? And if so, why is it still continuing when Strattera has such a short half life? It should be out of my system by now! I only have 2 options - wait this out and see what happens - perhaps the Strattera is still playing havoc in my head - whether its in the system or not - but perhaps its exacerbated my existing ruminations that were well..."at bay". Otherwise, my 2nd option is to reintroduce the Luvox 2nd dose and see what happens. I would have been down to 100mg for 9 days. Had I not introduced the Strattera after only a week of lowering my Luvox dose it wold have been easy to see that the lowering of my Luvox is causing this and I would have just gone back to my regular dose. However Strattera was what really exacerbated or caused this - so I'm not sure what to do - Any advice would be appreciated! Thru my research I’ve found that Strattera can cause “mania” in some patients which it seems what I am experiencing – along with the other symptoms I’ve mentioned above. So I’m not sure what to do. Its almost afternoon and I'm REALLY considering just taking the Luvox afternoon dose (going back to my regular dose 9 days ago) just to see if it helps. I figure worst case is I'm going to be dependent on the medication for this kind of thing but if it helps and gets me back to where I was PRIOR to this - then I can live with that. But I can't continue like this! And then, if it does work - in the future I can plan a LONG LONG titration of Luvox (I'd like to go down by 50mg, but I sure as hell won't be going down 50mg like I did) I'd go down very slowly on my afternoon dose. So is it the Strattera or the Luvox? And if I introduce the Luvox (even though I was okay during that first week and before introducing the Strattera) how much harm would I be doing? I've been on that dose for over 3 years so I figure It could at least provide me some relief. I feel like the affects the Strattera brought on aren't getting better but getting worse - so perhaps its a combination of withdrawals from both drugs? Not sure. Please help. Really suffering right now guys.

I was on Concerta 36mg and it was helping but my jaw was so tense I couldn't stand it and I started getting really irritable, shaky and anxious so I had to stop. I was only taking Effexor 300 for about 6 months but my short-term memory was getting really bad, I could think but I couldn't express what I wanted to say and I was having trouble with word finding. My daughter kept telling me I had Alzheimers. I've been taking Dexedrine ER spansules for almost two weeks now and I'm feeling more like the old me . I've been able to communicate my thoughts and I've noticed I'm not nearly as anxious and irritable. I actually feel a bit mellow which is really nice. My jaw is a bit tense and I've noticed a bit of peak and valley during the day which is probably the extended release of the med. It sure is nice to come out of the fog - I hope it lasts. Just 3 weeks ago I was ready to pull the covers over my head and stay there permanently. I see the pdoc in 3 weeks to assess. I'm hoping to be able to get back to my courses as learning was impossible before. Sorry for the rambling but its been so long since I could actually convert thoughts to words. I thought I would share my experience; I've learned so much from reading other peoples' posts.

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 12, put on concerta. I wasn't really fidgedy, I just started puberty very early and around that time I started being bored with everything and not being focused. I've been on and off concerta, focalin, and focalin xr for years, but after a year of not being able to be prescribed scheduled substances, I got put back on focalin in June. I just have an addictive tendency and always go overboard with it, considering I've been dealing with a meth addiction. Does anyone have any tips on how I can control myself, or tell myself when to call it quits?

Hi folks. Important background info: My drug cocktail last week was Seroquel XR (titrating up to 300 by 50mg per night. So on the first night I took 50mg, then 100mg, then 150mg, and so forth until I took 300mg of Seroquel XR with dinner) and Depakote 500mg at dinner. Xanax PRN for anxiety (about all the drug changes). I also take 2000mg fish oil (2 caplets). This week, I have remained at 300mg Seroquel XR q.pm, decreased to 250mg Depakote at dinner, added lithium 300mg b.i.d. and a sample pack of Nuvigil 150mg q.am. Still taking the fish oil and my multivitamin (prenatal because my hair is falling out!) Next week, Depakote is gone and we're adding Lamictal. Ever since starting Seroquel last week I have had profound cognitive impairment. I'm all over the map. I don't remember when I'm told things, I get lost coming home, I'm constantly leaving my cell phone in odd places (like in the freezer or on shelves in the pantry). Adding lithium this week compounded this issue, to the point where yesterday, without thinking, I took my "PM" drugs at 8am! I use a pill organizer so I can devote time once a week to making sure I have it right, but I consciously looked at the compartment that was labeled "F - PM", right underneath "F- AM" and decided that at eight in the morning, the F-PM box was the correct choice! So then I had taken Seroquel XR 300mg just 12 hours apart, an insignificant (we're weaning down) amount of additional Depakote, and then I'm forced to guzzle coffee all day just to be conscious! Now, my thought process is "Well, that's what Nuvigil is for!" except it isn't. Yesterday, it wasn't until 7pm that I realized I'd made the switch, so I didn't take it (duh). My experience with Nuvigil so far is that I'm still a vegetable, still non-functional and dumbed down to the point of disability, but I'm a vegetable who doesn't particularly need a nap. Nuvigil means I'm not crazy tired, but it does NOT give me any focus. I do have ADHD normally, of the inattentive type, so I'm no stranger to "zoning out"... but this is a whole new level. I was previously stable on a combination of antidepressants and stimulants, but had what was apparently a hypomanic response to the addition of Remeron, doctor said I'd been kindling it for years by taking AD's, and now I'm worse than ever. I'm only about 2 months into this whole bipolar thing, though every shrink I've ever seen has mentioned it because I talk so fast (former competitive debater...if you know what that means). I have never felt this dumbed and numbed by a drug ever, in my life, and to be completely honest it is scaring me! I'm on disability leave from work because the drug changes give me terrible anxiety about everything, and the side effects make me useless to my clients right now. So, in conclusion, a) Has anyone else ever had this type of cognitive impairment when starting Seroquel, or when adding lithium to your cocktail? b) Will Lamictal make it worse? c) Does it go away? Do I magically wake up one morning, take my AM lithium, and feel competent to act in a fiduciary capability for my clients? d) I took Adderall IR before, twice daily, and felt great. I've read about the "kindling" theory of AD's in bipolar, and I don't feel that it applies to stimulants, my doctor is cautious that it might, though. I keep telling him I can't read a book, can't watch a TV show, probably shouldn't be driving, etc. because of my low level of cognitive function, and he and I are going to evaluate adding a stimulant back in (probably Adderall or Dexedrine, based on my past med. responses). Does anyone have any experience with taking stimulants in combination with lithium, Lamictal and/or Seroquel XR? How did that go for you?

I was diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia a long time ago. Nuvigil was excellent, at first. Used it for 5-6 months no problem. But then I was a bit hypomanic in summer, and I think it might've help tilt me off into a mixed state. Kept on it after that was resolved, but a month later I went manic on prozac, and I cut out all stimulating medications (antidepressants, etc) because I desperately never want to feel anything like that ever again --- bummer, because Nuvigil worked beautifully for a long time. Technically, I am not really sure if the Nuvigil worsened the mania, but now I'm paranoid of it (perhaps unjustly). A low/moderate dose of Ritalin works nicely, for a few hours, but then I become deathly depressed with an awful tension in my chest for a few hours -- the come down. I can't take that comedown, it's brutal! SO, long story short, are there any stimulants or medications used to keep one awake that are smoother than ritalin?