Adderall has, literally, ruined my marriage, my family, my finances, everything our family had.
My wife, who had a huge psychotic episode a few years ago, emerged after finding the right medications {A strong antipsychotic, Clozaril along with Lithium). She emerged from the psychosis depressed, and was removed from the Clozaril and Lithium and was put on her old antidepressant, Cymbalta and her old mood stabilizer, Lamictal. She remained depressed from early 2008 until she asked her Pdoc in late 2008 about something to help with the depression. He tried adding Abilify, but it didn't help. He then tried adding Adderall.
What a huge mistake.
She immediately became manic, not sleeping or eating, and began drinking alcohol and using marijuana again. And, she soon began stopping at the bar after work, which evolved into infidelity. With many men. I wrote many letters to her pdoc, and after 8 months on the Adderall, he stopped it. It was too late.
My wife is now psychotic, on a medical leave from her teaching job (which she will probably lose), has been on the run off and on over the last several months with her latest guy, a 21 year old bipolar man (boy?)(she is 48 years old). She has returned to our home many times, and has stolen things to pawn off, stolen my wallet, my daughters laptop and game sets, tools, etc.
Of course, I have filed for divorce, which takes 6 months in Michigan when a minor child is involved. Our 2 older boys have left for far off locations being as they couldn't handle their mom, who wanted to party with them and their friends, and especially since she is now involved with the 21 year old, whom my boys describe as "bad news".
Our home is for sale, and we owe a lot more than it is worth, so the best we could hope for is a short sale, and at worst a foreclosure. My wife is not paying any of the bills she has in her name (a credit card, 2 student loans, car loan) and has been writing bad checks. She is ruining herself financially, and putting a pretty big hurt on me financially.
I'm no expert, but I know quite a bit about bipolar disorder, and I knew the Adderall was a mistake as soon as she started taking it and exhibiting manic behavior. I have read of several people on the Bipolar Support Group site here that they have had some success using Adderall to combat depression, but they seem to be the exception. In my opinion, Adderall is very risky for anyone whom has bipolar disorder.
Sadly there isn't a whole lot you can do. Like me, you can write letters to the psychiatrist, detailing the manic behavior, and request tht the Adderall be stopped.
Good luck Robin.
Paul
