Bipolar Support Group

Does anyone have any experience using Adderall for Depression???

My wife Karen was prescribed 10mg (I think) of Adderall to help with her depression. She has been on Cymbalta and Lamictal since coming down from a manic episode last spring, and has been mildly to moderately depressed ever since. A month or so ago her psychiatrist tried Cytomel (sp?), a thryoid medication that he thought might help her antidepressant do it's job. It didn't help. He then tried Abilify, but it didn't help either. Last week he tried the Adderall. It has had a remarkable, almost immediate effect. She has been spending quite a bit of time in bed, but after starting the Adderall, she has been out of bed, busy around the house, and says she feel MUCH less depressed. In fact, she told me on about the second day of taking the Adderall that for the first time in a LONG time, she went an entire day without thinking of suicide. This kinda freaked me out, but the fact that she wasn't thinking about suicide quickly relieved me. She had a great weekend, and continues to do well.

A couple of concern I have are, has anyone had any difficulty stoping the Adderall, if and when the time comes to do so (It is an amphetimine and could become addictive), or has Adderall sent anyone into a manic phase?

Either way, I am sooooooo happy to see her going day to day without the depression!

If anyone has any experince or input, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Paul

She's experiencing the stimulant effects of adderall. I used to take it to be able to focus on studying when I was in college. I had no problem stopping it (because my parents took all my meds away from me), but I did and do get urges to take it. If she ever decides to stop it she can wean down slowly and maybe replace it with something else to help her get off of it.

Paul;

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I've never lied to you before, and I'm not gonna start now... The reason Karen has been up, out of bed and zipping around is because she's on speed.

I take Adderall (at a MUCH higher dose than Karen - I take 30 mg. twice a day) and it works beautifully for me. Both Zinnia and I have been VERY public about the Aderall topic... because people need to know what it's really all about from people that take it.

Adderall is a very potent amphetamine; and although, for me, it does wonders for my attention span and concentration (and DOES make depressive episodes a little less severe by keeping me motivated and focused) there ARE some side effects...

1. Potentially habit-forming (Amphetamine!!!)

2. Weight loss & lack of appetite. (I'm not sure what Karen's body type is like these days, but for Zinnia & I - we can't really afford to lose any more weight.... THAT side effect is one of my biggest gripes.

3. Insomnia.... it's pretty tough to sleep when you're all hopped up on speed, which is exactly what Adderall is.

Some of us cannot take antidepressants because of rapid cycling & mixed states. Antidepresants can have the opposite effect on us, and actually trigger a SEVERE mania, which is very likely to include psychosis.

Some pdocs will prescribe Adderall in rapid cyclers but they really hate to do it because of the potential for addiction.

I'll tell you this Paul - I'll bet dollars to donuts that the zip zip zip that Karen's feeling now will probably level off with in a couple of weeks. Her body isn't used to the amphetamine. But once it's in her system for a while, it will stop making her "speedy" - but it WILL keep her depression at bay - UNLESS she starts depending on it (or abusing it - which is pretty easy to do)... then the depresion can kick in (obviously) because she'll start withdrawals. (Not anything serious, but crankiness, lethargy... etc.)

So... in a nutshell - I DO think that it can be a positive thing for Karen (especially because I know a bit about her history - she's an ideal candidate) but I think you should monitor her behavior closely just for a little while until you're both confident that she can handle it.

If you'd like to talk more about this, you know how to reach me (and I'm sure Zinnia would be MORE than willing to answer any of your questions too) oh and just FYI - I'm not breaking any confidentiality by mentioning her name... we both do that to each other when it comes to this topic... partners in crime

OH! One more thing: Z and I both had a physical problem (at the same time a couple o months ago - it was creepy)... Anyway - the problem was a SERIOUS burning sensation on the skin... I mean SERIOUS, like you just had the worst sunburn of your life, and than someone scraped your skin off with a wire brush. NOT KIDDING. It was bad! So we did a little research, and discovered that the common denominator between the both of us was Adderall & Lamictal combinaton... Z talked to her doc, and it was some weird effect that happened because of one med sucking the protein out of something... I forget what exactly (maybe it doesn't work as well for concentration as I thought) ha ha BUT just keep an eye open for that too!

(((((Big hugs for you, Karen, the boys and the little princess)))) Make sure you let me know how she does with it... Love you!

Post edited by: kimminentdanger, at: 12/01/2008 15:18

hi, paul-kim's right on with her advice. the only thing i would add is that i have done research and have talked to my pdoc about the possible positive effects taking a thyroid medication or an amphetamine with an antidepressant. these meds can augment the antidepressant and make it work better. since she is on such a low dose (i take a really high dose), and pdoc tried a thyroid med first, i'll bet that's what he/she was trying to do-make the antidepressant work better. for me, i take it because the side effect of all mood stabilizers for me is that i have lots of trouble with reading and writing. it does help with the depression, too, i think. at least for me.

glad karen is feeling better.

lots of love and peace to you and your family.

Dear friends,

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge about the Adderall. These are just the kind of things I needed to know. You're right, Karen's pdoc has been trying to find something to augment her antidepressant. She had a little trouble sleeping the first couple of nights with the Adderall, but the last few night have been easier. I talked to Karen's brother, Dave, who is a research doctor in Florida, and has done a couple of years of study in Psychology. He also said she is on a low dose, and that Adderall can be taken longterm, like for years, and that addiction can be an issue, but is not very common with it. Also, loss of appetite isn't a big issue. Karen and I both could shed a few lbs.

We'll just have to watch her. For now, the benifit seems to outwiegh the possible issues.

Again, THANKS!!!!

Talk to you all soon,

Paul

Why are you two on it, zinnia and kimminentdanger?

Because we can't take antidepresants (rapid cycling/mixed states) so it helps keep the depression at a minimum and allows us to keep our focus and concentration so that we can be the ultimately focused nutbags that we are.

it also helps my wellbutrin (only antidepressant i can take) to work better and combats side effects of mood stabilizers-can't read, write or concentrate.

Dear Paul,

I have manic depression, and have taken adderall for about 5 years. It has an undeniable and powerful anti-depressant effect for me (and one other person I know). Unlike nearly all anti-depressant drugs, adderall has no 1-4 week delay before it works. Therefore, I think it has great potential for treating people who are acutely and severely depressed.

I decided to research this and was dismayed and disappointed to find that there is seemingly little research on the subject. Presumably, the designation as a "schedule 2" drug and research from decades ago that amphetamine can sometimes cause paranoia, has caused practitioners to avoid it.

Though it is probably mostly an inability of people to think "outside the box" since physicians widely prescribe the drug to children with ADHD.

Consequently, some patients suffer horrendous pain, that clinicians simply accept because most practice without thinking critically or originally.

Hi Kimminentdanger, I read your post on adderall for depression that was dated about a year ago. Found this site by random search but liked what you said. My doctor thought I should try it after many failures with the usual antidepressents. In the past small doses of celexia and wellbrution have worked to keep me active. I quit these meds when I felt I was feeling much better and now a few years later I am facing a much more stubborn, more inactive depression. No results with the above or cymbalta. I is possible I am bi-polar and go through long cycles of highly energized life followed by down slow periods.?

Now I am trying adderall. Did it work for you immediately? Are you still taking it for depression? I am on my second day and I feel its energy but still am not out of the depression stuff that has got me inactive. Does the effect build up after a few weeks? What should I expect. Many thanks, Michael