Posted by oftenlost on February 1, 2003, at 23:32:37
OK, this is going to be a bit long winded, but I think the background is important. I have exhibited the symptoms of Adult ADD forever, but have had increased awareness of my behaviors over the past five or so years. As I have gained an awareness, I thought I was closer to resolution.
Ritalin really did nothing for me, and after four and a half years of on-again off-again attempts (I always forgot to take it, a pretty good indicator that it was not working) I finally got a new pharmacologist. We have found a solution, but also some new problems: During the Ritalin period I had also tried several medications to treat an accompanying depression/anxiety. These included Effexor and Wellbutrin. The Effexor may have had a positive effect but I never would know because I got so depressed over the "effect" it had on my sex life ( I know there is a term for it, I just don't know what it is). I gave up on it pretty quick. The Wellbutrin made me downright nasty. I was really really irritable. So I had given up on that too, and was just continuing my once in a while attempts at Ritalin. Then I spoke to a doc who said that the problem with the Wellbutrin might have been that I was not taking ENOUGH. I increased my dosage to 150sr in the morning, then finally to 300sr each morning- and I no longer experience the "nastyness". Although I had for a while in late afternoon. I am generally irritable- but my wife says that is not uncommon for me. So here I am on 300 mg Wellbutrin Sr in the morning.
My new doctor suggests that if Ritalin really is not working, that we try Adderall. I cannot believe the success. I am astonished by how sharp and alive I (felt) using Adderall. I take a 5mg tab with a 20mg sr each morning. I am not sure why the 5 mg works so well- but when I tried two 15 sr's I became a wreck. I still displayed a bit of late afternoon iritability as the meds wore down. So the Doctor recently added Topamax to the mix in 25mg doses increased by 25 each week- I think the intent was to kinda level out my moods. So I am on the third week now of Topamax and I have never been so depressed in my life. I am sad all the time, not really suicidal but no positive outlook at all; Whatever positive effects I was feeling as a result of the Adderall have been completely eliminated. Today I actually discussed (with my wife) the idea that I might "commit" myself to a hospital for a while. Just to figure things out. And up to this point I was a pretty normal guy who lost his car keys a lot. Really- I have never thought I was treating anything more than ADHD and maybe mild depression when all of a sudden everything is dark and dismal. It seemed pretty clear to me that this is the result of the Topamax. However, some of the threads I have read lead me to believe that it may not really be the Topamax but actually from the Wellbutrin (whose positive effects I could never really identify- only that I had pased the "Nasty Point" of the dosage).
Any real insights? Am I reacting to the Wellbutrin's interaction with the Topamax, and should I discontinue the Wellbutrin instead?
poster:oftenlost
thread:138845
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030130/msgs/138845.html