Posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 22:02:22
After months and months of trying different (newer) antidepressants (Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor XR, Wellbutrin XL), to treat my anxiety, I in desperation tried a friend's Adderall for two days (15 mg 1 x daily). [A little on my anxiety, it occurs concurrently with ADD inattentive type and depression, though previously all pdocs had attributed the ADD and depression to be "side effects" of me being anxious all the time].
The effect was profound: the Adderall, while *mildly* stimulating (no more so than a cup of coffee) calmed me down in a way I had never felt in a long time. I have been prescribed the four main benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, & Valium) at various doses, but none was as effective as the Adderall was. Whereas the benzos sort of bluntly knocked me out (even on small doses I was spacey), the Adderall seemed to clear out my head of the anxious thoughts. It was a wonderful feeling--sedating, yet not quite--and my pdoc decided to treat me from an ADD perspective after I told him my reaction to the drug.
I have now been on my own Adderall (normal release 15 mg 2x to 3x daily--every 6 hours depending on how long I am awake) for 5 days and experienced the anti-anxiety effect just as strongly as I did when I sampled it the week before. However, on the third day of taking it, my anxiety symptoms suddenly returned with a vengeance while I was doing some homework (I am a college student). I have general anxiety that is with me generally 100% of the time plus strong social anxiety on top of that--social anxiety which causes SEVERE underarm sweating if I am around any people (or talking to them on the phone) at all.
The sweating+other anxiety symptoms (increased heart rate, jitteriness, etc), all returned suddenly on this third day of Adderall treatment. I thought they might just be transient and I have continued on the 15 mg 2x daily regimen. While the Adderall has started to have a calming effect again, it does not affect the social anxiety (and thus the sweating, which is extremely troublesome to me) and I still sweat like crazy around anyone. Since I can deal with this symptom--I have dealt with it for a couple of years since the anxiety started in high school--I don't want to call my pdoc until I've given the medication a fair chance to have a thearaputic effect.
However, I was curious if anyone else used Adderall for anxiety, and their experiences with it, as well as anyone's thoughts on perhaps what the trouble could be (dosage, interval, etc). I don't want to go back on the SSRI/SNRI/NDRI meds quite yet since in addition to the fatigue, sexual, and gastrointestinal side effects I exprienced with each, none was really effective for my anxiety and they all made me feel not quite like myself (more apathetic about work, subtle change in sense of humor and personality). I am enjoying being off the antidepressants because I feel like me for the first time in a very long time (much more stable and less moody, and the Adderall helps with that too), though I still have the anxiety and ADD symptoms (though the ADD symptoms are also helped somewhat by the adderall).
Also, I have tried all topical solutions to minimize underarm sweating (none work, even prescription antiperspirants), and would rather treat the sweating from the anxiety perspective. However, I don't want to go back on any drug that would make me be apathetic or change my personality (like the SSRIs and the benzos). My doctor said he might want to try Neurontin (gabapentin) for the anxiety should the adderall not be enough, since it has few(er) side effects and is easier to come off of. However, I am worried the neurontin would be mentally dulling or cause me to be sleepy all the time. I really am in a situation where I cannot deal with side effects for extended periods of time because I am in college and cannot stop or slow down the term to suit my needs (unfortunately). The Adderall seemed to be a godsend for the first few days----what happened?
poster:collegeguy
thread:337050
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040412/msgs/337050.html