Posted by Shell on September 26, 2006, at 11:58:41
I have both ADHD and GAD with the occasional panic attack thrown in. Until recently, my pdoc was treating only the anxiety because he felt that was the more serious problem (Effexor, Wellbutrin, Klonopin) and, I suspect, because he thinks most of my ADHD symptoms come from anxiety and not ADHD. (I was diagnosed with ADHD about 6 years ago, long before I started seeing him. I doubt he’d have diagnosed me with it, because he has said that he thinks in most cases, ADHD-like symptoms in adults come from undiagnosed depression or anxiety disorders).
Anyway, the anxiety has not improved (in my opinion partially because untreated ADHD is stressing me), and I have begged to be allowed be put back on Concerta. He hasn’t prescribed anything for the ADHD in the year I’ve been seeing him. He finally relented and wrote a prescription for 18 mg Concerta. The problem? He now refuses to refill the Klonopin, which was the only thing I was taking that did seem to help, because one is an “upper” and one is a “downer” and if I take them together, they will, in his words, "cancel each other out."
I somehow just don’t feel (though he’s the expert, not me), that that seems right. Concerta, though it may technically be a stimulant, isn’t stimulating, but calming. I think I also remember that both Concerta/Ritalin and Wellbutrin work by inhibiting reuptake of dopamine – so if Wellbutrin is OK to take with Klonopin, why isn’t Concerta?
I’ve taken both Concerta and Klonopin together and I seem to do better than on either one alone. I know I’m not the only one here who takes a similar combination. Does anyone have any articles that I can read (or even show my doctor) so that I know I’m not crazy (OK, maybe just a little crazy!) I hate feeling like I’m always fighting him to get the medications I need. Is it me? Is it unreasonable of me to think I can take the two together? Is it that unusual? I’m beginning to rethink everything....
poster:Shell
thread:689373
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060919/msgs/689373.html