Posted by wishingstar on June 27, 2008, at 6:46:53
In reply to Re: adderall from GP, posted by dbc on June 26, 2008, at 23:55:28
Wow, I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.
I've had two separate psychiatrists rx adderall for me for depression. I have recurrent severe major depression that thus far has been treatment resistant with every drug we're tried, including SSRIs tricyclics, MAOIs, and mood stabalizers, and a few other misc drugs. Maybe it varies by geographic location, but I've heard of many people being given adderall or other stimulants for treatment resistant depression in my area, and I feel like I've read it on these boards as well. I take a small dose - 10mg in the morning, 5mg afternoon. It by no means "fixes" things but its enough to get me through work, which is really what we're going for. One of the doctors that prescribed it to me works at the major hospital in my area and from the frames in his office, apparently is a member and on the board of several professional psychiatry organizations. According to my therapist (who is actually in another city so in no way associated with my pdoc), she has at least one other client taking adderall for depression as well. Maybe it's a local thing here. I dont think that either of my doctors are lying to try and get around anything with diagnoses etc. I know that adderall (and all stimulants) have significant risks but when the alternative is completely uncontrolled depression and significant problems working, I'll take the benefits AND the risks. I am not someone who is at high risk of abusing medication and I think my doctors know this. I know that ANYONE can get addicted or abuse anything, so I'm not trying to say that I'm above having that happen, but overall it's not like me. I've done a great deal of research on meds (stimulants and others), and I work in the mental health field myself, so overall I feel fairly confident in the choice to take the adderall for now. But I'll certainly be careful. Again, I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience! That sounds terrible. Thanks for sharing.
poster:wishingstar
thread:836667
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080626/msgs/836719.html