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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wishingstar on June 26, 2008, at 22:10:58
Do you think it'd be likely that I could get an rx for adderall from my general dr with a diagnosis of depression and not ADHD? I know they hand it out frequently for ADHD, but I take it for depression. Would it be wiser to go in and just state ADHD as the diagnosis? I dont want to get shot down for the prescription. I'm already taking it as rxed by my psychiatrist and do not want to change the dose. I'm looking to stop seeing my pdoc though for reasons that arent really important to this question. There arent really any other pdocs in the area... I work in mental health and I'm not comfortable going to the other local psych clinic because I work with them professionally somewhat regularly. Since I'm not looking for med management right now, only a prescription, what do you think? Any thoughts?
Posted by dbc on June 26, 2008, at 23:55:28
In reply to adderall from GP, posted by wishingstar on June 26, 2008, at 22:10:58
The days are long gone that you can get amphetamine for anything but very few disorders and one of them is definetly not depression. Infact, its usually discouraged to ever give depressed patients with ADHD stimulants untill their depression is stabilized first because of abuse potential.
I cant make sense of how you have a prescription yet dont have ADHD or narcolepsy or the few other things its prescribed for unless your doctor was fronting that you had one of those disorders to prescribe the drugs. You dont go around giving people amphetamine all willy nilly, theyre schedule II drugs, the same as morphine and cocaine.
I have a multi year experiance using a stronger amphetamine than adderal (dexedrine) for depression/possible ADHD and yeah it ended up with me having psychosis and spending a night in a hospital because i thought people were trying to murder me. The magic wears off and tolerance builds fast and addiction raises its ugly head.
Posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2008, at 1:01:51
In reply to Re: adderall from GP, posted by dbc on June 26, 2008, at 23:55:28
Oh Wow that sounds bad and scarey. What's this about anxiety turning into ADD any truth to that? Phillipa
Posted by dbc on June 27, 2008, at 1:10:12
In reply to Re: adderall from GP » dbc, posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2008, at 1:01:51
Havent heard anything about that.
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.
Posted by med_empowered on June 27, 2008, at 13:32:11
In reply to adderall from GP, posted by wishingstar on June 26, 2008, at 22:10:58
it seems to me that a GP might be familiar w/ using amphetamines for depression but still feel uncomfortable RX-ing a schedule II instead of an antidepressant...they may misinterpret your request as drug seeking behavior, or refer you to a specialist.
In my experience, GPs will follow the RXs of other docs, as long as they're not too crazy; if you've had an Adderall RX before, couldn't you just give your doc the contact info. and have them call the former prescriber(s) ?Good luck.
Posted by wishingstar on June 27, 2008, at 14:28:29
In reply to i dunno..., posted by med_empowered on June 27, 2008, at 13:32:11
That's what I'm worried about... appearing drug-seeking. But yes, I'd be more than willing to provide the GP with pdocs contact information. I'd planned to do so. Willingness to perscribe varies by individual dr of course, but I know I'd never heard of adderall for depression before I entered the land of treatment resistance, so it cant be a frequent request in the GP office. I guess it never hurts to try! Thanks for your thoughts.
Posted by WickedGirl on June 30, 2008, at 21:10:47
In reply to Re: i dunno... » med_empowered, posted by wishingstar on June 27, 2008, at 14:28:29
This answer may sound tongue-in-cheek, but I am being serious. ;)
I think whether or not you get Adderall or Dexedrine for depression depends on how imaginative and open-minded your doctor is. And on whether or not they have ever been burned by a patient getting dependent before. The stimulants are a funny breed. They have an awful rap, but I think their bad points have been waaaaay over magnified. There are many people, such as myself and perhaps wishing star, who seem to do better on stims for depressive symptoms. You should see what happens to me on mood-stabilizers or antidepressants. Yuck! If I was into feeling stoned and unable to move off my couch or out of bed ever again, I suppose I would be into Depakote or Cymbalta or Prozac. But, I really hate that feeling, so those drugs don't help me in the slightest. I am also not the typical A.D.D. (born with it) person. I suffer from depression and A.D.D.-type symptoms brought on by trauma. So perhaps, my brain chemistry is somehow different in my depression. All I know is I don't seem to get addicted to Adderall or Dex, and taking those drugs has also seemed to halt my constant migraines somehow. I keep trying to discontinue the stims to try something else, because of the stigma attached to getting either stim as an adult. You should see what I go through. When I stop the stims though, my migraines come back full force, and since I used to get them every week for about 4 days, I am not willing to live like that ever again. Unfortunately, the stims must not be the exact right drug for me, because I do build a tolerance, and I tend to get more depressed and withdrawn after being on them for a month or two. So, I take myself off for a few weeks and try to function as best I can. Oh and as far as Dexedrine goes...I see a lot of things that say Dex is the stronger stim between Adderall and itself. I do not know if I agree with that. If I take Dex, I have one of the nicest, most easy-going personalities ever. Nothing phases me. Unfortunately, on Dex I am tooooo mellow. Nothing ever gets done. The Dex is a mix of the left and right isomers of amphetamine I believe, and the Adderall is a mix of 4 amphetamine salts. Wish I knew why the Adderall is so much better for motivation for me. It really makes me aggressive though.
It is worth it for now, because before the Adderall, I hated myself and my life. Being dead would have been fine. Now at least, I can see there is a light somewhere. I just have to keep working at finding the right drug and/or supplement.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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