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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
ADDerall and Prozac
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
ADDerall and Prozac
by C.L., Sep 19, 1999 12:00AM
I currently take 20 mg of Prozac for PMS. I will be seeing my family physician next week and am considering being tested for ADD. Can a person taking Prozac also take something like ADDerall (adderrall) without side effects? I have a lot of trouble concentrating and listening to everything a person says to me when having conversations (my mind wanders), so I feel like I may have ADD. The Prozac really helps with my PMS symptoms, so I really want to continue with that, but I really do want help with the concentration problem. Not only do I have trouble with concentration, but I also NEVER get anything completed that I start. It can be something simple or major, I just never seem to finish everything. I believe I may have had this for quite some time. I am 34 years old and I remember in school not being able to focus at all. I'm not sure how I made it through sometimes. Thank you for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS.MD-AJ, Sep 28, 1999 12:00AM
C.L.
I apologise for the delay in replying your question. The response to the forum has been great, and some complicated questions require research. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention (such as difficulty sustaining attention, difficulty organizing or completing tasks, and easy distraction), and/or symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity (such as restlessness, excessive talking, and difficulty waiting turns. These symptoms must have been present by age 7, with impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. Before making a diagnosis of ADHD in an adult, it is often helpful to obtain a history of symptoms dating back to early childhood, as well as results of school age testing for ADHD, if these are available. Psychostimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall (adderrall) remain the treatment of choice for ADHD, and can be prescribed in combination with the Prozac that you are taking for PMS.
I apologise for the delay in replying your question. The response to the forum has been great, and some complicated questions require research. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention (such as difficulty sustaining attention, difficulty organizing or completing tasks, and easy distraction), and/or symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity (such as restlessness, excessive talking, and difficulty waiting turns. These symptoms must have been present by age 7, with impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. Before making a diagnosis of ADHD in an adult, it is often helpful to obtain a history of symptoms dating back to early childhood, as well as results of school age testing for ADHD, if these are available. Psychostimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall (adderrall) remain the treatment of choice for ADHD, and can be prescribed in combination with the Prozac that you are taking for PMS.
