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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Adderall For Depression
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 For Depression
by Adder, Mar 26, 2000 12:00AM
Hi,
I'm a male with a history of severe depression and some kind personality disorder. A few symptoms: severe self-hatred and social anxiety, inability to emotionally connect with others, bulimia, depression, etc., etc. I'm 28, and frankly my life basically has been hell. I struggled against the social anxiety; I've dated infrequently, tolerating the high levels of anxiety when I did, made friends, attempted to work through problems, and son on. I've also gotten therapy, and I've tried prozac and paxil. But in the end, the quality of my life remains extremely low.
The other day I tried (an un-prescribed dose of) Adderall (adderrall) and it instantaneously changed me, lifting the depression and negative thinking; was like an epiphany--I was shocked at how I had lived; I felt care welling up in me--for myself and people around me, and I was no longer afraid to express it. I experienced no side effects. It just seemed like an instant cure... After the dose wore off, I went back to the old me. A few days passed. Then I tried another unprescribed dose, and it had the same effect.
I'm exhilerated and frightened at the same time. Part of me wants to believe that I've found the right medication for truly abominable level of mental disorder. On the other hand, I realize that Adderall (adderrall) is an addictive stimulant, and that perhaps its effectiveness just wears off. Finally, I'm at a loss as to why there's so little mention of the drug in connection to depression and related disorders, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find a psychiatrist to prescribe it to me.
One thing I will say: the peace brought by adderall (adderrall) basically gave me my first awareness of a mental outlook that wasn't fundamentally hellish--a few hours of normal interaction with others felt worth the last 18 years put together; in other words, I'd gotten so used to constant pain and mental disorder that I'd lost sight of the difference, of how life could be, and perhaps is for those who aren't severely mentally ill.
I'm looking on some professional opinions on whether what I experienced was merely the temporary and ultimately addictive high of an amphetamine, or something that is useful for long term management of mental illness.
I'm a male with a history of severe depression and some kind personality disorder. A few symptoms: severe self-hatred and social anxiety, inability to emotionally connect with others, bulimia, depression, etc., etc. I'm 28, and frankly my life basically has been hell. I struggled against the social anxiety; I've dated infrequently, tolerating the high levels of anxiety when I did, made friends, attempted to work through problems, and son on. I've also gotten therapy, and I've tried prozac and paxil. But in the end, the quality of my life remains extremely low.
The other day I tried (an un-prescribed dose of) Adderall (adderrall) and it instantaneously changed me, lifting the depression and negative thinking; was like an epiphany--I was shocked at how I had lived; I felt care welling up in me--for myself and people around me, and I was no longer afraid to express it. I experienced no side effects. It just seemed like an instant cure... After the dose wore off, I went back to the old me. A few days passed. Then I tried another unprescribed dose, and it had the same effect.
I'm exhilerated and frightened at the same time. Part of me wants to believe that I've found the right medication for truly abominable level of mental disorder. On the other hand, I realize that Adderall (adderrall) is an addictive stimulant, and that perhaps its effectiveness just wears off. Finally, I'm at a loss as to why there's so little mention of the drug in connection to depression and related disorders, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find a psychiatrist to prescribe it to me.
One thing I will say: the peace brought by adderall (adderrall) basically gave me my first awareness of a mental outlook that wasn't fundamentally hellish--a few hours of normal interaction with others felt worth the last 18 years put together; in other words, I'd gotten so used to constant pain and mental disorder that I'd lost sight of the difference, of how life could be, and perhaps is for those who aren't severely mentally ill.
I'm looking on some professional opinions on whether what I experienced was merely the temporary and ultimately addictive high of an amphetamine, or something that is useful for long term management of mental illness.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD-JM, Mar 27, 2000 12:00AM
Adder,
The stimulants such as Adderall (adderrall) and Ritalin are sometimes used inintially to augment the effect of antidepressants and improve energy and cognition. Both medications are short acting and only work while they are in your system. Stimulants are generally not indicated for long term treatment of depression. From the information that you have provided it would also be helpful for you to be in psychotherapy. Good luck.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
Keywords: Adderall (adderrall), Ritalin
The stimulants such as Adderall (adderrall) and Ritalin are sometimes used inintially to augment the effect of antidepressants and improve energy and cognition. Both medications are short acting and only work while they are in your system. Stimulants are generally not indicated for long term treatment of depression. From the information that you have provided it would also be helpful for you to be in psychotherapy. Good luck.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
Keywords: Adderall (adderrall), Ritalin
jeff