ADD

Posted By David on March 31, 1998 at 02:39:48:







My question concerns possible dangers and side affects involved in the taking of Wellbutrin and a combination of Ritalin. As an adult living with ADD I have been taking Ritalin for the past couple of years as I finish a college degree. While the Ritalin has helped with my studying the side effects are often overwhelming such as nausea, insomnia, loss of appetite and sweaty palms. To achieve the desired learning effect I had been taking 20mg two to three times a day, but only when studying. Feeling as though there had to be a better way I set about investigating Wellbutrin, after hearing other peoples positive response to the drug, it sounded like a very real alternative to Ritalin. Out of convenience I had a different doctor prescribe the Wellbutrin than the Ritalin. My initial response to the Wellbutrin was positive in so far as I didnt feel the same side effects as the Ritalin and I felt a overwhelming warm happy feeling. However, I quickly realized that I did not have the concentration at 150mg of Wellbutrin that I Had with Ritalin, I also realized that after a week my sex drive was almost nonexistent and the warm feeling was minimal, so I switched back. At this point I realized that each of the two drugs had some positive benefit so I asked a pharmacist to investigate possible drug interactions, he came up with none additionally I searched the Internet to see if anyone was mixing the two, again I came up with nothing. So, I then  decided to take the two drugs together 100mg of Wellbutrin and 15mg of Ritalin three times a day. The positive effect is fantastic, it has been three to four weeks since I began to mix the two and feel no side effects with the exception of lose of appetite. My sex drive initially deminished again but returned to normal after about ten days. I feel great about myself , am able to focus on my studies and am full of energy. I dont ever remember feeling this good about myself. However, a feeling is haunting me that I could be doing some kind of damage to myself not to mention that neither doctor knows about the other. I have and continue to be self medicated since the original diagnoses, my only contact with these doctors is through there nurses to pick up prescriptions every couple of months.
What are the side effects that I may not know about, is there a real danger in mixing the two of these drugs even at the current reduced levels? Do I have to give up my new found focus and happiness?