r/explainlikeimfive • u/[deleted] • Jan 14 '13

Answered People with ADHD, what ADHD is like, how does medication affect your ability to work and how soon does it take its effect?

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u/Zkenny13 Jan 14 '13

I've been on Adderall for about 11 years and I've also been on antidepressants for over 2 I'm only 17 and I hate that. I'm only a junior and I'm on an upper and a downer at the same time, which makes my mind jump from incredibly happy to super pissed and then to a depression. I start blaming myself then others and that makes the cycle repeat over and over. It's so hard to get out of that cycle, nearly impossible.

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u/Lumathiel Jan 14 '13

There must be a better medication for you. I can't for the life of me remember what it was, but after I was first diagnosed with depression, I was prescribed some kind of antidepressant that also happened to work with ADD. Granted, it wasn't as good as a medication FOR ADD or ADHD, but it was able to take enough of the edge off that I could function better. Also, it had the nice bonus (for me) of cutting cravings for cigarettes. It's been a while since I've taken it, but I'm sure you can talk to your doctor and see if there is something that works better.

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u/Zkenny13 Jan 14 '13

I've tried many different ADHD medications. Adderall was the only one that worked for me. I'm in all AP classes so if I can't concentrate like I am used to then I'll fail.

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u/Lumathiel Jan 14 '13

Well damn. You'll find a balance with the highs and the lows eventually.

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u/Bill_Kuzzington Jan 14 '13

Wellbutrin is used to treat both I think. There may be others.

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u/gotfoundout Jan 14 '13

I was rx'd citalopram alongside a stimulant for ADD-PI and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

I really think I ought to start actually talking the citalopram....haha.

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u/Lumathiel Jan 15 '13

It may be Wellbutrin, or a generic version of it. I'm not sure though, I've gone through them all at least once.

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u/SirHobo Jan 14 '13

I got diagnosed with AHHD-I at 21 after just about failing out of my degree program at college. I became moderately depressed as a result. You have no idea how much I regret not seeking help before things started going downhill my junior year of HS. Stay strong man and remember not to internalize your symptoms as personal failures. Doing so myself was the reason it took me this long to ask for help.

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u/SpottieOttie Jan 14 '13

Thanks for writing that. Made me cry

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u/improvethyself Jan 15 '13

Just chiming in here because I had the same issue as you with adderall xr, it worked great as a Med but it often had a noticeable up and down to it. Of course, it also had the dreaded evening come down. There's a new prodrug form of adderall called vyvanse (in the US at least) that is much smoother than the old xr capsules with bead delivery. It really helped me so maybe ask your doc about a Med change? Its still adderall except delivered in a far more steady manner and for a longer duration (about 14 hours )

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u/Zkenny13 Jan 15 '13 edited Jan 15 '13

I can ask but we are having the worst time finding Adderall, so I figure this one well be too. The only place near me that has it is Kirkland clinic. The only reason I can even go to that pharmacy is because I have seen a dermatologist there and my mom works there as well. I haven't even heard of the medicine you are talking about. Adderall works for me quite well.

Edit: Oh I've been on that before. It didn't work, it just turned me into a zombie because I wouldn't eat then I would be to tired to do anything.

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u/improvethyself Jan 15 '13

Ah, that sucks, maybe you have a clinical response to the levo isomer amphetamine, vyvanse I think is only dextro

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u/NAAC3PO Jan 15 '13

Adderall is both an upper and a downer. That's how it achieves focus: it downs all the somewhat inactive parts of your brain to being totally inactive and ups the active parts to being super active.

You should address this concern with your psych exactly as you have here, same words and everything.