adderall for depression

moseley · Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 15

My brother is 24 years old and he was diagnosed with depression. His doctor proscribed him adderall. I want to help him so I would appreciate some information about this drug. What are the side effects?

daft · Silver Member Joined: 12 Aug 2000 Posts: 268

Adderall is a stimulant and appetite suppressant and it works by stimulating the central nervous system by increasing the amount of certain chemicals in the body. This increases heart rate and blood pressure and decreases appetite. Adderall is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity and it can be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide, just like in your brothers case. It is important to know that physical and psychological dependence may occur with the use of this medication. In addition, withdrawal effects may occur after several weeks of continuous use, when the usage of the drug is stopped abruptly. Some of the side effects are dizziness, blurred vision or restlessness. In addition, it may hide the symptoms of extreme tiredness. If you brother experience some effects he should avoid hazardous activities.

Guest · Guest

Adderall is not for depression, he needs to go to a different doctor

Guest · Guest

He needs to find a new doctor. adderall is for adhd/add. adderall should definitely not be taken by someone diagnosed with depression. he'll find out why when he comes down from the drug.

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Guest · Guest

I agree. I practice in internal medicine and although I dont use stimulants as first line treatment for depression. It is indicated for refractory depression. Shannon

Guest · Guest

yeah, I am currently depressed with slight social anxiety and I take adderral , unprescribe because my parents don't believe i'm depressed and just a teenage thing.

i don't take it everyday. Only every know and then, (an avg. of twice a week) just to get my brain a reminder on how I should be thinking. But it does do wonders, I must say so. I am afraid to have drugs be my crutch for my depression. But adderrall gives me that extra push for inspiration and confidence, reminding me of how I used to be before I became depressed.

I know it merely covers my problems but it reminds me that I used to be a lot happier then I am now. And gives me the persistance and hope to getting by until I find some peace (which hopefully when I get out of my family's house which I believe is the main factor for my depression.)

I recently became depressed during my senior year. Problems at home, college, job, etc.

It helps me calm down and get things done. When I'm depressed I forget how to be happy. I forget what made me happy. And that's accomplishing things.

I think I need sleep because I'm always fatigued. However, when adderall it gets me motivated and I get things done helping me the next day when I'm off it and the stuff I been procrastinating (thanks to depression) finally gets done. As a result, some of my stress and anxiety is lifted.

I would never use adderall as a cure for my depression for only I can be the cure for my depression. I just use it as a push in the right direction when depression pulls me down.

Guest · Guest

I am on adderall for depression. We have a family history of narcolepsy and it is the only thing that seems to work. It does not affect my sleep, I in fact, sleep better when I am taking it. I understand that there is a non-habit forming version of this out. Is anyone taking that?

Upton O'Goode · Silver Member Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 174

I like the way everybody is second-guessing the doctor. I suppose you all have medical degrees and have done a complete history on the patient.

I was frequently diagnosed with depression. Even bipolar disorder once. Somehow I always suspected there was more to the picture. Something just didn't ring true. Sure, I was unhappy a lot, but it was always about something. I didn't just wake up in the morning and decide to feel bad. I always had reasons for the way I felt--maybe not always good ones, but reasons nevertheless.

Then a few months ago I was diagnosed with ADD. This was something I'd never suspected, but when they asked me questions like, "did your teachers often say that you weren't working up to your potential?" or, "are you frustrated by the disorganized way your brain works?" I thought they'd been reading my diary, except I've never kept one.

Here's how it works:

When you have ADD, you can't focus, no matter how hard you try. You can get things done by hyperfocusing, but when you do that, you lose focus on other things, and miss other things, like opportunities or meeting important obligations. You feel frustrated by the lack of ability to accomplish the things you know are important, but you find it impossible to prioritize or work out even the simplest plans you might try to make.

And then there's the way other people respond to you. You always disappoint people, and they're not hesitant to let you know how disappointed they are. Somehow they understand that you're not stupid, but in a way that would be easier because they could forgive you for being stupid. They can't forgive you for failing to do things of which they know you are capable, and you can't forgive yourself either.

You become your own worst critic. Every bad thing somebody else says about you you learn from. You internalize it. You use it as a club to beat yourself with. Nobody even has to criticize you anymore. You know you're a total f--kup.

Now, ask yourself, is the person I am describing going to seem depressed? Are even experienced therapists going to look at him and say, "Yeah, I know what this is. I've seen it before. He's depressed. Give him some Prozac, or maybe Wellbutrin." But that's kind of like giving somebody with a knife stuck in his back a pain medication. Sometimes you have to look for the cause of the pain and treat it instead of just treating the pain.

I don't know if this is the case; I don't know the physician or the patient; I don't know any more about this specific case than the rest of you know, but at least I recognize that there may be other factors at play than what the first post reveals, and that's something you all might like to consider before you go second-guessing a physician and handing out advice.

my2cents · Site Admin Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 171

adderall for depression

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