Balancing Medications for ADHD and Anxiety

[creativeMango]

I'm looking to start medication for ADHD, but struggle with anxiety as well. I tried Adderall a couple of years ago, which helped with ADHD but increased my anxiety and often put me in a manic state. Anxiety meds make me sluggish and sleepy. Can a balance be achieved, or will I just have to pick one over the other?

[F_RN_Dx_at_39]

Hello, I think given what's been going on for the past year that everyone's got a bit of anxiety. I was just prescribed Lexapro to help with anxiety, depression and disturbed sleep related to work anxiety dreams. I was started at 10 mg and just increased to 20mg. I think it has helped a little bit so far with general anxiety and depression. I take it at night and have found that I am super sleepy in the mornings. I spoke with the pharmacist who said I should wait a month to see if that goes away.

If you can specify what meds you're taking, someone with a similar situation can share their experience and knowledge.

[F_RN_Dx_at_39 in reply to F_RN_Dx_at_39]

Update: I had to stop it. Apparently 20% of people can develop chronic diarrhea from Lexapro. Sadly I was one of them. Also...killed my ability to orgasm.

[WriterinTeal]

I used to be on Adderall but weaned off due to irritability. Started Strattera just yesterday, and once I know if side effects are manageable I am going on Effexor.

[Lucy9512 in reply to WriterinTeal]

Go on pristiq instead of Effexor. I also have adhd and suffer from chronic depression. I’ve been on pristiq for 6 years and it’s worked really well. Effexor can be difficult to get off of and can cause very bad headaches if not taken at the exact same time each day. Hope this is helpful.

[Puertorikan]

There’s a few medication’s that aren’t stimulants for ADHD. I just started clonidine. Not sure if it’s helping yet

[walkingdichotomy]

Hi CreativeMango,

As you probably already know, ADHD usually comes with other co-morbidities and anxiety is a very common one. As a fellow ADHD'er (diagnosed at 43), I struggled with really bad panic attacks starting at about age 25. My childhood was filled with various traumas (controlling narcissistic father, mother slowly dying of cancer over a 10-year period). My anxiety was generalized but once I started having panic attacks, the more I had them the more I feared them happening and the more they would happen to a point where I was scared to leave the house.

I got prescribed Citalopram 20mg and that changed everything. Panic stopped and I felt like I was becoming more myself.

My point; I have been on the citalopram successfully since then and once diagnosed with ADHD and having to consider stimulent medication, my team kept me on the citalopram and I have not had any side effects related to increased anxiety.

Citalopram and methylphenedate (stimulent medication) are actually prescribed together to treat depression in elderly folks so the combination is not unheard of (you can Google it).

While I have never been clinically depressed, this combo of medication keeps my anxiety at bay so that the stimulent medication can do its job. I can also suggest considering the XL variety of whatever you are taking. Controlled release stimulent medication is released throught the day based on how long it lasts so you won't get a surge all at once.

I am no expert and by no means an advocate of piling on the meds but I AM an advocate of quality of life and weighing the pros and cons associated with medication. I prefer to live a good amount of years the way things are now vs. boasting I am medication free with my hands out in front trying to make my way through the fog in a world where everyone else is running past with seemingly no effort.

Good Luck!