Looking for medication advice for ADHD-inattentive type and anxiety

[tbk678]

I have ADHD (inattentive type) and anxiety. I am currently not on any medications for ADHD or anxiety but would like to try to find a medication for ADHD that does not make my anxiety worse. In the past, I tried Concerta and Strattera and both made me feel really jittery, sick and dizzy. A nurse practitioner prescribed me Adderall recently but after reading about it some, I am afraid to take it. Any advice about this would be helpful.

[Newcassie]

Before my recent ADHD diagnosis, my psychiatrist tried anti-anxiety meds first. As we slowly raised the dose to the ‘minimum’ normal dose, my anxiety faded but I became brain ‘numb’ and my ADHD symptoms increased with the dose. We weaned me off the anti-anxiety meds and tried Ritalin and 90% of my anxiety went away! Your reactions may be totally different. My adult kid does better on Adderal type meds; they tried Ritalin class meds and it was not good for them. Your psychiatrist should be able to help you slowly try out each class of meds; take notes on how you feel. But it is very possible that your anxiety will improve if you find the right meds for you.

I was only just diagnosed with ADHD 6 months ago at age 64!

[HMay13]

Hi tbk678,

I also have inattentive type and anxiety. I'm on a combination of citalopram (hope I spelled that right - it's the generic of Celexa) for anxiety and modafinil for fatigue and ADHD. There is a brief period of time after taking the modafinil that I feel a bit more anxious but I just keep in mind that the storm will pass (that brief period of anxiety might also be because I drink too much coffee on top of the modafinil).

Hope you are able to find a combination that works for you.

Cheers,

Heather

[Gettingittogether]

Why are you afraid to take Adderall? You had weird effects to Concerta, a methylphenidate med. So your NP did the next logical thing which was to prescribe a drug in the other camp, the amphetamine camp of Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine and so on. Adderall is available in generic form so that's the logical move by a provider.

I'll be direct here: that you talked yourself out of your provider's recommendation (which was logical and responsive) reminds me of when I had a severe anxiety problem and/or a depression problem. Depression blocks us from taking steps to get help. So does serious anxiety.

You have to try out the med. Ignore those Adderall stories of people dosing themselves. They go way over any prescription level. These meds are not in your system long term ... you can skip a day or call the provider and report bad reactions.

You're getting reasonable and responsive treatment by the provider, and then you run the other way. I'd highly recommend therapy ... for that anxiety or depression. And yes, I did tons of therapy for anxiety and depression ... Tons ... and all of it pretty much was helpful.