I have a question I need to ask the community about stimulants and depression/apathy.

My son was diagnosed ADD in 1st grade. Took ritalin, I think, and school got better. By 5th/6th grade he was taking Adderall XR.. and then in by 8th/9th grade he was taking Vyvanse.

He's been suffering from depression/anxiety since 5th/6th grade. Since there were very stressful life circumstances going on at the time, it wasn't hard to see why. Persistent low-level depression and apathy, or lack of motivation, has plagued him.

Now he's 20, and he decided to stop taking the Vyvanse. He just *knew* it was somehow related. Sure enough, his silly, effervescent, comical, talkative personality came out. He was just fun! He wasn't happy about feeling like he couldn't follow anything through, but he was definitely happy that he felt like he was alive.

So Pdoc suggested he try Concerta - two 36mg. He did that for the first time today, and although he said he doesn't feel especially depressed, he feels very unmotivated. His happy grin disappeared. His lively silliness is gone. He did say, though, that he does feel like he can handle more complex thoughts than he can handle when he's not had anything.

I don't get it! I thought stimulants increased motivation - not decreased it!

Any ideas? Any suggestions of what he might try?

Thanks