Hello,

I've had a burning question for the past few months, and I'd like to get an opinion.

I haven't be formally diagnosed yet, but i've seen two different pdocs over several months who believe I have ADHD-PI / ADD, as well as my mandated therapist (It's how my university works).

Back in November, the university health center put me on generic Celexa, then I moved to generic Paxil, 20mg nightly. (For anxiety, infrequent depression, and worsening mood swings)

The first pdoc then added Wellbutrin 25mg, and told me to try that because it was supposed to relieve the fogginess and increase concentration.

A family tragedy happened, and I wasn't able to take the medication as-prescribed, but while I was on it, it did nothing but cause terrible insomnia, low labido and impotence. Considering how much I disliked trying Celexa for the same reasons, I was mildly against taking yet another anti-depressant.

At this time, I started seeing another pdoc who co-owned a practice with my first pdoc.


We then went on this merry-go-round of medications:

Strattera - dry mouth, impotence, lowered libido, and with insurance it would cost $220+ for a low dosage. Didn't feel any change.

Concerta - This was a doozy. I accidently took 2x 40mg in a day, 12 hours apart. I spent the night feeling like I was dying, wide awake but physically tired, delirious, hallucinating, borderline manic, anxious, depressed, motor spasms, chest pain, and it caused some pretty bad suicidal thoughts. When I took it as prescribed, it felt like I had just had a coffee, but would quickly wear off and leave me exhausted and drained. I won't even look at this medication anymore.

Adderall SR- This is what I'm currently on now. I've been experimenting with the dosages, since my pdoc prescribed 10mg Adderall generic. At first it gave me just a dry mouth, but recently it's been giving me extremely high libido, and more aggression. (more testosterone?) But even going up to 30mg, I still don't feel anything. The first time I took it, I was more sociable, talkative, lovey-dovey, but the dry mouth was absolutely terrible, and continued on for 4 days. Slightly wakes me up, doesn't give me a crash, but I'd get more out of a 5 hour energy than 30mg Adderall.

Now, before I was prescribed Paxil or any SSRI, I took one 40mg concerta from a friend because my grandfather's stroke left me with a mountain of assignments to due right before finals, and I was in danger of failing half my classes. It was great. I felt happy, clear headed finally, sociable, and I willingly did assignments without the usual extreme procrastination that has plagued me since grade school - all with a clear mind and great memory retention.
After I started Paxil and Celexa, I received another pill, from the same friend, from the same prescription. It was like day and night - not a thing happened.

I can't help but think... even though both of my pdoc's agree that an anti-depressant and stimulant work well together and are commonly used to control ADD/ADHD -- that the antidepressant is robbing me of the mind-clearing, focus effect I got the first time.


TL;DR: Tried Strattera, Concerta, Wellbutrin, and Adderall. None have had the effect I've heard about ("In the Zone"), but have given me terrible side effects with little to no benefits. Can anyone give me a reason why? Currently on 10mg Adderall 2x daily + Paxil 20mg Nightly

Tried Concerta before, amazing results. After starting an SSRI, I get no benefit from meds

Thanks for your time, I know that's a wall of text. I have a bad habit of rambling on.