+1 on what sideblinded said.

I've refused Strattera, because of my previous overwhelming adversion to medication, and stimulants were bare accepted by me. I also refused Strattera because of the many problems i've read about it.

SNRIs aren't stimulants, and I don't know that much about antidepressants, but i've tried a few SSRIs a 1 SNRI to no avail.

I read recently though MOAI, one of the older types of antidepressants can/do/have a stimulant type of affect, and there's a problem with blood pressure and diet, and taking stimulants with an MOAI is not advised (or VERY closely watched by a skilled and experienced doctor, and following their instructions to the letter)

I KNOW how difficult it is to get prescribed the right thing for ADHD. I suffered endlessly with my previous pdoc. I also was all to well aware of how I could/would come off if I kept on about prescribing something.

I actually went through asking for several suggestions and alternatives that I was obsessively forced to research, but to name two, Wellbutrin and Pseudoephridrine and ending up buying Sudafed and saying to my previous Psychiatrist "LOOK IT IS BLOODY DIFFERENT FROM MPH, STOP TELLING ME DEX isn't different and don't have different affects!", but ultimately DEX I knew with a high probability it would be far more likely to be beneficial for my ADHD symptoms.
(I had experience at 17&18 with street AMP, and all the things I read online confirmed my experiences and what I was trying to say to my idiotic incompetent scared and yes covering their own *** pdoc)

This is in the UK though, i'm quite suprised from what I read you're struggling to get a stimulant like Adderall or DEX in the states!

I self medication with Sudafed (PSE) for a while. (not that I recommend it ofc, it did help me better than MPH, this is just my experience)

I just want to say though, I completly understand where you're coming from and to hang in there, and don't spend unecessary time with a pdoc that doesn't understand or have issues with medication and doesn't prescribe based on an individuals symptoms/diagnosis.

Finding someone who has experience and even interest with ADHD, is the BEST thing someone can do in this situation. It took over 2 years before I was switched to someone who has an interest (clearly suffered with) in ADHD, and the difference between pdoc is night and day, it is UNBELIEVABLE (and i've been left quite angry and somewhat bitter about it), and now i'm prescribed DEX. (I'm looking into mood stablisers now, but all the same).

Personally I think any one who is a specialist in ADHD or Bipolar for that matter, should be hugely experienced in the other disorder as well, because they are frequently comorbid and alike.

Here's a video I found earlier which helped me understand the problem a bit better


I went through hell because of this issue of medication and it/pdoc almost killed me.

Try to find a new pdoc, it's the best thing you can do, I cannot recommend this enough.
Goodluck!