Prednisone + ADHD

I was wondering if anyone else with adhd has been on prednisone at the same time. And how they coped while they had to be on it? (I'm on a tapering dose) but even though I'm pushing getting off of it as fast as physically possible, it is making my adhd about 5 times worse than normal.

Also, is there any kind of link between having more adhd symptoms if you have vitimin defincienies (like hypokalemia (low potassium), or dehydration, or low magnessium, or anemia?)?

Also as an update from my last post on here, I been able to atleast get a few lists made on steps i need to take to get things done. And I'm able to get things like this posted up without coming out all incoherant and things. And I have missed how i used to be able to multi task, and couldn't do so well when i was on meds. Well.. as we speak right now. I'm watching tv, typing this. listening to music. and IM'ing (along with lots of tabs that are open on my browser. lol) It's a cluttered mess, but I'm occupied. lol!

I have ADHD, and I got all manic when I was on Prednisone. My doctor told me that Prednisone can do that even if you don't have mental health problems of any kind.

I do not multitask very effectively. Usually I get nothing of import done when I'm in a state such as you are now.

Thanks! Glad to know that. I can't wait until i'm off of this stinky med.

Yep, it was really difficult, and the non-psych doctor didn't even seem to believe me when I told him all the weird stuff I was thinking/feeling/doing while on the Prednisone. I don't have faith in doctors anymore.

It will get better once you get off of it, believe me! Keep in close contact with your T though, so that you have someone you can trust you can talk to in case you feel like doing something stupid while still tapering off of it. I went through a few thousand dollars with nothing to show for it, so don't let that happen to you.

Thanks again!
I can't wait till i'm done with this med.
*hugs* I know what you mean about docs. :-\
I'm scared to inform my T of anything that is a bit more of the 'alert' kind of side. Because I fear, if i were to, I would end up in a temp hospital or something. For even having the thoughts. And I know anti depressants wont help. (they do more harm than good). Vyvanse seemed to help a lot, but with prednisone it's an awful mix. (then at some time i was on Cipro (so all three at one time and it was like.. spastic horrifying manic 24/7).
But I'm glad that I'm not alone, and It makes me feel better knowing that this med can do that, and also affect me causing more adhd.
I'm 5mg lower now (total of 20mg of it a day now), and i noticed I'm able to stay a bit more focused, and i'm not constantly on the go. (I've always been the more internal adhd person. where I'm the dreamy, in the back, not noticed adhd kid -now adult. But lately (when i stoped the vyvanse, and am still on prednisone) I've had the more outward adhd (I have that some all during my life, but never to a degree that became troublesome in that area of things).

Your not alone. I've been there. I was on Prednisone for an extended period of time and it gave me all sorts of problems emotionally, mentally, physically. Insomnia really doesn't help because it makes the other side effects worse. I understand your feelings about possible hospitalization due to side effects of Prednisone-- and that is a real and valid concern. I would say though to actually weigh the consequences. I would rather my T or someone else hospitalized me for my own protection than to do something stupid like rob someone or hurt myself or someone else-- or lose all of your money like I did on some manic spree (because yes, MANIA is a known side effect of Prednisone even if you have no pre-existing mental health concerns).

I only WISH I was hospitalized. In truth I quit work and hid out in hotels during my episode, and I wouldn't tell T or anyone where I was. The only reason he didn't sick the cops on me was because I kept in daily contact with him. It could have turned out much worse if it wasn't for my T. Stay in contact with him and tell him everything you do/feel. He can possibly keep you grounded during this period and if he feels its getting out of hand he can make sure you are safe. Nothing to really worry about if you like your T.

I have ADHD too, and the ADHD symptoms were way exaggerated while I was on Prednisone. I couldn't even keep up with myself and I stayed awake for days. Why did you stop the Vyvanse?

Thanks.
Yikes, and yeah, I've been spending money like it's nothing. and I know this.. but i know it all too late.. If my card says I can spend, i spend. If it goes through and is accepted, then I do so. I even go through the store just putting things in the basket like no limits. And it's not until after I get to the check out that I find out I went way over what I have.

Ah.. vyvanse stoppage was not by choice. pdoc said my vitals were too high. 121/90 and pulse was like 104bpm (its normally up to 150-170bpm's due to hydration issues.. so this was actually very good for me). But he wrote another script for me to come pick up.. I just am too far away to just walk there.. so therefore until my next appt (ride to there) Its as good as nothing. And I've also been trying to ask if the dose could be higher, or if I could try another medicene. But he wouldn't even talk to me. I got stuck with a aid who hung up before i was finished talking. (i was on vyvanse 30mg)

There is a lot of research out there about vitamins and ADHD but I do not think anything has been confirmed as of yet. Can't help to take it. But be careful with herbal stuff, it is not FDA regulated.

I too and on a prednizone pack and I find that I have less motivation than before. I take Adderall XR 20mg. I do notice a difference with the prednizone.

Call the aid back, or tell your doctor at your next appt. that everything that's going on, including the ineffectiveness of the Vyvanse and that you need a higher dose or different med.

I'm scared he's gonna say i'm just trying to get more. or that i'm addicted or something.. Because anytime I've tried bringing up how it's not working like it used to he talks over me, and repeats the same prescription as before. (I may just be being overly sensitive.). I would request someone else if I wasn't so keen on not changing. My fear there is what if the doc is worse than the one I already have?
Then I would end up with a worse doc and an aid that cares nothing.
(sorry i'm really down right now. And very confused.)
Are family doctors allowed to prescribe adhd meds? If so, is there a way i could swap that to my family doctor?

As a kid i was on ritalin, and aderall (never for longer than a week due to my parents bias opinions). Then just within the past year I was on ritalin 30mg for 2 days (it worked but doc got worried since it's not legal for adults with adhd yet), and dexedrine - i think the doseage was 5mg- for about a month and a half. Then Vyvanse 30mg for 10 months.

And I have prescription vitimins (klor-con, ect.) But if i were to take them again, i will need to go and get refills, and would need blood work again. *Shutters* ... I hate being a human pin cushin...
I'm just wondering if the lack of them could cause more adhd symptoms..

I will add a alarm on my phone for tomorrow tho, that tells me to call the aid. I believe tehy will be back in the office tomorrow.

Yes I have adhd and on prednisone long term for chronic bron and I feel good with it you have to drink a lot of fluids with it and eat something light.But it does not interfere with my adhd meds which is good .And you have to get plenty of rest along with prednisone ,good luck huggs keep posting and let us know how it goes.

There is always someone worse. It doesn't mean stop trying. Eventually you will find a good one like I did. Sounds like the one you have doesn't respect your opinion. I'd be outta there faster than a jackrabbit. You are NOT overly sensitive. He isn't very helpful, and in fact he is hurting by not listening to you.

Yes. Simply make an appointment with a GP and say you need it for a refill for a medication (I don't recommend detail to the intake people over the phone or with anyone other than the GP). When you get to the appointment if you have paperwork or your prescription bottle for the ADHD meds take it with. Tell him you are in between doctors and need a referral and a refill to hold you over. See what he says. I saw a GP for like a year just for refills alone. I just brought my diagnosis paperwork to from my T to him and he was like, OK

Ritalin and all other FDA approved prescription stimulants ARE legal for adults. Who told you they weren't? That's a little concerning if that came from your vitamin doctor.

Why do you take prescription vitamins? If you didn't already know, vitamins, prescription or not, will not help with ADHD. I try to limit the contact I have with healthcare in general unless something is obviously wrong. Don't make yourself a pin cushion so that you can get more prescription vitamins (wow, what type of MD wants you on those?)

I take 50 mg of Vyvanse, although I think that might be too high. I was on 30mg of Vyvanse. I would like to try a 40 but I don't think they make it in that dosage so I might try a larger dose of Adderall XR than what I was taking before (20 mg)

Thanks I have another appt with him on the 16th, I'm most likely going to ask the one who checks in with me every 2 months to redo survey's how i go about changing pdocs in this situation. (I was represcribed the vyvanse, but same dose.. I wrote a request (and gave it to the office aid to give to the doc (i saw her slip it into his box), for a diffrent medicene or a raise in my adhd med. I called thursday when they said he'd be back in. He sent me to voicemail.and it's just been repeating. I thought maybe if i wrote him something and it's all i wrote, he wouldn't be able to over pass it so easily like he does when we are face to face 'chatting'.
Still on the prednisone too but on a lower dose , and the vyvanse is helping with the adhd symptoms to where i can atleast do things -not very productivly, but still.. better than before. lol)

:-) And i'll call my family doc tomorrow. Thanks! I'm far past due for a blood test anyways. lol ^^^^ how it feels sometimes with me in the middle of the two.

My pdoc told me this about ritalin.. i guess that's another good reason to change pdocs..

Yeah... I was diagnoised with crohn's back in august area. (i've had it since i was a toddler tho.) But i guess this time was worse than the rest, as I was terrified i had pid and it was gonna kill me if i didn't get medical attention... so i did.. and found out i didn't have pid, but i had crohn's.. (which seems to be getting worse with age.. even tho i have less stress now than i did when i was younger. lol). But with that my colon isn't grabbing all the nutrience it's needing. Landed me in the hospital a few times just for needing iv bags of potassium, and magnesium, and sodium chloride (I've fought dehyrdation and the water bags since i was 8 so, that was nothing new), and a few blood transfusions.
And the blood tests are to make sure I'm not going too low, or too high in things. (Such as potassium which is fatal either way). And to make sure my magnesium stays in the right area because it has something to do with if it's too low my body wont deal with the potassuim or any other vitiamen things and i will take it, and they will just pass right through.

50mg? huh.. and you can't really cut a capsule in two, lol. Tho when I was weening myself off of cymbalta I would make a note on how much i pourd out each night, and repeat it until I was pretty much weened off of it. What does the XR after adderall mean?
(something i laugh at everytime is when the pill bottle has "do not crush or chew" crushing wouldn't be possible, but the mere thought of chewing makes me go "eww!" lol)

What do you mean about the survey thing? What are you talking about here?If you have health insurance you just look up all the Pdocs that are covered by your insurance and make an appointment (unless you want to pay more by going out of network). You do not need anyone's permission to change Pdocs or any other type of doctor. If your insurance is university insurance or student coverage or whatever just make an appointment with someone else. Your Pdoc would irritate me to no end. I do not waste my time on Pdocs who do not listen and are not responsive to my needs. You have wasted a lot of time on this guy.

Well it was a good idea about the note for record keeping purposes, but it's not a good way to get a more immediate response. Who re-prescribed the Vyvanse on the same dose, the same Pdoc your talking about here? When did he do that? How much Vyvanse are you taking?

Yeah the Prednisone you have to taper slowly or you will feel really really crappy! I cold stopped it once and had major problems (I used to have severe allergy and asthma problems is why I was on it). Is the Chrohns Disease flaring up the reason you are on the Prednisone? I restarted my Vyvanse lately and it is not a complete cure all. I need to go back to my T and work on a few things. I need support from someone like my T who sees clearly and understands.
Why do you think you need a blood test and what would they be testing for? Did you get an appt. w/ family doc?

Are you telling me that he said that Ritalin was illegal in adults? Is this guy for real? What medical school did he go to, a veterinarian training program? Please tell me he has at least one redeeming quality as a psychiatrist...

So you've been treated for Crohns since you were 8 as inpatient but they didn't diagnose you as Crohns until this August? What did they have you diagnosed with then if I may ask?

Do you see a specialist? Doesn't the specialist schedule lab tests on a regular basis, or does he just depend on you to determine with your magic wand when you think you need one?

DO ***NOT*** even try to chew the Vyvanse. I have tasted the results of this before and it is absolutely DISGUSTING tasting and takes hours to wash away!!! YUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
It also defeats the purpose of Vyvanse to have it absorbed that way and could give you undesired results. I know because I have played chemist before out of desperation. I don't recommend doing some of the things I have done but I was trained as a medic and know to a certain extent what is safe and what is not. Even then I don't recommend it I have at times taken the capsule carefully apart and dumped some of it out. Problems with this included not knowing how much the dosage really was and less than ideal absorption. Part of the charm of the Vyvanse is the sustained release capsule. It's designed to break down and release chemicals over time and not all at once, as well as the chemical structure of Vyvanse itself.

Well, if you remove half the contents and the capsule is half empty, is absorption rate hindered because half of the capsule has no property to it? Unknown. Also, it didn't make any difference when I did it most of the time (although I did dump half of the Vyvanse into a coffee once without the capsule and this didn't really help at all but it did keep me awake for hours on end which I wouldn't call desirable). XR means "Extended Release". There are also "SR" versions--- "Sustained Release" and other versions and sometimes the immediate release versions say "IR" and sometimes they don't. There really are a lot of types of stimulants and other non-stimulants to treat ADHD, not to mention different dosages. Drug manufacturers have become truly creative when it comes to designing different types of stimulant (and non-stimulant) ADHD medication. I read recently that there is a new drug on the market that is something that begins with a C or a K that was approved to treat ADHD as an add-on (which is a new non-stimulant I believe). I think I might try using this new drug as an add on just for an experiment to see if it is helpful and I will bring it up at my next visit.

I know from experience it takes a bit of experimentation to get the right type and dosage of medication, as well as getting the right help and non-medication treatment strategies. It is very important to have a good T, and a good prescriber. I just kinda really want to punch yours, but I'm working on my impulse control

The survey thing is like this thing they have all their patients do (used to be every month, but now it's every 2).. like a questionaire on your general wellbeing, How depressed you are or arent. How much sleep you have or don't, or how much weight you gained or lost. focus, and so on ... *currently can't remember all that's on the papers*.
:-\ I have a form of medicaid. Which is changing to another form of medicaid in either Jan or feb (Can't remember which- but it's one of those months). But for 'mental health' I have NorthStar (which i really dont understand. but for some reason I think this only office I can go through.? (there's another one which has a really long waiting list)). I'll do some searching just to double check that. (that is if our internet ever decides to quit disconnecting *annoyed face* .. *is typing reply up in Notepad while waiting for internet to come back on*)
Right now, i'm not quite sure how i'm gonna go about this. I was more sure of things a few days ago, but now things just don't seem to be falling in the places that I thought they should. (ex. I ask for a pdoc change + wait for a response = still nothing (and this repeats... and repeats... )*feels very very negitive over it- doesn't like feeling negitive feelings* ..

Not sure who did. It was on his script. The office lady gave it to me. Could of been a doc on call.
(but i'm out again :\ .. ) And on the 17th of November. And last dose being this morning, - erm.. *notices time* yesterday morning (as it's past midnight, lol), and it's 30mg.

Yikes, yah I tapered a little too quickly down a dose and felt the effects of it (I'd hate to see what cold stoping it would do).
Yes, tho I'm better off of it. (Doesn't seem to 'unflare' the crohn's and only adds on it's horrid side effects).
ah.. .. I dont know if i've seen my T during the time I haven't had the adhd med. I read about how adhd is treated with both meds and therapy, but I dont know really what therapy for that could help with- Can very well be just like with the med, I dont know until after I try it.

They usually do a full blood count, to mainly check my iron, potassium, and magnesium (which has been quite low in the past few months). They say they check my water levels too, but it is usually not completely acurate. They also check my thyroid.
erm... not yet... *puts off, and keeps forgetting* (tho, i did get a change of address done with this one place that had me on hold for over an hour and 45mins today.)

Lol! *thinks* .... ... I'm sure he does... I dont know him that well.. ... maybe? lol.. I mean.. He's a pdoc there, and has lots of patients, so.. he has to have atleast one.. i think. lol
And yes, that's what he said a while back.

um.. I don't know.. I just know I would pass out, and things. The very first time I ended up with sodium chloride IV wise I was taken to the doctor, for a vacine, i think. And she told my caretaker that i needed to go to the Emergency room because i was dehydrated (I remember being so confused, as I didn't understand why I had to go and get a needle, and why there was such a big frantic fuss over it). And I dont think they diagnosed me with anything, just told me- well my caretaker, to have me drink more.
They prolly would of ended up getting around to finding this out if I didn't try to get away from my caretaker by letting the doc know a tiny bit of what was going on at home (and after this, she would change docs, starting all over, and my records were never transfered. And I think i was 15ish the last time she took me to a regular doc (that i would see over time- more than just one visit). I'll spare you the details on that time. But long story short, doc's were as choppy and short lived as schools were (went to gawd knows how many schools in my life while growing up).

lol, but nope. just a family doc. And I was going every week, and they were taking blood tests everyweek. (so in a sense, it was the doc deciding to do it on a reg basis; but now (this time) It's me going "i think somethings wrong. Not sure what exactly, but I'm just not feeling well. and my heart is pounding.. might be a potassium thing.. might not.. " (my thoughts.. I haven't talked to the doc yet to say that ... yet.).
I'm hoping with the new insurance change coming about around the first two months of next year will bring more specialist (because it took me MANY months just to find my family doc. and even my family doc is trying to find a specialist that is on my insurance, and she's having the same problem i am (those that take the insurance-aren't accept new patients, or don't accept people over the age of 18.)

I'll take your word for it, .. eww!

I wonder how it determines what to release, when, into the system.
I don't know much about adhd meds. When I think of extend release I think of ambiene CR (was on it for a little bit a few years back). Which my body seems to expell it too quickly before the next round of dose (or release), because I would wake up as soon as it end, and fall back to sleep 25 mins or so later when it kicked back in.
I find it werid, but with vyvanse (im thinking it's a stimulant) I don't have insomnia at night, and can fall asleep (which when i think of stimulant I dont think of being able to fall asleep better. lol)
*realizes this is gonna be a really long post* Lol, this is probably my longest post on here.

That's really cool that you're trained as a medic tho
and, haha, I wonder if anyone has tried to punch him or anything before. Could be a dangerous job being a psychiatrist. lol


I'd type more, but i need to goto sleep now. (almost 4am here. lol!)

Are you a college student Lexi?
Medicare/Medicaid and other state program medical insurance sucks. One suggestion is to speak with your case manager directly. Everyone on Medicare programs is assigned a case manager from what I understand, who can coordinate and ensure you know all your options and are seeing people who can provide appropriate care.

I'm taking a break from college (Due to getting money all situated for it).
And I'll check it out, thanks

As an FYI, I sleep quite well even on days I take my stimulant meds. Just don't take them right before bedtime because that probably won't work well...