[kevo1243]

I am a 26 year old semi-student. I have been on anti-depressants on and off since I was a young child. I remember originally going to my DR for attention problems and he put me on Lexapro. It was so long ago I don't recall if it worked or not.I have seen multiple psychiatrists in the past few years and have struggled with consistently going and taking meds. The first MD treated me for bipolar and the medication made me feel weird and did not help.
More recently I've been prescribed Cymbalta(25 mg x2 daily) and Klonopin(.5mg x2 daily). My depression is definitely way better but I seem to have hit a wall. I don't seem to be improving, just at an even level not my full potential, even with the meds and therapy. I just started online school again and have been having a terrible time concentrating, focusing, and being on task in general. I am still taking first year courses because every year I've tried I eventually dropped out and just couldn't make it work. I have suffered with bad organization, concentration, and retaining information for as long as I can remember. I frequently have nights of terrible sleep and some nights with no sleep. My Grandpa suffered from depression almost his whole life with no relief, and I've seen my mom on anti-depressants and ADD medication, although I don't think she's using any anymore. I see my psych in 2 weeks and I feel confident I can express these feelings to him it just seems like forever, I'm afraid I won't be put on the right meds and I am debating doing a walk-in. This will be my third appointment and he kept me on my meds from my previous psychiatrist. I haven't really expressed a lot of the concentration, focus, and memory issues to him because I just wrote it off as anxiety or depression but I feel it might not just be that anymore. I'm not sure if I have ADD, depression, anxiety, or all of the above and not on the right medication. Any questions, thoughts, or ideas will be appreciated.

In all honesty, no one can really diagnose you but have you expressed to your doctor what your concerns are? He is really the only person who can even begin to tell you what is going on. It does sound like possible ADHD to me, with the trouble focusing and what not. But its best to get the opininon of a doctor.

[hypermic]

It could be either or both.

We cannot tell.

Significant depression and anxiety can cause the organizational and concentration difficulties you have had.

One thing ADHD or ADD is pretty much a life long, continuous disorder, whereas depression and anxiety tend to generally be more episodic.

You could ask your doctor if you could try some inbetween meds, which sort of treat both depression/ anxiety AND ADD.

Some people require a somewhat experimental approach to medication, if orthodox strategies fail. Having said that NEVER ignore the social and other issues in your life that effect how you feel about yourself.

Bye

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by kevo1243

I am a 26 year old semi-student. I have been on anti-depressants on and off since I was a young child. I remember originally going to my DR for attention problems and he put me on Lexapro. It was so long ago I don't recall if it worked or not.I have seen multiple psychiatrists in the past few years and have struggled with consistently going and taking meds. The first MD treated me for bipolar and the medication made me feel weird and did not help.
More recently I've been prescribed Cymbalta(25 mg x2 daily) and Klonopin(.5mg x2 daily). My depression is definitely way better but I seem to have hit a wall. I don't seem to be improving, just at an even level not my full potential, even with the meds and therapy. I just started online school again and have been having a terrible time concentrating, focusing, and being on task in general. I am still taking first year courses because every year I've tried I eventually dropped out and just couldn't make it work. I have suffered with bad organization, concentration, and retaining information for as long as I can remember. I frequently have nights of terrible sleep and some nights with no sleep. My Grandpa suffered from depression almost his whole life with no relief, and I've seen my mom on anti-depressants and ADD medication, although I don't think she's using any anymore. I see my psych in 2 weeks and I feel confident I can express these feelings to him it just seems like forever, I'm afraid I won't be put on the right meds and I am debating doing a walk-in. This will be my third appointment and he kept me on my meds from my previous psychiatrist. I haven't really expressed a lot of the concentration, focus, and memory issues to him because I just wrote it off as anxiety or depression but I feel it might not just be that anymore. I'm not sure if I have ADD, depression, anxiety, or all of the above and not on the right medication. Any questions, thoughts, or ideas will be appreciated.

I kind of sounds like all of the above, depression, anxiety with maybe some ADD thrown in for fun. From a personal and perscpective viewpoint, I know three weeks can feel like forever, but I would avoid a walk-in. People who are drug seeking often utilize walk-in appointments/clinics, thinking records won't be checked as thorougly. Not that I'm saying you're any of those, but as a physician, I can tell you, good or bad, that's my first thought - this person is drug seeking. It sounds like the cymbalta and klonopin are helping for the depression and anxiety, which is great, but if you're still having that much difficulty with concentration, completeing tasks etc, not only do they sound pretty consistent with ADD symptoms, if they were depression related, I would have expected them to improve with adequate treatment of your depression.
I would absolutely mention the residual problems your still having at your next appt, it sounds like you have a good repoir. He may not put you on the meds you want right away, I don't know if you're looking to try stimulants, but there are lots of other meds besides stimulants that work effectively, which shouldn't raise any kind of red flags and it sounds like he'd maybe be willing to work with you to find something that works, stimulant or otherwise - is this the impression you get from him?
Good luck. I hope you can hang in there until then and I hope you find something that works.
If you're interested in trying some behavioral modification stuff either before your appt or in conjunction to meds, I'd be happy to recommend some books that have helped me. I do take meds, but for me it's taken more than meds to reach my potential.
Let me know. Good luck again.

[kevo1243]

Thanks for all the replys. I went to a new psychiatrist closer to my house who put me on Wellbutrin. I noticed a different the next day, woke up earlier andfeeling refreshed. I was still having concentration issues and after explaining he suggested I might have ADHD but want me to get tested before he prescribed me anything else. I got tested and was positive for ADHA, anxiety, and mild depression. I now am prescribed Wellbutrin and Vyvanse. Thanks again for the replies.