[High Etiquette]

So currently I'm on Abilify 4 MG (tapering off it slowly to try and get rid of some problems I'm having). I'm also on Xanax 2 MG per day, one at morning one at night. I also take 400 MG Triple Magnesium Complex once each day.

My diagnosis was schiz for a while, possibly because my original pdoc was unsure of what I really am wrestling with. After having a MRI done on my brain, my new pdoc said that I don't have schizophrenia . So at the moment we are labeling it as anxiety. I am unable to work and it has been this way for 4-5 years. Mostly a mental thing...

My hope is that once off Abilify this time, that I will be normal again. My question is really what can you people out there tell me about Adderall? Also fyi, I have taken some non-prescribed Adderall that I got from someone before and it made me very energized and talking a lot. This is something I believe I could benefit from today.

1. How safe is this drug? I have had a bad reaction when taking Geodon for the 2nd time. Possibly because I got the generic kind. So safety is a concern for me.
2. What type of Adderall should I ask for? Has anyone had better success with the XR? What dose should I start on?
3. Lastly, what can I expect from this med. I know a lot of young kids get this med, but I am 22 years old and have been on several anti-psychotics and never tried a drug in this class in the past 6 years.

So please don't hesitate to chime in on this one. I'd love some input such as how Adderall has affected you.

[Miswimmy1]

First off, unless you have an ADHD diagnosis, I think you are going to have a really hard time getting a doctor to prescribe Adderall (as it's one of the most commonly abused substances). Also, if you have schiz or anxiety, stimulants can exacerbate the symptoms of both. Adderall is usually not a replacement for abilify either.

The drug is safe when used in proper dosages as prescribed by a doctor.

The type you ask for depends on what you need it for. For instance, if you are a student who needs to be focused all day, then XR is probably a more likely choice. You can always also start with regular Adderall and take a second booster dose as needed.

[IndieVisible]

As soon as that damn Abilify wears off you'll begin to feel a lot better! As for the adderall pretty much just for ADHD HOWEVER some docs have been trying Vyvase another amphetamine type of med for ADHD is also used to treat depression. But finding a pdoc willing to try that is going to be very difficult because the idea of using amphetamines to treat depression is still very new. Personally I think your going to feel 100% better once that zombie med gets out of your system

[Jdog123]

I think a lot of these are questions for your doctor based on your personal body (other disorders, how you metabolize meds, etc.). I take Adderall for ADHD and I also have bipolar 2 (tend toward depression, almost never manic when medicated) and anxiety problems. I take 3 other meds - Lithium and Lamictal for mood stabilization and Trileptal for anxiety. 10mg of Adderall works for me (even if it is a relatively low dosage - perhaps other meds help some too). The XR version at 15mg, which was effective for concentration, didn't work because of my sleep disorder. I point all of this out because there are so many individual factors.

Also, the talking a lot isn't at all what I feel - rather it's calming. The med helps to control what I say aloud better (less impulsivity), which is when I know that the drug is working for ADHD. When I've taken stimulants and they make me talk a lot, I'm on too high a dosage--I did this for 3-4 days before realizing that the agitation and talkativeness was an adverse effect and it was just awful. These are dangerous drugs that should never be taken without supervision. They are controlled substances that you have to personally deliver to a pharmacy, there are no refills on the prescriptions, and you must show a government-issed ID to pick up them up. Please be careful.

[High Etiquette]

IndieVisible, I agree with the zombieness of Abilify. I think this is part of my problem

Thanks for all who contributed and I apologize for the late responses. I decided to stay on my dose current of 4MG Abilify. I may ask for Adderall next visit. I do plan on getting off Abilify still though, just taking my time with it... I think I will be able to get it.

Cheers

[junkDNA]

i have psychosis and i was on adderall. it amped up my psychosis to a very severe level where i was not in reality at all and i forgot who everyone was and their names...or even where i was or who i was. i forgot how old i am too. i had amnesia and psychosis. be careful with stimulants for ADHD cause they can trigger psychosis. i take a non-narcotic ADHD med called strattera and it helps me

[sunrise]

If you have a lot of anxiety, Adderall would probably make it worse. Probably not a good choice right now. I have taken Vyvanse for ADHD with good results. Since you are thinking you have anxiety and not schizophrenia, you could try treating the anxiety with therapy and one of the long term medications for that purpose, such as sertraline, Lexapro, etc .In the best of worlds, that could allow you to come off the Xanax. If you have ADHD, you will need an ADHD diagnosis. There are non-stimulant meds for that too, like Strattera, as junkDNA mentioned. Good luck.

[High Etiquette]

junkDNA, sunrise.... Thanks for your replys. This is what I was looking to hear. Part of me still wants to try it, but, I posted this for that exact reason of hearing if the scary side effects could happen.. I don't want anything scary happening again. I will still keep it in consideration but talk it over good with my pdoc. Also will see how I feel a few weeks from now. My previous pdoc says that it would do the opposite of what we want to do, as it would speed up everything in my mind