Adderall and treatment resistant Depression

I was searching the internet this morning for anything new on Depression. Through my tears I saw a lead for a comment on adderall being used to treat treatment resistant Depression. Funny but it eventually circled back to this site.
My faithful psychiatrist of many years eventually prescribed adderall for me as nothing else seemed to work - at least not very well.
I have been taking adderall for over 15 years with absolutely NO ill side effects and it is a wonder drug.
The BIGGEST problem is the reaction I have gotten from persons who , though having no expertise in psychiatric illness, have looked askance, eyed me with suspicion, outrightly accused me of being a drug addict, my employer ignoring the medical reasons for anyone being on adderall for any reason, etc etc ad nauseum. I no longer work as the depression has taken such a toll I can no longer do it.
That being said, I found that adderall is prescribed, and is effective, even though it is an "off label" treatment. I think that if a drug that is legal and is legally prescribed and is EFFECTIVE it should be used without the world having fits about it. In all these years I have not increased the dosage I take, I have not built up a resistance, in fact I would rather not take it- but it is (so far) the only thing that has really helped.
I am not advocating the use of amphetamine for all cases of Depression, however the anti drug hysteria in this country has caused enough grief for those of us who suffer with mental challenges already staggering with the burden of this disease. The best thing is now I know I am not alone.

I also take adderall and it does help. One of the few that does.
Ken

My friend has been taking adderall for ADHD and it has helped him cope in daily life, but I didn't realize that it could also help with depression.
I suffer with extreme anxiety and severe depression. Do you think this would help me?

It is possible. I have been on so many combinations. Give it a try.
Ken

I take Concerta for depression...

It's not the same than adderall, it effects are milder... I would like to take adderall but it doesn't exist here.

I have been taking Adderall for about 6 years now. Recently had to stop as I quit my job (it was making me miserable) so I lost my health insurance. My depression has gotten so much worse since, I thought it was from all the other meds I went off at the same time.

Now your post has me wondering: Was the Adderall helping my depression after all? It certainly made me more functional, helped me get more done, and it's sooo much easier to keep a job when I have it on hand. I have ADHD and MDD... Maybe it was helping with both and I didn't realize it?

When I was applying to my last job, since it's a casino and I'd be in charge of large sums of chips and cash every day, I had to pass a drug test. Which should have been fine, except it took the Compliance office 3 freaking weeks to "verify" my Adderall prescription!! Thank goodness I got a decent tax return a couple weeks before that or I'd have been homeless by the time they figured out how to do their jobs!! After sending pictures to multiple people more than once, I finally had to go into the office with prescription and pill bottle in hand! Once I did, the complaints went away quickly, the girls I spoke with were very helpful and compassionate. But man oh man! Some people love making you feel like a druggie even when you're just taking a medication exactly as prescribed!! This has led me to become very annoyed with people who DO abuse Adderall. It's because of people like that that makes it so hard for me to get a LEGAL drug which really helps me! What a nightmare...

Anyway, nothing really useful to contribute. Just wanna say your post really resonated with me, I completely understand!! Good luck to you and I hope you continue to battle the Depression Demons with your head held high. You got this!!

Give it a try , it will definitely help.

Suboxone in low doses is another Medication they are using off label for, you guessed it treatment resident depression. It is used mainly to get people off pain medication, or opiate addiction.

I was just prescribed Adderall because none of the antidepressants work for me but I'm afraid to take it. It's sitting here but I heard to many horror stories. I've read about to many lives that were ruined taking it. Even if you only take the recommended dose I heard it effects your brain and changes you. Also your relationships everything. Please tell me more about this. I hate feeling lower than a snakes belly but there has to be something for me. Help

Try looking up Suboxone it also is used off label for treatment resistant depression

So you believe your doctor is going to prescribe to you something that when taken as prescribed, is going to ruin yours.
You could simply do me the favor and just ship me your useless Adderral because where I live it's banned and it can help me in so many ways.
I am sorry but stories like yours upset me.
I need Adderall for my adhd and to treat my treatment resistant depression, we only have ritalin but it doesn't work much for and yet...

Your kidding right, Suboxone?
Now let's create an addiction to a long life battle of getting off opiates! SMH!

I have come off Adderall several times to curb the tolerance effect. It has not been a horrible ordeal. Maybe a nuisance, but nothing more intense for me. It does alleviate depressive and anxiety symptoms in me, along with the focus which is the reason I take it.

Now let's get real about something. For reference I have an earth science degree and nearly a psych degree. With that said, there are at least 50 new chemical compounds Introduced into the environment every year for the last, at least, 5 decades. All of these cannot be filtered by the environment as they are not naturally occurring and do make there way into the food chain, the air and the water. We are all consuming these and they are having any number of known and unknown effects. I say this because the old publicly comforting of genetics or environment is no longer viable as the knowledge know exists about epigenetics. This means that genes can and are being switched on and off through out our lives. They are switched as a result of what is happening around us, by exposure to chemicals, exposure to toxins, diet, etc... So, in short, there is essentially no way to know what effect any chemical is having on your body until you take it and try to observe in an unbiased ( and best of luck on this essentially impossible to obtain state) manner.

Tldr: take it and see.

That is amazing. I was on all kinds of medication and last summer my psych tried adderall. It was the most amazing day I had. My other doctors don't want me on the mediction so I feel bad being on it. It seems to give me the lift that the other drugs don't. My nutritionist said it is because of the dopamine. Adderall is also a helps with cortisol which is your stress hormone.

I take Adderall for treatment-resistant depression.
I do not take it every day. I take a day off 3 times a week in order to try to minimize any habit-forming properties. yet, even if I took it on a habit-forming schedule, I'd recommend a trial of it for treatment-resistant depression.

Some insurers will pre-authorize use/prescriptions, which will cover the med under their plan. See you pharmacist/drug coverage plan on how to seek pre-authorization.


WC

Another stimulant-type medication used "off-label" but studied for treatment-resistant depression is modafinil. My physician is a good listener, open-minded, and willing to check out the evidence. She prescribed me the modafinil, and it is subtle, but helps. i also take Cymbalta.

I appreciate being referred to this thread. Very informative. I've long had treatment resistant depression and an increasingly severe sleep disorder. I have an appointment in April with a pdoc. I'm going to ask for a stimulant. Someone has to let me try something. My quality of life is going down the drain. Everyday from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. I am horribly lethargic, fatigued and depressed. It lifts in the evening. But mornings are just awful.

Another problem is I can't stay asleep at night, but keep waking up. Sometimes - most nights, lately - I wake up at 3 a.m. and can't get back to sleep. I'm desperate. This is causing my whole life to become disorganised. I don't know how to convey the mess this is making of my life. I can't hardly plan anything.

I hope your pdoc will let you try a stimulant.

WC

I want to note a change.
I am now taking higher dose generic Adderall every 4-6 hours. This has been helpful so far. I am on day #3 and it seems promising. If we need it, I think it's wise to take it on a regular basis and also take "enough" of it.


WC

Thanks for the update. I'ld be interested to know down the line how well this works out for you. It would help me have some hope.

I am doing well on Adderall. It's the first time I can see a light at the end of the tunnel in ages! It's not a "cure-all," but it has definitely helped.

One of the keys to using Adderall is to systematically try various doses and timing in order to find your own individualized optimal dosing.

Some people, for example, can tolerate 30 mg, twice daily. At 30 mg, I was so dizzy I had to rest on the bed. Not good. At 15 mg. every 4-6 hours, I am awake, less depressed, have some physical and mental energy, etc.

My pdoc has told me stimulants were used for depression, many years ago, before the tricyclics and SSRIs were discovered. I have wasted a lot -- many, many-- years trying to tolerate all of the many drugs. Those I could tolerate did nothing for my depression. Adderall is giving me some hope.

I will continue to update here.


WC

Thanks so much for the update. How great that you find it helpful. Interesting what you say about individualizing the dosing strength and frequency.

Glad you have some hope.

Try Remeron and Trazadone for sleep issues.

I cannot say for sure- you would have to consult with your doctor. But I would mention it to them. Be prepared for all sorts of issues with it. Ignorance is a beast in the USA.

Remeron helps me a lot with anxiety and sleep. I take 15 mg before bed. Adderall and other ADHD drugs didn't do much for me.

Try MAOIs and then TCAs. The dietary objections to MAOIs are way over exaggerated according to a number of experts.