TDS Adderall and Drinking

[xxpurplehazexx]

I was diagnosed with ADD a few years ago and started taking Adderall along with Klonopin and Lexapro for social anxiety and depression. At first, everything was amazing, but now my anxiety and depression are even worse. For the past year I've been drinking at least twice a week to deal with the anxiety (I was never a drinker before). For the past couple months, I've been drinking pretty much everyday to deal with the intense anxiety/suicidal thoughts. I think the adderall is at least partially responsible for producing my dramatic mood swings, severe anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The problem is, I'm totally addicted. My life just feels "gray" without it. Any suggestions?

 

[RobotRipping]

alcohol will cause anxiety on its own. Did you seek therapy at all? medications help but so will figuring out why you really have anxiety in the first place.

What are your current meds/doses?

and yeah i get the suicidal ideation, mood swings and anxiety from dexedrine as well but for the most part, if i stay at the same dose and always dose at the same time, the issues are minimized.

Suggestion? stop drinking alcohol, seek therapy, switch to methylphenidate, dexedrine, lisdexamphetamine, or one of the smoother stimulants out there for ADD. I can't even drink alcohol, i get massive anxiety from it, before it used to work normally but after being on benzos for years, it's just not the same anymore for me at least. The alcohol is the primary issue here and should be addressed first, it will definitely cause you more anxiety the more you drink and then more rebound anxiety as you continue to keep drinking daily. Maybe you can get a doc to put you on librium for a couple of weeks to ween off easier.

 

[tomas1242]

Vyvanse gave me a lot of mood swings and anxiety as well. I drank the day of the ACT (I took a ton of vyvanse) and I had a severe blackout. Remember: You are greater than the pharmaceutical company that wants you to be addicted. I have pretty weak knowledge of anxiety medication, but what I find useful is meditation and exercise. Just hitting the gym everyday helped me curb my depression.

 

[herbavore]

Vyvanse gave me a lot of mood swings and anxiety as well. I drank the day of the ACT (I took a ton of vyvanse) and I had a severe blackout. Remember: You are greater than the pharmaceutical company that wants you to be addicted. I have pretty weak knowledge of anxiety medication, but what I find useful is meditation and exercise. Just hitting the gym everyday helped me curb my depression.

Never discount the power of exercise when it comes to depression! So true.

 

[TakeCareAndControl]

I am the identical type of addict. Adderall and Alcohol with benzos on the side. My advice, as it has worked for me so far, is to CUT OUT the drinking first. It will only worsen (like, dramatically worsen) the suicidal thoughts. I was intensely suicidal, constantly anxious and overwhelmed, and just completely abysmally depressed. Nothing made me happy, there wasn't enough booze and speed in the world. After hitting a rock bottom, I decided to kick the booze. I used just enough benzos the first few days to help stave off the serious alc withdrawals. After getting the alcohol out of your system, lower the dose of adderall a tiny bit - since the alcohol has been bogging you down, you might notice that you need less of it to achieve a good-enough state of stimulation. Even half a pill less can help. I have been sober several months now, but am still on my prescribed adderall at a slightly lower dose. I occasionally used my prescribed librium to help with anxious moments. My mood and disposition have drastically changed for the better. Good luck - you can do this, because I have done it, and I never thought I could. I was in your exact same state. Not to say this is perfection, but it sure is a wonderful improvement.

 

[Vaya]

Alcohol is one of the main culprits, for sure. You'd do very well to do away with polluting your mind with it. I believe alcohol is contraindicated with Lexapro as well -yet another impetus to quit.

The impact of the Adderall cannot be discounted, though, especially given the fact that it contains (in part) levo-amphetamine which is responsible for the adverse peripheral nervous system effects that you are likely attempting to treat with sedatives and alcohol. These include, but are not limited to, restlessness, agitation, emotional lability (mood swings), insomnia and acutely elevated blood pressure.

From my point of view, the whole cocktail is a disaster whose negative impact will only continue to snowball until you're in some kind of potentially irreversible trouble. Please reconsider the direction you are taking with your body and mind!

~ Vaya

 

[theseeker]

For the past year I've been drinking at least twice a week to deal with the anxiety (I was never a drinker before). For the past couple months, I've been drinking pretty much everyday to deal with the intense anxiety/suicidal thoughts.

This struck a chord with me. I really almost never drank before I was put on antidepressants. I can't explain it- but it just made drinking really fun where it wasn't before. I don't take antidepressants anymore and- what do you know- I never drink. I'm not saying this is the case with you- just putting it out there.

 

[xxpurplehazexx]

To make matters worse, I take 1.5 mg klonopin everyday. I think that may be why alcohol doesn't seem to make me anxious. I just feel like I'm in a massive fog of depression, until I take the Adderall XR. After it kicks in there's like a 1 hour period where I actually feel pretty good, but then I start getting really anxious and the cycle repeats itself.

 

[mrflowers00]

alcohol and adderall will both make depression and anxiety worse at first just when they wear off but in time even when you are on alcohol and/or adderall you'll feel worse even with them i would seriously talk to a doctor about tapering off and quitting before things get out of control