How effect is aderall for axiety and depression? My gp and psych would not pescribe them for me. I think they would help me focus and push me out of my miaise and funk to improve my mood. Even when I said I couldnt concentrate they were very against it but as its something ppl abuse its very hard to get. How effective is it for mood boost and does it help with general every day challenges that ppl with anxiety and depression have?
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OD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic
Stimulants Aderall for depression?
- Thread starter dina78
- Start date
Yes, it does. It is prescribed off-label for that purpose at times. Nonetheless, your doctor's concerns are valid, they may relieve depression in the short run, but end up worsening your depression in the long run because they can cause dependence, addiction, and withdrawal. They can also worsen symptoms of anxiety, and cause sleep disturbances which requires many people who initiate stimulant treatment to get on a benzodiazepine, which can create a vicious cycle.
Epsilon Alpha
Bluelighter
Amphetamine and stimulants in general only have a short term effect. "Treatment resistant" usually means you're entirely incapable of even basic self care.
Don't do amphetamine for depression. The closest thing would probably be Wellbutrin, though Cipriani et al. (2009) showed escitalipram to be the most effective.
Don't do amphetamine for depression. The closest thing would probably be Wellbutrin, though Cipriani et al. (2009) showed escitalipram to be the most effective.
Swimmingdancer
Bluelight Crew
I agree with the previous posters. Adderall can be effective for some types of depression, although I would not consider it effective for anxiety, in fact it can worsen anxiety for some. There are better choices and I understand your doctor's reluctance. Did he/she recommend something else for you?
^Did they actually compare Wellbutrin (bupropion) in that review? The only copy of it I can find is the abstract which lists only 8 of the 12 antidepressants they compared and bupropion is not listed. I would say bupropion and escitalopram would each be effective for differing types of depression. People I know seem to do well with Wellbutrin and seem to have fewer side effects and far less withdrawal symptoms (if any) compared to typical antidepressants. However it seems make some people irritable when they are first starting it. Not sure how it would be for someone with a lot of anxiety?
^Did they actually compare Wellbutrin (bupropion) in that review? The only copy of it I can find is the abstract which lists only 8 of the 12 antidepressants they compared and bupropion is not listed. I would say bupropion and escitalopram would each be effective for differing types of depression. People I know seem to do well with Wellbutrin and seem to have fewer side effects and far less withdrawal symptoms (if any) compared to typical antidepressants. However it seems make some people irritable when they are first starting it. Not sure how it would be for someone with a lot of anxiety?
tricomb
Bluelight Crew
Do not proceed! Absolutely horrible idea. Abort! Self medicating with amphetamines will most likely worsen or induce further depression.
Ksa
Ex-Bluelighter
Very BAD! Don't take LEVOs for depression or you will slit your wirsts!
shreddedlettuce
Bluelighter
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It's the anxiety caused by stimulants that does not help depression in the long run, quite the opposite as others have said.
This is IME.
This is IME.
xxpurplehazexx
Bluelighter
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^^Yes the anxiety caused by taking Adderall every day is bad. I've been taking Adderall for ADD and depression for 3 1/2 years. Sometimes it makes my anxiety so bad I can't concentrate at all. I also take klonopin for the anxiety. IME Adderall works extremely well for depression short-term, but then the anxiety comes in and it's nasty.
Ok so I'm not quite in agreement with people.
Wellbutrin has basically the same mechanism of action as methylphenidate (which is very similar to amphetamines) yet is just less potent and is prescribed for depression and social anxiety too.
MAOIs (of which amphetamine is a very weak one) are prescribed for social anxiety and obviously depression too; they have the same aggregate effect as amphetamine; they just deal with more amines than norepinepherine/epinepherine/dopamine.
I remember seeing a thread (I think it was on bluelight) about how social anxiety is in some cases caused by a lack of the sub-types of dopamine stimulation associated with energy, or, stimulation (D1 and D2, I think). And it works very well for me. I'm not talking about minor social anxiety though, I'm talking about almost total withdrawal. Amphetamine gives me a build and makes me not fearless but human enough to hold my own in front of people. The idiots on the psych ward had me on super high doses of anti-psychotics when a low dose in combination with a low dose of amphetamine would have been more than enough.
If it really is the anxiety from amphetamine which is the final bolt in the coffin so-to-speak (as to one not being able to use it) then one could be on another medication too; when amphetamine is prescribed for depression its usually in tandem with an SSRI anyways. Using it in combination with an anti-psychotic seems to be popular too - reducing the stimulation, anxiety ("raw" feeling if you will) and the reward but leaving many of the beneficial effects. I've been told by a very highly-regarded psychiatrist in my town that its best to be on two or more medications which work together anyways. If you're going to hand yourself over to the psychiatric institution then its all-or-nothing; don't stop short of total treatment. Its not necessarily bad to be on more than one medication *end rant*
I think there's a big difference between getting high on amphetamine as much as possible until you crash and using it at a stable dose in combination with another substance (while taking occasional breaks and supplementing with elements which reduce tolerance and alleviate some neuro-toxicity and reward) regularly.
Amphetamine was a standard treatment for depression for several decades in the United States and probably longer around the world (and its still used, one of my family members is on it); it couldn't have been that bad. I think its mainly the abuse potential which restricts its use.
I say if you supplement with magnesium+lithium and maybe other relatively benign substances while taking it with an SSRI and/or anti-psychotic and take breaks then its a great treatment.
Here's the thing though: a doctor who prescribes it right off the bat or if you ask for it initially is either totally corrupt or an idiot who cheated his way through medical school. Try other treatments first. Hell, try meditation before medication. Change your lifestyle. No offense but that was not a smart thing to do. I doubt you need it for focus.
It goes something like: basic lifestyle changes, add diet, limit detrimental activities, exercise, meditation, supplements, herbs (not illegal ones, come on), SSRIs, SNRIs/Bupropion/Mirtazepine/Viibryd/Trazodone/Abilify/ etc (I know I'm missing some), MAOIs, then MAYBE amphetamine if all don't work and your doctor thinks its a good idea.
Wellbutrin has basically the same mechanism of action as methylphenidate (which is very similar to amphetamines) yet is just less potent and is prescribed for depression and social anxiety too.
MAOIs (of which amphetamine is a very weak one) are prescribed for social anxiety and obviously depression too; they have the same aggregate effect as amphetamine; they just deal with more amines than norepinepherine/epinepherine/dopamine.
I remember seeing a thread (I think it was on bluelight) about how social anxiety is in some cases caused by a lack of the sub-types of dopamine stimulation associated with energy, or, stimulation (D1 and D2, I think). And it works very well for me. I'm not talking about minor social anxiety though, I'm talking about almost total withdrawal. Amphetamine gives me a build and makes me not fearless but human enough to hold my own in front of people. The idiots on the psych ward had me on super high doses of anti-psychotics when a low dose in combination with a low dose of amphetamine would have been more than enough.
If it really is the anxiety from amphetamine which is the final bolt in the coffin so-to-speak (as to one not being able to use it) then one could be on another medication too; when amphetamine is prescribed for depression its usually in tandem with an SSRI anyways. Using it in combination with an anti-psychotic seems to be popular too - reducing the stimulation, anxiety ("raw" feeling if you will) and the reward but leaving many of the beneficial effects. I've been told by a very highly-regarded psychiatrist in my town that its best to be on two or more medications which work together anyways. If you're going to hand yourself over to the psychiatric institution then its all-or-nothing; don't stop short of total treatment. Its not necessarily bad to be on more than one medication *end rant*
I think there's a big difference between getting high on amphetamine as much as possible until you crash and using it at a stable dose in combination with another substance (while taking occasional breaks and supplementing with elements which reduce tolerance and alleviate some neuro-toxicity and reward) regularly.
Amphetamine was a standard treatment for depression for several decades in the United States and probably longer around the world (and its still used, one of my family members is on it); it couldn't have been that bad. I think its mainly the abuse potential which restricts its use.
I say if you supplement with magnesium+lithium and maybe other relatively benign substances while taking it with an SSRI and/or anti-psychotic and take breaks then its a great treatment.
Here's the thing though: a doctor who prescribes it right off the bat or if you ask for it initially is either totally corrupt or an idiot who cheated his way through medical school. Try other treatments first. Hell, try meditation before medication. Change your lifestyle. No offense but that was not a smart thing to do. I doubt you need it for focus.
It goes something like: basic lifestyle changes, add diet, limit detrimental activities, exercise, meditation, supplements, herbs (not illegal ones, come on), SSRIs, SNRIs/Bupropion/Mirtazepine/Viibryd/Trazodone/Abilify/ etc (I know I'm missing some), MAOIs, then MAYBE amphetamine if all don't work and your doctor thinks its a good idea.
Crashing
Bluelighter
Generalized anxiety and social anxiety are quite different. Stimulants can certainly help social anxiety but will almost always exacerbate general anxiety.
shreddedlettuce
Bluelighter
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- May 31, 2007
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It is a "touchy" subject and I think GP's err on the side of caution.
(They want to "stabilize the depression" before prescribing stimulants, [being an adult etc], again this is from my personal experience).
Psychiatrists are a different "kettle of fish" however.
Also Methylphenidate is the only "stimulant" medication available here, so I haven't really tried to push the subject because I don't like the way Methylphenidate makes me feel anyway.
So these are subjective points I am sharing, Ho-Chi-Minh's scientific post makes perfect sense to me also.
(They want to "stabilize the depression" before prescribing stimulants, [being an adult etc], again this is from my personal experience).
Psychiatrists are a different "kettle of fish" however.
Also Methylphenidate is the only "stimulant" medication available here, so I haven't really tried to push the subject because I don't like the way Methylphenidate makes me feel anyway.
So these are subjective points I am sharing, Ho-Chi-Minh's scientific post makes perfect sense to me also.
Personally, when I first started using Adderall, Focalin, Dextro, etc. I loved it.
Gave me confidence and I wanted to interact with people. After some use I realized the toll it took on my body and just wasn't worth it. I also have anxiety/depression issues.
I also gave MDMA a shot. And in controlled uses it can help. But really, in the Summer when you railing upwards to a G at a time because you've done it all week will just make things worse lol.
Gave me confidence and I wanted to interact with people. After some use I realized the toll it took on my body and just wasn't worth it. I also have anxiety/depression issues.
I also gave MDMA a shot. And in controlled uses it can help. But really, in the Summer when you railing upwards to a G at a time because you've done it all week will just make things worse lol.
Ksa
Ex-Bluelighter
Touchy subject or not, levo amphetamine is a no no. Even if you trully believe amphetamines cure depession, you will NOT take a levo amphetamine, ever.