Mental Health Taking meds as prescribed - Rx'd amount caused these symptoms - is this an overdose?

[KitchenSink384]

I'm prescribed Dexedrine and Ritalin for ADD. I have been taking both for years at the following dose and have never had any problems: I take 30mg Dex at one time in the morning and take 10mg of Ritalin every 2 hours, 12 hours a day. This totals 30mg of Dex, 60mg Ritalin daily.

Yesterday when I took my 3rd Ritalin pill, I had this very strange feeling. I felt as if my blood was really warm, and all the warmness was converging on my heart. Suddenly my heart felt like it was on fire and felt like it was beating out of my chest. My stomach also feels more fuller than usual.

I tried going to the ER but thought I was dying and wouldn't make the 20 minute trip. For the next hour I was pacing furiously outside, instinctively.

At 1 hour, to the minute, I felt the Ritalin leave my system and felt as if all the blood was being drained from my brain, fingers, feet, etc. and I was left in this extreme lethargy for about 1 hour afterward.

I finally regained my senses and now my heart is still beating at 120bmp even though I'm sitting still.

I'm worried because I never abuse my medication, have always taken this amount in the past, and now I'm getting very strange symptoms. Today I went to the ER and they did some bloodwork, said I was fine, and that it was probably a panic attack. My BP at the time in the ER was 160/100.

I don't buy the panic attack B.S. This felt like an OD and I thought I was going to die. The problem now is that without my meds my ADD is out of control, but I DO NOT WANT TO EVEN TRY THIS MEDICATION AGAIN, for fear the same symptoms will surface.

Did I permanently damage my heart, my brain, my ability to use this medication? Did 10 years on ADD medicine (I'm now 22) do its damage and now I'm left not able to use it? I'm afraid of putting these pills down my throat, and figured someone here might have some experience on the subject.

Thank you.

 

[_a_A_C_c_]

it sounds like you had a panic attack.

i am going to send this over to mental health, maybe people shed a little more light on anxiety and panic attacks for you.

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

If you have been taking both at those doses for years without a problem, then this episode was most likely a panic attack. If you were going to OD you would have done it long ago.

If you are that worried about your doses though, talk to your doctor. Don't just stop taking your meds as you will encounter problems including withdrawals and as you mentioned:

The problem now is that without my meds my ADD is out of control

 

[a dream]

It sounds like a bad panic attack to me. I've had one experience similar to yours, but it was triggered by recreational drug use. I took a few benzos and had someone talk me through it. Even though the worst of it was over in an hour or two, I didn't feel better physically or mentally until I was finally able to sleep eight hours later.

Was anything going on that could have triggered a panic attack - stress, frustration? Not that there has to be an obvious trigger - my first one crept on me without any apparent cause, when I was calmly sitting alone at home.

Did you sleep well the night before? This is a big contributor to anxiety for me. Not enough sleep and using Adderall once caused me to go to urgent care because I thought I was having heart trouble and was going to die. (The actual problem was minor back pain)

Did you get a prescription for Xanax or another benzodiazepine?

You should probably consult a competent medical professional.

 

[mrflowers00]

i'd have to agree with everyone else i think it was a panic attack