adding adderall to the mix...terrified

[hanso1]

So I've been on the med go round for a while having had some success with fluoxetine and ativan...I suppose anxiety is my main issue.
Since I've been unable to cut down on my caffeine consumption without feeling dread and anxiety, my pdoc wants to try a stimulant to see if I may have ADD and that's causing the anxiety.
So tomorrow, I'm going to give it a go...though I'm terrified.
I feel like such a druggie...not only am I dependent on benzos...now we're adding amphetemines to round it out...great.

I am going to try it despite my fears...but any words of advice, caution or encouragement are welcome.

Thank you!

[hanso1]

tried it...NO GOOD!
won't do that again unless I need to run on a hamster wheel for a few hours...

[Caseman]

hanso,

Don't be terrified, instead be optimistic! This may help you. Anxiety is my main issue, but my difficulties with concentration were also devastating. I tried antidepressants first (wellbutrin, then lexapro), and also propranolol. I still had troubles with both anxiety and concentration, and my doctor recommended dexedrine. Like you, I was scared, as it seems intuitive that stimulants may increase anxiety. But, the opposite happened for me. Despite taking a stimulant, I feel much calmer and clear-headed now.

You shouldn't feel like a druggie for being prescribed adderall. There are many who like to demonize adderall and ADHD stimulants, and I don't understand this. I take generic dexedrine, which is similar to adderall, and I take it pretty much the same way I took antidepressants (wellbutrin and lexapro) in the past. One pill in the morning, a second later in the day, and I go on with my (much improved) daily life.

I wish amphetamines didn't get such negative publicity. I think this is caused by the controversy of prescribing them to children, and the fact that college students abuse them as performance enhancers. This is frustrating to someone like me, who has benefited greatly from dexedrine. It helped me far more than wellbutrin or lexapro, and caused less side effects.

[hanso1]

thanks for the reply, Caseman.
how did it make you feel when you first started taking it??
did you know right away it was gonna work for you or did it take some adjustment time???
thanks again!