I am wondering if there may be a connection between which stimulant works for a person, and which antidepressant-that-is-also-used-for-ADHD works for them.

Theoretically, people for whom ampthetamines like Dex and Adderall work should respond better to Strattera (because both work more heavily on the Norepinephrine), and people who respond better to Methylphenidate should respond better to Wellbutrin as well (as both work primarily on Dopamine and work more similarly, i.e. on the re-uptake of Dopamine).

So the question is to people who have tried both stimulants and Wellbutrin:
BARRING any physical side effects (that may be related to other individual problems and metabolisms), and just from the point of view of helping your ADHD symptoms: Which ones worked and which ones didn't?

I've never tried stimulants (well, once I snitched an adderal from my kids) but wellbutrin helps only very slightly, and strattera not at all.

In 2001 I was put on Zoloft, then a combo of Wellbutrin and Zoloft, then after about six months of that I went on Wellbutrin alone. I was on it over a year, at a dosage of 300 mg a day. I noticed the effect of Zoloft more than the Wellbutrin, which was weird, kind of like living inside an emotional pillow where none of your symptoms of ineptitude and sketchy behavior were lifted, but you were suddenly more okay with what an idiot you were. I have to say that coffee had a more noticeable effect on me than Wellbutrin. I gave it a year and was on the high end of the dose range, but it was literally like taking nothing at all. When I lived in Mexico I took a diet pill that used to be sold as Tennuate, but the generic name is dithylpropion, and it's related to to Wellbutrin, which is buproprion. That had a more stimulating effect, and worked instantly, like amphetamine, but was sort of lame and you felt jittery and it gave me cotton mouth. Wellbutrin is basically worthless, to me. I have even experimented with phentermine, another diet pill, which actually works almost as well as Ritalin for focusing, but has a rather "flat" emotional contour about it. I found it made me a little anti-social. For me the stimulants are the best. I have had problems with the euphoria associated with them, especially Dexedrine. But I find that none of them are a problem if I stick more to the time release formulations and am less likely to revert to the old party ways of the 60s, when taking a "handful of bennies" was sort of vogue.

I think I'm sensitive to norepenephrine. Wellbutrin got me speeded up, loss of appetite, increased sex drive & sleeping poorly. THose effects wore off in time except the insomnia. Effexor also messed with my sleep and it has a bit of norepenephrine action.

I could not tell the difference between ritalin & adderall. They both got me speedy but I was able to sleep fine. I didn't have any improvement with my hyperfocus/overfocus distractability from any of them. I'm trying some dopamine only meds from overseas (ameneptine & amisulpride) and they feel good without the tenseness (well maybe just a little bit). I don't know yet for sure if they help really with anything ADD related but they actually feel good. I think I'm more motivated, relaxed and less of the hunting around for something stimulating, more able to relax & enjoy what I've got, not always so difficult & unsettled.

The drugs that focus on norepinephrine always seem to have generally undesirable sideeffects. The drugs that focus on dopamine and serotonin seem to work better. This is just my opinion based on personal experience, which is considerable, and reading posts in websites like this. Dexedrine is interesting because it acts on all three, but it has a "pleasure" factor that can make it addictive for some people. Take 30 or 40 mg of that stuff, and it's basically a cocaine buzz. Ditto for Desoxyn.

The thing is I've tried cocaine (& speed) a few times years ago and I didn't think it was that great. If I want to get high, I'll drink or smoke, I don't want a prescription to ritalin to get high & low doses don't seem to help my ADD symptoms. Maybe combined with Prozac or something? I wish this stuff worked on me. I actually tried combining my leftover wellbutrin with this dopamine stuff & it felt like ritalin. At least this stuff is pleasant. I tried a larger dose & it's not something I'd really want to abuse that way.

Yeah, it's weird how one guy's obsession is another guy's yawn. I do have a moderately addictive personality. I've quit drinking. That ancient crap was the thing I could control least. Basically an isolating go to bed drunk pattern. No binges or black outs. But it bordered on obsessive, or maybe ritualistic is more accurate.

Hi Ya Doug,

I'v taken Ritalin 60-70mgs daily. How does Dex compare?
You have tried Desoxyn how does that help your symptoms-side -effects?, what dose?


Cheers Paul

Desoxyn and Dexedrine are pretty similar. They are more potent. If you're doing 60 to 70 mg of Ritalin, I would say 40 mg of Dexedrine would probably be equivalent. It really all depends. I'm taking Methylin now, which is a very good generic of Ritalin. Some people like Dex better for subtle, intangible reasons. Like they feel more social or "smoother", whereas Ritalin is more of a tasking, anti-social feel. I think it depends on so many psycho-social factors all you can do test it yourself, see what you think.

Dex and the more pure amphetamines tend to definitely feel a little too euphoric than Ritalin, so I sorta go with the one that works without getting me too "happy."

Good luck with your own experiments. Whatever works is what works, and don't be afraid to sample the cornucopeia, because that's where the best discoveries are made.

I have even experimented with phentermine, another diet pill, which actually works almost as well as Ritalin for focusing, but has a rather "flat" emotional contour about it. I found it made me a little anti-social.
Are you saying phentermine actually helped your ADHD symptoms? How did it compare with Adderall or Dexedrine?

I would say this: if you have addictive tendencies with amphetamine, you might ask a doctor to give you phentermine. It gave me the same focus at about 30 mg in time release caps. Bear in mind all these medications came out as "diet" pills. Now they're all for ADD or ADHD. Phentermine is a very close chemical cousin to all them. It has less influence on dopamine and more on norepinephrine. It's probably better than Strattera, and one third the cost.

I think it should be included in the current bunch. Plus it's not a controlled substance. It's a Schedule III so you can get refills. Talk to a doctor. I've used it and believe me, it works.

Thanks for the quick reply...

Did you lose weight on it? I'm kinda thin (perfectly healthy weight, but thin-looking) so there might be some reluctance because of that. How can you even get them to prescribe this to you if you're not overweight?

Almost forgot to ask...how many mg were you taking?

Well, weight loss is going to happen no matter what. The typical dose is 30 mg as a time release capsule.

I think I may be the only ADDer taking stims (ritalin) and wellbutrin and still gaining weight. Sigh.

I thought that phentermine was basically not being used anymore since it caused heart problems and irritability?

I definitely don't need more irritability...

Odd, I just remembered that when I first started the wellbutrin, I did get more done. That seems to have faded though.

Hard to say whether it's a placebo effect fading or if it's my habits reasserting themselves.

Obviously some behavior modification is needed.

Phentermine is still widely prescribed as a diet pill. It is a kind of second cousin chemical analogue to amphetamine. Didrex is similar, but not sure if they make it anymore. Phentermine does not cause heart problems. You're thinking of fenfluramine, the deadly second half of that stupid "Phen-Fen" combo they were doing in the mid-90s.

It's a "dirty" version of amphetamine and ritalin but it will work and it has zero euphoria, which makes me wonder why they don't include it as something to try.

I'll tell you this. It probably works better than that travesty of a drug that's parading around like a new kid on the block who turns out to be the nastiest jerk you ever met: Strattera.

It's a "dirty" version of amphetamine and ritalin but it will work and it has zero euphoria, which makes me wonder why they don't include it as something to try.


I had a roommate that tried it and he told me that sometimes he would experience unaccountable RAGES.

Not that he ever did anything to anyone, but just sometimes he would just feel it and wonder, hmm, ok, where did that come from?

So that's probably why they don't use it. An already irritation-prone ADD person on a drug that could tip them over into bell tower behavior; not good.

Hi there... I've been taking 300mg of Welbuterin SR for almost 5-6 (or longer?) years now, and for the most part find it's doing a great job. The only critisms I have are the sexual side-affects and its lack of help in memory, yet given their impact, those affects can be detrimental. After a few weeks, once the drug has made its base camp in my system, my libido takes a vacation much to the dismay of my partner (and myself). Also, while the WBSR seems to greatly improve my focus and ability to face things head-on (even uncomfortable things), it doesn't improve memory for simple tasks and appointments, including taking the dang medication!

So, without having my partner leave a dose out for me, or putting it in places I just CAN'T forget (like near the coffee), I miss doses here and there and end up on this rollercoaster ride. That inevitably takes me to a state of non-taking it at all. Which is where I'm at now... ugh. So, I've been parusing these threads for personal accounts of different medications to bring up with my doc.

Anyone had similar experiences with WBSR? Was there a change to another med that helped?

I've been on Wellbutrin XL 300mg for a little over a year now...the only time I notice a difference is when I forget a dose. I crash and burn emotionally. It's horrible. I don't want to depend on pill for my mood, so I am going to talk to my doctor about lowering the dose and eventually tapering off of it. I also take concerta 54 mg, which is my favorite of the stimulants thus far. Adderall made me into a tired, quasi-evil grouch, to put it lightly. Ritalin is like a roller coaster, after the third dose, I feel like I get dropped on my head. Concerta, just wears off slowly and almost unnoticably. Yay.

Strattera...hmm, that made me a bit anti-social and jittery. Lost my appetite and had some unpleasent side effects, namely, my blood pressure shot through the roof wihch was causing hair loss. So, I am a concerta and wellbutrin person.

Cyndi

when i found out that i have AD/HD inattentive type, i tried wellbutrin XL first. it helped many symptoms, e.g. temper anxiety, but did nothing for my concentration and organization. the doc then tried concerta in addition to the wellbutrin, the concerta made me a zombie and there was not difference between 18, 36, and 54. so we decided to give immediate release adderall a try in addition to the wellbutrin. wow! it is great. i have never felt so at peace before in my life. however, after three weeks on the wellbutrin XL, i started getting hives. we are not sure yet if i am having a reaction. i also take klonopin TID. my allergist thinks its the klonopin, but it could be the coating on the XL. anywho, i have decided to switch to the SR since, one, it is cheeper, and two i might as well take it twice a day since i have to take the adderall 2-3 times a day. But in short, my AD/HD cocktail is working wonders and i think wellbutrin is a great med.
-heather

So, I am a concerta and wellbutrin person.

Cyndi
I am hoping i will be too. Still not got the neuro to add anything, but I am now takin g72mg Concerta in the mornings and it lasts about 8 or 9 hours.

i am taking dexies and wellbutrin and seem to be gaining weight too :-(

I agree with what your saying. I take Dexedrine for my ADD and it really helps me alot with reading and orginization. However once in a blue moon i do Cocaine mostly social. I found it really messes up the current medication your taiking. If your going to take a stimulant to help you dont do street drugs, it throws your body off, and you will find yourself cramming for a test and drawing a big fat blank.

The thing is I've tried cocaine (& speed) a few times years ago and I didn't think it was that great. If I want to get high, I'll drink or smoke, I don't want a prescription to ritalin to get high & low doses don't seem to help my ADD symptoms. Maybe combined with Prozac or something? I wish this stuff worked on me. I actually tried combining my leftover wellbutrin with this dopamine stuff & it felt like ritalin. At least this stuff is pleasant. I tried a larger dose & it's not something I'd really want to abuse that way.

Well at long last, I've started on WB (as Zyban, on a private prescription which is quite cheap actually, less than £40/month) as of today, so far I feel very calm. Still taking Concerta at the moment but hopefully will be phasing that out gradually.