I'm thinking that my Adderall might be making my OCD worse...I find that when I'm on Adderall, I OBSESSIVELY have to do things from start to finish--no in-between.

For instance, yesterday at work, my boss told me he thinks I've been working too fast on a project and he's afraid I'll make errors if I don't slow down. What he doesn't understand is that I have a PAINFUL need to do things from start to finish--I can't start something then stop halfway in...So I try to do things fast to get them over with...

And now that he's said that, I have not been able to stop obsessing over the possibility that I DID make a mistake, and might now have to start over...And I'm noticing that ever since starting my Adderall, I've felt a MUCH stronger compulsion to not stop until I'm completely done with things...

Yeah, Adderall enhanced my OCD and, to a lesser extent, Zoloft made my ADD worse.
With me it's even worse than what you describe. I struggle to disengage myself from the hyperfocus on one particular aspect of a project, only to then hyperfocus on the next thing. Kind of like a baby duck following the goose because it was the first thing the duck saw after coming out of its shell. But the boss does not appreciate it when I spend hours 'following the goose.'

Sometimes a doctor will combine the two types of drugs to suppress the overfocused thoughts and enhance attention. My nephew takes Depakote and Concerta and they are seeing some good things. He's definitely less anxious over things.

Jaycee, yes, I've read about that working for others too. I'm wondering if it just doesn't work on adults whose thought pathways are so ingrained.

Adderall brought back my OCD symptoms too. It was really hard for me to find meds which helped both my OCD and ADD. I'm on Cymbalta right now and it definetly does a great job at helping with both. My OCD is the best it's ever been and my ADD is much better (but still not "great"). We're still trying to supress the ADD more with supplements or other meds. Good luck!

i was never diagnosed as ocd and only had similar symptoms when I was anorexic and adderall made me have to do this routine every day or i'd panic... so even w/o ocd adderall can fuel that response

Onemoreyear,

Discuss it with your doc. You might be taking too much or you might need adifferent release mechanism. Additionally, she can have you try other meds.

I wonder if it makes the ocd worse because the meds help you to be able to complete tasks that you have started.... I have ocd and i have just started useing it. Well so far I still have the ocd but for some reason on the meds I just do not seem to worry about it as much... I hope it cont this way...

maybe since you are aware of this, you should take a deep breath and just try to relax. I know it is better said then done. but what I used to do if I had to stop in the middle of somthing was I would just put it aside but keep it in order, then when I could get back to it I would and start from where I had left off. Try doing things slower...I think you will find you are a happier person if you try to take your time, I have to do the same, make myself slow down.... The meds seem to be helping so far*crosses fingers*

Adderall is the WORST for this!~!! I have co-occurring ADHD/OCD, which is FAR from rare (sometimes I wonder if most with ADHD actually have that.) Focalin doesn't seem to aggravate the OCD if I take XR, but any of the amphetamines are absolutely awful on the OCD after a few days. It's really something to watch out for.