First of all, I'm sure this is going to be a long post, so bear with me. I'm only simply needing some feedback and I want to help my husband. I hope I have posted this in the correct forum.

First a general run down of what my husband has: He has been diagnosed as Bi-Polar, has ADHD, Hep C, is a recovering alcoholic and a recovering addict as well. Hubby thinks he might also have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (from childhood issues)but hasn't been diagnosed with it. My husband also had a VERY TOUGH childhood (by that I mean that he grew up with a mom that abused drugs and he was treated very unfairly by her at times and also by his step mom) I won't go into details about this.

Hubby is currently taking Effexor XR (375 mg/day), Lithium (600mg/day), Zyprexa (10mg/night). He was taking Adderall also. He developed an abusive problem with that (Adderall) a while back, the Dr. took it away from him (wouldn't refill because of problems with it)..so hubby was very very depressed while he was off of it..for almost a month. Recently (about 3 weeks ago) they decided to let him back on it (with the agreement that if he abused it again, they would never give it to him again). Well things went fine for a couple weeks when he was back on the Adderall. Someone was dispersing it to him on a daily basis (it wasn't in the house). We felt it was better that way. He recently got his meds back from the person that had them and he decided that he needed (for himself) to be responsible with his meds.

Ok, fine and dandy, things are going ok (as far as I knew)..I find out that he hasn't been taking the Adderall because it is making his mind go places and makes him want to do wild and illegal things. He still won't share with me what all was going on in his mind. Regardless, he says he hadn't taken the med for a while because he felt that if he did, he was going to relapse and go out and drink and/or use..and that scared him. Keep in mind hubby (about a month ago) relapsed and got a DUI and had been drinking off and on for a few months and smoking pot as well. He said the pot helped him. So he flushed his Adderall.

Now, knowing all this...and knowing that hubby has a problem with Adderall, but yet we (hubby and I) know that he needs some kind of stimulant...because if he doesn't have it he goes into a DEEP depression and can't get off the couch...what are his alternatives to Adderall? He needs something that will stimulate him, give him the energy to get up and face life but yet be non addictive.

Does anyone have any suggestions or have any of you experienced any of this yourself? If so, what did you do?

I'm desperate here...my hubby is the "house mouse" and I work during the day (except today..took the day off to see if I can get him some help). He is back on the couch (since dumping his Adderall down the toilet on Thursday). I can't sit back and do nothing...we have a 9 year old son he is responsible for caring for in the afternoons and some evenings while I work. How can he do that if he is sleeping while our son is home?

Have any of you (who have similar diagnoses, and stuff) taken Straterra or tried Serenity? If so, how has it worked for you?

Thanks in advance for ANY feedback...critical or supportive..

adhd_wife~

Thank you for reaching out to this Forum...I'm certain you'll find some answers and direction here. You will definitely find support. :)

You've mentioned that your husband is on several medications...is the prescribing doctor a general practitioner/ family doctor or a psychiatrist, and most importantly, is this prescribing doctor very knowledgeable about adults who have ADHD, both by itself and in addition to the other diagnoses you mentioned? Unfortunately, the "general/family practice" medical community is not very well up to speed on adult ADHD. It's important to have a doctor who really knows ADHD.

As a related question, I'm wondering if your husband is seeing a therapist to help him deal with the places his mind goes and his depression, etc....?

Finally, Adderall is the only stim I've ever taken (I was Dx'd in 2000), but there is a section devoted to Straterra that might give you some ideas about what it's like.

I hope my few comments/questions have helped, and please do continue posting at the Forums. You've hit upon a fabulous resource! Have you shared this site with your hubby? :)

Wow.

First:

I am a grateful member of alanon.

I suggest you explore alanon.

Second:

Staying clean, when possible, is job one for your husband. I understand the stress if that is also the only job.

Third:

Vigorous exercise is an option used by many who, cannot, for tics, abuse, or other reasons, cannot tollerate use of stimulants, regaardless of the narrow view of how specifically helpful they might be.

You are invited to contact me by hitting the PM button (private message) if you wish.

You are likely to get the most diversity of opinions if you leave your interactions in full view.

Welcome and good luck.

ADHD_Wife:

First, welcome to the ADD Forums. Glad you decided to post here.

Second, I'm sure there are many with experiences & backgrounds similar to yours, that may decide to comment on the alcohol/drug/addiction issues facing your husband. So, I'll just mention that there is a relatively new non-stimulant medication out there for the treatment of ADD/ADHD called Strattera. General information on this medication is available at www.Strattera.com.

I have been on both Ritalin (a stimulant med) and Strattera, and have found that I like Strattera better, as I experience no long term side effects on it. It really DOES help to have the right med, and encourage you and your husband to explore this as an alternative to Adderal.

Please let us know how things progress, and keep posting in the ADD Forums :)

Thanks for the replies...

smooch ~ I'm not entirely sure what the prescribing dr. is. My hubby knows, but he's asleep at the moment (has been all day) LOL. And as for how much he knows about ADHD and the other conditions together, well that I'm not real clear on either. He does know alot about meds, but seems to me that when we go the appointments with him, that we get alot of mumbo jumbo stuff out of his mouth. We are going to be requesting a different prescribing dr.

Hubby IS seeing a therapist...has once a week appointments with him.

Wheel ~ Yes, Alanon...a wonderful thing. Too bad I haven't had the "kahoonas" LOL to go back since last August...by that I mean a year ago this last August. :( You mentioned vigorous exercise...I forgot to mention he has back problems and carpal tunnel (that doesn't effect exercise though) that he's also trying to deal with. He isn't wanting pain pills either.

I would suggest then, that you peruse these forums, specifically the ones discussing medications, as well as some websites on the Internet, and print out references to information you want to talk to your husband's doctor about. :)

BIG ~ Thanks for the info on straterra. I was reading at another board that straterra (in kids) has cause some seriously major mood swings...and to the point where the parents couldn't handle it any longer and the child was like a totally different person.

Mind if I ask how long you have used it, and what all you are diagnosed with? How was it for you when you first used it etc.

Swimming doesn't stress the back.

Strattera drove me nuts, but many people work with it well. it is worht a try.

I was told that in AA newcomers are given a Big Book and a talk...

The talk goes like this "we see you at the next meeting, or we come find you."

Alanon by its nature can't do that. But, if the shoe fits wear it. You need the support of Alanon. If the meeting you went to didn't provide it, go to others. Honest.

I know I need the support of Alanon..and the meetings I was going to were very supportive. And I know that I can't allow one person (that I have major conflict with) to keep me from going back. Thanks for the gentle but yet not so gentle shove :) I've been getting alot of those. I was going for 8 years up until I quit...pretty sad huh? LOL

Originally posted by adhd_wife
BIG ~ Thanks for the info on straterra. I was reading at another board that straterra (in kids) has cause some seriously major mood swings...and to the point where the parents couldn't handle it any longer and the child was like a totally different person.

Mind if I ask how long you have used it, and what all you are diagnosed with? How was it for you when you first used it etc.

I was diagnosed as ADHD, but suspect I have some depression and other things intermingled in there as well :) I have been on Strattera for the past 6-7 months. The only 2 things that occured with me was some cotton mouth in the first month (Strattera acts like a diuretic, so drink lots of water) and it had a nasty interaction with an over-the-counter decongestant medication (short term high blood pressure). I was on Ritalin for 13 years before going on Strattera, and for the most part, I am thrilled with how the med has worked for me. I actually had TERRIBLE mood swings when the Ritalin would wear off. I dont have those now with Strattera.

Keep in mind that different meds work differently for each person. for me, Ritalin and Strattera work well. However, I have the worst reactions to Wellbutrin and other meds. Many others will tell you just the opposite story.

The best recommendation I can give you is, collect as much info as you can, then talk to his doctor....and try it :)

Thanks for your openness and honesty. I am gathering as much info as I can..and we will be talking with the dr.

Great! Ask as many questions as you can. That's what the ADD Forums is all about :D

Adhd_wife, pleased to meet you, sorry it is under such difficult circumstances.

I have little personal experience I can offer as my own life is quite different than your husband's... but you have my sympathy and support in addition to everybody else's...

adhd_wife~

WOO HOO!! I'm so glad you seem to be finding so much of the info you're needing! :D

I just wanted to reiterate what Big said about different meds working differently with each person, and that "hanging in there" until you, Hubby, and Doc (hopefully not Quack--heehee!) find the right combo of meds is so important. While I was Dx'd in 2000 at 28 yrs., only recently (past couple of months) have I felt like my doc and I were getting the meds/dosages right--whew! :) Glad to be off the antidepressant merry-go-round. :)

Each time I felt like my meds "just weren't right," I did excactly what you're doing--found stuff on the Web, printed it out, and took it to my doctor. I still do this; when I find some article or post or something that expresses what I'm (have been) feeling, I take it to him, almost planning exactly what I want our sessions to cover. Makes me feel like I have a bit of control over things.... If you go in "knowing what you're talking about," perhaps this doctor won't try feeding you the mumbo jumbo.

Also, I encourage you to encourage Hubby to surf these Forums. All of us have felt the tremendous comfort of finding others like us; perhaps he'll find answers to some of his own questions that he might not have shared with you yet.

Please continue to ask, ask, ask! And please let us know how things turn out, if you do switch to another prescribing doctor, etc. :D

Originally posted by adhd_wife
I know I need the support of Alanon..and the meetings I was going to were very supportive. And I know that I can't allow one person (that I have major conflict with) to keep me from going back. Thanks for the gentle but yet not so gentle shove :) I've been getting alot of those. I was going for 8 years up until I quit...

pretty sad huh?

LOL

Nah... not sad... You must do what you must do, when you must do it. No one can take responsibility for your choices in life except you.

good luck.

"Also, I encourage you to encourage Hubby to surf these Forums. "

That's funny...hubby doesn't even know how to send an email. Not poking at him...just laughing cuz I'm thinking of what all this would take to get him here and learn how to reply etc. He isn't puter friendly LOL

Nothing like the present to take a shot at learning something new :) Just point him to a page to read!

Hi and welcome to the forum. I am a recovering addict as well and work a 12 step program daily. There are many good books out there for your husband to read.You can check out www.addwarehouse.com for some of them.

In terms of past trauma's, there's a trauma specific therapy called EMDR( Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) that is quick and very effective. I have been thru it twice myself and it worked both times.I also have a colleague I respect very much who has done the same thing, with the same results. You might want to look into it. There are certain limitations for this in terms of whether or not theres a risk of making a person worse.For example, you would never do this with a Multiple Personality Disorder ( Dissociative Disorder) but that's not your husband's problem. I just needed to clarify that it's not for everyone.

Okay, as far as meds and recovery go, here's my story.I just went thru the med change form hell trying to switch from Wellbutrin( for adhd) to Straterra.It was a disaster and Im now back on Wellbutrin.I haven't taken any psychostimulants the entire time I have been in recovery.My recovery birthday/clean date is 3-25-88, so do the math and its just over 15 1/2 yrs.I work my program religiously everyday and Im doing great. Dexedrine was my drug of choice followed by all stimulants and then...everything else..lol. Since Wellbutrin quit working for me this summer Im only taking it now because I have to try something for my hyperactivity. After talking with my wife and my sponsor ( who's a judge...lol) , Im going to try and ask my psych doc for a trial of Concerta to boost the Wellbutrin. The stipulation is that my wife will dispense them and keep them away from me,

I attended an adhd conference this summer and spent some time talking with the presenter about this plan.He said that the only addiction potential with Ritalin( and all its other names ) came from snorting it.If you take it as prescribed there should be no trouble. I won't take Adderall because its too close to my drug of choice. Hopefully this combo will be approved by my doc, as Im definately not drug seeking.My mind isnt working right and I'm struggling wiht the massive amount of paperwork I have to do. I also gave Straterra the old college try and became very ill.The hope was that it would work and I wouldnt have to be bothered.

My only suggestion for you is that your husband would benefit from NA meetings; if he doesn't go already. If he does then hopefully he has a sponsor. If you go from being clean and sober to actually living and working the program you eventually find out that you are in recovery and not just sobriety.

I wish you a lot of luck.You might also consider therapy as another possibility.Lastly, Melody Beattie's calssic book.....Codependent No More is a must read if you haven't already done so. I apolgize for the length but I needed to try and address all your questions. Take care.

Originally posted by mctavish23
My mind isnt working right and I'm struggling with the massive amount of paperwork I have to do.

Even without ADHD, massive amounts of paperwork INSTANTLY = staff in any Return On Investment business!

Why try to drug yourself into compliance and competence with paperwork demands when staff is an acceptable route for that detail, even in the absence of ADHD?

In its presence, I am always flabbergasted that everyone thinks THIS is one of the battles to take on, instead of one of them to choose NOT to engage...

Happy 15.5 !

If your husband keeps setting for himself tasks this difficult and ill suited to his real condition, I have no wonder why he is reduce to immobility under the weight of it!

Given his interests and the opportunity to folow them, I'm sure he'll do a lot, it just might not be what "everyone" expects. Motion that is productive in any sense is the first thing. Then don't put out the fire with tasks he simply can't survive doing.

For a smart man, McT, I can't figure out why you are holding on to doing the paperwork yourself, for instance. You aren't the only one either. It seems the thing to do, to do that which we don't have a chance in hell of doing well, reliably and consistently, as a measure of "treatment" success (or failure)! Garry Lawton not with standing... :)

Originally posted by adhd_wife
"Also, I encourage you to encourage Hubby to surf these Forums. "

That's funny...hubby doesn't even know how to send an email. Not poking at him...just laughing cuz I'm thinking of what all this would take to get him here and learn how to reply etc. He isn't puter friendly LOL

Sometimes that is what friends are for... to do some pointing and clicking and typing...

i can make speech recognition work for non-typists or typists.

Originally posted by BIG
Nothing like the present to take a shot at learning something new :) Just point him to a page to read!


Yep, I agree with Big. Just plop him down in front of the puter, point him to a page, and encourage him to read, or read with him. You can "drive" the mouse...his interest will more than likely be piqued. :D

adhd_wife said
Hubby is currently taking Effexor XR (375 mg/day), Lithium (600mg/day), Zyprexa (10mg/night). He was taking Adderall also.

I find out that he hasn't been taking the Adderall because it is making his mind go places and makes him want to do wild and illegal things.

I just wanted to mention to you that your hubby's inertia could be at least partially due to the side effects of his other meds. Both Zyprexa and Lithium are used as anti-manics, which are known to be very sedating and 'blunting'. The Adderall was probably counteracting some of that, but it's not inconceivable that under these conditions it triggered some sort of psychosis like you described.

Please talk to your husband's physician about these problems - the dr. may be able to make some changes in his med regimen that would allow him to be much more functional.

Good luck, and please keep us updated!

Wow..first of all...let me thank each and every one of you who have given me feedback on this issue! I never imagined there would be this much. I'm grateful!!

mctavish ~ thanks so much for sharing your story. Hubby does go to NA meetings as well as AA meetings and he is a bit in limbo right now in between sponsors.

What was it about Straterra that you didn't like? What were your side effects? Please explain as I'd like to continue to weigh the possibility of other meds for my hubby. I have heard people talk about Concerta...I read somewhere that it was basically a time released form of Ritalin..is that right?

adhd_wife --

Wow! This is a potent thread.

Welcome indeed. You'll find sympathy as well as a lot of good pointers and similar experiences. Here's my two bits (free of charge and just as valuable.... ;))

You may find Dan Amen's "Healing ADD" useful for unsnarling the medications confusion that goes along with AD/HD and co-morbidities. At least I've found him the most specific and he has different treatment regimes for 6 different AD/HD profiles he's discovered in his clinical practice. If nothing else, you can see what other people mean by finding a specialist. Your garden variety general practicioner or psychiatrist is not going to know all these details.

What you have said that reminds me of his stuff was your hubby's bad reaction to Adderal. I couldn't stand the stuff myself. It and my first stimulant med, cylert, had mild focusing effects but made me a maniac on the highway. I am on ritalin now, and I actually take my last does of the day before commuting home so I can deal calmly with traffic.

I'm not necessarily knocking adderal and boosting ritalin, just making the usual point that different people have different responses to the same meds.

Finally, by coincidence/fate/synchronicity/conspiracy I only recently started digging into Amen's book. I rated myself according to his questionnaire and found I scored high on two profiles that are sensitive to stimulant meds and SSRI antidepressants (like prozac or zoloft). I think that partly explains my bad reactions to adderal and cylert.

I think it also explains why I tried about 4 different SSRIs before I found one that had some benign effect on my irritability, instead of making it worse.

Most moot is the point that he regularly treats his own patients with these profiles with anticonvulsants or antipsychotics (like zyprexa) -- the same stuff (more or less) given to bipolars.

Anyway, keep your chin up and know the Forum is rooting for you!


Ken