I started on Focalin about 16 days ago, also with Fluvoxamine. The Focalin is the one that lasts 12 hours, Xr? maybe, anyway, and i'm not sure on the dosage for either, but focalin is 10 or 20mg. the first seven-eight days were amazing and completely lifechanging. i was calm and focused for the first time ever. nothing irritated me like it usually does. if it did, i didn't react as i normally do, which is mainly internalized and feels like there are a million bees inside me and i am ridiculously tense and angry. i was super psyched and happy about it. side effects of suppressed appetite, nausea, dry mouth, woke up in the middle of the night for a few nights, excessive tiredness at about 9:30pm, some jitteryness inside, and mild eye tics. all the sideffects i have no problem dealing with.

then on day 9 it stopped. i totally freaked out and called my doctor. she said to just wait it out. it's been a week since (2 weeks total) then and no change. the only thing it's still doing is suppressing my appetite and i have no desire to drink coffee or chew gum. which i did to excess before, and am glad it's doing that at least. and, i know the fluvoxamine takes a while to kick in. but how long until you think the dosage or drug should be adjusted?

so my question is whether or not to call my doctor again? i have a follow up next friday. and i, as always, have anxiety about calling and being annoying. but she provided me no written information on adhd/depression/or the drug. i had no idea what to specifically expect with them. she just said some basic stuff about the drugs like side effects and how to get more. is this typical for psychiatrists to not give you literature? she also didn't make any suggestions about other things i could do, like diet changes (except the coffee) or seeing a therapist. is that normal too?

good thing i have the forum to find out things like that.

anway, sorry, i'm a babbler. but any advice would be awesome.
oh, and i am OBSESSED with this forum. obsessed.

ad/hd combined, and depression (largely due to th season. winter sucks.)

ok, i'm done.
thanks,
rooooooooar!

I started on Focalin about 16 days ago, also with Fluvoxamine. The first seven-eight days were amazing and completely lifechanging. i was calm and focused for the first time ever.

Then on day 9 it stopped. i totally freaked out and called my doctor. she said to just wait it out. it's been a week since (2 weeks total) then and no change.

so my question is whether or not to call my doctor again? i have a follow up next friday. She also didn't make any suggestions about other things i could do, like diet changes (except the coffee) or seeing a therapist. is that normal too?

good thing i have the forum to find out things like that.

anway, sorry, i'm a babbler. but any advice would be awesome.
oh, and i am OBSESSED with this forum. obsessed.

ad/hd combined, and depression (largely due to th season. winter sucks.)

ok, i'm done.
thanks,
rooooooooar!
Welcome to the Forum! I tend to babble as well. I'll let you babble if you let me babble. Hey I think we are all obsessed with the forum when we find it at last!!!:p

Your doctor should have talked about therapy. Exercise and diet are also important. I'm sorry your Focalin poo ed out. Maybe an increase is in order.

I also have terrible seasonal depression. Turns out it is part of my Bipolar II. Get out in the sunshine if you can. Light therapy is also helpful. Good Luck! :D

thanks for the response jeaniebug,
another question, how do you know the difference between BPII and seasonal affective disorder? my moods are an issue for me. i've been wondering, but am not sure if it's AD/HD or possibly BPII.
if you don't mind...what specific symptoms do you have that indicate BPII?

There are more predictable patterns in SAD than in BPII I belive. SAD mostly happens in the winter but a mania/depression could happen at any time in an unmedicated bipolar. Wellbutrin is FDA approved for the use in Sesonal Affective Disorder. Mood Stabilizers are the first line treatment is most Bipolar patients. Also with SAD, there aren't manias/hypomanias, but a return of normal mood as the depression lifts. With bipolar II, there could be a hypomania that will set in if mood remains unmanaged. I hope this helps. Best of luck...

Andy...

Stimulants and SSRIs can boost each other up, side effect-wise.

so the SAD is basically a bipolar, with a specific pattern?