mr_Jm
03-18-07, 02:40 PM
This is my story.
In July 06 I started taking adderall(10mg) and prozac(10mg) to help me with ADD and mild depression. I was enrolled full time at the university and the effects of my medication became noticable. I was thinking much clearer, I was able to remember virtually everything, I could sit down and write 4-5 page papers straight without a problem, and I was happy.
This lasted about 4 months, and then things started to change. Suddenly I was never in the mood to do any work, I wasn't sleeping well, I could hardly concentrate, etc. I increased my dosage of adderall to 15mg to see if it would help me get through the last month of the semester, just to find out the effects were barely noticable. It made me slightly more energetic, but it did not help my concentration. So I increased my prozac to 20mg. Still nothing. I managed to force myself to finish the semester, working 3x harder than I was earlier in the semester. I received a 4.0 GPA.
I did not feel like doing much of anything during the break, so I just slept most of the time, and occasionaly went out with friends.
3 months later...
It is getting near the end of 2nd semester and I still feel awful. The amount of homework this semester is double what it was last semester. It's all stacking up because I am seemingly incapable of doing any of it. I feel like complete sh*t on a daily basis, with no relief. I suspect I have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) but the treatments (lights, exercise, etc) barely make a difference in my mood. However, there was a couple really sunny, warm days that made me feel incredible. I had mental clarity!
About a month ago I lost the ability to fall asleep. I stayed up night after night, resting and napping throughout the days. This lasted for about 2 weeks. I decreased my prozac, suspecting that it may have been causing this, and sure enough I began sleeping again. Recently I have tried adjusting with my adderall dosage, and not suprisingly, I can't tell the difference between not taking it at all and 15mg. A few months ago 15mg made me feel like i was on crack.
For whatever reason I was thinking prozac was messing my head up (concentration, sleep, depression, etc) so I stopped taking it entirely. I actually felt better for a bit, that is, until I started fealing dizzy nonstop.
I've been trying to reach my doctor (who happens to be fantastic) but he has been extremely busy lately (apparently other people found out hes fantastic). So here I am.. complaining on the ADD forums about my never-ending problems.
Extra details: I take plenty of vitamins on a daily basis, including fish oil. I eat healthy. I am in good shape. I get out plenty.
So for anyone who cares enough to respond:
What the hell is going on?
Should I buy an expensive lightbox for SAD to see if that helps?
Should I just shut the hell up and do what I gotta do?
In July 06 I started taking adderall(10mg) and prozac(10mg) to help me with ADD and mild depression. I was enrolled full time at the university and the effects of my medication became noticable. I was thinking much clearer, I was able to remember virtually everything, I could sit down and write 4-5 page papers straight without a problem, and I was happy.
This lasted about 4 months, and then things started to change. Suddenly I was never in the mood to do any work, I wasn't sleeping well, I could hardly concentrate, etc. I increased my dosage of adderall to 15mg to see if it would help me get through the last month of the semester, just to find out the effects were barely noticable. It made me slightly more energetic, but it did not help my concentration. So I increased my prozac to 20mg. Still nothing. I managed to force myself to finish the semester, working 3x harder than I was earlier in the semester. I received a 4.0 GPA.
I did not feel like doing much of anything during the break, so I just slept most of the time, and occasionaly went out with friends.
3 months later...
It is getting near the end of 2nd semester and I still feel awful. The amount of homework this semester is double what it was last semester. It's all stacking up because I am seemingly incapable of doing any of it. I feel like complete sh*t on a daily basis, with no relief. I suspect I have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) but the treatments (lights, exercise, etc) barely make a difference in my mood. However, there was a couple really sunny, warm days that made me feel incredible. I had mental clarity!
About a month ago I lost the ability to fall asleep. I stayed up night after night, resting and napping throughout the days. This lasted for about 2 weeks. I decreased my prozac, suspecting that it may have been causing this, and sure enough I began sleeping again. Recently I have tried adjusting with my adderall dosage, and not suprisingly, I can't tell the difference between not taking it at all and 15mg. A few months ago 15mg made me feel like i was on crack.
For whatever reason I was thinking prozac was messing my head up (concentration, sleep, depression, etc) so I stopped taking it entirely. I actually felt better for a bit, that is, until I started fealing dizzy nonstop.
I've been trying to reach my doctor (who happens to be fantastic) but he has been extremely busy lately (apparently other people found out hes fantastic). So here I am.. complaining on the ADD forums about my never-ending problems.
Extra details: I take plenty of vitamins on a daily basis, including fish oil. I eat healthy. I am in good shape. I get out plenty.
So for anyone who cares enough to respond:
What the hell is going on?
Should I buy an expensive lightbox for SAD to see if that helps?
Should I just shut the hell up and do what I gotta do?