Early 60's just oficially discovered I have ADHD. I currently take a blood pressure pill, acid reflux pill, chlorestal pill and Effexor - Got stated on Zoloft many years ago cause wife said I was so hard to live with - it got to where it did nothing, tried others, ended up with Effexor, is seemed to help for what I was taking if for until recently. After being tested by Behaviour management group, determined I was for sure ADHD, went back for session, only thing the physholigist recommended was that I try to quit caffine and get my md to change Effexor to Lexapro. Is that considered a first step? Do you have to work into something like Adderall? Maybe Im thinking wrong but it seems like going bear hunting with a slingshot. Any advise appreiated.

They will probably be pretty hesitant to prescribe you Adderall or any stimulant due to you blood pressure. They would maybe try Strattera, that is a non-stimulant drug for ADD.:rolleyes:

Hi, again, exfarmer. You might ask about adding Wellbutrin to the Effexor. That's the combination I take, and I have to say I love Wellbutrin. It works to raise dopamine and norepinephrine, and as you probably know, dopamine is believed to be in low supply in folks with AD/HD.

I was coming out of a bad depressive episode last year, and jokingly remarked to my psychiatrist that I was not feeling depressed any longer, but I wished there was a drug to give me some motivation. He said, "There is!" and gave me a prescription for Wellbutrin. It gave me that boost I needed to start making plans again, doing things that needed to be done.

I just took a look at my favorite site for psych med information, www.crazymeds.com (http://www.crazymeds.com). The fellow who writes is has Asperger's and a couple other neurological things as well, he's a heck of a researcher, and he presents both the medical info AND comments from folks using these drugs. He says "Many people who take Lexapro have reported that it has better effects and lower chances for side effects than other SSRIs. When side effects do strike they tend to be less harsh. Lexapro gets rave reviews from the Panic/Anxiety community."

I think you mentioned in one of your posts that you had GAD, so maybe this would be worth trying for you. If you do go off the Effexor, I'd like to suggest you do so VERY slowly. Effexor is known to cause severe dizziness and other withdrawal effects if you go off it too quickly. You want to decrease the dosage a little at a time, and give yourself more than a couple days in between each decrease. I had a friend who wound up with vertigo for a month from going off Effexor too quickly.

Ok, one more thing and I'll stop talking...<grin>. I too am on blood pressure meds and cholesterol lowering drugs and I am taking Ritalin. My blood pressure is normal with the BP drug. I have had some episodes of racing heart since I've been on Ritalin, but I've gotten rid of it by decreasing my caffeine intake.

If you're seeing your family doc for the meds, is there any chance you could see a psychiatrist? With their greater familiarity with psych drugs, one might be willing to let you take a chance on a stimulant or the Strattera jennyjay suggested.

I forgot another thing I wanted to mention. In some people, AD/HD drugs also decrease anxiety. I happen to be one of those lucky people.

Farmer
#1 Effexor can put up BP (blood pressure). Maybe this is why they want you off it?
#2 You mention having _ADD_ & _high BP_ & _GERD Reflux_: Do you possibly have a sleep disorder like Sleep Apnea ?
Ask your wife if you choke, or snore loudly or snort or gasp during sleep. Or if she hears you stopping breathing...

Good point, QueensU girl...I'm supposed to have a sleep apnea test myself, if I ever get it set up. When I was given the results of the AD/HD tests, the psychologist suggested I get tested for sleep apnea as some of the executive function problems I exhibited are similar to those people with sleep apnea suffer from.

Ah Yes, I do have it also, I sleep with a CPAP machine. Sleep is also a problem. From what I can ascertain, I don't get into REM sleep. No matter how long I stay asleep, I NEVER wake up rested. I guess that old saying is coming true -- if I knew I was going to live this long, I should have taken better care of myself. Also I need to lose 50 lbs. and I am working on that. Which also casues me concern because some of the ADD meds cause weight gain. Right now I am ready to try anything - well except giving up margaritas. No I'm not an alcoholic, but I sure like a Jose frostie every once on a while. Thats all that I know thats wrong with me, but thats more than I knew a few weeks ago. Wonder what will go downhill next??

When i first started adderall for ADHD it made me more anxious than i was before. Now i'm also on Lexapro, and it is amazing. Most of my ADHD symptoms are gone, as well as most of my anxiety and depression. I havent been this generally happy in a lonnnnnng time. I'm on 10 mg lexapro every morn, and 60 mg adderall throughout the day. I might get my doc to up my lexapro to 20mg, bc i read on their website or something 10 was more for depression, 20 was more for both depression and anxiety. my mom is on 20mg a day, and she seems to like it??? I'll keep you updated as to dosage changes!

Ya I have friends who have nothing but good to say about Lexapro

Ya it really is awesome... The only reason i think i may need to up the lexapro dose to 20mg is because my anxiety is more noticable at night. The general good mood lasts though. The change in my mood has been awesome though, all of my friends are noticing because now i actually want to go out and do stuff, call people just to say hey, make plans, etc.

The change in my mood has been awesome though, all of my friends are noticing because now i actually want to go out and do stuff, call people just to say hey, make plans, etc.
That's wonderful to hear. I'm glad that you & your Dr were able to find the right drug.