I could use some advice from anyone familiar with Lexapro....unsure where else to post this, as this is half Adderall related, half Lexapro.

I was originally diagnosed w/ Innatentive ADD nearly a year ago now.

Still titrating w/ Adderall XR, currently 40mg in AM, 30mg in PM. Mornings have been perfect since move to 40 in AM some time ago, been struggling w/ some time in fixing afternoons, and move from 20 to 30 was latest attempt.

I've also been on Lexapro 20 mg for nearly a year....the doc that diagnosed ADD had bumped Lexapro days before, then took sharp left to ADDville. I've been questioning all along amongst 3 doctor changes (fortunately I've now found an ADHD specialist!) if the Lexapro's been working.

And to my question - I realized taking my last Lexapro pill that there were no refills for the bottle like I thought there was (think I usually get 2 or 3), and with my busy schedule I only found time to pop off an email to my doc, and 2 days w/ no response, and hence my second day w/ no Lexapro.

I know you're not supposed to "cold turkey" this stuff (wasn't much choice), but I'm leaving out of state for a week and a bit nervous going w/o the Lex is a bad idea. I may have opportunity to call regular doc for a script.....should I do this?

Now what if you were to factor in that these last two days have been pretty danged good amongst a normal life of stress and chaos? I did have what actually was a pretty serious argument with girlfriend tonight (pent up from 6 mos. worth of various frustrations)....and even that I was WAAAAAY calmer and rational than I woulda been any other time.

So 1) should I still call reg. doc and get Lex script, and 2) is it at all possible that the Lex was interfering w/ the Adderall?


Thanks in advance for any advice!!

1) better to get a 'script. it's bad to go cold turkey. you'll be feeling the withdrawl effects soon. it's not horrible, but it's not fun either. Also, if you're interested in weaning off - talk w/ your doc about it because it's better he/she is aware of this.

2) In my own experience, anti-depressants (including Lexapro - which i was on for about 6 months) didn't interfere w/ my adderall. your pharmacist could answer this better than I, with a definitive answer.

I had been taking Lexapro 20 for a year and a half and just recently went off of it. I did a quick wean cutting it in half for a couple of days and then stopping. This was way too quick of a wean for me. (my psychiatrist and I should've known better) You're probably still feeling okay on day 2 without it, but you may be faced w/ some pretty uncomfortable discontinuation effects. Of course, everyone is different, but I am still having brain zaps and intermittent dizziness and it's been 3 weeks. If you can't get in touch with your doctor, your pharmacist may advance you enough to get you through your trip or until your doctor can fax in the refill. I don't think I would go out of town without it. The Adderall will still do it's job of keeping you calm but it won't help w/ the physical "withdrawal" you're body and brain will be going through by stopping the Lexapro. I personally had some emotional ups and downs the first week or so after stopping the Lexapro...lots of crying and agitation. Part of me was happy to be "feeling" again, but the sudden stop made me feel a bit out of control emotionally.

I don't know what your situation is, but I had been on various SSRI's for almost 7 years and after being diagnosed w/ ADHD I really questioned if my anxiety and depression were "real" or just a result of all of the personal inadequacies I was experiencing due to my undiagnosed ADHD. I never thought the Lexapro or any of the other SSRI's worked either. So maybe now that you and your doctor are adequately addressing the ADHD, your depression and/or anxiety will also ease and you can eventually stop taking the Lexapro. It seemed you were hinting at this in your post. If you and your doctor think you're ready to quit the Lexapro, ask him/her about taking a bit of Prozac to help ease the withdrawal. It has a super long half life so I've heard it can make things a bit more comfortable.

I don't know how or if Lexapro affects the Adderall or vice versa. My guess would be minimally if at all since the Lexapro is working w/ seratonin and the Adderall is working w/ dopamine and norepinepherine. Good luck to you.

I was on Prozac (also an SSRI) for a period of about 7-8 months. In my experience, taking this antidepressent did NOT affect my Adderall XR (negatively or positively).

Thanks for the quick responses!

So maybe now that you and your doctor are adequately addressing the ADHD, your depression and/or anxiety will also ease and you can eventually stop taking the LexaproYep. Shoulda clarified that - I referenced in another post (see below) a bad experience with last couple docs/counselors, and new doc seems to have come much closer to the right combo of adderall. We're still not ruling out switching if we can't fix afternoons....who thought simple flexibility and common sense could be so appreciated!!! But logic was to address one med at a time, meaning my little buddy Lex planned to live in the backseat for a bit.

If any background helps:

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39166

This is day 3, and again feeling fine - but paged out psych who, based on the 3 day improvement is calling me in another 20mg fill, but having me take half (10's) for a week and then stop to see if the improvement sticks. Otherwise, I'll bump back to 20 and deal with it down the road as planned.

What if I put this spin on my question re: Lexapro interfering w/ Adderall:<o></o>



Oct '06, been on Lex 10mg for maybe a year or so up till this time to help w/ what I reported to primary doc felt like depression. In theory, I currently have undiagnosed ADD at this point in time - so my brain's maybe a bit "off".<o></o>
She bumps to 20mg, and 2 days later took that left turn to ADDville that I mentioned. <o></o>
March'ish '07, switch to psych and counselor, who got me a little closer.<o></o>
Summer '07, switch to ADD specialist and new counselor, who's got me what I believe to be close to the right combo.<o></o>
If my brain was originally all over the place anyways, and original doc wasn't what I'd consider (IMO) the best of doctors (and not a psych).....would any negative effect the Lex had on my noggin possibly go unnoticed amongst all the other chaos up there? And now that the ADD's becoming somewhat effectively treated, the lack of Lex is leading me to think it was interfering?

Is this actually possible?

Lexapro and adderall are a pretty common combination. IF what I've been reading on the net is any indication adderall and lexapro not only play well with each other but are a great combo for adhd with anxiety and/or depression

Yes, Lexapro is an SSRI and SSRI's do reduce attention a little, but the adderall is goign to make up for that.

The bugger is that adderall is likely to make anxiety worse so the lexapro is needed to handle that. It's a good combo that a lot of ADDers use.

The combo of meds that you are on is a common one and is as safe and effective as any. If you have concerns you should talk to your doc about it.

Me :D