ok i know the 'because its says you cant on the package' but why is that? will it not be effective in one way or another

I don't know of any reason you can't take Anti-depressant & stimulants together - lots of people do. Which drugs are you refering to specifically & on which package does it say this? I'm not a Dr, but these classes of drugs work differently on different brain chemicals, and with (mostly) different modes of metabolism, so they really don't interact. I'm very curious to know where you found this info, since I will soon be asking my Dr to prescribe both.
Regards,
Greg

I'm curious as to where you heard this too. It's quite common for people to take stimulants and antidepressents such as SSRIs.

my Pharmacology book is in my boarding house, i will give you a very detailed explaination later.

basically it depends what drug you take for ADHD and depression. if you're taking methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta), from what i know, you're not supposed to be taking a MAOI (MonoAmine Oxidase inhibitor) or SSRI (Serotonine Specific Reuptake Inhibitor) antidepressants

why?

these drugs have effects that are similar to each other. one drug blocks reuptake of this particular neurotransmitter (eg. Dopamine, Serotonin & Norepineprhine), another drugs causes decreased breakdown of the same neurotransmitter. so they amplify each others effects and the results are usually not good.

That's interesting. I know a number of people on stimulants AND SSRIs. I do remember reading that SSRIs can reduce motivation in ADD patients, if no stimulant is given. But I thought that Ritalin acted primarily on dopamine, while the SSRIs by definition just block serotonin uptake. Can you give us more info?

I'm not surprised about MAOI's - you can't take those with anything! They are "crude" (vs selective) anti-depressants and I don't think they are used much in North America (or elsewhere) since the side effects can be life threatening, and they interact with a huge number of drugs and foods (like cheese). They are only really used as a last resort, when other drugs fail to pull someone out of deep black depression. SSRI's are very safe, don't interact with very many drugs, and most people don't have a lot of side effects - except for the occasional "limp noodle";-)
Ritalin is also very safe.
Some other anti-depressants work on norepinephrine as well as serotonin and a couple have minor effect on dopamine (Wellbutrin and Effexor), but their mode of action is different from stimulants and you can still take them at the same time - as far as I know - I'm not a Doctor! Always check with your doctor - a book is no substitute.
Regards,
Greg

It there is a warning label on your specific prescription bottle telling you not to take with a certain other type of medication that there is probably a safety issue.

I suggest asking a qualified health care professional about this.

ya i just heard that you cant take ssri's with concerta because it said something like if depression is evident, it must be dealt with first, then start concerta.

In a lot of cases doctors will prescribe an SSRI 1st to treat anxiety and then once the anxiety is under control will add a stimulant. Stimulants can make anxiety worse when taken a lone.

I have heard that doctors do it different ways when depression co-exists. Some treat both at the same time, some do the ADD 1st, some treat the depresssion 1st.

A lot depends on the doctors and the person being treated.



Have you talked to a doctor about this?

How does Wellbutrin fit in to this? My understanding of it, is that it is a combination of stimulant mediation and SSRI-type medications in one pill. It is used to mainly treat depression, but is also prescribed to ADD/ADHDers that do not respond to typical stimulant medications well.

Any ideas?

MM

Wellbutrin works on dopamine, like a stimulant, but it doesn't do it as quickly as stimulants. The faster the onset of the drug the "higher" it makes you and the more abuse potential it has - this is why people who abuse ritalin cruch and snort it like cocaine - it hits the blood and brain FAST, but I digress.... So Wellbutrin doesn't make you high like a stimulant - Ok maybe just a little, at first - and it also acts on noradrenaline and serotonin, which a stimulant doesn't do, and it acts way longer than a stimulant - Wellbutrin stays in your body for anywhere from 21 to 50 hours depending on which metabolite you look at, whereas regular release stimulants are usually gone in 4 to 6 hours. So I'd say that Wellbutrin is an antidepressant with stimulant qualities. It's certainly unique!

I've just started Wellbutrin XL alone (new extended release version- smaller tablets) for combined ADD & depression.
My doc is trying to keep me off stimulants (even though I was OK on them in the past).
Wellburtrin package lit says: "Wellbutrin is a weak inhibitor of the neuronal uptake of norepinephrine, serotonin & dopimine".
As far as I understand it, new, non-stimulant ADD med. Strattera works on norepinephine alone, Wellbutrin on the three nerotransmitters above with more action on increasing dopamine.
Stimulants like Adderall on all three, but by increasing amount, not the 're-uptake' of the nerotransmitters.
You certainly can combine a stimulant with an anti-depressant! You might try new SSRI Lexipro, (which supposedly has the fewest side effects of any SSRI) for the depression & a stimulant like adderall for the ADD.
Last year I tried Wellbutrin with Strattera - foget it, I never got a decent night's sleep!

I have taken both Welbutrin and stimulants for years without trouble. One problem I see is that you are taking Welbutrin XL right from the start. I would recommend taking small doses of regular Welbutrin first and working your way up to SR and then maybe XL after that. The process may take a year before you get to where you can take XL and still sleep.

I take Concerta and Lexapro (SSRI)...and I haven't had an ounce of trouble...well, unless I forget to take my meds. heheh

Interesting reading!

Gregster wrote:
Wellbutrin works on dopamine, like a stimulant, but it doesn't do it as quickly as stimulants. The faster the onset of the drug the "higher" it makes you and the more abuse potential it has - this is why people who abuse ritalin cruch and snort it like cocaine - it hits the blood and brain FAST, but I digress.... So Wellbutrin doesn't make you high like a stimulant - Ok maybe just a little, at first - and it also acts on noradrenaline and serotonin, which a stimulant doesn't do, and it acts way longer than a stimulant - Wellbutrin stays in your body for anywhere from 21 to 50 hours depending on which metabolite you look at, whereas regular release stimulants are usually gone in 4 to 6 hours. So I'd say that Wellbutrin is an antidepressant with stimulant qualities. It's certainly unique!


Originally posted by runner
I've just started Wellbutrin XL alone (new extended release version- smaller tablets) for combined ADD & depression.
My doc is trying to keep me off stimulants (even though I was OK on them in the past).
Wellburtrin package lit says: "Wellbutrin is a weak inhibitor of the neuronal uptake of norepinephrine, serotonin & dopimine".
As far as I understand it, new, non-stimulant ADD med. Strattera works on norepinephine alone, Wellbutrin on the three nerotransmitters above with more action on increasing dopamine.
Stimulants like Adderall on all three, but by increasing amount, not the 're-uptake' of the nerotransmitters.
You certainly can combine a stimulant with an anti-depressant! You might try new SSRI Lexipro, (which supposedly has the fewest side effects of any SSRI) for the depression & a stimulant like adderall for the ADD.
Last year I tried Wellbutrin with Strattera - foget it, I never got a decent night's sleep!