Does anyone on this forum take zoloft and adderall? If so, I was wondering if you notice a change in the effectiveness of the meds if they are taken at the same time in the morning? The other day when I took my zoloft and adderall together I was a bit more angry/down (usually from lack of zoloft) that night. This could have been many things - PMS, bad day, etc. - but I want to rule out the timing of my medications first.

Since then I have tried to take the adderall in the AM and the zoloft at lunch, but since this is a deviation from my normal schedule I often forget to take my zoloft (bad news).

Anyone who has had similar - or non-similar - experiences on both meds please let me know. Thx.

I have a friend who takes them both. He is kind of distanced from me though ever since.... but last I talked to him he told me he felt his adderall wasn't working as well when he started taking zoloft but apparently the adderall gives him such bad 'anxiety' that he has to take it so I really don't know.

Zoloft has definitely lessened the impact of Ritalin and Dexedrine with me. It's making me far too lethargic so I'm starting to wean myself off it to half my current dose of 50mg a day, I take 25mg 2x a day (for Social Anxiety and OCD, which it works great for but the side effects of no motivation and wanting to sleep all day but not being able to is terrible!). Every other day now I'm just taking 1 25mg. Next week I'll just go with the 25mg 1x a day, see if it makes my lethargy any better, otherwise I'm going to ask my p doc to start back up on Wellbutrin, it always gives me some motivation and energy, unlike Dex and Zoloft.

I used to take them at lunch and supper. Now I'm going to take the one at supper, when I still take the 2nd I make it about 4 hours after supper.

Interesting topic. I've been doing research lately and many meds actually inhibit the metabolic pathway that amphetamines use.

Zoloft and Prozac are big on the list.

http://www.corepsychblog.com/2006/11/how_that_ssri_a.html#more

J

If your zoloft is making you all sleepy, try taking it at night.....thats what I do!!

:) hope this helps!

Zoloft stimulates me. I take 100mg in the morning. I suffer from anxiety and Zoloft has been very effective in controlling it. I've been on Zoloft for 3 months now. Initially, I had side effects of insomnia and clenching jaw. They went away after 2 months. So far, I've lost weight and have no sexual side effects. Sex has actually improved believe it or not.

Prior to Zoloft, I was on Celexa for 2 years also with no side effects. The only side effect I had, when I started it, was that it wired me out. It was also effective. I tried the new Lexapro and found it too stimulating and I couldn't handle the sexual sides. I gave it 9 weeks to level out in my system, but the sides didn't go awy.

I started to take 30 mg of Vyvanse about 1 month ago. Currently, I'm up to 50mg. I take it along with my Zoloft in the morning. My anxiety is still under control. I haven't had any problems taking them at the same time.

I do prefer Vyvanse over Adderall. I'm still in the process of adjusting my dose. I might need to request an increase to 60mg at my next pdoc appointment.

I also take Zoloft and Adderall - together in the morning. I've been doing this for years and have never noticed any problems.

Sue

Interesting topic. I've been doing research lately and many meds actually inhibit the metabolic pathway that amphetamines use.

Zoloft and Prozac are big on the list.

http://www.corepsychblog.com/2006/11/how_that_ssri_a.html#more

J


Ummmmm, I read this and now I'm kind of freaked out. I have been taking zoloft for 8-9 years and it really works well for me. I just started taking adderall a couple of weeks ago, but it has so drastically changed my life that I don't want to stop taking it either. . . .now what? I guess I will continue to do research and see what I can find (along with talking to my doc of course)

Interesting topic. I've been doing research lately and many meds actually inhibit the metabolic pathway that amphetamines use.

Zoloft and Prozac are big on the list.

http://www.corepsychblog.com/2006/11/how_that_ssri_a.html#more

J

I wonder how much of a problem inhibiting the metabolic pathway of amphetamine really is? Isn't a high percentage of amphetamine excreted unchanged anyway? Would such perhaps cause a higher percentage of it to be unchanged, while increasing the half-life, but not to the same degree as other drugs metabolized in the same manner (without the degree of direct elimination of the drug in this case though)?

As far as the original topic, I would think that the Zoloft (or any other mostly-serotonin reuptake inhibitor) could decrease the effects of the Adderall to a certain degree. There are combinations though that are far more contradictory in effects (such as stimulants and most antipsychotics)

It's a big problem IMHO. I haven't completed either of my degrees yet so I'm no professional; however, to inhibit the metabolic pathway of any substance one might be taking is incredibly harmful to one's system IMO. A build-up of any substance no matter what neurotransmitter it potientially affects could be deadly, especially if at the wrong time this build-up was set into motion. I've yet to come across such a bold statement in an article about the metabolic pathways relating from Selective Serotoning Reuptake Inhibitors and the one's used in ADHD medication (pertaining mostly to amphetamines) ever. I'll look into it and if I find anything out of the norm, post it, but I'm fairly certain it's one of those fields which still requires alot of research before an absolute opinion on something could be formed.

I take Lexapro and Adderall with no problems.

I take Lexapro and Adderall with no problems.

Do you physically take them at the same time? (with the same glass of water)

I kind of want to know if anyone's found that it makes a difference to stagger the medications - adderall in the AM (of course) and zoloft at night?

I halved my Zoloft recently (been a little under the weather in the mornings now) I used to take it at lunch and supper (25mg each time). Now I just take one 25mg at supper. This has increased the efficientcy of dex about 50+%.

Zoloft not good with amphetamines...seem to work against each other.

Thanks Mincan. The last two days I've made it a point to take my zoloft at night with my vitamins/supplements - It seems to have helped the issues I was experiencing earlier. I guess it's just going to be new way to deal with my meds. Since I'm still fairly new to Adderall I'll continue to see how it works with the zoloft over the next couple of weeks.

Interesting topic. I've been doing research lately and many meds actually inhibit the metabolic pathway that amphetamines use.

Zoloft and Prozac are big on the list.

http://www.corepsychblog.com/2006/11/how_that_ssri_a.html#more

J

BTW - Thanks again for the info JR - I'm printing it out to take to doc tomorrow at my weekly adderall doseage checkupto discuss with her (this is my third doseage check - 1st after introducing adderall at 10mg IR 1X/day, 2nd after a week at 10mg IR 2X/day, and now this week at 20mg XR AM and 10mg IR in afternoon)

I take both every morning. Since I started the Adderall after the Zoloft, I have nothing to compare the combo to, except of course the Concerta and Ritalin I took, neither of which worked as well as the Adderall. When I stop the Zoloft someday, thinking that the effects of the Adderall might be that much more intense? That's fine. Otherwise, I'm not sweating it. I've asked three doctors and all say the combo is fine as far as they know.

FYI for those on antidepressants. Lexapro is probably the cleanest of all them right now. Doesn't interfere with the metabolism of amphetamines.

J

Just for everyone's info after the discussion about taking zoloft and adderall together. . . .I went in for my weekly dosage checkup the other day and told my doc that the Adderall was making me TIRED. She suggested that maybe I cut my dosage of zoloft. She said that the adderall was making my zoloft "too strong" (of course I'm oversimplifying what she said).

I was very nervous about cutting my zoloft dosage - as I've said before I have been taking 100mg daily for about nine years and it has changed my life. After a few more days of being REALLY tired, I decided to give a lower dosage of zoloft a try and WOW - it made all the difference. So, now I'm on 50 mg zoloft (half my pre-adderall dosage) and 20mg adderall XR in AM and one 10mg IR in the afternoon. I've been feeling GREAT. I had no idea that the zoloft and adderall in combination were making me feel off.

I have only been on this dosage for three days, so I need to continue it a couple more weeks and see how it goes but I'm very hopeful. I feel better about taking less meds, too.

Unfortunately this changes the way I will be able to take my adderall. I had thought I'd use adderall as an "as needed" drug - maybe only take it 5 days a week (or during really busy, focus-necessray times) and skip it on the weekends. Since now it's being used as a "supplement" to my antidepressants I guess I need it in my system 7 days a week. That's okay, but it's just different than i thought it would be.

Seratonin + dopamine do couteract eachother. seratonin is a slow/off chemical and dopamine is more of a speed/on chemical. The reason I think they dont cancel eachother out is seratonin + dopamine play bigger roles in different parts of the brain.

dopamine plays a more primary roll in the pleasure center and frontal cortex.

Seratonin plays a bigger roll in the midbrain + ?.

So while they are fundamentally at different sides of the spectrum taking a ssri + a D/NE booster do not cancel eachother out.

BobC

bobC, I'm a bit confused now. (sorry, guess my meds are wearing off).

What i was saying is that the Adderall in addition to the regular 100 mg of Zoloft were making the Zoloft TOO strong, thus making me really tired. When I cut my zoloft dosage in half, the tiredness went away and I feel much better.

Is that what you are saying?

OOOOh, yes - I see - In my first post I did think that they cancelled each other out and asked my doc if we should increase my adderall dosage. She said that it was most likely the exact opposite. She suggested I decrease my zoloft dosage while taking my adderall (that was probably what was making me tired).

At first I didn't want to, but I have to admit she was right......I cut the zoloft in half and am longer tired. I am also glad to be taking less medication overall.

Sorry for the confusion.

I'm down to taking the Zoloft every other day now... the dexedrine works about 200% better now. Don't let anyone tell you they don't affect each other. No, they do not cancel each other out, but they affect how the other works that is for sure.

I wonder how much of a problem inhibiting the metabolic pathway of amphetamine really is? Isn't a high percentage of amphetamine excreted unchanged anyway? Would such perhaps cause a higher percentage of it to be unchanged, while increasing the half-life, but not to the same degree as other drugs metabolized in the same manner (without the degree of direct elimination of the drug in this case though)?

As far as the original topic, I would think that the Zoloft (or any other mostly-serotonin reuptake inhibitor) could decrease the effects of the Adderall to a certain degree. There are combinations though that are far more contradictory in effects (such as stimulants and most antipsychotics)
I think you're right. When my doctor added Prozac after I'd been on Concerta (anther stimulent/SSRI combo). I was less focused and more distractable. SSRI's cause a drop in the dopamine levels which I expect accounts for that. It also caused me a lot of facial tics that I hadn't had before and pseudo hallucinations (which I definately had never had before). I think it sensitized me to the effects of stimulents to the point where it put me over the top -- now just a little bit of stimulent goes more than twice as far and long as it used to.

It also caused me a lot of facial tics that I hadn't had before and pseudo hallucinations (which I definately had never had before).

What's pseudo hallucination?

What's pseudo hallucination?
A pseudo-hallucination is when you're hallucinating but you know you are. You don't believe what you're seeing is real. In my case it meant that even though I was seeing the skin dissolve off my hands and arm (both with my eyes open and shut), I knew it wasn't real. I got off the medication quickly and so only experienced that twice -- thankfully. But at the time I was really scared that my train was about to chug around the bend.

I found the book Prozac Backlash (The first chapter is free on line) by Glenmullen useful, especially in explaining the movement disorder I developed.

:eek: Yikes! No pseudo-hallucinations for me please.

...Seriously, though, that's a pretty big hint that something's wrong with that combo in your system. I'm glad you got that worked out.

:eek: Yikes! No pseudo-hallucinations for me please.

...Seriously, though, that's a pretty big hint that something's wrong with that combo in your system. I'm glad you got that worked out.Thanks!
Definately a big hint that this combo didn't work for me. I'm not suggesting that this happens to most folks (I haven't heard of anyone else with this reaction). The tics however I have heard about.

SSRI's + amphetamines really dont interact directly. Their effect on the brain however combine.

My basic understanding is

SSRI's slow down parts of the brain and amphetamines speed up the whole brain. The overall effect of taking a good balance of the two is part of your brain are more active (frontal cortex) while other parts are unchanged + hopfully calm (midbrain).

BobC

Actually, my pharmacist told me that Prozac lowers dopamine by increasing the serotonin and stimulents raises dopamine lowering serotonin (that's why some ADDers get more OCDish or hyperfocus too much while on stimulent medication -- Daniel Amen discusses that some with his overfocus group). My pharmacist described it as a sea saw effects -- we have a thread discussing that -- here is an excerpt from it and the link. It doesn't always create a balance -- when you're lucky it does, when you're not it creates havoc!


The Serotonin-Dopamine Connection

As reports of these side effects occurring with the Prozac group have mounted, researchers have been puzzled by the question of how drugs that boost serotonin could cause side effects usually linked to dopamine. Scientists point to research showing a strong link between serotonin and dopamine in the involuntary motor system. Dutch psychiatrist Jan Hesselink wrote in the August 1993 issue of Neurology, "From preclinical studies already a decade old, we learned that the relation between the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems is an intimate one." Said Dr. Dinesh Arya in the December 1994 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, "Serotonin seems to modulate dopamine function." Thus, fluctuations in serotonin levels lead to fluctuations in dopamine levels, which in turn result in loss of motor control.

In particular, elevated serotonin levels trigger a compensatory drop in dopamine. The relationship between serotonin and dopamine can be visualized as a seesaw: When serotonin goes up, dopamine goes down. And it is dopamine suppression that has long been associated with this loss of motor control.

Because of growing concern about these side effects, in recent years the serotonin-dopamine connection has become an area of active research. Neuroscientists have specifically designed experiments to test whether or not serotonin boosters are associated with a dopamine drop in the involuntary motor system. Dr. Junji Ichikawa at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine measured dopamine levels in rats before and after administration of Prozac. In the August 1995 issue of the European Journal of Pharmacology, Ichikawa reported Prozac produced a 57% drop in dopamine in the involuntary motor system. By contrast, older antidepressants did not produce a drop in dopamine.

A team of neuroscientists headed by Dr. Stephen Dewey at the Brookhaven National Laboratory tested the newest serotonin booster, Celexa. Dewey used not only biochemical measurements but also brain scans to measure dopamine activity in rats and baboons. Writing in the January 1995 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, Dewey reported that Celexa produced a 50% drop in dopamine, again demonstrating that while the drugs put serotonin up, they simultaneously put dopamine down.

Dr. A. DiRocco at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York found a dopamine drop in response to Zoloft. Writing in the February 1998 issue of the Journal of Neural Transmission, Di Rocco said that "motor activity is highly dependent on a balanced dopaminergic system" and that serotonin boosters appear to "specifically affect dopamine" levels in the involuntary motor system.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=331911&postcount=52

Seratonin definilty reduces dopamine but only in specific regions not the entire brain.

One is an On chemical and one is an off chemical. When they mix one wins out. A seasaw is a good comparison. I think of it more as Acid/Base scale 7 is neutral and you can either be more acid or more base. Resulting in increased stimulation or less stimulation.

You have to look region by region to see how stimulated the brain is. NE as far as I can tell is everywhere in the brain + is generally stimulating.

I'm not sure how seratonin + NE mix they dont seem to counteract eachother like seratonin + dopamine.

BobC

All I know is Dex works better with less Zoloft... still testing the ratios out right now... tonight I'm going to go without for 2 days for the first time, and take another one tomorrow night.

If my psychiatrist will not give me a third dose of dex or up my dose, I'm going off zoloft.

Another issue here is that serotonin and dopamine do not arbitrarily "float" around in the brain and push each other around. They are signals in which the meaning is dependent on the receptor type. So while I would think that serotonin binding to receptors on a nerve cell would affect how dopamine is released locally, it may have implications outside this context (chain reactions). They may even inhibit themselves (bupropion is a good example, which binds to dopamine receptors that inhibit the release of dopamine).