I've been taking the ssri zoloft for a little less than 2 years now for mild depression and anxiety. This last year, through a lot of research, I realized that it's very likely that I also have ADD. My doctor gave me the stimulant vyvanse to try (30 mg, the lowest dose available) to take in combination with the zoloft. I felt fine until this summer when I decided to stop taking the vyvanse (I figured since I'm out of school for 3 months then there wasn't too much of a need to take a stimulant). What happened though, is that my depression, which is usually mild and just on and off, became much worse and constant. After 11 days of feeling depressed, I finally started taking the vyvanse again (I was afraid to start it again because I thought my system might get too messed up and I could have worse side effects, and also, I tought that if I waited it out long enough, the depression would go away on its own). After 11 days, though, I couldn't handle it anymore and saw a doctor, who told me to start taking the vyvanse again.

Right now I'm just really unsure and confused. My doctor told me that she's baffled by why I should feel depressed after stopping the stimulant. She said that my reaction should be that I would get more hyper, not depressed. She prescribed lamicton, a mood stabilizer to add to the zoloft, and does not want me to take vyvanse anymore.

But also, I read that if you mix a ssri anti-depressant like zoloft with a stimulant then the combination could make your body more sensitive to the stimulant. So then, would this make sense that I would feel depressed after stopping the vyvanse, because maybe my body was reacting as if I was on a higher dose than I really was?

I read that if your on a higher dose of a stimulant then you could become depressed if you suddenly stop taking it. But sense I was on the lowest dose, the only solutions I can think of is 1. that the zoloft somehow caused my body to react as if I stopped taking a higher dose, or 2. that I could have a mild bipolar disorder.

Any similar experiences/ ideas anyone has would be really appreciated!!!

Thank you!

I don't know much about the reactions of those medications. I think that if you trust your doctor then go with it. Then again sometimes going with your gut can be beneficial.

I am sorry, I am not helping at all. I just hope that you are doing better.

That's okay...it's a strange situation. I switched anti-depressants and I think it's helping. Thank you :)

I'm not a doctor, but this is just a guess. Maybe you had a case of the SSRI not working anymore since your depression was resolved by switching?

In any case, I'm glad that you're feeling better!

Yup. I think that's what it was too. I mean I'm still feeling depression on and off, but when it's not there I seem to be happier. So hopefully I just need to give it more time.

And thanks :)