confused

[chris1973]

Firstly, apologies for another question relating to adhd/add.

I am still slightly confused as to my predicament.

Are there differing levels of ADD (Inattentive). The reason I ask is that I am not sure if I am suffering from anxiety or ADD. I took Cymbalta for nearly 7 years before my children were born (I am male) because I was stressed and anxious about life in general but certainly not depressed. I have always suffered from anxiety but wonder if it might actually be ADD.

I am able to survive and make myself go running, tidying up, etc but since stopping Cymbalta I find it really hard to concentrate on work. When on Cymbalta I could really focus but I hated the lack of emotion and drive that I have now got back. however, I am frustrated as I get easily bored reading legal reports, get a headache concentrating on the computer, feel slightly rushed. However, as soon as I get home in the evening and if I happen to have a beer I totally relax and forget about it.

If anyone could relate their epxeriences it would be really helpful as I have been given 70mg Lofepramine to take but I dont want to start on another AD (it is hell getting off them) unles I really think it is ADD. Also if anyone has tried Lofepramine, is it easier to get off than Cymbalta.

also, another symptom is I cannot even allow myself the time to check this post....weird or what..

Many thanks.

[T-Rex65]

ADHD can cause anxiety, or at the very least can make it worse. I have both, and while I'm not sure if all of my anxiety stems from ADHD, I am certain that some of it does. For instance, anxiety related to job performance. I'm anxious because of work related difficulty that is caused by the ADHD. I've been anxious about this so often, than I am sometimes anxious even when my ADHD isn't interfering.

A lot of ADHD people have found that the anxiety subsides when the ADHD is treated. So if the Lofepramine doesn't work, try a different drug until you find something that helps the ADHD without flattening you out too much. I just googled Lofepramine, and it looks like it isn't available in the US. Which is probably why I'm not familiar with it! It seems like I've tried so many meds.

I'm like you with the beer, except for me it is usually wine. I self medicate with alcohol. I've decided not to worry about that so long as my alcohol consumption is moderate and doesn't interfere with the rest of my life.

[chris1973]

Thanks T Rex, what meds do you take?

I enjoy the odd beer as I am very sociable. I would love to have a job that I didnt have to concentrate and could be myself but that's not reality!

also, how severe is severe for meds?

Thanks for your help.

[T-Rex65]

I take bupropion, sertraline, adderall every day, and clonazepam as needed. Lately I've been taking zolpidem to help me sleep. (I have a sleep disorder, too.)

"also, how severe is severe for meds?"

I'm not sure what you are asking there. Can you reword the question?

[chris1973]

Bad choice of words, apologies. I am not sure how debilitating other peoples add before they start taking meds. I am slightly apprehensive about re-starting as having taken Cymbalta for 7 years and taking nearly 2 years to get off it I don want to start something that I cannot get off if I have to.

I hope this makes sense as I am slightly scared at the moment.

Thanks for your help.

[sarahsweets]

How long have you had adhd symptoms?

[chris1973]

I dont really know....When I was a kid (3-6) I was really bright at school, reading before every one else, etc. However, as I got a bit older I was always told to engage brain before speaking and was forever trying to make people laugh. When I was 13 they told me I should stay down a school year for my own good as I was immature but I refused as had all my mates. I still managed to get reasonable academics but I know that I am more intelligent than my grades suggest. I just couldnt sit and concentrate for any length of time...

Also, I have a nervous propensity with a shaky hand but am super confident in social situations speaking to people but dont ask me to hold a drink in front of someone I dont know as I will probably drop it!!

The only place I find it hard to concentrate is at work or when reading something work related...However, previously when I have taken Cymbalta I have no worries about concentrating...although I am not nearly as alert, fun to be with, etc....

Sorry I am rambling!!

[ADDinHDefgHi?!]

I take Wellbutrin and it helps a lot, I also take Ritalin, but with the Wellbutrin it's easier to skip days with the Ritalin if I don't have much to do.

I also have anxiety issues and take Clonazepam which is a pain in the *** to get off of, I'd recommend it only on an as needed basis or a very small daily dose but it's a very slippery slope. However it works very well, I'm just sick of the side effects that come after being on it for years.

Actually the problem with Klonopin is it works so well I don't have anxiety when I'm on my full dose, I had to fill out a form about the severity of my anxiety and according to the form I didn't even have anxiety anymore. But take away the Klonopin and it's a nightmare.

I realized Clonazepam/Klonopin was numbing me to a lot of basic joys in life and costing me opportunities cause it makes me slower. Besides I ran out early a few times and felt like I was going to die, I don't want to deal with that again.

[T-Rex65]

Originally Posted by chris1973

Bad choice of words, apologies. I am not sure how debilitating other peoples add before they start taking meds. I am slightly apprehensive about re-starting as having taken Cymbalta for 7 years and taking nearly 2 years to get off it I don want to start something that I cannot get off if I have to.

I hope this makes sense as I am slightly scared at the moment.

Thanks for your help.

No worries. I wasn't offended by the question, just confused by it. I wasn't debilitated to the degree that many people are. But I was frustrated by my lack of success at anything which required sustained effort. I had been through a series of jobs where I interviewed very well and looked good on paper, but disappointed the people who hired me. Sometimes I would go beyond their expectations, when it was fun and interesting for me, but I would always drop the ball on anything that seemed routine. I would offer to help friends on projects, and would find myself flaking out after the initial push was over and the excitement wore off.

As for the Cymbalta, I believe it is a close relative of Effexor. I've been on both, and while I don't remember Cymbalta being particularly hard to get off of, the Effexor was very difficult to stop. Actually, it was pretty difficult to start as well, but I was pretty bad off at the time and was willing to deal with the side effects.

Anyway, my point is that there are many choices out there for ADD and anxiety. None are perfect, it seems, but some will be much easier to tolerate than others. If you have experienced discontinuing something difficult like Cymbalta, you will probably find that many of the other choices out there are much easier.

I recommend going to crazymeds.us to research some of these choices. It's my favorite med related site. Make some notes so that you can discuss possible meds or med combos with your doctor.

[chris1973]

t Rex, your comments were incredibly helpful. Your story sounds incredibly like my own. I always interview well as I am enthusiastic, cheerful, fun to be around but when it comes to actually following through on things unless it is massively interesting I fall down and I feel that those who palced faith in me have been let down. Also, I always used to let my friends down on lots of occasions and became incredibly flaky..My family life is great and I have a lovely wife and 2 lovely daughters but lately I have been feeling the strain with a new job. I can cope with no pressure on me but any pressure and I begin to fall apart.


The anxiety gets to me as I feel like a failure.

Thanks for the tips I will look at that website you suggested.

[T-Rex65]

Good luck! Let us know what happens.

[chris1973]

I most certainly will.