Anyone take an SSRI exclusively?

[daisyo75]

I am trying to weigh out my potential medication options and I am finding some information that seems to suggest that an SSRI might be worth trying for my specific situation.

Does anyone know if Zoloft could help with ADD at all? I found some information that suggests that Effexor might help since it is an SNRI(like straterra) as well as an SSRI.

Anyone have any information to offer on this? I don't think that depression is a real issue for me, at least not as an ongoing problem. But I kind of like to have an idea of what my options are.

[Gregster]

Anti-depressants can be used alone for ADHD, but I don't think that they will improve your focus or impulse control - at least not for the majority of people. They will help with anxiety, which is pretty common in people with ADHD, and with less anxiety you may see an improvement on your symptoms.

[abre los ojos]

Zoloft has an effect on Dopamine, the neurotrasmitter that is thought to be deficient in ADD, so it should have some effect on core ADD symptoms. Effexor should be about as effective as Strattera because it has the exact same mechanism of action, which is blocking Norepinephrine/Dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. However, the Norepinephrine/Dopamine effect only kicks in around 375mgs. Below that dosage Effexor acts only on serotonin.

If you wanted to take just one drug I would look at Cymbalta or Wellbutrin. A lot of people have had very good success with Zoloft + Wellbutrin. Zoloft is the least toxic of any of the antidepressants, and has the least chance of interaction with other medications.

If I were going to take an SSRI it would definitely be Zoloft because of its low side effects, low toxicity and it action on Dopamine. I have had very good success with zoloft. On Zoloft I can sit and study for hours at a time, and memorize huge amounts of information in a short period of time (15-20 pages of Organic Chemistry mechanisms), which shows that it works directly and very effectivly on working memory, which is the biggest core symptom of ADD.

[netsavy006]

I'm not trying to say your wrong, but all I've heard is that it effects serotonin. To answer the first question the Zoloft works best when combined with a stimultent (like adderall or concerta).