concerta

[zoe_zozo]

my psychiatrist was very dubious to put me on ADD medication as im an ex crystal meth addict. obvious reasons. ive been clean for 8 years now and have been on concerta for almost a year. but i am bipolar and have very bad anxiety. concerta works very well for my ADD but not for my anxiety, is there a better way to get the best of both worlds?

[zoe_zozo]

no its not a self diagnosis, and i understand the disorders quite well. i was just looking for ,i guess, a second opinion, someone else view. thank you

[zoe_zozo]

thank you for the help, and i will keep you posted

[Sandman2]

   "Concerta or any other medications like Adderall to treat ADD/ADHD will only exacerbate your other disorders."  Not necessarily true.  According to Dr. Parker (New ADHD Medication Rules), if you are only treating the seratonin side (depression), you are setting up a seesaw effect that will make your ADHD worse.  But, of course, if you are only treating the ADHD side, then for the same reason, you depression could get worse.   So in that sense, you are correct.
    And yes, stim meds don't really treat anxiety - but if the anxiety is caused by the ADHD and you have effectively treated that - then you also have treated the root cause of the problem instead of covering it up.

[joshuadennis]

Yes there is a more simple solution. Did you tell your doctor about being bi-polar and having anxiety? I'm assuming you did and ots not a self-diagnosis  Concerta or any other medications like Adderall to treat ADD/ADHD will only exacerbate your other disorders. I use to be on concerts for my ADHD but I also have generalized anxiety. An SSRI is the best choice for treating those two. On second note, ADD/ADHD medications can treat depression but not anxiety. Most people withADD/ADHD have around 3 other disorders.

[Sandman2]

  It is common to have anxiety as a co-disorder.  And it is something that can also successfully be treated with meds.  
   Wonder if your meth addiction had any thing to do with not knowing you had ADD and self treating yourself?
     Anyway,   You might want to try Buspar first as it is probably the least likely to cause any side effects and is the most gentle.    http://crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Meds/BuSpar
    After several weeks if that is not working, then Cymbalta would probably be the next to try.  http://crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Meds/Cymbalta
     Hopefully, your doc will agree.   In fact, I would like to know what he says and how these work for you.  So please stay in touch.
   Stay away from prozac as that combo with stim meds is not good.
   Go low and go very slow.   Also see if there are behavioral techniques that can help with the anxiety.   Good luck!