Experiencing Mild Depression And Due To Divorce. Suffer Foggy Mind. Taking Methamazole, Adderall And Wellbutrin. Solution?

Posted on Fri, 30 Aug 2013

Question: 36 year old male. Caucasian. 5'11. 178lbs. Active, exercises 3x/week & good physical shape. Married for 9 years, but currently separated & divorcing. 2 children (boy 8, girl 3.5) Issue: Experiences foggy/cloudy/fuzzy mind when attempts to self-discontinue prescribed adderall. Would like to completely transition off adderall while minimizing or eliminating these side effects. Current conditions & prescribed meds: Hyperthyroidism (5mg methamazole daily, past 4 years, currently taking), ADHD (45mg adderall AM daily, was @ 90mg daily for past 4 years: 60mg AM, 30mg PM, but self transitioned to 45mg daily AM 10 months ago with no noticeable side effects), OSA complicated by smaller than average airway & deviated septum (CPAP/BIPAP used frequently for 3 years, but discontinued use 7 months ago), mild depression due to divorce & job (weekly therapy sessions past 11 months & ongoing, 45mg Wellbutrin for 3 months then taken off by treating physician 8 months ago), moderate to severe depression (onset 4 years ago, 30 mg Celexa 1x daily & weekly therapy sessions for 1.5 years each, then self-discontinued 2.5 years ago), ED (mild to moderate frequent inability to achieve full erection, past 3 years, declined meds) Family (extended to grandparents, aunts & uncles) medical history: stroke (paternal), hyper & hypo thyroidisim (maternal), high cholesterol (maternal), depression (maternal), bi-polar (paternal).

Answered by Dr. Anjana Rao Kavoor (59 minutes later)

Hi,

Thanks to writing to us,

I have gone through the history you have provided. You mention that you want to discontinue adderall by yourself. You had reduced the dose from 90mg/day to 45mg/day with no side effects but are unable to stop it completely without experiencing side effects.

Adderall is a combination of Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It is a psychostimulant that helps a person with ADHD to concentrate better and reduce the hyperactivity. It also improves the performance of a person. These drugs have properties of dependence which means that if the body is administered these drugs for a long duration on a regular basis then the body physiology changes such that the body has a tough time functioning without it. Weaning off this drug will need assistance. You will not be able to stop taking it all of a sudden. The symptoms you are experiencing is the withdrawals. The drug will need to be stopped very gradually over weeks or months in small increments. The withdrawal symptoms may be managed symptomatically by a psychiatrist. Further, if there is an episode of depression that is on-going currently then you may perceive more side effects. Treating it adequately is important.

I urge you to see your psychiatrist who has prescribed it to wean off the drug under supervision. It would be ideal to consult the doctor before discontinuing it yourself.

Hope this helps,
Write back in case of any doubts,
Dr A Rao Kavoor.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar