anti-depressents and stim

crillmom
Full Member

Posts: 130

anti-depressents and stim Nov 18, 2003 19:16:41 GMT -5

Post by crillmom on Nov 18, 2003 19:16:41 GMT -5

well it seems that lexapro is really working for my son. he is much more easygoing and is not as emotional. he can shrug things off sooo much easier. the problem is his concerta dosen't seem to be as effective. is this common? He was taking becalm'd before the lexapro so I am assuming it was helping his adhd and picking up some of the slack. without it I think I might have to up his concerta. is this common any thoughts would be helpful. thanks.

AnneM Administrator We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails Posts: 7,158	anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 11:49:18 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by AnneM on Nov 19, 2003 11:49:18 GMT -5 Hi Crillmom .... what dosage of concerta is your son on and how old is he?
	DS: Sam 17 - add When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get them, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either. --Leo Burnett

crillmom Full Member Posts: 130	anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 12:04:29 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by crillmom on Nov 19, 2003 12:04:29 GMT -5 HI anne my son is 9 years old and weighs 55 pds. I forgot to add he is on 27 mg of concerta
	Last Edit: Nov 19, 2003 12:34:01 GMT -5 by crillmom

AnneM
Administrator

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails

Posts: 7,158

anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 14:09:37 GMT -5

Post by AnneM on Nov 19, 2003 14:09:37 GMT -5

AnneM said:

Hi Crillmom .... what dosage of concerta is your son on and how old is he?

Hi Crillmom!! Not sure if I can be any help here ... but will reply anyway !! ;D

My 15 year old son is also on an antidepressant + stims ... however he is on St. Johns Wort + Concerta ... I have always said that the St. Johns Wort does the most good for him ... because it seems to be "this" which has given him a much more positive attitude, easier to live with, nice to have around, happier at school and at home.... etc....

On the other hand I always credit the concerta with helping him concentrate and being less impulsive ...

However, what I am struggling with (and hope others can shed some light!) is whether the antidepressant makes the concerta less effective!!!

DS: Sam 17 - add

When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get them, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either.
--Leo Burnett

Jorgy
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Posts: 516

anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 14:15:55 GMT -5

Post by Jorgy on Nov 19, 2003 14:15:55 GMT -5

hi guys, antidepressants are supposed to "boost" the stims. Especially when using high doses of stims. 27 mg of Concerta is not a high dose. My 60 pounder is on 72 mg of Concerta with Wellbutrin 100mg. This is a starting dose of Wellbutrin. It really did help the effectiveness of the Concerta in his case. Hope this helps, Sue

Courage does not always roar.
Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.

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crillmom
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Posts: 130

anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 14:33:36 GMT -5

Post by crillmom on Nov 19, 2003 14:33:36 GMT -5

i just spoke with my sons dr. we are going to up my son's dosage tp 36mg. he feels the becalm'd was helping. when we took it away he seems to need a boost of concerta. I am ok with it because 36mg is really not such a high dose. thanks for all your responses.

ChicagoRedwing2b
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Think outside the box, without rules, without laws, free your mind!

Posts: 30

anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 14:35:38 GMT -5

Post by ChicagoRedwing2b on Nov 19, 2003 14:35:38 GMT -5

I just started taking Lexapro 10mg pills and each week I increase by 1 pill to a max of 3 to 4 pills in the morning.

I am in week #2 and on day 2 of 20mgs a day.

I have been on 2 pills in the morning of 36mg pills of Concerta, for about 4 months now.

I found that as an adult, 25, I fought not only the ADD but the depression resulting from years of failures, mistakes, short falls, errors, anger, frustration, ridicule, joking, picking on, made fun of, yelled at, and all the rest of the self esteem killers.

I found that Concerta helped the ADD symptoms, but my lack of self esteem and motivation, and will to do anything I loved normally, was still killing me.

With Lexapro I started to face my depression head on and my hope is that it will allow me to find a better overall state of mind and mood. My lows will not be so low and I will recover faster, rather then wallow in it and let it control my life.

I have not found the two medications to conflict with each other but I am still early in the medication.

I am not just like everyone else. I do not follow societies rules or laws or blindly follow what someone in power tells me is the truth. I stand out from the crowd, I strike out my own path through life. Many fear me, and seek to destroy me because I am different, free from their rules and controls!

mskris Senior Member Posts: 417	anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 15:15:30 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by mskris on Nov 19, 2003 15:15:30 GMT -5 See my posting under "Lexapro" for info on drug interaction with SSRIs (antidepressants) and stimulants (from the package insert of Concerta). Kris

Jorgy
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Posts: 516

anti-depressents and stim Nov 19, 2003 15:59:36 GMT -5

Post by Jorgy on Nov 19, 2003 15:59:36 GMT -5

OK, this can get confusing but the way it works is: if you are currently taking an SSRI (antidepressant) and start a stim(Concerta) this will cause the SSRI to have a increased effect. So you will need to decrease the dose of the SSRI. If you are currently taking a stim (Concerta) and start an SSRI this will NOT decrease the effect of the stim (Concerta). Concerta increases the effect of the SSRI, the SSRI does not decrease the effect of the stim, it increase the effect of the stim. Sue

Last Edit: Nov 19, 2003 16:24:55 GMT -5 by Jorgy