# Adderall for depression? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570 "2013-03-10T20:48:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/1 "2013-03-10T20:48:22Z")
I have just started Adderall to help with treatment resistant depression. I have been on countless antidepressants and antipsychotics, so we decided to try an outright stimulant. Does anyone have any experience with this? ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/2 "2013-03-10T20:51:17Z")
Yes - I think it is helpful - especially if you find yourself tired in the morning ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/3 "2013-03-10T23:24:57Z")
Yup. Great kick-starter and elevator. You don’t feel coked, just like a normal person again. Went off them after a while when things evened out overall. Just don’t take them after five pm, or you’ll be up all night. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/4 "2013-03-10T23:57:55Z")
Want. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/5 "2013-03-11T00:00:07Z")
> [@Ms.Pumpkin](#): > > I have just started Adderall to help with treatment resistant depression. I have been on countless antidepressants and antipsychotics, so we decided to try an outright stimulant. Does anyone have any experience with this? I took Adderall a few years ago for my treatment resistant depression and it did nothing for me. Still felt exhausted all the time, but I know it has helped others, so good luck. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/6 "2013-03-11T00:50:19Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > I took Adderall a few years ago for my treatment resistant depression and it did nothing for me. Still felt exhausted all the time, but I know it has helped others, so good luck. Nothing? Maybe you didn’t have a high enough dose - I don’t think I recall hearing people have no reaction on a high dose. It’s amphetamine - not like amphetamine - amphetamine 🙂 I think they should put it in the drinking water… That being said - for those taking it - and I’ve taken it for probably over a decade now - you can/will build up a tolerance. Try to take the minimum amount you need - as you will probably need more later - and once you get to 60mg a day - you’re most likely going to have issues with getting a doc to prescribe more. Also - I’ve heard that taking the XR version is less likely to result in tolerance. Something about the more stable blood levels not creating a tolerance to the same degree of the spiky blood levels of the immediate release. Also - it’s a schedule II drug - and many docs are going to have issues prescribing it if you aren’t narcoleptic or have some ADD/ADHD symptoms. I think treatment resistant depression is off label, but not 100% sure. It depends on the doc you get, but if they are conservative - your going to need to show symptoms of ADD to get it. Many people have a pretty dramatic reaction to it - so you definitely want to start out small. Most docs will do this automatically. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/7 "2013-03-11T00:56:28Z")
Ms. Pumpkin, Have you taken it yet? It isn’t like most antidepressants - you don’t have to wait for it to work. The effect should be obvious - within 45-90 minutes I’d say. Did they start you at 5mg? Don’t despair if it doesn’t have an effect. Talk with your doc and they will most likely bump it up. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/8 "2013-03-11T01:02:34Z")
Yeah, I take it. Good stuff. Beats the hell out of energy drinks or coffee or anything. I’m not sure about for depression though. I had times when I felt stressed and taking it just seemed to make things worse. Probably because it made me over-analyze the situation and I couldn’t relax. But then again I was bad at taking it on a regular schedule. Overall, I think it’s a positive. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/9 "2013-03-11T01:02:55Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > Ms. Pumpkin, > > Have you taken it yet? This was my 3rd day taking it- XR 10mg. All I’ve noticed is some trouble sleeping, as well as the fact that I’m suddenly peeing a lot. Nothing in my diet or drinking habits has changed, so it has to be the drug. Weird. I have a doctor’s appt. tomorrow. I’ll ask about increasing the dose. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/10 "2013-03-11T01:06:12Z")
You do take it in the morning, right? 🙂 Good luck - I know it has worked wonders for some, but others have more of a jittery - too much coffee like reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/11 "2013-03-11T01:12:38Z")
I take it as soon as I can wrestle myself out of bed. Which lately is around noon, but only because I’m on vacation from work. I will take it earlier when I have to get up earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/12 "2013-03-11T01:20:51Z")
> [@Ms.Pumpkin](#): > > I take it as soon as I can wrestle myself out of bed. Why don’t you try popping it a little while _before_ you are ready to wrestle yourself out of bed and see how much easier getting up in the morning is? ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/13 "2013-03-11T01:25:56Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Why don’t you try popping it a little while _before_ you are ready to wrestle yourself out of bed and see how much easier getting up in the morning is? Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that. There’s no reason I can’t bring the pills and a glass of water up to bed with me, to be ready for me in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/14 "2013-03-11T01:28:21Z")
That’s what I do. Pretty much impossible to sleep with those running through your system. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/15 "2013-03-11T04:17:20Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > That’s what I do. Pretty much impossible to sleep with those running through your system. Same here - it makes getting out of bed MUCH easier - I can even set my alarm for like an hour before I need to wake up - quickly swallow the adderall - and then waking up is a breeze. ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/16 "2013-03-11T04:37:49Z")
I’ve been on it with Wellbutrin for about 3 years. I take it first thing in the morning. It works on my depression, but most definitely does NOT give me a “jolt” or any kind of “wake up”/caffeine/jittery reaction. It just makes me feel generally normal and gives me a floor so when I have down days, I can’t fall too far. I have 20+ years of depression experience, beginning when I was 19. I have been on and off just about everything. This works for me, but the only real downside is that it’s considered a controlled substance and can be a pain with insurance, is expensive, and my doctor cannot write a script with refills - I have to get a new script every damn month which is inconvenient as I only need to see my doc every 3 months or so. Every person is so different. It is not the be-all and end-all cure, but it works for some of us and is worth trying. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/17 "2013-03-11T04:44:07Z")
PS - I am also considered very treatment resistant and tend to have the weird, opposite side-effects than what is usual with most meds. (e.g. Zoloft makes lots of people jittery, makes me fall asleep) I am on 10 mg plus the Wellbutrin. I would look to raise the dose if I wasn’t on something else as well. Some people have weight loss and loss of appetite with it; sadly not the case with me, but no side-effects either! ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/18 "2013-03-11T04:52:12Z")
> [@wombattver](#): > > I’ve been on it with Wellbutrin for about 3 years. I take it first thing in the morning. It works on my depression, but most definitely does NOT give me a “jolt” or any kind of “wake up”/caffeine/jittery reaction. It just makes me feel generally normal and gives me a floor so when I have down days, I can’t fall too far. I have 20+ years of depression experience, beginning when I was 19. I have been on and off just about everything. This works for me, but the only real downside is that it’s considered a controlled substance and can be a pain with insurance, is expensive, and my doctor cannot write a script with refills - I have to get a new script every damn month which is inconvenient as I only need to see my doc every 3 months or so. > > Every person is so different. It is not the be-all and end-all cure, but it works for some of us and is worth trying. 🙂 I assume you know, but Wellbutrin and Adderall are completely different - I get no boost either from Wellbutrin, and while I have heard people that claim they do - this isn’t generally accepted as a benefit. Not sure where you live, but federally Wellbutrin (buproprion) isn’t scheduled (from what I can tell). There is no federal law that would prevent a doctor from giving you refills. Depending on the dosage and stuff - you should be able to get it for ~$60.00 a month without insurance. I have gotten refills with no problem with Wellbutrin (you can’t do this with Adderall of course). Depending on company’s and such - it might be cheaper to pay for drugs out of pocket if the insurance company is putting this restriction on you. I don’t understand why there would be no refills allowed on Wellbutrin from a legal perspective - it is not considered abuseable. Even in cases without refills - I have had doctors postdate and give me a second script in on visit (and label it as “do not fill until after:…” I believe this varies by state. Also another option you might explore with your doctor. ETA: crap - I can’t read - you wrote “with Wellbutrin”. I missed that part. Part about post dating scripts might work for you though. My doc gives me two without a problem. But I think it varies by state ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/19 "2013-03-11T05:09:39Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > ETA: crap - I can’t read - you wrote “with Wellbutrin”. I missed that part. Part about post dating scripts might work for you though. My doc gives me two without a problem. But I think it varies by state Sorry my original post wasn’t clearer - should have said “I’ve been on Adderall with Wellbutrin for 3 years” - sorry for the confusion. Yes, I get my Wellbutrin with refills, no problem. It’s the Adderall that’s the pain. My old doc would post-date scripts, but he closed his private practice and recommended this new doc that I’ve seen for more than a year now. I like him, but he does not/will not post date a script. I’m a married, boring, stay at home mom to 2 kids and certainly am not a risk nor do I exhibit “drug-seeking behavior.” I believe it is illegal here to post-date and my previous doc was just a bit wiggly on that with me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570/20 "2013-03-11T05:46:49Z")
I should have also mentioned right now I’m also taking Effexor and Buspar, for both anxiety and depression. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adderall-for-depression/652570.md?page=2)