ADHD meds causing/worsening hypomania?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2006
ADHD meds causing/worsening hypomania?
6
Sat, 06-30-2007 - 6:19pm
Has anyone ever heard of or experienced mania or hypomania induced by ADHD meds? I've had one hypomanic episode before and started feeling another one coming on a few days before starting Dexedrine. I started feeling the beginnings of hypomania June 10 and started Dexedrine June 15 and now the past couple days made me feel I am for sure in a hypomanic state right now. (can't see pdoc till July 9). I feel like even if I didn't start taking Dexedrine for my ADHD, I would still be feeling this hypomania but wanted to know if it can induce/worsen the symptoms since it is a stimulant and all. Any advice would be super. Thanks so much!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2004
Sat, 06-30-2007 - 8:02pm
Oh yeah! I took Concerta for my ADHD for almost two years and it caused the most massive manic episode I've ever had. It lasted almost 18 months and cost me several HUNDRED THOUSAND dollars. I thought I was invincible and felt so wonderful. I ended up buying and selling three houeses and four cars. I decided to have my parents move in with me (BIG MISTAKE now I am stuck with them) and get married. I have always been a loner too so this was totally out of character for me. So now I have a huge house I can't afford and a husband and I recently had a baby-say hello to post partum depression!
Sooo my doc has me on Wellbutrin which he says is the same "family" as the stimulants but he assures me it won't cause me to go manic. I am also taking meds for my BP which should help me avoid going nuts again. I can safely say I am FAR from manic at this point!
Good luck!
Jodie

Jodie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2006
Sat, 06-30-2007 - 10:51pm

Thanks for your reply :)


DH and I have been TTC and I was wondering about BP meds... did you take anything when you were pregnant? Or breastfeeding? I'm terrified of weight gain too which is why I resisted taking them. I am stopping my Dexedrine tomorrow to see if the hypomania will go away. Arg. This sucks! Thanks for your help.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 3:07am

This is how pdocs sometimes diagnose children with Early Onset Bipolar. If they react badly to ADHD meds, chances are that it's Bipolar. This is common and the way you should react if your diagnosis is correct. I'm very surprised that your doc would do this.

I had to go off all of my meds due to liver hypertotocity from my meds. I've been using natural products except for xanex with success. However, it is not the preferred method nor am I condoning it for others. With TTC, you may want to give it a try, but no medical advice dispensed by me! If you want to know what I take, let me know via email.

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I am unable ot give legal or medical advice. My opinions are based on my experiences and my personal research.



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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2004
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 10:01am
I stopped almost all my meds cold turkey when I got PG. Lamictal did not make me gain weight but I know that Depacote often does. Years ago I was on Lithium and I gained 60 lbs. from it. Yuck! I elected not to breastfeed because I needed to go back on my meds. Having to go off of them while PG is probably a major factor in my post partum depression. I hope it goes away soon!

Jodie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2006
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 12:34pm

I know I have ADHD, I have the symptoms daily and have always thought I had ADHD just couldn't get DX'd till April 2006 (My parents refused to consider it as an option, they are pretty set in their ways and don't 'believe' in ADHD or any mental illnesses). I have had the ADHD symptoms daily for my entire life. I have a horrible memory, can't concentrate, impulsive, etc, all day every day for as long as I can remember.


The BP thing is relatively new to me. Just started around April/May of last year so I know if I do have BP, it is comorbid with ADHD and not a wrong dx. Maybe its better for me to just deal with ADHD on my own without meds and then try and figure out something that will work for the BP.


Thanks for your help. Hope pdoc can have enough time to talk about all this with me!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2006
Fri, 07-06-2007 - 7:21pm

One word of advice....take it or leave it....if you get the bp straightened out, the ADD/ADHD symptoms might alleviate totally or at the very least be minimized some. I speak from experience as DS had ADD/ADHD symptoms, but only when he was manic. Now that we have the meds straightened out (and told him that DW and I weren't buying his ADD act anymore....off thread here so wont go into it, ask if your interested) his ADD symptoms are gone.

tk

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