ADHD and depression

catbus

So my DD has been on meds for anxiety for almost a year. They’ve significantly helped her anxiety, but she now has these depressive symptoms that she just can’t shake, even with antidepressant increases.

Just now at the psychiatrist he was mumbling to himself as he does, and flicking through her Conners scales and school reports, and suggested it could possibly be untreated ADHD (inattentive) causing a depressive syndrome. DD suddenly sprung to life, saying she’s always thought she’s had ADHD.

So now we’re looking at starting Concerta tomorrow.

So my question is, has anyone had this experience of ADHD causing depressive symptoms, and did ADHD meds help that?

Also any experience with concerta? Do you see a difference straight away?

Chookas

Is she not starting the short acting ritalin first? It’s unusual to jump straight to a long acting.

catbus

Chookas no…

catbus

Chookas I have no clue about ADHD meds!

Chookas

catbus Might be worth asking about? I’ve got two kids diagnosed and I’m diagnosed as well. Would have been much more useful years ago, but better than never.

We’ve all tried the short acting first, it leaves your system quickly if you have a bad reaction. Otherwise, it’s excellent that she can try it. It’s made a huge difference to my family.

Chookas

Chookas So usually, you’d start with 10mg of ritalin. In my experience, it made my son very emotional, in the first week or so. And we started really slowly. A quarter of a tablet, 3 times a day and then built it up slowly. Then 6 months later, we tried the long acting ritalin. That was good but the long acting (LA) only lasted about 6 hours. So recently we went to concerta, and that’s been working rest well for him, longer.

His twin sister is now on vyvanse, concerta wasn’t quite as good for her. Can be hard to find the right meds, worth playing around.

BusbyWilkes

Chookas

How old were yours when they were diagnosed Chookas? IME older teens are often first trialled on long acting meds (Concerta, Vyvanse) because they have less risk of abuse.

Catbus, she should notice a difference quickly. No experience with depression, but I know of teens (including one of mine) who are no longer taking/needing anxiety meds now that their ADHD is being treated. Fingers crossed for a great response for your DD.

catbus

Thanks Chookas and NotSure

I’ve done a bit of reading tonight, couldn’t find much but did find a study that said best practice now is the extended release forms, due to increased compliance and increased patient satisfaction re their symptoms. This was an adult study though. DD is almost 16, so not too far off ‘adult’.

Hopefully she won’t get side effects. She’s been on lots of different medications over her life and has never had a side effect, so fingers crossed that continues!

I’m so curious and a bit nervous to see how she goes on it tomorrow. I wonder if it will make a difference. My poor little love, she just has such a hard time at life. 😢

NotSure

My kid has worsening anxiety and was getting to the point where it was impacting his life and we could not manage it. Got ADHD diagnosis and paed told us it should sort his anxiety. And it did. I think now a lot of the behaviours he displayed were not what he wanted to be doing and his social skills had issues and this caused him anxiety. Plus his thinking was all over the place abs probably easy to get stuck on worrying thoughts. I imagine this might be similar with depression.

I suggest not overthinking medication. They are being prescribed by a specialist who knows what they are doing. So don’t worry about other peoples medication regime. I read all the side affects and expected the worst. It was never that bad. My anxiety and combined adhd kid is on concerta and it works great. Did not work for my hyperactive kid and I still don’t think I have fabulous meds for him but it is the best of the 4-5 options we have tried so far.

Chookas

BusbyWilkes True, my son was 7 and my daughter, 11 or 12 I think? Is a bit of a difference.

CallMeAl

Good luck tomorrow!

I haven’t heard of ADHD causing depressive symptoms but they do have high comorbidity so who knows. It could certainly contribute to some like restlessness/lack of focus and interest, perhaps that has flow on effects.

catbus

Thanks @CallMeAl and @BusbyWilkes

Well she took her first dose and is at school.

I just had 2 missed calls in quick succession from the school. Panic ensued.

It was the dance teacher who she loves. No med concerns as yet. But teacher noted oldish cuts on her arms. 😭 😭

Honestly I don’t know what else to do.

catbus

And now she hasn’t come home and won’t answer her phone….

NightHawk

catbus I hope you find her soon, has she done this before?

catbus

NightHawk ok I’ve just tracked her down, she’s at her best friends house and has been crying all afternoon and doesn’t want to come home because she thinks I’ll get mad (???). And no, she hasn’t done this before.

BusbyWilkes

catbus

Some kids report feeling emotional/crying etc as a “come down” effect from the medication. It may be worth letting her psychiatrist know. Ours gave me their mobile and requested daily texts in the first couple of weeks of starting meds as we were titrating (increasing!) the dose. He wanted to know any/all side effects.

Hope you get her home soon and she feels more settled.

NightHawk

catbus I’m glad you found her, what a relief ❤️

CassandraNORI

I hope you hear from her soon @catbus 🙏

catbus

I don’t know if it’s a side effect or if it’s her worsening mood. I don’t know how I’m supposed to know?

I guess I’ll talk to her once she gets home and try and work out if it’s emotions from today, or if this has been a build up of months of mood problems. I think it’s the latter unfortunately.

Sigh.

Heyho2

catbus that all sounds so tough. Have nothing useful to add, but just wanted to give you a bit of an internet hug…

catbus

Heyho2 thank you. ❤️