Health - Is Ritalin for SWIM?

[Pachanoid]

Hi everyone,

Anyway, basically... SWIM has been a "downer person" since age 8. Something happened and he became negative, introverted and all that stuff which worsened a lot in nearly 2 decades.

It's kinda weird... Before, SWIM was kinda super active, and he remembers being happy... it's like some part of his self, the one that wants to live, is hidden in the depths of his psyche.

He's been diagnosed a lot of things and prescribed a lot of meds, went to lots of therapists. But not one med or therapy has lifted the veil of depression and negativity, ever.

A few years ago SWIM went to a super duper clinic and after a bunch of tests, they said he had ADD. He was surprised. Nobody ever had said anything remotely close to him having ADD. Being wary of the Ritalin-mania, he was cautious. But he tried it.

Well you know that feeling he'd never had since he was 8? The feeling of being alive, of wanting to do things. SWIM doesn't have that normally. Yeah he knows it's related to meth and all, but it worked.

However, there was Lithium and booze in the mix - SWIM was binge drinking at the time, well you can guess this combination didn't go well. Today, SWIM is completely booze-free.

SWIM does not understand or remember with clarity why the heck he was on Lithium and Ritalin at the same time, or more probably, just gotten off of it from his previous pdoc, who had 'diagnosed' SWIM as bipolar.

SWIM and "Antidepressants", he only gets the side effects. With "antipsychotics" he just sleeps or nods. Swim does not need sleep,
he needs clarity of mind and strength, energy to do things, motivation.

So... right now SWIM's really getting the rough end of the lollipop. 3 family members gravelly ill, and SWIM definitely does not have the ability to cope with this at this time.

SWIM has to take some action now or he fears for his mental stability.

He needs to wake up and fast. Ritalin did that to him. The only one that seemed to help SWIM's particular problem.

SWIM doesn't know what to do. He's on Lorazepam, and btw he's developed a tolerance. So SWIM would have to go another pdoc which is a pain, takes weeks. SWIM doesn't have that kind of time.

He's considering going back to that pdoc (which btw was one of the few docs he ever trusted) at the clinic he was diagnosed with ADD and start anew.



So, SWIM asks:

- Does Lithium have any negative interactions with Ritalin?

- Does SWIM's long history of dysthymic mood, low energy, and lack of motivation and concentration make him a good candidate for Ritalin?

- For SWIY who take/have taken Ritalin as prescribed, any good experiences to speak of? Specially from a similar background of 'symptoms' as SWIM?

- What would SWIY suggest as alternatives, if Ritalin is not suitable?


Any other comments/questions/feedback would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Pacha