ADHD meds = Depression?

[Prince Jellyfish]

I was medicated for ADHD for nearly 9 years. I was on 5 different medications throughout that period. Now, many of these medications contain stimulants. In 2004 I went off medication because I wanted to face this myself. The ADHD management skills I'd been taught my whole life curbed my ADHD. However, shortly thereafter I developed my depression, a disorder that has made my life almost hellish. Now to the questions...

Has taking all these drugs for so long altered my brain chemistry? Has taking these drugs most of my life resulted in the major depressive disorder that I know suffer from?

[MoveAlong]

Yes, it is possible. Meds can help many people, but can screw up that many more. If you might think that's what happened, talk to a professional health care provider and see what you can do about your depression ASAP

The only reason I overcame my depression is I change my whole life in so many big ways - my first public school in 4 years, different appartment, a brand-new social life, an accepting mom (eh), a shitload of hard work and a whole lot of mistakes. And I don't think that's really that possible for most people, what happened to me was lucky.

I wouldn't focus so much on how the meds might of contributed - but if they did, congradulate yourself that you overcame it without using meds! That's awesome.

So get help now, rather that waiting until you start self harm (I don't know if you do) or before you get deeper.

[Cap'nCrunch]

I don't think it's very likely that the medicines caused your depression. A medical professional wouldn't prescribe something that would harm you so terribly. I don't think they'd be that irresponsible.

Do you think you could have been depressed all this time?

[george]

In my opinion lots of meds=bad