Background:
Professional-school student with extensive ACE (child adverse events) history along with severe depression and anxiety diagnosed over previous year, presented with recent severe ADHD (I-Type) diagnosis at age 26.
Documentation confirmed maximum dose step therapy for various Amphetamine-based stimulants was completed but still not found to be fully affective.
Unexpectedly, they are currently prescribed daily 50mg Mydayis (Mixed salts of single-entity amphetamine product) along with 80mg Prozac, and consumming 300-400mg of caffeine.
Due to initial medication-only use producing very minimal stabilizing effects, but found to increase at re-introduction of SSRI and further increase with Caffeine reintroduction.
No adverse effects (cardiac, neuromuscular, neurocognitive) have been reported/measured in 4 months of aforementioned therapeutic combination.
NOTE: Adverse reaction to methylphenidate-based medications were identified early on.
Assessment of (remaining) presenting symptoms seems to overlap with tentatively defined SCT Criteria.
NOTE: Student has never been prescribed Strattera (only presently confirmed SCT-symptom relief medication)
Specific question:
Recent research has shown SCT + ADHD to correlate with much greater impairment in adults, do you think a combination of severe ADHD + SCT may result in required use of excess pharmacotherapy dosages that surpass established safe therapeutic/combination parameters?
Remember both PTSD and major depression can produce significant cognitive impairment including issues with attention equal to ADHD.
I would recommend a blood work up by a reputable Integrated doctor to see where deficiency in vitamins, amino acids, and minerals are in brain chemistry and replace those with orthomolecular medicine approach (Hawkins & Pauling, 1973; Procyk, 2016). According to Dr. Breggin (2001/2011) all psychotropic medications lead to chronic brain impairment over time of the mesolimbic system, and replicates substance dependence just like the use of illicit drugs. Many substances can derail the brain's chemistry including such things as sugar and chemicals in food, which can create the kinds of issues that look like ADHD. Treating it with essentially amphetamines is only adding the instability of the brain and masking symptoms temporarily, and changing to different psychotropic medications happens in many people as they become dependent upon one drug type it no longer works effectively so then the drug is increased in dosage or changed to something else. The true approach to healing is to work with our basic brain chemistry and improve it with whole nutrition.
Breggin, P. R. (2001). Talking back to Ritalin: What doctors aren’t telling you about stimulants and ADHD. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
Breggin, P. R. (2011). Psychiatric drug-induced Chronic Brain Impairment (CBI): Implications for long-term treatment with psychiatric medication. Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, 23 (4), 193-200.
Hawkins, D. R. & Pauling, L. (1973). Orthomolecular psychiatry: Treatment of schizophrenia. San Francisco, CA: W. H. Freeman.
Procyk, A. (2016). Nutritional and integrative interventions for mental health disorders. CMI Education Institute, Inc.
A treatment plan for SCT may include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) may help with focus and attention, like they do in people with ADHD.
Antidepressants can ease anxiety or depression.
Therapy or special education programs may help with processing information, organization, and social skills.
Good sleep habits, a healthy diet, and regular exercise can help with sleepiness and concentration problems.
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