Will Va Prescribe Adderall For Ptsd

Personal Experience Taking Adderall For Anxiety Disorder

I personally take Adderall to help my treatment resistant depression, but I have found that it also works wonders for my social anxiety. I take a very small dose of 5 mg as needed when I feel really down in the dumps. I also have a mix of schizoid and avoidant personality disorder traits, so taking this medication really helps when I need to be social.

Prior to using the medication, I was very anti-amphetamines. Having researched them and having spoken with my psychiatrist about them, he told me that they are among the safest medications out if used properly. The reason many people experience problems with Adderall is because they are misusing it. I certainly can see how people could become addicted to this medication with relative ease.

If you are a person with addictive tendencies, this probably isnt a good option for you. I still limit myself to taking it only when I absolutely need it. I classify needing it as in significant social situations and when I feel deeply suicidal. I dont like to take it often or at high doses because I dont want my body to become conditioned to this powerful medication. Additionally, there is sometimes a wicked Adderall crash that some people may not be able to handle even at low doses. In my opinion, this crash is still considerably more favorable than withdrawing from an antidepressant or anti anxiety medication.

Va Raters May Try To Reduce Your Rating Due To The Medicines You Take

Can the VA consider whether your medications are providing some relief when determining your degree of disability?

The issue was settled by a 2012 decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and in general, the answer is no.

As most of you know, the very first step for any VA disability claim is that you have to be able to show that you suffer from a current disability.

Of course, HOW you try to show the elements of service-connection can often be the difference between a grant and a denial of a claim.

Once youve established a service connection for your current disability, the VA Regional Office will compare the symptoms and impact of that condition to the criteria listed in the VA Schedule of Disability Ratings.

Unless the effects of medications are specifically included in the impairment rating criteria for your condition, the VA is NOT allowed to consider whether a particular medication moderates a Veterans condition in determining the degree of disability.

Its that simple.

Which Drug Can Cause Dependence More

You might find that you develop a tolerance to clonazepam quicker, as its effects wear off faster than Xanax. You may want to feel that euphoric feeling the drug gives again therefore increasing the dosage. That great feeling from clonazepam is short-lived.

Xanax might make some people feel slightly buzzed. As the immediate-release tablets are taken one to three times per day, tolerance to Xanax can occur soon thus compelling the person to take more of the drug to feel that same buzzed feeling.

Tolerance and dependence do not necessarily lead to addiction. TheNational Institute on Drug Abuse notes that tolerance occurs when a person no longer responds to a drug in the way they did at first. So they take more of it to get the same effect as when they first took it.

Dependence is feeling withdrawal symptoms from a substance when a person stops taking it, as noted by NIDA. This can occur even if you take a prescription drug every day for a long time. This does not mean you are addicted to the drug, though.

Addiction is a disease, chronic in nature, that can result in taking drugs repeatedly. If you keep using the drug despite negative consequences, you may be addicted to it.

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Types Of Ptsd Medications

Many different types of medication may be used in the treatment of PTSD. Many of these are the same that have proven effective in treating other illnesses, such as anxiety disorder and depression. Here we’ll provide a description of the broad categories and some of the specific medications that might be used, along with their pros and cons, to help you make a better decision, with the help of your doctor.

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Those exposed to THC had lowered threat-related amygdala reactivity.

This means that those who took low doses of THC showed measurable signs of reduced fear and anxiety in situations designed to trigger fear. Since these results were found in all three groups, it suggests that even those with PTSD were able to experience less fear with THC in their system.

DENVER, CO JULY 15: The Colorado Board of Health had a rule making hearing about people with PTSD qualifying for medical marijuana at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment offices in Denver. Christopher Latona, center, and his dad Mike Latona, left, both testified in support of approving medical marijuana for PTSD which Christopher has suffered from since returning from his US. Army service in Afghanistan. They were photographed on Wednesday July 15, 2015. The board voted 6-2 not to approve the change.

The authors conclude that the research suggests that THC modulates threat-related processing in trauma-exposed individuals with PTSD and add that the drug may prove advantageous as a pharmacological approach to treating stress- and trauma-related psychopathology.

But for those with PTSD, extinction learning doesnt happen. The trauma attached to the old memories continues to cause problems.

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Which Drug Has More Severe Withdrawal Symptoms

Xanax withdrawal is known to be very challenging to experience. It is also known that the drug comes with more severe rebound and withdrawal symptoms than clonazepam. Xanax has a short half-life of nine to 20 hours. Half-life means the time it takes for half of the drug to leave your body. The shorter the half-life the less time is in your body.

Clonazepman has a longer half-life . Therefore, it stays in the body longer. The longer it stays in the body the less severe withdrawal symptoms will be, according to Drugs.com.

Xanax physical withdrawal symptoms:

Both prescription drugs are safe when taken as prescribed. Clonazepam is meant to be taken in treating panic disorders and some types of seizures. Xanax is usually prescribed on a short-term basis for anxiety and anxiety disorders. Neither drug is meant to be taken for the long-term. Long-term use of either drug can cause tolerance, dependence, and possibly addiction.

People who have become addicted to the drugs may try to find them on the illicit drug market and unknowingly buy pills that have been cut with cheaper and/or harmful ingredients, such as fentanyl. Taking illicitly bought clonazepam or Xanax can lead to overdose or a fatality.

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Which Comes First: Adhd Or Ptsd

Currently, research on the overlap of ADHD and PTSD is minimal. However, we can speculate that PTSD might cause ADHD, particularly in children. Once traumatized, a person may eventually meet the criteria for ADHD, even though ADHD was not present in his or her early development. This is because PTSD rewires and affects the development of a growing brain, stunting the growth of areas that deal with emotional regulation, impulse control, and self-awareness. This is also how ADHD develops but for different reasons. The difference lies in the reason for that impact, or what is called the etiology.

ADHD cannot cause PTSD, although people with ADHD are more prone to high-risk behavior, relational problems, and negative habits of self-medicating, leaving them more vulnerable to traumatic events. Additionally, children with ADHD can be difficult to manage, raising their risk of abuse from a caregiver. But these examples are indirect social effects of the disorder, not the direct, physical impact of trauma on brain functioning.

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What Core Ptsd Symptoms Are Medications Targeting

The four main PTSD symptom clusters of the DSM-5 criteria are listed below:

• Intrusion. Examples include nightmares, unwanted thoughts of the traumatic events, flashbacks and reacting to traumatic reminders with emotional distress or physiological reactivity.
• Avoidance. Examples include avoiding triggers for traumatic memories including places, conversations or other reminders.
• Negative alterations in cognitions and mood. Examples include distorted blame of self or others for the traumatic event, negative beliefs about oneself or the world, persistent negative emotions , feeling alienated and constricted affect .
• Alterations in arousal and reactivity. Examples include angry, reckless or self-destructive behavior, sleep problems, concentration problems, increased startle response and hypervigilance.

PTSD symptoms may improve at differing rates during pharmacotherapy. For example, a study of venlafaxine ER demonstrated early resolution in irritability , a later decrease in intrusive recollections , and no differences for sleep, dreams and some avoidance symptoms at week 12 .

How Do I Stop Taking Adderall

Adderall can cause physical dependence when taking it in high doses for a prolonged period of time. Because of its potential for abuse and dependency, the Drug Enforcement Agency labels Adderall a Schedule II controlled substance. For people taking chronic high doses, suddenly stopping Adderall can cause fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. A prescriber will use a tapering dose to discontinue any patient taking prolonged high doses.

A healthcare provider should always be consulted if Adderall needs to be discontinued in order to find the best titration regimen or alternative medication. There are, however, a few circumstances that will require the medicine to be immediately discontinued and medical help pursued. These include:

• Any emergent or worsening symptom of an underlying or undetected mental health problem including psychosis, bipolar disorder, or Tourettes syndrome

• Any sign of serotonin syndrome such as confusion, hallucinations, dizziness, tremor, muscle twitching, fast heartbeat, excessive sweating, or muscle rigidity

• Seizures

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction

People taking Adderall will be regularly monitored for cardiovascular changes, aggression, and growth rate . If there are problems, treatment with Adderall may need to be interrupted or discontinued. For those who need to discontinue amphetamines, alternatives include methylphenidate , dexmethylphenidate , atomoxetine , modafinil , and armodafinil

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Why Prescribing Adderall For Anxiety Is Not Very Common

If you have done your research on Adderall, you should know that it is a controlled substance and is not considered a first line treatment option for anxiety. It is primarily used to help individuals with ADD and/or ADHD. For these individuals it is thought to help stimulate activity that just isnt there. Part of what causes anxiety in certain people is an actual underproduction of brain activity.

If you have an overstimulated brain, which is also common in anxiety, this may not be a good treatment option. Always work with a qualified psychiatrist when trying new medications and determine what you think will work best. Having taken this medication and trying it for myself, I understand why its not commonly prescribed for anxiety and tough to get.

Additionally, I want to make it clear that just because Adderall works for your anxiety does not mean that you originally had ADD or ADHD. Although anxiety can be a comorbid diagnoses with ADD, dont automatically assume you have ADD or a variation because this drug works. This medication works for a lot of different things including narcolepsy.

In people without ADD and/or ADHD the potential for Adderall abuse increases significantly hence it being a highly regulated substance.

Adderall Vs Vyvanse: A Comparison

Based on information from the books Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Handbook: A Physicians Guide to ADHD and Pharmacovigilance in Psychiatry, a brief comparison follows.

The drugs are both controlled substances, and as mentioned above, this means that they are believed to have a potential for abuse and the development of physical dependence. However, a prodrug like Vyvanse is inactive in the system until it is metabolized by enzymes in the body. Therefore, Vyvanse can only be taken orally, whereas Adderall can be ground up and snorted or mixed with water and injected. This means that the manufacturers of Vyvanse advertise it as being less likely to be abused. In addition, prodrugs like Vyvanse are believed to be absorbed much more efficiently and smoothly due to their biochemistry. When the drug wears off, it is believed to produce fewer negative effects .

The biggest differences between the two drugs are how they are metabolized by the body, how often a person needs to take them , and their projected potential to be drugs of abuse.

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How Your Doctor Can Help If You Have Cfs/me

By Charles W. Lapp, MDNote: Dr. Lapp, is the founder and medical director of the Hunter-Hopkins Center in Charlotte. The clinic is one of the few medical practices in the United States specializing in CFS/ME.

If you are not able to access a provider who is expert on CFS/ME, your next best bet is to find a doctor who is empathetic and willing to help. This person may be your existing primary care doctor or someone else you find who either knows about CFS/ME or is willing to learn about it.

There are four ways your doctor can help:

1) Establish a diagnosis3) Treat other conditions that often accompany CFS/ME4) Provide usual primary care

While your doctors role is important, you should recognize that there is no known cure for CFS/ME, so there are limits to what your doctor can do. Medical treatment does not treat the disease it only palliates the symptoms. Medical treatment will not even speed your recovery, but it will make recovery more comfortable. The key to recovery in CFS/ME is acceptance of the illness and adaptation to it by means of lifestyle changes, for which medical treatment is no substitute.

Getting Help For Adderall Misuse & Ptsd

If you are concerned that you may have PTSD and that Adderall may be worsening your symptoms, you can read more about the relationship between PTSD and substance use disorders here.

If you believe that your drug use may be progressing to addiction, take The Recovery Villages Adderall addiction self-assessment quiz. If you have more questions or think you may need treatment, contact The Recovery Villagetoday to explore treatment options that may work for you.

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Tapered Doses May Help

Cold-turkey withdrawal from Xanax is dangerous, and its not the only way to heal. With the help of your doctor, you can taper your dose and allow your body to adjust to smaller doses of Xanax.

Just as your brain adjusted to Xanax over time, a taper allows cells to learn what sobriety feels like. A typical schedule involves reducing your dose by 25 percent over several weeks, researchers say.

If youre enrolled in a medical detox program, your team will bring your medications to you and watch you take them. Each day, youll get a little less until youre not using any at all.

If youre healing at home, youll need a helper. That person will:

• Protect. Youll be tempted to cheat. Your helper can lock up your drugs, so you cant take more than youre prescribed.
• Measure. Each day, your helper can determine how much you should take and when you should take it.
• Watch. If you develop withdrawal symptoms, the taper is moving too fast. Your helper can tell your doctor if it happens.
• Motivate. Even with a taper, youre likely to feel a little uncomfortable. Its helpful to have someone you trust rooting for your recovery.

You can taper with Xanax, but its important to remember that it isnt the only benzodiazepine available. It may be the most common drug, as prescriptions for Xanax increased 23 percent since 2006, but its not the only one. It may not even be the best drug to use this way.

Ibogaine Treatment For Ptsd

After meeting with one of our founders, Dr. Deborah Mash, during 1994, Dr. Carl Anderson, from Harvard Medical School, developed a theory as to why ibogaine may have considerable efficacy in treating PTSD.

Ibogaine has unique neuropharmacological and psychobiological properties ibogaine works through multiple neurotransmitter systems to create state of plasticity similar to states of plasticity existing during fetal development. This critical brain state may facilitate the consolidation of traumatic memories, reversal of abnormal hemispheric functions, and the dissolution of habitual motor patterns associated with addiction.

Dr. Carl Anderson, Harvard Medical School

While further research is needed, even the most cursory search online, will unearth a small mountain of anecdotal evidence and first-person accounts supporting ibogaines putative ability to help individuals who suffer from PTSD.

Research into ibogaines efficacy for PTSD is ongoing. The data gathered to date, strongly suggests that other than helping individuals recover from their substance-abuse disorders, ibogaine may help patients experience a renewed enjoyment of life and gain a better understanding of the trauma or hurt at the heart of their addictive behavior. Moreover many guests experience a decrease in fear and anxiety, and an improvement in their relationships with friends, family, and loved ones.

From everyone at Clear Sky Recovery & TrainAVet, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe Memorial Day.

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Veterans Can Get All Of These Prescription Drugs To Treat Ptsd But Not Weed

Around the nation, thousands of veterans and active-duty military personnel are waging their own personal battles against post-traumatic stress disorder. Typically triggered by a horrific incident either witnessed or experienced by the person, PTSD comes with a debilitating set of physical and psychological symptoms.

Many service members are hesitant to seek professional help due to the social stigma surrounding mental illness. Those who do are often dosed with an ever-expanding list of prescription drugs, which, paired with therapy, are frequently the first course of action against certain ailments stemming from PTSD.

“It’s a daunting list,” Dr. Sue Sisley, a psychiatrist in Phoenix, told The Huffington Post about the staggering number of medications available for PTSD.

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ national formulary, a catalog of drugs and supplies commonly prescribed by VA doctors overall, contains more than 1,500 items, ranging from gauze pads to many of the medications listed below. Yet it is not comprehensive. VA doctors can prescribe non-formulary drugs to treat PTSD if they feel that previous treatment regimens have been ineffective or harmful. While these medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, that doesn’t mean their specific use as a treatment for PTSD — and particularly combat-related PTSD — is fully understood. Doctors often rely on trial and error to figure out what works for an individual patient.