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Q:

I have been taking fluoxetine (prozac) for approximately two months now. I also have ADD but am not taking any medication for it. Is there one drug that I can take that will help with both or is it better to take two separate drugs (that don't have any negative interactions)? Will this possibly increase side effects? What drugs would you recommend? I've tried search online but haven't found anything that seems right.

 

A:

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil have been used successfully to help symptoms of ADHD, as well as less specific antidepressants such as Effexor and Wellbutrin.

It is certainly possible to take Prozac or other antidepressants with the traditional stimulant (amphetamine based) ADHD drugs without negative side effects, but a medication combination must be determined on an individual basis for each patient, as there are contraindications to the use of amphetamines in some people (history of drug addiction, cardiac or blood pressure problems). A new non-amphetamine drug, Strattera,  has now been approved for use in ADHD, so there are some new pharmaceutical options available for therapy.

                     ~The Doc