You wrote:
"Current medical status: I have taken
several antidepressants and stimulants for
ADD with mixed results. They all cause
cardiac side effects: hypertension,
arrhythmia, tachycardia, palpitations and
chest pains. I take hypertension medicine
to reduce the side effects, but it does
not eliminate them.
Current medical treatment: Provigil 200mg,
Metoprolol 200 mg, Spironolactone/HCTZ
25/25"
There are 2 main categories of drugs used
for treating Attention Deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD):
I. FDA-approved medicines for treating
ADHD, and
II. FDA-primary not approved (off-label)
medicines for treating ADHD.
The FDA approves the following
medications for treating ADHD; these are
their generic names:
1. Dextroamphetamine
2. Levoamphetamine
3. Dextromethamphetamine
4. Dextrothreomethylphenidate
5. Levothreomethylphenidate
6. Atomoxetine
Of the FDA-approved medications used to
treat ADHD, only Atomoxetine (Strattera,
Attentin) reports no data or proof that
the medication causes high blood pressure
and tachycardia as a side effect.
Nonetheless, Atomoxetine does have other
side effects.
The second category of drugs contains
medicines that can be used for treating
ADHD but treating ADHD is not their
primary indication according to the FDA.
In this category the following can be
found:
1. Amantadine-primary known as an
anti-viral drug and dopamine-agonist;
2. Amineptine-tricyclic antidepressant
drug;
3. Benzphetamine-psychostimulant;
4. Bupropion-antidepressant drug;
5. Clonidine-primary developed as a drug
for treating high blood pressure;
6. Modafinil-primary used for treating
narcolepsy. This is the drug you are
taking now (Provigil);
7. Selegiline-antidepressant
Of these medications, there is no high
blood pressure data for Amantadine,
Amineptine and Clonidine (except when a
person comes off the drug suddenly).
In general, no medication exists without a
side effect. You can adapt to live with
your disease and side effects from the
medications you take because in your case
cardiac problems do not seem too heavy and
are neutralized by the Metoprolol and
Spirinolactone. Nonetheless, you can
continue to work with your doctors to
identify the best medications possible and
to, under supervision, request necessary
changes to your treatment plan.
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