r/adhdwomen•
MardyBum88

Anti-depressants and Stimulants - need help!

Medication & Side Effects

I've been on different SSRIs throughout my life, but taken Sertraline consistently for the past 4 years. The past 4 years have been really hard so might not be an accurate reflection of how well Sertraline works for me, but I've not seen a huge impact in low mood, depressive episodes etc, but it does help with social anxiety. I am also prescribed Concerta 54mg for my ADHD. So heres a bit of a run through of different combinations, can anyone help me make sense of what to do next - aware we're not medical professionals, but my GP is messing me around so much, and I am under PsychiatryUK for my ADHD so it's all disjointed and feel like I'm getting nowhere.

Info:

Female, 38, UK

Diagnosed with:

Severe anxiety and depression

ADHD

C-PTSD

OCD

Also really struggling with PMDD like symptoms

What I have taken and impact:

In my 20s:

Citalopram upto 40mg I think (can't remember how it felt it was years ago)

Fluoxetine up to 60mg (can't remember but was undiagnosed ADHD and just generally chaotic and inconsistent with it)

30s and post children

Sertraline upto 200mg - helped with social anxiety alot, still got bouts of depression and zero motivation, so tired all the time

Sertraline 200mg + elvanse 70mg - severe anxiety, palpitations, severe depressive episodes

Sertraline 200mg-150mg + concerta 54mg - more motivated but still chaotic and can't get organised or my life in order, bouts of severe depression. Also started experiencing PMDD like symptoms, feeling hopeless and horrific the week before my period.

Now I'm basically on nothing but beta-blockers to help my permenant palpitations as I ran out of sertraline and didn't have them for 2 weeks, been trying to get them sorted and spoke to the GP about this being an opportunity to change SSRI as I don't think it's the most effective for me.

He hasn't got a clue and is messing me around and now prescribed Venlafaxine, and telling me to restart Sertraline alongside it to taper off (but I already have because I haven't taken it for over 2 weeks?!)

When I take my concerta now with no sertraline (might be due to withdrawal also) I have SEVERE anxiety and palpitations, can't focus, feel wired.

So I just don't know what to do, I feel really depressed, I'm foggy AF, can't get anything done, and just don't know what to do next. Shall I just go back on Sertraline? Any help would be really appreciated.

Posted Apr 23, 2026, 9:36 AM UTC

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