Dr. Seikhoo Bishnui
Psychiatry
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am a 21-year-old male. I have a learning disorder creating a hindrance in my studies. I have been suffering from anxiety and depression since class 7th and have been taking antidepressants for the last three to four years. Since childhood, I have been hyperactive, but currently, my symptoms have worsened in the previous year. I skip a lot of words while reading. During my exam, I always read half of the question and missed another part.
I am getting so disorganized. I get so irritated very easily. I can not sit in one place to study for more than five minutes. I get angry and frustrated very easily. I always feel unmotivated and emotionless, sometimes I feel like I am a robot and have lost a purpose in life.
I can not complete one chapter, and I skip to another chapter because I feel bored. I always miss important words while reading. I have no appetite. I always feel a lack of energy and am always fatigued. This is creating a hindrance in my academic life, and my psychiatrist said that it is because of increased anxiety that is why he decided to increase the antidepressant dose. Currently, I am taking Taloprex 10 mg (Escitalopram oxalate) and Axepta 25 mg (Atomoxetine) (which I did not take). In the past, I took Cloze md (Clonazepam), Paxidep 25 mg (Paroxetine), and C pram (Escitalopram oxalate).
He does not specialize in learning disorders. I want a student or child psychiatrist to answer this question. I told my psychiatrist that he did not understand my problem, so he told me to consult another psychiatrist as I was not satisfied with his advice, and his medicine did not seem to work. When I asked my psychiatrist to give me my treatment plan (the medication he has been prescribing for years), they refused and said to consult a different psychiatrist. I want a neurologist or psychiatrist specializing in learning disorders to answer this question (not a sexologist or other). Thanks.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I can understand your problem. Based on the symptoms you mentioned, you have some underlying anxiety, some learning issue, or symptoms of ADD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). This should be evaluated properly. The doctor prescribed you Paxidep (Paroxetine), an anti-anxiety drug. Your current medicines are focusing on issues of inattention, hyperactivity, etc.
Attentrol (Atomoxetine) is a drug used for ADD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). What kind of help are you expecting?
Thanks.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Currently, I am taking Taloprex (Escitalopram oxalate) prescribed by the local psychiatrist. My local psychiatrist said that these symptoms were due to increased anxiety, so he increased the antidepressant dose. I was not satisfied with his diagnosis, and I told him that I will consult a doctor who specialises in learning disorders.
So today, I consulted another doctor online, and I asked him if I suffer from ADHD, he made me fill out a WHO ADHD symptom form and I submitted it to him. He said that I have ADHD and prescribed me Axepta 25 mg (Atomoxetine). I have not taken Axepta till now.
Help I want: On the basis of my symptoms, do I really suffer from ADHD? Do I need to take Axepta (Atomoxetine) 25 mg? It was prescribed by a psychiatrist over online consultation (I mentioned the same symptoms) and not prescribed by my local psychiatrist. The online psychiatrist said to continue my antidepressant Taloprex (Escitalopram oxalate) with Axepta 25 mg (Atomoxetine).
Is it safe to take Axepta (Atomoxetine) based on my symptoms? Because I described the same symptoms to my local psychiatrist, he did not diagnose me with ADHD. He just increased the antidepressant dose. Whom should I believe please help me, because I do not want to eat more medicines as they have side effects. Based on my symptoms, kindly help me.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
In my opinion, though I might be wrong, we can not just make a diagnosis based on the questionnaire. A detailed clinical interview is needed because adult ADD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is not common in the Indian population. It is a more western diagnosis. If you feel that you have more symptoms of inattention, the inability to focus, difficulty in waiting, poor performance in studies, etc., you should proceed in making an evaluation for ADD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). But these symptoms are common in anxiety too. In anxiety, poor focus, inattention, concentration, difficulty finishing tasks, etc., are seen. Also, fatigue is not common in ADD and is more common in depression and anxiety.
In my opinion, I suggest holding taking Attentrol (Atomoxetine) as of now and continuing with the anti-anxiety drugs. Wait for a couple of weeks and hope for improvement. If that is not seen, consult a psychiatrist other than you are consulting and take a second opinion.
Thanks.
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Psychiatry
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