Are these commonly given together?

[Mamanurse2]

Do doctors commonly prescribe adderall TID (adult ADHD) and clonazepam 1 mg QID (anxiety/panic attacks) in a 25 year old male with a history of drug and alcohol abuse?

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

Unfortunately it does happen, but it is NOT a good idea. There are non-stimulant medications used to treat ADHD that will not cause symptoms such as worsening anxiety, insomnia, irritability like Adderall is known to cause. Also, Adderall, along with many other stimulant medications are contraindicated with patients who have hx of anxiety and definately a no no with hx of substance abuse, as adderall is amphetamine based. I have been on adderall for 8yrs and have tried nearly all of the other medications used for ADHD due to not liking certain side effects and b/c of the dependence/withdrawal symptoms i would have when i don't take it. However, none of the other meds i tried were at all helpful and i've always had to go back to taking the adderall which I have built a tolerance to and am currently on a pretty high dosage.