Expert: Sharon Crandall - 9/15/2009

Question
I am a 50 year old guy. I was diagnosed with adult A.D.D ten years ago.
As well as the A.D.D. I have hypertension for with I am being treated, and sleep apnea and I use a CPAP.
My doctor prescribed wellbutrin back when I was first diagnosed. I didnt feel that much different but my wife said I was a new man.
Lately I have been off it because I feel I am fine without it.
However, I am starting to feel a lack of motivation, and am wondering if this is a symptom of A.D.D. and I should go back on the welbutrin?
I dont feel depressed at all, in fact I am quite content. However, I lack motivation to to anything besides work and watch tv.
I used to enjoy going out with my wife, going golfing and to ball games with my friends, and my hobbies of stamp collecting and reading. None of those interest me now. I have tried to get back into all that stuff but just cant.
Other than working, the only thing I still enjoy doing is my regular runs and workouts. However, I can only do that three times a week now as my body needs more time to recover.
Also, I seem to not need as much sleep. I used to sleep soundly at least 8 hours a night and enjoyed sleeping in on my days off.
Now I am up at the crack of dawn every day-I seem to need less sleep.
I asked my doctor if my prescription medication for hypertension (Avalide) could be causing it and he said probably not.
My wife says I sleep soundly when I am sleeping so I dont think its the sleep apnea.
For instance, today I am off work and could be doing lots of stuff, but I am moping around the house. I am not sad or depressed-just cant get up to do anything.
Could it be low testosterone or something like that or male menopause?
Or would I benefit from going back on the welbutrin?
Thanks!
Thanks for any thoughts!

Answer
Hi. Since I am not a doctor I do not know anything about medications. It might take awhile to get the affects of the drug out of your system.  Did you withdraw gradually?  They say, it is important to withdraw gradually.

The problem with drugs is that the underlying problems are still there and often are growing. Did you go online to see the side affects of Avalide? When a doctor says probably not, then that might mean that it really is causing these side affects.

As far as I know, a lack of motivation has nothing to do with ADD.

So, either this is caused by medication, or another physical problem, or there were underlying problems that are coming out now that you are off Welbutrin.

When we experience a change in our feelings it is usually a signal that we need to take stock of our lives and figure out what we really want. It is an indication that we need to change something. Perhaps you have always wanted to do something and have repressed it to do other things you thought you had to do in order to survive or make a living.

If it not a physical problem then it is time to get some counseling so that you can sort out the changes that are happening and get to the bottom of the motional cause of this shift.

Without working with you for a few months, I can't help with this.  All I can do is to state a few things, as I have done, to raise questions that only you, and perhaps a good doctor, can answer.

I wish you the best and wish I could have been more help. Reading things on my website might trigger some things in you that will give you some indication of what is happening. It is not finished with a shopping cart yet, but has some interesting things on it that might benefit you.

Sharon Crandall
www.personalityconsultant.com