Adult ADD medications
I am a healthy 37 year old male and recently diagnosed with ADD. We have tried Ritalin, Focalin XR and Adderall XR and none seem to me doing anything for me.
Any thoughts?
I am more aware of my ADD simply because I have learned a lot more about it and came to the realization of having to accept having it, but I am not sure the meds any doing anything for me. Maybe they are, and that's why I am here in the first place..... but i am not sure....
Help>>>>
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What kind of doses were you
What kind of doses were you prescribed? I hardly noticed the lower amounts. Took a few visits to the doctor also, so he could work his way up. Then one day it was like waking from the dead. Like all the planets and stars were lined up just right, similar to the day I wore contacts for the first time.
Waking up
Beautifully said. I identify with your waking-- for me it was like a door opened and as I walked through the entrance, I found a new world with all the planets and stars in alignment, too. Having ADHD can be a very spiritual experience. The flip side of course, is our own personal hell.
benefits of meds on the relationship?
Question to those of you whose spouses have tried medication: Apart from organisational abilities, what have been the benefits of medication in terms of your relationship? Has there been improvement regarding emotional connection? Focus and attention? Sex? Empathy? Memory? Implementing changes?
Did anything get worse due to meds?
Thanks
Tids
What Can Get Better with Meds
I should probably write an entire blog post on this, but briefly, some of the things that may be able to change with meds...the ability to:
Someone on meds might get all or none of these benefits. Also, they would result from different meds (anti-depressants, stimulants, OCD meds) so you really need to talk with the doctor about what symptoms you are trying to control, dose, time of day that you take the meds, etc.
Also, meds are NOT the "fix all" people often expect them to be. There is no magic pill. Meds simply help the person enough so that they can start to work on developing long-lasting tactics to manage their symptoms. So, some things you might notice right away - such as ability to stay in a conversation longer due to improved focus - while others come over years of work - such as improving overall communication skills or solving sexual issues related to previously poor communication (takes two to work through what works for you as a couple).
Also, there may well be side effects to deal with. So, bottom line is - work closely with a doctor who is interested in fine tuning what works for you.
Melissa Orlov
adult meds effects & Qs
This is my first post as I've just recently sought out resources for ADD even (finally) seeing a doctor to try medicine. I got to this blog because my marriage is on the rocks. I am a 32 year old female. I am also working on things like structure (I have a million systems and have worked on this for years), exercise, teaching myself about the ADD brain, but I have so much going on in my life right now that I felt like I needed to give the support of medicine a try too. A friend with ADD (who was diagnosed in school years ago) and a psychologist I've talked to a few times were encouraging of this too because I'm struggling so much.
Anyways, here is one idea I had for the poster who started this thread: My doctor (who's very experienced with ADD adults and medicines) said that some adults experience an initial "treatment high" that settles down in a week or so and that leads some people to want to change medicines a lot seeking that same experience, but it's just part of the adjustment process. Could this possibly be something going on for you? Also, he said for some people if none of the stimulants work, they may have different brain chemistry OR perhaps not ADD or (not ADD alone) and so should consider trying non-stimulants or additional diagnosis exploration. Just some ideas to think about or ask your doctor!
Also, I have some questions for readres about starting meds as an adult: How did you know if your dose is "just right" vs too high or low? What does not quite right feel like to you? My doc did tell me that it takes some "tweaking" of the dose for most people. (He started me on 30mg of Vyvanse.)
Do you have any experience as an adult with Vyvanse?
I was not happy to read in the drug insert information that Vyvanse has not been tested on adults OR kids for long term use--the longest study was a 4 week clinical test!
If so, does it take long for most people's bodies to adjust to the medicine?
Thank you for any thoughts or ideas!
response to mainer about med effect
I am taking adderall IR 20 mg. I started about 3-4 months ago. I started at 5 and increased over 1 week at a time until 20 and that is where I have been. I haven't changed up or down because it feels like it has been working, in talking to my wife and the med lady( my simple mind title for her). I feel like it is working in that i am able to function a bit easier, still once and a while feel like I am going in 100 directions but not as bad and it is easier to sort out if that make sense. Didn't want to increase due to possible weight loss effect that i can't afford so i think we are staying where we are. I think if you feel like the med is working i.e able to function better and accomplish thing that you weren't able to before that is how you know if it is working, at least that is how I feel in my case, base on my experience.
To AKA-Dawg, If you don't
To AKA-Dawg,
If you don't mind my asking, what medication was it that finally got you to feeling better? Like many, I have tried a couple so far, and have noticed no positive effects........still lost and searching.
Thanks
I am now at 3 Adderall XR 20mg = 60mg
and still not feeling that I am getting any reaction from it.
What's your thought on the new vyvanse? what's your experience with Ritalin versus amphetamines???
I feel I am more aware now becuase I have been reading and researching like a maniac, yet I dont feel the meds have done much to tell....
Thanks for your advice.
I take 70mg of Vyvanse and
I take 70mg of Vyvanse and it works great. I have been on FocalinXR, Adderall, Concerta, and Dexadrine since being diagnosed with ADD over 13 years ago.
Vyvanse works the best for me, for now. Have you heard of the patch that is out now?
Trying Meds
I always make sure to say this up front when I respond to anything that has to do with meds - I am not a doctor...and neither are the others who are sharing their experiences here...
You don't mention the anti-depressant meds in your list (Wellbutrin being one example). Perhaps you should talk with your doctor about those. They work for some folks when stimulants don't.
Make sure to get feedback from those around you about whether or not your meds seem to be helping. The ideal situation is, in fact, that you don't "feel" them working but that they help you manage some of your symptoms. You might not be aware of the fact that you are disconnecting from your computer hyperfocusing more easily, for example, when in fact someone else might observe that.
There are also non-medicinal approaches. See Delivered from Distraction for some of those.
About 20% of people either don't respond to the meds or don't like the side effects and decide not to take them.
Melissa Orlov
I originally was started on
I originally was started on Zoloft about 4 years ago. 2 years ago I started taking Ritalin. 1 - 5 mg fast release with 1 - 25 mg slow release, another slow release around noon. I didn't want to be on Zoloft any longer as I really gained weight. So since February, I've been weaning myself off (with my Dr.'s advise). My moods aren't as smooth feeling as before, but I do like being off the Zoloft. Now I'm not sure if the Ritalin is working as it did. I wonder if I should be increasing the dose?
Natural Meds for ADD
I have just run across this forum in looking to see if anyone else has had the luck that I have had.
After trying the prescription drugs for my older teenage son, and him hating all the side effects,
we happened across an alternative medicine of homeopathic, and natural ingredients. My son absolutely loves this!
He has regained his focus, and it has relieved his anxiety much more than the prescription drugs ever have.
You can p.m. me for info - I am not a salesperson for this - just a happy mom that has found a great solution.
He is eating again, and sleeping at night, something the prescriptions really interfered with.
I would like to know what
I would like to know what you found for your son. My husband is a.d.d. and I am at my wits end. We prefer the natural approach and he is taking quite a number of supplements already. They help with some of the memory problems but not the a.d.d. If we don't find something, he will have to try some medications. I just can't keep going like this.
I've herd some about omega
I've herd some about omega 3,6,9 fish oil helping with ADHD. You want to go to a herble store and ask about stuff for adhd. you can research omega/ adhd on the internet.