Living with adult adhd

There are lots of options out there.  Strattera works well for my daughter who has borderline ADD but does nothing for my son who has a more form of ADD.  He has been on Adderral for most of the time but switched last year to Vyvanse, which is a time released version of Adderrall.  Ths works well for him.  There is also concerta and I'm sure many other drugs out there.  If you doctor won't switch you, switch doctors to one that will listen to you.  This is very important.

Hi Dennis!

I don't have any "that's the answer!" advice but I do agree with the other commenter that you should see if your insurance allows you to seek another professional's advice. I don't know if the doctor you are seeing is your GP or if he is a mental health professional but if you can get a 2nd opinion I would seriously suggest finding a mental health professional who has a lot of experience with ADHD. 

I don't really understand the weapon analogy your doctor gave you because I am on Adderall and the reason my doctor likes it is because we are more able to craft the dosing specific to my daily ups and downs (2x a day vs 3x a day, etc.). Where as the XR formulations of any of the other meds are a one time, deal with it for the rest of the day, situation. I don't know your personal relationship with the doctor, if there is concern regarding medication abuse, but my understanding is that for initial dosing titration Adderall and Ritalin (non XR's) are more changeable based on the PT's needs. I AM NOT AN EXPERT AND THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY!!

I am sorry you went through withdrawal when you were 14, there was less understanding 20 and 30 years ago regarding the long-term affects of medication and the potential harm caused (unknowingly) with sudden stoppage. There was, and still is, a lot of fear about stimulant medication causing drug dependence later in life. It seems to me the greater danger, based on some of the long-term research I've read, is not helping those who need it leading them to self-medicating, destructive behavior. I don't know, it's a difficult question; to medicate or not to medicate...

But I digress and I apologize. Please, consider seeking another opinion regarding your medication, either in the same practice or with another mental health practice, preferably someone with ADHD experience.

Be well! 

I recently was diagnosed, my dr. gave me Vyvanse.  It seems to work well, I saw a difference in the first day.  I have been on it one week, she suggested I take it for two months, and then we may make some changes with the dosage.  Hope this helps.

Hello my name is Sandy and I am a 45 year old with sever ADHD. If your Dr does not want to consider stimulant meds than find another one,preferably a psychiatrist with experience treating adults with ADHD. Dont get discouraged just take it in stride and find a Dr. who will work with you.Good luck.

My son, who is 10, is on Daytrana 15mg (patch) and Stattera (25 mg) at night.  The Daytrana is great because he can take if off when he needs to come down from the meds, doesn't need the focus/control for school and just be a kid.  On the weekends we use 10 mg Daytrana.  He has tried about 7 other ADHD meds and this one works the best, least side-effects.  He does not have the jitters, nervous energy, thirst issues.  He still doesn't have much appetite at lunch time but we work through that. 

His doctor is not a big believer in Strattera alone as a ADHD med, it takes several weeks for this med to start working and it has a 24-hr benefit, unlike the short-acting meds.

My husband uses Adderall and has good results also.

Hi Dennis,

I am 46 yr's old and I have severe ADD.  I wasn't diagnosed until about 9 years ago.  Growing up, attending college, working, etc., I knew something was not right but always thought I was simply just not as intelligent as others.  I attended the University of Virginia (excellent college & reputation), just like high school and everything else, I knew it was more difficult for me and I had to study much longer than others.  I would literally highlight  everything in my books many colors.  I would start off reading and felt everything was important, plus I couldn't remember what I had just read, so I had to highlight about 90% of all words yellow.  Every time I picked up the same book, I would read the yellow highlights and then use a different color to highlight about 60 to 75% of the yellow making it a strange color, and so on and so on.  No one wanted my books b/c of the mess I created in all of them.  I often felt like I was just dumb, often sad b/c things were much more difficult and challenging for me, and I would even cry and ask the Lord why?  Why did He ever allow me to be accepted into a school that was out of my league?  I could not stay focused and had severe memory / concentration problems.  My last year there, I made all A's & B's! It wasn't until I was about to graduate that I realized I really wasn't the dumb person I had thought.  Then, I started in the real world of working, no way to keep a job if you can't remember what your told to do and much more!  I remember often getting up from my desk to go and use our copy machine and before I got there, I had already forgot what it was that I was going to do.  God forbide anyone stop and ask me a question when I was about to do something, b/c if they did, it made it even more difficult for me to get back to what I was doing.  I was very good at covering things up and learned to be very creative with how I often had to respond to questions & more, especially when it was about a previous conversation with a co-worker or boss.  I have a son who has severe ADHD & more.  While trying to support his needs and get him good quality care, I realized I too needed to be tested for ADD or ADHD.  I guess it was just a coincident that I had been working in mental health for years and still had not been able to put it all together for myself.  I have tried most of the medications there are for ADD, and I have always gone back to Adderall.  Currently I am taking 60mg am and another 60mg at noon.  I have taken higher doses and sometimes feel I need my dose increased, but I know there are also risks with taking any medication, but especially when taking too high of a dosage.  There has been some contraversy in the media about stimulants, especially adderall.  Some studies made comments about possibility of long term usage causing heart problems.  I had an echocardiogram (?) done on my heart about a year ago and the results were all normal.  I continue to struggle with my ADD and have developed an attitude to just do the best I can, go with the flow of things, accept I am different as far as my style of thinking, and be very careful when making decisions that affect not only myself but my entire family.  I may have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do particular jobs, but through experience I have learned my ADD affects my work and as a result I know what I can and can't do, therefore; even though I may have wanted to be an adminstrator or the top dog at some company, I know for sure my inability to concentrate and remain focused would lead to a termination.  ADD affects all aspects of a persons life and it's important to know and understand this.  We have to learn how to cope by being creative and planning ahead.  We cannot use it as a crutch, we have to remain optimistic and cont. to set high goals;  and also remember it is different for everyone and some have more limitations than others.  We are who and what we are!

I'm very wordy and detailed oriented, cannot help it, so sorry for going on and on.  My ADD is so severe that when I do get very stressed, it is even much more difficult for me.  I was convinced about a year ago that I may have early alzheimers disease.  My wife even made comments about my memory and often wanted to know what was wrong.  Of course that didn't help the matter.  I was tested for alzheimer's disease by a neurologist and was told it was just from being overly stressed.  Often, I still cannot recall the name of a movie I have just watch and on top of that, after watching a movie and then later seeing previews to it, I could not tell you if I had ever watch it let along what happened in it. 

Because of my long history of dealing with memory / attention issues for my son & myself, the medication changes, issues with physicians, and knowledge from social work / mental health employment, I recommend the following:

*Be very careful when choosing a good physician.  I believe it is better to see a psychiatrist who specializes in dealing with ADD / ADHD, rather than a primary care physician.  Once you get the right medicine and things are going well, then a primary care physician could possibly replace the other. 

*Also, don't believe everything you read or hear about a particular physician.  My wife and I felt like we were ready to just give up on our son ever getting any better.  If we had not been close, I don't believe our marriage would have lasted.  When our son was just 6 yr's old, he had already been seeing a psychiatrist for a little over a year.  We were so stressed & desperate for help.  There was and still is a particular physician who always had big articles in the local newspaper about his work, specialty, etc., providing the best treatment, care, medications, etc. for ADD / ADHD.  We took our son to him and as a result, our son ended up on a childrens hospital psych unit for a little over a week b/c he had been overdosed by a combination of too many medications.  This was just befor Christmas and I had noticed he was walking diffenently while shopping at the mall.  At first I thought it was just for attention and after just a couple of minutes, I knew something was wrong.  I had to carry him out of the mall b/c he could not walk at all!  After his short stay in the hospital, we did not ever return to visit the quack physician and returned to my son's previous doctor.  My son is now 21 yr's old and still sees the same physician.  I know his work is good, and we have an excellent relationship.

*You are the only one who really knows how the medication is working for you.  No two patients are alike just like with any other disorder. All medications do not work the same for everyone.  I know exactly what I need and I am always very up front about it with my doctor.  Physicians are very careful when prescribing stimulants and they should be.  Not all physicians would prescribe my current dosage, and to think that I have even been on a much higher dose. 

*Adderall is great! Without it I'm lost.  I have tried the extended release, it was okay but I like the standard and the generic form does well for me.

*When trying a different medication, you must give it some time, plus environmental factors can play a big role in your decision process.  When a person is stressed or has too many things going on in their life at the same time, it's difficult to know how a medication is really doing.

*These are just my thoughts, my intentions are to just provide you with information, not to persuade you to follow my suggestions nor recommendations.

I wish you the best in your journey and I hope things go very well for you.

Hi Dennis,  I have ADD and had no idea unit about 6 or 7 years ago.  ( I am now 62.) I feel like my life just really started since I have been on Effexor.  After diagnosis, I started taking grapeseed extract in the form of Proflavonal by Usana. (on the web)  It helped but I finalyy decided to get on some medication as well.  It took trying 4 or 5  before I got the right one.  I am on Effexor now & it also helps with some depression I have.  I have a friend who has found Wellbutrin to work for his ADHD.  Everyone's chemistry is different.  When you finnally get on the right one, it will change your life.  Everything will be so muc clearer & easier to get on with things!  Good luck.  If you decide to try Proflavanol you can use my ID# 163239 to get it wholesale www.usana.com

Lou

I am in the process of having my son tested for ADHD(16yr). He has had symptoms since birth? and I've always been persuaded to not put him on drugs, that he is only borderline, if that and the drugs would have worse side effects than dealing with his LD and symptoms. He has just been put on Stratterra and it's not doing much for him either. He is calmer and more layed back, but it isn't helping him focus, concentrate or with his distractions/organization, etc. at school. He's gone from 25mg to 80mg as of yesterday, which has only been about 4wk. I have heard really bad things about the side effects of Adderall, Ritalin, etc. He has experienced difficulty in sleeping and a mild lightheadedness ea. time his med is increased but goes away in about a week as more meds get in his system. I've expressed my concern with the other drugs to my dr. and she seems to be listening and trying to put him on what I'm comfortable with. I think if you just explain to the dr. that this med. isn't working for you and that Ritalin did years ago, they would listen. After all, you're not trying to get them to add anything, just change what you're on. They say that if a drug is going to work, it will very soon and if it isn't, you may as well try something else. From what I can tell, all the drugs are very similar in what they do, but affects different parts of the brain. I'd definately voice my opinion...it's your well being and that's what the dr. is there for. Only you know how you feel and if it's working. Good luck!

Hi:

I'm an adult with the same problems. I recently went to a therapist and was given some exercises to help my concentration and memory. It hasn't cured the problem but I no longer need the Strattera to help me focus and know what I'm doing most of the time. My biggest problem is that I can't remember anything I learn. The therapy is making a difference. I have the problem with a lot of aches and pains from injuries due to my hyper-activity and I can't afford therapy and this is where you may have a problem. Therapy may be better than medication, although you may be better off with both to start. Your doctor is probably no dummy and must have a reason for his/her decision. Try getting your doctor to try both.

This is not to imply that the doctor you have is inept, only that he is not the right one for this particular situation.  If necessary, call the Outpatient Psychiatry unit in your local hospital (University Hospitals seem to be always on the ball about new meds) and schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist who treats adults with ADD.  These doc's are specially trained to help people manage ADD with medication and therapy.  There you will find doctors who definitely believe that ADD is a real disorder and one that responds to medication.  Best of luck!  Things will get better - you just have to be persistent until you get the help you need.

By the way, my husband and son have ADHD.  My husband takes meds, and my son seems to muddle through, not wanting to take any meds (he is 20 years old and thinks he is invincible).  Things are better with the right meds.

Hello. I'm sorry to hear you didn't have the benifit of medication when you were younger. My son is 21 years old now, and was diagnosed ADHD when he was 4 1/2 by the pediatrition he had since birth along with a mental health professional that he was sent to for extensive evaluation. They started him on the lowest doses of Ritilin to start out with but it wasn't long before they bumped up his dosages. Since then we have gone through all of the meds available on the market today and one thing I will say is that you really do have to know your own body and not go by any preconceived notions on what you think will work for you. Adderal was the worst drug for my son, he had peaks and valleys SO bad he didn't know whether he was coming or going and it was very hard to watch. He was about 14 or 15 years old when he was taking this medication and he was to the point of threatining suicide. We had to admit him to the psych. unit at a local hospital for 2 wks of inpatient treatment because we didn't know just how far he would go.

Doctors at the time weren't listening to me at all in regards to what his Dad and I were seeing and what I felt was going on,(I was just his mom what did I know), it took the head of the of the psych department to finally sit down and listen to me and finally change his meds altogether. It took some time but the difference is night and day! He has been on Concerta 54 mg and Lexapro 10 mg and Strattera 40mg, he takes the Concerta in the morning and the other two at bedtime. Like I said everyone is different, and what works for one may be completely different than what works for another; so don't stop till you find what works for you.

I am a single father with a 10 year old son who has ADHD and is showing mild symptoms of RAD(Reactive Attachment Disorder). When I was married we adopted him at 21 months old from Russia and have no knowledge of his background. We are no longer married and I now have my son full time 24/7 so I completely understand what you are going through.

Yes there are challenges every day. Yes there are days where it seems like it appears as if nothing was learned or we are going backwards in the learning development area and yes at times it is very frustrating.

   There are days when I absolutely refuse to give up. (I think you know what I mean). There has never been a day where I did and there never will be that day. I am very strong willed, positive and like others keep researching in hopes there is something that will make his life just a little bit easier therefore making my life a lot easier.

   I very close friend of mine shared something with me that helped me tremendously and kept me away from the anti depressant drugs. I have shared this with others and now they no longer feel the need to use those. I always wanted to, and still do, try to find ways where my son will not need his medications and I have heard of a few success stories. My son does not like taking his medications but he does realize how beneficial they are in helping him stay focused and in control.

   After I started using this all natural, organic system (which is the easiest thing to do and tastes great) I immediately noticed the difference in me and started to do some research on how it might affect my son. I met another man, Peter G, who told me his son had suicidal ADHD and in 5 days of using this system, his son was no longer suicidal. My son is not suicidal but I was very interested in the other positive effects such as better energy and focus, control, better sleep, better thought patterns and a more positive outlook on life. I started my son on this program (he still takes his meds) and amazingly in 5 days he was a different person. At first I really didn't believe it so I gave it some more time and the results were consistant.

    I am so excited that there is something out there that is all natural and really works. His teachers, therapist and doctor all notice a major difference.

     He now is the kid at school that the other kids want to know. I hear boys and girls, even the ones who are not in his class all calling his name to say hi or goodbye. They want his acknowledgement. He now even has a "girlfriend" and does not care what others (bullies) say. He defends others and I am very proud of him. He even has befriended a boy with special needs who the bullies just mistreat terribly and he is picked on for that. I tell him he is doing the right thing and he knows it because he feels good.

     What I have learned and been given is a GIFT!

I share this Gift because I have been blessed with it for me to give to others. This worked for me and my son and I have seen it works for thousands including people with Downs Syndrome. I have seen things that could be classified as nothing short of a miracle.

If you are interested in learning more about this I will be more than happy to share it with you and anyone you think might benefit from this too.

I look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me through email then we can set a time to talk. There is too much info to type.

Harry Diamond

applebarnharry@gmail.com