ADD Meds for adults.... your experiences/thoughts? - Page 2

[MamaRBH]

LOL... thanks for the giggle.

Crystal - the screening was a cheesy questionaire.....

[wannabemoms]

Anyone know the pros/cons of using a stimulant vs. a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor? Has anyone tried both and prefered one type of medication over the other?

[MamaRBH]

I've read about them here and there on different websites... unfortunetly, I can't find one website that really lays it out well.

I'd suggest poking around through google searches until you get your hands on your doctor.

Did you get your appointment scheduled?

[wannabemoms]

Yep, it's for next Friday.

[MamaRBH]

Originally Posted by wannabemoms

Yep, it's for next Friday.

How did it go????

My Psych appointment is tomorrow. I have been weaning myself off Lexapro since it was given to me for depression, and I'm not depressed... But I am experiencing anger and a total lack of patience....a general lack of joy...assuming it's the Lexapro withdrawal symptoms. I'm so glad my appointment is tomorrow and hoe she can help me make sense of things.

[wannabemoms]

Eek that doesn't sound like fun. Well, my doc started me on Stattera long-acting...I've been on it since Saturday. I notice it, for sure. It makes me feel a little strange, but I notice that it slows me down a bit. I'm neither thinking nor moving as quickly as I usually do. I'm a little more aware of what I'm doing and also a little more able to stop myself from flitting around getting very little accomplished...easier to focus. We'll see. I'm meeting with her again next week for a follow-up.

[BlueStateMama]

I was diagnosed initially by my PCP (a nurse practioner who I loved, and would put up against ANY MD anytime re medical knowledge ) and then by a psychologist (PhD.)

I've been on Adderall for a while now and I function much better on it. My energy levels/functioning have evened out (I used to be very all or nothing - I was at 100 miles an hour or completely overwhelmed and shut down.) I found out that there was a very high co-morbidity between anxiety and ADD (basically, my brain lacks a "filter" - for lack of a better word - and I get overstimulated and anxious pretty easily.) Since med treatment, my panic attacks are almost gone and I'm just plain dealing much better.

I'm on Effexor XR and Adderall. Lexapro (on it initially 'cause I was nursing) made me feel really detached.

We're trying Straterra now (I don't want to be on Adderall long-term - I like the effect, but it's an amphetamine and I want to switch it up), but I can't get past the nausea within an hour or so after I take it (low dose starting) - side note, how did those of you having success deal with that? Was it an issue??

[harrietsmama]

I had nausea for at least a week, and was up to ok by about two. For me, it was worth it! I love Strattera and it really helps me!

Also, I started it while I was inpatient, and they upped me to 40 mg 2x a day by 8 days

[wannabemoms]

I started the Strattera last weekend...I haven't had any nausea though...the only uncomfortable effect is that about 3-4 hours after taking it I get kinda hard/irregular heartbeats for about 1/2 hr...it's not painful but it feels weird. I can get a little light-headed feeling too sometimes.

[BlueStateMama]

Are you guys on a stimulant med in combination, or just the straterra? As I said, I like the adderall effects, but I'm concerned about long-term use.

Sorry, OP, to hijack your post.

[wannabemoms]

just the Strattera for now...just getting started on things.

[MamaRBH]

Hijack away, Mama... I enjoy the discussion.

I had my appointment today.... a more complex discussion w/ a professional also led to a deifinite ADHD diagnosis. (I was thinking ADD, but I was wrong....I didn't realize the Hyperactivity presents in so many ways.)

So I started Concerta today... here's to hoping it helps me better manage my life. I'd so love to be a better listener...get work on my site done....finish school... I just need to FOCUS. (I must say that to myself a hundred times a day...)

[wannabemoms]

How are you feeling on the Concerta?

[MamaRBH]

So far, so good.... a wee bit shaky, but not enough to distract me from doing what I do each day...

She said it would be a few days to a week to know the effects it will have on me... I'm wondering how I'll do with falling asleep tonight.....

[wannabemoms]

I had a recheck with my doc this morning...the strattera's been giving me a bit of dizziness and some heart palpitations, so we're going to try switching to the Concerta. How's it been working out for you so far MamaRBH?

[MamaRBH]

It's really up and down for me, Mama. I wish I could give a definitive answer. It has helped me focus, for sure... but I also get very agitated in the afternoons which effects my ability to mother and be a wife. I'm not sure about side effects passing.... I've been on meds in the past where I was told give it a couple weeks for the side effects to pass.... but I forgot to ask this doc about that, so I'm concerned. I should google and see what I can find on that.

[wannabemoms]

I took only the 18mg yesterday (or whatever the lowest dose is) and didn't really notice anything, so I took two this morning (as per the doc)...we'll see if there's any changes. No heart palpitations/dizziness though, so that's good. I had some anxiety on the strattera too. I suspect it may be a matter of trying different meds until we find the one that works best...it seems that everyone really has an ideal "fit" with a particular type of medication and does poorly on the others...I guess it's a matter of being patient and willing to experiment a bit. Hope you start feeling better!

[MamaRBH]

That's interesting that you were given the option to take one or two.

She gave me 27mg to start... the first 4-5 days it felt very effective but the last couple not so much. She did tell me that it's very controlled and you can onyl get a script every 30 days on the day.

What will you do with the doubling as far as that goes?

[wannabemoms]

Hmm, I don't know. I guess if I'm running low and am unable to get the refill then I'll have to go back to my doc for a new script. I didn't know it was kept under lock and key that much...although I do remember thinking it was weird that the pharmacist made me confirm my phone number and address before handing over the meds, something that's never happened before. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm feeling this double dose for sure, it's been about 4 hours now since I took it. Not unpleasantly, no palpitations which was the big problem with the Strattera, but I'm a tad buzzed. On a VERY positive note, I was just able to clean off my desk and file things away properly (which I've been avoiding for over a month because it was too overwhelming to me), remembered to send some important emails and started a to-do list

[MamaRBH]

Funny.. I have also gotten quite a bit done since starting the meds last week. In fact, some of the things I had on my "to-do" list for months and months... but since it was a mental "to-do" list, I had forgotten it at least three times a day.