ADD Meds for adults.... your experiences/thoughts? - Page 5

[Essie]

Originally Posted by MamaRBH

Essie, sorry I missed a couple of your questions....

Yes, the meds do help get out of the fog, but not for a full 24 hours. I find that 8am-3pm are my most productive times. After 3pm I am back to spaz-state. That said - I'm not certain this med or dose is exactly what I need. My pysch is really cool about working through this slowly and with an open mind....she's confident we'll get it right with some tweaking.

The person you see for prescriptions will ask you a lot of questions. Based on your answers she can best decide which form of the meds are best for you...stimulants aren't a good option for people who are prone to addiction, anxiety, depression, violent temper, etc.. Then once they decide which might be best for you, I agree with Crystal - they'll likely prescribe the one they are most familiar with. You'll go from there with follow-up visits to discuss side effects, doses, changes of meds, a need for therpay, etc.

I work from home and I am sad to say that if I was better able to focus, I would be contributing to my family's finances so much more. (and that truth leads me to feel like a total failure....which in-turn makes it harder to focus and succeed.... which is a part of the disorder, as well.) When I worked in an office environment I was more productive because my job was very active....I had to be up looking for files and making sure doctors were fully informed on patients before walking into the exam room. At home - I end up doing laundry, cleaning, re-arranging, emailing, starting things I don't finish, etc.

Hey, thanks so much for your reply. So you worked in medical before and now you work from home? what do you do? if you don't mind me asking...

Well, my GP was asking if I felt depressed and saw me for depression in the past. I said I think I get depressed b/c of the effects of what are ADD! It's like what you mentioned about not being productive and then feeling crappy about oneself, which creates a bad self image. It's a horrible and lonely cycle. I told her that I think I just never realized that I am depressed BECAUSE these things I do and think are a negative cycle and IT creates depression.

Also, my Dr. knows me but it's not like I see her more than once per year. She only has a snapshot of my life, so I think it wouldn't be appropriate for her to give and rx or dx. Luckily she agrees.

Well, I have really gained a lot from these discussions with all of you here and I really appreciate it. I look forward to the responses!

Thank you

[Essie]

So I talked to my doctor today (phone appt.) she said that she discussed me with a psychiatrist (colleague) and that since mental health is so backed up she is recommending a therapeutic trial of meds--specifically Ritalin 5 mg 2x per day. This is while I am waiting to be seen by mental health!

She said that if there's an effect of calming and focus the meds would be right. If I feel jittery or anything like that it's not right and they'd move onto the next one.

I am open to trying this, but admit it kind of freaks me out. Why do I feel like a meth person all of a sudden? meth is totally just a junk pile of drugs like speed right? and Ritalin has beeen around forever. That's the reason they start with that one (doc said). The crappy part is that my HMO doesn't have samples so I will have to pay $15 for each rx.

I guess if it's worth it I will find out.

I know that there are different responses for each person, but I wondered if I could have feedback from you all. You have been so helpful.

Thanks!

[wannabemoms]

Well, you won't know what works unless you try something. Ritalin HAS been around forever and it's a good starting point. The bottom line is, it may not work for you, in which case you consider it a lesson learned and move on to the next option. It's going to be trial and error, no matter what you do. If you're REALLY lucky, the Ritalin will work well and you'll be all set. The first med I tried, although it slowed me down, gave me heart palpitations and increased my resting heart rate, which I did NOT like. The one I'm on now gives me focus and keeps my energy at a more constant rate during the day, which I like. I'm going to stick with it for a bit, but I'm not 100% sure this is the best solution (either drug type or dose, we'll have to see) for me. It's good enough for now, but I suspect I'll need to tweak it.

[The4OfUs]

I'm crashing this thread, just to let you know that as the spouse of a person with ADD, who is on a long acting Ritalin daily (has to be brand name too, the generic did weird things to him and gave him wicked headaches), it has made such a difference in his life, and in our marriage - he was dxd by a neuropsych, and is maintained by his FP. Since it's a controlled substance, he can only get 1 month at a time, and it's $50 a month even with insurance, but it is SO worth it.

His neuropsych told him basically, "If this is what you need, you'll know right away because you'll feel yourself come down and center. If it's not right for you, you'll be bouncing off the walls." and he was right. There was a noticeable difference in him to me, and to himself, very soon after starting it. Sometimes he doesn't take it on weekends, and I can tell when he doesn't by about lunchtime. He feels so much better about HIMSELF, that once he got over the "I have to take medication" hurdle, he was actually a little bit upset that he hadn't gotten himself diagnosed/treated sooner.

And uh, DH is not the kind of person who would go through diet changes to manage it; he went to therapy for a while to work out his issues surroudning it in the beginning, but the cognitive stuff just didn't do it for him either. I'm not really a "yay big pharma" person, but I do firmly believe that medications do have their purposes.

I wish you all well!

[Essie]

Hey,

Thanks so much to both of you. And thanks The4ofus for mentioning the deal about brand only. This is very timely b/c I just requested brand for our Asperger son who is on a medication. Another parent just clued me in on the whole generic vs. brand thing. I thought it was not true, but now I am a believer.

Anyway...I really appreciate your input! My doc pretty much said the same thing about knowing right away if it works. With the R has your DH had any trouble sleeping? my rx is for the short acting, so we'll see what happens.

Are there any long term side effects you know of? Also, is it like Xanax in the way that you take it as needed?

Thanks so much.

[The4OfUs]

DH has had no problems with sleep at all, by the time bedtime rolls around the long acting has worn off and he's sleeping fine. As far as long term side effects, most of what I've found has been about the effects on child and adolescent brains that are still developing and fine tuning synapses, etc. , so I'm not really sure about the long term effects on an already developed adult brain (DH didn't start taking it until he was, um...33-ish?). There are concerns about addiction because it is a controlled substance, so I think you just have to be careful to find the minimum dose that works for you, and not do anything like double up because something important is going on (DH jokes about that but would never actually do it), or anything like that that could lead you down that path to abuse or addiction. DH is very responsible with his meds, so while I think there can be an addiciton concern there, I also fully believe you can also take it totally responsibly and have it do what it's supposed to do - which as I understand from DH is to clear our the blur and center you, not to make you an overachiever (i.e. taking too much or taking it if it's not right for you), or to make you a zombie. If it's the right med for you, and you find the lowest effective dose, and use it responsibly, I don't see it being any worse than any other medication simply because of its controlled substance status.

I'd just be sure that you have a list of the side effects printed off and handy so you can keep an eye out, and/or have soemone else keep an eye out too, and take it from there.

Regarding as needed vs. every day, as I said DH sometimes skips it on the weekends, because our weekends are often looser and less demanding of focus and impulse control (i.e., motormouth/not thinking before he speaks - his two big sticking points)...but those are both things he defiinitely needs at work, so he takes it every morning before he leaves for work no matter how he thinks he might do that day, KWIM? On weekends where he has a project to tackle (like recently building shelves in the basement) or if we're going somewhere and he needs to be focused/centered, he'll still take it - if we're just lounging around the house, he won't. From what I understand, it's not like an antidepressant, or like my thyroid medication where you need a steady dose in your system to maintain a therapeutic effect; however, at the same time it's not probably something you want to only take here and there or it kind of defeats the purpose of keeping you level, or steady (as DH says). So while I woulnd't say it's something that you need to have a constant stream of in your body, I also wouldn't treat it like an anxiety med where you wait for the problem and then take it to relieve symptoms...I'd make it a pretty regular thing until you see how it affects your routine, then if you know you're going to have an easy, loungy day you could skip it but if you have a day where you have stuff to get done, you'd want to be sure you had it.

Does that make sense? That's all pretty much what I've gathered from conversations with DH...I'm not an MD, so this is all just our/his experience with it.

[Ms Ladybug]

I just want to jump in and say THANK YOU for posting this. I was dx a few months back with "mild ADD". Was a total shock to me and I told my psych "no way. I DON'T have ADD". I was thinking ADD= hyperactive, talkative, etc...SO not me! So, I went home script free and thinking what a lunatic he is. I looked up adult ADD on the computer, and I almost cried. It was describing me to a T. Here I thought I was just spacey, certainly lazy, and messy. My room is never clean, my house is not organized, my time management...forget it. I have no time management. I can't do simple things like return phone calls, pay bills before a late notice arrives, clean off my desk, fold laundry, etc...I procrastinate on EVERYTHING, mainly because I just can't get started.
My Psych told me that I can come back and retest for free sometime, but he was pretty sure I had ADD. I told him "absolutely. I'll come back and show you I don't have ADD"...then I left his office. 10min later his secretary calls me...I left my purse in his office.

I'm ready now to look into meds. I'd always prided myself in being prescription free. And to have to take meds (and the horror of PSYCH meds) is not pleasing me, but you know what, I need my life back. My kids deserve a momma that can focus, and get tasks done. They need a less cluttered house, and a less cluttered momma.
Now, making that initial phone call...something so simple, I'll put off forever.

Oh and another thing about my psych... I was telling him that I couldn't have ADD because I had a college degree and was a straight-A student. He looked at me and said, "I have a doctorate degree, and I have ADD."

[wannabemoms]

I've got an MSc. My desks and lab areas were disaster zones (I still hear stories about all the cleaning up they made poor undergrads do after my departure)...I was always late for class, procrastinated on every report and often ended up writing things in the wee hours of the morning. I daydreamed through classes, often couldn't remember writing the notes I took during lectures...it's amazing that I pulled it off. That said, adult ADD patients are often very bright and very successful, as long as they are doing work that is interesting to them. I struggled with school until my courses got more specialized and interesting to me, and I also had my own research program which allowed me some flexibility to do things a bit haphazardly (you know, the "something shiny" syndrome..."oh, what a great idea/neat thing/cool bug, I MUST go check it out right now!" Good grades and ADD are not mutually exclusive

[Ms Ladybug]

Thanks wannabemoms. By the way your post about your typical day is spot-on what my typical days are like now.

Someone motivate me to call my Dr.

His name is Dr. House, which kinda makes me laugh.

[Essie]

Originally Posted by Ms Ladybug

Thanks wannabemoms. By the way your post about your typical day is spot-on what my typical days are like now.

Someone motivate me to call my Dr.

His name is Dr. House, which kinda makes me laugh.

Just do it! easy for me to say right? I felt so much better after I actually started thinking of myself with ADD and talking to my doctor about it. It was like I could finally talk about what my shortcomings have been and have a real reason (I hope!) behind it.

I do still feel weird about trying Ritalin but I am going to give it a try. I ordered it today and should have it soon. I will let you all know how it goes.

This thread has really been constructive for me and I hope it helps you too Ms. Ladybug! You will feel better if you do something about it to help yourself.

[wannabemoms]

Ladybug, take advantage of the "something shiny" syndrome and the moment you read this post, stop everything and go run and make that call. If you're still reading you need to stop. Go call. Stop reading.

CALL!!!!

[Essie]

Originally Posted by wannabemoms

Ladybug, take advantage of the "something shiny" syndrome and the moment you read this post, stop everything and go run and make that call. If you're still reading you need to stop. Go call. Stop reading.

CALL!!!!

Can someone explain this *something shiny* idea to me? I think I can figure it out but, is it from a book or?

Thanks!

[wannabemoms]

It's just a phrase I picked up from a guy I know who has ADD. It's term his wife uses to describe the way he bounces from one thing to the next when some new thing or idea (shiny or otherwise) catches his attention... (think of a crow...drawn irresistably to shiny stuff, can't help but to go and check it out..."oooh, something shiny, I MUST go see what it is!") Just a silly phrase, but I think it captures the rapid-fire way an ADD brain leaps around and can't stay focused on the task at hand...

[trayls]

Originally Posted by The4OfUs

Regarding as needed vs. every day, as I said DH sometimes skips it on the weekends, because our weekends are often looser and less demanding of focus and impulse control (i.e., motormouth/not thinking before he speaks - his two big sticking points)...

Poking my nose in here (I was taking Adderall, stopped for baby, now starting Ritalin)-- I just wanted to mention that for me, I needed to take it everyday. My doc said some people "take breaks" or skip doses and that works for them. But for me, I didn't like the way I felt when I resumed doses after skipping. For me, everyday was best.

Also, as to the idea that you will "know right away" -- I don't know what you're idea of "right away" is, but it can take a couple of days to get used to the changes you may feel. I recommend you pay attention to how you are doing at different points in the day after taking the meds because it will help you figure out if the dosage needs adjustment.

Obviously different people react in different ways to medications, but I definitely had an adjustment period that was uncomfortable. That said, that medication changed my life. I liken it to "Flowers for Algernon" if you are familiar with that story.

Good luck!

[Essie]

Originally Posted by trayls

Poking my nose in here (I was taking Adderall, stopped for baby, now starting Ritalin)-- I just wanted to mention that for me, I needed to take it everyday. My doc said some people "take breaks" or skip doses and that works for them. But for me, I didn't like the way I felt when I resumed doses after skipping. For me, everyday was best.

Also, as to the idea that you will "know right away" -- I don't know what you're idea of "right away" is, but it can take a couple of days to get used to the changes you may feel. I recommend you pay attention to how you are doing at different points in the day after taking the meds because it will help you figure out if the dosage needs adjustment.

Obviously different people react in different ways to medications, but I definitely had an adjustment period that was uncomfortable. That said, that medication changed my life. I liken it to "Flowers for Algernon" if you are familiar with that story.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for this. Yeah, I took Effexor for depression years ago and I know there is an adjustment period. I should have mentioned that my doc said to give it about 2 weeks.

Would you mind telling me what you experience as an ADD person? I am just wondering... I know that meds are so different for all of us but I just never dreamed that I would be given this rx. I have trouble focusing, jump from thing to thing, and get easily distracted. I am by no means like Ty Pennington! Did you all know that he has ADHD?

I wish I could remember the book Flowers for Algernon, as I know I read it but don't recall what its' about!

well, I look forward to hearing from you again--all of you

[Ms Ladybug]

I read Ty's story. I'm not at all like him either. I don't think I have the "H" part of AD(H)D. In fact starting a task is momentous for me. Like cleaning the house, returning calls, or making an appt.

That said, I CALLED. Wannabemoms didn't really give me any wiggle room. I thinks she's the kinda girl that I need to hang around. Someone just to give me the occasional butt-kick.
What I figured would happen did...the next avail appt is Dec. 11! So, I have plenty of time to research the meds a bit more, side effects, effectiveness, etc. I guess I'll start with my HMO formulary and go from there.

I like the "something shiny" analogy and I'm glad you explained it because I was wondering what that was as well. Very much like my brain.

This is all kinda scary for me (mental illness - I hate that term). But, I'm also glad to be getting answers for what I thought were some major shortcomings.

[Essie]

Originally Posted by Ms Ladybug

I read Ty's story. I'm not at all like him either. I don't think I have the "H" part of AD(H)D. In fact starting a task is momentous for me. Like cleaning the house, returning calls, or making an appt.

That said, I CALLED. Wannabemoms didn't really give me any wiggle room. I thinks she's the kinda girl that I need to hang around. Someone just to give me the occasional butt-kick.
What I figured would happen did...the next avail appt is Dec. 11! So, I have plenty of time to research the meds a bit more, side effects, effectiveness, etc. I guess I'll start with my HMO formulary and go from there.

I like the "something shiny" analogy and I'm glad you explained it because I was wondering what that was as well. Very much like my brain.

This is all kinda scary for me (mental illness - I hate that term). But, I'm also glad to be getting answers for what I thought were some major shortcomings.

Good for you! I guess you and I are in the same boat at the moment. It kind of freaks me out as well, but don't think of it as mental illness--I mean, is it really considered that? maybe. Anyway, look at it as more of a way to understand why you do what you do and a way that will possibly help you to not feel down about yourself. At least, that's what I do to myself!

Let's keep up the posting!

[The4OfUs]

I hope it's OK if I keep chiming in with my DH's experience, I figured more is better, but let me know if you want me to butt out, I won't be offended at all. This is all based on conversations we've had, and we've had a lot of them. Talking about it a lot has helped him process it, and talking about it with him has helped me be more understanding.

He's told me that for him, he just gets so overwhelmed with all the "stuff" zinging around through his brain (work stuff, family stuff, house stuff, etc.), that he just doesn't know where to start, so he either does nothing, or he starts one thing, then thinks of an idea for another thing he was going to do so starts that, but then realizes the if he just does this one thing that other project could be finished, and..and...and...which all lead to him feeling bad about himself for either doing nothing or never being able to finish anything. The medication kind of cancels out all the noise and lets him focus on whatever it is he wants to do at that point, and lets him prioritize and actually know where to start.

The second thing it helps him with is his "no governer on the motor" syndrome - he has strained more than one personal or business relationship by just saying whatever it is that's on the tip of his tongue without thinking about if it's appropriate...and on the medication, he says he finally feels his brain click and say, 'hey, maybe I shouldn't say that'..he said this was an amazing feeling for him.

The third thing it helps him with is the self-defeating internal talk, the frustration and anger with himself for not being able to accomplish things; it would seem like just being more focused would help, and it does, but in addition when he *doesn't* get everything he wants done, or he hits a snag in a project, instead of getting angry and feeling like a failure and giving up, he just deals, and does what he can in the time he has and is OK with not being 'perfect'.

He tried a couple times in the past using lists and planners without the medication, and that would be OK for a couple weeks, but it didn't work long term. Cognitive therapy helped him process the whole thing, but didn't help him when he was in the moment of being overwhelmed or saying something he probably shouldn't, etc. The best long term result for him (in both his opinion and mine) has been medication.

When he first was diagnosed and went on medication, it was hard for him to accept that there was something 'wrong with his brain' (his words). I told him to try to think about it kind of like the opposite of my thyroid...my thyroid doesn't make enough hormone on its own, so I take something to make sure there's enough in my body - his brain makes too many connections at the same time, so he takes something to have the connections slow down. That helped him, maybe it will help someone else here, too.

[Ms Ladybug]

Originally Posted by The4OfUs

He's told me that for him, he just gets so overwhelmed with all the "stuff" zinging around through his brain (work stuff, family stuff, house stuff, etc.), that he just doesn't know where to start, so he either does nothing, or he starts one thing, then thinks of an idea for another thing he was going to do so starts that, but then realizes the if he just does this one thing that other project could be finished, and..and...and...which all lead to him feeling bad about himself for either doing nothing or never being able to finish anything. The medication kind of cancels out all the noise and lets him focus on whatever it is he wants to do at that point, and lets him prioritize and actually know where to start.


The third thing it helps him with is the self-defeating internal talk, the frustration and anger with himself for not being able to accomplish things; it would seem like just being more focused would help, and it does, but in addition when he *doesn't* get everything he wants done, or he hits a snag in a project, instead of getting angry and feeling like a failure and giving up, he just deals, and does what he can in the time he has and is OK with not being 'perfect'.

He tried a couple times in the past using lists and planners without the medication, and that would be OK for a couple weeks, but it didn't work long term. Cognitive therapy helped him process the whole thing, but didn't help him when he was in the moment of being overwhelmed or saying something he probably shouldn't, etc. The best long term result for him (in both his opinion and mine) has been medication.

Please keep posting. It's great to get all perspectives. I quoted above the thoughts that are ME TOTALLY! I don't have the motor mouth problem, but WOW those others are RIGHT ON ME. And yes, I've done planners, calenders, to do lists, cleaning journals, housekeeping binders, etc...Just can't stick to it.

Thanks for that post. It really does help, and I hope you keep coming around here.

[trayls]

Originally Posted by The4OfUs

When he first was diagnosed and went on medication, it was hard for him to accept that there was something 'wrong with his brain' (his words).

The4OfUse - you have reminded me of something. For those curious about ADD and the various ways it can manifest itself, there is a book called "Driven to Distraction", maybe someone has already mentioned it. It is sort of THE book on ADD that got widespread attention. I highly recommend it.

So I started reading this book on the advice of my therapist. As I read the different stories, I couldn't believe what I was reading. I remember marching into my therapists office and telling her how angry I was with her for showing me this book. I was angry that my lifelong experiences were right here in these pages... why did I just find this out now, why couldn't someone have helped me years ago, if someone had figured things out I wouldn't have had such an incredibly hard time. Etc, etc, you get the idea.

It was hard to realize that this thing was a problem and honestly, even after the official neuropsych evaluation, I still didn't believe it. Until the meds. Suddenly what had been impossible was possible.

It is crushing to your self-esteem to so greatly under-achieve, over and over, despite your very strongest wishes. I am, like many with ADD, a very intelligent woman, yet my grades, my work success, my relationships
reflected none of it.

The lack of patience created a lot of difficulties. Going for a hike was hard, it was "boring". Standing in lines was torture, anything where I couldn't freely wander about. I don't go to movies. I just don't.

Many with ADD do have the ability to hyperfocus, and that can really confuse things. I've had moments when I could focus intently but why or when was out of my control. For me, I would focus best in a bustling coffee shop or a bar. I needed white noise always. In its absence, I would hyperfocus on sounds and it would drive me crazy - chewing gum, tapping, voices, etc.

I am one of those motor mouths, with no mental filter. Its not the occasional "woops!" its all the time. And when I'm really going, I come across as upset or riled up, when I'm just excited and rambling. Trying to have a conversation with someone's "stream of conscience" it difficult. Saying things that can be hurtful or offense is frustrating when you absolutely meant no harm whatsoever.

On the other hand, I am very sensitive to other people. I am unusually empathetic and compassionate to those who are struggling or sad or different. This too is common with those with ADD.

Its interesting to me, because while this condition can makes things difficult as a child, it is seriously magnified as an adult. It can seem like your world slowly falls apart, one pile of mail, one business gaff, one friendship at a time.

The4OfUse mentioned not knowing how to start and so doing nothing. Totally my experience. Not being to do things unless they are going to perfect. I don't understand it all, these perfectionist tendencies in a perfection wasteland.

Medication alone isn't the answer, however. Once your mind can slow down and focus, there is a whole skillset that others have and you lack. Organization is the classic example. Okay, I'll do something with all this mail, but what?! How will I start tracking phone calls, appointments, etc. For me research was a big issue. I would go from source to source, jumping around like crazy with no idea how to save and organization the information to make it useable.

There are ADD coaches. I think in practical terms, they would be more useful than CBT at the onset. I have never seen one, but have always wanted to.

I've been off my meds since January when I found out I was pregnant. He is now 6 weeks old and I can not stand it! I'm dedicated to bf'ing but I can't continue to function this way. And I know its no good for him. So I'm working on a med, pumping, bottle feed regime that hopefully will work.

Sorry if this is disjointed.