adult just diagnosed ADD - take adderall or straterra? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

catatbu · 11-19-2003, 10:41 AM

I've just been diagnosed (at age 23) with adult ADD. All my life I've been dealing with frustration over a lack of focus and organization that, until recently, I thought EVERYONE must deal with consistently. My self-esteem plummeted as I told myself that I simply must not have the personal character to excercise discipline over my everyday life. I've been in 9 car accidents. I have been a bored B-average student with (seemingly contradictory) National Merit and law school scholarships based on high standardized test scores. My mind races so fast and I have so many unfinished projects laying around that I sometimes feel that I'm literally going insane. I have been in and out of passionate, quick relationships (dating AND friends) since high school, and find that I have a short attention span for people. I can't watch TV for more than 30 minutes, even though I WANT to. I have been trying to fix, understand, and accept these parts of myself for as long as I can remember. And all along, I thought that everyone else had already achieved that "goal." I'm sure you all know what I mean.

This may sounds strange, but I'm actually relieved to find out that there might be a neurological condition that has made focus and discipline difficult for me! SO ANYWAY, I've just been prescribed a trial (10-pill) set of 20mg Adderall that I'll start taking TODAY. I've read some things about the non-stimulant drug "Straterra," and there seem to be very mixed reviews. I'm going to try Adderall, but I don't want to get addicted to some kind of "upper" that effects my sleep patterns and changes my personality. On the other hand, I'm afraid of the moodiness and sleepiness that Straterra seems to cause in these cases about which I'm reading. Any suggestions from ADD adults who have experienced both? I realize the reactions to these drugs are very personal, but I'd like any advice you can offer...

--- Katie

* Free ~ Spirit * · 11-19-2003, 12:42 PM

Hey welcome to the board.

Your choices as far as treatment are not just medications. In fact natural supplements have recently proved themselves to be just as helpful as medication in treating this disorder (though no doctors will tell you that) There is also a treatment called biofeedback which is usually very successful for teens and young adults with ADD. I always like to say, medication should only be used when necessary after all other safer treatments have been tried but not been sufficiant enough to deal with the problem.

beCalmd is a great supplement. It is safe. I took it for a long time and had better results than I did with medication that I was on for years when I was younger. It just got a bit expensive or I would still be taking it.

As far as deciding between adderall or stratterra. Well, adderall is a stimulant (amphetamine) Is there a history of drug addiction in your family?

Strattera is still fairly new, it is a non-stimulant. For some it has worked wonders.

Please consider ALL of your options and see if you can find a safe alternative before trying medication. Medications should only be used when it is absolutley necessary and a person needs it to function in day to day life.

hairjewels · 11-19-2003, 12:49 PM

I am a 39 year old female just diagnosed also. I have been extremely frustrated all my life and yes, I also felt relief when I found out.

I have tried vitamins and herbs. I have to say some did work for my depression but not the disorder. I am now on Ritalin and so far so good. I have not figured out whether it will make a difference in school. I will find out in January when the next semester starts.

As far as which meds, that depends on you. You will have to try different ones to see which agrees with you. I am extremely sensitive to prescription meds and Ritalin so far is agreeing with me. Strattera increased my depression and did nothing for add. It did increase my sexual desire.

Some people on these message boards have lots of problems with Ritalin. Just keep going back to your doctor if you are not happy with one med and try another.
I got fed up with depression/anxiety meds because of side effects. Vitamins helped me with that but not the add.

* Free ~ Spirit * · 11-19-2003, 12:52 PM

Hair, which vitamins did you try for your problems? How much ritalin do you take currently? Were you able to get off all of your depression/anxiety meds and just take ritalin along with vitamins/supplements?

hairjewels · 11-19-2003, 12:58 PM

I have been prescription drug free since July of this year. I hated the side effects.

I took St. Johns wort, kava kava, ginko biloba, 5htp, I just bought becalmed. There are others also that I took but I can't remember all of them right now. I took about 17 vitamins in the am, 15 at noon and about 12 at dinner time. I felt great but nothing for my concentration.

Since I am sensitive to prescription meds, I wanted to make sure I just took the Ritalin, 20 mg, to see how it feels and what side effects it will give me. I will probably add my vitamins later.