ADD and driving HELP!! - ADD / ADHD Message Board

o_janus_o · 05-22-2006, 04:02 AM

I was diagnossed with ADD when I was about 8. I was told that most people grow out of it, yada yada... I thought that I had for the most part. At least gotten it under control. I had problems here and there in highschool, but it was managable without medication. My house is still a mess, but whatever... I just visit people in their homes.

My biggest problem though is driving. I used to have fuzzy dice hanging from my mirror, but I sold them with my last car. I would find myself batting at them like a cat while I was driving down the road! I spend far too much time looking at my rear view mirror. I've recently moved to California from Alaska. In AK driving was pretty simple. Look at the road, watch for traffic, j-walkers, and moose. California is a different story though. I can't focus on enough things to drive safely. I'm scared that I will have to quit driving if I don't do something. I've had so many close calls.

I used to be on Ritilin(sp?) and it worked really well for studdying, when I was little, but I don't know how it would do for driving. I keep a really random schedule. I'd pretty much have to be on it all the time which just isn't practical if I'm going to sleep. I'm also a tad afraid of the weight loss that I would likely get from it. I was borderline anorexic for most of my childhood. I knew I was too thin, but I was afraid to gain weight. I've got that under control now, but I'd rather not go on something that's going to tempt me to do that again.

Any thoughts? I'm really desperate for suggestions. Thanks!

busterangel · 05-22-2006, 02:56 PM

I think that this is a question for your doctor, unless there are others who have similar problems with driving and reactions to medications.

rheanna · 05-23-2006, 12:06 AM

o_janus_o,

First, yes, it is very dangerous to drive a car if you are not alert and in control at every minute. Too many people continue to drive and imperil themselves and everyone else on the roads when they are too tired, or too hungry, or too drowsy from meds, or too old to have good reaction times, or have lousy night vision, or have lousy sunny-days vision, or or or !!!) It is a sign of maturity to admit that you are not an appropriate person to be driving. I've done it -- it's actually liberating -- I feel much less stress now that I leave the driving to others. And it's healthy to walk.

That said, it might be appropriate to talk to a doctor about meds. Everyone is different in their reaction to meds. I liked Ritalin, which lasted for 4-5 hours in my body, then wore off. You can take it on your own schedule. And you don't have to be medicated for your entire waking day. There may be other options. Please go talk to a doctor who is knowlegeable about ADD.

And congratulate yourself on realizing that driving in moose-free California is not healthy for you.

Moose? How often did you encounter them? :-)

--Rheanna

o_janus_o · 05-23-2006, 03:28 AM

Thanks for the replies. I would really love to give up the driving, but my partner lost her license because of a really old, really expensive ticket for driving without a seat belt. We owe something like 2k. Ouch!

I didn't realize that Ritilan lasted such a short time. I really only remember the SR. Maybe a low dosage of of the regular would be helpful without too many side effects. Thanks for the suggestion.

And as far as the moose go, we'd see one in Anchorage about every week or so. Along the highway though, they were rampant. There is a field where I saw about 10 or so grazing the last time I went home for a visit. I forgot how amazing they were.

rheanna · 05-23-2006, 05:23 AM

o_janus_o,

So your partner is already "leaving the driving to others". Well, I guess somebody has to drive, since there's no decent public transportation in California (I lived in Central California for most of my life until about 10 years ago).

I do recognize that giving up driving (especially in Calif) is not that easy. I've only been able to do it now because I live near a large city in northern Germany that has invested in a pretty good bus and train system, and also the country-wide train system makes it easy to travel to most parts of the country. Of course I have to admit to just a teensy (!!!) bit of hypocracy about declaring that my DH and I are able to live just fine without a car, in that I'm quick to accept rides from my friends who have cars.

I'm glad that you recognize that you're not immortal, however, and I hope that you are able to find some solution to being able to focus at the wheel.

--Rheanna