ADHD meds and college - ADD / ADHD Message Board

Cat84 · 06-29-2003, 12:00 PM

I have severe ADHD combined type and I am about to start college. I have tried Ritilin, Adderall, Concerta, and Focalin. The Focalin was the only med that didn't give me bad side affects but it only lasted for about two weeks and then it just stopped working. It would also give me spells of tiredness where I would sleep for hours and have a really hard time waking up. It would hurt to open my eyes. My senior year was really bad and I barely made it. I am going to a really hard college in the fall and I am really scarred. I do not think I can make it without meds that work but I cannot seem to find any that do. Any suggestions? I am the kind of ADDer that is affected in every aspect of life. The Focalin really helped with relationships and I wish that I could have that everyday. I just feel like I am out of options and I am kind of scarred. Thanks and I would love any replies.

LittleD1981 · 06-29-2003, 08:43 PM

Hi there! I'm about to go back to college in the fall, and I totally know how you feel. When I was in college before (last year), I wasn't on any meds, and I could barely get by. I got decent grades, but I needed to keep getting doctor's notes to excuse all my late homework, and it was just ridiculous. I swear it takes me twice as long, or more, to get assignments done, than it does for everyone else. Anyway, I just recently started Strattera (the non-stimulant for ADD) and I found it works very well. One of the first things that I noticed was that I could have better conversations. Like, when someone was talking, I could focus on what they were saying and not drift off. It was like a miracle. I just had to go off of the Strattera for a week, to see if the anxiety that I'm having is being caused by that (it isn't) and it's already difficult to read and to listen to people talk. Anyway, just another med to try. This one may be different for you, without the same side effects, as it's not a stimulant. I got nauseaus the first 2 days but after that it went away. Good luck!

Cat84 · 06-30-2003, 09:30 PM

Well thanks for replying. I have thought about Stratera but everything I seem to hear about it is bad. I have heard that it will be ok and then a couple of months later you will get bad side affects. I do not want to be a couple of months into college and then my meds just go wacky on me. But it will be one to try. I go to the doc on Wednesday to see what else he wants to try me on. He put my sister on Stratera for a bit and she hallucinated. Thanks for the reply and I will keep ya posted.

metu · 07-01-2003, 08:59 AM

I don't have specific medication recommendations, but offer a little perspective on college vs. high school.

First, it is so impressive that you have accomplished all you have and are heading off to a hard college! Nothing you will ever have to do is likely to be as difficult as working to get into a good college. In my experience, things will get easier from here on out.

My husband has ADD, and went to an Ivy League school. He did have some difficulty in the beginning, primarily because he overloaded his schedule with tough classes and was heading in an academic direction that wasn't a good fit with his abilities. After switching to something he really loved (as opposed to something his parents were trying to influence him to do), his grades shot up and everything came together beautifully. So, two pieces of advice from him: keep your schedule easy in the beginning and find something you love and you'll be good at it.

From my perspective, I found that making connections with a few teachers and administrators made the difference between success and failure. If you can find a mentor, that would be ideal. When I was just a nameless face in a large class no one cut me any slack or helped me with summer internships. But when I got to know a few proffs, etc., the next thing I knew I was being offered amazing research opportunities and invited to participate in administrative committees. Even if you're going to a large school, there are ways to make these connections. Volunteer to help with research, or take a small seminar. Having just been admitted to grad school myself despite luke-warm grades, I can testify that grades don't matter near as much for that hurdle as they did for getting into college. What got me in was a letter of recommedation from a professor I was working with. The back door, I guess. What matters more from here on out is that you find what you're interested in and pursue it with the wonderful creativity and drive that most ADD'ers seem to have.

In addition, you should read Jonathan Mooney's book about succeeding in college with ADD. You may also find some of Robert Sternberg's books of interest - he is a psych at Yale (and head of the APA) who studies intelligence and success. He argues that characteristics different from those that result in high grades are more highly correlated with success in most fields. Reassuring.

Best of luck! - Debby

monkey84 · 07-02-2003, 09:27 PM

Im also head back to College this fall. Just like you, im scared out of my mind. i was on meds and I took the adderall but i got really aggressive, and it just stopped working. I was put on strattera, but i was soo tired i couldnt stay awake in my classes or concenrate. I can only hope things work out for you. This summer im tryng to whole trial and error.