Ringbill
07-09-2004, 12:11 AM
Hi,
I am new here and, frankly, kinda nervous about discussing ADD with anyone. But, I have a couple of questions that I think y'all can help me with. The story of my diagnosis is long, but suffice it to say I am a 29 year old male, and had a fairly extensive evaluation. My doctor put me on 10mg 2x daily instant release adderall. The first week was amazing; I was a changed person. A few individuals I spoke with told me I might even have been 'hyperfocused'...and that's possible but I didn't care because for the first time in my life I: 1) Listened, 2) Didn't interrupt, and 3) Stuck on a task until completion. I also was much calmer than in the past. Side effects for me were mild, but included cold hands and feet and trouble sleeping.
Okay, well that abilty to focus has gone away. I am sort of scared of addiction, so I don't take it on the weekends and the occasional day I don't need it (about 1x every 2 weeks). I spoke with my doctor, but he didnt' want to up my dose. He instead changed me to 20mg adderall XR. It does seem "smoother" to me...but I don't really focus that much better. In other words, I notice the drug, it keeps me alert, it gives me some focus ability, but it's not like it was.
Therefore, my questions are: 1) from everyones experience, was my first week abnormal in terms of focus ability? and 2) If not, do I need to push for an increased dose? I have heard Adderall has a 'sweet spot' where too much actually is detrimental.
Thank you for your help. I feel like admitting as an adult that I have ADD is like admitting a personal failure or problem. But treatment has made me a differnet person and one I much prefer. I hope I can 'fine tune' this treatment some. I know y'all can help...and I thank you for your advice.
Ringbill
I am new here and, frankly, kinda nervous about discussing ADD with anyone. But, I have a couple of questions that I think y'all can help me with. The story of my diagnosis is long, but suffice it to say I am a 29 year old male, and had a fairly extensive evaluation. My doctor put me on 10mg 2x daily instant release adderall. The first week was amazing; I was a changed person. A few individuals I spoke with told me I might even have been 'hyperfocused'...and that's possible but I didn't care because for the first time in my life I: 1) Listened, 2) Didn't interrupt, and 3) Stuck on a task until completion. I also was much calmer than in the past. Side effects for me were mild, but included cold hands and feet and trouble sleeping.
Okay, well that abilty to focus has gone away. I am sort of scared of addiction, so I don't take it on the weekends and the occasional day I don't need it (about 1x every 2 weeks). I spoke with my doctor, but he didnt' want to up my dose. He instead changed me to 20mg adderall XR. It does seem "smoother" to me...but I don't really focus that much better. In other words, I notice the drug, it keeps me alert, it gives me some focus ability, but it's not like it was.
Therefore, my questions are: 1) from everyones experience, was my first week abnormal in terms of focus ability? and 2) If not, do I need to push for an increased dose? I have heard Adderall has a 'sweet spot' where too much actually is detrimental.
Thank you for your help. I feel like admitting as an adult that I have ADD is like admitting a personal failure or problem. But treatment has made me a differnet person and one I much prefer. I hope I can 'fine tune' this treatment some. I know y'all can help...and I thank you for your advice.
Ringbill
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lateeth
07-09-2004, 02:29 AM
My experience is with my son who took adderall since 6th grade and now is taking strattera (in 10th grade), so i am not sure how much this will help. For years he said he could not tell the difference when on the adderall and i think the difference is very subtle to him. He was able to compete in school and went from being thought of as a stupid, written off student to being considered one of the best in his class. He still misses a lot of what others say to him and still has problems focusing but is a lot closer to "normal" and "normal" enough to be able to get good grades and survive high school with the medication. I only notice the days he has no medication when I have to ask him something 110 times instead of 10 times. He is not hyperactive and i like the smaller change in him better than i would like him to be a completely different person with lots of drugs in him.
The reason we switched to Strattera is because my doctor says it is not addictive at all and continues to work if you miss some days. I cannot see that it is better myself but if you are worried about addiction, ask about it. You also do not need a triplicate prescription for it so i guess the medical community does not consider it to be addictive either.
The reason we switched to Strattera is because my doctor says it is not addictive at all and continues to work if you miss some days. I cannot see that it is better myself but if you are worried about addiction, ask about it. You also do not need a triplicate prescription for it so i guess the medical community does not consider it to be addictive either.
Ringbill
07-09-2004, 09:57 AM
Thank you for the reply. I have been considering Straterra, and I think I will give it a try before long. My doctor and the psychologist who diagnosed me told me that they didn't believe Straterra worked well. However, from reading here it seems to work quite well for some folks, and mabye I should give it a try.
Thank you for your advice again.
Thank you for your advice again.
index.html
07-09-2004, 10:32 AM
...Therefore, my questions are: 1) from everyones experience, was my first week abnormal in terms of focus ability?...
I think that it isn't unusual at all to have a "honeymoon period" with the stimulants when you first begin treatment or when your dose is increased. I know I did.
I think you have to judge your results by how you function after that period is over. It's quite possible that 20mg isn't a large enough dose for you. But, you are right to be concerned about the risk of addiction if you seek to consistently feel the way you did that first week.
Just my humble opinion, of course!
I think that it isn't unusual at all to have a "honeymoon period" with the stimulants when you first begin treatment or when your dose is increased. I know I did.
I think you have to judge your results by how you function after that period is over. It's quite possible that 20mg isn't a large enough dose for you. But, you are right to be concerned about the risk of addiction if you seek to consistently feel the way you did that first week.
Just my humble opinion, of course!
Ringbill
07-09-2004, 10:49 AM
index.html:
Thanks, you echo my thoughts. I thought it was too good to be true, but now I dont' feel much different than before in terms of work and social improvement. I appreciate the advice. If I ask for an increased dose I believe I will be very careful and take breaks from the meds.
Thanks again.
Thanks, you echo my thoughts. I thought it was too good to be true, but now I dont' feel much different than before in terms of work and social improvement. I appreciate the advice. If I ask for an increased dose I believe I will be very careful and take breaks from the meds.
Thanks again.
Ringbill
07-12-2004, 11:46 PM
I wanted to give an update and 'bump' this thread for my comment.
I know some of y'all will not like this but here's the story:
Today I took my typical 20mg Adderall XR, but also took 10mg instant release in the AM. I noticed a big difference. I took another 10mg instant release at lunch (40mg total for the day), and I had a great day. Great focus ability, but not 'high'. I am thinking this is justification to asked for an increased dose, however I imagine my doctor would frown on my self-medicating. Thoughts?
I know some of y'all will not like this but here's the story:
Today I took my typical 20mg Adderall XR, but also took 10mg instant release in the AM. I noticed a big difference. I took another 10mg instant release at lunch (40mg total for the day), and I had a great day. Great focus ability, but not 'high'. I am thinking this is justification to asked for an increased dose, however I imagine my doctor would frown on my self-medicating. Thoughts?
bggmm
07-13-2004, 12:59 AM
I wanted to give an update and 'bump' this thread for my comment.
I know some of y'all will not like this but here's the story:
Today I took my typical 20mg Adderall XR, but also took 10mg instant release in the AM. I noticed a big difference. I took another 10mg instant release at lunch (40mg total for the day), and I had a great day. Great focus ability, but not 'high'. I am thinking this is justification to asked for an increased dose, however I imagine my doctor would frown on my self-medicating. Thoughts?
Thanks for the update, Ringbill:) My thoughts are that you know better than anyone else how you feel. Putting aside the dependency issue for a moment, there are few doctors who, unless they've known their patient(s) for many years, would be ecstatic hearing that one self-medicated. However, if the one day test you did worked well for you, then I think it's vitally important for you to tell him exactly how it made you feel (no euphoria) and how well you were able to focus, as soon as possible. I don't know if one day is enough to gauge how it will work in the future (not even the docs could know) b/c everyones' system is different.
I'll be looking for your next update...eager to hear how your discussion w/the doc went.
God Bless
Marlene
I know some of y'all will not like this but here's the story:
Today I took my typical 20mg Adderall XR, but also took 10mg instant release in the AM. I noticed a big difference. I took another 10mg instant release at lunch (40mg total for the day), and I had a great day. Great focus ability, but not 'high'. I am thinking this is justification to asked for an increased dose, however I imagine my doctor would frown on my self-medicating. Thoughts?
Thanks for the update, Ringbill:) My thoughts are that you know better than anyone else how you feel. Putting aside the dependency issue for a moment, there are few doctors who, unless they've known their patient(s) for many years, would be ecstatic hearing that one self-medicated. However, if the one day test you did worked well for you, then I think it's vitally important for you to tell him exactly how it made you feel (no euphoria) and how well you were able to focus, as soon as possible. I don't know if one day is enough to gauge how it will work in the future (not even the docs could know) b/c everyones' system is different.
I'll be looking for your next update...eager to hear how your discussion w/the doc went.
God Bless
Marlene
bggmm
07-13-2004, 01:07 AM
Ringbill..forgot to mention (suggest) you ask your doc how, if you should develop a troublesome dependency on the meds, he would help you ease off w/out suffering severe withdrawals. In addition, if frequent blood work ups (liver/kidney functioning)haven't already been mentioned, it's important to bring them up next time you talk w/the doc.
God Bless
Marlene
God Bless
Marlene
Ringbill
07-13-2004, 10:16 AM
bggmm:
Awesome advice, thank you very much. I am making an appointment right now to talk with him about these issues. I appreciate your help.
Ringbill
Awesome advice, thank you very much. I am making an appointment right now to talk with him about these issues. I appreciate your help.
Ringbill