Should I Be On Meds?

JackB1 · 12-18-2007, 12:50 PM

I know this is a tough one to answer, but I would like some feedback if possible.

I am an adult male....48 yrs old. I have never taken any meds and have never realized I had ADD until I got married a few years ago. I researched ADD and found out that I had all the symptoms of ADD without the hyper activity. The biggest issues affecting my relationship with my wife, is my overall forgetfulness and absent-mindedness. I decided to see a Psychiatrist (spel?) and was diagnosed with ADD and she wants me to "try" Ritalin. She said start with 5mg per day/twice a day and add +5 mg each day until you get undesirable side effects. I felt someone "zombied" at 15mg and was OK with 10, so now I am taking 10 per day/twice a day.

Question is....I dont "feel" that much different on the Ritalin, so does that mean my ADD symptons aren't bad enough to warrant meds? How long do I need to give it a chance for? 1 week? 2? Will it help my short term memory improve at all? I have read some folks that "couldn't get anything accomplished" without the meds and that's certainly not me. I can function pretty well without them, but was looking to increase the quality of my life, along with making things better for my wife and our relationship. I have all the ADD symptoms, but I don't think it's "that bad". Should I stay away from the meds and just deal myself "as is" or take the meds and hope for a little improvement? Also, if Ritalin doesn't do much, is it worth it to try Adderol? I really don't like the thought of being on meds the rest of my life, but I also don't want my wife to be complaining about me all the time.

Here is a list of my symptoms:

-get distracted very easily, but CAN focus if I really want to.
-have a hard time getting started, but when I do am usually OK.
-procrastinate doing things I dislike
-sometimes forget where I leave things...like keys, wallet, etc.
-forget to put away things when I am done with them
-get obsessed with different hobbies for a while, then get bored and move on to something else
-sometimes feel a bit "spacey", but feel I am very smart in general.
-always told "not performing up to potential" as a child in school
-not motivated to do great at school or work...just do "enough" to get average results
-have a hard time completing things....start things and move onto something else midway

janewhite1 · 12-18-2007, 01:11 PM

That's pretty typical ADD issues. You see, we can all concentrate sometimes. When we really, really try. It's just impossible to try that hard all the time, you'd go insane or have a stroke or something. I find that when I'm really stressed I'm more efficient, and the meds let me get to that state without having a meltdown first or after.

If it's the right dose, you shouldn't "feel" much different. Does your wife think you change for the better? Do you lose or forget things less often?

Also, the pills aren't magic. Especially with adults, you might then find that, now that you can be organized, you have to learn how!

So, try asking the people around you if they have noticed a change. Try implementing an organizational system, and see if it lasts longer than the previous 573 organizational systems you tried before. (Yes, we've all been there!)

If you really think the meds are doing nothing, then try a different one or don't take it. But they might be helping in ways which are not yet obvious to you.

Jennita · 12-19-2007, 03:49 AM

Yes, pills are not magic and can also be a negative on your health so unless it's like night and day on them, it would be easy enough to try alternative methods. Of course, healthy food, enough sleep are vital and you could try fish oil and fish several times a week, which is a brain food. Other omega 3 oils and foods also would be a good idea. A breakthrough study showed a marked effect of combining fish oil with evening primrose oil. Even plain old caffeine helps. I wouldn't overdo them too much, though, moderation is best with any supplements and also caffeine is, although much less hard than amphetamine drugs, is still a CNS stimulant so again, moderation.

I hate to say it but hopefully you are not doing all this just because your wife complains...I mean, it's good to want to improve yourself but quite frankly, if my husband wanted me to get on potentially unhealthy medication simply because I inconvenience his life, weelllll.....nevermind. I'm part Italian and Irish so it wouldn't be pretty. Only to say that when you love somebody, you usually have to accept the bad with the good, as long as the bad isn't too horrible. It doesn't sound like you are horrible.....?

My son and I have all those symptoms you listed. We do ok.....I am a list maker freak now, it really, really helps me get things done. He is learning to do the same. But no meds for either of us.

addprogrammer · 12-19-2007, 08:43 AM

Jennita,

I figured you and I would never agree on anything. I, am, wrong, - again. The next block is what I agree with and the following block is why we will never agree again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennita

Yes, pills are not magic and can also be a negative on your health so unless it's like night and day on them, it would be easy enough to try alternative methods. Of course, healthy food, enough sleep are vital and you could try fish oil and fish several times a week, which is a brain food. Other omega 3 oils and foods also would be a good idea. A breakthrough study showed a marked effect of combining fish oil with evening primrose oil. Even plain old caffeine helps. I wouldn't overdo them too much, though, moderation is best with any supplements and also caffeine is, although much less hard than amphetamine drugs, is still a CNS stimulant so again, moderation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennita

I'm part Italian and Irish so it wouldn't be pretty.

So am I.

Jennita · 12-20-2007, 04:56 PM

Ok, you really made me laugh!!!! So you know what I'm talking about! This means we are both sensitive to our families needs, we like peace and harmony. We put up with alot. This is, of course, as long as they don't wake up that whiskey drinking hot blooded pasta lover being that seems to be hiding somewhere in us, only to pop out like that alien thing in the movie when we least expect it!