60 year old female with ADD

[Jennita]

Originally Posted by deepsouth

I am a newbie to this message board. I am hoping to get some answers about my problem. I am an only child with parents that died young. I have always been super hyper, scattered brained, jump from one thing to another without completing anything, and my mind races constantly from topic to topic. I have always just accepted that this is the way that God made me. A recent trip to my hometown, opened my eyes to a lot of things. I spent several days with my cousin, and she told me a lot about family history. Not only has she had ADD all of her life, but everyone of her children has suffered. She takes Ritalin. When I shared all the things that I do, she said that it sounds like her ADD. She gave me this 10 mg tablet of the Ritalin and said to take it. The result was amazing, almost like a miracle. I completely slowed down, and my mind stopped racing for the first time in my life ever. I was able to think clearly and logically, something that I have never been able to do. I sat still instead of jumping up and down to run from one thing to the next. Came back to my home and doctor and told him of the experience. He started me at 5 mg to take one at 9 a.m. and one other at noon. Worked great for awhile, then I began to not think as clearly. He raised it to 10 mg. That also worked great for awhile. Does one have to keep raising the medicine to work? Is this what happens to everyone? Please help me figure out what I need to do. Thank you anyone out there that might shed some light on this!

There are some people who might build a tolerance to stimulants quicker than others. In those cases, raising the doses helps only temporarily, and index is right, trying to get to that good feeling might eventually lead to addiction. Higher and higher doses can not only cause tolerance but also addiction, not to mention the higher the dose, the higher the chance of incurring unwanted side effects. So wait and see is my opinion, if the pattern of tolerance continues, perhaps this is not a good road to be on as most ADDer's can usually do well on regular dosages without need to continually increase.

[jewls49]

Originally Posted by deepsouth

I am a newbie to this message board. I am hoping to get some answers about my problem. I am an only child with parents that died young. I have always been super hyper, scattered brained, jump from one thing to another without completing anything, and my mind races constantly from topic to topic. I have always just accepted that this is the way that God made me. A recent trip to my hometown, opened my eyes to a lot of things. I spent several days with my cousin, and she told me a lot about family history. Not only has she had ADD all of her life, but everyone of her children has suffered. She takes Ritalin. When I shared all the things that I do, she said that it sounds like her ADD. She gave me this 10 mg tablet of the Ritalin and said to take it. The result was amazing, almost like a miracle. I completely slowed down, and my mind stopped racing for the first time in my life ever. I was able to think clearly and logically, something that I have never been able to do. I sat still instead of jumping up and down to run from one thing to the next. Came back to my home and doctor and told him of the experience. He started me at 5 mg to take one at 9 a.m. and one other at noon. Worked great for awhile, then I began to not think as clearly. He raised it to 10 mg. That also worked great for awhile. Does one have to keep raising the medicine to work? Is this what happens to everyone? Please help me figure out what I need to do. Thank you anyone out there that might shed some light on this!

I am a 49 year old woman recently diagnosed with adhd (8 months). I take Adderall XR. The doctor started me on 10mg for 7 days, then raised it to 20mg. I take this once daily in the morning. The "xr" part of it spreads the medicine over a longer period of time. I have not had to have an increase. I think I am also aware that not all days will be the same (due to other stress,etc). I just take it and know that I am much better (overall) by taking this--- than when i didn't. I always think talking with your doctor is the best advice....my advice is simply--don't look for miraculous changes "consistent daily". Just remember where you started from, and if there is improvement, be grateful. Allow for other situations in your life that "seem" to affect the benefit of the medication, and just take your medicine as prescribed. My research (limited) has shown that the "XR" is more stabilizing, requiring fewer, if any doseage adjustments. I am also able to "skip" taking my medication on non-work days, without any consequences...and it works just fine again on Mondays. Julie

[brittanylynn88]

I was Diagnosed wit ADHD when i was 16 years old and it has carried on with me to my adulthood. i have been on a number of medications including both ritalin and aderol. my doctor also had to keep raising my dossage. we decided to try a new medication about 4 years ago called strattera it is a non stimulant which i love! he started me out on 40 milligrams and that is what i have been on ever since my mind is clear and i no longer have the attention span of a fly. one of the best parts is i dont have to keep taking trips to the doctor because my medicin is no longer working. it also curves your appetite if you are interested.

[2do2day]

After taking Strattera brittanylynn said, "my mind is clear and i no longer have the attention span of a fly." The very short attention span is what I want to know about. I don't seem to be hyper, but I cannot concentrate. My husband is forever annoyed with me because I don't listen. Someone asked me if it was like I asked a question and then forgot to listen to the answer. Yes. That is what it seems like. I have to read paragraphs (or sentences) over and over because I can't concentrate long enough to get to the end of the written paragraph or sometimes even the next sentence. Does this sound like ADD? For years people have been telling me that it is menopause. (I am 53 and had a hysterectomy about 9 years ago.) I recall when I was in high school I had trouble listening to instructions given when I was in dance class. Everyone else would get the combination before I would. This would happen over and over again. The concentration issue seems to be getting worse. Does this sound like ADD?

[deepsouth]

Thank you all very much for your input. I have an appointment with my doctor this Friday, and I am going to take copies of the replies to my question about the medication so he can decide whether to increase the Ritalin or change to something else. I liked what brittanylynn88 said about Strattera. I just started taking Ritalin about 2 months ago. What I liked most about the Ritalin was how it stopped my mind from racing from topic to topic, and I was able to read without having to read over and over to understand what I just read. I just loved that I could concentrate on the topic at hand and complete a task before going to another. It slowed me down. My clumsiness is not as bad as it used to be. It is just that I cannot concentrate as well as when I first started taking it, and that is why I asked about the dosage. I want to do some research about Strattera. Again, thank you all very much. I so appreciate your help.

Sansy