seriously guys/Gals. Who's on ADHD meds?

[PIMking]

I was diagnosed yesterday with ADHD. They prescribed me Vyvanse 20mg for 5 days then take 40mg for the next and then 60mg after that.

It's amazing, I for once don't have 7000000000 million thoughts running through my mind.

I guess what I'm asking is who is on ADHD meds and what are some weird things that you notice since starting the medications.

[peter12]

My brother and I both have ADHD, he was on Dexedrin and I was on something... Cymbalta, I think. It's good when you are going crazy, but, at least for me, I tended to lose the ability to function at a higher state, like if I needed to write an academic paper or even finish a long book, I had to go off my meds.

[PIMking]

That seems to have the opposite effect for me. Seems a lot easier for me to think.

[Phanuthier]

Yeah I got "diagnosed" too a few years ago and had prescription for 2 drugs. I never took them though, I don't know if I really believe in meds. Kind of like Pedro (god I feel dirty) I find having my brain go a thousand miles a second helps with a lot of things. If I need to slow it down, I put music on or I watch TV to go to sleep. I think ADHD is one of those overdiagnosed things, who doesn't have ADHD these days.

[Rathji]

I was referred to a specialist about ADD but I decided that even if I was ADD I probably wouldn't feel comfortable taking drugs for it for the rest of my life, so I didn't go.

I guess ignorance is bliss?

[peter12]

Obviously, drugs will have different affects on different people. It really has a lot to do with your social surroundings, your own life, and of course, your biochemistry. I had a double diagnosis, OCD and ADHD. The drugs helped me, as you said, slow down my thoughts, but they also interfered with other activities. I have an obsessive tendency to "calendarize" or list things or tasks off in my head. I can literally plan pretty complicated stuff out 3-4 months in advance without really having to write things down. So while this didn't really help me with social planning or work, I really mastered taking care of personal things, like school etc...

When I went on the drugs, it was like that was all wiped away.

Like Phanootchay, I tend to run a lot or listen to music. There is a book I would recommend:
http://www.amazon.ca/Scattered-Minds...5279045&sr=8-1

Also, it's important to take into account the needs of your friends and family. Even though I could and can function at a higher cognitive level, personally, I often come off as very erratic, obsessive and irritable to other people. So even though I don't take the drugs anymore, I do pursue other forms of treatment, like keeping a journal, having a strict and regimented personal schedule, and going to a therapist.

[Kybosh]

The doctor gave me a prescription for something but I got distracted by a squirrel running up a tree.

What was the question again?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by peter12

Obviously, drugs will have different affects on different people. It really has a lot to do with your social surroundings, your own life, and of course, your biochemistry. I had a double diagnosis, OCD and ADHD.

I think those go together. My diagnoses was something like severe ADHD and mild OCD. Now that I recall, I actually did purchase the drugs since my health insurance covered it, I just never took it. Its still sitting in my drawer somewhere.

Rathje - if you got by fine by now, I'd just ignore it. I think North Americans sometimes tend to apply labels like ADHD or OCD and whatnot and make a big deal out of it and blow things out of proportion. Really its not that big of a deal.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I think those go together. My diagnoses was something like severe ADHD and mild OCD. Now that I recall, I actually did purchase the drugs since my health insurance covered it, I just never took it. Its still sitting in my drawer somewhere.

Rathje - if you got by fine by now, I'd just ignore it. I think North Americans sometimes tend to apply labels like ADHD or OCD and whatnot and make a big deal out of it and blow things out of proportion. Really its not that big of a deal.

I'll confess that some of my pent-up mental energy often gets unleashed on CP.

[Acey]

For me it was a bit weird since my dad is a psychiatrist... he knew it all along. To convince myself I went and did computer testing at his office. I was on Concerta for a little bit, hated it. Now on 50 mg Vyvanse, and as lame as it sounds, this has seriously changed my life.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Q: How many ADD kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: Wanna go for a bike ride?

[Ironhorse]

Not me, but my oldest son (9) has ADHD, and has been on various meds for the past 2+ years. He's on a pretty high dose of Concerta for the past 20 months, and is pretty decent when he's on meds; not so much when they wear off.

We've spent the last few years trying to understand more about what is going on in that mind of his. We've learned quite a bit, but there's still tons more that is a mystery to us.

We'll be reading this thread with great interest.

[V]

My buddy has some crazy ADD. He takes Ritalin every Thursday morning, since that's his time to work through his to-do list. He says it's great for him to concentrate on a list of tasks. For the rest, though, he's his crazy self, and it works pretty well for him.

[Boblobla]

I am really blow away that a certain person in this thread has a book to recommend...

[scotty2hotty]

Just a quick aside here and my two cents ... I also think that every person/child should be thoroughly test for food allergies and intolerances.

This is something I've read up on extensively over the years and have tried first hand. It has proven to be a life changer for me.

Read up on some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance, intestinal candida overgrowth, sugar sensitivity, etc and you'll be amazed at the similarities to ADHD, anxiety, depression ....

I'm not pulling a Tom Cruise here and saying that this is a cure all for everyone. Medicine definitely has its place. I'm just saying that for me personally, a huge shift in diet and eating habits kept me off prescription medications and allowed me to feel fantastic.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Just a quick aside here and my two cents ... I also think that every person/child should be thoroughly test for food allergies and intolerances.

This is something I've read up on extensively over the years and have tried first hand. It has proven to be a life changer for me.

Read up on some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance, intestinal candida overgrowth, sugar sensitivity, etc and you'll be amazed at the similarities to ADHD, anxiety, depression ....

I'm not pulling a Tom Cruise here and saying that this is a cure all for everyone. Medicine definitely has its place. I'm just saying that for me personally, a huge shift in diet and eating habits kept me off prescription medications and allowed me to feel fantastic.

Yeah that is a good point. At the same time I was "diagnosed" I also started eating and exercising better (just a coincidence, not planned or anything) and that really helps. I have the equivalent of 3 cans of soda a year. No sugar in coffee. No fast food . I actually log 26 hours of sports a week. It doesn't take a lot of work and no complicated medicines, and I feel a lot more mentally alert and focussed than ever.

[daaznfob]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Just a quick aside here and my two cents ... I also think that every person/child should be thoroughly test for food allergies and intolerances.

.

where can we go to get tested for these things??

[amorak]

Fotze is on ADHD meds. It just made his hair go curly.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Q: How many ADD kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: Wanna go for a bike ride?

What colour is the bike? I like blue ones.

[welshboy2008]

I am trying to fins a place to get the test done as an adult in Calgary. Any ideas?