ADD meds, what works, what doesn't. need to know

[pumanator]

Has anyone tried the latest and greatest ADD meds that are not anti-depressant linked and what kind of success have you had, good or bad...especially the bad. I'm going to try one next month and anti depressants really mess me up

 

[Holdinfourth]

I am on Dexodrine right now. I have gone through a pile of differant medications for ADD and this one is the best yet. It is an amphetamine, and I have had no bad experiences with it as of yet (bee on it for about 6 months) Strattera (?spelling) was pretty good to, but expensive and my insurance would not cover it.

 

[GrannySmith]

Strattera has worked well for me, after the side effects wore off. Take it only once about 5 in the afternoon and sleep ok with it. I find nothing is a miracle drug however, combining meds and a good ADD coach is a good combo.

 

[Shannonkish]

Meds effect each person differently. What may be great for someone else may be HORRIBLE for you. I suggest talking with your doctor... It may take a while to get the right med for you, but it will happen. Trial and error is really the only way to go to get the perfect med for you individually.

 

[mark53]

Does anyone know the difference between Dexamphetamine and Ritalin??

 

[Shannonkish]

Both are stimulants. Both are used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD.

Dextroamphetamine is a major component of Adderall.

Adderall-- http://www.drugs.com/mtm/dextroamphetamine.html

Ritalin-- http://www.drugs.com/mtm/r/ritalin.html

 

[Zippety13]

I've heard both that drugs can be miracle workers or that they aren't. Do the medications actually provide much relief? Is it worth it? Experiences with meds?

 

[Shannonkish]

YES. I have a client that without medication cannot sit still for 30 seconds (seriously). He has a lot of school problems because of this. He is currently taking Adderall and the teachers report a DRASTIC and significant change in his behavior. He is able to focus on his school work and control his impulsivity. When the medication starts wearing off, he becomes antsy and cant sit still. He also reports that he can't concentrate, his mind races all the time when not on his meds.

All of my clients that have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD have had signicant improvement from medications.

Medications are not the fix all for ADHD, however, learning good coping skills and methods on how to clear your mind and focus help as well.

ADD//ADHD, while over-diagnosed, is a chemical imbalance. The brain of someone with ADD has a slight malfunction. Certain neurotransmitters misfire usually too little. This causes the brain to have a deficit in certain neurotransmitters. The Medication causes the brain to function properly by stimulating the brain to produce the supply the missing neurotransmitters usually dopamine or norepinephrine.

 

[Amethyst]

I was diagnosed as an adult with ADD. This was several years ago. The only medication I tried was Ritalin. It was awful! It made me have nightmares, anxiety and paranoia. I decided to go alternative health. It is much more difficult, but much healthier and I suspect much more effective.

Different people are sensitive to different things and have different nutritional needs.
All I can say is what worked for me, and I know from reading online that some of these strategies have worked for others.

First, magnesium. Plain ol' magnesium like you can buy at WalMart. Once I was on a fast, eating the same thing every day. One day I noticed - Wow I am so much more focused! What is different? Then I remembered: I had added magnesium to my long list of supplements because of something I saw on an informercial. The infomercial never mentioned the brain - or if it did I was out of the room. I told a lady at the Health Food store of my great discovery. Magnesium helps with ADD! She just said, Yeal, she knew that. Then she pointed me to the store information computer where magnesium is listed as helpful to ADD.

Next what really helps is fish oil. It is best to get Norweigian fish oil as the cod swim beow the toxic wastes in cold water up there.

Most importantly, for me, I got rid of additives, sugar and wheat. Okay, I said it would be more difficult than loading your body with medication. But it's healthy!

Maybe your brain can function with trans fatty acids and additives and sugar if you just load up on meds, I don't know. I'm not going to try to find out for myself, though.

So, my diet is vegetarian (meat is loaded with more chemicals than I even want to think about) and as natural as possible. You get so you really enjoy your natural foods. Honest! And you feel soooo much better.

Just one last note. The one thing that personally turns me into an absolute sluggard is sugar, even natural honey. It's like it turns off the will power center of my brain or something. Strange.

And, oh yes, personally I have not found it a problem to say No, socially. Maybe it is because I work in a school setting, where everyone is so familiar with ADD problems (though my family is also very understanding.) I just say, 'Gosh, that looks great...But... I like sugar but it doesn't like me! I have a very restricted diet due to ADD. Siiigh." Works every time, and you'll be one of the healthiest and trimmest people around.

Again, each person has their own sensitivities. Trial and error worked for me, starting with a totally natural diet and adding this, then that.

It can be done! I couldn't do it without intense prayer, though. Too much temptation on the outside, too much weakness to temptation on the inside.

 

[Gamedog]

I dont know what works because i now refuse to take my meds. but I do know that do not use rittalin. it is damaging to the body. ( my doctor told me it was not.HAhaha yea right.(I found out the hard way.0

 

[Shannonkish]

I dont know what works because i now refuse to take my meds. but I do know that do not use rittalin. it is damaging to the body. ( my doctor told me it was not.HAhaha yea right.(I found out the hard way.0

I would be very weary of suggesting to anyone that they not take their medication.

I would also be hard pressed for some evidence basing your claims.

Check out this link from PDR Health (an extremely reliable source) http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/...s/rit1383.shtml

 

[smooze]

I was diagnosed as an adult with ADD. This was several years ago. The only medication I tried was Ritalin. It was awful! It made me have nightmares, anxiety and paranoia. I decided to go alternative health. It is much more difficult, but much healthier and I suspect much more effective.

Different people are sensitive to different things and have different nutritional needs.
All I can say is what worked for me, and I know from reading online that some of these strategies have worked for others.

First, magnesium. Plain ol' magnesium like you can buy at WalMart. Once I was on a fast, eating the same thing every day. One day I noticed - Wow I am so much more focused! What is different? Then I remembered: I had added magnesium to my long list of supplements because of something I saw on an informercial. The infomercial never mentioned the brain - or if it did I was out of the room. I told a lady at the Health Food store of my great discovery. Magnesium helps with ADD! She just said, Yeal, she knew that. Then she pointed me to the store information computer where magnesium is listed as helpful to ADD.

Next what really helps is fish oil. It is best to get Norweigian fish oil as the cod swim beow the toxic wastes in cold water up there.

Most importantly, for me, I got rid of additives, sugar and wheat. Okay, I said it would be more difficult than loading your body with medication. But it's healthy!

Maybe your brain can function with trans fatty acids and additives and sugar if you just load up on meds, I don't know. I'm not going to try to find out for myself, though.

So, my diet is vegetarian (meat is loaded with more chemicals than I even want to think about) and as natural as possible. You get so you really enjoy your natural foods. Honest! And you feel soooo much better.

Just one last note. The one thing that personally turns me into an absolute sluggard is sugar, even natural honey. It's like it turns off the will power center of my brain or something. Strange.

And, oh yes, personally I have not found it a problem to say No, socially. Maybe it is because I work in a school setting, where everyone is so familiar with ADD problems (though my family is also very understanding.) I just say, 'Gosh, that looks great...But... I like sugar but it doesn't like me! I have a very restricted diet due to ADD. Siiigh." Works every time, and you'll be one of the healthiest and trimmest people around.

Again, each person has their own sensitivities. Trial and error worked for me, starting with a totally natural diet and adding this, then that.

It can be done! I couldn't do it without intense prayer, though. Too much temptation on the outside, too much weakness to temptation on the inside.

u expect somebody with ADhd to read all that! Hmmmm i say all natural for ADHD. If it was mentioned above then my apologies. But too long a post . I would try Valerian or ask your herbalist for an anxiety all-natural thingy. Yah thingyy you know the THing LOL

 

[wfcamb]

Has anyone tried the latest and greatest ADD meds that are not anti-depressant linked and what kind of success have you had, good or bad...especially the bad. I'm going to try one next month and anti depressants really mess me up

I tried some medication when I was younger.. I personally don't advise that route.. When I was younger, I took medication for ADD and it only made me worse.. The best advice I would give to someone with ADD/ADHD is to just learn to live and cope with it.. Ask God to help you get through it.. He'll help you if you believe He will. That's how I got past it..

God Bless! †

 

[wfcamb]

u expect somebody with ADhd to read all that! Hmmmm i say all natural for ADHD. If it was mentioned above then my apologies. But too long a post .

lol.. I agree with you.. I didn't read it.. I don't just have ADD though.. I have something called Irlene Syndrome.. It has to do with high contrast and certain lighting.. Those conditions make me "zone out" to a point that I'm not even there.. Feels sorta like a dream.. The only difference is that you are actually there.. Not really knowing if I am making any sense.. Kinda hard to explain that..

Anyways.. God Bless! †

 

[suzybeezy]

Meds effect each person differently. What may be great for someone else may be HORRIBLE for you. I suggest talking with your doctor... It may take a while to get the right med for you, but it will happen. Trial and error is really the only way to go to get the perfect med for you individually.

This is the best advise. Finding the right combination of medication can be exhaustive. While I resisted putting my daughter on medication, in got to the point where to not put her on medication was neglectful. After about 2 years of multiple combinations of medications we finally found that Addrerall XR and Geodon worked the best for her. I proud say that my daughter is now a straight A student and is enjoying many school activities. She said she feels better with the medication now, she said she feels like she's able to be herself now.

Work with your doctor and let him know how the medication makes you. The more descriptive you are about your symptoms and the medication affects, the better your doctor can help you.

Good luck!

 

[pumanator]

My doc gave my low grade ritilan and I'm suppost to try it on the weekend...that was 4 weeks ago, I can't even remeber to take the stuff to see if it's ok. Sooooo...maybe next weekend. i can't try any new meds on the weekdays 'cause o my job. Anyway I'm glad to see that this post is gettin' ppl to talk about it.

The light thing...yea thats weird, I'm light sensitive and under the right kind of lighting I zone and feel like i want to go to sleep, not sun light though, maybe thats why I love ontdoors and hate inside, especially winter, winter day light is my least fav.

 

[TheReasoner]

Very often your best med is a diet change...

Cut out candy, sugar and artificial additives. Eat healthy, for many that's all that's needed for the symptoms to disappear

 

[Redstiletto]

I was on Cylert for many many years... then I started to have heart problems... do not allow your doctors to prescribe and make you maintain taking this medication... it did nothing but cause problems that I will never be able to fix with my heart.

Ritalin is damaging to the body, just as any medication can be... that is why there is what is called side affects...

This is such a sore subject for me.... sorry if I seem angered.

 

[Shesjr]

My 7 y/o son is in the process of getting diagnosed. We go this Monday for the final evaluation. He is in second grade and since pre-school the teachers have been gently trying to tell us that he has attention issues. So finally we took the steps to have him checked out.

Our biggest issue with meds is the appetite supression. Our son weighs 62lbs and is on the 95 percentile for height. I would consider him a moderately pickey eater. We are worried that he will loose to much weight. The doctor assures us that they watch that pretty close. We still don't think he can afford to even loose 5 lbs. We are not considering the holistic approach. We feel the medications out there are pretty good in treating this but like I said fear he won't eat anything. Any suggetions?

 

[smooze]

they just thought i was on too much sugar. BUt but i justcant turn off my mind. I too zone into other realms it beats this reality anyday beleDAt oh now im typing like will smith. i would like to find resourses for different forms of schizophrenia along with add i think it would de depremental to my recovery. <****at has got to be the longets run on sentence ive ever write! oh yah so if any of you could give me some links it would be great!