rogerj1
06-05-03, 01:40 AM
Hi, I'm new to this site. I discovered I had ADD about 6 months ago when we were looking into it for my 8 year old son. A therapist my wife and I were seeing recommended reading the 6 types of ADD by Dr. Daniel Amen. This opened up a whole new world!
At about the same time, a coworker shared with me that he had been to the Amen Clinic in CA, had what's called a SPECT scan done, and began taking a mix of meds. I realized Steve had changed markedly and wasn't losing his temper all the time. He referred me to Dr. McGuire who is an associate of Dr. Amen's in the Seattle area. I'd already taken the test at www.brainplace.com and learned it was highly probable I had a type of ADD called Inattentive ADD. (I strongly recommend reading through the web site at www.amenclinic.com and taking the tests there.)
Dr. McGuire concurred with the test and started me on Strattera. I was taking Welbutrin at the time. Within an hour of taking the med, I started to feel different. I hardly slept at all for the next three nights, yet it didn't really bother me as I was so grateful for the impact Strattera was having on my brain. I was able to focus and concentrate at work at peak levels. After messing around with sleeping pills for a month we decided to drop the welbutrin, my sleep problems disappeared immediately. In fact, for the first time in my life, I feel like I have some control over my sleep. I'm actually sleepy at night, go back asleep when I awake in the middle of the night, and feel rested when I get up in the morning. What a concept!
I've enjoyed a level of success in my job as a Financial Advisor that I'd never experienced before. My confidence picked up dramatically as the fear that my flaky ADD behavior would sabotage me began to disappear. I soon brought in my 4 largest accounts.
I'm going on 5 months now taking Strattera. Side effects have been manageable including dehydration, sleepiness when the meds wear off and occasional ringing in my ears. I had to work my dosage up slowly over time. My current dose is 80 mg in the am and 40 mg in the afternoon when I get a little draggy.
My wife has been going to Dr. McGuire as well. she may have overfocused ADD. She's responding well to Effexor and Adderall. This is somone who has had dreadful reactions to antidepressants in the past. I was ready to give up.
We've had less success treating my son with the same meds as my wife is taking. That's still a work in progress. Hey, if you're still reading, that's my story up till now.
At about the same time, a coworker shared with me that he had been to the Amen Clinic in CA, had what's called a SPECT scan done, and began taking a mix of meds. I realized Steve had changed markedly and wasn't losing his temper all the time. He referred me to Dr. McGuire who is an associate of Dr. Amen's in the Seattle area. I'd already taken the test at www.brainplace.com and learned it was highly probable I had a type of ADD called Inattentive ADD. (I strongly recommend reading through the web site at www.amenclinic.com and taking the tests there.)
Dr. McGuire concurred with the test and started me on Strattera. I was taking Welbutrin at the time. Within an hour of taking the med, I started to feel different. I hardly slept at all for the next three nights, yet it didn't really bother me as I was so grateful for the impact Strattera was having on my brain. I was able to focus and concentrate at work at peak levels. After messing around with sleeping pills for a month we decided to drop the welbutrin, my sleep problems disappeared immediately. In fact, for the first time in my life, I feel like I have some control over my sleep. I'm actually sleepy at night, go back asleep when I awake in the middle of the night, and feel rested when I get up in the morning. What a concept!
I've enjoyed a level of success in my job as a Financial Advisor that I'd never experienced before. My confidence picked up dramatically as the fear that my flaky ADD behavior would sabotage me began to disappear. I soon brought in my 4 largest accounts.
I'm going on 5 months now taking Strattera. Side effects have been manageable including dehydration, sleepiness when the meds wear off and occasional ringing in my ears. I had to work my dosage up slowly over time. My current dose is 80 mg in the am and 40 mg in the afternoon when I get a little draggy.
My wife has been going to Dr. McGuire as well. she may have overfocused ADD. She's responding well to Effexor and Adderall. This is somone who has had dreadful reactions to antidepressants in the past. I was ready to give up.
We've had less success treating my son with the same meds as my wife is taking. That's still a work in progress. Hey, if you're still reading, that's my story up till now.