Hi all...

I was originally diagnosed when I was in kindergarten, but since the medication at the time was so new, my parents chose to keep me back a year (at the doctor's suggestion). My parents didn't tell me about the diagnosis until AFTER I figured it out for myself.

I finally figured out what was wrong with me when I took a Psych. course in my senior year in college. That's right, I wasn't properly diagnosed until I was 24 years of age!!! :eek:

I have been on Ritalin ever since. In the 11 years since I was diagnosed, I have tried several different meds, but nothing has worked quite like Ritalin.

Any of you have favorite meds??

BIG

I have a similiar story. It was not until my Senior year in High School that I was diagnosed with ADD. However, I have a hard time taking any type of medication.

Part of the problem is that I hate to rely on meds. Another issue that I have is that I often forget to take the medication. I have made a 2 month dosage last almost 8 months because I forget to take my medication. I don't think it helped that I had two different doctors trying several differenct perscriptions. In 1 year I was put on Ritalin, Dexadrine, Adderal, and another that I cannot remember.

All this leads up to the fact that I have not taken any type of medication for my condition in over 2 years.

I too HATED having to rely on meds. I would "forget" to take them...not see my doctor for a couple of months...forget to renew my prescription. To this day, I STILL hate taking meds...but I have integrated my medication into my daily routine, so I'm less likely to forget. I am also more aware of the early signs that my meds are wearing off - that my ADD is beginning to affect what I'm doing.

B I G

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www.bigsplace.com (http://www.bigsplace.com)

I am not a man but my life has been a revolution since ritalin and I don't have any of the drops that many people have but the nurologist was quite insistant I regulate my dosage to suit me as long as I didn't go over a certain amount.

The thought of not being able to have the perscription leaves me with dread as I know what I was like before.

I love who I am now

I feared the days in Highschool I forgot my meds, it got to the point on several occasions I would try my hardest to get permission to either miss school or drive home and get it. And before I could drive call and beg My parents or relatives to bring it for me.
A day at school without meds was pure hell, a mesmerizing workout of the brain if I chose to keep up on my assignments.
I took Dexadrine Span 20mg once a day then... it worked a good 8 hours.
Followed by a regular 10mg after school for homework. I either didnt take that and did hobbies and skipped the work, or I did and still did my hobbies. :) I think the dose was too low in the evening thats why it didnt help. Usually i saved the homework for in the morning or during periods with no work when I was at peak attentiveness.
Now as an adult I take Adderall 20mg
twice a day. Adderall seems to be my pick. Only other med I tried was concerta and that didnt seem to work at all. Adderall it seems to work even if you are in depression or high anxiety.
When I was taking dexadrine during my junior year in highschool undergoing a deep depression, the dexadrine seemed far less effective.
So much that I would take a pill and a half that was equal to 30mg to get a noticable amount in my system.
Adderall I've never had to adjust my dosage even with the things bothering me these days.
None of the medication really help you stay on task when your depressed though. Either your concetrating on all the things troubling you,(which is BAD, becasue you start dwelling and thinking about the worst things) or
your busy concentrating on other things to make you feel better to take your mind off the troubling things.

Too add to that, taking an anti-depressant seems to cancel out any ADD medication as well..
Zoloft, welbutrin... they just make you
"not care" to do anything, plus make you sleepy. Creativity and modivation go away.

Depression and ADD together you lose
either way.

Originally posted by fiona


The thought of not being able to have the perscription leaves me with dread as I know what I was like before.



I feel the same way.
and when i dont have my medication
I'm always frustrated at myself or those around me because I know I am smarter than this. Just burns me up and makes me sad that I cant funtion up to my potential, and watching all those around me succeed and get though life so smoothly... :(

Hello.
I'm new to this forum. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD till age 37 :eek: when my daughter was diagnosed with it. Doing research on it has shown me that I am not "mentally retarded" as my family labeled me growing up. I hope to communicate with other ADDers.

http://members.aol.com/covenanttalk02/myhomepage/dancingstar.gif?mtbrand=AOL_US

Welcome to the forum mstreye


I learned of my ADD the same way

I feel the same way.
and when i dont have my medication
I'm always frustrated at myself or those around me because I know I am smarter than this. Just burns me up and makes me sad that I cant funtion up to my potential, and watching all those around me succeed and get though life so smoothly... :(*amen* to that!