my doctor is trying to work with me, so we can find what works for me.this is not easy at all.too many choices,and i never could make decisions of any kind.every med i have tried has side effects.i stopped adderallxr because i started feeling horribly sedated,starting one hour after i took it.i had some ritalin la left, so i tried those instead.first couple days i felt great,alive,awake,alert,like i was taking an antidepressant, but noticed some heart pinches,or pulpatations. the last day i took ritalin la, at 4pm i was out of town, and started feeling real creepy,then the nervousness set in, after having a great day of shopping, i just wanted to be home.i had already took two 10mg for the day. but i thought if i would of had another 5 or 10mg, i would of been fine.does more than 20mg of ritalin sound like too much?anyway, i was hoping to tell the doc friday to change me to ritalin, he wasnt in.so since im out of ritalin, the nurse said just take the adderall xr i have left, or try the concerta i still have.yesterday i took a 18mg concerta, felt kinda ok, like a weak version of the ritalin, not as motivated,but at 4pm i got what i call "the eebie jeebies", it was a horible intense nervous feeling, i couldnt take another one it was too late.i literly ate the rest of the night, and had to drink some wine to settle my stomache. see,when something like this happens,what does someone do?the first day i tried the adderallxr, it did this too at 4pm, but then i started taking another dose at lunch and it fixed that problem.i know i seem to complain alot, i just dont have anyone to talk to.the nurse did make a comment "i dont think these type of meds are working for you", so i better figure something out, or they will give up on me.am i just going to have to choose one, feeling tirerd all the time, or feeling great half the day, and then having the eebie jeebies the rest of the night?

my doctor is trying to work with me, so we can find what works for me.this is not easy at all.too many choices,and i never could make decisions of any kind.every med i have tried has side effects.
Leana,

I think if you can figure out what part of your brain is most affected, they you know whether you need dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin or which med will help that particular part of your brain that needs a boost. I have seen people on this forum say they preferred dex to adderall, but your doctor should be able to help you best.

This is not easy to sort out! What are your main symptoms? Are you hyper or inatentive?

BTW, the nurse is not a doctor trained in medicating ADHD, and she doesn't know you or how your brain functions, so her remarks are completely irrelevant.

I have found one book that relates symptoms to medications, and most of you in the forum are probably tired of me mentioning this, but Dr. Amen's book "Healing ADD" sorts out 6 different types of ADHD, mainly by which part of the brain is most affected. He also mentions what has worked for patients with these different types. And he has treated thousands of people with ADHD. Some of them with over the counter suppements. To find out what type you are in Dr. Amen's lingo go to amenclinics.com or google Dr. Amen and ADD.

I am not doctor and this is no substitute for amedical opinion. Wishing you the best of luck!

Happy new year! PJ :D

hi there, thanks for replying, i will check into that . i never was the hyperactive type, i was always extremely shy in school, i would daydream all day. i remember making these little comic type books while i was in gradeschool,i would be in my little world.i was always a loner, maybe one friend at a time, thats it.being around people always made me nervous.now that im an adult, im still shy, i avoid people and situations, and you have to tell me something many times, and usually its not untill later, i will "get" what was said.so im the inatentive type, but also struggling between severe anxiety and depression,i get extremely agitated at times now.with the ritalin, i felt happy, motivated, ready to go, but on the nervous side in the afternoons,with adderall,anxiety wasnt the problem, but depression and being tirerd was.and i definetly wasnt motivated to do anything. so it does seem complicated, its like i have to choose,do i want to be tirerd,or nervous?.i was so boggled, i didnt take anything today, i do miss it too.its new years eve, i just thought if i cant decide, i wont take anything, although im thinking next week, i might go with the ritalin, if hes willing to let me have at least 25 mg total for the day, i think will maybe work.