i have done some research and it seems that adderall is most widely used and prescribed. but, you might get addicted to it? and it could be a bad thing for your heart.

on the other hand i am leaning towards strattera but i am kinda freaked out that you can get liver damage from it. Scary.

i know its your psych who should suggest what you should take but frankly if i need meds then i want to take the most safest forms as possible.

any thoughts on this

All meds have risks and side effects, including acetominophen (Tylenol), baby aspirin and cold medicines. You are more likely statistically speaking to be hit by lightning than to die from RX stimulants. ADHD stimulants at therapeutic doses ought not to create addiction, if used as directed, as they are not getting you high.

Life is the leading cause of death :) How badly do you believe you need meds and the relief they can offer you?

if the risk is equivalent to taking an aspirin then i am ok with it. but if taking meds is significantly more risky than an asoirin then i am not. does anyone have any literature on this?

Yes.
Your doctor has literature on 'this'.

I wouldn't worry too much about side effects of meds when used properly. Long term, super high doses of amphetamine can cause issues of course as can any drug/med. All meds have some kind of potential hazard to the body. Tylenol can have problems with Liver & Kidney values, NSAIDs (Motrin, Advil, Celebrex, Vioxx) all can have bad effects on the cardiovascular system, Statin drugs (Lipitor) can have liver issues and the list goes on to infinity.

One thing to keep in mind is that usually the benefit to any med far outweighs the possible side effects. My doc makes me come in every 3 to 4 months for a cardio check (blood pressure, ekg??) since I've been on Adderall just as a precaution. I've been fine. Don't worry too much about effects of ADD meds. I'd personally take my chances with the meds rather than being out-of-control and destroying my career and marriage. Start on a treatment plan and go back to your doctor at regular intervals for checkups could be a good plan.

Hey Nova: I see you're in the same area as me. I'm in Northern VA (alexandria actually)!

J

Hey JR,

Heh heh..
Common mistake, but a cool one, since I like the state of Virginia.

My ID, on here, has nothing to do with Virginia.

I'm 'in' Washington, D.C. (0:



Hey Nova: I see you're in the same area as me. I'm in Northern VA (alexandria actually)!

J

Nice to meet a fellow neighbor. I don't get into DC as much as I used to anymore. Pentagon and Crystal City are about the closest I get due to work.


J

Crazt feet is right. If you're worried about stimulants try strattera. I take ritalin, for me I don't see how anyone could become addicted. If the dosage is kept reasonable, addiction shouldn't be a problem.

A diabetic takes insulin, I wouldn't say the diabetic is addicted to it, dependant, yes. I've heard people say they think they are addicted to stimulants, I don't think it's addiction in the true sense, rather a dependance. If they decreased their dosage slowly they would not have to many problems coming off of the medicine. Some people have rebound hyperactivety and excessive tiredeness, etc when discontinuing stimulants, I wouldn't call this addiction. No worries!:)

nicotine, now that's addictive.:eek:

Only if ya can't stop *doing* it.


I really like ya, NZ, so my comment wasn't directed at you, personally...but think about what I just said...:)


nicotine, now that's addictive.:eek:

I figure that if a doc said, "Take this or else you'll have a heart attack..." I'd take it. Addicting? Maybe. But if it keeps me from having a heart attack, I really don't care.

Does that make any sense at all?
(I'm in the final phase of weaning off of Effexor...there's no telling what comes out of my mouth right now).

It makes total sense, Kiisethwa.

I take Dex (10mg 3 x day) and I heard that doctors and stuff are concerned abotu its abuse potential.. but for me, I know there is no way I could ever get addicted to it.

In fact, I get sick of taking it, and have not taken it before because of my hate for it at that moment.

It was the same for me with Ritalin. I grew to hate that drug, and stopped taing it about 3 weeks before I was scheduled to see my psychiatrist.

As for the liver.. Im not sure how much each drugs effects it differently..

Is strattera considered to be the worst one for your liver?

I currently just started taking Milk thistle which "may" offer the liver some protection. I am also taking evening primrose oil with vitamin E.

****Before taking any herbal medication, it is important to research it thoroughly and discuss it with your doctor. Herbals can be potentially toxic to certain individuals and are as serious as any presscription medication. ****

I am the addictive personality to a "T" it is really about a thrill seeking thing I guess and I actually have a relationship with dexedrine that mimics to an extent what the classic manic-depressives feel toward lithium. Too much dexedrine makes me like a zombie kindof like the catatonic state in a way. I am a lot like the hyperactive kids are toward the medication. Stimulant drugs in general were "a waste of money". Although I was one of those kids that needed to be restrained to take it. The spansules opened up with applesauce. ugh. I guess people are different because I know ADDers that claim they cannot get out of bed without meds but I need it to shut up and slow down.

Adderall makes me 'quiet', and 'slows me down', too, Mspen.
Even at 10mgs, I'm prescribed.

I guess people are different because I know ADDers that claim they cannot get out of bed without meds but I need it to shut up and slow down.

Adderall makes me 'quiet', and 'slows me down', too, Mspen.
Even at 10mgs, I'm prescribed.I get the same results from the methylphenidate class of stimulants. This so-called paradox seems to be the MO for we ADDers. :)