AD(H)D seems to be a real hodge-podge of different conditions which manifest themselves in different ways in different people. And different things help different people deal with different parts. It’s taken me a while to tease apart my own ADD and start to see it a bit more clearly – and I’m sure I’m not done. This makes me curious about how some of you more experienced folks see yourselves and your therapies (chemical or otherwise). It may be useful for newer members too.

F’rinstance. My Adderall does really well for giving me back the ability to concentrate on a task for hours and days at a time. I can even put down the task for a phone call, meal, etc., then pick it back up (hallelujah!). Before the Adderall I could sit and just spin for hours, days, weeks sometimes, despite having a list of fun and/or important things I really wanted to do. There were unplanned bouts of intense hyperfocus, but those were pretty much outside my control. But Adderall has NOT improved my ability to (a) chose what to focus on, (b) transition from one task to another, or (c) make a plan and stick to it. The way I see it, Adderall has vastly improved my attention, but really not touched executive dysfunction.

Do you folks have similar experience? Different? I’d appreciate it if you’d share your experience along these lines.

thx - u

I am medicated in a similar manner to you, ursus. I have been for almost 4 years.
My biggest impression, was realizing that I had all of my memories still stored in my head, but could now access them.
I am a much calmer, more careful speaking person. I no longer blurt things out in excitement or anger.
I can engage in a conversation now. If someone else is talking, I can actually listen to them. I used to be too busy trying to remember what I planned on saying next.
While medication is amazing, I was not diagnosed until age 48 so I have that many years of bad habits (like procrastination) to try to re-learn in a better way. Some things just seem to require effort, and attention. I continue to need written lists. They help me to prioritize and I receive satisfaction as I cross items off the list. I was hoping that need would vanish with medication, but no.
I don't know if this is encouraging or not. I personally prefer the medicated life.
Bill

Those must be the things we really need the tools for because I have taken everything from Ritalin to methamphetamine (the rx version only) and medication does nothing for executive functions which I am devoid of completely. I currently take a good wallop of dexedrine and have a lot of behavioral problems (hence the H) so I guess I have awhile to get there.

I take Zoloft for Panic Attacks, Risperdal for the side effect of Agitation/Irritability, and Lunesta for sleep problems. I have Asperger's Disorder and not ADHD though.

Hi

I was just about to put up a post about whether or not it's worth getting assessed and whether it's worth taking any medication they offer you.

It sounds like the adderall might be good, but what I do need is loads of energy that'll make me grab life! Is there anything that'll help with that side of things?

Regards
Deb739

Hi

I was just about to put up a post about whether or not it's worth getting assessed and whether it's worth taking any medication they offer you.

It sounds like the adderall might be good, but what I do need is loads of energy that'll make me grab life! Is there anything that'll help with that side of things?

Regards
Deb739Wellbutrin is a stimulating antidepressant. So if you are also depressed, might give it a go. Helps with both norepinephrine and dopamine.

I have been on a 150 mg XL dose for about 6 weeks. I have a very noticeable improvement in energy and focus. It does increase my anxiety a little, thus the low dose. Also important, I have to take it in the morning or I can't sleep at all. Good luck sweetie! ;)

Oh, and my apartment is cleaner than it has been in the two years since I moved in. I can stay on task and get more done. :D

From what little time I've spent on this board, I'm not sure if ADDers are always given the low down when it comes to drugs. I'm talking about the whole merry go round one seems of finding the right drug AND getting the right dose.

Ursus, I don't know how long you've been diagnosed but if you've decided that medication is a part of your ADD management plan, than don't give up! I think I got lucky finding the drugs I did, but even still it was awhile before I found the right dose.

And to pass along some wise words, sometimes the drugs aren't enough. My dr. was going to suggest working with an ADD coach, and I think you might benefit from that one on one attention too.

keep at it!!

Ursus, it is a long journey trying to figure things out.

My wife and I thought our daughter might have a learning disability (turns out her IQ is 148, which is turning out to be a different kind of problem) and had uncontrollable bouts of what seemed like OCD and ODD. She was diagnosed with ADD and after my wife and I saw the changes the meds did for her, the subject came up about me. I had a lot of the same attention issues as my daughter.

I go to a PDOC for an evaluation and get told that I have ADD and I get a prescription. Didn't expect the world to change much but it really did for me.

Here are the main things I have noticed while taking the meds (currently on Concerta):

- I can concentrate long enough to read a whole paragraph in a book without stopping and re-reading it 3 times because my mind would wander off. Didn't matter how much I liked the material, I would just wander off.

- I knew I was incredible irritating to most people, I was the guy who constantly interrupted when people were talking. Couldn't help it, it just happened. I now listen when others are talking. It is so pronounced that friends who know me think I am mad at them or not feeling well because I am no longer so overbearing.

- I am much calmer and no longer pace about when I am not busy. The feeling of being on a treadmill is gone.

- The sexual compulsion is gone. This issue is not talked about much in this forum, but talking with the PDOC, this is an issue for a lot of ADDer's. With the meds, the sexual fantasies that were always circling about in my head, while nothing violent or bad, are now a 10th of what they were. This is really good news for the relationship between my wife and I.

- I can actually get something done. I could waste a whole day easily doing nothing but piddling about. Need to go to the grocery store, no problem, but might no get back home for 5 hours. I would get distracted and fill up my time doing basically nothing.

While the medications don't come without other potential problems and side effects, elevated blood pressure and my concerns of heart harm, my life feels in control and my relationships are much better than they have ever been.

Great topic. I was diagnosed back in August 06 and have been through a pile of meds trying to find one that has worked better than Adderall. My next appointment in about 2 weeks I'm going to quit my quest for the holy grail of meds and just ask to go back on Adderall. I've sufferred since moving off it.

Yeah, Adderall does help me concentrate on tasks, improve my attention, and actually enables me to move to another task then return to the older task and finish it. As for 'executive function', no it really hasn't helped and that is what I'm still struggling with. I've lived my entire life flying by the seat of my pants and living in disorganization and now I'm really struggling to try and reprogram my way of living to be more organized, including finances. Hard to believe that a college graduate and someone with a decent income doesn't even know how to balance a checkbook. Scary but true. Life is a big learning lesson I guess.

J

This is an excellent question that should be discussed more often. I have had a very frustrating three years trying to find an effective medication for myself, and I have since concluded it was because no single medication was addressing the two components I was struggling with: ability to control my own impulses (executive function) and ability to focus. Stimulants exacerbated my problems with executive function to the point I couldn't even tell if they helped me focus. Strattera worked beautifully for my executive function but I still had no ability to engage in and sustain the task at hand. It wasn't until I started combining meds (in the end, Strattera and Provigil) that I finally had my "Eureka!" moment.

It is not easy, but as you try different medications, try to observe as empirically as possible if there is a benefit to any of your symptoms, and then see if you can find something else that completes the picture. I almost gave up on Strattera because keeping me in my seat is not very helpful if you can't get anything done; now I am very glad I stuck with it and found something that improves my focus. The two together are better than I thought any treatment could ever be.