I was just diagnosed with ADHD. The doctor just prescribed Ritalin 5 mg, twice a day, and lowered the Wellbutrin to 150 mg.

The 5 mg seems like such a tiny dose, compared with what I see here.

The biggest question for me is - how do you know that it's working for you?

(Do you suddenly want to tackle your mountain of paperwork? http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif )

What should I expect/hope to see? Also, how do you arrive at an optimal dosage or an optimal type of medication?

Thanks!

Patience, grasshopper.

In order to know if it's working you need to have a clear idea of what wasn't working that drove you to take meds in the first place.

Make a list of the top 10 things in your life you struggle with that you think are due to your ADD.

After a month of being on the meds review the list and assess whether or not you've improved your ability to handle even one of them consistently.
From this you can determine if it's working.

Of course, if you're like most ADDers, making the list itself may be a challenge. So, after completing the top 10 list--you can take some comfort in knowing the meds must be working enough for you to be able to make the list in the first place.

FYI, I've been on meds for more than 10 years and they still don't make me want to do my income tax returns. :D Just remember that meds are not a cure--they are a coping mechanism to improve your life.