I recently went to my eye doctor for a routine eye exam. He asked if I was taking any medications (I think a standard question he asks all patients). When I told him Adderall, he smirked and replied "That's good. Fun.". I just blew it off, but it did irritate me a little bit. In my opinion it isn't fun, it is necessary. And the side effects aren't much fun that's for sure!

The funny thing is that my dentist did essentially the same thing. When I told him I was on Adderall he said "you must be feeling great!". I told him that I was feeling normal and that I don't get high on it. That for me it brings me back to the level of a normal person. He just laughed and said "way to go".

You should reply,"With a comment like that, I don't think you are qualified enough to practice on me."

I had a dental assistant one time ask me what meds I was on (no big deal). At the time, I was going through a hard time and was taking several different meds. So I told her: Prozac, Trazodone, Xanax as needed, Adderall. She looked at me and said, "That's a lot of meds for a 22 year old girl."

I was mad that she judged me like that.... but I got over it. Her job was to clean my teeth, not to judge me!

I used to bring my prescriptions of Dexedrine to Walgreen's and this hungover woman with a moustache that was a pharmacy tech, a regular ol' bar grandma, used to smirk when I handed it to her. It's like **** off lady.

I think I might be so offended I would find another dentist.

And I probably would have told him...well it's a good thing you are JUST a dentist...and not a psychiatrist! Geez who needs "em"

Probably inhaling too much of his nitrous....

there are just making a silly comment because adderall no matter what you call it is speed, its not like they pointed you out and said "we dont treat your kind here" and kicked you out. A doctor is not ignorant to medication they helps with add, he probubly just made light of it due to the fact that hes sees people much worse off than someone with attention deficite disorder. Taking adderall isnt a big deal, i think half the world takes it at this point. So i wouldnt take it so hard if someone makes a sarcastic remark, I assure you, you are NOT being judged, esp by anyone in a medical field, most doctors like to push adderall on everyone like a crack dealer. If you were offended, its prolly just the adderall making you paranoid, j/k.

I just went to the doctor yesterday for something unrelated to ADD and he was looking at my medication list. Adderall was listed as "Amphetamine-Adderall" and he was like, "Amphetamine? What are you taking that for? ADD or something?" He said it like he couldn't believe I would be taking something for ADD. It was really strange. I just said yes and we moved on, but still. I'm sick of people being judgmental about it!

there are just making a silly comment because adderall no matter what you call it is speed, its not like they pointed you out and said "we dont treat your kind here" and kicked you out. A doctor is not ignorant to medication they helps with add, he probubly just made light of it due to the fact that hes sees people much worse off than someone with attention deficite disorder. Taking adderall isnt a big deal, i think half the world takes it at this point. So i wouldnt take it so hard if someone makes a sarcastic remark, I assure you, you are NOT being judged, esp by anyone in a medical field, most doctors like to push adderall on everyone like a crack dealer. If you were offended, its prolly just the adderall making you paranoid, j/k.

I disagree.

First of all Dentist, are not DOCTORS. 4 years of eduction, the majority of which is dedictated to our mouths, versus the entire body, or MIND is not a doctor. If they were a doctor, who knew a darn thing about mental healthy or the medications out to treat them, they would not make "silly" remarks.
Sorry I am not putting crediance anything they say, in reference to my mental health or my medications for it. I don't think they know much of anything about the mental health medications. Except in the general terms, found in the Desktop PDR they have to make sure the medications don't interact with what medications they give you or are using during a procedure. Sorry have to disagree again.

And I would find it offensive period. Public as a whole can share their opinion all they want, but if they are ignorant of the "facts" I will happily correct them. And if part of that public happens to be a dentist or an optician, or a doctor I will happily correct them, too. Then I would ask where they got their educational references? Or is it just their opinion , formed right along with the ignorant publics as a whole?

I would feel judged. I believe if they are professionials, they should act like them. Or they can keep thier mouth and their "personal" opinions to themselves.
I have no issue with them inquirining about it, out of curiousity. But to make a flippant, derogative remark is especially offensive coming out of the mouth of someone who is supposed to be educated.


So I guess it would be okay for a Dentist to see you are on Oxycodone for pain, and say Why are you on that? Are you one of those, do you really need that...implying you are not supposed to be on it, or a junkie?
Let's focus on what medications I am on that will effect my dentistry, and stay in the ONLY area you went to school for. Stay out of my mind, and my phychiatrist will stay out of my mouth?

Most people that have ADD take Adderall? Really where are your statistics? I would like to see that, because I disagree again?
And where are the stat's that show doctors push Adderall like crack?
How can you assure someone they are not being judged? You weren't there, were you? Are you speaking for the entire professional world, that's pretty broad?

And the last remark, well IMO is as ignorant, uncalled for as the remark the so called dentist made.

BTW are you even ADD or on medication?
If you are, sorry? If you aren't sorry.

Yes I am on Adderall. No i dont have any statistical imformation for you, since this is a topic of opinion and personal experience, i did not feel it necessary to gather any. And from MY personal experience with doctors every single person who i have known prescribed adderall, dexadrine, ritilan or what ever, have never had a negative experience from others. (and its many people). As far as doctors pushing the drug, but you dont know how many times people go to doctor and all they have to say is "i cant concentrate lately", and right away they drop the A-bomb. (which i dont think is a good thing on the doctors part abviously). But these are adults are speaking of. I have no idea how old you, but that could have something to do with it. Suppose that for some reason someone does judge you for it, it sucks, and im sorry that you were offended, but who cares what they think, I doubt (notice the word doubt, meaning im not saying its fact) the majority has got anything to say about it, and if you disagree then I would love for you to show me the statistical data. If it bothers you to have your medications be made light of, tell them so, and they won't again. By the way, dont be sorry for me, I havent experienced any earth shattering discrimination on account of prescribed oral medication, and I'm truly sorry you have. As far as my last comment being "ignorant". oh come on, it's a joke about freakin adderall! not your ethnic backround or political beliefs. Give me a break.

Oh yeah, why the h*ll would i be in a ADD med forum and also respond to a thread, If i wasnt taking anything? That's weird.

Oh yeah, why the h*ll would i be in a ADD med forum and also respond to a thread, If i wasnt taking anything? That's weird.
There are people in here that dont take medication because they choose not to and that is ok.

Hope was just asking if you are ADD? There are ppl who dont take meds.

Yes I am on Adderall. then I guess I find it odd, you don't seem that supportive about it?



No i dont have any statistical imformation for you, since this is a topic of opinion and personal experience, i did not feel it necessary to gather any. And from MY personal experience with doctors every single person who i have known prescribed adderall, dexadrine, ritilan or what ever, have never had a negative experience from others. (and its many people).
Again my perception from the way you worded it, was very broad, and perhaps by not using words like it's my experience, makes it seem as if you know something statistically I should really be aware of in the medical profession?
Because for most it's not only not easy getting a dx of ADD, it's not easy getting the medications for it either?

As far as doctors pushing the drug, but you dont know how many times people go to doctor and all they have to say is "i cant concentrate lately", and right away they drop the A-bomb. (which i dont think is a good thing on the doctors part abviously). But these are adults are speaking of.
I don't know many doctors who are pushing the drug? And again it was simply that you put it "broadly" ...that is concerning, because if there are doctor's pushing Adderall out to patients like crack dealers based on the fact they come in the office and say hey I can't concentrate. I would like to see information to back it,used in "broad" terms, and not just your personal experiences, that's why I asked? I would then like to make sure they all lose thier licenses? That just makes it harder for the people who really need help and the medication.
And I see in society more often children getting the A bomb, quick diagnoses than the adults? Would be interesting to see the stats on that, tpp?
And perhaps what you think is a lot , is not what I think is a lot as far as handing out Adderall? Because there are 1000's of people here on this forum, who are not on Adderall? Not officially diagnosed, and aren't medicated at all?

I have no idea how old you, but that could have something to do with it. Irrelavant, IMO..but I"ll be happy to divulge. I am 36. From a medical family. Have 3 out of 4 siblings with ADD, 2 nieces who do, and 3 of my own children? So I am not young enough to be easily offended for no reason.

Suppose that for some reason someone does judge you for it, it sucks, and im sorry that you were offended, but who cares what they think
I don't take lightly anything to do with insensitive jerks , especially someone in the medical field making degrading, derogatory remarks about the diagnoses, medication, or the "educated specialized doctor" who gave it to me... Why because it's ignorant. It makes it hard for people who really need help to reach out and tell anyone about it. And like many other things in society that people are flippant and insensitive too, that are issues that cause hurt, and for people to feel outcast..., it needs to be addressed and corrected. And since I am not able to go on TV and annouce it. I feel the need to do my part. How, by correcting and educating them one by one, on a day to day , on the street, in my small corner of the world. That's my sense of responsibility to my ADD brothers & sisters, myself, my kids and my family?
That's why I don't blow it off. That's why I don't take it lightly.

Because honestly there are things we would never think of doing today, that were done years ago, that people were ignorant & insensitive & uneducated about. And if someone didn't say something, and make a stand, we would still be stuck there? How about prejudice for example? I don't even need to go to explain what was said to people and done to them to make a point, do I?
Out of ignorance, because they were different, and because no one stood up to correct the people who made the comments?
Sorry I guess I'm a crusasder then? :soapbox: Perhaps I've seen too many victims, and see my own family and kids be one too, and frankly I don't find any humor in it, outside of the ADD or Mental Illness, or Learning Disabled or whatever world.

That is why I didn't like your little joke. So that is my experience, my opinion, and why I said what I said. ;)

I doubt (notice the word doubt, meaning im not saying its fact) the majority has got anything to say about it, and if you disagree then I would love for you to show me the statistical data
Sorry I'm ADD, and now unmedicated for the night? What are we talking about here? Majority being who? What stat's would you like? If they exist, happy to find them? Just need a reference point? I missed something? :eyebrow:

If it bothers you to have your medications be made light of, tell them so, and they won't again. I think that was my whole point, for all of us who have been diagnosed, have people we love who are diagnosed, to say something.

By the way, dont be sorry for me, I havent experienced any earth shattering discrimination on account of prescribed oral medication, and I'm truly sorry you have.
My apologies for the initial sacasm, as you will see this is not something I take lightly. But no need for me to be rude. However, the mere fact you "haven't" faced it, says volumes. Perhaps if you had, your kids had, or someone you loved had, and was hurt by it?

I guess I think more in "global" terms of the issue. My problem, is, if you are ADD & medicated, this is your problem? And when they offend me by saying something ignorant, or deragtory that has no factual basis, and is purely their uninformed or uneducated opinion, I know how that can end up for people, and I feel it's my responsibility to say something to correct it, and I guess I expect that of anyone else. I can dream can't I? :p

As far as my last comment being "ignorant". oh come on, it's a joke about freakin adderall! not your ethnic backround or political beliefs. Give me a break. I already referenced this above, but to repeat it. For me and many other's it's one in the same. I hope you, or someone you love never has to feel that way. And perhaps you never will, because someone like me said something. :)

And you can take this however you want, but now you might see why I said what I did, and why I feel that way. Because making those types of remarks to me is the same as attacking my ethnicity, because being ADD & Bipolar, and the meds to be "normal" are Me and is a huge part of my life, and the lives of many I love and care about.

BTW...Chris already said it...but

Oh yeah, why the h*ll would i be in a ADD med forum and also respond to a thread, If i wasnt taking anything? That's weirdYes there are many, many people here who are not ADD, and not medicated..posting everywhere? Weird, but it's a fact. :faint: <!-- / message -->

Well! This thread has increased my esteem for my family dentist who was top of his class, won awards, is a fine craftsmen who does excellent work and a nice guy to boot. I see my dentist every six months for a cleaning and a quick check up. The hygenists take a medical history at every visit and no one has ever responded in anything but a professional way.

My old optometrist, upon discovering I had ADHD on my first visit, kept the next patient waiting while he quizzed me about ADHD and told me about his college room mate who drove him crazy. He even went so far to go to his office for a notebook so he could write down the names of books I recommended.

Let's broaden the picture. I have never had any medical professional in my small city or in larger cities make a comment such as those mentioned in this thread. A medical history is taken with a hospital visit, pre-op assessments, emergency room visits and seeing new doctors if my doctor is away. Nada. Zilch. Sometimes the medical person's eyes will light up and they ask intelligent questions about what it's like to be an adult with ADHD, but it's all good. What a bummer.

I don't/can't take Adderall-bad reaction, but this problem is not drug specific. I received very poor medical treatment by a doctor who walked into the room, looked at my list of meds on my personal info sheet then looked at me and made this ignorant response, you are on too many medications. Then he basically ignored all my symptoms and told me I was fine. None of my meds are related to his specialty and he took no medical history and did the opposite of what he just prescribed for the previous patient with the same symptoms. Go figure-he leaves the door open when treating his patients you can hear everything.

Ignorant responses can be very illuminating and evidentiary of prejudice and ignorance. They can also be hazardous to your health.

I got a second opinion today and am on antibiotics for an infection and am scheduled for a CT scan. This is a serious medical condition in our family. No mention of too many medicines, that they are causing the problem, or anything. I was treated like a human being with an illness that needed to be treated. It felt very good. He even helped me find a local internist!

Having gone through other very difficult experiences of discrimination because of ADD and Depression, I would voice my displeasure with those "joking, off-handed" remarks. After all, this is not a joke. It is also a chance to react positively and advocate for ourselves and others with ADD, and other misunderstood conditions. Would I go back to any doctor or other professional who takes my money and then jokes about my medical diagnoses? No way, never-unless they apologized after I tactfully and positively advocated the truth and reality of what they think is a "joke." Lets just go and joke about acne, birth marks, people who take weight-loss drugs and so on, it is all so professional and delightful for patients/clients to endure.

Yep, I love a good joke and joke about my ADD but there is a proper time and place. Here is one, I wear my keys, my jump drive, and often 1 or 2 other items on separate neck straps, I call it my ADD bling. There is a time to laugh. The doctor's office is not the place, they should know better.

My hippie/activist whole-hearted, no holds barred opinion. Advocate and Educate.

Adderall is as popular as marijuana for kids in their late teens/early 20s. Its some how avoided the stigma other amphetamines have. When i tell a doctor i take dexedrine i get a "oh you poor *******" sort of look or asked why i dont take adderall or ritalin instead. I should say "well obviously dexedrine gets you more high duh" but that probably wouldnt go over well but would be funny...untill i get "drug abuser" on my permanent record and cant even get a tylenol 3.

Yep, I love a good joke and joke about my ADD but there is a proper time and place. Here is one, I wear my keys, my jump drive, and often 1 or 2 other items on separate neck straps, I call it my ADD bling.
Hahahaha. ADD bling....now that IS funny! I also wear my keys on a neck strap. And my bus pass too.


There is a time to laugh. The doctor's office is not the place, they should know better.

I've been following this thread, and I have to agree with the majority on this one Rebx; those comments were very unprofessional, and were made in a place where professionalism should be expected. "Jokes" like that may be ok between friends or people we are close with, but it is not a doctor's or dentist's or whoever's place to, as you put it, "make light of" someone's prescription medications or use them as a basis to try to make a funny.

Sure, some people may be ok with that sort of thing and just chuckle along with the joker and everyone has a laugh, but this wasn't a casual conversation between friends over a cup of coffee. Medical history and prescription medications are private and confidential and when this information is requested by another medical professional, I would expect that when I disclose it to them, they treat it seriously and use it only for reasons that are pertinent to my visit(s) with them. I'm pretty easy going, but my dentist finding humor in my dextroamphetamine use to treat ADHD would probably rub me the wrong way too.

The first time i was scripted dexedrine my doctor (an old hippy) told me how during med school they would buy dexedrine over the counter and study for incredible periods of time on it. Then he looks at me with a dead pan look on his face and says "dexedrine killed elvis" and we both started laughing.

Sure it was unprofessional but funny anyway. Were always cracking jokes about drugs (mostly ambien these days).

I think in general dentist's don't like the psychotropic medications, they tend to dry out the mouth and can increase the likelyhood of cavities, even if good dental hygiene is followed. And you know how dentist's are (obsessive), especially about teeth. In the dentist's eyes bad teeth is far worse than untreated adhd.

P.S. I know everyone is going to get mad at me for saying this.

We have to remember that a portion of the medical community don't understand nor believe adhd exist's. With all the media hype about stimulants and children being over medicated, you'll just have to get use to these sort of ignorant responses. I personally don't care what the pharmacist thinks, you only see them once every month for 20-30 minutes. Or maybee that's an hour in this day and age.:D

One positive side benefit I get from meds is that I don't much care what others think, am much less self-conscious, and generally find it much easier to let thing just roll right off.

Anyway, I suppose not everyone experiences this, but I think it's futile to get annoyed over human nature; it wont change. As for joking, people joke in their daily routines and that might appear callous to those on the "outside". Ever seen a murder trial on tv when during the proceedings the lawyers and judge exchange a joke or humerous comment? How about a surgeon joking to a nurse while he is sewing someone back up? Also, people tend to use humor to lighten things up or put people at ease.

Because for most it's not only not easy getting a dx of ADD, it's not easy getting the medications for it either?
-in my personal experience it is, I do not know for a fact it, only in MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. But you respond to me with a contradiction, a matter-of-factly statement. How can you say my personal experience is wrong, a personal opinion based on personal events is wrong? Why would you want to? If everything had documentation backing it up there would be no reason to share anything. If you feel my personal experience is a tiny minority, that say that. I understand you would like to see proof, something tangible, and i will try to find something for you if I can, but if you feel my opinions are wrong because they have no proof, please do attempt to invalidate my opinion by trying to pass off your own opinion as fact, unless you can back it up. You want people to respect your opinions, then respect theirs. Now that I am very intrigued I will find something that may shed some light on the topic NO MATTER who's experience is the majority. I will say nothing else on the subject unless i can cite it. I have no desire to debate against futile straw-man tactics, because that is what offends me.





My apologies for the initial sacasm, as you will see this is not something I take lightly. But no need for me to be rude. However, the mere fact you "haven't" faced it, says volumes. Perhaps if you had, your kids had, or someone you loved had, and was hurt by it?
-Please do not assume what i think your assuming. I said i had not been affected by negative remarks to my medication. I said NOTHING about my experiences with ADD, i respect your strong beliefs in your cause. I made light of a medication, I did not make a sarcastic comment about any type of mental or emotional illnesses or defecits, nor would i ever belittle the negative experiences and pain that they cause. If you took it that way, you are mistaken.

Oh yeah, why the h*ll would i be in a ADD med forum and also respond to a thread, If i wasnt taking anything? That's weird.
I actually kind of agree that it isnt really a big deal. I mean if this were me even one year ago I would've said / thought the same thing.

-in my personal experience it is, I do not know for a fact it, only in MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. But you respond to me with a contradiction, a matter-of-factly statement. How can you say my personal experience is wrong, a personal opinion based on personal events is wrong? Why would you want to? If everything had documentation backing it up there would be no reason to share anything. If you feel my personal experience is a tiny minority, that say that. I understand you would like to see proof, something tangible, and i will try to find something for you if I can, but if you feel my opinions are wrong because they have no proof, please do attempt to invalidate my opinion by trying to pass off your own opinion as fact, unless you can back it up. You want people to respect your opinions, then respect theirs. Now that I am very intrigued I will find something that may shed some light on the topic NO MATTER who's experience is the majority. I will say nothing else on the subject unless i can cite it. I have no desire to debate against futile straw-man tactics, because that is what offends me.


I think that is why I corrected myself? Perhaps you didn't perceive that? I explained to you. Initially, why I asked for "references" or links or statistics, and then realized you were talking in the "realm" of your personal experiences. I corrected myself. And I went on to explain to you, why I came off why I did. So likewise, the understanding I came to in your clarifications, I was hoping you would then see mine?

I have no issues with opinions, or different views. Just if you refer to something "specific" like all doctors prescribe Adderall ? I would like to see where, do they do that? If you state it under the context of in my opinion and personal expereicne all doctors perscribe Adderall. No reference info would be requested. I think that is where we are still misunderstanding each other? I don't ask for references just for the mere need to "prove" you wrong. I like to see reference, links etc on "specific" references for my own research. Let's clear that up as well. Although, I am a little overprotective of newer people who might be mislead by information that is more that personal experience related, some people are easily influenced. That's my own quirkiness. ;)

I still didn't get the answer to my question? What majority reference are you talking about? Here? Medical community where you are? Doctors as a whole?
And what information did you want from me? That's what I asked? Not for you to provide it, I asked what are you referring to? :confused:
I honestly don't care if people respect my opinion's or not. I simply offer them. If they don't like them they can ignore them, they can debate them, and if it makes sense to me, after they do that, I have no issues looking at it from thier perspective either. I didn't disrespect your opinion, I debated your delivery, asked you to back it up , before realizing you were referring to personal experiences. And again, corrected it, and offered why I reacted the way I did. '
Debating with you or opposing your opinion is not "personal" and I don't take it personal when someone disagrees with me. I will either provide proof, offer a better explanation if there was confusion in my message, or correct myself if I was wrong. Which I believe I did all of, in the context of your posts. If not explain where I missed the boat again and I'll be happy to take a shot at it again?:eyebrow:

-Please do not assume what i think your assuming. I said i had not been affected by negative remarks to my medication. I said NOTHING about my experiences with ADD, i respect your strong beliefs in your cause. I made light of a medication, I did not make a sarcastic comment about any type of mental or emotional illnesses or defecits, nor would i ever belittle the negative experiences and pain that they cause. If you took it that way, you are mistaken. Again I believe I apologized for my sarcasm, and being rudeto you? Again I corrected myself. Then offered why I reacted the way I did. I offered, I think if this was something you had gone through, or experienced yourself or with loved one's that caused hurt, you might not be able to "let it roll off your back as easily" or maybe you would? dunno. That's my opinion, you didn't agree. Again we are at a stand off in opinion's and perceptions. The point is not to "sway" the way you think, but to offer to everyone reading, both perspectives? You have done well in your explanation.

And we can agree to disagree on the way we would both handle it and why. Sound fair?
I do see your side. And can understand your perception of things. I don't have to agree, and I will always tell you why. And have no problem with anyone doing the same. :) <!-- / message -->

Oh yeah, why the h*ll would i be in a ADD med forum and also respond to a thread, If i wasnt taking anything? That's weird.I actually kind of agree that it isnt really a big deal. I mean if this were me even one year ago I would've said / thought the same thing.Parafly9, I'm not quite sure what you are agreeing with, but if it is that only people with ADHD would respond to a thread on ADDForums, you would be mistaken. There are even people creating their own sites, giving the impression that they are very knowledgeable about ADHD when it is obvious they are not. Why? I have been toying with the idea that there are ADHD wannabees . . . the designer disorder of the month . . . groupies . . . ?

Lots of people who don't take meds respond to discussions about medications. Some people even make up stories.

Hey JustHope, Do you find the Adderall t-shirt, that is highly marketed to college student offensive?

Nope? Splain the concept?

I have however found a t-shirt site that has t-shirts designed for ADD folks..and other "for lack of a better term" Mentally challenged?

On order ....http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n100/justhope_36/Funny%20Sayings/2467713_1034453.jpg you might appreciate? After dealing with me?

Or http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n100/justhope_36/Funny%20Sayings/2467713_828150.gif or http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n100/justhope_36/Funny%20Sayings/2467713_701847.gif



My favorite again you might appreciate this one...
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n100/justhope_36/Funny%20Sayings/2467713_608974.gif

Hey Imnapl, I can relate with your ADD wannabees post, there are a ton of people who think they have ADD when they obviously don't, but in my experience I've seen people take prescription meds and have withdrawal symptoms equal to the reason why a person would actually need the medication to begin with. Adderall users have had severe ADD after stopping, and I've seen a few Xanax users have panic attacks after quitting.

As for this whole dentist ordeal, I would laugh along with him/her. I would imagine if that dentist made that comment he obviously knows that adderall does make most people feel great until a tolerance is built. That's why I switched from XR to IR adderall 6 months ago. I'd say my tolerance has reached a standstill and it still gives me a short euphoric high every day, unlike XR which made me more or less miserable, and I definitely get more homework done when I get to feel good every day instead of feeling like crapola.

Hey JustHope, Do you find the Adderall t-shirt, that is highly marketed to college student offensive?
Duh...really need to read, and respond at home. I totally missed it when I first read it.

What does it say? You mean someone poking fun at the fact "all college students" take Adderall

Yep, I would.


As much as I would find a Crack T-shirt marketed for Inner-City people.


Is that the coorelation you are speaking of?

Do you find it offensive?

Adderall, can't pass without it.

Wanna bet?
That is the t-shirt. Now I will do an op-ed, opinion-editorial. Unashamedly my perspective, unapologetically stated.

Ha ha, the generation of lazy students lives. How come a person with undiagnosed, untreated ADD can get a 4.0 in grad school unmedicated? Hard work and determination.

The reason college students want these drugs is not because they are unable to get the grades or they are dumb or anything, they just don't want to work that hard. Who said college was supposed to be easy anyways? Duh. Also-college students think-if 1 is good, then 2 must be better, they don't understand dosing and are at tremendous risk of OD or addiction. That is why they are Schedule II drugs. Duh.

But this may be off topic, Yes, the t-shirt is ignorant, ignorance trying to be funny. It also makes it harder for people with ADD to disclose in the workplace because this 'joke' is seen in a totally different light when you get a real job after college. That is if you don't OD or get addicted. There is enough misunderstanding about ADD in the workplace-several people on this forum have lost jobs because of it. Hey, with drug testing, you might not get a job if they find stims in your urine-unless you are on prescribed meds. Welcome to the real world.

Can't pass w/o adderall? Can't work w/o Adderall, the dominoes will fall eventually. I think this is called drug abuse.? Right? Can't get through the day w/o a drink......... Where does it end?

Parafly9, I'm not quite sure what you are agreeing with, but if it is that only people with ADHD would respond to a thread on ADDForums, you would be mistaken. There are even people creating their own sites, giving the impression that they are very knowledgeable about ADHD when it is obvious they are not. Why? I have been toying with the idea that there are ADHD wannabees . . . the designer disorder of the month . . . groupies . . . ?

Lots of people who don't take meds respond to discussions about medications. Some people even make up stories.

No I mean't that we shouldn't make a huge deal about people making some comments. As a culture we're in a transitional stage right now where things like this are getting more widely accepted. I was saying I can understand the point of view of doctors / parents / etc. who say "oh great a medicated person" because I was one of those people who only 12 months ago would say things like only a weak person would take medication, you just need to suck it up, etc etc. I have since changed my perspective but it took a lot of work to get where I am, and I simply think that as a culture we aren't there yet so it's almost to be expected.

Also-college students think-if 1 is good, then 2 must be better, they don't understand dosing and are at tremendous risk of OD or addiction. That is why they are Schedule II drugs. Duh.
Not to promote drug abuse but the LD50 for oral amphetamine is theorectical. Sure we can kill mice and rats with it but few people manage to off themselves with pills.

As for this whole dentist ordeal, I would laugh along with him/her. I would imagine if that dentist made that comment he obviously knows that adderall does make most people feel great until a tolerance is built. (emphasis mine)

Kindly move the thread back on topic.

People make flippant remarks, and, in my experience, they usually come out rude. I have some choices in these situations.
1. I can ignore them. (maybe even roll my eyes to "hint" at their rudeness)
2. I can make a joke of it, slipping in some information to stop the discussion. (this is my usual response)
3. Take them quite seriously and give them a matter-of-fact education about it.
4. get indignant

look....................next time someone is judgemental............tell him or her............hey!......i suffered with a very severe, serious case of ADD all my life.....and if you don't know how miserable it feels like every day with ADD then I ask you, please don't hurt my feelings and make a joke out of my disease.......other people who claim they have ADD and take medication, in reality are just doing it to feel better and make the day easier.......I take medication because if I don't, my day is like, a journey of looking the whole day for something that would turn my body on and get it out of fatigue......If i do something that is not fun for the normal person, it is like self-torture for me and I would rather get punched in the face then concentrate on something that drains energy out of my already fatigued body and fogged mind.....you haven't been in my shoes and trust me you don't ever want to be


to the dentist.........i would say...........yes i finally feel like a normal person after feeling like a v12 engine filled with vegetable oil and missing an oil change for over 2 years all my life

in my personal experience it is, I do not know for a fact it, only in MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. But you respond to me with a contradiction, a matter-of-factly statement. How can you say my personal experience is wrong,

There is no wrong expereince but the reaction was caused by

The PRESENTATION. . . . . .





So i wouldnt take it so hard if someone makes a sarcastic remark, I assure you, you are NOT being judged, esp by anyone in a medical field, most doctors like to push Adderall on everyone like a crack dealer. If you were offended, its prolly just the adderall making you paranoid, j/k.


j/k may not mean the same thing to every one here. . . .to some it means nothing at all. . . .{note sarcasm} may be a little more noticeable or even a :p By the time people get to those tinnie weinnie letters at the end of your post they may be mad enough to not even see them. . . . I didn't even know they meant any thing until after I had read though several responses.



Oh yea the topic . . . . we do have one. . . . :o


Some people have a casual relationship with their health care providers and can joke around but apparently the initial poster doesn't fall into this category. It is NOT a health care professional job to judge you they are to judge which treatment option/"action" is right for you based upon your presenting symptoms. They are working for YOU NOT the other way around.

A dentist needs only to concern them selves with what is going on in my mouth unless of coarse they want to hear what a piece of my mind. . . .then they are a glutton for punishment or ADD education depending upon my mood.

I have spent a lot of time educating both doctors and other nurses about ADD and I have no "bones" about it. I have even educated by NOT taking my medications. . . . . hyper active actions mean so much more than words = it took less than an hour to convince an MD that gee ADD does exist. . . .
I convinced a dentist in less then 15 minutes. . . she instructed me never to come for a visit un-medicated again then promptly asked if I would please consider some of that nitrous gas so I would be still and shut up long enough for her to see weather or not I have teeth.


The power of being very wiggly, out spoken while having some bad a** bounces.
:D

Frankly, I don't bother to tell most Dr.'s - unless it is relevant to their work and/or diagnosis. Even if it doesn't get rude or thoughtless comments - it tends to give them something to blame if anything they do goes wrong.

Now I'm 50-something, so most health professionals don't generally give me a peep - simply because they know at my age, I am not doing this for a quick thrill.

FWIW - I have take Adderall for over a year and a half and I still "feel" it - not the euphoria like when I started, but an extreme ablilty to focus and concentrate.

FWIW - I have take Adderall for over a year and a half and I still "feel" it - not the euphoria like when I started, but an extreme ablilty to focus and concentrate


In about ten years the ability to focus or concentrate becomes the norm so it isn't even a "feeling of" any more it is simply the way it is when you need it to be. However going by how you are able to focus on what you want for as long as you need to with out mind and/or body going AWOL is THE way to tell the medications effectiveness.

If I get comment about from a doctor
"you must feel pretty good then"

My response is
"Oh do you often have patents come in because they feel good? Does this mean if I have a sore throat I need to find another doctor?"

To a dentist for routine aroutine visit my reply would be

"I will until you climb into my mouth, then you will feel pretty good knowing thanks to chemical ADD control I will be able to resist the urge to bite your head off"

Most get the not so subtle hint. :D

Hmm I do like your take on the Adderall being blamed if some thing they do goes wrong. Worthy of consideration at my "tendar age" = thank you :)

anywayz.....................i think that doctors are doctors.........whatever..........they deal with sick patients the whole day, perscribing them random pain relieving, antibiotic, antidepressent, steroids, and other drugs; to them adderall is not like a life saving or really serious drug......you shouldn't worry what a medical proffesional says...........you should worry what some high school idiot or college stoner would say........just say f. u. while looking them straight in the eye and they will know you aint sh*ting them.

Probably inhaling too much of his nitrous....
LMAO:D

He sounds like one insensitve jerk alright. I'm sorry that you were treated like that.

I hate to see a good thread like this degenerate because of fighting. :(

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re: Dental Cleaning

In my own experience, at the Dentist -- disclosure of taking Meds was a two-way sword.

I forgot to tell the Dentist's new Hygienist about being newly diagnosed and taking Dexedrine. (And it is known to cause dry mouth -- which makes more plaque and tartar, as someone above mentioned...)

I guess the whole 'dry mouth' thing from it must have caused more plaque, b/c she started FREAKING out at me for 'not brushing' and 'not flossing'.

Damned if we do, damned if we don't.

I suppose I could have become vindictive and angry with her for "not taking a medication history", but I found it better to just find a new Dental Office.

She can take her anger-crap out on some other poor sap.

Next time a dentist makes a smart comment about taking ADD or ADHD medications, just tell them that stimulants help us compensate for the many decades of toxicity brought on the brain by decades use of silver-amalgam dental fillings. True or not...most of them HATE anyone to bring up the idea that silver-amalgam fillings may have helped brought about damage to our society by possibly causing a broad range of birth effects and neurological disorders. Some get FURIOUS!

Secondly, doctors and dentist are often a little made stale by their professions and often make jokes or sarcastic comments to try and make things seem a liitle less serious. Believe it or not, some may even think they are being funny and are humoring you. If you were offended, you should stand up for yourself and make it known. You should've polietly...but firmly, told him that he had offended you. Likely you would have seen him do an immediate about face and he would have respected you more as a person rather than just another patient.

Thirdly. There will always be a large percentage of society that is made uncomfortable with the idea of medicating; esspecially with psychotropic drugs. Many like to think that "natural will" can overcome anything. This is likely something we can not change and may have to learn to deal with. To fully understand and relate to ADD, often one has TO BE ADD. There have been many great minds throughout history that used stimulants or depressants to improve and aide their lives. Let's not forget the famous quote from Sherlock Holmes where Sir Conan Doyle writes him saying: "My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation." Many historians believe that Doyle was reflecting his own use of cocain through his fictional charachter Holmes. I sometimes wonder how many historical greats would have used Adderall over cocain had it been available for them at the time. One can only imagine.

Next time a dentist makes a smart comment about taking ADD or ADHD medications, just tell them that stimulants help us compensate for the many decades of toxicity brought on the brain by decades use of silver-amalgam dental fillings. True or not...most of them HATE anyone to bring up the idea that silver-amalgam fillings may have helped brought about damage to our society by possibly causing a broad range of birth effects and neurological disorders. Some get FURIOUS!



Then if that does not work ask about the fluoride poison they promote. :)


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Update just read the OP and did not find what the eye doctor and dentist said wrong.

Actually, my dentist did it again - made some rude comment about how it must be nice to have a condition that requires crank to fix it. So, I told him that those that can't make it in medical school become dentists. And he got so mad and I knew I had his button. I said maybe if you had ADHD and got some crank you would've become a real doctor.

Actually, my dentist did it again - made some rude comment about how it must be nice to have a condition that requires crank to fix it. So, I told him that those that can't make it in medical school become dentists. And he got so mad and I knew I had his button. I said maybe if you had ADHD and got some crank you would've become a real doctor.
Good for you! Give him a little taste of his own.... medicine :p yuk yuk yuk.

Maybe now he'll realize how inappropriate and unprofessional his poor attempt at humor was. What sort of response was he expecting anyways?! I probably would have only given a sarcastic "Mmmmhmmm... funny...." I'm glad you stood up like that!

I would have stayed on the high road and asked him what his opinion on
the science of ADHD and stimulants was. If he seemed to lack knowledge I would have educated him on it. But at all times I would have tried to remain in
good humor with him. But I'm talking in the theoretical because I have been to a denist twice in the last 23 years.