Hi im new to the forums. Im 21 and got diagnosed with ADHD last november after dropping out of university. Ive been on ritalin for about 5 or 6 months, and i can feel some benefit, and some side effects still. Currently I take
15mg of ritalin instant release in the morning, and 10mg/afternoon. Im prescribed 30mg, to take 20mg then 10mg. Taking these doses helps, organisation, focus and memory. It also makes me feel anxious, and anti-social. Im not interrupting, or acting up, but instead quiet, withdrawn, irritable and uncomfortable.
Its working that im looking after myself and my things better, but makes me feel uncomfortable in my own skin, and around others.
I saw the psychiatrist today and he said at this dose its not enough for my age and size, and the anxiety side effect prevents benefit from a higher dose.

I talked to him about how i want to study medicine after what ive been thru below, but the doctor told me not to make a sudden decision, and that he thinks until the medication and everything else is sorted, i cant make a proper decision. This has made me disillusioned, before today i had started studying biochem looking to study it at school.
Ive tried strattera before ritalin, which was built up to a high dose, which i didnt like. I didnt hate it, but i felt crappy, nausea, miserable and embarrasingly painful orgasm/ejaculation. I didnt really bring these side effects up, just like ive kept the anti social side effects of ritalin to myself, because im scared of him giving up. This might be irrational, but a lot had happened to get to this point as ive said below.
We talked today about dextroamphetamine or ritalin LR, i think Concerta will have the same side effects as the instant release, and as i can cut the instant release tablets into more small doses, i'll have less control of side effects. Im not sure about dextroamphetamine. Ive heard its gives more social confidence and slightly less anxiety, and its the anti-social irritable feeling (and not wanting to talk, feeling unconfident and on edge) that I dont like about ritalin. Has anyone had any experience or got any advice? In the end i just left with a 30day pack of ritalin today, but i feel like i should try somethine new. I asked him how he thought id react to dexedrine or ritalin LR, and he said you only know by trying them. Im just scared he might give up. Any ideas?

VeryConfusedBoy

How I got diagnosed, finally:
My mum worked as a social worker, having good knowledge of behaviour problems professionally. She saw in me that I probably had ADHD and worked hard with me to control my behaviour. I was put into a small school from a young age which helped (after being asked to leave 2 pre-schools, and having problems in mainstream schooling), and we coped. There were loads of problems over and over again,etc. At 17 i began to realise it was not just my behaviour (i was getting in more serious trouble), but my timing, organisation, commitment, impulsivity, etc. that was causing problems, and mood swings. I was put on citalopram, fluoxetine, then venlafaxine with phenergan or diphenhydramine for sleeping when i went to see the doctor about being unable to cope. It distracted me from my problems, and i remember drinking coffee, cola all day to keep focused, and started taking my older sisters ephedrine (then legal - ma huang diet pills) and it helped somewhat, but far from perfect. I couldnt decide what to do after school like other people, so took 18months changing my mind over and over and applying for different things. At that time my mum was diagnosed with cancer. I finally went to university, but soon got lost interest and focus, and had problems dealing with keeping my life together living on my own, bills, washing, cleaning, organizing, studying, and dealing emotionally. When my mum died last year, i had already fallen back in studies, and after that my sleep problems (which ive always had - mainly being calm and stopping my head chatting away when I lie down) got worse, and i started drinking and taking drugs like ghb/gbl to help sleep, and shut off. I went to the doctor saying it wasnt just my mum, it happened a long time before that, and i was put of fluoxetine again, and antihistamines. After a few months, as university started back, i found it harder to cope with life again, so they gave me 40mg fluoxetine, 20mgx2 tercian and 7.5mg zopiclone for sleeping. All of this helped a bit, for 2 weeks, then returned to worse. After problems with drinking, and sleeping i was put on prazepam (lorazepam equivelent) 4x daily, 400mg-800mg meprobate and antihistamines for sleeping. Not long after this i began to feel suicidal (not suprising after all these medications) and my friends made the decision to take me to my dad, so i could get help at home. The local gp took me off all medications but raised fluoxetine to 60mg, and giving me 10mg zolpidem for sleeping. This worsened my anxiety (why i was already on benzos and meprobate) and i started suffering palpitations regularly so i was given propranalol and temazepam for sleeping after that got worse.

After that I forced the GP to make an appointment with a psychiatrist, and he confirmed, yes i do have ADHD. Thank God someone listened:D.

Oh i forgot I asked about adderall, but he said the closest and basically same thing is dextroamphetamine, which i already knew, so basically the instant ritalin, Concerta, generic dextroamphetamine and strattera, and then 2nd line anti-depressants are my options.

Hi im new to the forums. Im 21 and got diagnosed with ADHD last november after dropping out of university. Ive been on ritalin for about 5 or 6 months, and i can feel some benefit, and some side effects still. Currently I take
15mg of ritalin instant release in the morning, and 10mg/afternoon. Im prescribed 30mg, to take 20mg then 10mg.Regular release Ritalin is usually prescribed to be taken every three to four hours through the day because it is out of the system very quickly. How far apart are you taking your doses and would another dose in the afternoon and evening help you?

Thats what im doing at the moment, taking 3x10mg doses a day instead of the 2 doses of 20mg then 10mg as the doctor said. it reduces anxiety a bit, 20mg i dont like, but i notice the first 10mg i take makes me anti-social, irritable and not scared, but on edge, wheras the other two are much easier to deal with. I couldnt take more than 3 doses in a day because of insomnia. The doctor is saying that 30mg daily in an adult isnt enough, although he definately thinks my ADHD needs medicating. My position is, although i can see positives, i also feel uptight, irritable and miserable, plus i really dont like talking to people, making conversation, answering the phone, anything people based, that causes anxiety. That isnt the general me, and I dont feel that as each dose wears off, but at the 90minute, 2hr mark, especially on my first dose, i feel uneasy. I said ive used ephedrine before (i didnt tell the doctor that) along with caffeine (i read up online when i was 18 and saw ephedrine is a bit similar, maybe a little rougher than dextroamphetamine, and i knew i had adhd) and thats why im thinking dexedrine (as adderall isnt available here) is a possibility. I was certainly as sociable as normal using ephedrine, which did help my concentration. I do notice my last dose (3rd) of ritalin IR is helpful but smooth, meaning ritalin LR/XL/Concerta could help, but seeing as one dose of the tablet is released almost as quickly as the IR and in the same strength, it wouldnt really solve much? do i make sense? i feel like im confusing myself further here... :confused:

>The doctor is saying that 30mg daily in an adult isnt enough

Your doctor is a fool.

Individual tolerance to stimulant drugs varies widely.

I suggest getting a new one if this is not difficult.

Thanks trying, I thought of individual sensitivity, and how it varies a lot. The psych gave me the impression that stimulants are partly dependant on body weight, or in his words, that there are kids have my size taking more than 30mg/daily. The way I feel if your effective dose is lower, then thats a good thing, theres no point in taking more of any drug than your body needs, especially if it results in more side effects to benefits.

He does have a point that he would like to see more results from my stimulant medication because im still having problems in areas of my life, and I am trying to be overly positive with my results (as I can see some) but my last appointment with the doctor almost killed all my motivation, and Im sure most ADHD adults know its not all pills, but your mind-set as well. The doctor said, that as im currently not studying or working (after dropping out of uni) that when I do work and study I wont be able to handle all these extra things.

Anyway Ive decided to start seeing a psychotherapist twice a week starting next week, because counselling has a part to play that ive overlooked. The psychotherapist also works with the psychiatrist, so with my permission, can report back with any results, worries, etc and if ritalin is working properly. Im beginning to think trying dextroamphetamine (as adderall, and all the new stims available in the US arent available in the Europe) and with the therapy and support it might work. Id really like to know more about ritalin vs. dextroamphetamine in adults, the differences in how it works, and side affect profile. Currently ritalin helps me read, focus, study, keep on top of chores, but doesnt help my social ADD problems, nervousness.