Probably if anyone has actually decided they do NOT have ADD, they will not be on this forum anymore.. :o

But is anyone struggling with this? I never had a formal diagnosis. I took several long online assessments and took them to my dr. He basically looked them over and decided he agreed, and is letting me try out meds one by one.

So far, Wellbutrin didn't seem to make a difference and I went off it.

Concerta first didn't do much, then after a week, I thought it was making me more irritable.

I went on Adderall and have tried that out the last 2 weeks. Today, I didn't take it and I am definitely less irritable. I tried just taking 5 mg twice a day instead of 10.. I guess it made me less irritable but still, not any kind of noticeable improvement.

My big problem is I don't even know what I am looking for any longer. I just sent an email to my past psychologist asking for advice on this. It seems that generally a psychiatrist is the way to go, especially when you are going to try out meds. So hopefully that will help me figure this out.

Has anyone had any similar experiences they can share?

No meds are perfect and everything has a side effect. All stims release more norinephrine so you're going to get irritable at first untill the whole receptor down regulation process starts. Personally i would give dexedrine a shot before calling it quits. Its (in my opinion) the most pharmologically useful stimulant available (along with maybe desoxyn but good luck getting that without being narcoleptic).

2 weeks isnt really long enough to judge a drug because changes do take place and your brain does adapt to them in a sense. Adderall also made me irritable compared to dexedrine. Wellbutrin made me absolutely unbareable to be around i was so irritable constantly (i was on a 300mg dose though).

I also agree that you may not be giving yourself enough time to see if medication X is working or not. Wellbrutrin is a good example. That one takes a weeks to build up before any effects can be seen.

Don't give up. If you found yourself saying 'yeah that' to more than one ADHD symptom, you probably do have it.

Thanks, that is very helpful. Would you recommend I continue with the adderall then? Or just switch to dexedrine? Coincidentally, from reading here dexedrine is sounding like the next choice for me to try.

thanks again!

That would seem like your choice.

Yes I did. I was totally convinced that I did not have ADHD. Then I stopped taking my meds. I found out otherwise in a big hurry!

I'd recommend you investigate dexedrine. It is like Adderall, but not as intense, and no irritability or extreme sleepiness when it wears off.

I think you should get a formal assessment and do it the "right" way, since ADHD is often overdiagnosed.

What I did was setup an appointment with a psychiatrist of my choice and only presented with the symptoms of ADHD, I never specifically said, "I think I have ADHD what do you think?"

I said, "Here are my symptoms", and, "I'm not sure if it's depression or what" and went from there.

I think you should get a formal assessment and do it the "right" way, since ADHD is often overdiagnosed.

Got resources?

I disagree that ADD is over diagnosed. I know too many people who are ADD and refuse to get diagnosed.


Charges of Overdiagnsos, Overmedication of ADHD Are Exaggerated, Study Shows (http://www.psych.org/pnews/98-05-01/adhd.html)

Reports of the overdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and overprescription of stimulants appear to be exaggerated, according to an article in the April 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

"Epidemiologic studies using standardized diagnostic criteria suggest that 3 percent to 6 percent of the school-aged population may have ADHD. The percentage of U.S. youth being treated for ADHD is at most at the lower end of this prevalence range," the authors state.

***End Quote

The over diagnosis has very little backing in main stream medicine,according to what I am reading. Most problems have been due to missed diagnosis especially of coexisting conditions. Missed diagnosis of a secondary condition {bi-polar} has wreaked havoc in the lives of my loved ones. To say people are being over diagnosed especially without just cause lends to a belief that one could end up being labeled ADD because it is fashionable or popular = which may discourage some from seeking the assistance of a qualified mental health practitioner.

The over diagnosis claim is frequently used by anti-psychiatric, anti-ADD movements to discourage people from seeking psychiatric assistance. I have spent a great deal of time researching these groups over the last week plus as I stated above a missed condition caused a members of my family a great deal of hardship

Due to the effects of this combination I will admit over sensitivity on my part as I know there is no malice intend upon yours .

I agree the best way to go is a great assessment, and I am looking into it.

I fully believe that it can be misdiagnosed, and also missed diagnosed if that makes sense. Hey, that was sort of clever!

:p

I am fairly certain I do have it but have other factors that led me to only realize it at this point in my life. Possible perimenopause, and becoming a SAHM to 2 children... plus some other things that have truly tested my patience that I don't want to get into.

The stuff from Sari Solden makes me think YES. Absolutely, I have ADD.

Anyways.. yes, a formal diagnosis when you can get a good one, is probably the best bet. I am starting to look into that.

And as a side note, today on my adderall I am a little hyper but not irritable at all!! Perhaps just very energetic, not really hyper. It's like each week is different. This is a long and confusing road for sure I am discovering.

Nice to have the input here though. :)

yeppo..I certainly DO NOT..and I emphasize DO NOt have ADHD

I don't think..my shrink says I do..but..OMG!! he only saw me for like 2 seconds..who could come to that conclusion that quick??

yeppo..I certainly DO NOT..and I emphasize DO NOt have ADHD

I am not getting the joke.

That happens often though... :rolleyes:

Denial is the first stage.

oops..it was a silly joke :-) I had been in one of those random moments i get...and I thought if anyone else was online, they'd see my 6 billion posts in 5 secs..and get the joke..

anyway...I do have ADHD...

you crack me up. haha
u taken ur meds lately tracey haha
it made me laugh anyways.

actually..no :-)...

I'm not taking medications, but have been diagnosed with ADD by a Psychologist specializing in ADD. And, unlike Tracy, he has ADD (I got it Tracy, LOL) ;) I agree with mead823 and others, diagnosis, and by some one who specializes in ADD, is important.

I wouldn't want to take anything that screws with my brain waves unless I knew it was something for an ADD condition of my brain.. I think that's risky at the least. In fact, I'm not going to take meds unless my efforts at organization and planning don't work out. So far, though a lot of effort, things are getting better.

As far as the meds go, I had understood that they act instantly, that there is no waiting period for the body to adjust and there is no withdrawal time, or symptoms, either.. where is the information coming from by the poster above?

If you are going to self diagnose, at least do it with some guidance.. read the book by Howell, Driven to Distraction. It has a lot of information on what to look for indicating ADD.. it seems to be mostly a childhood history of the traits that is the best indication. There are also some tests you can take in the book, though not conclusive, they can also give you an indication. I still think you should go to a specialist though.. too many doctors hand out meds freely and irresponsibly at the prompting of the huge drug companies whose main interest is profits.

oops..it was a silly joke :-) I had been in one of those random moments i get...and I thought if anyone else was online, they'd see my 6 billion posts in 5 secs..and get the joke..

anyway...I do have ADHD...


LOL. Ok, yes. It is funny.

:D

I realized I had all the sypmtoms while my daughter was being diagnosed, which is a typical path to an adult diagnosis, I guess. Strangely, my daughter is adopted, so there's no genitic link, but while we were both reading the book "drive to distraction" our doctor had recommeneded my wife kept stopping, looking at me and saying "here-here--you've GOT to read this part" and a full picture started to emerge.

my family didn't believe me at first because I was a LITTLE hyperactive, but not enormously so and had always gotten pretty good grades in school. I went to a neuro-psychologist who told me I was defenitely a combined type, but my intelligence had always helped me cope until life got too complicated.

so ... no, I guess I haven't doubted.

I was a LITTLE hyperactive, but not enormously so and had always gotten pretty good grades in school. ... my intelligence had always helped me cope until life got too complicated.



This is me as well.

I should say that I did do a lot of self testing.. not just a screening or two.

I took a quick screening first. Then I googled every ADD assessment I could find online and did them all, most of them more than once, asking my dh to help me answer the questions honestly.

Then like I mentioned, the Sari Solden book really described me perfectly at times when I looked at my life so far. My dh read parts of the book as well, and there is a particular case study that is almost exactly like me, he thought it was hilarious.

Yes, honey. Absolutely hilarious. Thanks so much.
:p

I know a formal assessment is the best route though. *sigh*

It sucks to have to pay for such things when you get to be an adult. I remember being a child and getting to save up for something cool. Now, you save up and have to buy a roof that you don't even really see everyday, but you gotta do it if you own the home. Or, you save up for an ADD assessment. Yay. How exciting.

I know I am not in denial... if I am truly ADD, then fine, I am excited to have something to guide me in solving some of my issues.

And ADD3D... I totally agree with your post. I would really like to just buckle down and try to change my habits and actually learn to organize, learn to finish a task and maintain interest on projects.. but that alone is a project (learning to change habits and such!) and so it is a horrible cycle!!! I was determined to keep a day planner when I first started out on my ADD journey.. thinking that would be a great first step.

I have no idea where that is now. :(

This is me as well.

I should say that I did do a lot of self testing.. not just a screening or two.

I took a quick screening first. Then I googled every ADD assessment I could find online and did them all, most of them more than once, asking my dh to help me answer the questions honestly.

Then like I mentioned, the Sari Solden book really described me perfectly at times when I looked at my life so far. My dh read parts of the book as well, and there is a particular case study that is almost exactly like me, he thought it was hilarious.

Yes, honey. Absolutely hilarious. Thanks so much.
:p

I know a formal assessment is the best route though. *sigh*

It sucks to have to pay for such things when you get to be an adult. I remember being a child and getting to save up for something cool. Now, you save up and have to buy a roof that you don't even really see everyday, but you gotta do it if you own the home. Or, you save up for an ADD assessment. Yay. How exciting.

I know I am not in denial... if I am truly ADD, then fine, I am excited to have something to guide me in solving some of my issues.

And ADD3D... I totally agree with your post. I would really like to just buckle down and try to change my habits and actually learn to organize, learn to finish a task and maintain interest on projects.. but that alone is a project (learning to change habits and such!) and so it is a horrible cycle!!! I was determined to keep a day planner when I first started out on my ADD journey.. thinking that would be a great first step.

I have no idea where that is now. :(
It shouln't be that expensive to find out. Try to find a doctor/psych who is ADD as they will have a better idea about what to expect. The tests I went though only took a few days and were mostly a series of written tests given by a Psychologist here who is ADD. It ended up only costing a few hundred dollars and didn't involve any fancy, expensive brain scans or anything like that. I am continuing to see this doctor, he is caring and understanding and he is what is helping me keep on track with my daily planning book I'm keeping now. As was pointed out in the Delivered from Distraction book, you need support in doing this, it's understandable that you haven't been able to do it alone.

I posted another thread about the SPIN and SLIDE in Driven to Distraction.. you might want to read this. The "I" in SPIN stands for "Isolation" which Howell says is the most important lifeline any of us ADD'ers have. That may be your problem in not being able to stick with your schedule.

I wish you all the best of luck, keep trying.

oops..it was a silly joke :-) I had been in one of those random moments i get...and I thought if anyone else was online, they'd see my 6 billion posts in 5 secs..and get the joke..

anyway...I do have ADHD...
its like me everyone tells me that i have adhd but i really dont think i do and that reminds me I have a long list of things to do today starting with raking the leaves, wich reminds me that it is alomost halloween and we dont have a pumpking yet to carve out wich means i need a bigger knive wich i will have to go to the store to pick up, mabe while im out i can get some grocries for the week and pick up the snack i have to bring for work on tuesday wich we have a meeting about the outings I will go on for the month of november, one that we will go out to eat at mcdonalds wich justs reminded me that i have to go get supper. where did the day go?

It shouln't be that expensive to find out. Try to find a doctor/psych who is ADD as they will have a better idea about what to expect. The tests I went though only took a few days and were mostly a series of written tests given by a Psychologist here who is ADD. It ended up only costing a few hundred dollars and didn't involve any fancy, expensive brain scans or anything like that. I am continuing to see this doctor, he is caring and understanding and he is what is helping me keep on track with my daily planning book I'm keeping now. As was pointed out in the Delivered from Distraction book, you need support in doing this, it's understandable that you haven't been able to do it alone.

I posted another thread about the SPIN and SLIDE in Driven to Distraction.. you might want to read this. The "I" in SPIN stands for "Isolation" which Howell says is the most important lifeline any of us ADD'ers have. That may be your problem in not being able to stick with your schedule.

I wish you all the best of luck, keep trying.

Thank you so much. You have really comforted me. I do feel isolated, and I will go read the thread. I can also understand more the value in the assessment, if I can get lucky enough to find the right dr. Thanks!

Thank you so much. You have really comforted me. I do feel isolated, and I will go read the thread. I can also understand more the value in the assessment, if I can get lucky enough to find the right dr. Thanks!Stick with it and have hope and optimism.. you can move forward and you can turn what you may see as a handicap into an asset.

All the best

re: #20

One of the myths is that children have to be hyperactive to have ADD/ADHD. Another myth is that all childhood hyperactivity is ADHD.

There are three components that can happen with ADD/ADHD: hyperactivity is only one of them.

re: #20

One of the myths is that children have to be hyperactive to have ADD/ADHD. Another myth is that all childhood hyperactivity is ADHD.

There are three components that can happen with ADD/ADHD: hyperactivity is only one of them.Thanks for bringing that up. I wasn't hyperactive as a child, but I had all the other ADD problems that continued on into adult life.

ADD3D, I think that you are very fortunate to have found such a good Doc. It's like trying out medz. It can be a long and frustrating process. I think that a good Psychol/Psychiat with a very good understand of ADD is very hard to find. You found one WITH ADD?! :D Even the ones I've been diagnosed by didn't turn out to have an intimate knowledge of the subject, IMO. Very happy for you, and for those still looking like myself, its the best thing you can do, so keep it up and good luck.

ADD3D, I think that you are very fortunate to have found such a good Doc. It's like trying out medz. It can be a long and frustrating process. I think that a good Psychol/Psychiat with a very good understand of ADD is very hard to find. You found one WITH ADD?! :D Even the ones I've been diagnosed by didn't turn out to have an intimate knowledge of the subject, IMO. Very happy for you, and for those still looking like myself, its the best thing you can do, so keep it up and good luck.Hallowell, the author of the Distraction books is ADD. If you can't find some one, I would write him and ask him who to contact in your area, he is extremely helpfull and friendly.

ADD3D, I think that you are very fortunate to have found such a good Doc. It's like trying out medz. It can be a long and frustrating process. I think that a good Psychol/Psychiat with a very good understand of ADD is very hard to find. You found one WITH ADD?! :D Even the ones I've been diagnosed by didn't turn out to have an intimate knowledge of the subject, IMO. Very happy for you, and for those still looking like myself, its the best thing you can do, so keep it up and good luck.I looked in the Delivered from Distraction book and in the back there is a blurb about Dr Hallowell and it says he welcomes hearing from readers with ADD and he can be reached through his website: www.DrHallowell.com (http://www.DrHallowell.com)

Also in the back is a reference list by state.. boy are you lucky! ..The Hallowell center and his private practice is in Sudbury in your state! There is also a whole list of other contacts in MA.

Also, on his website, see this page about finding help (click here) (http://www.drhallowell.com/resources/referrals.html)

Also, see this site, www.add.org (click here) (http://www.add.org/) as they have a lists of contacts by state, and lots of other info.

Good Luck!

My family dr that has been prescribing meds is ADD. That made things a lot easier for me. On the other hand, I think he might have been trying NOT to give me a hard time and that led to a very quick dx.

But it is definitely an advantage overall!

You found one WITH ADD?! Even the ones I've been diagnosed by didn't turn out to have an intimate knowledge of the subject, IMO. Very happy for you, and for those still looking like myself, its the best thing you can do, so keep it up and good luck.
Edit/Delete Message

May see if you can find one using these directories (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33989). I have several for here in the US.