I'm posting this in the men's section, but my height and metabolism taken into account, I'm wanting to hear from the gents too.

Medication, Norway: First they try Ritalin, then Concerta, then Strattera - then nothing. Adderal-like drugs "require too much paper work" and are generally not used to treat ADHD around here. Concerta did not work, but Ritalin did, so I'm back on that.

Ritalin, on me: -works excellent! I mean, I have a life, I have opportunities! Almost like the missing piece I wasn't dealt at birth. BUT, 30 mg is the mircale dose. Too much, too little, and I get jittery (I swear it drives me nuts).

Problem: It's 30 mg every 3 hrs. My doc thinks it's too much. I sort of understand, but THAT'S what's working. But it is working! 5-15 mg = nothing, 20-25 mg = jittery. He doesn't want to give me 30 mg x 4 (=120 mg). He wants to try Strattera. "Maybe that will work better".

But it's working! My goodness, I am so grateful! I feel sorry it's 30 mg. I don't find the meds as strong as they claim, either. It's not narcotics. It makes me function!! So why move to Strattera??! I'm lucky I've found one that works! WORKS!

Help: Do I have any rights?? Do any of you require higher dosages? Are their limits too low? It's working - it has given me a life! Please, share your thoughts and experiences!

reassure him that it is working. That is the first and foremost suggestion I have. I take 45 mg of dexedrine 3 times a day which is a lot (3 x 45= 135) and I had the "let's go with strattera" suggestion more than once.

reassure him that it is working. That is the first and foremost suggestion I have. I take 45 mg of dexedrine 3 times a day which is a lot (3 x 45= 135) and I had the "let's go with strattera" suggestion more than once.Hey! Thanks!

I have no clue how to persuade him. He's very stuck on Strattera - "Strattera!". I'm so happy there is one med that helps, and now he wants to take that away from me. All the tests are fine. I'd show up every week for blood tests and heart tests. They are all fine!

I'm so sick of getting pushed into Strattera - even when the Ritalin is working. Geez, why do I have to try it when the Ritalin is working. It's not that much more. *sad*

But thank you! Did your doc finally agree with you? Did you have to fight for it? What is the "normal" upper level for dexedrine? Did your doc have to discuss it with his boss - i.e. special solution? (sorry for nagging)

Do the broken record with him.

If I cross him, he turns the doctor card on me. -No Ritalin!
-Seriously. I feel like I have no rights and am at his mercy completely. I'm petrified he'll take away the Ritalin and my life.

I'll tell him your story, but I doubt he will change his mind. He's stubborn and "upper-class". Where's my rights?! People think omega-3 will cure me! I'm like a "baby" without the medicine, I can't get anything done.

Do the broken record with him.Worked for me! Strattera has its pluses for some, but I never had any results from it. I don't know why your doctor would go from an above average dosage of Ritalin to Strattera?

Worked for me! Strattera has its pluses for some, but I never had any results from it. I don't know why your doctor would go from an above average dosage of Ritalin to Strattera?Because it's above "normal" level (just a little bit!). He thinks it's too high, and thinks that's why I get the good results. "Maybe Strattera will work at normal levels". Thing is, it's working as it is, plus how many ADHDers get good results on all medications?! I don't want to to go for weeks without meds. It will mess up what I've built so far. I'm a mess when I'm not on the meds. I'm a Monkey Girl.

If I cross him, he turns the doctor card on me. -No Ritalin!
-Seriously. I feel like I have no rights and am at his mercy completely. I'm petrified he'll take away the Ritalin and my life.

I'll tell him your story, but I doubt he will change his mind. He's stubborn and "upper-class". Where's my rights?! People think omega-3 will cure me! I'm like a "baby" without the medicine, I can't get anything done.
coulkd be when you make the request your making it seem more like a want( Desperate), than a need.

Write a jounral possilby of how u feel at different dosages and try to apporach him with some proof behind your request.

coulkd be when you make the request your making it seem more like a want( Desperate), than a need.

Write a jounral possilby of how u feel at different dosages and try to apporach him with some proof behind your request.I know what you're saying. He told me straight to my face once, that he thought I was addicted, because I seemed so desperate for it (this was this summer. He was going away for 4 weeks. He wanted to lower my dose to 20 mg, or "30 mg x 2 daily"). Well, it's only my LIFE. :rolleyes:

Done that. He thinks that any good results are due to the high dosage, and that "anyone would have similar good effects on that dose". By anyone, he means non-adhd'ers too. I don't buy that. I think 30 mg is what I need. I don't think everyone else would feel better on 30 mg. On that note, there are many things about me (and everyone else) that doesn't fit so-called standards.

I even showed him my report cards from last school year (I got diagnosed in the beginning of April this year, and started meds in the beginning of May). I told him what my teachers had said, about my progress, and that they chose to be kind vs. to punish me for the progress I'd made (therefor getting higher marks than I ought to).

I also mentioned how the teacher who hated me, said I was a completely different person. How he was actually impressed with me. -And that he was free to talk with him. Guess what the doc said?.. -"It's not objective enough". :eyebrow: So, no matter what, Strattera will be the only meds used for ADHD in the future. Mark my word.

I wish I was within their normal level, so that I felt safe I would stay on it when it works. I feel like I have no rights because I need 10 mg or around there, more. :( :( :(

Who do they make those standards after, anyways? Teens and kids? :(

can you find a different doctor? I am in Germany, and I have found that university doctors are better informed. I got a list of university doctors and called all of them until one was willing to see me. She has been a godsend, and we work well together.

Find one that will work with you.

Good luck.

can you find a different doctor? I am in Germany, and I have found that university doctors are better informed. I got a list of university doctors and called all of them until one was willing to see me. She has been a godsend, and we work well together.

Find one that will work with you.

Good luck.No. :( No, I can't. :rolleyes: In this province, it's either this guy, or his boss. My doc has consulted with boss-man about my meds before, with negative results. *cries*.

I seriously feel like I have no rights at all, and no one listens. I mean, it's working, but even if they push Strattera on me (again, because it's a non-stimulant), and if it don't work, I've got nothing. That's all they are going to try.

With all these different responses and effects people get from ADHD-meds, and no real scientific answer to why or how they work, how come they expect us all to fit a narrow standard-dosages? Who made them?! For whom?!

You should at least try the other meds if you haven't already. The Ritalin seems like it's working well but if a different medication works at a lower dose then that would be better.

Maybe if the Strattera doesn't work out for you you can go back on the Ritalin? Your doctor just wants to try other meds before he puts you on Ritilan for good I would say.

I know it's easy to get impatient when you've found something that has worked but I would make sure to act like you're willing to try something else..just so it shows the doctor you are not addicted. (even though you're not addicted)

So the problem is you wern't willing to try another medication, it makes it looks like you're addicted. Different countries have different rules about ADD meds and it seems Norway might be a little more strict than USA.

Be willing to reduce your dose by 10mg if your doctor thinks you need to. 10mg won't make much difference anyway and it's better than no Ritilan at all.

Try and negotiate with your doctor a bit more instead of fighting him.

Some of the people that replied are from America and they are in a different situation so what they advise may not be right for you.

I hope what I wrote above is helpful. Sorry if it sounds a little harsh. It sucks that doctors don't always do what we think is right but they have to do what they think is right in the end. Hopefully you'll be able to work out something that works with your doctor :) Good luck!