Ok, I have to vent.
Today, I called my psychiatrist and asked to try Dex instead of Concerta which I have been on for a week. I have found Concerta to be helpful although, I don't like the side effects such as massive headaches, and no motivation.
My doctor then proceeded to tell me that I have tried Vyvnase, Strattera, and Concerta with unpleasurable side effects. She then proceeded to tell me that I should start Tanex or some stupid crap to that sort, and said that she had nothing else to put me on. Ive never even heard of it being used for ADHD. And there are atleast 8 other medications designated for ADHD that I have not tried.
I have never had a history for a drug dependence, or any dependence for that matter, and I have seen her for 8 years of my life. She also wrongfully diagnosed me as bipolar until I was 22, (6 years of my life wasted to a wrongful diagnosis, I just found out 2 months ago that I am in fact ADHD) and did a re evaluation.
I came to the conclusion it might be time to move on to another psychiatrist.
But, it turns out that all the providers that my insurance allows, arent accepting new patients. I am so frustrated.

I think that I've been hearing wrong about my Pyschiatrist. And ta hell with it!

This time I am going to be alone and honest with him. Tell him all these anti-depressants aren't for me, I've found a great supplimental remedy with no side effects they have, and that I KNOW and have known for a while now my depression stems from my ADHD, and since it is my primary Axis I diagnosis, I want to try whatever it takes to find what treats THIS the most. Anxiety is no longer a problem hopefully with my 5-HTP, god its ****ING wonderful to be free of it! I feel like a young hopeful kid again.

I'm going to ask to try Dexamphetamine for one month to see if it's anymore affective than Ritalin.

Problem is, I've always acted like a retard around this guy so he won't be suspicious or ****ed off at me, and so I seem more needy, because he works through the government and is EXTREMELY busy, if I seem like I'm great and just want to tweakoid with my "happy-pills" to find the best "fix" he might make my 1-2 month appointments 3-4! months. I don't care, Ritalin is working better, whats the harm in trying something else for one month, I can always switch back afterwards if it doesn't work. And I won't bother him after 3 days if it doesnt work or has bad side effects, I'll just deal for a month without any meds.

I say to you Americans that shop around for psychiatrists, if she is stubborn and won't do for you, F her and go somewhere else!

Skip shopping for a new psychiatrist and looking into seeing a Neurologist. Way easier to find and get in as a new patient and most treat ADD. Call around and ask whether they treat ADD.

J

I was diagnosed as bipolar and treated for quite a few years as well, until a new doctor did a new evaluation and felt that my symptoms were a more closely related to ADHD.

I am fortunate that I have a dr. who is willing to try many different medications and combinations to find the right treatment. Not all of them have enough patience.

unless your psych has a valid reason for not prescribing something, then assert yourself and ask *(nicely of course) to be given a trial month of dexedrine. Make sure you do your homework on it first, so you don't sound like someone that goes with the latest mood on ADD forums...;)

Vyvnase is dextroamphetamine in a 12 hour time release version. Dexedrine would be very similar to vyvanse unless you were trying for less coverage like 4-8 hours.

A time release version of tenex is currently under study as a new adhd drug it should help with hyperactivity and working memory more then focus/motivation.

Focalin might be worth a try if concerta is working well with too many side effects.

2 weeks is very short to write off a drug.

Motivation is a very complex process and drugs may help. However motivation for people with add may take re-training reward perception via [insert your choice of therapy]. (cognitive is popular presently)

BobC

When she calls me back, I will ask her about Focalin. Although she is very hesitant on putting me on anything I specifically ask for. It bothers me that she hesitates. I've never done anything to bring up suspicion or distrust. Oh well, we'll see what happens when she calls.
As for Vyvnase, It worked well and helped with all of my ADHD issues, the only downfall was that it made me incredibly depressed and irritable when I was coming off of it or before I took it. I would like to stay with something similar to Vyvnase without the devil erupting out of me.

You sound similar to me and I do recommend trying dexedrine. Luckily my doc had no issue with me insisting upon it, but I also gave her no reason to be suspicious (offered to give back any and all unused addys/concerta/metadates I didnt use).

I switched my son from a pschiatist to a neuroligist. Love it:). so much more helpful. My son is currently on Tenex and it is amazing to see the difference. EVERY day I was being called to his school. Now he goes all day with VERY little problems. It seems to calm his anxiety down that the ADD causes in him. He stays more focused turning group work and the anger outbust have stop. He still gets frustrated, but not so fast. Dr. wants to add Straterra or Provigil to it to help with the non-focusing. Not sure if I want to. Only downside I found with Tenex is I was told it would "act" right away. The first dose--nothing. They increased it and it took about 2-3 weeks before I saw the most improvement.

Vyvnase is dextroamphetamine in a 12 hour time release version. Dexedrine would be very similar to vyvanse unless you were trying for less coverage like 4-8 hours.


I did a trial of Vyvanse and found it to be nothing at all like Dexedrine. It is similar but the way it works in the system is a lot different.

My psychiatrist called back, and said she would place me on Focalin but not Dex.
I will try the Focalin and see how that works out. If it doesn't work, I will insist on Dex in a polite and respectful way. Thank you all for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

Generally, if you have had poor responses to the Ritalin offshoots (Concerta, etc), you would move next to the amphetamine family drugs.

I heard a PodCast from an ADD Doctor mentioning this...

Dexedrine has a low side effect profile.

Find another Doc? (If you can. One with more stimulant Rxing education/experience.)

Tenex (an antihypertensive), IIRC, is like taking clonidine.

These drugs are Rx'd for _hyperactivity_ and _impulsivity_ symptoms, not to "improve focus", IIRC.

Ugh, I can't stand docs that resist trying something just because you suggest that it might be a viable option. :P
Good luck finding the right meds. :)

Anxiety is no longer a problem hopefully with my 5-HTP, god its ****ING wonderful to be free of it! I feel like a young hopeful kid again.

I originally went to get treatment for what I thought was problems that I still have as an adult, was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, but have sort of limped along mostly ok.

I started out with dexamphetamine and things went ok for a while, but soon after things go down hill and it didn't seem to matter how much dex I had things kept getting worst for me.

Long story short, I was and still am going through a very stressful period in my life and you hit the nail on the head about 5-htp, life is suddenly wonderful again. For a period it was

Stress + dex is an interesting combination to say the least, because of the stress and dex I wasn't sleeping or eating terribly wonderfully, and I was slowly going into the worst, what I now know as depression I have ever suffered, they are right after all, depression isn't being sad, it's being numb and doing and thinking some pretty stupid things (in hindsight).

This page is what opened my eyes to exactly what was going on:

http://www.enotalone.com/article/4116.html

especially the bit about craving sweets and carbs, which I told my psychiatrist about and he didn't ding to it...

I'm going to ask to try Dexamphetamine for one month to see if it's anymore affective than Ritalin.

Due to stress it lost all effectiveness for me, but when I started taking 5-htp the dex kicked in and boom, so I'm back to square one trying to figure out doses for dex + 5-htp, I'm not complaining the alternative was much worst.

Here's a question about your doctor:

Does she normally treat adults? If she does, ask her to get you a consult with a child psychiatrist.

Most adult psychiatrists don't have much experience with ADHD. The doctor I had first wanted to dismiss ADHD as a possibility when I reported that Ritalin made me sleepy. Luckily a new child psychiatrist was moving into town and a large part of his practice deals with ADHD so she sent me to him for a consult.

End result, at the age of 34, I'm on meds that work, and I see a child psychiatrist once or twice a month.