Just wondering in hope......
because I'm tired of failing at life. Have these meds helped you long term?
If so, how did the meds change you.. socially,educationally,etc.



currently just started dexedrine.. wish me luck!

Good luck, hope the dex helps things out :)

i was on ritalin for combined type but have since stopped...didnt like the zombie feel and lack of personality.

hope the meds work for ya good.

Keep us POASTED on how its going for u with the dexedrine. What dose r u taking?

Has anyone tried Wellbutrin with ADD?

Thanks guys. I started yesterday and I am on 2.5 mg, because I am really sensitive to medication.I could never get past 10mg with adderall! I'm going to slowly move up in the next couple of days and see where I get to.


I actually have tried Wellbutrin. It made me really anxious, if I can remember correctly. That's just me though, you should try everything until you find what is just right for you. Check out what people have said about it in the medication section.

Has anyone tried Wellbutrin with ADD?

I did but unfortuntely I had an allergic reaction to Wellbutrin! :p

I had a FANTASTIC time with meds, especially dexedrine. The difference was truly like night and day. Not only did my motivation kick in, but things that used to mentally and physically exhaust me no longer did. My focus was incredible! I mean, I had focus! *lol*

But be warned that it's not enough just to have the right meds. While it may seem initally that medication is the answer to all of your troubles, all it does it helps you focus so that you're in a better position to manage your ADHD. You still will need to rely on organizing 'tricks' to manage your day to day activites.

what kinds of things did you find were hard to deal with?

what kinds of things did you find were hard to deal with?

The fact that it still takes me a long time to learn things. So if it's school related, I still have to put in extra effort to make it stick to my brain.

Organizing time still remains a problem. Everyone else seems to be more efficent at it than I am.

Distractability and the impluse to act on the moment also are issues.

good luck :)

3 months is not really 'long term' .. so I cannot answer it. But even others (like at work) seem to notice a remarkable change in productivity .. less procrastination and daydreaming. I notice it is still easy to get lost in dreams .. but it's easier to break away from if needed.
Another good thing is that it stops the worrying and gives clarity .. feel really calm inside .. like everything is much easier.
I wonder if NT people always find things this uncomplicated :p

I've had a great reaction to strattera at a high dose (120mg/day). It was the difference between night and day. I am now more attentive during conversations, able to plan ahead, don't overreact to situations anymore, and have a more efficient working memory.
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Me!

I responded to meds right from day one. :)

I'm inattentive and Dex IR works really well for me! :)

I'm inattentive and Welbutrin changed my life. My cocktail is currently Strattera, Welbutrin and Celexa

[quote=kwalk;564897]Just wondering in hope......
because I'm tired of failing at life. Have these meds helped you long term?
[quote]

You aren't alone! (Background music, please!) "But I still haven't found what I'm lookin' for..."

I've had a great reaction to strattera at a high dose (120mg/day). It was the difference between night and day. I am now more attentive during conversations, able to plan ahead, don't overreact to situations anymore, and have a more efficient working memory.
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Did you start high or ease your way up - I'm at 43 mg now - just up from 18 to 25 to 43 (not seeing great results yet)

I found once the dose was right it was incredibly beneficial.

It's like wearing glasses to see a blackboard- it's clearer, but you still have to do the work to be successful!

For me the benefits far outweighed any potential side effects- and I was exceptionally lucky in that the only one I have had is that I have got some pimples now after having pretty much perfect skin! but hey I'll take that!

I am inattentive and have been on meds for about 9 years straight, no breaks. I do have to switch meds every few years because its like I get immune to them. I also have depression and have also been taking meds for that for the same amount of time. Currently I am taking:

Vyvanse - 100mg per day
Wellbutrin - 450mg per day

Everyone responds to medication differently though. It can be hard to find the right medication I had some very bad experiences with a few meds. I cant speak for everyone but once I finally found the right meds for me they worked great for quite a long time.

effie,
i would be interested to hear which meds you had a bad experiences with. only because i am now on my second med for ADD and not loving it. didnt love the first one either. the process is slow.

i have been reading about Vyvanse and think i might like to try it. i am sure the doc will want to raise my current dosage on Concerta, just like with the Strattera. both of those make me very foggy. beyone foggy. i just stare. weird!

And does anyone think that after about 2 weeks of a med you should know if it is working or even will work for you? i was under the assumption that the stimulants work quickly. not like with an anti depressant where you need to wait a month or more for the effect.

thanks.

.

I have had a good response. If I try to dissect it into details too much, it doesn't make all that much sense to me. But if I look back at my overall productivity and the quality of my work since I started them in January, I see a huge difference.

effie,
i would be interested to hear which meds you had a bad experiences with. only because i am now on my second med for ADD and not loving it. didnt love the first one either. the process is slow.

i have been reading about Vyvanse and think i might like to try it. i am sure the doc will want to raise my current dosage on Concerta, just like with the Strattera. both of those make me very foggy. beyone foggy. i just stare. weird!

And does anyone think that after about 2 weeks of a med you should know if it is working or even will work for you? i was under the assumption that the stimulants work quickly. not like with an anti depressant where you need to wait a month or more for the effect.

thanks.

.

I had a very bad experience with Strattera. It pretty much made me go crazy for a short period of time. I started out on Concerta when it was first available on the market and was on that the longest. It worked great but then started to lose its effect after quite a few years. Adderall XR also worked well for me, the only reason I switched is because I am on the patient assistance program (I do not have insurance) and they pretty much made me switch to Vyvanse. I have been on Vyvanse since November and I have liked it the best so far. It lasts a lot longer than other meds and I dont crash as hard. From my experience I can normally tell if an ADD med is going to work for me within a week or two. Everyone is different though, it may take you longer.

If you tell your doctor that the meds make you foggy I dont know why he would want to raise your dosage. I guess that doesnt make sense to me, if the meds make you feel strange why would you want to take more of them? I guess if your doctor keeps trying to just raise your dosages and doesnt listen to you I would look into another doctor that is more intune with your needs. Thats what I would do if I was in your situation.

Excuse the long post...

I'm 47, Dx with Inattentive ADD last November. Started on generic Ritalin 10mg twice/day 1st week, then 20mg twice/day. It was great for about a month. Great focus, energy, cranked through a project, and a difficult part, that was taking over a month. Then it slowly stopped working very well. I researched online. I had started drinking alot of juice (Tang because I had made 2.5 gallons in a despenser in the fridge for my son, and I work at home)...anyway, I thought all the juice may have made my stomach too acidic and caused me to metabolize the med too quick. I had also left about half the pills in the car, to make sure I didn't leave without them on my trips every other week, and thought the Florida heat in a locked up car may have reduced their strength. Problem was I had poured out both (in car and in house) containers, together, and count them, then redivided them, so may have mixed good and bad. So at next doc appt. asked about Concerta 72mg/day. Didn't work as good as Ritallin initially had and I was at the max dosage/day manuf. recommends, so frustrated and wanting something that WORKS! I tried Adderall, 20mg twice/day. It made me feel drugged and didn't help at all with focus/attentiveness. I stopped after 2 weeks, and used some of the old Ritallin till my next appt. It seemed to help most of the time, except when I'd hyperfocus on work and forget the 2nd dose of the day. I also read that Concerta initially releases 22% of mg, then rest through balance of day. At 72mg I was getting 16mg initial and my guess is the same or less as the day continued. Now I'm trying 90mg to see if that helps, except in the past I've always had EXTREME trouble when STRESSED, and tomorrow X is taking me back to div. court. It seems stress makes things worse, and not just any effect on the metabolism of meds, because I'd have major problems working before being Dx when I wasn't on anything. Stress must amplify the ADD brain chemical problems. So not sure if the higher dose will work.

Doc had also been suggesting adding a light Wellbutrin dose. I've been telling him "I'm not depressed, just frustrated I can't get my work done to make money to pay the bills! The last thing I want is a drug to make me feel happy or indifferent to being in that situation." However, reading about how Wellbutrin works, I see that Wellbutrin "Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor" which is related to the ADD/ADHD problem, so maybe it would help. Maybe some kind of med combo/cocktail would work best. I read one post where a guy's job was very stressful for a month or two every year, and his doc would give his meds a good increase during that time. I just wish there was a way to measure my stress level.

One interesting thing I noticed yesterday, Sunday, I had taken the 90mg of Concerta about 9:30am (usually its 6am, but slept in!), and later went to 5:30pm mass with my 9 yr. old. After reading the gospel the priest was talking to us. I was paying attention, trying to set a good example to my son (who I think has ADD too but X won't let me take him to get checked by child psych - will be discussed in court!), and the priest mentioned the readings and I had to flip back to remind myself what they were about. Then during his talk he made a couple jokes and each time many of the people laughed, and I had no clue what was so funny and couldn't even recall what exactly he had said - even though I was really paying attention, even extra attention when the 2nd joke came around. It was like I was only hearing parts of his conversation even though I was looking and trying to pay attention (anyone able to relate?). Or like it must have gone in one ear and out the other. It made me realize why I had to work so damn hard through school and college, and makes me wish I had gotten diagnosed back when I was a kid.

On a related note, like many of you I'm also interested in what meds works/what doesn't for ADD vs. ADHD. I know what med and dosage works for some may not for others, but it would be great to see an online place where people could list what they are taking, the dosage, and a comment section of how its working, and allow them to update it as meds/dosages/results change. Has anyone seen a site with that? It would be nice if this site let that info be kept in the profile section. And even better if there was a way to summarize and average results, or be able to check for what has been working long-term for people with your type of ADD/ADHD. As a 20yr database programmer, last 10 website/web app developer, I'm tempted to make one, but with all the good forum sites like this one you'd think they could easily add that in.

Personally, I do like the meds that release a steady stream, the XRs that give more than an initial and 2nd release, but a continuous release like Concerta and Vyvanse do. I feel more steady, not the peak and valleys. I just haven't found a dosage that gives me the good results I had at times with the peak of Ritallin.

Also, I've been concerned that some of the ADHD meds are made to counteract the Hyperactivity of ADHDers and would cause me to lose the little energy/drive Inattentive types have. I'm told by doc that Adderall is used more by ADHDers, and that may have caused the drugged feeling. It makes me wonder if Vyvanse would be similar even with its steady release. Thoughts?

And those getting good results using a high dosage of Strattera, like aloha1983, has it affected your sex drive. Its one of Strattera's possible side effects, and that would depress me! I like that it isn't a stimulant like the other meds, and I'd take it and use the blue pills if it gave me good results to the ADD, but I'd prefer to feel turned on when I'm suppose to.

I also notice lack of a good night sleeps and exercise makes things worse, I assume it is just a bad influence on the same brain chemical problems we ADD/ADHDers have.

I'd love to hear your thoughts..

Ever since I've started taking my dexedrine everything has more meaning and it gives me the motivation to get things done.
It clears the mental fog and also gives me purpose in what I'm doing.
Talking to people is a whole lot easier, which increases my self-esteem.
Overall dex is awesome.

Very good topic! Let's see now:
1) Zoloft- no effect, good or bad

2) Effexor- Same as above

3) Ritalin- turned me into a sluggish zombie, quit after 2 days.

4)Adderall- First 2 days, worked great. After that, a total F-----g living nightmare. Side effects such as nervous tics, increased anxiety, depression and no desire to do anything whatsoever.

Currently:

1) Clonezepam- can't tell a difference, except drowsiness.

2) Celexa- same as above.

My Doc tells me to be patient, that we'll find the proper meds. I'm beginning to doubt this seriously :(

Don

Has anyone tried Wellbutrin with ADD?


Yes. Zip. Nada. Nyet.

Yesterday was my first day on concerta and I was actually able to focus on the lecture at school without daydreaming to myself while the prof spoke. I was really energetic (a bit too much) but it was so much better than being sluggish all day.

I didn't think I would notice a difference on day 1 but so far so good. :)

carolinacutie -
Its common for it to work 'too good' initially, for about a week, like you're on speed. I was cleaning like crazy and had lots of energy (I sure miss that!). Then you're brain tries to adjust back to what it thinks is normal and it doesn't work as well. Your doc will know about this and bump up your dosage. I know you are so excited to have found a way to function normally, I was too, but be prepared that it often isn't an easy fix because what is important is to be paying attention to how its working or not so you can report this to your doctor and he will know how to adjust what you need. Its all a matter of finding what is going to work for your brain long-term. The more the doc knows the better he can help you. Otherwise he's just guessing. Things to watch for are ability to focus, and are you really hearing everything. With me on some meds I would be focused and paying attention, hearing everything from a lecture, but find I'd miss the jokes that everyone else heard, so something wasn't functioning like it should. Feeling irritable, like pardon the expression if it offends you, like its that time of the month when it isn't. Having trouble sleeping. Remember Concerta is a stimulant, so taken too late it will keep you up. Coffee adds more stimulant which is why they suggest not drinking it. I couldn't imagine getting through college without coffee, but then I wasn't diagnosed back then (I WISH!!!!!!!!!), but you'll have to see what works for you. By watching for things like this and letting your doc know you'll have the best chance at finding a long-term working solution (right meds, right dose) that works for you.

Isn't it amazing how easy things are when the meds are working! I couldn't believe how easy normal people (NP) have it! Your brain has had to perform all these years without that normal ability, so now with meds you may find your brain is able to do much better than you ever thought. I wish I was back in school and could perform at my best. You have that opportunity, kick butt and make everyone proud and end up with a job/career you love!

I'm trying to decide what to ask my doctor for. My problem is I occasionally have heart palpitations, so the stimulants kinda scare me. I keep reading on here that Adderal works best for inattentive, but I may have to at least try Strattera first:(. I don't want something that will make my heart race.

I didn't take medication at all through college. I was a physics major. It was hard b/c i would feel sleepy all the time even though I got enough sleep. My GPA was still 3.76, but if I had addy I'm sure I would have a 4.0.

Adderall has helped me for the past 6 months. I actually am able to think clearer and solve physics problems easier, and actually have a deeper understanding of physics b/c my mind is running at full capacity.

After doing research on the Strattera it appears that it has a bad sexual side effect for men. Now I don't know what to do. :(

For those of you that have tried Adderal, about what dosage do you start noticing the increased heart rate? Maybe a low dose like 10mg wouldn't be bad?

Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine), Adderall or good ol' dextroamphetamine, all these medications are ultimately based on the oh-so-useful amphetamine molecule. (Vyvanse has the amino acid l-lysine bound to the amphetamine (d-isomer) molecule -- which is stripped off in the intestines and/or liver.)

As a rule 'primarily inattentive's (and a certain 'combined' trying to pass as an 'inattentive'... ;)) respond well to the amphetamine-based medications.

Presently taking generic Adderall, 3 x 20mgs a day. Have been taking some form of amphetamine-based medication -- with periodic breaks -- for the last ten years.

Adderall XR also worked well for me, the only reason I switched is because I am on the patient assistance program (I do not have insurance) and they pretty much made me switch to Vyvanse. I have been on Vyvanse since November and I have liked it the best so far. It lasts a lot longer than other meds and I dont crash as hard.

After doing research on the Strattera it appears that it has a bad sexual side effect for men. Now I don't know what to do. :(

For those of you that have tried Adderal, about what dosage do you start noticing the increased heart rate? Maybe a low dose like 10mg wouldn't be bad?

All of this is really something that you should talk with your doctor about. Everyone responds to medication differently, one person may have an increased heart rate at 30mg and another person may not have an increased heart rate at all, so on and so forth. Really your doctor is the only one who can suggest what dosage you should take. I would think that he/she would start you off at a low dose and work you up gradually if you need it. I think you should just trust your doctor and make sure you communicate with him/her very well through the process. Good luck.

what kinds of things did you find were hard to deal with?

I have inattentiveness and I find it really hard to keep the house tidy. I live with my fiancee and he has really bad asthma and allergic to dust, mold, grass, trees, and cats (we have 2). He's also a neat freak and doesn't have time in his day to help me clean the house. I feel really bad that I can't seem to keep the house clean enough for him. All of our fights have to do with the cleanliness of the house and chores. But I can't seem to get it right. I get really motivated at work and say to myself that when I get home, I'm going to clean the entire house before he gets home, but when I get home, all I do is sit infront of the computer or get only one load of laundry washed. I lose all motivation once I get home. I love him so much, but I'm afraid that he isn't happy because I can't function like a normal person.

I have never been on medication and was wondering if any would help me to be more aware of what needs to be done and to help with procrastination. Thanks.

Hi Lilo,

Welcome! A cluttered place and lack of motivation to tackle chores is very common with Inattentive ADDers. When I was first diagnosed and put on generic Ritalin I found myself cleaning like never before. Kept noticing things that needed cleaning that didn't seem to catch my attention before. It was good while it lasted, but after a couple weeks I still struggle with clutter/cleaning. It could be that the med, being new to my brain, had a 'speed' affect. I'm on Concerta now to give me a steady timed release of the same med. I'm able to work better, and clean up somewhat, but miss that initial drive. It could also be that inattentive types have some ingrained bad habits, like cleaning and clutter, that need more than meds, like coaching/therapy to break old habits and build new ones. I'm sure other ADDers with more experience can offer more suggestions.

As for no meds, trying some, with a doctors prescription of course, will give you an idea if they can help. I noticed a difference in less than 2 hours. If you're a student with ADD then it should really help, but if your job isn't really affected you might be able to just take some instant release Ritalin (or something similar) when you need the help to focus on things, like cleaning up.

One trick for me is just commiting to clean part of the total mess at a time. I find that it really helps me get started (which is the tough part), then I'm able to get that done, often more if I feel like doing more after getting that first part done. Try building a habit of:

1. Having a place or home for everything in your house, and when you are done with it, or noticed it out of place and not being used, put it back in its place. (I call it having a home for everything in your home. And it's important that every new thing that comes into the house get a 'place' where its kept.

2. Make a time of day, every day, where you spend up to 10 or 15 minutes putting things away. Right when you come home can be good, or following something you do everyday. Especially if its a time when you tend to procrastinate anyway. If 10 or 15 min. is too tough, try commiting to 5 minutes. Set the oven timer and just do it.

Good Luck. These forums are full of good ideas. Use the search feature to find help for specific topics.

Has anyone tried Wellbutrin with ADD?
Yes (the generic version), because I have heart rhythm problems and the cardiologist vetoed stimulants. The result is underwhelming, and, if this is all there is, I'll take it. I do notice an improvement, just not all that I had hoped for. Different meds work better, or worse, for different people. I never want to go back to Life Before Wellbutrin.

derbarkasmann,

What about Strattera (generic is called atomoxetine), its not a stimulant, and might give you better results? You could, if doc approves, try it with or without the Wellbutrin.

I have inattentiveness and I find it really hard to keep the house tidy. I live with my fiancee and he has really bad asthma and allergic to dust, mold, grass, trees, and cats (we have 2). He's also a neat freak and doesn't have time in his day to help me clean the house. I feel really bad that I can't seem to keep the house clean enough for him. ....

I have never been on medication and was wondering if any would help me to be more aware of what needs to be done and to help with procrastination. Thanks.

Even if you go on medication, you will still have two cats.

The medication will not help you with the trees, either.

He will still be allergic the the lawn even if your house is clean.

I wonder if your cleaning is really the issue here. It's not my business, and I don't know the details. All I can say is that you should go on medication for you, and your needs. Any ADHD medication comes with health risks. To take this medication for his health is to sacrifice your own health for his.

If you really have ADD then by all means consider the medication. However, I am not sure it will solve the problem your husband has with his allergies.

Did you start high or ease your way up - I'm at 43 mg now - just up from 18 to 25 to 43 (not seeing great results yet)

I am seeing results now at 60 mg - will go to 80 next week. My apartment looks much better!

Did you start high or ease your way up - I'm at 43 mg now - just up from 18 to 25 to 43 (not seeing great results yet)

Well, i was first put on effexor 150mg last summer. Then my doctor switched me straight to 60mg strattera. After a couple mnths he upped my dose to 120mg.
I am also on other medication (celexa, zyprexa) so that may play a role in the improvement of my condition.