Chrisles
03-22-08, 03:02 PM
OK..... I took Foclian XR 10mg two times a day for 2 weeks and it was my first ADHD medication. I don't know how well it worked since I don't really have anything else to compare it to. I know that I wasn't running around my store (at work) like a madman asking all my employees to finish the projects that I started then stopped to move onto something different. It made me calmer. It helped a lot with the hyperactive and impulse control (I actually thought about things before I did them). I also didn't smoke pot for those two weeks (which is strange because I didn't even feel a need to do it I just didn't want to). But the life of the medication was short lived (at least from my expections) of 5 hours. Then I turned into this evil person and became extremely irritable until I took my second dose.
Also I have a drug history and was a addict for a two years (when I was 16-18), sought out treatment and learned some wonderful coping skilling via Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I'm a big advcator of DBT and CBT. So I wanted a less abused drug and something that I could take 2 times a day instead of 4 or 5 (I work 12 hour shifts and I typically get 4-6 hours of sleep). I have now been clean and sober for 8 years (March 26th 2000).
But my insurance didn't cover it and I got switched to Concerta.
Day 1 on it either it didn't work or it made me Super-ADHD. But it helped with the hyperactive and made me calm and less impulsive. The problem is is that I don't have much I can judge off of it. I don't know what I'm like off of my medication (because of just being diagnosed and my psychiatrist telling me that it's effecting everything in my life). I didn't pay close attation to the way I acted pre-diagnoses.
Day 2 was no different. Pretty calm, I didn't speak a lot. I guess that I spoke excessively before and I didn't even notice but other people notice that I'm easier to be around on my medication. I have some back aches (not sure if that's a side effect). I feel pretty spaced out (again I don't know if that's the medication of ADHD).
The more that I notice my ADHD or the side effects (being Super-ADHD) the more insecure I feel. My self-image and my self-esteem are falling rapidly. Sometimes I wish I never had found out and was still living my carefree, bubbly, hyperactive, and impulsive existence. I think all the problems that I have dealing with my ADHD at the end of the day. Then I take responsibility for those problems. Then I try to see if I can do anything to help the problems go away (with out medications). My mind goes blank and I struggle even trying to come up with one thing that can help me through my day. I cry myself to sleep. I don't suffer from depression as a co-existing disorder but I have been feeling down about being semi-helpless in my current situation. I have dealt with some serious depression before (during the drug haze of my life) and I know if it's depression vs. seeking help for the depression.
So can Concerta makes things worse or is this just the way I act naturally?
My doctor explained to me that Foclian was just Ritalin but a purer form,,, and if Concerta is time-released Ritalin then why did Foclian work and not Concerta?
I have ADHD but both Concerta and Foclian helped with hyperactive and impulsive control. Can these medications help with one but not the other?
I'm also on Atavan 1mg for sleep. I HATE taking this drug. I was never ever one to day "OK it's time for bed". That what I have to do with Atavan. I have to plan out my bedtime (taking Atavan then waiting 20-30 minutes). If I don't take it then I'm wide awake and my mind goes crazy which induces RLS. If I decide that I might not need it and I actually do need it that night then I get like 4 (I get 6 hours so that minus one for toss and turn before I take Atavan and minus another for it to kick in and me sleep) hours of sleep and because of getting such little sleep I have a hangover. Does anyone else feel this way on sleeping drugs??
If I have never been on a medication why did I feel the need for more Foclian? Like I know that I could focus a lot more if I was on a higher dose? It was like this little feeling inside of me saying, I know that you have the potential to do better then you are. Was this the drug addict talking?
Also I have a drug history and was a addict for a two years (when I was 16-18), sought out treatment and learned some wonderful coping skilling via Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I'm a big advcator of DBT and CBT. So I wanted a less abused drug and something that I could take 2 times a day instead of 4 or 5 (I work 12 hour shifts and I typically get 4-6 hours of sleep). I have now been clean and sober for 8 years (March 26th 2000).
But my insurance didn't cover it and I got switched to Concerta.
Day 1 on it either it didn't work or it made me Super-ADHD. But it helped with the hyperactive and made me calm and less impulsive. The problem is is that I don't have much I can judge off of it. I don't know what I'm like off of my medication (because of just being diagnosed and my psychiatrist telling me that it's effecting everything in my life). I didn't pay close attation to the way I acted pre-diagnoses.
Day 2 was no different. Pretty calm, I didn't speak a lot. I guess that I spoke excessively before and I didn't even notice but other people notice that I'm easier to be around on my medication. I have some back aches (not sure if that's a side effect). I feel pretty spaced out (again I don't know if that's the medication of ADHD).
The more that I notice my ADHD or the side effects (being Super-ADHD) the more insecure I feel. My self-image and my self-esteem are falling rapidly. Sometimes I wish I never had found out and was still living my carefree, bubbly, hyperactive, and impulsive existence. I think all the problems that I have dealing with my ADHD at the end of the day. Then I take responsibility for those problems. Then I try to see if I can do anything to help the problems go away (with out medications). My mind goes blank and I struggle even trying to come up with one thing that can help me through my day. I cry myself to sleep. I don't suffer from depression as a co-existing disorder but I have been feeling down about being semi-helpless in my current situation. I have dealt with some serious depression before (during the drug haze of my life) and I know if it's depression vs. seeking help for the depression.
So can Concerta makes things worse or is this just the way I act naturally?
My doctor explained to me that Foclian was just Ritalin but a purer form,,, and if Concerta is time-released Ritalin then why did Foclian work and not Concerta?
I have ADHD but both Concerta and Foclian helped with hyperactive and impulsive control. Can these medications help with one but not the other?
I'm also on Atavan 1mg for sleep. I HATE taking this drug. I was never ever one to day "OK it's time for bed". That what I have to do with Atavan. I have to plan out my bedtime (taking Atavan then waiting 20-30 minutes). If I don't take it then I'm wide awake and my mind goes crazy which induces RLS. If I decide that I might not need it and I actually do need it that night then I get like 4 (I get 6 hours so that minus one for toss and turn before I take Atavan and minus another for it to kick in and me sleep) hours of sleep and because of getting such little sleep I have a hangover. Does anyone else feel this way on sleeping drugs??
If I have never been on a medication why did I feel the need for more Foclian? Like I know that I could focus a lot more if I was on a higher dose? It was like this little feeling inside of me saying, I know that you have the potential to do better then you are. Was this the drug addict talking?