<HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->I think I have found something that is working, for now. I went from Concerta 54 and Ritalin 10 every day to Adderall XR 15 and Adderall IR 10 to my current cocktail of Metadate CD 50 every day. That wasn't enough. So we added Metadate CD 30 every afternoon and sometimes an additional Ritalin 10 in the early evening.

Long story, short version is The Metadate CD is working for now. The doctor told me it may not work very long. I feel like I am running out of choices. I liked Adderall the best to help with the ADHD symptoms but I couldn't hack the side effects. WHAT ARE MY NEXT OPTIONS? The doctor mentioned maybe Dexadrine. I should know more about these meds being a nurse, but I just don't. I don't give them often.

Bottom line, I am continuing to create structure, use my calandar and planner, exercise and attempt to eat healthy. When I can do all this it helps (Key word is when) Thanks to all those who stuck around to read my rambling. I appreciate it.

I will keep you posted. I may have to change my name I don't feel completely chaotic anymore.
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I'm confused about why your doctor would say the med will stop working ... I've never heard a doctor predicting that. But metadate is a different drug than I usually hear about ... it's like ritalin?

Metadate is a form of Ritalin. It is methylphenidate hydrochloride. My doctor has told me sometimes changing from Concerta to Metadate may be a slight enough change to work for me. So far it is OK. He said the total of 80 mg may "sizzle out" and not be enough, the Concerta had stopped working. I was only taking 54 mg of Concerta.

I hear you about the feeling of running out of choices. But let me go back a step: why didn't your doc up your dose of concerta to 72mg? .... Were you already having bad side effects?

From reading posts on this board, it's not unusual for a certain dose to stop working. People often go up to the next highest dose.

I don't know why he did not increase my Concerta. I never think about these kind of questions until I leave his office. I suppose I should write down my questions. I had a doctor laugh at me once for doing that. Anyway, I will continue the Metadate as long as it is working fairly well. Thanks for the input.

I'm glad the current med is still working, but I think you can keep it in the back of your mind that the concerta might work at a higher dose.

By the way, I totally relate to not asking the best questions at the time. My mind sometimes just goes totally blank at key moments. This isn't just with doctors; it's with all kinds of situations where I have trouble thinking fast in real time. Actually I read that this could be an adhd thing. I try to now practice what I'm going to say ahead of time, just to really root it in my brain and memory.

Anyway, glad to hear the metadate is working.

I'm suprised your doctor didn't increase the Concerta dose. It has been tested and is waiting for FDA approval on adults any day now for dosing up to 108mg a day.

J