I have already been on a whirlwind with medications and want to ask my Dr. if I can try concerta. Is it ok to ask to try a medication?

The first med i tried was strattera and couldn't even finish a month of it due to bad side effects then Dr. prescribed me 5mg adderall 2 times a day about week ago. Before he decided on that he asked if I have ever taken a stimulant before(I haven't) and so i am wondering if adderall is a weaker stimulant? And why would he prescribe me such a low dose! It isnt doing anything for me!!!!!!!

I think most doctors start you out on a low dose and then you work your way up if you need to.

Is it ok to ask to try a medication?
your post made me smile, thinking about *my* doctor!
she's as *stubborn* as they come, i tell you!
:)
she's an expert on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and before *i* became her patient, she knew very little about neuropsychiatric disorders.
i'm proud to say that *i* taught her (almost) everything she knows on this subject!
:cool: :D
since my diagnosis (about 2½ years ago), i have read *a lot* about neuropsychiatric disorders (mainly ad/hd and asperger syndrome, which are *my* diagnoses), and i'm trying my best to keep myself up-to-date!

medication...
(bet you thought i'd *never* actually get to *the point* in this post, huh?!;-)
i've been on concerta for four months (starting at 18 mg, after two weeks upping to 36 mg, and after another two weeks i ended up at 54 mg, which is the maximum dosage here in sweden), and i'm doing *great* - *much* better than before (much better than *EVER*, actually!;-)!

the next time i see my doctor (next thursday), i'm going to discuss trying ritalina in addition to concerta (if you want to know *why*, please check out the "concerta" threads in the "medication" part of this forum).
i met her a few days ago, and i mentioned this, and she didn't look too thrilled, i tell you, but i think by now she's realised that *i'm* pretty stubborn too, and she's also aware of the fact that i've done my homework on this - i've done *a lot* of reading on different treatments, and after reading dr. amen's "healing add", there's no stopping me - i want the best-working brain possible!
:D
my advice to you is: ASK!!!
:D

good luck to you, and let us know how things work out for you!

take care,

gabriela

Thank you britawn and gabriela!


Gabriela,
I am nervous about asking my Dr. to try concerta because he tried and tried to persuade me against starting a stimulant but the strattera just wasn't working. I think i will wait till my adderall prescription is done and when i go in ask him if I can try concerta. Another reason i am nervous to ask him is i have only seen him three times so i am a new patient to him and i dont want him to get mad....I dont know what i'm saying. Thank you for your help and I am going to ask him in 2 weeks! I don't think i can wait that long ahhhhhhh...

The first thing my doctor put me on was Concerta, because it is a timed release stimulant and "easier" to take (only once a day). But it was way too expensive, so after the first month I asked him to switch me to Ritalin becasue it is so much cheaper.

But I have to take it several times a day, and I sometimes forget.....

But my point is I think its a good idea to talk with your doctor about your medications and what you would like to try. After all, we do know our bodies the best!

I'd ask him/her to up your Adderall dosage before trying Concerta. My personal preference is for amphetamine based stimulants (like Adderall) vs. methylphenidate based stimulants (like concerta) - I found that they worked better for me. Adderall is considered "stronger" than Concerta, at compareable dosages, since there is an increased noradrenaline component with the Adderall (it's more stimulating to your central nervous system and blood pressure). Adderall is also stronger "by weight" - 5mg of Adderall is roughly equivalent to 10mg of methylphenidate (Concerta) (although in some people it's more like 7.5mg of MPH).
Regards,
Greg