I am brand spanking new to all this!

[lara239]

Happy Monday everyone. Well, here i am newly diagnosed and I am 40 years old! Long story short...pretty much knew there was something out of wack with me a long time ago when I could never concentrate in school and would either make an A (if I was interested in it) in a subject or an F (if I was not interested) but somehow I made it through school although it took me 6 years to get through college because school/testing is rough for me. But hey, at least I made it. Fast forward, I own my own business and it is very successful. I am able to multitask but am a typical procrastinator and work a lot better under pressure. My PCP always thought I was ADD but I refused to be officially diagnosed because I was worried it would mess with my “talents” with my job. I also feel like it is a gift at times.

Well, my husband just got diagnosed with colon cancer AND we had a failed IVF cycle (been trying to have kids for years but that is an entire different story) in the same month. It has been a rollercoaster ride so my doctor referred me to a psychiatrist to help me with my anxiety/lack of concentration that I am suddenly having because of all of the stress. I usually can handle anything but just have not been able to stay focused lately. I thought they were going to put me on Zoloft or something and send me on my way (which they did) but instead they also gave me this long test and officially diagnosed me with ADD. The doctor said she thought the medication would help with a lot of the issues I have been having the last few years (overeating..have gained a lot of weight in last few years, I used to be skinny….AND overdrinking, I tend to drink too much alcohol sometimes). She thinks I try to self medicate (with food and alcohol)which I never thought about it like that before but maybe I do. >>

Anyway, they put me on a low dose Vyvanse-20mg because she said it was one that would not make my anxiety worse AND I am on 50mg of Zoloft. What should I expect from this? I don’t really like drugs that much as I have always been more of a vitamin person (always good about taking a multi and fish oil for years now). My sister in law is also ADD and she was like “NO, don’t go on meds, they are SO addictive” but she has been on Adderall for years and having a very hard time coming off of it. I am worried I may end up an addict. >>

Any advice for a newbie? I am open to anything at this point. Thank you in advance!>>

[Conman]

welcome to forums

what do you mean by PCP? through context of that sentence i can clearly tell youre not a crackhead, but still dont know what acronym youre using.

that longass test you took was a Neuropsych evaluation/exam. i took one when i was 8/9, im personally amazed i didnt go insane at the doctor for making me take a multiple hour test (although i somehow put up with it through my life until i got medicated, like at school standardized testing).

i didnt like Vyvanse cuz it was just a weaker form of Adderall with more impact than Adderall ever did on my appetite, so i went back on Adderall after that brief 2 months. but different meds work well for different people.

cant say anything about Zoloft, ive been on Fluoxetine, but i didnt like it and i was on that and Strattera and i got briefly suicidal but always depressed (curious if it was a med interaction since Prozac works wonders for most from what ive heard and read)

dont worry about what your sister-in-law says. yeah some people can get not necessarily addicted, but biologically dependent (or if they do get fullblown addicted to it then they probably are also psychologically dependent). since she's not your bloodline you shouldnt worry about her habits with Adderall. if there were people in your bloodline who have AD/HD and started having addiction problems to Adderall or other medications, then you should be worried since you could be predisposed.

[lara239]

Thanks for the welcome!
By PCP I meant Primary Care Physician...sorry about that.
I have been on zoloft before during another anxious/stressful time in my life about 10 years ago and it worked great so I am not worried about that but I AM a little worried about combining an SSRI with an ADD medication (I take Vyvanse in the morning and the zoloft at night)...just seems like too much medication. I am sometimes prone to panic attacks so I think that is why she wants me to take both of them. I have never had a depression problem in my life which I guess I am lucky for that.
I have taken Vyvanse for all of 3 days and so far it just makes me feel a little revved up and totally focused which is good. In the mornign I am starving but after I take it I have to FORCE myself to eat lunch. I feel okay so far on it though. I have been able to sleep at night okay (also had chroni insomnia my whole life which I usually medicated with benedryl).
Does anybody take any other types of natural supplements that could help with ADD? I am interested in looking into more natural options as well.

[lara239]

I did some reading and found out zinc is good to take for ADD. Does anybody do this here?

[lara239]

I wish my thread had not been moved because this part of the forum is not that active obviously.