My ADD Battle and Concerta

[ACDesign]

I am 29 and have ADD. It is very clear now that I have always had it, and that my Mom does also...I guess I get it from her! All through school growing up my report cars would all sasy "very intelligent, great kid, but not working to full potential". Growing up I would just not be able to get things done, not eveytime but sometimes. As I got older I came to realize that there was something wrong with me - I have an absolutley awful memory, particularly short-term memory. In one in and out the other has never been so true! I would conpletely forget entire conversations, lose things, get dates and times jumbled up. And of course, I have NO organizational skills, or desire to get organized.

I have had so many "big " projects that were started and not finished. All the symptoms are there. I just figured that was me. I am who I am!

But I was laid off from my job last October. The job situaion in my area was not good, so I decided to go into business for myself. As you can probably imagine - a person with ADD trying to start their own business is a scary thought!

I am glad this has happened though, because it has really made me see in an even more intense way that I have a problem!

One day I saw that commercial for Strattera for Adult ADD. And I thought, well, that sure sounds like me. Could I have ADD? See, I am one of those people that thougth that ADD, ADHD were just excuses and more often than not, just misdaignosed problems for lazy/undisciplined people.

But, I had to try something because I was getting nowhere fast. I tried Straterra and got nothing but an inability to have sex. Yay. I then tried Lexapro and got absolutely nothing. FInally my doc prescribed Concerta.

Ah, my goodness the missing link!! I coudln't believe it. The fog lifted and I was like a laserbeam! I got more done in one week than I had in the previous 5 months!! I just couldn't believe it. I laughed at the posts I saw here for the people who became "clean machines" after starting ADD meds. Man, that was me! I spent 16 hours ona Sunday cleaning and organizing. Things my wife had harassed me for for months got done!

After about 2.5 weeks, the Concerta basically quit working. I was taking 36mg. I am going in today to see if a higher dose works. I hope so, because it is a great feeling to not be lost in a sea of your own thoughts, going from one thing to another to another to another....not really getting anything done.

[bricktop]

Did it quit working or are you just getting used to feeling better? I sorta had the same thing where I didn't know if it was still working, I took a 1 and 1/2 day break and all hell broke loose. Maybe what you need is a day or two to reassure yourself that your meds are still working. I know now that I cannot take breaks because all the depression and forgetfulness comes back. I think it is still wroking for you but you just don't have that speedy feeling, I never got a speedy feeling at all so I am not missing anything. From what I heard you are not supposed to have the speedy feeling for a long time if at all because that could mean you don't have ADD(not always the case though). Just give that dose a chance before you request a higer dose.

[Brazil]

Man,
I have about the same situation that you had; I am 29 and I have an absolutley awful memory, particularly short-term memory. In one in and out the other has never been so true! I would conpletely forget entire conversations, lose things, get dates and times jumbled up. And of course, I have NO organizational skills, or desire to get organized.
I have had so many "big " projects that were started and not finished. All the symptoms are there. I just figured that was me. I am who I am!
Growing up I would just not be able to get things done, not eveytime but sometimes. As I got older I came to realize that there was something wrong with me.
One day I was listening to the radio and a Dr. was talking about ADDer personality; I was like, "wait a minute that's me; I said holly smokes!!! I got all depressed! I went to the Dr. last week and today is my fifth day taking Concerta 18 mg.
By now a can tell that I am gonna need a dosage way higher than this for my ADD. I don't feel anything; I am 29, 5-11 and 190 pouds. I hope I can get in the perfect dosage faster. But my point is: I wanna know how much is the improvement with the meds in the life how much clear you can see or think?(school, work, social life)


Did your life change a lot after you found the perfect dosage?

How is the feeling, do you feel like "oh my gosh I am able to learn"? or "I relly can see my capacity now... Is It an amazing feeling? How's that?

Because I feel having a block in my mind; I feel I have a lot of potential, but at the same time I feel something is holding me back...

Like I told you I just started with Concerta 18 mg; and I am very excited to see the real deal of those pills! What kind results can bring to me...

Sorry about my English(I KNOW I SUCK)!
It's not my first language!!

Obrigado (Thanks)!