My husband's first day on Ritalin LA

[akiss4u]

Unbelievable difference! The first hour he felt nothing, then he ate breakfast, went to the bathroom and BANG! He is getting things done! He said he feels great and is able to channel his thoughts and energy into productive activities. Normally he on his days off he just sits in front of the tv all day fidgiting and thinking about so many things he wants to do but is too overwhelmed to get started or finish things. He said his frustration is gone and focus is working. I can see he feels better more relaxed yet focused. I will keep you all posted!

[krisp]

That's great! I hope it continues to go well for him.

[akiss4u]

I do to ... I hear it loses effectiveness as time goes on.

[Gregster]

Great to hear "Kiss"
That is exactly what Ritalin is doing for me - his days off and mine were the same - and now a huge difference!
I'm dropping weight too - no more chips and ice cream - a little impulse control goes a long way!
Oh and the effectiveness of ritalin doesn't go away if you take it long term - at least studies have shown that it doesn't (I've heard anicdotal evidence from a few people that stimulants got less effective in them, but I take them with a "grain of salt" - more than a grain in some cases than others! If it does happen, it's not in most people). Many people take it for years, and you have to presume it's still working if they're still taking it.
Some long term studies have indicated that the CNS effects (heart rate & BP) and the effects on hunger do get weaker over time, but that the effects on sleep and focus do not.
Regards,
Greg

[akiss4u]

Well, we checked his pulse and blood pressure and it is normal. He has got his sense of humor back - that is a good thing it was rare to see before this. I also notice he is not irritable and he is much more loving to me and the kiddo's. His patience is very high and he is calm yet active. He says his clowdy brain fog is gone. I have not tried my Ritalin LA yet because I am sick and on antibiotics so the doctor said to wait - but hey I hope I get the same results as he has. You mentioned sleep - what problems do you have with sleep? I am glad to hear that the side effects fade but the medication still continues to work. BIG PLUS!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me and my family. You all have made this difficult, yet positive trasition in our lives an easier time for us. You have no idea how everyones stories and input has help ease our worries and concerns. Hopefully we will get some positive results for everyone soon!

THANKS A MILLION!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

[Nucking_Futs]

Please, just remember that there is a honeymoon period with almost all ADD meds. When you start to notice behaviour's (moodiness, aggitation, inability to focus) be patient until the med level's out for your husband I know that it's frustrating; but, the patience you give him will hopefully be returned when you start your own meds.

And there will still be day's were your med's don't seem to be working. This usually coincides I understand with anything from illness, stress, menstral flow, pretty much any bodily changes throw them off.

Like I said this is what I have read and how I understand it. We don't use meds in our house. I'm sure the time is coming but for now yoga, counseling and coaches are working well for us.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

[akiss4u]

You are so lucky to get sufficient results with your yoga, counseling and coaches. We tried all those things around hear and guess what most of the time we forget our appointments, have problems remebering our homework assingments from group sessions and cant muster up the focus to follow through. I guess some ADD severeness does vary from person to person and case to case and that may be why medicines and other things all work differently for each of us. I wish you the best!

By the way my husband is doing great ! He did not eat lunch because he said he just was'nt hungry but he got hungry at dinner and ate - no problem. He says he feels a slow calming of the medication that is so gradual he cant really notice it. He also said he thinks sleep should be no problem - we'll see!

[Nucking_Futs]

That's wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!! Note: I say right now when the children hit puberty it's a whole new ball game. What work's well for them today may not work at all tommorrow. I'm in no way against meds actually quite the opposite we're just trying to give the kid's other option's for MY piece of mind because when they are adult's I have no guarantee's they will take their med's.

[akiss4u]

I agree on the kids. I have not yet given them medication yet. The potential of dangers are greater as they reach those teen years! I think the Ritalin LA is good for the kids because you only give it 1 time a day in the morning - so administration can be monitored. There is no need to give it durring the school day. I hope we can focus on these classes and therapy coaching enough to soak something in and learn ways to cope someday should we decide to discontinue the meds. For my husband he recently was informed he may get a managerial position that will require him to take classes so he was really worried about his focus and concentration in these classes. He feels it is a big step in his career and this may help him greatly. He also said when he was 7 the doctor tried to get him on ritalin but his mother refused to put him on it becuse she was scared. He says that he wonders what his life would have been like if she had. I can relate to him on that because the same thing happened to me at age 7 and I wonder to this day what could have been. Now we move forward and see what happens.

[Andrew]

So glad to hear that things are working out well with your husband

[akiss4u]

Thanks me too! Plus Thanks for the getting my pic done! You are good!

[Gregster]

The parallels between your husband and I are interesting. I suspect that my parents were given the option of trying me on ritalin in the early 70's, but also decided not to because of fear. I don't know for sure, since I wasn't in on the conversations. No diagnosis was given at the time - one way or the other. I really wonder what I could have acheived in school if I had been treated in grade 4. I still did OK - two degrees - but it wasn't easy.
Lots of people got missed back then - the disorder was not as well understood. I was examined by a very well respected children's hospital in 1973, and they didn't catch it, but my Dr now - who does work at the same hospital - has no doubt I'm ADHD and neither do I. I don't look back, however, I'm keeping my eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel.
Regards,
Greg

[akiss4u]

I have been reading about your experieces and you seem to have the same difficulties as he does. He is doing great on the Ritalin LA and I am impressed. What medication do you take is it the regular Ritalin or extended form? .. I know I read it but I can't seem to remember.

[akiss4u]

Just an update my hubby is still having success. As I am not.:cry: To much of a crash downward