Need help finding ADD med from 1998-2000

[CeeRay716]

Hi everyone fist post for me! I'm a 23 year old man who has battled ADD without hyperactivity most of my life. My problems in school doing homework, listening and paying attention at home landed me on medication after a psychiatrist told me half my brain was asleep. In 1995 (3rd grade) i first took a generic form of medication but didnt like it and was off the next year. After more struggles I myself asked to go back on meds around Oct. or Nov. of 1998 and remained on them until january of 2000 near the end of my 7th grade year. My story is that what I took was the strongest most effective medication for my symptoms possible.

What I've taken in the last year since going back as an adult has no comparison. At that time in middle school I do remember at times not acting so cool, feeling "euphoric" mentally or zombie like, and was more anxious socially. However, from a kid who wasted hours on end with no organizational skills, I was on a schedule and even making a list of what I would do before school every morning the night before. My attention to detail was amazing and things around me seemed to slow down. As a talented athlete in football and basketball, I seemed to anticipate opponents movements before thay happened, which was a huge advantage...ect..this stuff was powerful.

I need help now though because in the last year Ive taken very popular brands of medication but none can compare, with Ritalin LA being the most effective with no side effects. So far for me:

1. Adderall 3x 10 mg oral-felt like I was on speed and extremely uncomfortable. That side effect slowed some but I was always louder, had anger outbursts and talked too fast. I constantly went back to thesame thoughts and seemed to be going in circles, as if this gave me ADHD (hyperactivity)

2. Ritalin LA- No side effects. I w far more calm and it helped me focus at work with no anxiety or jitters. My appetite actually increased. My thinking was far moreorderly. However, due to paying out of pocket and thinking my middle school med was generic Ritalin I switched.

3. Methylin-Generic Ritalin form took me from $150 a month to $10 bucks. At first I noticed I seemed better socilly but after awhile it atcually seemed to make my add worse. I could never sleep like with adderall. I felt very nervous in my gut and developed paranoia. Adding Straterra -no help.

4. Adderall XR- I switched to XR thinking my problems with generic ritalin and Adderall 3x was I need extended release, so I hoped this might bring me back to the middle school effect beter than Ritalin LA. This medication seemed to speed up my mind as if to revese hyperactivity by adding to it. felt immediately like I was totally under its power. I was going 100 mph in my head and body, sweating and mentally feeling like I had been "raped" orany happiness. I felt like a robot and after 3 or 4 days went back to Ritalin.

Ok, so after going back to Ritalin LA , which Ive stayed with nearly the whole time..I still couldn't compare it to what I took as a kid. It helps, but just isnt it for me. Im starting Vyvanse 30mg casules tomorrow..well see if this compares. I hear Focalin, Desoxyn, and Dexedrine are maybe the best? Last but not least my original mystery may be over as the doctors office will get back to me after digging through a warehouse to find my records 10 years ago, and Ill let you al know what it was hopefully in a week or less.

This medication was a generic form I know because my family was on assistance. in 1995 im told the pill was green and sometimes yellow, maybe diamond shaped and 10mg? which i took twice a day. In 1999 the stuff Im desperately looking for was 5 to 10 mg I believe, likely generic form and was small, round and yellow or bright yellow. I sort of remember 10 on one side and maybe an M on the other..not certan though.

So sorry for the huge post but any advice from similiar experiences will be helpful. Also, please if anyone took meds between 1998 and 2000 for ADHD, if this sounds familiar let me know. Is Cylert possible? Thanks!

[SilentCat]

Hello, CeeRay716 --

If you put "Cylert" and "photo" into Google, it'll pull up several images -- along with other information. Abbott did make a diamond-shaped chewable 37.5 mg. tablet. Their non-chewables were round, 18.75 mg., 37.5 mg., or 75 mg. -- the 37.5 mg appear to have been yellow (sorta, kinda yellow) and the 75 mg. was apparently a bright yellowish-green.

And so, your descriptions sound like they might correctly describe Cylert (pemoline) tabs. If you look at the photos available online, you'll see that Abbott's logo (imprinted on one side of the tabs) was very distinctive. That might help jog your memory.

Originally approved by the FDA in 1975, and suspected of causing hepatotoxicity in some patients, Abbott discontinued Cylert in March 2005, claiming that the decision was made for "economic reasons". That's probably true -- being the defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit is expensive (no matter what the outcome). But no doubt, they also saw the regulatory writing on the wall.

That same year, under pressure from public advocacy groups, FDA withdrew pemoline's approval. Since it's introduction, 21 cases of liver failure had been associated with its use -- 13 of which resulted in liver replacement or death.

Sorry to be the bearer of possible bad news (bad news for you, personally...)

Regards,
--SilentCat