Medication/Addiction

[pmcolby]

Hi everyone!
Are any of you in a twelve step program and taking meds for add?? My husband was taking Stratara and it worked great but there were side effects(sexual) so he quit. We are both in a twelve step program and I know he's scared to death to try anything (cocain was big for us.) Do you have someone give it to you? I would like to be able to help him in some way. I don't think he's ready to admit that he has a problem but "knowledge is power." Thanks for your help!
Paula

[mctavish23]

Hi,
I have been in Recovery one day at a time for a while now. I have taken Wellbutrin for many years for ADHD but in the late Spring of 2003, it began to stop working. I tried Straterra and had a terrible allergic reaction to it ( my blood pressure went thru the roof ) , so I couldn't take it. After talking with my wife, my sponsor and even Russell Barkley, I decided to give methylphenidate SR a try. It works well and there's no addiction potential to Ritalin unless you grind it and snort it. Actually, it makes me sleepy.People often forget that with ADHD, the chemical imbalance means your brain is "wired" differently than someone who doesn't have it. I do believe tho that many years ago I was probably "self-medicating" before I was diagnosed.

I hope that helps you somewhat and I wish you and your husband much luck and serenity.

[Gregster]

When used as directed, stimulants aren't addictive, but I know that most programs advocate zero use of anything even remotely pleasant to take. I guess their position is that it may be the "thin edge of the wedge".
I have to admit that I did once grind up a couple of tablets of ritalin and snort it, just to see what the fuss was about (quicker delivery, faster high and all that) - I was heistant, since I was a bit worried that I might like it too much, but it turns out I had nothing to worry about - It was hideously unpleasant - the inside of my nose burned for a good 45 min, there was a horrible taste that went along with it, and any "high" I might have had was completely masked by my suffering - no chance that I will ever try THAT again! I don't know how anyone could snort that stuff and actually enjoy the experience.

[H. DeSade]

my bad news is this -
snorting the ritalin has never been difficult for me. I found it hurt less than cocaine, in fact. Now I even prefer it. I am struggling with this now. it's ****ing terrifying.

[Matt S.]

i have an opposite deal with stimulants actually... recovered valium fiend since Sept. 2003... I get moments of denial and always take less than prescribed and get impulsive and hyper... they slow me down and the lack of reinforcement causes denial it is twisted and havent taken my dexedrine today so I am rambling about nothing but I try to talk myself into hyperactivity and impulsiveness are an advantage

[superdave]

Originally Posted by pmcolby

Hi everyone!
Are any of you in a twelve step program and taking meds for add?? My husband was taking Stratara and it worked great but there were side effects(sexual) so he quit. We are both in a twelve step program and I know he's scared to death to try anything (cocain was big for us.) Do you have someone give it to you? I would like to be able to help him in some way. I don't think he's ready to admit that he has a problem but "knowledge is power." Thanks for your help!
Paula

Welcome Paula!

Yes and Yes - I've been in recovery for almost 2.5 years now and last week started on Strattera after being diagnosed with ADD about a month ago. Both my therapist and pdoc recommended Straterra because it isn't addictive. So far so good. I've also been taking anti-depressants in one form or another for the last 7 years for depression and PTSD. I know that a lot of people in recovery discourage the use of any medication that can alter your mood but that's their own personal opinion, at least as far as AA goes.

[cyclops]

i was never in a twelve step program, but i've been in recovery for almost 8 months! i was in rehab for 4 months starting jan 2nd, and it's definitely been the hardest thing i've ever done. i'm really proud of how well i've done. in rehab we learned that something like 90% of people relapse within the first 3 months... ih ad a small lapse, but i got right back on track