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[Mineshaft_Gap]

I was prescribed Ritalin a few weeks back and I just picked up my scrip earlier today. This will be the first time since I was a kid that I've taken anything to treat my ADD/ADHD. I've been having difficulty in college lately and I figured it was finally time to start trying to help myself. Also taking prozac for depression so I'm on quite a cocktail right now.

It's been years since I last took the stuff and I honestly don't know how I feel about the whole thing. I took a pill earlier today but I didn't feel particularly different. I was on my way to class but I got a flat tire so I ended up not going. Those of you who take it, is it something you notice an acute difference right away? Or is it like prozac and it needs to build up in your body for a couple weeks before it becomes effective?

I'm indecisive and sometimes not great and noticing things about myself. I can't even really tell if the Prozac is helping...

So yeah anyways. What's your experience with ADD/ADHD medication?

 

[Martian]

I take concerta. The idea, at least thats what I was told, is not that it is some kind of miracle drug that makes you super focused or anything. You still have put a lot of effort into concentrating, all the medicine does is give you the opportunity to actually get work done.

They said like 30-40% is the work of concerta, the rest you have to do yourself. This is something I notice myself. Whenever I take it (every day, sometimes I skip weekends) I dont magically can concentrate on studying or dont forget things anymore. All it does is make sure that when I start doing those things (planning etc.) I dont immediately get distracted.

Tbh: I wanted to create a ADD/ADHD-age, but I forgot;-).

I dont feel all that different when I take it, just that I have to poop in the morning instead of the afternoon (perhaps it is some vague reaction). But the first day I dont take it, I get a bit tired, thats all.

 

[waypoetic]

I've decided not to take any.

 

[EBCubs03]

I've been on concerta and adderall before, as well as a few anti depressants like lexapro that have had some decent success treating ADD symptoms, but ultimately what works best for me is vyvanse. Adderall was decent too, but I found the risk of abuse to be too high for me personally. Though I do miss how manageable adderall was--it's not that long lasting so you can take a pill and reasonably expect side effects for up to a few hours. If I take a vyvanse, sometimes I experience side-effects like loss of appetite the whole day instead of a few hours.

Stuff like adderall and vyvanse are great and can really help school and work performance or pretty much whatever your goal is. The key to using them is to not use them as the actual motivation to do your work, that will lead to abuse a lot of the times. If you're not motivated to do the work without a medication, the medication isn't going to magically fix that. Right now I'm taking general education classes for college credit and I find them incredibly boring, so no matter what medication I take or what my dosage is, it's not going to make me study any longer or more efficiently because my heart's just not in it

I dont feel all that different when I take it, just that I have to poop in the morning instead of the afternoon (perhaps it is some vague reaction).

Same for me haha, pretty much every ADD medication I've been on has done this to me. Taking one triggers bowel movements for me or something

 

[Kingbrave]

I have epilepsy and can't take anything for my adhd. It drives me nuts.

 

[Vyroxis]

I have ADHD supposedly, but havent taken meds for it in years (was on ritalin and zoloft depending on the doctor). Just not worth the hassle to me.

 

[RumblingRosco]

I've speculated I have ADD. I never really noticed it until I was an adult, but people tend to tell me that I seem to lose focus and/or constantly have a need to multitask. I suspect I'm just over-thinking it, but how does one go about getting checked out/diagnosed? It seems like all that would happen is I go visit a doctor, tell them how I act in certain situations, and then they decide if it seems like ADD or not. Basically, there's no certain way to be diagnosed, right? I mean, it's not like a blood test that says "yep, you have disease X or Y."

 

[Naked Snake]

I took Ritalin for several months but stopped it as I found that I've become too dependent on it and would feel like utter crap if I don't take it. I also developed tolerance and needed to increase the dose to get any benefit.

I mainly only found it helpful in giving me an energy boost/stamina; more of a physical effect than mental.

 

[Noble Neckbeard]

I was diagnosed with severe ADHD at age 30, after a lengthy investigation into my severe anxiety and depression. I tried many anti-depressants (which seemed to do nothing) before finally being diagnosed and prescribed medication.

For me, it has truly been life-changing. I can still recall how unruly and chaotic my thoughts were before I started taking it. I have been taking Adderall at a 10mg dose for six months now and every aspect of my work, mental health, and social life has been improved.

The best way to describe it is having your mind be a calm lake, instead of a volcano.

 

[EBCubs03]

I've speculated I have ADD. I never really noticed it until I was an adult, but people tend to tell me that I seem to lose focus and/or constantly have a need to multitask. I suspect I'm just over-thinking it, but how does one go about getting checked out/diagnosed? It seems like all that would happen is I go visit a doctor, tell them how I act in certain situations, and then they decide if it seems like ADD or not. Basically, there's no certain way to be diagnosed, right? I mean, it's not like a blood test that says "yep, you have disease X or Y."

Pretty much every diagnosis is based on patient-doctor interactions, my doctor has never seen how I behave in my day to day life so he's limited based on what I tell him and how I tell it, I guess. I first saw a psychologist who ran some memory and IQ tests and based on that and the few talk sessions we had, he diagnosed with me ADD and OCD and a depressive disorder. I remember the IQ test he gave me, I answered every question I tried correctly but I didn't answer enough questions so I essentially failed. The psychologist thought that was more of a problem of OCD to strive for some kind of perfectionism even if it's shooting yourself in the foot. After that my psychologist referred me to a psychiatrist who agreed with the initial diagnosis though he suspected I might have aspergers but it was never formally confirmed or anything. Now I meet with my psychiatrist once every 3 months and I haven't seen my psychologist in a few years, though it is good to continue seeing a psychologist and benefitting from some kind of talk therapy

But yes there's a lot of ambiguity because of lot of ADD symptoms can be misinterpreted as anxiety or depressive symptoms, and vice versa. A lot of disorders share virtually the same symptoms and it can be hell knowing if a diagnosis is accurate or not. Just be prepared to try more than one medication. For me I had to go through like 5 or 6 different medications before I found one that I was sure would have a positive effect if I took it every day

 

[KiraFA37]

I've used Ritalin while I was a child and switched over to Concerta once I hit high school and I'm currently studying engineering in university. I only take it when I have classes or need to study. And it does make a significant difference for me, I'm more calm, less easily distracted, and most importantly fidget less. Like Martian said only part of is the work of Concerta. But for any task you are doing it takes atleast 15 minutes before you are in the "zone" and it mainly helps me from not deviating from that path into the zone but I still need to do the work. Does that mean I could do without Concerta? Sure, but I will probably will need a bit more time before I'm in the zone and have issues staying focused for long periods of time (unless my course is very interesting). But what helps me too is to have a place where I'm dedicated to studying like the library, study hall, ect. and making sure I have all the materials printed so I can stay away from electronics.

I do notice when I have taken it, usually after an hour or so. I lose my appetite and for some strange reason get cold feet. It also raises my blood pressure (should have seen my doctors face at the time when he saw my values).

 

[waypoetic]

I have ADHD supposedly, but havent taken meds for it in years (was on ritalin and zoloft depending on the doctor). Just not worth the hassle to me.

Supposedly...?

 

[Mineshaft_Gap]

ADHD/ADD GAF would be interesting. I have a hard time telling people I have it because it seems very stigmatized in spite of being relatively common.

 

[Acorn]

I think I have ADD aswell as depression but my doctor seems very reluctant to prescribe anything aside from the anti depressants I've been on for the last few years.

I haven't actually outright said it to him that I think I have it. I have mentioned my memory and focus problems in the past but he generally puts it down to myself going through a bad patch.

 

[Bel Marduk]

I take adderall to study, adderall to party, pharmaceuticall me!

 

[Martian]

I think I have ADD aswell as depression but my doctor seems very reluctant to prescribe anything aside from the anti depressants I've been on for the last few years.

I haven't actually outright said it to him that I think I have it. I have mentioned my memory and focus problems in the past but he generally puts it down to myself going through a bad patch.

Please dont take this as me telling whats right, but I know a few people where ADD/ADHD was their reason for depression. When they took the medicine for ADD/ADHD, the anti-depressants weren't needed anymore.
Once again, I dont know your full situation, nor do I know what your doctor knows, but it might be an idea to ask your doctor about it or get a second opinion (the SO never hurts anyone)