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[BuddyC]

After being diagnosed with ADD around age 10, just before ADD became the cure-all for any behavioral problems, I began taking ritalin each school day as a means of helping me focus. This continued for the next four years or so, up until I was a freshman in high school. At this point, ritalin was to be taken on an "as needed" basis. I grew less and less depedant upon the drug throughout my high school career until I eventually stopped taking it altogether.

I really didn't have any problems from there on out, as the workload was light and easily managable. After graduation, I moved on to college. For the first two years, I had no problems managing my time to get my schoolwork done.

This year, I haven't been as fortunate. A job and writing responsibilites limit the time I have for class projects, and though I know how important my education in, I find myself slacking in that area moreso than the other two.

A friend gave me some adderal to help me get caught up. Over the next month, the two 25mg tablets they gave me came in extremely handy and helped me to get a massive amount of work done on days I would have otherwise accomplished nothing.

When I went to my old physician and told him of my woes, obviously leaving out the adderal portion, he gave me a prescription for ritalin. Taking a dose earlier tonight, I found myself depressed, subdued and slightly paranoid. Googling for ritalin and depression yielded some interesting results, specifically that of a 2003 study that links preteen use of ritalin to depression.

I don't like being dependent, especially on a drug, but at the same time, it's tough for me to pass up on something that I know will help me to overcome something I'm facing. And then I'm reminded why I don't like relying on a drug - side effects such as these, possible addiction/withdrawal symptoms, etc.

At this point, I'm just going to turn it over to you guys. Quite interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.

 

[Jotaro]

I speak from alot of experience (not directly related to that, and not necessarily such pills). Try to get toward your goal without pills, man. It will always be worthwhile in the end, these are not candies. I'm sure you know that, however.

Try to think of natural ways to get off these problems, and believe me, there are. I had a lot more issues than you (about similar but not the same as you), and I am living proof.

 

[BuddyC]

I'm really upset, and even somewhat ashamed, that I've fallen back on pills as a means of getting things done. It's a cheap, though effective, cop out. I'm trying to get things done on my own will, but with each one I pop, it gets easier to give in the next time. I'm trying to only take them in the most dire of circumstances, using only three pills across the past six weeks, so that's some consolation. And at least I'm not so addicted that I require a dose just to get through my day, a la the higher ups at work.

 

[Jotaro]

I'm really upset, and even somewhat ashamed, that I've fallen back on pills as a means of getting things done. It's a cheap, though effective, cop out. I'm trying to get things done on my own will, but with each one I pop, it gets easier to give in the next time.

At least I'm not so addicted that I require a dose just to get through my day, a la the higher ups at work.

Well it might just happen, and you definitely don't want to do that. Make sure RIGHT NOW you did not just opened a Pandora's box.

See the incredible power of lazyness? Reverse it! The best way to change huge things or routine very quickly is to rely on the incredible power of human lazyness.

When I was suffering like fuck, I had codeine to help me cope with the pain. When I discovered I might abuse it, I put it away in some place that would require me to get off my chair or off my bed, and go overboard to use it. So I never got problems at all and I learnt on how to cope with such issues. And believe me, I had, and still have today.

Never underestimate the incredible power of human lazyness.

 

[White Man]

I'm really upset, and even somewhat ashamed, that I've fallen back on pills as a means of getting things done. It's a cheap, though effective, cop out.

Don't worry about it. If it presents an improvement in quality of life, you shouldn't be ashamed of it. Note that "quality of life" is not analogous to "writing papers quickly."

If the stuff is really making you depressed, and it's something that's plaguing your mind, maybe you should just roll up your sleeves and find other solutions to your dilemmas. I assume you've already tried different methods of time management and such? Is this a motivational issue?

Pharmaceutical dependency is a double-edged sword. The benefits are plain to see, but you have to be willing to ignore your use of a crutch, among other things. If I were in a position where I was uncomfortable with my regimen, I'd go to my doctor and tell them I'm interested in non-drug-related solutions. If you've got a good team, they'll be responsive to that.

Good luck with your problem, either way.

EDIT: Also: a CHEAP cop out? Damn you youngin's with your health insurance!

 

[fart]

you might want to tell your physician about the adderal. if it helps you, he may just prescribe you more. it's better to run it by a physician than to just take the stuff.

i've lived a pretty chemically enhanced life, personally, so i really don't think there's a lot of shame in fixing your problems by means of chemistry (as opposed to willpower). i mean, realistically everyone does it, whether it's a coffee habit or a tobacco addiction or whatever.

 

[Jotaro]

If I were in a position where I was uncomfortable with my regimen, I'd go to my doctor and tell them I'm interested in non-drug-related solutions. If you've got a good team, they'll be responsive to that.

Well, problem is, most doctors are in a hurry, and they don't always know what they do, what they prescribe to you, I will even go as far as saying sometimes they just do not care. It's much easier, and more profitable, to give out pills in a hurry. Will you really be able to achieve such means? Create you own non-drug related solutions.


(insert Mister Mackey picture here)

Drugs are bad, mmm'kay? :lol

 

[Jotaro]

you might want to tell your physician about the adderal. if it helps you, he may just prescribe you more. it's better to run it by a physician than to just take the stuff.

Be aware of clueless physicians however, there are a lot. Take everythign they say to you with a grain of salt. Scienca est potentia, so Google everything, take time to read it up. Google is your best friend on such issues.

 

[White Man]

Well, problem is, most doctors are in a hurry, and they don't always know what they do, what they prescribe to you, I will even go as far as saying sometimes they just do not care. It's much easier, and more profitable, to give out pills in a hurry. Will you really be able to achieve such means? Create you own non-drug related solutions.


(insert Mister Mackey picture here)

Drugs are bad, mmm'kay? :lol

There are good doctors out there. You might have to dig for them, but they're out there.

 

[Jotaro]

There are good doctors out there. You might have to dig for them, but they're out there.

Yes, dig them out and take your time, it will always be worthwhile in the long run.

Before, doctors told me what to do. Now, I tell them what to do, I make suggestion, and they follow it. I'm beginning to get resurrected from my ashes like a Phoenix.

JOTARO WINS. FLAWLESS VICTORY. :lol

 

[fart]

you should be able to trust your GP. if you can't, find a new one.

 

[Deleted member 4784]

I'm just wondering if what you have is ADD when you were able to function normally in school for years without these drugs. What you describe as being your current situation in feeling overwhelmed by school sounds like nothing out of the ordinary, as college is a major adjustment that all of us have to go through; especially when we have priorities outside of it. Usually the way to go about solving these kinds of problems is to procrastinate less, focus more and prioritize/manage your time better. Are you sure that your problem with coping is not a chemical one moreover than a behavioral one? I wouldn't find it unlikely for you to have been mis-diagnosed since there was a time when drugs like Ritalin were handed out like candy to the parents of mismanaged kis.

Similarly, I don't really like the fact that you just took some of your friend's pills without seeing a single doctor first. If you've been off of these drugs for a long time and took the same dosage as your friend (who has been using them regularly or through his whole life) then the stress on your body could have been enough to cause you to overdose. Drugs are not something you should mess around with on your own and there is a reason why prescriptions are required before we can get our hands on them.

Anyways, I'd suggest that in the meantime of following your doctor's advice that you also see about having another test done. There have been a lot of changed/revelations regarding neurological behavior since the time you were prescribed Ritalin until now. If there is any chance that you were mis-diagnosed then you should find out before staying on these drugs for very long.

 

[Flynn]

All drugs for ADD, depression or whatever, should be taken in concert with counceling or therapy.

 

[Jotaro]

All drugs for ADD, depression or whatever, should be taken in concert with counceling or therapy.

Do not forget however, that in the end the choice is yours, Do not let anyone get in your way as to that effect. But choose it wisely, think of it. It's your body, your life, no one can enforce such things upon you.

 

[Deleted member 4784]

IMO too many people look to pills as a way of solving problems that aren't chemical in origin. Can't concentrate because you're under pressure to meet deadlines and don't have enough time on your hands? We have a pill for that! Suffering from depression because you're dealing with who knows how many personal familial problems in your life right now? We have a pill for that! I remember when my dad was first diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and my parents separated, I was prescribed Zoloft when what I really needed was somebody to talk to. Most doctors get handouts from the pharmaceutical industry, so their usual position on these things is to give you a chemical "cure all" to deal with any problem you face.

I'd venture to say that if the majority of people saw a psychologist before they saw their doctor, they'd be getting the REAL help that they needed.

 

[Flynn]

IMO too many people look to pills as a way of solving problems that aren't chemical in origin. Can't concentrate because you're under pressure to meet deadlines and don't have enough time on your hands? We have a pill for that! Suffering from depression because you're dealing with who knows how many personal familial problems in your life right now? We have a pill for that! I remember when my dad was first diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and my parents separated, I was prescribed Zoloft when what I really needed was somebody to talk to. Most doctors get handouts from the pharmaceutical industry, so their usual position on these things is to give you a chemical "cure all" to deal with any problem you face.

I'd venture to say that if the majority of people saw a psychologist before they saw their doctor, they'd be getting the REAL help that they needed.

You make a good point about the factors that influence doctors to prescribe, but don't forget when it comes to our feelings, EVERYTHING is chemical. It's a simple fact of the way our brains work.

 

[Deleted member 4784]

Hence why I said, "aren't chemical in origin." If you become depressed after your significant other breaks up with you, the depression could likely be a chemical reaction to an outside occurance; not necessarily the result of a genetic chemical disorder.

 

[kablooey]

I was recently prescribed Ritalin from my psychologist too, but after looking at the side effects and talking it over with my parents, we decided not to persue the prescription. I think I do have some form of genetic ADD, but there're ways of dealing with it outside of having a pill, especially when the side effects are as bad as the ones you're experiencing. Talk to your family, talk to your doctor, do your homework. Good luck to you either way.

Edit: I agree with what Waychel said. Your brain's chemical balance becomes altered as a result of being psychologically depressed, not the other way around. There's been new research about the subject that says as much.

On the other hand though, sometimes drugs are very helpful. I was also prescribed Paxil to help deal with my problems with anxiety, and it's actually been very effective, surprisingly so. Just make sure you talk to your doctor and that you know what you're doing with it.

 

[Flynn]

Hence why I said, "aren't chemical in origin." If you become depressed after your significant other breaks up with you, the depression could likely be a chemical reaction to an outside occurance; not necessarily the result of a genetic chemical disorder.

But that's what I'm saying. When you feel, no matter what the external stimuli that causes the feeling, the mechanism that generates the feeling is still a chemical one.

I know exactly what you're saying, but I feel that often people get wrapped up in the Rand-esque idea that we should take control over our lives and our emotions and obscure the fact that we're essentially bio-machines, that frequently need tune-ups.

 

[Deleted member 4784]

I never said the reaction wasn't chemical?

not necessarily the result of a genetic chemical disorder.

a

 

[fart]

oh please, little ms judgment.

genetic chemical disorder? (imagine my eyebrows raised quite high here). do you have the faintest idea of what you're talking about here, other than the earthy hippy shit and pop-psych you've read?

that sounds kind of harsh, because it is, but the guy is asking for real advice here, not "all you need is more willpower, weakling". yes, there is a heavy reliance on pharmacological substances in modern medicine, and there are a lot of complex reasons why this is so, but we're not here to debate the nature of the 21st century digital boy, and doing so isn't helpful to buddyC.

 

[wobedraggled]

"Now all I wanna do is FIGHT!!!!"

Anyway, my experience will ritalin was awful made me get into BAD moods, and like martin up there I wanted to fight, alot and often.

I'm on a combo of adderal and Paxil for ADD/Depression and that combo seems to work pretty well.

 

[bobble]

My experience with ritalin pretty much made me want to clean my room, and then my whole apartment.

 

[Deleted member 4784]

oh please, little ms judgment.

genetic chemical disorder? (imagine my eyebrows raised quite high here). do you have the faintest idea of what you're talking about here, other than the earthy hippy shit and pop-psych you've read?

that sounds kind of harsh, because it is, but the guy is asking for real advice here, not "all you need is more willpower, weakling". yes, there is a heavy reliance on pharmacological substances in modern medicine, and there are a lot of complex reasons why this is so, but we're not here to debate the nature of the 21st century digital boy, and doing so isn't helpful to buddyC.

I never said that the only thing he needed was will power; I only recommended that he undergo testing again to see if the problem he is experiencing now is actually due to having ADD. Obviously, will power has helped him get by just fine for the past few years without the help of these kinds of drugs, so there is the possibility that he could have been misdiagnosed from the beginning. Also, anyone who made it past high school knows that everything in the body is chemical. I never said that it wasn't. All I said was that his reaction could possibly be due in part more to the change in environment than an actual disorder like ADD, considering the circumstances.

I never claimed to know what was best for him. I never told him he didn't have ADD or not to take these pills. I never claimed that the body isn't chemical. All that I suggested was that he undergo testing again to confirm if he even had a disorder to begin with (or if that diagnosis still applies now). If I'm little Ms. Judgment for giving an opinionated suggestion on an online forum based on the limited facts available, then may I say I'm not exactly obliged to meet you, Mr. Reading Comprehension Problem. While we're at it though, why don't we get you some pills to fix that too?! =D

 

[fart]

I HAVE PILLS, MISS. THEY'RE CALLED PAINT CHIPS
WHA WHA?

ps,

IMO too many people look to pills as a way of solving problems that aren't chemical in origin. Can't concentrate because you're under pressure to meet deadlines and don't have enough time on your hands? We have a pill for that! Suffering from depression because you're dealing with who knows how many personal familial problems in your life right now? We have a pill for that!

hmm...

 

[teh_pwn]

I think my ADD is highly related to allergies.

If I eat beef, my nasal passage clogs up a little, and I lose a lot of high level concentration.

Now that I'm interning and not eating college food, I have full control over my diet. That, and I live in an area with little pollution and allergens. My ADD is much lower than before.

I've taken advantage of this time to phase out my ritalin usage. Sure it does work, but it is also a stimulant. You'll slowly become dependent on it, and you'll have evening crashes when the drug wears off. I'm also weary of the long term effects on myself, and any that could pass onto any children I have in the future.

I also stopped caffeine consumption about two weeks ago abruptly. I was very depressed for a couple of days but it was worth it. My body clock works again (you know, you wake up like 2 minutes before your alarm clock) and I sleep better in general.