Medicines for ADD/ADHD you like

Hello everyone.

I have ADD, though some have said ADHD.  It's been since I was a child that I tried medicines.  I was on Ritalin, Dexadrine, Adderall (adderrall), and I'm not sure what else.  Now years later my new doctor is suggesting Concerta as the best to try.

What have you tried?  How have they all worked for you?  Which do you prefer and why?

[allmymarbles]

Concerta is almost identical to Ritalin.

[Sandman2]

  Check out this post from moonthatspellstorm on March 25.  The middle part gives some good ideas and tells what she and her husband are doing.
    http://www.medhelp.org/posts/ADD---ADHD/yr-old-with-ADHD-not-getting-any-better-HELP-PLEASE/show/1203753#post_5507415
    Their is another site that really deals with adult ADD/ADHD, you might want to check it out.  Go to jeffsaddmind  and add a .com after it.
    Oh, I kinda of mention this because we don't get a lot of adult posters with ADHD on here.  They are here for awhile and then kinda of  - lose interest, forget, move on, etc.  Consequently we get a lot of people who need help, but unfortunately the ones who are successful, don't tend to hang around.   Best Wishes!

[compnet]

Now my doctor says "Vyvance" is better than Concerta and he gave me a prescription.  I've never heard of it before.  He said it's been out for about 5 years and that it's the same class of medicine as Concerta/Adderall/Ritalin/etc.  Anyone else tried it?

[pansytook]

Vyvance is the extended release of dexadrin right?  I've heard a lot of good things about it from people that use it, I've been thinking about switching to that myself.  They say it's smoother than adderall (adderrall), you don't feel as strung out.

[compnet]

Today is my first day on Vyvance.  Unfortunetly, it isn't working out well with my insurance, as my doctor suspected it might, so I'll be switching to a different one when this is up.  It is similar to other ADD medicines I've been on, and it's great so far.  It's 30MG, the beginning dose and yet I've noticed great improvement so far.  It would have helped school so much, I only wish I wasn't so against all medications when I was younger.

I'm keeping a log of how I'm doing on it:
Day 1 - I feel a stimulated energy.  I feel good about myself, I feel capable of doing things.  Mood more happy and positive.  My head doesn't feel like shutting off anymore.  (Neg - A little chilly.  Stomach slightly hyper, like with any stimulants in the past, plus curbs hunger feeling some.)  My personal comments are so positive and lovely.  Feel very productive mentally/creatively.  I feel motivation and drive/ambition, unlike before taking medicine.

How long will it last?  Don't know yet.
What about when reading/studying?  Don't know yet.
Will it affect my sleep?  Don't know yet.

I'd love to hear other peoples success with medicines...

[Anteros1966]

Tried ritalin (normal), ritalin SR, Concerta and amphetamine. Concerta gave me something but felt something missing, normal ritalin was terrible, OD and came into "cocain waves" (very high, and straight to the bottom), amph gave me more but I didn´t eat, and felt a bit anxious, ritalin SR was, and is my favourite, works as a charm. The SR was the first I tried, but because of stupid regulations in the actual country I had to start with normal ritalin (they cost less), and after the disaster of my OD (or overmedication I should say) I was terrified going back to them, therefore the rest in between until I once again landed on SR.

What I do is one 30mg in the morning, then after 3 hours I´ll take one more so it will cover the gap (when you normally hit the wall). Then if I have problem getting tired in the evening I´ll take a 20mg (and I'll sleep like a baby! No films, thoughts or repeating ideas in my head, just relaxed). I never take the second, and the evening pill the same day. Just when I feel that I need it, and one excludes the other as a rule.

[Jewelsheam]

I am not sure we can give you a good answer.  I am on Adderall (adderrall) XR. I like it but there are some strange side effects.  I know when I was on Ritalin, any form, I was mean, really mean. It was the same with Concerta. Stratara did nothing for me but there are many people that think it its the greatest thing. I have never tried this Vyvance. I have found the one drug that seems to work best so far. I think you need to keep trying until you find what works the best for you because everybody's body chemistry is different.  What works well for me may not work well for you.  

Hang in there and I hope it works out for you soon.