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Avatar universal

New to the ADHD world

So, originally the doc prescribed Concerta which seemed to do nothing for my daughter but helped my son immensely.  He has since (at my prodding) switched her medication to 20MG of Adderall once a day.  Since she has had horrible mood swings and is now picking her skin!  My fiance says the trade off isn't enough for him to want to keep her on the medication.  I would like to know what amount of this behavior is normal and what is excessive, just so we can maybe put it into perspective.
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979428 tn?1253399601
I am a 34 year old mother of 2.  I started Adderall on Aug 15.  My insurance prefers to start it with the regular version, not the extended release.  While my brain is more quiet (it's like going from being in front of a heavy metal band stage directly in front of the speakers to suddenly being plopped down in a Zen garden)... I tend to notice my ADD tendencies more.  I will see my doctor on the 16th of this month to see if we need to adjust the dosage.  While I feel better, it isn't quite where it should be.  This happens with all meds.  Adderall doesn't work for everyone.  One of my best friend go "crazy" on it.  He said I wouldn't recognize him if he were on it.  I was misdiagnosed at age 10 as not having ADD and struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life.  I have calmed down a lot, but still feel kinda "off".  Just know it takes time to get everything regulated...
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
    Well, if you don't have ADHD and you take Adderall, you are essentially taking speed.  You will certainly work faster! I am not so sure about the better part.
     With you, it sounds like it is doing what it is supposed to do.  But it is not a magic potion.  Things like organization still will have to come by writing things down, scheduling, charting, calendering, etc. - it just will be  easier now.
     It sounds like you are beginning to take charge of your life, rather then letting some of those other things control you.  Way to go!!
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914696 tn?1283727392
So when the naysayers respond with "anyone who takes Adderall will work better, faster and get a lot more done regardless of whether they have ADD", is that true or not?  I'm an adult who was recently prescribed Adderall and the relief was emotional.  My brain had been "racing" between thoughts of everything I had to do and couldn't get done and started so many projects that are still "started".  I don't believe I suffered from it as a child though.  I've been on varous painkillers and depression meds for almost 10 years from a back injury.  It's been a very dramatic 10 years too.  Recently when through menopause (over a year).  Can't really pin down exactly when symptoms began, ie painkillers?  Iraq? Age?  Menopause?  ADD?  My brain is just not working like it used to.  I've finally started 90 mg of Cymbalta which has put in a decent mood for a change.  30 mg of Adderall a day has at least slowed the thoughts down so I can TRY to figure things out.  Is Adderall supposed to help with organization?  Procrastination? randome thoughts.....
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
The difference is that now the drugs can be  time released!  Consequently, a smaller dosage can be released over an extended period of time.  Hopefully, now a doctor is more aware of the child's condition and doesn't allow them to become a zombie because the dose is to high.  Its also interesting that a person without ADHD would never become a zombie, you would be scraping them off the ceiling because they would be higher than a kite!  That's why the drugs are addicting to a normal person - you get a great high.  It is a completely opposite effect for those who have ADHD.
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Avatar universal
Ritalin and Adderall are basically the same, one just stays in the bloodstream longer than the other. I only say this because my son had tried both, and there was no difference in the side effects, but everyone is different.
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959034 tn?1253671476
If she is picking her skin the dose might be to high. Also try other brands. Others like ritalin.
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959034 tn?1253671476
If she is picking her skin the dose might be to high. Also try other brands. Other stimulents like ritalin.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Replace the picking with putting lotion on. It will do her skin much better. I can't stand to have hang nails or loose skin around my fingers and picked at it until I bled. Not a good thing... When I started putting lotion on my hands and arms instead, now I do my feet too because of picking, they don't have as much to pick at. I also found that it's better to file off the skin that sticking up instead of picking. I learned that when my Grandmother would give me manicures and pedicures when I'd go over to visit. It was all part of getting ready for the "Tea Party" which would be a dressy affair with real china and real tea. Go figure my Grandmother knew what to give me so that I'd act like a lady...
My whole family drinks coffee like it's going out of style. They should have put stock in  Starbucks, but missed the train on the that one.
Basically, Tea and Coffee calm us down because of the caffeine in them. It's what was used for years before pharmaceuticals came into being. Also, you may want to find an licensed  herbalist and see what you can do with her diet to help her with her anxieties. Something is making her pick, and it's probably because it itches, because it's healing, because it's been picked... a really bad cycle that Hydro cortisone helps with. I'm really bad with bites and hate spiders and bugs for that reason. Neo sporin and Tea Tree oil have saved me from having too many scars. Especially when it came to acne. Tea Tree oil saves them from ever getting big red and puffy or worse white headed. Just dip a cue tip or get a bottle with a hole plug and have her put her finger on the end, tip and put her finger on the spots. It's like magic!
I've gotta go to bed... summer is killer for me because without school I don't have a clue as to the time until the sun starts coming up. I feel like a vampire when my husband isn't around to remind me it's time for bed. lol...
Cheers, Tamra
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Avatar universal
Hello,
As a parent of a child that was on Adderall, as well as myself, I would never recommend Adderall, Ritalin, or any ADHD med that are in the controlled substance catagory. I had the same syptoms as your daughter, along with rapid heart rate, weight loss, and loss of interest in things that I enjoyed prior to starting Adderall. It made my son a zombie, his personality was different, he didn't laugh anymore. It is a highly addictive drug and the only reason this ADHD medication explosion has happened is because schools are pushing parents to drug their children so that the teacher doesn't have to deal with them. It is sad to see so many creative talented kids that may not perhaps fit into the mold the public schools want them to fit into, but ADHD kids are bright, outgoing, hands on kids that have so much potential and will go far in life, but are being robbed of their talent due to all of these so called disorders. My son was on it for 2 years, from age 6 to age 8, he is now almost 18 and is doing great.
Please take your daughter off as soon as possible, you will see in a matter of days she will be back to herself.
Take Care!!
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