Normal side effects of Ritalin & Adderall?

[Ajax384]

I never had signs of ADD until my friend and I were in a car wreck last Feb. After a series of brain scans, physical therapy, and neuropsychological testing, a group of my doctors determined that the diagonal whiplash caused me to now "have" ADD.  In July, I started with 5mg of generic Ritalin taken once a day. This increased to twice a day and by September I was on 10 mg of generic Ritalin 1-2 times a day.  Mid-December, I was prescribed 20mg of generic Adderall, with 10mg of generic Ritalin to use as needed.  My doctor tells me to take the pills on a need-basis.  Some days I don't take any medication, other days I meet my prescribed dose.  After taking only 6 pills of Adderall, I realized that I was falling into a deep depression - I was isolating myself from family, I was crying over the littlest things, etc.  Since I had only taken a few pills of Adderall, I started to wonder if it was indeed the Adderall or withdrawal from the Ritalin.  Since this is all new to me, I'm just looking for any feedback -- if it's normal, if there's other solutions, if there's a way to overcome this drug induced depression.  

I'd just like to be how I was before the wreck.  I know it's not possible, but it seems there's got to be something better than this.

[jay112507]

when you first started taking the treatment for the disorder, were there any hormonal or sexual side effects?

[Momtoteenboys]

ADHD can be caused by traumatic brain injury.  

In regarsd to the meds, every person may react differently to them.  Maybe Adderall isnt for you.  My son had problems with extreme anxiety from Concerta, and cannot take anything in the Ritalin family.

[suziq72]

I haven't heard of developing ADD but I suppose it is possible with a brain injury. Think about it, there are several types of ADD all having different parts of the brain affected. The frontal lobe is the most common for inattentive ADD. If Ajax hit his/her head in the front there could be disruption to the frontal lobes. Makes sense to me! I am very sorry to hear of your accident,and if developing ADD is the worst of your problems, I would consider you very lucky- as ADD has come such a long way in treatments!

[CloverJ]

I am sorry, forgot you said you had already been tested by a neuropsychologist.

Like I said before, please list your symptoms and what started after your accident.

[CloverJ]

I have never heard of "developing ADD" either. It is hereditary. It is more common in males than females and is usually passed down through the father.

I don't know what kind of doctors you have been seeing, but something doesn't sound right.

Please list what your symptoms are.

Just because you failed the TOVA test doesn't mean you have ADD.  I would probably fail the TOVA test after sitting there awhile. My eyes would go crossed or something. My son was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD after failing the TOVA test, but after putting him on medicine I deciced to kept having him tested. I finally took him to a Neuropsychologist for a battery of tests and he was diagnosed with something totally different. Have you been to a neuropsychologist? Maybe you have already done this, but it seems like a neuro. problem.  

GOOD LUCK

[Ajax384]

Thank you for your feedback!  I'm definitely going to talk to my doctor about this.  It's just hard because I don't know much about what's normal & thus rely on him.

My doctor is of the belief that everybody is different and there is no set medication that works for everyone.  I completely agree with this sentiment, but I guess I'm hoping for a little more than "here's 60 pills of 20mg generic adderall and 90 pills of 10 mg of generic Ritalin each month. Figure out what works and go with it."  Basically, if I feel like the medicine hasn't kicked in, I should keep taking some sort of pill until it does.  That's the "need"

What seems to happen is that everything works for the first month and then I notice I'm more scattered, can't remember doing things or what I need to do, and I'm more over the map emotionally.  This is a switch, as before the wreck, I was unanimously recognized among friends and family as the most organized and the most "on top of her game."

However, all brain scans and tests show no damage.. I just failed the TOVA test horribly.