Wow, very well said. Thanks for posting. I am going to bookmark this for future reference. Feel free to give more of your experiences at any time!
Hi there. I just wanted to let you know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I have been diagnosed with ADHD since 14 years old, almost 10 years, and during the inital phases of diagnosing and treatment, my docs and shrinks went through a whole laundry list of different meds and combinations of them trying to find out what would really, truly work.
Well first they tried Ritalin. That went away quick when the docs realized it was making me very aggressive for some reason. Like not punch you in the face aggressive, it was more verbal and behavioral aggression, but it was there all the same. Then they tried Dexedrine and another one that sounds a whole lot like it (Dextremine? I forget.) and neither of them seemed to do much more than turn me into what I described as a 'drooling zombie'. I felt very much detached from the rest of the world, all distant and dull as it seemed after the meds kicked in about a week or two later. So those were the wrong ones. Then came the 'weird' ADHD meds, and I say that because they are medications which are not stimulants (stimulants are the usual script of the day for ADHD), ones like the Strattera and I think Concerta now. I don't remember what those old meds were called but they did practically nothing.
During these tests and trials, they'd mix in anti-depressants or anti-anxiety, stuff like that, seeing if it helped balance things out. Well, this was (surprisingly) just a couple years before they stopped giving Prozac to anyone under 18, and at the time I was 15, nearly suicidal, and generally at odds with everyone and everything in my life. The Prozac sent me off the cliff of sanity almost as soon as it got regular in my bloodstream-three weeks after taking it I had my first real suicide attempt. Thankfully it was also my last. Then the docs and shrinks were trying other things, Wellbutrin and stuff like that, which mostly just made me feel, again, like a 'drooling zombie'.
Then, finally, they tried Adderall. The tablets weren't so hot, as they sparked too much intensity in my actions (in other words, even though it helped with the focus, it made the hyperness a little worse), but the XR capsules worked great. They tested me at 5mg first, and the effect was small but significant enough to notice, and good enough to keep with it. That went up to 10mg and stayed there for a good 2 years with a markedly less difficulty in my daily functioning issues. I moved, dropped my meds, and didn't find another doc until I was something like 18 or 20 years old. I started on it again, this time working quickly up to a stunningly high 40mg a day before it leveled off into an acceptable amount of control. Then due to other medical circumstances I had to stop taking it for awhile again, and am currently unmedicated but desperately seeking a doctor who can help me again, as I have moved.
So, number-crunching to get the computer started is a good analogy. It really IS kind of like that. But! BUT! If you stick with it, if you're damn sure you have ADHD and want to manage it, then keep trying and it will eventually boil down to trial and error. I know it's frustrating. It took a whole year for me to find the right one! And, it was just one, despite my other apparent and well-diagnosed conditions of anxiety, depression, mild post trauma (not the disorder but some of the milder symptoms that could build up to it during life), bipolar 2 or possibly a lesser-known but more common form of bipolar called cyclothmia (milder mood swings than a full-blown manic but worse than the average person), etc etc. Sometimes taking the strain off the worst of your difficulties makes everything else that much easier to deal with too. So talk to your doctor about it, do keep observing yourself and do whatever you need to stay calm and manage stress (I have nothing against your methods XP), but try to be patient with the situation. I know that's really, really hard and really nerve-wracking, but keep your chin up! :)
I hope that helps you, even if it was just my personal experience. We all feel this way sometimes, like it's a test with no end, but eventually we do get there one way or the other. Don't give up, and don't take any bull from your doctor either. If you KNOW that your medicine is messing with you, tell him! If you don't tell him, he may never catch on. After all, he only sees you an hour a week (or whatever the case may be) and he has a hundred other patients to try and remember. He doesn't live with you, so how can he know everything? You have to tell him all about what your meds are doing, both good and bad, so he can help you get the best possible treatment. :)
Hi "dude515". Thank you so much for your honesty. We never know how our honesty can touch others as you have just helped me so much. I am 45 and have ADHD. I too used other things to alleviate my ADHD symptoms......didn't work of course. I am one of the most honest people you have ever met, but I don't know if my identity here is secret? Last time I posted something on a site it ended up on my FB wall and I was mortified! LOL! Anyway, what I have noticed BIG TIME while taking Aderrall for 2 yrs is that it produced a horrible, overwhelming anxiety in me that I just could not stand. It also produced a depression which I have anyway and don't need more of! It did help me to focus more and calmed me down a lot. But I was having panic attacks while on it. It made me have a general feeling of uneasiness and a sense of doom and gloom also. I just didn't feel myself like I didn't want to laugh at jokes or anything. I also feel a numb feeling while on it and just a general "blah" feeling. I think I would rather have my ADHD symptoms than these side effects! Its like, which is worse? So now I am unmedicated. I wish I could concentrate one one thing at a time without a million things running through my head all at the same time. I wish I could retain detailed information more because I basically feel like a dumb *** sometimes! I drink way too much caffeine because of it. I never knew that people with ADHD tend to do that! Thank you so much for sharing. Unmedicated
Bud has some beneficial qualities, but the doc told me (and I know he was not trying to pull one on me) that the anti-anxiety effects wear off and as it becomes metabolized the anxiety will return stronger, which is around 8-9 hours after initially consuming. Basically nothing I didn't already know. Bud is not a real answer to someone who wants to achieve a lot of things in life. No question it 'smudges' your motivation and ability to think etc... It just dumbs you down over time no question.... Abilify to me is crazy. I read that they dont even fully understand what it does, but it does work! Some people get side effects etc... I am sure there are other options
Hey, grass is great for anxiety - and it sounds like the anxiety is eating away at you. Which is kind of common for an adult with ADD. Thats why the doctor prescribed abilify. I'm not sure which is more addicting however. I think grass is probably a healthier way to go, but its a pain to get. Kind of sad that a drug like abilify is easier to get. My opinion is be honest with the doc. But I would also ask him for measures to help you deal with anxiety. I know that good long runs always helped mine. There are anxiety forums on this site which you should check out too.
By the way, your 3 year old sounds kind of normal (based on the little info given). Over on the child behavior forum, I have seen lots of posts about 3 year olds that sound a lot worse. It never hurts to post over there and ask for more opinions. There are a lot of good people with experience over there that can help.
Ok Just got home and smoked a bit. No question about it that lingering edge feeling is totally gone. What I needed to do earlier that I was avoiding, suddenly I am ready to take it on full blast.
What should I tell the doc? Clearly this means something
havent smoked weed in a few days and am trying to be very observant of my emotions. It seems as the day goes by, I feel more and more as if I really need to 'let go'. As if I'm holding my breath and just going nuts to let the air out! So I see without weed this feeling goes up and up and up. Now my stomach actually feels like there is air in there from this feeling. Its made me very stressed and despite the vyvanse ADHD help, I feel unable to do anything because of this major feeling... is it anxiety? Or is it distraction or is it just withdrawl or what?
So I found a friend who has some bud, going to grab a really small amount now to test and follow thru with this theory. If its true maybe I nailed it and can speak with doctor about exact replacement to test.
Lots of good, honest questions. I will get back to you when I have a bit more time. Until then check out this post (particularly the last 10 or so posts) -
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/ADD---ADHD/Vyvanse/show/367814#post_7413082
Its got some pretty good personal info on taking Vyvanse. Also I suggest that you check out totallyadd.com - its for adult add - and has a ton of very useful information.