Treatment options for adult ADD

[425runner]

What are some of the treatment options for adult ADD-inattentive?  My doc put me on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg once a day but it's not really helping.  I still get very distracted and can't focus on just one thing.  

Are there any adults that have experienced success with other medications?

I already take Omega-3 fish oils, B-complex, etc. and exercise 30 min./day

Thanks!

[FishSteak]

"If you feel you have add/adhd but can not get a psychiatrist to treat you for such (which the typical complaint about add/adhd is the opposite, that docs LOVE to diagnose this), you ARE ABLE to go ahead and start working on helping yourself."

With all due respect, specialmom, I think this is no longer really true.  Perhaps it was true at one time, but popular and in-field backlash has had a powerful inhibiting effect, such that many of us are now running into doctors that are very chary about diagnosing ADD.  There seems to be a lot of resistance.  I've only seen one doctor who seemed even willing to discuss it without dismissing the subject, and she was also, as she told me, highly interested and did a lot of outside reading because her husband was a rather acute case.

[FishSteak]

Wellbutrin...  When I was in grad school, I ran into a confluence of factors that helped me realize I'm rather strongly ADD and have always been.  And I had a similar experience trying to get understanding/help from a doctor.  Of course, since I was losing steam (burning out, had lost interest in my subject), I was depressed.  Since I wasn't doing my work adequately and was on the cusp of failure, I was anxious.  So, treat me for depression, right?  Of course.

He prescribed wellbutrin.  What's interesting is that it turned me into a rage monster for as long as I was on it.  A month or so later, after my wife and children had learned to sort of avoid me until I was off it, I went in to the same doctor, and his solution was to double the Wellbutrin dosage.

I dropped the Wellbutrin, dropped the doctor, went to one that, thankfully, was ADD/ADHD-savvy, and she expressed alarm at the Wellbutrin prescription and agreed with my conclusion that it should be dropped.  (I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was something about Wellbutrin stimulating fight-or-flight response, which was precisely what I did *not* need.)

Anyway, I have since found that Adderall is nice and helps a lot, but Ritalin made me feel *lucid* and able to actually discuss plans for future, handle interruptions without fearing loss of ability to do what I'm doing, etc.  Just my own experience, but I can definitely identify with the TAKE ME OFF THE DAMNED WELLBUTRIN AND STOP TREATING ME LIKE IT'S GARDEN-VARIETY DEPRESSION sentiment.

[specialmom]

Let me just tell you that while most psychiatrists want patients to be informed, they also are not thrilled with self diagnosis off the internet.

While I love the internet, it does not tell the whole story.  If you feel you have add/adhd but can not get a psychiatrist to treat you for such (which the typical complaint about add/adhd is the opposite, that docs LOVE to diagnose this), you ARE ABLE to go ahead and start working on helping yourself.  

This includes all of the non pharmaceutical ways that people cope with and deal with add/adhd.  There are many and frankly, anyone that JUST takes medication to handle their add/adhd really aren't dealing with their disorder properly.  

So, you are able to get started with that if you are willing.  And if you have anxiety, some strategies for add/adhd will greatly benefit you as well.  

One thing that is very true about psychiatric medicine is that the doctors are very keen to find the right mix to help someone.  It very often takes trial and error with medications.  Your bipolar issues are such that mixing add/adhd medications might be something they are factoring in as well as trying to make sure that you are not currently cycling.  

I do wish you luck.  Again, look into the non pharmaceutical ways to help if you feel you have some symptoms of add/adhd.  

[helplogan]

My pdoc was a little unsure about how much help with my symptoms provigil would be but decided to give it a try. A trial if you will because she had never used it in rapid cycling bi-polar disorder before either.
You are right to point out about the possibilities of abuse, though provigil is not a typical ADHD stimulant, there is always those few that will abuse it for their benefit rather than use it for their health,
Provigil is not in the frontline of medications used for ADHD but liow a lot of other medications it's initial purpose was to treat a completely different condition. Provigil was initially prescribed for narcolepsy but then research was started on it's use in ADHD and it's even been seen wrote on the same page as a would it benefit someone with bi-polar disorder, which is the reason it peaked my interest too.
This is in no way an advisement of treatment avenues, it's just about what can be an alternative, when the options are limited and a new way to approach a problem may help. I guess it's all about sensible ,informed, and medically overseen choices available to someone. Good luck.

[misty1477]

When I was prescribed the concerta ... I paid for it myself .... to the tune of $90 some $$$$$.

My PCP tried to get my records from the first shrink....wait till ya hear this one ------- When I was at my PCP's office yesterday, he showed me the fax that he sent to the shrink.....the shink's office sent it back with a hand-written note in the corner that said "NOT A PATIENT" !?!?!??!?  UNBELIEVABLE isn't it????

I will check out your link for the risperidone....

Thanks.

[Sandman2]

   Ummm,  back in April you said, "My primary care doc first prescribed Concerta in February ... 18mg 1X day.  Then I was 'assigned' to the shrink in March.  He upped dose to 27mg 1X day.  Did nothing for me.....wanted to sleep all day.  Follow-up with shrink later in March."
   So you were on stimulants at one time and I am guessing that your insurance paid for it.  So if they paid for it then, why not now?
   Ask your present doc if he has the records from the doc you saw in April.  Also remember that I think there was an interaction between the paxil and the stims.  So glad you are off the paxil.
   Interesting site to check out for info on Respidal is here - http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Meds/Risperdal?from=Risperdal.Risperdal#.T9DkYPHV3No