Throwing in the medication towel | ADHD Information

Share
Well, I've been on Adderall XR for only a month and a week, and I believe that I am through with it.  I'm sitting here witha major migraine, nauseau, dry mouth and I'm just plain irritable.  I can't even tell if its working over the bad side effects.  (I'm on 40mg).

Anyway, I don't think having lost 5 or so pounds is worth it . . . I may have better concentration and what not, but I can't be completely sure, as I started taking meds 3 days before school started.  Maybe if I'd of waited to take them after I'd have something to compare it with.  The last time I went to school was 4 years ago and I couldn't concentrate then, but I had a military enlistment between then and now to teach me a thing or two.  Also, I am very scared of the vicious cycle I see so many people get into with their meds.  They're constantly changing their doses, changing meds, going through withdrawals, everything, so they can feel normal and operate in the world of the 'normal' folk.  I'm tired of it, truly.  The biggest fear that I have about coming off the meds, though, is the channel flipping returning.  THat I have definetely noticed a major change in.  It was very depressing the time my meds wore off and my brain started racing.  I just dont want to be dependant on these drugs for my psychological well being.  There has to be another way.

I'm not saying I'm just going to act like I don't have ADHD - I think I just need to try a different route.  I used to better cope with the problems that my husband has (major depressive disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder), but now when things happen the only thing that comes to my mind is leaving him and never coming back!  I just feel like this medicine is changing me psychologically for the worse.

I want to try simplifying my life -- not worrying that I'm not on top of housework like other mothers/women because I want to cut back.  The hell with having 8 dishes in the cabinet, I will have 2.   That goes for cups, silverware, bowls, etc.  The rest can come out when theres company.  This way, dishes don't pile up in the sink and make me depressed.  I don't need 3 10-qt pans, it just gives me more opportunity to not wash the dirty ones.  Laundry?  Getting rid of all the socks and buying an extra large pack of the exact same socks for me and my husband.  Limiting our wardrobes to what we wear, I dont' care if its only 3 or 4 outfits, it will surely make the closet look less intimidating and make it easier to know when its definetely time to throw a load in! 

Eating.  I need to change the way I eat.  I was raised on junk food and really don't know ANYTHING about nutrition.  Plus, I especially need to do this for my son.  He deserves a better start than I did.  I want to grow my own organic garden, even though it gets up to 30 below here in Northern Maine -- it can be done.

Anyway, sorry to ramble.  Just sitting here depressed and I desperately want to do something about it, or atleast feel like I can do something.
HeidiMarie38629.462962963

Vent  it will make you feel better...I understand how you are feeling...wish I could supply you with some great cure, alternative, or something helpful...but right now the best I can do is let you know YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!

I hope you feel better soon.

Like David said, you could try a less strong form of meds or you could try a non stimulant such as Wellbutrin. It all sounds delicious Seeker! Can't wait to try some of it!Hey Heidi,

You are doing something. Recording your symptoms, feelings, and desires.

You are planning. Keep going. Draw up a wish list, then prioritize it.

As for the Adderall, it is the strongest form of ADHD stim based medication. Perhaps a gentler product wouldn't produce the negative side effects, such as a lower dose Ritalin.

Excellent ideas on simplyfing your life. I did it by complicating it. I bought extra dishes, b/c we don't wash them often. That relieved huge tension b/c we weren't fighting over who's turn it was to wash. Sam's club has 50 pack metal forks for .00. We've done the sock thing for years. When my white ones wore out, I tossed the 7 or 9 left in another drawer, and bought 18 pairs of black ones. I have 21 pairs of boxers, b/c I never get to the laundry, except once a week.

Medications are not the sole answer to mitigating the social impacts of ADHD. They are a good tool in a large toolbox. Eating habits, that's important. Supplements, that's important. Environment, activities, family, spirituality, mental exercises, physical exercises, all help. Micromanage your personal environment. I'm a civilian, but carry an ordnance belt to organize my daily life : passport, wallet, keys, spare keys, money scattered about, flashlight, computer flash drives, knife, tool, other knife, flashlight, pen, paper, cards, gloves, meds, first aid kit. They call me batman at the TSR checkpoint in Fresno.

Has your depression been chronic? Cyclical? Or recent. I'm also on anti-Ds, and I love my regimen. I'm so dialed in right now, I could, well, do a lot of things. Hey, I hope the best for you, and I like Terrie's suggestion, too: Pray. Amazing Grace can be found...

Sincerely, the best for you, and your family,

David (the other midnight owl)

P.S. Do you have trouble sleeping?

as far as the chicken temp., 150 is a little low, but letting it sit coverd will allow it to finish cooking, the heat from the outer edges will migrate inward, and voila!160 f, a safe temp for chicken pcs. will be achieved.

So sorry it did a number on you - that's pretty rare if it's at the right dosage.  40mg - was that where you were started?? I was started at 10mg of dexedrine - and even that made me a bit excitable for the first week.  then it was a gradual climb to where I am - between 20 and 30 mg twice a day.

But if you're unwilling to try again - that's ok too.  You are obviously working hard at making life changes - and that's all a part of the whole package too!  Just keep working at whatever works for you and we'll all be cheering you on!

All I know is that the meds I take give me very few side effects - I can live with them no problem.  I now can say no to the urges and tell the chatter to go take a leap and they do.  It's great for me.  But for you - find your own path that's great!

 

- Glen

heidi- for good nutrition, go to the library for different cookbooks. i believe there is probably an adhd cookbook.

processed foods and sugars are, by all accounts, bad for us.

personally, i read every ingredient on every label of all the foods i buy.

msg, and its cousins, anything with sodium and other chemicals as part of its name, are things i personally avoid as much as possible.

all highly processed foods- canned, heat'n'eat, have lots of additives and bad fats.

i eat lots of fresh, and fresh frozen vegs(no salt added). i sweat (sort of like saute, but low heat) onions or onion and garlic in a pan w/ a little olive oil and or butter,and finish steaming the vegs. in it . dark green vegs. get a little fresh grated nutmeg. i add little salt, black pepper, fresh cracked. adding lemon zest, sometimes juice, is good too.

i stay away from breads, though a little flour for gravies, or pizza crusts i don't stress over.

i cook all kinds of meats. many times i'll marinate things in extra-virgin olive oil, add lots of different spices (pick your favorites and experiment), lemon zest, hot sauces (check the ingredients) then bake broil, or grill.

one of the other problems w/processed foods is that all the sodium they add doesn't really show up in the flavor, so people add even more. i use either kosher salt, or sea salt (w/iodine added) to season, and lots of cracked blk pepper, and lots of jalapenos and other chiles.

one fave recipe that's easy and tasty- boneless, skinless chicken breasts. marinate in a gallon ziploc(cause you can toss it, no dishes). add a few tblspns olive oil, some salt, pepper, zest of 2 lemons, tabasco to taste, a tsp. or so of vinegar(rice vinegar is great- good flavor and mild) maybe some poultry seasoning (the kind without salt or other junk- just herbs), some fresh crushed garlic (1-2 cloves, depending). put it all in the bag, mix up by squishing it around (the fun part), and let sit 20-30 mins. longer is not bad.

bake, or george foreman grill it till its about 150 f. inside. a cheap little meat thermometer is indipensable. it helps prevent overcooking and ending up with chicken jerky. once it's to temp., pull it out and let it sit for a few minutes, covered.

i often serve this with rice, (i prefer brown), or some potatoes, and vegs or salad. i don't eat much pasta- i carb crash really bad, and usually overeat pasta. it makes me feel bad, so i eat it rarely.

it might sound like a lot of work, but with practice, it goes really fast, makes for good leftovers, and is pretty healthy.

i do fish, chicken, even hamburger like this. i vary my seasonings and herbs, and use fresh herbs when possible. they can be pricey, but always worth the extra for the tremendous flavor.

i try to snack on carrots, celery, fruits. not always. i still like candy bars and that stuff, but the longer i eat cleaner, lower sugar and sodium foods, the less i crave those things, and the more i can tell i don't feel so good after eating them. i hate going out for pizza, for instance, cause alll that extra sodium makes me wake up in the middle of the night with a terrible thirst and a pasty feeling mouth. yechh!

i sweeten with honey. can't stand white sugar anymore.

lots of water. i love my vanilla pepsi and coffee, but water is key to good health and good energy. without it, your cells cannot produce the electricity they need to function well, and you don't flush toxins. that's another reason i like vegs and salads- free water without drinking. plus you fill up faster and don't stay feeling stuffed so long after eating a hearty portion.

i guess i got a little excited, and ran on a bit. oh well. i'm grateful for exuberance sometimes, as i live in the dark side a lot.

 My theory is that you exhasut all your options, and if nothing works, then forget the meds. I'm lucky that Concerta is REALLY working great for me with very little (Hardly any) side effects. Diagnosis of ADD is tough and not exact so keep that in mind.Thanks everyone for the advice.  Seeker thank you for the great food/cooking advice, I will definetely put it to use.

I think I am going to wean myself off of Adderall.  I won't be able to get in to see my Doctor before my next appointment (Nov 3) and I can't keep taking it until then.  Starting tomorrow I'm going to go down to 20mg for about a week and then down to 10mg and then quitting entirely.  Here's to hoping I figure something else out.

Hei Heidi,

Try this number for a weening schedule:

Good luck,

Dei

This is a free nursing / medical information line.