Geez, I can barely afford to send my son to him! Thanks for the reply....
He actually only treats children. But he recognized my ADD tendencies before I even considered the possibility. The focus of my son's treatment had always been hyperactivity and impulsivity, over the last year dealing with his difficulty focusing and getting things done has become more important.
While the Doc and I were discussing what it feels like to want to concentrate and not be able to he casually asked, "Sound familiar?"
I can remember feeling like that since first grade, when I found it impossible to copy the sentences off the board before recess. Everyone else could do it. I wanted to do it, I just couldn't. In the time it took for my eyes to go from the blackboard to the paper in front of me, I'd get distracted and forget what I'd just read.
I'd never thought that was ADHD. I'd just come to beleive I was a dim wit. (I worry that it was some lame brain behavior on my part that made him suspect I might be "afflicted")
I decided to pursue treatment because I want to know what it would be like to not have to struggle against my own brain to complete a thought. I'd like to get through a week of work without discovering some careless mistake I'd made.
That is a little bit more of my story. I got a bit apprehensive at the Wellbutrin suggestion because as I said I've been on it for a year and it while it relieved the "blues" it hasn't improved my other 'issues'.
I've just started the process of finding out if I "officially" have ADHD. I saw a Dr. over the weekend who took blood and gave me another appointment in in three weeks without making a diagnosis. She also said that the difficulty in focusing did not have to be adhd but it could be sleep deprivation, hyper thyroidism or heart disease. When she found out that I'd been on Wellbutrin for over a year she kept saying, "They use Wellburtrin to treat adhd in adults" My difficulty in focusing and finishing stuff has not improved on Wellbutrin. My extremely ADHD 10 year old takes 54mg of concerta with a 10mg bump of ritalin.
My son was diagnosed seven years ago so I know quite alot about ADHD meds and have never heard of Wellbutrin being used as an adhd treatment. I've always heard that stimulants were the most effective meds for treating adhd symptoms. Is this different for adults? Has anyone here been successfully treated with Wellbutrin?
How do, (perhaps a better question is How Should) doctors decide what medication to prescribe for adults.
My son's Dr. is great, he says prescribing for adhd symptoms can be more art than science and is willing to tweak and tinker with meds and dosages to figure out what works best.
Are antidepressants particularly Wellbutrin effective on adhd symptoms? What meds and at what dosages are used initially? Is it typical for dosages to be increased? I'd really be interested in hearing about your experiences with getting diagnosed and treated. Anyone have to go to more than one Dr?
Thanks!!!!
wellbutrin is actually a drug to help people quit smoking.
i was on it for add. (and b/c my doc thought i was depressed. i was, but there was more going on.)
it did almost nothing. made me calmer, i think. did not improve focus. hardly touched the depression.
docs know the symptoms of depression, but don't really get the causes.
being an adult with adhd, having the abilities mentally to cope, but always falling short, is depressing.
i'm depressed cause my life's a mess. not only that, but i don't know how , or can't seem to stop, messing it up even further. i'm smart, but i'm such an idiot!
how does a person reconcile those ideas? how does a person cope with that countervalence coming from within? depression?
back to wellbutrin. they should start with a lower dose, and work up to an efficacious level. dosages vary by wt., metabolism, etc.
it seems all these brain meds are tricky, not quite predictable, and have a long period before the brain knows what to do with them.
Hi there Carolee - let's get you some info to start you out.
[QUOTE=Carolee]
How do, (perhaps a better question is How Should) doctors decide what medication to prescribe for adults.
The MD (or a psychiatrist) versed in ADHD will give you questions that determine what class of ADHD you have, if you can tolerate amphetamines and if there's any addiction history. After that if you are healthy physically typically you'll get either Ritalin or similar, Adderall/dexedrine or Strattera. Each works differently on ADHD and it's sometimes like you have heard - trial and error.
My son's Dr. is great, he says prescribing for adhd symptoms can be more art than science and is willing to tweak and tinker with meds and dosages to figure out what works best.
Are antidepressants particularly Wellbutrin effective on adhd symptoms? What meds and at what dosages are used initially? Is it typical for dosages to be increased? I'd really be interested in hearing about your experiences with getting diagnosed and treated. Anyone have to go to more than one Dr?
Antidepressants are typically the last resort - after the MD has ruled out the other alternatives. Some start there (the MDs that are worried about the potential troubles involved in prescribing restricted meds), but from what I know it's the last thing you will get benefit from.
When I was diagnosed I went to my GP, who listened and redirected me to a great psychiatrist. That's the best as they are more likely to know both ADHD and the medications that can help you.
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Please PLEASE make sure you get therapy in conjunction with the meds. With therapy you'll learn ways to cope that are different than the habits you've learned with ADHD. It's the best way - hit ADHD from all ways you can.
Good luck! And it's not bad at all - life is pretty good one year into my ADHD treatments!!