I’m A Newbie | ADHD Information
Hello all,
I'm a newbie. But not to ADD. I'm 36 years old and I've had this for all my life. I was hyper as a child but lost the hyperactivity as I got older. I was ADHD at a time when girls just didn't get hyperactivity. It was a boy disorder. I was called a slacker, lazy, wouldn't apply myself, blah. You name it, my teachers said it.
I'm now better at it than I used to be. I use little tricks to help myself. I have taken Ritalin off and on since was in my late 20's when I was first diagnosed.
My question is, does anyone here have a hard time taking ritalin because of the drop off? When the drop off would hit me, I would sink so far down into depression I wanted to die. I would cry for hours. It was a terrible reaction. Anyone else ever dealt with this? I WANT to take ritalin. I love it. It slows my thoughts down to where I am able to think one thought at a time. Really! But I don't know how I ever could. I also have depression and take effexor which is good for ADD. I had to go about a month ago for four days without the effexor and boy could I tell a difference! I was bouncing off the walls, almost manic!
Anyone got any good advice?
I've been lurking and reading for a while and just joined to post tonight. I love you guys, you are all wonderful and I can so relate with so many of you!
Love and hugs 
TJ
Also what about extended release.. it seems to have less of a drop off from what my Dr. tells me anyway...
Another thought -- I have heard the advice from several people about drinking a mountain dew about an hour before the med wears off.. its suppossed to make the drop off less severe.
Im no authority.. just essentially repeating what others have told me, or what I"ve read.
Sherry
Miss Frizzy . . .What is your Rit dosage ? You could try cuting it in half, and do a 'half now, half later' deal . . .
Thank you for the immediate replies!
I've never thought about splitting the dosage. That's a thought that me and the doc could talk about. He knows how much I want to use it but can't handle it.
Kibbles, I can't drink sugar sodas as I am a brittle diabetic. I don't know how that would affect my sugar levels. (am insulin dependant) But I will discuss that with the doc too.
Thank you for your advice!
Big Hugs! and 
Peace to you all!
Friz
I took Effexor for 6 years, and Ritalin for 8. Pill management is the key.Welcome Frizzy!
Listen to the advice from my knowledgeable friends! It is good advice from personal experience!
If sugar is a no-no (as it is with diabetes and sorry you have that too), a black coffee or tea can add some caffeine to help you cope when you start to feel a drop in effect from your meds.
Some combos of the instant release and extended release could get you through an entire day too. We often hear of people who can't seem to time it so they get full effect all day. Trial and error and you should find a happy medium for you.
Also - there is the adderall/dexedrine route you could try. When Ritalin doesn't make it for someone often there are other choices. Keep in touch with your medical people and work out what makes the most sense for you!
Do you mean a drop off as the Ritalin wears off at the end of the day? If you are taking regular Ritalin, you might try Ritalin XR instead, or another stimulant with once daily dosing (Concerta or Focalin XR, for example).
HI ALL! This is me, Frizzy Ditz, but I changed my name so Miss Frizzy and I won't be confused. I can see that happening. So from now on, I will be TJ.
Glenn W, I thought that caffeine had the opposite affect on us. Like where it wakes up "normal" people (whatever normal is lol) it makes us sleepy. I've always been able to drink caffeine and go straight to bed. But of course I drink Diet Dr. Pepper all throughout the day so it just might be that it has no affect on me anymore. I don't know.
Miss Frizzy! (love the name hehehe!)
No, I am not BP. The psychiatrists both of them that I saw said that if I were, then the effexor would make me go over the edge manic. And I believe that too, because my exhusband was bipolar and he took effexor and he DID go over the top. Nuts is more like it. LOL
But if I decide to give Ritalin or Adderall a try I will talk to the doctor about me having diabetes and how the meds might affect me.
David,
I have never taken Ritalin and Effexor together, by the time I went on effexor I knew of my problem with Ritalin. Is that something that worked well for you? As I was on Ritalin and no antidepressant at the time.
Decaffeinetes? LOL Now that's funny!
Annidagnosti,
Yes, as a matter of fact I have always sat in chairs with my legs wrapped around them and I do sit on my feet. My favorite position to sit in in indian style and often sit even in chairs that way. Handwriting is a scribble.
I will check out that post.
Thank you all for your attention (lol) to my post. I really appreciate all of your responses. It's nice to be able to talk to people who understand what I go through everyday of my life.
Love and hugs,
TJ
Miss TJ,
Newly welcomes to the forums.
Yes, the blend worked well for me, in the sense of psychology.
'Twas the side effects, that liked to kill me. Hi bp, and over sleepy.
[QUOTE=GlenW]If sugar is a no-no (as it is with diabetes and sorry you have that too), a black coffee or tea can add some caffeine to help you cope when you start to feel a drop in effect from your meds. [/QUOTE]
What if she has diacaffeinetes, too?
She could, you know. She's got diabetes, and Ritaletes already.
Do you sit on your feet? Did you wrap your feet around your chair when you were young? Is your handwriting bad. If so, check out the crawler's unite post in the alternative section.Frizzy!
As your Name-kin I am compelled to advise you! Even though you are Elderkin, I am more Experiencedkin, at least in this here Forum.
It is amazing how we bubble under separate membranes yet share the same Identifier.
You say this|
V
When the drop off would hit me, I would sink so far down into depression I wanted to die.
And this |
V
I was bouncing off the walls, almost manic!
Are you sure you are ADHD not BP? I am bipolar and ADHD. So sayeth the Lord MD. Your mood swings sound like BP to me. Maybe try getting repackaged and relabelled?
You sound like The Factory stamped Sugar Free on your Fruit Snack Bag. When in fact your bag was Sugar Full. This can be Disastrous to a Diabetic. Seek reevaluation. Stims is to BP as Sugar is to Diabetes?
Poor Mr. David. You know when I first started on Effexor it made me sleepy too, but it doesn't now. Hi BP came right along with the diabetes, so I don't know. I go to the Doc tomorrow on other bizness, so I am going to bring it up to him and see what he says. We'll see. I'll keep ya posted.
Thanks for the reply.
TJ
Here's one back at ya:
