Confused about effects of Metadate CD | ADHD Information
I don't know if headaches and ADD are related or not.
In my case I think it is stress more than anything else. But I have lived with a constant headache most of my life.. its' just a part of my daily living and when you have it, you get used to it.
Ok the interesting part, I noticed that when taking my medication for ADD, there was NO HEADACHE! But, at the same time, there has been a significant decrease in anxiety levels. so is it the anxiety? ADD? or a little of both?
Kind of an interesting question.. anyone else with experience with this?
Sherry
Love the caffeine!
Haven't you noticed most headache pills contain caffeine?? There's a reason for that - it dilates the blood vessels.
The caffeine is used by a lot of ADHDers to self-medicate - and it's one of the safest ways to do it. You can't OD on caffeine orally through drinks (though that mountain dew energy comes close I bet LOL)
It tends to help smooth out the transition for me between on and off meds.
Have some java - and a great day!!
I meant caffeine while on the meds, not between them...Please elaborate on the link between headaches and ADHD...
thanks! http://www.drkoop.com/ency/93/ImagePages/17204.html
http://www.drkoop.com/ency/93/003024.html
it appears to be related to a sudden release of histamine or serotonin by body tissues.
bugzappers38682.6586458333
Haven't seen a correlation studied - but anxiety does cause migraines to worsen so why not ADHD? Makes sense but I too would like to hear others speak about it. As a teen I had nighmarish migraines - in my twenties it decreased and now I get mild headaches only.
Personally - I don't have a trouble using caffeine with my meds. However I'm careful to limit my coffee before bed now.
I used to have awful headaches - a couple of times a week and daily as a teen. Not sure if it was my dust allergies or what. But haven't had more than 2 headaches in all this year I've been on meds! It's been nice - and now a tylenol actually works - and I don't have to use a cold towel and call work anymore.
I don't know if headaches and ADHD are a big deal - just don't know.
thanks, but what exactly is the link between headaches or migraines andADHD in particular?There does not seem to be any published scientific data linking ADHD
and migraines, but if any members have personal experiences to speak
of, it would be interesting to hear them.
Dear All,
I am new to this forum and to the world of ADD. I'm glad I found it. I am
in my 30's and highly educated. I work in an academic setting that
requires a lot of reading and writing. I recently saw a psychiatrist about
certain problems:
- difficulty completing my projects
- difficulty focusing while reading or writing - after a couple of minutes I
find myself surfing the net or talking to people or doing something else
- difficulty finishing sentences when talking to colleagues - constantly
interrupting myself!
- difficulty understanding people's questions, especially when it is very
important and work related
- difficulty understanding lectures when I was in school, but able to learn
on my own from the book or other sources
- trouble saying what I mean
- tendency to blurt out things that I regret saying later - and even not
sure why I said it to begin with?
- very easily overwhelmed by knowing that there are many little (and
easy) tasks to do but not able to organize myself to do them. Sometimes I
can force myself after making a list.
- very poor short-term memory
- many more...
He said it sounds like ADD. So he put me on Metadate CD to see if that
helps with anything. I started at 10mg and was told that the effects
should be immediate and obvious on the same day. If not, increase the
dosage by 10mg per day until I see a difference or the side effects
become unbearable. After less than a week, I am up to 40mg (just today
so far). Over the past few days, I've found the side effects to be relatively
minimal. Just a little jittery. In terms of differences, I've found that on all
the doses, I seem to be able to focus better during meetings and
conversations with people. The tendency to become bored or zone out
has decreased significantly during conversations. And while writing, I
seem to be less distracted by my own thoughts - I am able to work for
more than 20-30 minutes without distracting myself! But other things
still happen. I still have trouble reading the newspaper or informative
signs (one or two sentences) and understanding what I'm reading. I still
have to reread sentences many many times, and they still don't make
sense! I still interrupt myself (but less, it seems). So I'm continuing to
increase my dose every couple of days (like I said, this is my first day on
40 mg, and I still had trouble reading). Is this normal? Or should the
medication have banished all these symptoms? My doctor said if this
doesn't work, then we'd try amphetamines. If those don't work, then my
problem is not ADD but something else. Does anyone have any insight to
offer here? I'm so frustrated!
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
e-cell - welcome!
First - remember that meds will be a PART of a complete therapy not the whole thing. Usually it clears the fog and helps you manage the urges to avoid. But you need to learn ways to work with the meds to enhance them.
Do get a therapy regimen going - at least once per month. A psychiatrist trained in ADHD can help you learn ways to cope with the ever-present anxiety. During therapy he/she can also determine ways to tweak (or change) meds to make them work better. There are dozens of alternative meds and dosages so one will work best for you.
Typically the best starter meds are dexedrine/adderall, ritalin or stratterra. I'm amazed at how many MDs decide to try the least effective meds first (most likely out of fear of the published anti-med backlash).
As I tell most here - this is still a consumer transaction and you are the consumer. As you pay for this - make sure you are getting what you pay for! Whether its cash or insurance you still are the boss. If you are unsatisfied SPEAK UP!!
Good luck - and be sure to keep reading here - and post!!
I just got put on 20mg Metadate CD and it is doing me great (third day)....sorry it's useless for you so far. Hope the Dr. finds your sweet spot.
metadate is essentially the same active ingredient as Ritalin - but is mostly given after other versions are found to be too harsh on the patient.
Yes - generally if the amphetamines don't work - then you most likely don't have ADHD. The times that MDs give other non-amphetamine meds are when you either have a history of addiction or are overly sensitive to the amphetamines.
It can happen where metadate will make some of the problems go away and others may still hang around. ADHD is a combo of a lifetime of the disorder and it's created habits and mannerisms. All your life you've learned (through ADHD) to avoid anxiety, that cause and effect aren't totally clear. So even with meds the habits can pop up and sabotage you often. It does still with me.
The key with any ADHD therapy is talk therapy to go along with it. If you don't then eventually you'll slip back into the comfy habits you've known all your life. The point of therapy is to relearn to cope directly with anxiety and boredom - and not attempt to avoid them. It's not easy I can assure you.
I'm glad your MD is allowing you to increase your intake - but give each increase more than a day or two to work. It takes up to 2 weeks for your body to become accustomed to and gain enough meds to become fully active. If after 2 weeks or so there's no change - then you can up it again.
I still would like to hear what you'd be like with dexedrine. If you never had the Capital H hyper of ADHD - then it may work better for you. I find that it worked very quickly, had few side effects and a bonus is that it can be much cheaper than the alternatives. I had amazing results within days of my first dose - and have been able to stay stable between 20 and 30 mg doses a day for a year now. I take time off them when not needed and it keeps the dosage down even further that way.
Just do take my advice and check into at least monthly therapy. You need to relearn how to manage life. Right now you may not realize the times you dodge the boring and anxious moments - but you do.
If you need any further advice - feel free to email or pm me anytime. I too am educated highly (as many here) - and know what its like to be shackled by the urges and generally foggy world of ADHD.
Thank you! Thanks for the reply.
I was under the impression that Metadate CD is essentially ritalin but in a
different carrier? Is Metadate CD known to be less effective than other
medications?
My doctor told me that if this doesn't work, and amphetamines don't
work, then I must not have ADD. Is that generally the accepted norm
these days?
Several years ago, I was on anti-depressants to treat a physiological
condition rather than depression, but even so, I still exhibited these ADD
symptoms. My doc said that if I still had the same problems while on the
anti-depressants, that it was even more reason to think it is ADD and not
another condition.
So very importantly, I'm not crazy in thinking the Metadate CD is
helping with some symptoms but not all? This can happen?
Still frustrated, but feeling better - thanks much.
[QUOTE=Wordwoman]Medication will help with symptoms, but not banish them (unless you are very lucky indeed). [/QUOTE]
Absolutely!!
I still feel the urges to go with the quick and dirty - and they win if I let them (example is the debacle with my comedy intro/exit lately argh). It is a battle that is akin to alcoholism. You never stop being ADHD any more than a person stops being an alcoholic. You are what you are.
What it DOES do is give you the space to say "WAIT - look carefully and THINK before you act.".
The clearing of the fog, the memory improvement and the general repolarizing of the moods and attitude make it so you can be just like everyone else if you want it and work for it.
With the right med it feels almost miracle-like - a very big impact on life. I know when it isn't working when I feel the fog surround me and I feel the urge to avoid rather than confront come back. That's why I messed up with the contest I was in - I had been off meds on "med vacation" and the voice said to me "hey - get everyone to ace this for you - it's too stressful to win fair and square!". And silly me I heard and obeyed. No more of that!!
Sounds like you are on the right track anyway. But remember my words - GET THERAPY!! If you hit ADHD from all sides and have our family here to back you up - it's ok!!
[QUOTE=GlenW]
[QUOTE=Wordwoman]Medication will help with symptoms, but not banish them (unless you are very lucky indeed). [/QUOTE]
Absolutely!!
I know when it isn't working when I feel the fog surround me and I feel the urge to avoid rather than confront come back.
[/QUOTE]
Boy can I identify with the above statements... I'm on a medicine "mini- vacation" right now. Today I am so tired, the fog is in reeeeeaaaaaallllyyy bad. I had forgotten just how goofy I was I still have dishes in the sink from thanksgiving, and just couldnt get my lil behind up to do much of anything today.
Other than shopping, that is!! I was one of those wack jobs standing out in the cold at 5:00 am waiting for the store to open... Got some good deals too.. That was the only time of day that I was focused, LOL!!
I am at the end of my perscription for Metadate CD. I have 2 days worth left.. dont want to do this again, I figure I can 'ration" them out til monday.. 1 tomorrow, ( maybe it will help a bit who knows?), 2 sunday, the full dose Monday when I go back to the Doctor.
Same here with meds.. they help, but they don't get rid of everything.. Funny, I seem to not kick myself so much when I forget something or show up to work in Tennis shoes that I don't even remember putting on! I wonder if part of the successful treatment of ADD is lowering the affective filter. I am definatley more happy, and able to laugh at myself instead of beating myself up over something stupid I've done.. ooooo, hope I didnt ramble too much
Sherry
Nooooooooooo, Glen! Gotta' have my sweet tooth nursed, lol.
Good ol' Dixie Crystallized power!
and thanks Sherry ( Kibbles ) you haven't fallen into "Bits" yet.......
I am realizing a "foggy"-sleepy, -back of the brain/neck sensation, myself at late in the day. I still feel so much more in control of my natural impulsive self, though.
maybe its time to try an XR in the afternoon and an SR in the morning!
Make the time to remind yourself on refills though. Maybe have calendars around all over - that's what I do! Also maybe set up a reminder on your PC - even change the background to a big "post it".
Switch to coffee too - more caffeine and less of that yucky sugar! LOL!!
Thanks Glen,
As for the metadate, yes, I do take them 2x a day. 20mgs in the morning and another 10 at 11:30.
One would think that I could plan ahead with that, but I always think I have more medication than I actually do.
The meds wear off around 5:30pm with this regimen.. not happy with that really, because then its a bit of a struggle to get supper cooked when I get home
But I chug diet dr.pepper and get to cookin' - most days, anyway
sherry
Sherry - you are not rambling!! Very well put I think.
Lowering the filter.. hmmmm... I guess that's one way to put it. One big tool to keep ADHD as our slave is to be able to kind of "freeze frame" our daily events. Someone comes up and says "hey - got any rumors on so and so?" - and you can say "FREEZE! now think of future ramifications of what you say NEXT"... then you can choose! That's what I feel anyway.
As for your metadate - if you use once a day - maybe get your MD to prescribe twice-daily meds. That's what I do - and I rarely need my dex spansules that long - mostly overtime days. So I always have 2 weeks left over and can go back and get more on my time not the med's time.
The fog scares me so much that days where I can eat junk food or buy mac & cheese and the meds come into it - then I'll eat mac for the rest of the time rather than run out! Thankfully my insurance leaves a total cost of 20 a month for 120 caps so it's not like I starve over them. My flonase for my allergies at work? 8 bucks a month. Oh sorry I'm bragging! My apologies.
Sherry - you are SO not alone!!!
72 mg concertas
pot of coffee
cow tails (4) caramel w/ vanilla cream ccenter
arizona energy tonic ( a 99 cent 23oz redbull)
and if really bad pixie stix
Was that your Thanksgiving meal????So you all like the effects of caffeine in addition to your medication?I am not a daily coffee drinker. However, I am very prone to headaches,
and in the "pre-ADD" days, would drink coffee to help curb them. I have
avoided it since starting the metadate cd on my doctor's advice.
Maybe I'll try drinking some coffee anyway then...Welcome to the club! Thank you for the responses. Please keep them coming! I'm learning so
much from all of you.
I talked to my doctor today. He said that if some symptoms were treated,
then the medication is working, and to continue to increase the dosage
until all the distractions I have while working are gone. He said, of course,
that it is trial and error. It makes sense to me what Wordwoman said -
that the medication will help with symptoms but not banish them. So that
being the case, how do I know how far to go or when to try another med,
or just work with what I have? I'm sure I have bad habits I need to
overcome with the aid of the medicine. Sigh. I think I know the answer,
but it would be nice to hear others' experiences.
Thanks again.
active behavior modification & meds!!!
good luck,
hey glen i dont seem pissed do i?
Never, Rayray......calm as a cucumber in pickling juice!
Fourth day on Metadate, and still seems to be helping me.
Glen, you sound as if you need payment from here- instead of the comedy place. Pretty "read up" on a lot of this stuff.
engineeredcell, you said," I've found that on all
the doses, I seem to be able to focus better during meetings and
conversations with people. The tendency to become bored or zone out
has decreased significantly during conversations. And while writing, I
seem to be less distracted by my own thoughts" That tells me you are benefitting from it. I'm not the best reader, myself.
I wouldn't judge the results of medicine mostly on reading concentration / distraction, but on relationships primarily and "stick-to-it-iveness" as far as jobs and school and home duties.