new medication: advice? | ADHD Information

O.K., maybe I phrased my first post incorrectly, but would anyone care to offer advice on this one? (please???)

I am newly diagnosed with ADHD--inattentive and hyper type--and today received my first medications.  Adderall IR.  Directions from Doctor are start with 1/2 pill, gradually go to 1 pill, and level out at 10 mgs--all 2x/day.  I also take Zoloft (3 years), which she will not let me stop (I'd like to). 

I am very nervous about taking Adderall tomorrow morning for the 1rst time.  Could anyone please tell me what to expect or some tips??  Anything you have to offer would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you very much

Cammy

I also take Adderall. Your starting dosage is appropriate and really low. I wouldn't worry or expect much of a reaction. I'm on a much higer dose, 3 times a day, and it was 3-4 weeks of small incremental dosing before I began to see a benefit. However, most seem to see a benefit more quickly.

Many in the early stage of starting Adderall can experience  a euphoric mood within the first hour of the dose. While it's a nice thing to experience for a while, it's only temporary as your body adjusts ( a few months). Don't be fooled into thinking that if this happens, then the Adderall is "working" for you. Do your best to separate feelings of an elevated mood from a better ability to focus and concentrate. You are after the "focus" result.

Also, if you have some symptoms that are consistent, measure your progress against those. For example, one of mine was chronic and uncontrollable daydreaming. I would sit at my desk at work, or be in the middle of a conversation, and just start daydreaming.  I wouldn't realize  that this had happened until at least 20-50 seconds had gone by. That almost nevers happens now and early-on, was an easy way for me to realize that Adderall was beginning to work for me.

Stay on the Zoloft! Your doctor needs to understand your reaction to the Adderall so if you stop Zoloft, you introduce an unpredictable variable.

Good luck and best wishes. Post again and let us know how you're doing.

welcome cammy!

Adderall is pretty gentle for most adults.  It is an amphetamine though so you may feel jittery or anxious taking it.  Usually it is mild and goes away in a month or so.

Make a concerted effort to schedule regular meals.  Adderall has a common effect of removing your hunger signal for a while.  This means you won't feel hungry even when extremely hungry.  Same goes for water - it's a diuretic (makes you urinate a lot more) so you'll need to up your water intake.  Make it a scheduled thing don't expect to get any signals to do it.

Also don't expect miracles.  When I started it was instant relief but most people find it gradual and mostly other people let you know the difference they see.  It's steady and takes a few months to take effect.

Stay in contact with your doctor! At first they are supposed to schedule weekly meetings to take your vitals (bp, heart rate, weight, attitude, etc.) but many depend on you to keep this going.  It's lazy but true.  Make the effort to at first call and make an appointment weekly for the first month, bi weekly for a while after and make monthlies after that (they are supposed to only be able to write an Rx for a month at a time).  Take your health seriously!

Get THERAPY.  Meds alone aren't enough normally.  You need to learn new coping skills.  Call around and find a therapist who deals with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).  It teaches real-world ways to do things that ADHD normally took over with.  It's not the "tell me about your mother" school but rather practical skills you can use.

Best wishes

glen u seem sold on cognitive thereapy, i assumed it to be "tell me about your mother"

when you get a chance throw some examples up im interested..

i do agree geeking on speed alone will not solve add & the aftermath of its consequences. behavior modification is key

CBT is pretty simple.  Cognitive - from "cogito" - to think.  It goes over the day-to-day things and say "ok how did you do this before?" and "ok - is there a better way you can think of to do this?".  It emphasizes role play and thinking before acting.  It takes advantage of the medications strong points (allowing focus) and uses this to our advantage.

It seems simple but we've been so used to jumping in life eyes closed tight that it's something we need to unlearn.  I am getting better but it will take a long, long time before I can do this without trying harder than normal people.  But I shall.

thanks all!  I will keep youposted...