Dr. Appoint coming up | ADHD Information

 

InaBox, we have been going the vit. supplements route for awhile, but recently my husband and I made the decisions to put my son on Straterra because he was having a hard time at school with his moodiness and lack of impulse control (up until recently he was homeschooling).  So far I have been happy with the results--of course we are still in the process of upping the dosage until we reach the correct theraputic dose for him.  I decided to give it to him in the evening because I had read so many stories about it making kids and adults extremely sleepy--and sure enough, he goes to sleep much earlier now--but has much better rest as a result of the med.  I have a suggestion about the grumpiness in the evenings--perhaps you have low blood sugar and are get irratible because you need to eat something.  Personally, I get real sluggish around 3:00 and need to rest alittle and have a snack.  Well good luck to you.

Thanks jamescrazymom. My irritability usually runs all day long lol I eat healthy and regularly so I'm not sure if this is the cause for me. I'm thinking of trying (or suggesting) Concerta with my doctor.

I was about to tell you that it may be dependent on you and that u may have to just try some things.  I was (and am) very hyper, inpulsive, explosive at times, mind 500 miles a minute type of person.  Concerta has been working well for me - you have to find the right dose though and that takes time.

Just tell your doc all the things you said here and how u handle stuff, and about your moods and they should be able to suggest where to start!!! 

why not try ritalin?  it is fairly benign on some levels (you have to remember that five and six year olds are prescribed it). 

i know it didn't work well for scotmama (and i think she swapped to concerta) but the good thing with the stims are they are so fast-acting you are gonna know soon enough whether it is working or not.

but i guess one is as good as another to try out --- i would start with ritalin, it's been around for ages, it is a fairly solid med and seems to work well with a large proportion of people who are prescribed it.

but in the end - i always think "go with your gut".  what do you think you would suit???

good luck! 
basement.....  down at the bottom section 'hang out with friends' thread.  that's where country girl normally posts.

cj
i don't know INaBOX.  stims could be... 

ritalin and adderall work in different ways.  ritalin stimulates the production of dopamine whereas adderall blocks the re-uptake.

i have always thought adderall would work for me better than ritalin (i personally believe my production of dopamine is fine - the problem lies with the re-uptake).  so maybe you are the same!

what do you think - is the anger and irritability a result of your ADD? 

i guess the psych would be the one to ask or CountryGirl!  she's been on a fair few meds and has anxiety as a co-morbid --- you could always drop down to the basement and ask her there.



chjones39032.5302777778

Basement?

My anger is usually during PMS and it get be hard to handle. Thank goodness it's short-lived. My irritability is non-stop and I end up taking it out on my son (a problem I'm trying to work on). I also get frustrated a lot because of my ADD above my general irritability. What frustrates me most is my language output. Sometimes it eludes me and can be embarrassing when I'm trying to have idle chit-chat with coworkers. Also, I soak up knowledge like a sponge and can apply what I've learned but I have a harder time articulating what I'm trying to convey. I think this is the hardest part of ADD for me and it affects my social life greatly.

Strattera might be right for you. We tried it for my son and it made him too sleepy, but since it has such a calming effect, it could be the right choice for you. It works 24/7, so you wouldn't have highs and lows during the day, it would work continuously. Wellbutrin might be something to ask about, too. It can help both ADD symptoms, as well as all the rest. The thing is everyone reacts differently to meds and you simply have to try them out and see what's right for you.

You'll find the right med, it just takes some trial and error. Just think how great it will be when you do! You don't have to live with these symptoms weighing you down.

Ok, I have a doctor's appointment coming up and I want to address to him some of my concerns. Because I'm confused about meds in general, I thought I'd post this question so I know what to ask my doctor and how to avoid medications that may not be well suited for me. Will you help me out? This is a huge step for me as I've not been for meds but I'm willing to give it a try and see how things work.

Here are my symptoms .. and although I'm aware you're not professionals by paper, your inputs will be helpful and I will try to keep an open mind.

Symptoms: Anxiety, irritability, anger (usually during pms), ADD: absent-minded, fatigue by the afternoon, brain fog (during PM), language outputs (during PM)

Those are some to start out with. Usually my ADD symptoms worsen by the afternoon. Mornings I'm usually fine and can articulate easily. By 1:00ish, I have a hard time forming proper sentences. If I'm anxious then I best be quiet. LOL

Any suggestions on what meds would be suitable for me to ask my doctor about?

I'm not too keen on Ritalin. Also, are stimulants the right way to go for all these symptoms?