Medication = symptoms gone? I say B.S! | ADHD Information

I'm nearly 4 weeks into my meds this Weds will be 4 weeks (Strattera). I am finding that it's working better now finally... the side effects are starting to dissipate a bit.. but I do not think that the meds make all of my symptoms go away. I think I need a higher dose...but still, I'm a bit better, but a long way from where I'd like to be on my concentration level. I'm always jumping around from one thing to another... multi-tasking is just a part of who I am, and I think I'll always be that way on meds or off.  I saw my psychiatrist the other day and asked him, "If I truly had add (inattentive type), then wouldn't Adderall eliminate, the symptoms of the disorder?"

He replied, "Yes, you shouldn't have any symptoms of add while talking your medication."

I vehemently disagreed. I have symptoms of ADD everyday, medication or not. In fact, when I take my adderall, I jump from task to task all day long at work. And it's not unusual for me to be in the middle of a work related project, then suddenly just decide to check my personal email account, or cnn.com.

Does anyone else still have problems or suffer the symptoms of ADD even after taking medication?

Medication helps manage my symptoms but i still have ADHD when on meds, also remember people without add/adhd still sometimes find it hard to concentrate and keep focused on a tasks too!

I don't think medication takes your symptoms away.  Medication only helps you manage your symptoms.  roly poly39150.8835069444My doc is thinking about putting me on a combo of wellbutrin and concerta (already started the concerta) because wellbutrin has an effect on norepinephrine and dopamine levels as well..

The use of stimulant medication evens out brain activity, but it doesn't make our brain activity the same as that of non-ADHD people.  So, no, medication will not eliminate your ADHD.  Some of the symptoms are due to brain structure, which medication cannot alter.  Some of it is due to chemical levels, but medication doesn't completely correct that problem either.  Your doctor needs to read up a bit more.

Incidentally, I highly suggest trying combination therapy for ADHD.  Taking a stimulant plus strattera, for example, can have great benefits above and beyond the individual medications.  That'll get you closer to where you and your doctor clearly want you to be.