Alright, I just wanted to give an update on my ADD and the medication that I was given. I just want to begin saying that I myself am not 100% on the idea that I have ADD, but the doctor thinks so and I am giving the medication a shoot. I do not have any impulsive factors in my life, like I know allot of ADD people do. I am very compulsive, but not impulsive, but like the doctor was saying, that might help out with impulsions. My dad has been diagnosed with ADD about a year ago and is taking 30mg Adderall XR and has results. My brother also has ADD and I have never had any doubt about that, he is very impulsive, has always struggled through school because he wasn't able to stay focused. I was diagnosed with ADD a few months back because I started to realize that I have always had troubles focusing and storing information in my memory. I did alright in school, but always struggled because I couldn't focus on the material that I was learning/reading. For example, I could read a very short paragraph about 5 times in a row and turn around and do a basic quiz on the little material I had just read and I would say about 75% of it is lost and not stored.
Anyways, I was started off at 5mg of Adderall XR, well every three days I was increasing the dose to an additional 5mg. Well after time I got up to the maximum dose that the doctor wanted me to try which was 50mg and still felt no effect. I felt such side effects such as dry mouth which began at about 35mg up until I quite the 50mg, and would get dizzy if I stood up quickly when I was on 45-50mg, so we decided to try another medication. I was then prescribed to the extended release Ritalin. I started out doing 20mg and then every 3 days would increase it by 20mg increments until I reached 100mg or felt side effects. Well it did nothing for me other then again making me have a dry mouth. I got up to 80mg when it completely made my body feel like hell. My muscles where tense and sore and my body was completely drained and weak...was the same feeling as not eating for a whole day. I gave it a few days and it still resulted in the same side effects. I stopped taking it and called the doctor. Well now I am on Dexedrine and it is not the extended release. I am suppose to take two doses each day. Today I started taking 10mg X 2 daily, two days from now I am suppose to increase by 5mg X 2 daily, and then after that every three days I am suppose to increase it another 5mg X 2 daily until I reach side effects or change.
My question is, could it be that I have a very high tolerance to these medications?. I have quite a bit of stories on ADD medication and people always say that if you were to take it to late, there is no way in hell you are going to get sleep that night. Well I was taking 50mg of adderall XR at noon and would come home after work at 4pm and was able to take a nap if I wanted to without any troubles. Also are there other pills that maybe don't have the same chemical that most ADD medication is made with (sorry I can't remember the name)? Maybe I could be some what immune to it. I guess my main question is it common for people with ADD to not have any results at all like me with some medications, but then there might be other medications that work extremely well?
My doctor gave a good point a few weeks back and was saying if I am not feeling it kick in or wear off then it must be to low of a dose for me. I do have this correct when I say that a person with ADD or not, should see results when taking this medication right? I know there are college students that do not have ADD that are taking this medication so they can stay up at nights and also it keeps them focused. Sorry, just a little overwhelmed with taking this medication thinking it would cure my focusing problems and it has done nothing but take time and money and has given nothing back other then some side effects.
Thanks for the advice. Just overwhelmed that nothing has worked so far. Is it possible for me to have have no affect with Amphetamine's or Dextroamphetamine medications? Is there any ADD medication that do not have on or both of those ingredients in them?
Thanks again,.
Hi Zach01,
The individual meds are effective for about 70 to 85% of patients. Some people have a high tolerance to the meds and are on high doses for symptom relief. This is a very individual thing. Unfortunately you will need to keep trying until you find the right one. You may have to move into strattera or the second or third line of meds.
I would keep a diary of meds, doses, effects and time to help the doc sort out how to proceed.
On the falling asleep...I can sleep on coffee and my youngest sleeps better on stimulants because it calms her busy mind and allows her to sleep. This is not uncommon for people with ADHD. Also, some people get sleepy on stimulants when at the wrong dose or until they get used to the med.
Here is a chart with different types of meds. It is from 2004 so does not have the newer meds like vyvanase, daytrana and the soon to come extended release guanfacine.
http://www.addwarehouse.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/article3. htm
And here is some information you might find useful.
http://www.addresources.org/article_adhd_medication_chadd.ph p
vickie39295.8939236111Good idea, Vickie, to post charts with the different meds. This one is more current than the one you posted, http://help4adhd.org/documents/New%20Med%20ChartSA.pdf. It still doesn't include newer ones like Vyvynase, but maybe it's more updated. I'm not sure, though. They claim the chart is from 2007, but I don't see Daytrana on it (that's the patch. I believe it's methylphenidate).
Mom2ADHDboy39296.2399421296