Just diagnosed & my meds arent working | ADHD Information

Sorry what I meant was you would be able to experiment (Dr willing) to take 2 10mg Reg rel together.  You wouldn't have to start over with a new Rx.

Just because 10 is not working doesn't necessarily mean that 20 won't.  With my boys suddenly 10 had no effect on them whatsoever, we increased the dosage and everything was right with the world. LOL!  Even if what you have is the "long-lasting" form 10mg is a very small amount for an adult.  If I remember my sons were taking twice that amount at age 10.

That's not to say that stims are the answer for everyone so ask Dr.  You might explain to him your concerns, but I wouldn't wait a whole week.  Usually with stims you can tell something works or doesn't pretty quickly.  Tell him you hope to get this on track before the new semester begins.  They're pretty understanding.

this is what our psych tried to do. If we've gone from 10 to 20 we'd take 2 10's before we filled a whole new prescription. It's worth calling and asking about taking 2 10's. I've never taken RLA, but my daughter did for a year. She took 20mg and could've probably gone to 30 if not for the side effects.

Does Ritalin LA come in 10mg, the pharma sight I saw only referred to 20, 30 or 40.  If your just on "regular release" 10 mg it's probably not enough.  discuss it with your Dr if you do have reg rel he probably can increase it without seeing you or issuing you a new Rx.  Personally when I once took Ritalin I loved the focus and motivation it gave me but it caused some OCD tendencies to flare so I couldn't continue to take it.  Call your Dr he should be able to advise you without seeing you.

Good Luck!

Thanks for your comment!!

I am guessing it does since i have Ritalin LA 10mg?? lol

I am taking it and it feels like i have not taken anything so I am definently going to call him in a week...but thinking about it do you think if 10mg didnt do anything im guessing 20mg wont either?

How will i not need a new rx if i start taking 2 pills i am going to run out alot faster?

I really think that ritalins not for me..but i am too scared to ask him for adderall or dexedrin because i am 20 years old and even thought i have never had a drug problem or any problems ever lol i dont want him to think i just want drugs...you know?

Hello everyone!! I am about to turn 20 years old and finally got diagnosed with adhd and depression. For my whole life i knew i was depressed but I thought all my adhd symptoms like not being able to concentrate..always moving around..getting mad easily..and frusterated.anxiety..procrastination..mood swings..and not even being able to drive or get my license due to not being able to concentrate and runing lights in huge intersections and it being a big safety issue for nt only myself but other drivers. So having all these problems I always thought well mayube im just weird...and need to work harder..well working hard and harder and hard at everything I do wasnt working I finally decided to do some research onlnie..and decided to do a search on the weirdest one the driving bc no matter how hard I try I cannot drive without spacing out and getting into crashes. So finally I was directed towards ADHD and realised wow my life makes sense now!!! Everything makes sense.

So I went to my doctor who first diagnosed me depression and after I was taking Effexor Xr but it was helping my sleep and mood but still not all my adhd symptoms I was diagnosed with ADHD and comorbid depression. So he started me on Ritalin La 10mg and told me to come back in a month to see how that helps. Well I have been taking it and it seriously feels like Ive taken nothing!! Its not helping at all. I have been doing alot of research on ADHD medications and saw that ritalin is a very mild stimulant and doesnt seem to help alot of people but mostly children more. I would much rather like to be on Adderall or Dexedrin because I heard alot more success with those medications.

My plan is to call my doctor next week. I think he will probably just raise my dosage from 10mg to 20mg. I dont want to be pushy because i really do not want him to think I just want a stronger stimulant for the hell of it. (i am a college student adn know that alot of ppl abuse these meds..but i am NOT one of them) i really just want all my adhd symptoms to be relieved and get my dosage right before i go back to college Jan 13th. My next doctor appointment is Jan 7th.

ANyways what im asking is:

Have any of you been on Ritalin La what do you think of it? Whats your dosage? What do you thik i should do when i talk to him in a week, should i just og with rasiing my dose or trying to get himt o switch me to a diff medication? What medications have worked for you? Is anyone on Dexedrin or Dexstat how is it for you?

Thanks for anyone who reads all this and helps! It is GREATLY appreciated =)

DIANE V-

What side effects did she experience? jw thanks!!

 

Thanks to everyone for their commentts as well =)

weight loss, tics, increased anxiety and restlessness.

Is that what I have to look forward to if my Dr. gives me Ritlain for starting med?

Tics, weight loss, appetite suppression,  and anxiety ( which i already have, most day's!).  I hope I have a good reponse to whatever med, because I am not very patient at time's and can't handle the waiting period.  So, a form of ritalin is usually the first ones trieds at the begginning? Not Dexedrine?   I am thinking Dexedrine may be a good choice for me, not 100% though.

 Didn't mean to change the thread or the subject, sorry!

I only mentioned the insomnia to emphisise taking it slowly.  Your body does take time to adjust to any of these medications and letting things settle in before upping the dose does tend to lessen the negative effects.  At this point I usually sleep better than I did before I started taking stimulants however I do have bouts of insomnia when life gets stressful. 

It's pretty normal to want to see fast results (especially for us ) but taking it too fast could cause the side effects to mask the benifits.

What I have seen of the posts on this message board is that pretty much everyone is offering sound advice based on experience. That alone is a very valuble asset when it comes to dealing with the obsticals of ADHD and it's treatments.

It's bad enough that this condition is so complex to diagnos then on top of it we have to deal with the fact that treatment for no too people is alike.  Learning as much as you can is key but keep an open mind and look at all the options until you feel you've found what works for you.  Which, Sweetchild, includes the right doctor and working with a counsolor or therapist to help you establish routines and stratigies that work for your mind and your life style.  Medication is only one part of the puzzel.  If your doctor is not knowlegable in ADHD then find someone that is.

Thank you all for the Advice! I appreicate it!   I will take it slow. i know that meds are only a part of the puzzle, but right now, i am really hoping it will improve me life 100%.

I am looking to find a  ADD Coach, as I need time management help and other things.  I have been reading alot!! I am doing Reasearch online and off.

 Phyc suggested going to Library for info there.  I do feel alone as there is no one I know that has ADHD. Besides here, that is! I wish there was someone I knew close by, I could share with.   There is a co worker who I never met that has ADD but I will need her to call me as we have privacy issues  at work. I hope to learn alot from you all!  I know I will.  I was wondering if a perso can drink coffe, take vitamins, and energy drinks along with Stimulants.These are Healthy Energy drinks not the one's from the store!

 

It's amost impossible to knwo what medication will work and which won't.

All of the stimulents have similar side effects, it's the person taking them that makes the difference.

Starting out with a small dose and increasing gratually is the only way to know what will work for you.  Too much can be as bad as not enough.

It took six months or more for me to end up on the medication that I am taking now.  I've tried ritalin, ritalin la, adderall, straterra and dexidrine.  I have never heard that rtalin is a mild stimulant.  Straterra, is not a stimulant at all and it had as much or more of a stimulant effect for me as some of the others.

If you feel confident with your doctor then follow his treatment plan.  He or she should be open to answering your questions but unless you are having adverse effects take your time finding the right medication and dose.  Keep in mind that people with ADD react slightly differently to stimulants than nonadd people do.  Many times the stimulents actually have a calming effect.  I take a pretty hefty dose of dexedrine and I don't feel stimulated at all when I take it, just able to focus and stay on track better. 

Be patient, and allow the process to work.  Rushing into changing medications might not be the best thing for you in the long run.

You probably notice some changes pretty quickly but others take time because you also have to work at unteaching yourself some of the behaviors that you've already established.  In a year or two you'll look back and realize how many things have improved that you may not have seen right off the bat.

Also, stimulents are not all that they are cracked up to be when you've had several nights in a row of next to no sleep!  The faster you increase the dose the more chance of having sleep problems.

Thanks for your reply and advice!

I will take it ine day at a time and closely monitor myself while on the meds.

I am not looking forward to no sleep though! Or less sleep.

I have a job working with seniors an need all the energy i have to do my job, so I will have to be prepared for that!

Maybe Melotinin would help the sleep issue or Valerian root extract or something simular, besides another  med. like a sleeping pill.

The fewer meds the better!

 

If you have not even yet started meds, I wouldnt be panicking and figuring out to treat insomnia you dont yet have. Not everyone has difficulty sleeping.

I have never heard of any one stimulant being called "mild" as opposed to others either. iamsamz is right, it's all depends on the person. I actually know a few adults with ADHD and all of them were prescribed methylphedinate meds to start. It really depends on the doctor and what they prefer. Have some failth in your doctor and give things a try before worrying they wont work.

Good Luck.

I stated that about insomnia because i do have it alittle right now, unable to go to sleep because my mind races and I have trouble getting up in most morning's.

I won't worry! I know whatever I get I will give it a trial run and expect the best from it! it has to be better then the stage i am at now, right??

Scatterbrained, impulsive, temper outburst's at times, etc.

My Dr. is a good Dr. just not " ADHD " knowledgable.

 Has anyone been on stimulant meds, the very first one tried, and doing really great?

Vickie,

So your youngest child is able to sleep better, that is great!  It is so good when the meds have such a positive effect! I am really glad I found this froum and you all here.It will be really helpful as I have no one to share opinions or support with except Dr. &  pyc.

Which I feel alittle intimidated with my regular Physician as he is so adamant on stimluants ( he's not very fond of them at all!).  That is why I may switch to another Dr. that my hubby goes to.  So, we have same one.

How long have you been on Dexedrine and go do you feel? I gues you must be getting excellent result's. That would be my second choice, if possible.

 

sweetchild my daughter is 13, so still a child, but really over the age most meds are geared for. We went off stimulants (again) in Novemebr and started Strattera. I was so worried that this med would NEVER hlep ehr symptoms and was worried about the lag time for effectiveness. Well I will tell you, we saw results by the forst week and that was at her lowest dose as we started to ramp. It has gotten better and better since. It's still a tad inconsistent if there's a bog change in routine it's like she's on no meds, BUT that seems to be getting better and better and better. We didnt have that immediate same day change like stims, but we dont get that immedaite same day drop off either. It's been our absolute BEST med so far. I say this becasue she is becoming older and more "adult". It is an option worht keeping in the back of your mind.

sweetchild,

Some people with ADHD actually sleep better while medicated. Some even take an evening dose so that meds are in the system at bedtime (rather than either worn off or just wearing off which can both be issues). This is very individual so you will just have to try meds and then adjust them with the doc for your most effective treatment.

My youngest had sleep issues from birth and always said her mind was too busy inventing things to sleep. Once we started meds, she will now go to sleep by 10 rather than being up until midnight or later.

Vickie,

Wow! That is great Strattera works so well for her! I am glad it is.  Hope it keeps doing the job for her.

Diane, I will give it a try and see...

You never know what may work, as I have never been on any kinds of medication's before! Never was diagnosed as a kid. The pyc said try stims forst then maybe a combo of Wellbrutin and prozac but to be homest, i willnot ever go on Prozac! Just a personal choice. I was on paxil for three weeks inDec for anxiety issues and I took myself off of it because I experienced dizzinesss and was so tired, and headaches.