Intro/Adderall question | ADHD Information
Hey all,
I'm a 33 year old woman who realized she was ADD a couple of years ago
after decades of messy houses, unfinished projects, bad grades and a
general feeling of not being connected to the outside world (outside my
head, that is). I always attributed all this to general teen/20
something angst. Once I hit my late twenties and not much had changed,
I decided there was something more than just laziness and found one of
those online ADD diagnostic questionnaires. After taking this
test, I actually cried when I found that I matched most of the symptoms
and felt like there was a real reason and I wasn't just a loser.
I came to the conclusion that I'm ADD, not ADHD since I don't generally
feel hyper, though I do remember one night waiting on the platform for
a subway and realized I was pacing and swaying while everyone else was
still. Kind of weird. Anyway, this brings me to my question about
adderall.
I was prescribed this last year and just couldn't stand it. It
didn't make me feel focused, rather it made me feel like I was on speed
(not that I've ever done speed. Really, I haven't). I tried cutting the
pills and would take the tiniest amounts, just barely dipping my finger
in the powder and still, it made me jittery, anxious, nervous and
didn't alleviate anything for me. My theory is that perhaps without
having the hyperactive component, perhaps the adderall is innapropriate
for me. Does this make any sense? Has anyone else experienced
this? Is there a drug more appropriate for folks without the "H"
factor? I tend to have a low but constant level of anxiety anyway
and due to a bad past experience with drugs (of the illict kind) I fear
any adverse effects. I just don't like the feeling of my heart
racing.
I have an appointment tomorrow with the intention of getting a
prescription for Stratterra since it's a non-stimulant but I see people
saying it causes heart palpatations. Oh, where to turn?
Anyway, thanks all, I look foward to checking in often. I really
need to talk to folks who understand and believe in this whole ADD trip
and any advice regarding the addreall question would be greatly
appreciated.
Some people (both hyperactive and not hyper type) are not helped by stimulants. Sometimes you can get the idea if a stimulant will help you by watching your normal reaction to caffiene. Do you get more and more antsy hyper after lots of caffiene or feel calmed and focused. It's not fool proof but a lot of times knowing how your body reacts to other medication can help determine what will work.
Straterra while not a stimulant medication does speed up the heart like stimulants in some people but it has also worked wonders in others especially those sensitive to traditional ADHD meds.
Oh one question about the adderall how long did you take it before you quit and how quickly did you change the dose. I ask this because even though stimulants work instantly most people have a two week adjustment period where there body is out of whack before their system gets used to the drug. Some have stomach pains, irratibility, rapid heartbeat (I had the Sh*ts for almost 2 weeks) but after their body accepts the meds all the side effects stop and it is like a wonder drug. It worked this way for me, it wasn't fun for 2 weeks but I've been on it for 4 years now and never had another problem. It has been a life saver.
I seem to keep talking lol I'm chatty today
I'm sensitive to stimulants. I get paranoid and social phobic with just a 5mg dose. I tried Strattera and had horrific side effects.
There are many medications, which increase neurepinephine in the prefrontal cortex of the brain the way stimulants and strattera work. I'm currently using Reboxetine, which has no side-effects for me after 8 days. It's the UK's version of Strattera.
Another drug you can try is the newly approved Duloxetine, which raises neurepinephrine and serotonin. equally in the PFC.
Also, you can take supplements of Tyrosine, which is a precursor to NE and Dopamine. But, I wouldnt use tyrosine if you are going to use strattera.
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