PLEASE READ: medication help | ADHD Information

I'm sorry if my comment offended you.  I'm glad you realize that I didn't mean to do so.  Perhaps it's different to take medications at different ages.  Maybe younger people don't have as much self-awareness as older people tend to have, so maybe you preceive changes that most younger people aren't yet capable of experiencing? 

My comment was based on talking w/ my child about the way his medication makes him feel and my observations of him.  One medication made my child too withdrawn and flat.  I wanted to make sure you weren't describing that b/c that would be an unacceptable side effect IMO.  On his current medication, he is happy, interested in things, enthusiastic, etc. and I don't see his personality has changed.  Some behaviors are changed, but not his personality. 

If you don't like the way the stimulant changes you, of course that's a bad thing!  I hope you find a way to get the ADHD control you want w/o changing things you'd rather maintain.

I'm sorry, I wasn't offened I know you are just trying to help. I was just in a bad mood and tend to get these sort of comments from other people. I guess it doesn't completely change my personality but there is a distinct difference. For instance, usually I am happy and up beat and I tend to talk a lot more. When I am on it I am not so lively. I talk quiter not as enthuisastically. I am also more withdrawln socially. I am already really shy so that isn't good. For example, when I am off medicine and saw someone I knew I might go out of my way to talk to them but on medicine I would keep going and pretend I didn't see them(as long as it was obvious, I'm not rude about it). At lunch off medicine I would be actively involved in the convo but on it I would not talk as much. I have noticed that vyvanse is better for this. Although, my friends said there is a HUGE difference and they can always tell when I have or haven't taken medication. I would like to not take it but in college it isn't very realistic. That is why I am looking into non- stimulants to try out over the summer. I think we're all just trying to help and be helped.  I haven't met a person here that has been rude or mean.  Sure, we're all entitled to our own opinions but I think part of the beauty of being ADHD is that we're more accepting of others differences than ordinary people.  It's amazing how we are not offended by "our own kind" but rather by others who are ignorant and close-minded.  It's this type of thinking that makes me glad I'm ADHD positive!

I understand what music is saying about the personality change.  Often we just need further clarification. :)  I got a huge lesson in that yesterday on another post and it was totally good!

Music, if you find something non-stimulant that works for you, great.  Please share those experiences with us!
"shouldn't change your personality", that's a good one. I'm not trying to be rude or confromtational, but have you ever actually taken a stimulant. It just seems like everyone who thinks they are no big deal and thinks they are great has never actually taken them. I just get sick of all these parents and adults acting like they are experts on these medicines and taking about how they should make you feel when they have never had the experience of taking them. When you say things like, they make you feel different they always go "they shouldn't do that etc." and don't believe you or act like they no better when you're the one who had actually taken it. I have talked to many people, actually most people I know on medication say it changes their personality. I have yet to come across one that does not. I even can notice it with friends I know on medicine. They seem increibally different on it, mostly socially. Being hyper, ecentric, inattentive, disorganized, day dreaming etc. is all part of a person's personality and when you take medication to change that it is going to change your personality. It is just a price you have to pay to try to function in a world that functions completely differently from you. musicfanatic39965.7416666667I've posted here before about medication but here's the gist. I've been on
medication since I was 11(about 7 years). I've tried pretty much every
common ADHD medication, most with success but due to side effects,
effectiveness and length of time it lasts I have had to switch a lot. My pedi
was really knowledgeable about ADHD medication, had very current
information, was easy to make appointments with and very easy to work
with. Unfortuantely, I can't seem to find a new doctor or psychiatrist who
is very helpful, so I am looking for any advice I can get. I meet with a
psychiatrist who prescribed Vyvanse. I like this and have heard good
things from it. He told me to start at 20mgs and then move up if needed
and not to take more than 60mgs. Here's what I need information on; I
want to know if you can take straterra with a stimulant. He said no, but I
have heard differently from others. Also, I know at one point I took
wellbutrion with a stimulant. Has anyone tried that? Does wellbutrion
help ADHD? I have always hated taking stimulants and after taking them
7 years I am hoping to get off of them at least in a few years. That's why
I'd like any information on non stimultants such as wellbutrion or
straterra. When I tried these I was younger and not very observant. They
might be a nice in between between a stimulant and no medication at all.
I will be meeting again with this psychiatrist in a few weeks and would
like to know as much as I can about these before I meet with him again. I
might want to try one of these over the summer. Any advice, information
or personal experience you have with any of these or another medication
you think might help would be greatly appreciated.
I don't think it'd be a good idea to take Strattera along with Vyvanse since they're both designed for treating ADHD.  Since Wellbutrin is an anti-depressant, I would think it'd be okay to take with Vyvanse or Strattera.  (since depression often is present with ADHD) I think some people may take Wellbutrin only to help with ADHD but I don't think it's as effective as stimulants. 

It is always good to get a second opinion and perhaps checking into a child psychologist (one who specializes in ADHD would be best) might be able to give you some additional insight.  The reason why I suggest a child psychologist is because ADHD starts in childhood and they're the ones who see it more.

Good luck.
I know what you mean about child psychologists. They do seem to know more about it, but I just turned 19 so wouldn't I be to old to go to one or can someone over 18 go to one? I am going to try out vyvanse tomorrow and see how it goes. I have heard a lot of people had success on it. I am going to meet with my psychiatrist in less than 2 weeks to see how it went. If it doesn't work very well I may ask to try welbutrion or preferably straterra. I just know hardly anything about these medications, especially straterra. Nope.  You aren't too old.  Because ADHD is considered a childhood condition (which is absolutely ludacris), child psychologists are the best informed.Actually my therapist is a Licensed Child Psychologist.  Strattera is a non-stimulant medication.  I think some people actually experience some bad side effects. It also takes time for it to work into your system.  You may want to google it.  Good luck with the Vyvanse. Strattera and Wellbutrin are both from the antidepressant family, so in theory they will act on different parts of the brain than a stimulant like Vyvanse (and thus either one, though not both, should be OK to take with a stim).  Again, this is in theory.... and I'm not a doctor.

Then again, I had horrible luck with Strattera on another child, so I'm kind of gun-shy about it in general....

Audrey
Hmmm, when you say less social, do you mean that you're feeling kinda flat?  If so, the stim isn't a good match for you.  They shouldn't change your personality.I just don't like the feeling in general. They make you feel like a different
person. I'm less social and my friends can always tell. I don't eat much on
them. They just make you feel weird. I have taken them for 7 years and I
don't really like the idea of taking stimulants my whole life. I am just so
much happier off them.

My child's dr. says it's fine to take a stimulant and Strattera.  My child has never tried Strattera, but it was discussed as an option at one point.  I know Wellbutrin sometimes is used to treat ADHD, but I don't know anything about it.

You said that you don't like being on stimulants and would like to discontinue using one.  What is it about stimulants that doesn't work for you? 

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