I have never been able to sleep well, even as a child. I am now 48.....or 47...somewhere around there.
About a year ago I met woman my age who had always had the same problem. She said she fixed it with a drug called called amitriptyline. She described it as an old school antidepressant that never worked that well, but cause drowsyness in folks. She also said it is non addictive and could be taken every night. I asked my doc about all this and she concured. I got some and have been taking half a tab (12.5 mg) evry night for a long time. It works very well for me. This might be useful info for someone.
Anyway, the other part of this story is once I got a clue about my ADD...actually put a name to my craziness through helping my son(24) to figure out his life, and his add. It all came together in about a week, about two months ago. OK, so the son has started on ritalin SR and had tremendous good changes and is doing better than he has his entire life. The two of us figured on me trying some of this stuff to see what happens. I too had a major increase in focus, attention and energy. All a very good thing....but I could not sleep. It felt like I was back to my old self and could not shut the bean down. It took it for three days and bailed. I need to get some sleep.
From what I have read here, sleeplessness is a common side effect. What can be done about it? I had this idea that it might be better to take the regular fast acting/ fast ending ritalin and only take it morning and noon. Would it then be worn off enough to be able to sleep? Oh, and taking my usual Amitriptyline did not work.
Any advice would be appreciated. Oh...and don't recomend , "ask your doc." as I am doing this on my own and will be going to her for a perscription for whatever meds I decide might work for me. I feel that the information from the people actually taking these chemicals will be a far better start than 'advice' from a minion of the pharmadrug trade.
Thanks TB
deang008
As usual, I have not made myself clear. My intention is to eventually go (back) to the doc armed with a plan of action.
I have already had discussions with her and she really knows less about ADD than I do. Her advice to me was find a way to live with it. "If you have made it this far...it couldn't be too bad." I live in a very small town and the usual help that city folks expect does not exist here.
Who said anything about an illegal prescription? Around here, as far as I know, you need a prescription to get drugs...other than the recreational ones of course.
Toy Brain38364.9110300926amitriptyline is what they give you to blow you off, it's gawd-awful stuff. It gave me a really painful, non-pleasurable election and I couldn't sleep at all. The somnia/somnolence? (when you are drowsy the next day) was so bad no sleep was better.
If you are going to go that route, Ambian all the way.
I have no problem sleeping, and I do take Ritalin and drink a pot of coffee every day, but my daughter (also ADHD and on Ritalin) has trouble sleeping, and my wife does too (although she's not ADHD.)
The doctor said the best thing to take for sleep problems like that when you don't want to get into long term use of sleeping pills is Gravol. (I'm not sure if that's it's name everywhere, but it's an anti-motion sickness medication - pill or patch.) It causes extreme drowsiness as a side-effect and it's not addictive.
I agree with you that sometimes doctors can seem to be more of a hinderance than a help in dealing with ADD/ADHD, but rather than trying stuff on your own, have you ever considered shopping for a doctor? There are good ones who understand ADD/ADHD.
Self medication with a class 2 pharmacuetical is a felony and counselors in the USA would label it substance abuse. It appeared from your post that you were aquiring Ritalin on the sly...I am not sure about Canada or Canadian laws. If I misunderstood i am sorry It wouldnt be the first time I jumped to an improper conclusion.
You have that great healthcare system why not find a DR that DOES have knowledge about ADHD rather than breaking the law. My Dr. said it will take a bit to get the kinks ironed out of my med dosage and schedule but, I am going to be letting him know what is going on and taking his feedback not trying to self correct with the knowledge I learned over a few internet sessions VS the Knowledge of a man with 20 yrs experience HELPING people with ADHD and isnt a minion of the pharmatrade industrry....If he was he would of been giving me free samples of Strattera rather than suggesting I take the cheapest medication available.
I take the short acting form I slept like a baby last night but awoke early which is pretty much what I'd do w/o Ritalin. My doseage isnt right yet in the AM it's great then I crash then I take 10 mg more and have a few more good hours...I would assume he will suggest a midday dose but he's the DR. I wioll try what he says then go from there...WTF do I really know about treating ADHD. I like you have a lifetime experience of NOT treating it.
Maybe their is a Pychyastrist w/in driving distance thatcould help you? If you are like me taking a drive till you had things leveled off would be well worth the effort. I wish you luck on your journey. I see smooth seas for me at the edge of the storm my life has been to date.
Sounds rediculous if you ask me. By going to the doc, you'd not only get information, but also a legal prescription, and you'd be able to try diff. types of meds which may effect your sleep less and work better. Seems to me that you're going to do whatever you choose despite information from others, so may as well just do what you're gonna do.
Best of luck
Give us all a break Bobel.
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Sorry, your post jusr reminded me of nerds in High-School and I replied back in like manner.
Go to your Sons Dr he/she seemed to know enough to prescribe Ritalin.
As to a geek in highschool.... I was lost, getting high trying to feel ok and get some stimulation, bored, unattentive and acting out ......I only wish I had been a geek you notice where they are today?
I have some experience with the slippery slope of Self medication. I spent 7 yrs caught out till I was 23. It was all about trying to get right in my skin and my best thinking got me into the worst situations. I didnt seek help for a real long time even though i was fairly sure I had ADHD because. My past experience made me totally unwilling to try Ritalin. I finally have gotten to a place the chaos was bothering me and interfering with my life as much as the self destruction did 20 yrs ago. As to illicit drugs i think anyone taking illicit drugs and trying to get there adhd under control is probably akin to a diabetic eatting donuts all day wondering why they cant get their insulin levels right. My thinking was far, far worse back then. ... but opinons are like well, you know. .. I have mine and well, I don't live in anyone elses skin.
I think it's a good idea to consult medical problems with DRs and legal problems with Lawyers. I am neither so seek the counsel of both when I have problems in those areas. Are you assuming the mental health group isnt in the loop because the GPs are so clueless?
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I wish you luck I am hope their is a Dr within drive that has a clue and I hope you look for him . I understand a lot of adults discover they have ADHD from their kids meds. I had assumed you were buying scrips and meant no offense.
BOBEL38365.4741782407shinsetu_hito, thanks for that. Sorry it did not work for you. I take half of one 25mg pill. It is working better than even a real sleeping pill for me. If I forget to take it...forget about sleep. As an antidepressant, my understanding is that it basically sucked...and folks taking it as such were taking huge amounts. One one pill I could be a little drowsy the next day, so I cut it in half and it has worked perfect for over a year so far. It is the first time in my life I have been sleeping regularly. Odd thing though....I don't seem to be any more rested during the day.....but at least I got some down time for the knoggin.
Witekite, interesting stuff. Well, because I am now a class 2 felon or whatever...I have had the benifit of trying three days worth of my son's ritalin and it looks like sleep will be my problem. Perhaps that would decrease over time..? Gravol...great idea. Thanks for that. I will look into it.
Doc shopping? There are four of them in our clinic here. All are great people and great folks, but I go to what appears to be the best 'doctor'. LOL. There is the option of going through the Mental Health group here...but as it turns out, small frozen communities don't attract the cream of the profession. I have been to meet with these people, and again, I bring my own research with me as they are not quite in the loop. I am not complaining, I like living here and these are all great people. I just like to provide my own grass roots info when possible.
Bobel...sounds like the man from Japan knows you well....hehehehe. Thanks for the legal advice. Breaking the law has been a major hobby of mine most of my life. You did answer my question on the fast acting ritilin vs. the SR variety. So 10mg. huh? Good deal. That might be the way I suggest we start with all this. I would like to try a drug treatment, if not just for my wifes sake. The girl desearves a break. I found myself very focused, and productive when using the ritalin...the only bad thing I could detect was a level of irritability in the evening. No biggie.
I will go to my doc and get this thing started....legal...eh.
Thanks folks.