I have just received confirmation that not only do I have adult ADHD but so does my son. I have not started any regiment as of yet but I am eager. I have been offered both Major medications .. any input would be great
thx
dad
Adderal is a stronger medication containing amphetimine Salts. Amphetimines are longer lasting. Ritilain is still a powerful stimulant but is not an amphetimine. It flushes in 4hrs for most folks( me its 4). I have had tremendous relsults wioth 10mg of ritalin 3 times a day. There are other people for whom Ritlain wasn't the answer and Adderal was. Imo it's also best to start with the "weaker" medication. It's thearpuetics effects aren't weaker if it works and it can be a pain taking it 3 times a day but, the fast flush is an advantage at night when it's time to lay your head down. I know some folks the Adderal can linger and cause insomnia. Canada just banned Adderal temporarily? I dont know if its hype or real but they did it.
I hear real mixxed reviews on the time release formulas of ritalin. For some they are great others ahhh not so great. Seems from casual observation the time releases works close to as long as it should for some and others metabolize it much quicker. I never took it but am sure others can share good and bad there.
I read about a new form of ritalin Focalin which eliminates the inert part of ritalin allowing lower doses with the same effectiveness...no idea if it's pharma hype or truth but, I am going to ask my DR. I saw someone mention it hear and did some research. Be careful of websites there are a lot of real bad ones filled with the assumptions of people with strong feelings but stated as facts
Diet is HUGE with ADHD... I really, really, really, strongly suggust you do some research. My Dr. gave me a basic diet template that really seemed to start helping on top of the medicine after about a month. When I blow it for a day I can feel the difference the next day.
I learned a lot on this site just fish around a while there is a ton of information backed by science http://www.chadd.org/
The medication alone changed a lot of things IMMEDIETTELY~ The leg shaking, interrupting, distractedness, constant boredom, inattentiveness, impulsiveity etc cut wayyyy back but, in other areas what it did was allow me to change behavior/living patterns i had been unable to dent my whole life. It's nice not living in a househould with piles everywhere, it's nice to ahve my bills in one place, it's nice to be able to do the dishes when they get dirty not when i need clean dishes. I have the disipline to do those things with varying degrees of succuss. I started addressing the "messes" "pile" debris or whatever a little at a time and you know my house is not looking like a Martha Stewart showroom but it is like night and day from what it was pre treatment. The medication doesnt do that it just gives the ability to do it if the desire is there. Before I had desire to live differeently and no real ability to sustain it...now with medicine I have a level of sustaining/disipline I never had in my life
I didnt think I had any side effects from ritalin other than appetite suppression and thirst. I drink A LOT of water now but, I got sick ten days ago and it's really lingering I am finally getting better but am wondering if maybe taking a stim has made it harder for my body to kick the bug out or more prone to fever. I had a high one intially, then it went away but have spiked a fever again 2 nights ago and read all the stim based mediciines can cause fever sooo am really hoping I keep feeling better and am getting over the flu not developing a reaction to medicine I'd kind of hate to have to stop taking...be like having HDTV then going back to a BW with a crappy antennna and a snowy picture.
GL and welcome~
for the record some people swear by adderal I reread the post and wasnt sure if I sounded like I was knocking it and didnt intend too.