New on Meds | ADHD Information

Thanks for your response. My biggest problem with the masters has been that there are no deadlines, and deadlines I set for myself are totally useless. I have found that when I go to a friends who is also working on my masters I am more productive. Still I get distracted easily, the more stressed I get my mind goes blank, and I'm have trouble articulating my thoughts, especially as I get towards the end of the thesis. My advisor told me my last section was a "stream of conciousness." Even now when I am supposed to be working I have taken notes for another section than the one I am supposed to be working on, writen in my ritalin journal and checked e-mail. I tried 10mg today instead of 5 and I feel like I am on muscle relaxers (I also had some coffee though), very spaceyI was just recently diagnosed with ADHD and just started Ritalin, does anyone have any advice on coping strategies, or how long the medication takes to work. I've tried it for two days now and I can still take one, then take a nap like 30 minutes later. Also I'm on Zoloft for anxiety, has anyone noticed that with the ritalin helping with the ADHD they can cut or remove the Zoloft. I'm trying to get my masters done and it's totally driven me over the edge in terms of bringing out all these symptoms I have been able to manageThe anxiety may be a factor of your ADHD

So when on ritalin, you may or may not need it, hard to say I'm no doctor....

Ritalin takes effect within an hour, if you're feeling nothing talk to your doctor and try upping the dose?

Then again you don't always 'feel' it, often you need to take a look back at the end of the day and look at what you accomplished in comparison to a 'regular' day. Don't expect to 'feel' it necessarily.

You also have to WANT to do things, the medication only goes as far as you want to go, it just helps you along, it's like gears on a bike, if you're not pedalling, you're still not going to go anywhere.....

As for managing, there are lots of techniques, what have you done to get this far? what in particular do you have issues with? describe what you're having problems with and maybe someone in the group has a good idea!

Keep up the hope!
Adrian
Boy, do I understand your situation! No deadlines, etc. I'm in a Residency
program (Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, already have my DVM--this is to
specialize). We have oral boards--YIKES!

I take 20mg Ritalin in the morning, 20mg around noon, and then 10mg
around 4pm if I have stuff that I HAVE to get done in the evenings.

Keep in touch and let me know if you have any earth-shattering ideas!