I Feel Like The Only One! | ADHD Information

I'm going to try posting this again with hope I might get a response. I did have one person PM me and I appreciated that. I'm I the only one who has had this problem? If I don't get any posts I will just assume I'm The only one

I'm 36 I've been taking Ritalin for about 10 years and Ritalin LA 60 mg for about 7 months I am on the highest dose possible. When I first started taking them I was able to focus and get things accomplished. but not now, I feel as if it doesn't work any more, I've taken Concerta and Metadate unfortunately they didn't work. I feel as if I'm running out of options. My doctor said if it's not working stop taking it, but didn't offer me any other options. So in a panic knowing my life would go to hell I told her I would give them another try (they might work a little because I feel better with them than without) I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem, I could use some advice

[QUOTE=seeker63]

drugs, drugs, drugs!

i tend to think that most dosages are too high to begin with, and that we expect to 'feel' the medication working. i don't want to step on any toes- it is really only you that knows what's what in your rxegimen and condition.

i also am convinced that there is a lack of info on how all these chemicals work when in your body all at once, so it is nearly impossible to sort out what the medication is doing, what the side effects of mixed chemicals are, and what we suffer as an effect of being one way for so long that our brains have grown to the problem, as working a muscle makes it stronger.

the brain establishes pathways for operating in reaction to conditions we experience. it is a survival mechanism built in so that we can be more adaptable. a lifetime of depresion, for instance, will lend to the brain building pathways based on that condition, and we will have to adapt our way out of it.

a friend of mine was being treated for a mystery illness that caused his muscles to have localized seizures. the doc rx'd both depakote ( a high dosage i might add) for the seizures, and valium for the pain and tension the seizures left him with. as it turns out, there was medical literature that found depakote was negated to good deal by the valium! he was taking more and more of two drugs that were largely cancelling the therapeautic effect of the other.

so- be wary of doctors, and better living through chemistry is an inexact science at best.

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Do you mind if I ask what your background is? You sound like you have some training in this. From what I've been learning recently, I'm convinced that there are no silver bullets. What meds do is to buy you some time to exercise the brain's natural plasticity, to form new neuron patterns that are more consonant with your goals. I'm reading a book now enititled "The Living Energy Universe" in which the authors (who've done research into cell memory, partiularly cadiac) discuss the ability of the mind/spirit to actively inform the body. Point being that at some point, it becomes like a dog chasing her tail to think permanently of any medication fixing things without further ado. It just doesn't seem to work that way.

Personally, I'm becoming more and more convinced the more I learn that it is very possible, once we get a break from the limitations of our negative body/body stuff, to transform a lot of the unwanted ways. Maybe the lack of efficacy of drugs that work for a while ceasing to work is nature's way of kicking us in the butt to get to work.

Then again, maybe that's a comparatively easy thing for someone who tends to hyperfocus like a pit bull with a favorite bone, to say!

drugs, drugs, drugs!

so- be wary of doctors, and better living through chemistry is an inexact science at best.

Hi, You are not the only one. I am 42 and just started taking Strattera. I performed poorly on all the testing that was done to me. I can retain thoughts and memories but when it comes to letting them out, my brain simply cannot file them correctly. The tests were fun and my Doc and I had some good laughs. I have fought ADD and ADHD since I was a very little kid and have been misdiagnosed all of my life till I finally decided that things had to change. My Doc had me on so many different anti-depressants thinking I was depressed due to insomnia and anxiety. I am now taking Strattera in the morning 25MG and this week will go up to 50mg. In the morning I also take 40mg of Lisinopril for my recent blood pressure problem that was diagnosed about 3 months ago. At bedtime I take 3MG of Xanax, 75MG of Trazodone and 120mg of Inderal for my Tachycardia. I use to be so active, I am the mother of 3 kids and I can't understand how badly I fell apart. I feel so bad because my husband is so great about everything. I am starting to feel the effects of the Strattera, very positive. I am now an early riser but my one weird problem is that my Blood Pressure has dropped BIG TIME. I thought the opposite might happen, plus I have no appetite, sex is not even possible LOL. So my question back to you is; Will this change after I have been on Strattera for a much longer time? I just want my life back.

I have been on Adderall XR @ 40mg a day for almost a year now. There are days that I do not think it is working anymore either. I try to take it around the same time everyday, but I do know that if I miss a day or run out of meds for a bit, I can tell the difference. One thing that I have noticed lately is also I think there are other factors that come into play as well. For example stress, and diet. I had read somewhere that to much caffine can have a negative effect with Adderall. One of my biggest problems is procrastination, once I can get started on something, I am fine and tend to finish things more ofthen than I have in the past. One thing I may suggest that I have started doing as well is keeping a personal diary daily on all sorts of things. Keep track of what you have eaten that day, the stress in your day, and other things that you may feel useful such as how much sleep you got the night before. I would say to try this for a month, and see if some days are better than others and maybe try to find a pattern in those days that worked or did not work for you.

Depending on your size ( height and weight ) would be the judge for the dosage, but I am a 6 foot 30 year old woman, and I am only currently taking 30 mgs, and Travis'reply is good advice. However, you notice he, a guy, is only taking 40 mg. Don't be afraid to try the antidepressant/antianxiety, it is a VERY common combo, and the reasoning behind it is explained well in Hallowell's Driven to Distraction book, which has a LOT of good info by the way. Until your appointment I would log EXACTLY and SPECIFICALLY, what you notice about yourself while on current dosage, eating, behavior, focus, organization,etc. If this is hard for you to do objectively or focused, have someone you trust or live with do the observing, just give him or her guidelines for what specific things you wish them to observe. Does this help? I am no doctor or expert, but I can say from experience, if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't, and 60 mgs sounds like an awful lot. I have also heard with Ritalin after time you need more of the same thing to get the same results, and under no circumstances would I take more than 60 mgs of ANYTHING. We had a first grade student doped up on 75 mgs of Ritalin (Can you imagine?) when I as an adult take far less, he had MAJOR issues and his family did physical/health damage to him by giving him so much. So good luck, let me know if this helps.

Hey everyone,

I am just trying to get through all of this crap. I have been on so many different anti-depressants in the last 10 years, all of which have made me so darn sick. I was very surprised that with Strattera that I did not have the worst headache in the world as I would with the anti- depressants. I was so scared to take something else because of my horrible side effects that I have always experienced. I am trying to be so sincere about my reply and to let you know that I have BEEN THERE! I have lost 10 years of my life and am trying my damn best to get it back, not only for myself but for all of my family and friends.

I am 5'2" and weigh 115# and maybe the meds don't seem to be much to some of you, but they are doing something for me. For the first time. I came to this site to get some questions answered, not to be told that I don't need DRUGS! I am just trying to be the best person for my family and to be proud of myself for the first time in my life. Hell, I just was totally tested last month and I was right!!!!! I am the youngest out of a large Irish Catholic family and yes, as a child, I was like a superball bouncing off of the walls. Now, I am the opposite and have seeked treatment. So lets see how it goes.

Peace to everyone and good luck.

What IS the highest recommended dose of ritalin?

Its effect on me changed dramatically over the first four months, I'm in the fifth or so now. Speedy at first, now very calming and focusing. I really really hope the next step isn't stopping working. I had that with Strattera. Liked it when it worked but it quit working after a few months.

I need an antidepressant very badly and hope to start one this month. I fear the interaction somewhat but from wehat I read here and elsewhere it is a very common combo.

Well, hopefully this will be another to a BUNCH of replies you get.... Anyhow, what I have read is that you can build up tolerances to this type of medication, just like any other, and that there are a couple of things I heard that you can do. 1) Like they said try lower dosages of the meds you are on 2) Try another similar type of medicine, I have personally tried both ritalin and Adderall, and I will say I have chosen Adderall, because it was less hard on my stomach, and it didn't seem to wear off the same way that Ritalin did. For both myself, and for my students taking Ritalin ( I'm a special ed teacher), I could observe the exact MINUTE Ritalin wore off, not so with the others. Little"Kenny" had Ritalin that stopped at exactly 11:26 a.m. to be exact, ha ha. 3) Sometimes a combination is more effective, for example I take Adderall and 20 mg of Celexa. My doctor said that with the Adderall, ritalin,etc. it is adding ceratonins and other stuff, and to balance out most effectively, an antianxiety, or antidepressant, takes away something and they balance more effectively. Either way, so you don't feel like a guinea pig, keep a journal or log with the meds you are on and ones you try, and note symptoms if any, sleep and eating patterns and benefits. Then you have something concrete to give your doctor. 4) Finally, sounds like your doc is being a bit of a pain in the ***! I had to switch doctors to one that was sensitive to my needs and convienient for me too. I used to have to go every month to an appointment only between the hours of 12 pm and 2 pm, which NEVER works with school, pay a crazy fee, just to get a stupid presciption. I finally found a doctor where I still pick up the prescription, but there are office hours, and I don't have to pay to do it. You have every right to get everything you seek out of a physician, only you can best decide what you need. Good luck, let me know if this helps.

I am sortof going through the same thing. I have a really high tolerance it seems to most meds. I took wellbutrin for about 6 months and then it quit working, upped the dose to no avail. I took concerta but didn't really like it, so have been taking ritalin and am now at the highest dose which I think is not really working either. Before being diagnosed with add I went through a gammit of anti-depressents all of which I exceeded the highest dose. It does get frustrating especially when you see your options becoming slim, or when one med worked really well for a period and then stops. I don't really have any good advice just wanted to say hang in there and YOU are definately not alone!

The reason I went off the Ritalin was, I was working at home for 9 years I started working outside the home this past October it wasn't convenient to take a pill every 4 hours, so my DR. recommended Ritalin LA I thought it was wonderful till it seemed to stop working. I also take Wellbutrin 150 mg twice a day.

Thank You all for your posts, I really appreciate it!

Tamaraw196938508.7746643519Good luck with this

I still say I've heard some people claim when they lowered their dosages, the meds actually worked better for them. Or lower and then raise again. So, it may at least be worth a try.

Good luck!I think I would consider a new doctor. "Stop taking it" is an insufficent answer, and hardly a solution. Have you tried Adderall or Strattera? Tamaraw, sowwy

no one has posted a reply until now. I'm surprised your doctor didn't give you an alternative to the meds that weren't working, although I see now that you have tried some alternatives, Concertera, etc. I agree with Todd...you may want to consider seeing another doctor, if possible.

One solution I've notice other people have tried when their meds no longer seemed to be working (and it does seem to be a common thing, so you're not alone), is to try cutting back on your dosage...slowly, especially if you're on the highest dosage. Wean yourself down to a considerably lower dosage of the LA. Then you'll see if it is actually working for you, but you just didn't realize it. Or perhaps your dosage of the Rit. LA is just too high. I hope what I've said is making sense.

If you were on the non LA Ritilan for 10 years and it was working, may I ask why did you changed to the Ritalin LA? Or was it the Ritilan you were on for 10 years that stopped working? In any case, I suggest trying what I said above. And keep your doctor posted with what you're going to try.

Actually, my doctor is trying the same thing with me right now. I thought I may have been doing okay with Concerta...and then it just stopped working (or so I believed..after only 3-4 months.) So we're going to wean me down to taking nothing, and see if I do feel a difference. Perhaps it's working and I just don't realize it. The only thing I felt at first with Concerta was my head was clearer and my mind a bit slower. I also may be on too high a dosage at this time. (72mg).

Good luck!

GypsyWomyn38508.6982638889

Tamaraw,

The daily record of how you are each day is a vital tool in the system of self monitoring, post diagnosis. Over an extended period of time you get a pattern emerging of how you have changed. This is also needed when having consults with the prescribing doctor who monitors your meds. It is also needed if you are being monitored by other professionals with whom U have consultations with.

This method of self-monitering is part of being self-responsible and can be very important in discussions on change, with Doctor who has accepted u as patient. It also gives u a legit weapon to use if u need to change Docs to have your needs meet. Any statement made by doctor about u to u should be recorded and u should have copy in writting. If U find doctor refuses, for any reason, to comply with this you have to seek out one who will and then end your relationship with the other doctor. This is a tough call and some doctors will resist issuing copy of their records on you to new doctor. Watch Out for this if U need to change doctors. You are doing well to get yourself to this point, so smile!

Tamaraw,

If the Ritalin, at every 4 hours, was working for you - I'd talk to your job about letting you take it every 4 hours - if that's why you switched to longer acting Ritalin because of your job.

Since AD/HD is covered under the Disability Act, your job should make reasonable allowances for your disability, and just to take your medicine every 4 hours, doesn't sound like an unreasonable allowance to me.

Hallowell's book Driven to Distraction discusses the Disability Act and reasonable allowances.

I'd think your job would help you out there so that you could be a better employee for them.

autumnstar

autumnstar,

I found it wasn't convenient to take my ritalin every 4 hours while I was at work. I was very pleased to find Ritilan LA at the time.

I want to thank everybody for responding.

The update is The Dr. has now given me 10 mg of ritilan (the short acting) to take at 3pm It seems to be helping for now

- Tamara