Are meds SUPPOSED to work for everyone? | ADHD Information
BCGirl - I'll give you the advice I give many. Don't rely on just one MD for your diagnosis of your illness.
Is your MD an expert in ADHD? Only a GOOD (read experienced) psychiatrist working with ADHD more often than once every few months can help with finding the right choices for you. Not to mention you are the best expert on what is working.
Most good docs (even ones not experienced in ADHD) will try to up or alter the type of med you are taking before just saying "maybe you don't have it". I am now shaking my head in disbelief!
Get a second opinion dear.
There is now MANY meds for ADHD for good reason. Not all work the same, not all have the same percent of the stuff that works.
Now they know ADHD can be lack of dopamine, norepinephrine(read adrenaline), or both! I'm on dexedrine, but feel it waning over time so I'm going to start using both dexedrine AND strattera together. If it wears off though I won't let any MD tell me that "maybe it's not working because you don't have ADHD".
Most likely you need to find somebody more sympathetic to this illness. Believe it or not your MD may not believe that you have anything!!! A poll found that almost half of MDs still don't think ADHD is a valid illness!
Get help as fast as you are capable financially and time-wise.
The quicker you get on the good side of the meds the happier you'll be! I found an awesome team of people and my mind is getting better every day! Believe me happiness and control can be yours :)
I wish you luck bcgirl. And yes, virginia, there IS an ADHD!!! lol
"Are med supposed to work for everyone?": this topic is exactly about my main concern these days. Thanks for starting this thread!
Got my adhd-diagnosis this spring and have been trying regular Ritalin for a month now, 3x10mg. No positive effect ... Only "chest-anxiety". Told my MD yesterday and we decided that I should stop taking Ritalin and try "Aurorix", an anti-depressant with the active ingr. moclobemide. Does anyone have any experience with this drug? I don't know the name of the non-European label.
You guys on this forum keep my frustration-level at a miminum, and spare my husbands ears and nerves!
I know that not all meds are going to work for the same person. But I've read in a few places that "a diagnosis of ADHD is confirmed with a response to medication".Does thta mean that if you do NOT respond to stimulants, then you don't have AD/HD??? Or just that it is ONE WAY to confirm diagnosis, but doesn't rule it out when meds don't work?
I saw my doctor again yesterday, and she said something that sort of threw me for a loop - after I told her the Concerta still wasn't working, she said, "maybe you don't need medication".
What's that supposed to mean? Does she think that because the meds haven't worked yet, that I don't actually have ADD??? I didn't really think to ask her about it, because I didn't really catch what she said at the time. I thought about while I was in the car on my way home.
Anyway, she upped my dose to 54mg Concerta/day, and said if that doesn't work, she'll try regular Ritalin, and if THAT doesn't work, she's sending me back to the shrink.
I think that it is all in the body chemistry, maybe you will respond better to a higher dose. You probably should talk to the shrink as they have a little more experience with wacky brain things :) I had better luck iwth a shirink than a regular MD, and I usually like Nurse Practitioners better, but one of those REALLY messed with my ADD.
Good Luck
In my thought, these adhd meds only help reduce the symptom only by a very small percentage, nothing can really cure any mental illness by 100%. I have been taking ADHD meds pill after pill since grade 4th and frankly, they've only worked temporarily for my body, but we keep trying as much as we can to help me function in life. You have to give the meds time to work, not on your time but on the "med's time". It's not going to take 2 nights, it could take like..2 weeks..or more. You have to have patience, but like the first poster said, body chemistry. Just try to hang in there okay. Let us know how everything goes.
Hey Gypsy, when you INEVITABLY decide to do so...welcome aboard the "medicate yourself with the 24-hour neurochemical pharmacy unleashed by lifestyle changes"...a difficult, time-consuming road, but one fraught with MUCH less non-/counter-productive side effects.
Floof, hi...I've been on this board for a week or so, and have always enjoyed your sensible posts...nice to find out your in the "All-Natural" division as well.
As far as "tools and skills to help (us) along", next to the Physical <Diet/Exercise/Rest cluster> habits, the second most important Meta-skill to attack is Organization...just found one apparently devised BY and FOR scatterbrains like us. I started a post over in the Adult Coaching section.
BTW, Gypsy, as a result of your inquiry, I've revised (=deleted) that flaky entry on my profile...so I don't have to explain it to anyone else.
[QUOTE=abright1] Hey Gypsy, when you INEVITABLY decide to do so...welcome aboard the "medicate yourself with the 24-hour neurochemical pharmacy unleashed by lifestyle changes"...a difficult, time-consuming road, but one fraught with MUCH less non-/counter-productive side effects.Thanks, abright! Unfortunately, most my life I self medicated with the wrong things, like alchohol, drugs, sex, etc...but I didn't know any better because I didn't realize that's what I was doing. I do now.
Difficult, yes, time consuming, yes. But w/o motivation, it's going to be even more difficult. I'm still looking for a counselor/therapist that takes Medicaid medical coupons. Wish me luck! Meanwhile, I'll have to depend on gumption and you guys.
As far as "tools and skills to help (us) along", next to the Physical <Diet/Exercise/Rest cluster> habits, the second most important Meta-skill to attack is Organization...just found one apparently devised BY and FOR scatterbrains like us. I started a post over in the Adult Coaching section. "Organization!" (said in high, squeeky voice!) Remember Maynard G. Crebbs in Dobby Gillis? "WORK!" That's what organization is to me.
I love organization, I just can't get motivated any more to be organized or to work on getting there. I agree, organization is an important step, and other steps will follow suit. But LACK of motivation has been the thorn in my side. I was extremely motivated when I was still drinking...and I stopped that 13 years ago. I never understood until now why after I stopped drinking I also stopped cleaning my home. 
I started a topic few months back on Motivation. Obviously, the meds have not assisted me in this area. So I'm heading over to read what's over in Adult Coaching. Thanks!
BTW, Gypsy, as a result of your inquiry, I've revised (=deleted) that flaky entry on my profile...so I don't have to explain it to anyone else. Then I'm glad I still have what you did explain to me.
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GypsyWomyn38545.6950115741I'm enraged at what I found when I was googling for Ritalin vs Adderall. It was a site that spoke of the best 'highs' (apparently for non-AD/HDers) you can achieve with adhd stimulants. The site also had info on how to mak your own acid, meth, etc. It definitely WAS NOT a site for ADHDers!!! I fear, tho, there isn't much we can do about the availability of ANYTHING in cyberspace.
Also, Floof, I'm more and more inclined to believe I'll be going your route for dealing with ADHD...no meds, just finding and using good tools and skills to help me along. Including good diet and exercise, especially exercise! Although my antidepressant and mood stabilizer has been quite helpful, and I will most likely continue with them. I just don't believe there is an adhd med for me (that's available to me, in any case)...and perhaps that's for the best, nu?
BTW, you said 'everybody gets more done on stims'...unfortunately, I can't say that is true for me, otherwise, I would consider continuing with either Ritalin or Concerta (although they are milder stims).GypsyWomyn38545.546724537
[QUOTE=bcgirl1978]But I've read in a few places that "a diagnosis of ADHD is confirmed with a response to medication".
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I have heard this many times, along with "People without ADD can become addicted to the meds".
I think it is total BS. First of all, I have known people with ADD to become addicted to Ritalin. Secondly, stimulants stimulate everyone. Everybody gets more done with stimulants. The question is "Is it worth the risk?" For ADDr's the answer is possibly yes, for everyone else, probably no.
Hey BC, that Hallowell guy said in two of his books that he is adhd and he doesnt respond to medication AT ALL!! He's supposed to be one of the world experts, too.