Relief Deprivation | ADHD Information

As I post this new topic, I'm in a state of frustration & confusion.  For instance, it took me 45 minutes to write the first sentence in this post, which is normal for me when I delay taking my meds.  Then why you may ask, do I delay taking my meds if it puts me in such a bad space?  Because if I take my meds before 1:00pm, they are of no effect on me durring the most critical part of my day when I need them most.

I take Adderall XR- 60mg daily.  Originally, my phsyciatrist had me take 30mg in the am, and the other 30mg in the pm.  I did this for 2 years, and while I noticed improovment from day 1, it was one day 6 months ago that I got up late and took the morning dose at noon, and the afternoon dose at 3:00pm.  For the period of time that the 2 doses overlapped, I had 'real' focus and order in my thinking.  There was no hyper-activity or extreme 'buzz', no dry mouth or profuse sweating.  In short, it was swell. 

For the next 6 months, I tried to convince my doctor of my find in order to have my meds increased, but with the stigma surrounding stimulants like Adderall for addiction and abuse, he will not increase it.  He did allow me to take the full 60mg in one dose, and in order to function well durring the afternoon/evening hours when outside demands on my attention and time are high, I have to deprive myself of this relief.  I have come to dread the morning, wishing I could sleep till 3:00pm every day.

So anyhow, After reading extensivly through the forum boards, I have been trying different things like improoving my diet and taking dietary supliments like DMAE, L-Tyrosine, fish oil, folic acid-(B1), super B complex vitamins.  I tried switching to regular Adderall last month, but the only change I had was bad, so I'm back where I started.  Sometimes I feel like throwing in the towel, throwing out the Adderall, and let him put me back on Prozac for the depression/bi-polar disorder he mis-diagnosed me with at first.  Then I can't think, but its ok.  It makes me like a piece of furniture and furniture don't mind not thinking.  Thanks for being here  

Marko Poe Low:

I agree with Madame LasaGna, it is important to find a doctor who will strive to keep your best interests as the top priority. Your doc sounds similar to my first psychiatrist, whom I stuck it out with for a year before making a change. It wasn't until I read "Delivered from Distraction" that I realized that it would be best to move on.

The doc wasn't very open to trying different approaches when things didn't work too well. I tried to hang in there b/c I didn't want to start all over again and spend more time with all the preliminary stuff. However, Hallowell (the author of the book - who has ADD himself) really stressed how important it is for one with ADD to have a sense of connection in their lives, and that includes with their doctor. I've often felt that way in my life and decided that he is right...if one is not aligned with their doc, it poses yet another barrier.

I recently went to a different doc and will continue with this person so I can see how things progress. It can take time to find a good match but I think it is worth it. It may mean making changes - perhaps even more than once. I felt nothing but frustration with my first doc and that didn't help. I gather you are in the same boat.

Consider this, you are putting a lot of time and effort into finding solutions that will work in your life, it is important to seek the best help you can get. As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to waste any more time...I struggle enough with making good use of time as it is. I think you owe it to yourself to seek the best treatment you can get so that you can continue to move forward in your progress. I also think that by looking into other options, you gain a sense of other possibilities and this lends itself to keeping you from feeling like you want to throw in the towel.

I may be changing insurance and this means I may lose the counselor I've been working with. Consequently, I decided to see if any counselors would be open to something like an interview...which would provide an opportunity to get to know the doc before going on board with them. You might try this. Most of the folks I've contacted in my area don't offer this sort of thing but I have been told by one person that she would be willing to talk briefly on the phone and share her philosophy and approach with me.

Another approach might be to seek out a second opinion. I don't know how it is handled through the insurance if you want to look around for a different doc and this might be a way around it if it isn't covered. You might consider looking into this as an option.

Also, my new doc made some changes with my meds. I am taking smaller doses more frequently now and the effect is much smoother and with less of a rebound effect. I think you may be onto something with respect to the overlapping of the meds, my sense is that this is what is working better for me. You might explore this as an option...it may not be that you need more meds, just a different timing of the dosages. I've had to play with that a lot with respect to having the meds on board when I need them most. It sounds like your working through all that too.

Remember it's all a process and each time something doesn't work, you are one step closer to finding what WILL work through a process of elmination. In time, you'll dial into what will work best. Good luck and hang in there.

Hope this helps.
Master Mind
It sounds to me that what you need is a new doctor. Preferably
one who is less worried about "stigma" and more worried about
what works and helps you cope, maybe one who is willing to try
a different anti-depressant AND more Adderall! At the same
time! What a concept!

Sometimes it takes a while to find the right doses of the right
drugs. You may need more Adderall. You might need to try
something else. What is the big problem? Don't let this guy pin
"stigma" on you. If he has personal doubts about these meds,
why is he prescribing them at all? If you had diabetes, would he
have problems giving you the right dose of insulin? Of course
not, but there's no stigma involved with being diabetic.

Maybe you need to make up your own mind, do some research
into the safety of ADHD drugs. That's fine, but remember
whatever you decide, you deserve a doctor who is on your
side, not one who expects you to "suck it up." You can do this!