Do You Have an ADD/ADHD Medication Success Story?
As a Psychiatrist who specialized in ADD/ADHD, I hear lots of information about ADD and ADHD Medication.
I regularly hear great things - i.e. how the medicine has transformed someone’s life…
And I hear about problem situations… When a medicine had a side effect, or maybe wasn’t even needed.
That is one of the reasons that I have my newsletter, and post to this blog - to teach you the right information that you need, hopefully when you need it.
Since I have received so many questions about medicines for ADD/ADHD (like Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Concerta, Metadate CD, Biphentin, Daytrana, Adderall, Adderall XR, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, etc.), I have decided to teach you more about medicines for ADD and ADHD. I will be posting on this blog, or on my newsletter (just enter your name and address on the top right to be sure not to miss this) how you can take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about ADD/ADHD medication in the coming weeks.
Recently, I posted on this blog about whether Vyvanse works. Since Vyvanse is not available in Canada (where I work), I asked for your input as to whether this medicine works well. I was amazed at the response! I want to thank each of you who took the time to share your feedback. Discussions have even started between readers of this blog. I am thrilled that this blog has helped to create a community for you.
Now that I am putting together the materials for a course on ADD/ADHD Medication - I wanted to ask you about your experiences with ADD and ADHD medication. On this post - I want to ask you about any success stories. If you have a success story about medicine for ADD or ADHD, please take a few moments and type it in the comment form below (just know that it will take a little bit of time until it shows up on the blog - as all comments are ‘moderated’, meaning approved - to prevent spam posts). I would really appreciate you sharing your experiences with me - and also the thousands of other people who read this blog from all over the world.
Let’s help people to realize that ADD and ADHD medications can be very helpful to people. Please enter your medication success story in the comment form below.
Thank you for your help.
Dr. Kenny
p.s. If you want to read about, or contribute an ADD/ADHD Medication Disaster Story, please visit here: ADD ADHD Medication Disaster Stories
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Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
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August 27th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Hi
My 8 year old son has been on Ritalin for the past year- for him it works wonders, however, at this time he can only tolerate 5 mg twice a day. This low dose two times a day is a bit of an inconvience and it only lasts 4 hours at a time.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
My 7 year old daughter has been on ADHD medications for a year and a half. She has tried Concerta, Focalin XR, Daytrana (patch), and is currently on Metadate CD in the mornings with Focalin 5mg for a small afternoon dose. We found that Focalin XR worked well for awhile, but didn’t last quite long enough. That’s when we tried the Daytrana patch. We LOVED it! Thought it took a little longer to start working, it lasted through her homework time in the evening, allowing us to avoid a second medication just for that purpose. The only reason we changed her medication is because she began to blister at the application site after using them for 2 months. I’m considering trying it again now that she’s a little older. It really was the best method of treatment we’ve tried!
August 28th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
I got around to getting confirmation of my long-growing suspicion that I had ADD when I was 60 years old. I had already been using citalopram (Celexa) for depression. The doctor added bupropion (Welbutrin) and my life changed at least as much as it had when I started using citalopram. I’m still not well organized or efficient. I put down a coffee cup, a book or a tool in plain sight and search for it a few minutes later. However, the “deer in the headlights” reaction to confrontations is gone. Pointless angry rumination about long-past or far-distant events is gone. Wierd sensory cravings are gone. Disconcerting dreams of being oblivious and without influence in situations of which I am “in charge” are gone.
I frankly tell work associates that I can produce best if I’m teamed with at least one detail person. I ask them to speak up sooner rather than later if I’m not doing what they had expected and not assume that I decided not to do it. I may have forgotten it. My work involves a lot of public speaking and for the first time in my career I’m doing nearly all of it with my detailed notes in my pocket, back in my office or rolled up tightly and used as a gesturing wand. I’m getting positive responses.
Ironically, the hyperfocus element of ADD enables me to listen intently and respond more helpfully when I’m in a serious conversation. I’m “with” that person and nowhere else.
My opthamologist vetoed both Ritalin and Strattera because I have glaucoma, so I don’t know how helpful they would have been.
September 3rd, 2007 at 8:57 am
I have been taking Adderall for about 5 years now and it has made a HUGE difference in life. It has not only helped me in my day-to-day living but also in my college career. I have had ADHD my entire life–27 years. However, due to also having a 60% total hearing loss, I was not medically diagnosed with ADHD until almost 5 years ago. The diagnosis finally came bout when I was attempting to go to college after graduating from high school five years earlier. After I began experiencing the same frustrations as I did throughout my school years, I started to realize there was more going on in my brain than me just not putting forth the effort required or simply not being able to hear my teachers (or now, my professors.) I knew I was doing everything possible on my part to try and make the best grades. I also knew my hearing ability was not the problem. I was wearing the newest developed hearing aids and I always sat in the front row, directly in front of my professors. Besides not hearing a word here or there because the professor turned his back or walked to another part of the room, I knew for the most part I was not struggling to hear what was being said. It was most definitely a matter of comprehension, as well the ability to continue following along when I actually did grasp a concept. I also knew that for as long as I could remember I had struggled in so many other ways such as the ability to stay on task, focusing long enough to read & study in class as well as outside the classroom, being distracted at the slightest movement or noise, never was I able to concentrate when I was put under any type of pressure. The minute I entered a classroom and I knew we were taking a test my brain began immediately shutting down because all I could think about was whether or not I was going to finish in time and I would continuously glance at the clock. I needed to be able to read each question and then reread it twice or three times, however many it took for me to comprehend exactly what was being asked. When put under pressure by a time clock, there were times I never did understand any of the questions because I was not able to think them through clearly because of the fear in my mind that completely hindered me from being able to concentrate at all. Since I am majoring in Elementary Education, I was required in the first year to take a class that included lessons about “special needs” children and information about various disorders and disabilities. I had heard of ADHD before but it wasn’t until I went back to college and started struggling again and then began to learn some more about ADHD in this class that I decided to consult my physician. Among other ADHD symptoms I struggled with were organization, interrupting others for fear of forgetting my thoughts, being on time or even being able determine how much time I needed to allow myself for travel to get somewhere and be on time. I remember growing up starting so many projects or having visions and goals but I either never started them or never finished them. Some, I remember, I finished weeks or months later. I almost never completed assignments on time for school (spent many long nights finishing them because of procrastination or not knowing how to divide an assignment up over a period of time to work on little by little; I always felt when I got going on something I had to stay with it until it was completely finished. The biggest struggle I still have is hyperfocusing!! I need to get back to using my timer to keep me on track with using my time adequately. I call my timer “The Boss” and when it goes off, I better stop! Like now! Ha! Ha! Once I was finally diagnosed and began taking Adderall my whole world changed–literally! I not only made the Deans List the following semester, but also The National Deans List. I’ve continued to be able to keep my grades up every semester (even in Statistics I made an A!!! and I never made higher than a ‘C’ in any of my middle or high school math courses.) Although I wish my diagnosis of ADHD was discovered much earlier in my life, possibly saving me a lot of heartache, disappointments, frustration, and failures in school and relationships with my family and friends, I am certainly grateful that I am now receiving appropriate treatment methods. I have received treatment through medication (Adderall,) a part time ADHD coach, many free resources I found via the internet (Thanks Dr. Handleman!,) local community and on-campus support groups, and free teleconferences and seminars from some of the top ADHD specialists in the country. I can now experience life in so many enjoyable ways that I never could or never knew how before. Adderall have helped me tremendously, so much so, I made the National Dean’s List the following semester after beginning Adderall. Since I had done so well in Statistics, I was asked to become a paid tutor to help other students. Many of my “tutorees” also had ADHD, which isn’t surprising being that math is one of the most difficult classes for people with ADHD because of all the many steps, sequences, and/or details involved. It was an awesome experience because I knew exactly how they needed to be taught (very specific step-by-step, esp. for math sequences (details.) I am now in my senior year and I am very excited about graduating soon and going on to help other children and/or teenagers with ADHD. It’s a fact that there is definitely power in knowledge. But it’s what we choose to do with that the knowledge we’ve been given that determines exactly how much power it actually holds.
“We can’t change our past but we can certainly choose to change our future.” Anonymous
April 11th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I was diagnosed with ADD (inattentive, not hyperactive) at age 28 and have been taking Dexedrine for ten years. I have experienced much success professionally and academically. I take 2.5mg which lasts about 4 hours. From the very first dose during my lunch hour at work I felt calm and focused for the first time in my life. I have never tried any more than 2.5mg and I cannot take any caffeine after 3PM or I cannot fall asleep. I try and take no more than 3 doses a day. If I have to study, write, work or engage in social/professional activities in the evening, then I will take a fourth dose but no later than 6PM. I try not to have meetings after 6PM or engage in any activity that stimulates the brain. This includes social/intellectual stimulation. This is not very realistic, but I have learned through the years that it is the best way to regulate the ADHD brain. I have also learned to not feel guilty about this need, nor explain to anyone why. My doctor– who is a D.O.– prescribes Ambien for times in my life when I am under strict deadlines and pressure and need eight hours of sleep to function.
My morning ritual before Dexedrine was a four shot latte with three sugars. I noticed the first week of Dexedrine I was unable to finish my morning latte. Ever since then my diet and lifestyle has adjusted to the medication. I take much less sugar and caffeine. I rarely use alcohol and if I do it is only beer and wine with dinner. I do not recommend using alcohol if using stimulant medication for ADHD.
Daily exercise and hydration is essential for me to regulate metabolism and help with sleep and focus. When I find myself losing focus toward the end of a dose, I use protein (nuts) and drink concentrated vegetable juice (V-8). Through the years I have discovered that when I am in complete control of my environment– such as when I retreat into nature– and there are no unnatural distractions or modern mechanical sound, I am able to function quite well without medication. I also have learned to use cognitive-behavioral techniques and incorprate music and meditation into my lifestyle. This has been invaluable once in a while when I forget to have a dose with me while at work or in a social situation when I must regulate my behavior. Its all about balance and discipline– but there is no doubt I would not have the success in my life without medication.