Does anyones dh/so have Attention Defecit Disorder?

I was wondering if anyone's dh or even themselves have been diagnosed with A.D.D.?

If so...do they take any meds and what is life like with them?

Re: Does anyones dh/so have Attention Defecit Disorder?

bump

Re: Does anyones dh/so have Attention Defecit Disorder?

i do myself. i was just diagnosed last month after 30 years of not knowing what was wrong with me. i am starting a medication called adderall tomorrow. i had to go for numerous tests before starting to rule out any other disorders, but they found i was classic adult add, so i will start my meds tomorrow as i just got the results this evening. i was going to post about this tomorrow actually. I was told the med should take about a month to feel any effect whatsoever as we are starting a low dosage and building over the next month..

Message edited 4/5/2007 12:08:54 AM.

Re: Does anyones dh/so have Attention Defecit Disorder?

I have ADD< my mom has ADD, and my FHis in the process of being diagnosed, but I think that is probably part of what's going on with him.

I used to take medication when I was younger. I took ritalin 3x a day. I know Adderall is XR, but from what I know about most ADD drugs is that they don't build up over time like depression meds (unless as in the above poster's case you are starting with an ieffective dose and working up to a larger one), but they work for the time period when you take them. Adderall XR is a little different because it is extended release, so you get less of a result, but it lasts longer.

When I was taking ritalin, I had a few things going on. When they had me on ritalin by itself I did really well. I just had to time it. It was allowed to take it 3-4 times per day and I'd have to time it to take it in the morning before school, int he afternoon before afternoon classes, and again in time for homework. Some kids in HS and college used to try to buy my ritalin from me because it has a speed-like effect, but if you really have ADD it is actually the opposite, it kind of slows things down so you can focus. It evened me out. Part of the reason I stopped taking it was that they also put me on depression medicaiton and the combination made me like a speed freak, sweating, shaking, the whole 9. I didn't like how my psychiatrist at the time handled it so I changed docs. I later found out that that combination was something they gave to people who were catatonic and needed to be amped up.
My mom takes adderall and I know when she takes it and drinks coffee she starts to get very jittery and it worsens her TMJ, so you may have to avoid caffeine (a lot of ADD people unknowingly self0medicate with caffeine, cocaine, or amphetamines). It may also cause you loss of sleep if you take iit too late (this was part of my great abalncing act on the ritalin, take it late enough to get evening homework done, but early enough to sleep)

I don't know that much about how it's done these days, but 10 years ago when I was diagnoised, they basically said that the best diagnosis was whether or not the medication worked, and it did work, but even after I stopped taking depression meds I never went back to the ritalin. I guess I wanted to prove I could do it on my own. Also I've fouind other ways to cope with my ADD (thought not always successfully, and when I am stressed, it really becomes apparent that I have ADD)

i HIGHLY recommend the books "Driven to Distraction" and "Delivered from Distraction" they are two of the top books on ADD, and I've read parts of them (yes, parts...I have ADD you know!) and I really never knew anyone could understand what I was going through until I read those books. ADD is so much more than people think it is, there are so many parts of your life that it affects. I like that the books help you see it in a positive light.

Best of luck with everything!

Remember people with ADD are intelligent, creative people who think outside the box!

Who needs a neat desk or to be able to balance a checkbook anyway?

Re: Does anyones dh/so have Attention Defecit Disorder?

Re: Does anyones dh/so have Attention Defecit Disorder?

Re: Does anyones dh/so have Attention Defecit Disorder?