Adult ADD?

Does anyone have any personal experience with being diagnosed with ADD as an adult? If so, what medications or therapies did you experience?

Re: Adult ADD?

I was diagnosed at 22 with adult ADD. At first I went to a psychiatrist, he was the one who diagnosed me. I always had issues with school work but over the years noticed that I would forget things within a few seconds, like if someone told me their name or my mom asked me to help her with something. A friends sister was diagnosed and I noticed I had the same issues. Never would have thought ADD because I am really shy and always associated ADD with those hyper little kids but when I started to do research it all made sense.

The psychiatrist told me that I was the first adult that he ever diagnosed, that normally it's very apparent in children and they get diagnosed right away and that he was surprised that I even graduated high school, let alone college without help from meds and other sources.

I was put on Adderall XR, the XR is time released and works throughout the day. I was taking grad classes at night and the Adderall would wear off by then so I was put on a small dose of regular Adderall, not time released and I felt like I was going to have a heart attack because the meds hit you right away and I felt like I was crack addict.

I haven't been on it since I got pregnant with DS in Nov 2009, I nursed him and now I'm preggo again. I'll go back on it after I am done nursing this next one.

The meds worked WONDERS. I did amazing in grad school. Some other side effects were weight loss and dry, cotton mouth. The weight loss was great because I was a bored eater so the Adderall helped me to concentrate on the things I needed so I wasn't procrastinating and then going off to eat because I was bored. It also makes you feel full ALL THE TIME. Like, you know when you eat until you feel like you are going to throw up and then you're like why did I do that? Well that's how I felt all the time on Adderall even if I didn't eat. I never looked better lol. As for the cotton mouth, I always had gum and a water bottle with me.
Another side effect... sleep issues. DH is also on Adderall of ADD but he doesn't have sleep issues because he has sleep apnea but for me, I could easily get 4 hours of sleep in 3 days. I would just lay in bed and not be able to sleep. My brain would be so focused that I couldn't sleep and the type of sleep is not that deep sleep, like you would go to sleep and wake up and feel like you never went to bed.



Sorry for the rambling, I'm not on my meds lol. Any questions please feel free to ask. I'm seeing a neurologist now instead of psychiatrist because my primary doctor said it looked better on my records, aka making me seem like I wasn't crazy, and that a neurologist is better equipped to handle those issues.

Re: Adult ADD?

thank you so much... I will be FMing you as soon as I can concentrate,... LOL

Re: Adult ADD?

I was diagnosed with ADD about a year ago. I take Adderall. It has changed my life! I am a student & before Adderall I would rush through tests, not read the questions & pick silly answers, if people around me where making noise I would be totally be distracted. In the clincial setting it has allowed me to process what I am doing while patients are talking to me & allowed me to create a routine for exams I am performing. I can study for a few hours at a time with out jumping up & down to do other things as they pop into my head. I can tell now if I have forgotten to take it,.
In general I feel less scattered. I take it on an as needed basis which works for me & my Dr is on board with that, however there is another school of thought that you must take it everyday to get its full benefit. I do have some side effects from it but I am willing to deal with them as the benefits out weigh them for me. If have any questions let me know.