I have been diagnosed with Adult ADD!
indywndy_04 wrote: I went to the Pyschirotrist yesterday and she said I have ADD really bad! LOL I knew that there was something wrong with me! LOL
I gave her all of my symptoms and she prescribed me Adderal XR.
I knew I had it, 2 of my kids have it but are not on meds for it. If this med works well for me then I will think about getting the kids something, but I am so scared to give meds to my kids like that.
Maybe now I will be more normal. 
gr33n3y3z replied: I hope the med. works for you
lovemy2 replied: Oh I think I have it too - seriously - good for you for going to get diagnosed - I hope the meds work 
indywndy_04 replied: Some of my symptoms are:
I have ZERO attention span! I can hardly finish a task without starting another and not finishing that one and leaving work with nothing accomplished. (really hard to get a raise that way...lol)
I can drive home, same route, but if I am on the phone or start daydreaming (I always do that) then I forget where I was going or where I am.
We can watch movies and a couple of weeks later I want to rent the same movie we just watched. I have NO memory of hardly anything!
My leg always jumps, I am always figidy with my hands.
I am very defensive and will jump at a fight (hence the peas from an earlier post today) Although it really was all his fault... lol
I could go on and on with my crazziness, but I hope that the meds work.
Thanks for the support!
Anthony275 replied: oh please be careful with adderall. ive been taking it for like 6 years and it messed me up. i have all the symptoms so only take the meds when you need it
indywndy_04 replied:
If you don't mind me asking, how did it mess you up? I REALLY need to take something because it affects my work life and home life.
I am taking 20mg, the lowest dose to see how it does.
Anthony275 replied: yeah 20 mg i am on that too but its just too much. its messed up my blood pressure, my vision, horrible speech and talking fast, extreme vertigo, horrible tourette's and ocd, rapid heart beats sometimes. i have all the symptoms except seizures and obviously sudden death
i used to be TOTALLY FINE before i took it.
if i were you id get concerta or strattera
indywndy_04 replied:
She is trying to get me on Vyvanse, it is a new drug but the problem with it being new is that it is not yet covered on my insurance. It is $88 for 20 pills. UGH, I can't do that monthly, that is for sure!
I will keep an eye on things, thank you for your advice.
Why are you still taking the Adderall with all of those side affects?
Calimama replied: I hope the meds help you.
Boo&BugsMom replied:
This is why I am so learly of "head medicine" (sorry, it's the only term I know to describe it). I have seen so many people way more messed up with those drugs than anything good. Wendy, have you tried seeing a chiropractor? I know it sounds weird, but since working for one I have really started to educate myself about certain things and how the nerves and spine can help SO much stuff you wouldn't even know to think of. If you want more info, please PM me and I can inform you of some more. It seems like it is really effecting your life, but if there are other ways without medicating yourself I really would like to help you seek those alternatives.
stella6979 replied: I agree about the chiropractor. People would be amazed at what they can actually do for you. I mean, if your body is physically out of whack, it's definitely going to affect you mentally.
CantWait replied: Just be very careful with those drugs, along side all the terrible side effects they are horribly addictive.
Boo&BugsMom replied:
Totally! The chiroprator I work for specializes in the Gonstead method, which is a corrective method more than a relief care method. Kids have come through with ADHD, people with migraines, kids with chronic ear infections, you name it. It's amazing what kinds of things can happen to your body when your spine and nerves are all out of wack. Your spine is also connected to your brain which controls your whole body function, of course, so if your spine is subluxated (meaning unaligned and causing nerve pressure, which everyone's is to a certain extent) it can mess up everything in your body, including your brain function.
A&A'smommy replied: I hope it helps you
indywndy_04 replied: I actually used to work for a Chiro too for over 6 years and he practiced the Gonstead Method as well. I did get regular adjustments but I never really noticed a changed in my mental state. Meaning, my head has soo many thoughts running through it (like a freight train) and it is hard to slow it down to think straight. It is hard to explain but it affects my work and my home life and unfortunetly I never saw a change from Chiro on that. On other areas, it was wonderful and was great for releaving headaches, keeping colds away and different things like that. I thought I would give this medicine a try and see how it goes.
First day of taking the meds - I noticed I could breath easier for some reason. I think I get so wond tight that I can't breath right. The meds slowed me down a little and I was able to relax.
Second day - very very dry mouth and I felt like I couldn't think straight.
Third day - didn't take the meds.
I think I am going to try it every other day. I go back and see the doctor on Thursday, so I will see what she has to say about it. The problem is, she wanted to put me on something similar to Adderal with way less side effects, but my insurance doesnt cover it and I can't afford that much money shelling out each month.
I will let you guys know how it goes.
Cece00 replied:
Ask for a lower dose.
>>Adderall is marketed as either an immediate-release tablet, Adderall, or an extended-release capsule, Adderall XR ("eXtended Release"). Doses for both forms come in 5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, and 30mg strengths.
You could also try Focalin. Check if your insurance covers it.
Anthony275 replied: i continue to take it because its the only thing that works.
chiropractors don't do anything for me sadly, i dont know how long im gonna be on adderall much longer (another 6 years  )
oh, btw, it was originally intended to make you lose weight, so don't make yourself eat when you're on it or else you'll feel sick
indywndy_04 replied:
That is a bonus after having a baby! Great side effect...weight lose...lol
Cece00 replied:
You can try a lower dose of adderall. They also have MANY new drugs out there you may want to try, ones that have come out in the last couple of years, and you probably dont know exist.
Also, I've been on it (except when pregnant/nursing) for 7 years, and you CAN eat while on it and you DONT get sick. Some people's side effects arent EVERYONE's side effects.
BTW- Adderall's formula is derived from a drug that used to be used to treat obesity (Obertrol) but Adderall itself has never been marketed as a weight loss drug.
momofone replied: Hi - I found a good website for you addatoz.com Help this helps.
Jamison'smama replied: As far as the dry mouth goes, that is a symptom of a lot of medications and is short term---after a couple of weeks, that particular side effect will probably cease. Many anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications produce dry mouth (and eyes for those contact wearers) but goes away fairly quickly. Many symptoms go away after a month or less but many people don't realize that and stop taking the medication before giving everything a chance to work it's way through.
Cece00 replied:
Agreed.
I still get dry mouth occasionally, BUT I am prone to it without the meds so it doesnt surprise me.
indywndy_04 replied: GREAT feedback from you guys and I really appreciate it!!! For me, it is embarrising to talk about, but you guys make it so much easier.
I took it this morning again to see how I would do and I think that I might need to go on a lower dose and work myself up...just because I dont really feel like myself...I feel weird. Like, lightheaded, cant think straight.
I agree, the dry mouth will probably cease. There are newer drugs out there but my insurance company isnt covering them at the moment. UGH.
Does Adderall come in a generic form? Right now I am paying $50/month for it. That still hurts! I would rather pay my lowest copay and not my highest for pharmacutical. Ya know.
NaturalMom replied: my son and his dad have ADD. Randy was on tons of meds with all kinds of stupid reactions. We finally got a natural alternative and him and my son are med free and doing perfect! there are other ways than medication ESPECIALLY for the kids. those darn doctors always push those meds cuz that is what they get paid to do by the pharmaceutical companies. oh dont get me started! lol
coasterqueen replied: If you go with Chiropractic, just be careful - it can become addicting to your body as well  Something people don't really understand, know it's happening to them or really like to talk about.  I worked for a Chiropractic association for 2 summers, then 3 years full time so I know a lot of what goes on
Chiropractic can be useful and helpful, but I think they tend to go a bit overboard with the number of treatments they think you need and what you really need.
GL with whatever med or non-med choice you make.
Cece00 replied:
Why should you feel like that? Its a legitimate illness you can not control. You shouldnt feel that way.
I def. think you need a lower dose.
And, no, there is no generic adderall.
will your insurance cover methylphenidate? call & ask them- its VERY cheap. A 5 mg dose, for 30 days is about $13 with NO insurance, so it would be very cheap with insurance.
indywndy_04 replied: Speaking of non-med way as alternitive. I was reading up on Omega-3 to help with ADD/ADHD. I figured it was worth a shot to try out. 2 of my children have it so it seems...but I do not want to give them medication, 1 child REALLY needs something because it is affecting him greatly. He is in LD (learing disabled) classes and everything. I really do not want him to have this handicap so I am being the guinee pig on my self first to see what I think of Meds vs Non-meds. I really want to find something that works for me, then I will feel more comfortable in finding something that will work for him.
NaturalMom replied:
in addition to omega 3's, guarana is excellent. you have to get the kind that removes the caffeine tho. the ones i give my son are 96% free of caffeine. I grind that up and put it in his nutritional milkshake using milk that contains omega 3's. That and elimating ANY and ALL food dyes and artificial flavorings. Those do a job on ADD symptoms. Since giving my son his shakes each day and cutting out dyes and artificial flavors, he has been great in school and at home. In addition he has gotten off all his allergy and asthma meds as well has the rest of us. There is a lot to be said for proper nutrition. Just by giving our cells what it needs we no long are dependant on overpriced, unsafe prescription meds. Dont get me wrong i love meds when needed but everything is overprescribed these days and that is because they have to give you another to offset the crap the first one gave you! lol
Boo&BugsMom replied:
Good for you! 
Anthony275 replied: i get a generic adderall or something... $60 for like 180 pills
holley79 replied: Shawn always says I have adult ADD. There are times I wonder. Hope the meds help.
dylansmom01 replied: My son is on Adderal XR...this will be his 4th week on the med. I can tell the differents when he is on it and when he is not on it. He is doing well with the med, the only thing is he doesn't drink enough. I have to stay on him about drinking. I can tell when he hasn't drank alot....his poor lips dry up. Over all.....I'm still watching him closely.
What made me realize something was wrong with Dylan was in class he would be doing his own thing and not listening to the teacher, so we thought and there were other things I noticed as well. But when he was called on or asked to do an assignment everything would be right. I was embarressed to talk to anyone about it, but now it's no big deal. Dylan doctor referred me over to a support group and after going to one of those meetings, I walked out of there knowing their are people just like me out there.
Good luck!
Anthony275 replied: dehydration hits me hard, make sure he has water or something to drink with him in school
indywndy_04 replied: Ok - an update. I have been taking the Adderal 4 days in a row and it seems like with each day that passes I have not been myself. I feel very aggrevated all the time.
But - on the flip side....I have never been able to get my work done, at the end of each day I always have stuff left to walk into and finish the next day. But - I have been getting everything done by 2pm!! I have been having to find 'busy work' for the rest of the 3 hours of nothing to do! That is soooo awesome!! I just wish I didnt feel so aggrevated though!! I see the Doctor tomorrow, I will let her know all of this and see what she thinks.
Anthony275 replied: yeah it changes you. are you taking 1 or 2 daily?
indywndy_04 replied: I am only taking 1 - 20mg, but I didn't take it today because I was tired of feeling ticked off all the time and fighting with DH. (although, he deserved it) 
I see the doctor tomorrow, I think she just needs to lower the dosage or try something else.
Anthony275 replied: do your hands and stuff get sweaty fast? like, they don't feel clean...blurry vision or tics yet?
indywndy_04 replied:
I like the whole YET part....LOL. GREEEEAAAATTTTT.....things to look forward to huh. No, I do not get any of that....yet. 
Anthony275 replied: do you have any of these side effects yet?? i have pretty much every one except one other besides fainting, numbness, or seizures
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
feeling light-headed, fainting;
increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, or seizures); or
tremor, restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or motor tics (muscle twitches).
less serious side effects:
headache or dizziness;
sleep problems (insomnia);
dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth;
diarrhea, constipation;
loss of appetite, weight loss; or
loss of interest in sex
the last one makes me sad
A&A'smommy replied:
I think if you are having all of those side effects you should probably switch to something different, or find an alternative that is very unhealthy.
Wendy how long are you suppose to keep taking the meds before your body gets use to them?
Its great that they are helping you though, just sucks that they make you feel gross!!!
Anthony275 replied: i can't switch, ive taken everything else before going to adderall and they haven't worked at all
groovewithjamie replied: what symptoms did you specifically have?
i wouldn't put your kids on meds for add until middle school... just because meds can have an effect on a child's development and growth....
Anthony275 replied: vision blurry, personality changed totally, tourettes, ocd, etc
julesmom replied:
My middle ds has adhd, among other things, and is classified as LD. I tried the Omega's (Fish Oil capsules) with him and it did nothing! Not one bit of a difference. He is on Concerta 18mg and is doing wonderfully. It affects his appetite, which I just spoke to his doc. about, but the benefits outweigh the negatives at this point, so he's staying on it. I'll just have to sneak in some healthy high calorie foods.
My oldest ds on the other hand, benefits greatly from Omegas. He takes one at bedtime daily. It makes a very noticable difference with him, but he's not diagnoses with ADHD. Just has some ADD tendencies.
I am on Concerta myself. I don't take it daily, only when I feel I need it or I have a big day ahead of me that I need to be really focused and awake for. It is a GREAT appetite suppressant and works wonders for weight loss, but when I stop taking it, the lbs come right back. 
I was also very against putting my kids on an ADHD med, but after being on it myself and seeing how I felt and the benefits, I figured I'd let him try it.
You can always stop it.
Cece00 replied:
You wont neccessarily get it, in fact you probably WONT get it. I've never had either.
Cece00 replied:
I have almost none of those.
Again, not everyone has side effects from medication or may have some but not all.
indywndy_04 replied:
I got headaches and dry mouth, but that was it. I dont know how long I would have had to take them to get those two symptoms to level out, but the dry mouth went away after 4 days, but the headaches were still there.
So - I went back to the doctor and she put me on a lower dose 10 mg for now.
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