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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cybercafe on November 8, 2002, at 16:33:37
I am BP II + anxiety and just got diagnosed with
ADD (it was actually quite obvious)i cannot imagine ever wanting to sit still
in a 9 to 5 job for the rest of my life ....what does a drug (stimulant) do for you? i mean
how does it make you feel? can someone describe
their experiences of how all of a sudden the
world becomes more interesting (i have always suffered from unbearable chronic boredom at work)any info (directly answering my question or not) would be appreciated for an individual who has had 27 years of untreated ADD
thanks a lot guys .... i have learned a lot from you all :)
Posted by IsoM on November 8, 2002, at 17:38:20
In reply to What's it like to take an ADD med?, posted by cybercafe on November 8, 2002, at 16:33:37
Because we're all so diff, my response might be quite diff than yours, but...
I dislike sitting still and/or doing the same thing for very long, but a stimulant will help you stay still when you become better able to focus on what you're doing. I very much love to read. But instead of jumping up every few minutes to do anything, like I normally do when reading, I can sit down & read for hours with a stimulant. And I don't start feeling sleep & wanting to doze off.
You might find, too, that doing something (that used to bore you) for a sustained period of time becomes easier. You might even find what was boring is no longer so mindless & enjoy it more.
But a stimulant won't solve all your problems caused by ADD. It'll enable you to focus better, stay more alert & such but it won't solve problems caused by bad habits. Sometimes, ADD can cause us to fall into habits that aren't conducive to getting things done. When you first start taking a stimulant, you may find youself still mismanaging your time & interests. It'll probably take a few weeks for you to notice what you're doing wrong & what needs changing. Be aware of it & make notes. Then work on developing new good habits.
Posted by utopizen on November 8, 2002, at 19:29:40
In reply to Re: What's it like to take an ADD med? » cybercafe, posted by IsoM on November 8, 2002, at 17:38:20
Sometimes, ADD can cause us to fall into habits that aren't conducive to getting things done. When you first start taking a stimulant, you may find youself still mismanaging your time & interests.
>>>>yeah, and if you take adderall, don't let yourself do any all-nighters on it (if you are a student). I've totally gotta stop this habit of putting off papers, not sleeping, etc.
and um, I never had a problem with sitting, I could do that forever... focusing internally was hard. Um, one kid described it by saying he was like watching white TV static and the Adderall let him see things clearly for the first time.
but don't get adderall happy over anecdotes, ritalin is probably a great bet if it works out for you. If it's not needed on the weekends or vacations, give your metabolizing organs a break.
And titirate only 'til you reach the lowest therapeutic dose. And, um, don't think it's something you actually need to take everyday if you don't feel you need it certain days- it's not like it's heart medication or something.
Let me see... Dexedrine and Adderall are safe bets with docs, provided you have no history of drug abuse (um, please, no flame, that's just realistic). Desoxyn, of course, is always an option if the others don't work (and your doctor trusts you).
Posted by viridis on November 10, 2002, at 3:55:56
In reply to What's it like to take an ADD med?, posted by cybercafe on November 8, 2002, at 16:33:37
I had essentially the same experience as IsoM -- increased ability to focus and follow through on tasks, even ones that I previously might have considered too boring/mundane. I also find that Adderall has a calming effect, probably because my mind isn't going in 50+ directions at once.
Stimulants don't necessarily make everything more interesting; they just allow you to work more effectively and allocate your time better. This can help your life to flow more freely, and this reduces anxiety.
I've also found Adderall to be the most effective antidepressant I've ever taken, with no noticeable side effects.
Posted by Shawn. T. on November 10, 2002, at 5:40:28
In reply to What's it like to take an ADD med?, posted by cybercafe on November 8, 2002, at 16:33:37
If you have bipolar II, you will react much differently to stimulants than someone with ADHD only. They cause (hypo)manic episodes in many cases and can worsen the course of the disorder. The danger is greater in children, and most of the studies performed haven't involved adults. The issue of giving stimulants to adults with ADHD and comorbid bipolar disorder hasn't really been addressed. You should be especially cautious if you are a rapid cycler. If you decide to try a stimulant anyway, make sure that you're taking an effective mood stabilizer beforehand and stop taking it immediately if you start to have manic symptoms. Stimulants could worsen your anxiety, so beware of that issue as well. They will probably help with depression, however. In my personal experience, Ritalin makes me hypomanic and adderall doesn't seem to do much at all (note that I don't have comorbid ADHD).
Shawn
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