Oh I agree, not a magic cure all by any means. And by its nature, it is not like an antidepressant and doesn't build up in your system, so if you forget it, at some point either you will get yelled at for being a spazz, or you will find that you are working really really hard, and running in a circle and accomplishing nothing. Or you will just feel somewhat out of sorts, depressed, restless, and either kind of tired and blah, or really really on the move, and something just isn't quite right. Then, it has worn off, and it is time for another.

Also, it takes a while to get your dose exactly right, and the correct medication. I take Ritalin 20 mg three times a day. Occasionally, I will forget, but I have gotten where I am pretty good about it. I take it at 8-9 am, again around 1 pm, and finally, between 5-7 pm. It is short acting and does not affect my sleep, but to be honest, I can sleep easily on Ritalin or Adderal. If I take 5 mg, it has absolutely zero effect, and 10 mg will knock me out. Adderal is supposed to be twice as effective, mg for mg, but I do not notice this at all, and required the same dose of Adderal. Vyvanse I adored, I was very calm on it, but it really affected my sleep, and it didn't provide near the amount of focus on useful tasks that ritalin and Adderal do...for ME. I was extremely calm and happy on it, though, unless it had affected my sleep the night before. I could focus, but I really just was lovey and wanted to read magazines and make cookies and watch funny movies and do crafts. I was very nice on vyvanse, just not productive, or at least, not about anything useful. I am very picky about my Ritalin. I will only take name brand. There is a $90 a month price difference until we meet our deductible....and it's worth it. Sandoz is a good generic, but hard to find. Mallinckrodt is terrible, and Watson is worse. Adderal is the same way. Certain generics suck, and I don't know why or how, but I think it is the truth. That is why I went back to Ritalin. I wanted Strattera to work, I hate having to go get a new script each month, and I thought it would be my miracle, but its effectiveness was moderate at best, and it made me dizzy, and headachey.

When I first was told I had this, initially I thought it was dumb and wouldn't accept it. I finally filled a script, and although I skipped it constantly, I had to grudgingly accept that it worked. This led to feelings of kind of excitement and vindication, in a way....see, I KNEW I wasn't just a lazy, flaky slob! I told you! I really WAS trying! Ha!....and then to sadness at how many years I spent chasing my tail and not getting anywhere, the trail of chaos and disarray I left, and finally, the realization that there is something actually wrong with my brain, and it is not like a lot of other people's brains....and it is ALWAYS going to be that way, and it isn't fun, because the world is meant to work for other people's brains. Now, I just accept it. It is what it is. It could be a lot worse.

I don't really understand why people fret about Adderal and Ritalin so bad, though. I mean, you cant see depression, or pain, or a lot of things, and people don't doubt those exist. Pain meds are frequently abused. As a nurse, I'd rather give a pain medication to someone who doesn't need it than withhold it from a patient in pain. I honestly don't care if someone fakes an adhd diagnosis and gets meds. I'm sure it happens, but as long as it doesn't affect me, to each their own, I guess. They aren't particularly fun, and surely most people who do it for a kick or to stay up all night studying will quickly tire of it.