[RoxanneMurphy]

Well, for starters, two Friday's ago (October 16th), I was officially diagnosed with ADHD (after going through two other 'diagnosis' of depression and anxiety, respectively) and I was put on 10mg of Ritalin twice a day to start for the first two weeks. I'm responding pretty well to the medication... Sort of.

For some time, I've been looking for an explanation to the various things that have been troubling me for quite some time. Everything that I've 'investigated' covered some of the issues that I was having, but it also left out a lot of other key issues. Regardless to say that I was completely frustrated and I wasn't any closer to having an over all explanation (whether it be of one thing, or composed of multiple things) than when I started. I also never thought to look into ADD/ADHD (which I'm going to go with ADHD, because ADD is seemingly non-existent now) because, like many people, automatically conjure up the whole hyperactive child scenario. I was unaware that ADHD was something that was also apparent in the adult population as well. My T had mentioned to me that a lot of the things that I had been saying and talking about sounded a lot like ADHD, which puzzled me a bit until she explained it to me and how the various things could interlock with ADHD. After that, I started doing my own research. Going to college, I have access to a variety of scholastic journals, articles and books. So, I figured, what better place to start? However, much to my disappointment, most of the ADHD resources through there were child-orientated (which was still informational, to a degree). And when searching about adult ADHD, the results were quite dismal. I went to the next best thing; the internet. I did find quite a bit more information. The more I read, the more and more things started fitting together, like a nice, perfectly cut puzzle. I recently picked up the book, "I'm Not Lazy, Stupid Or Crazy?!" by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo. I haven't had the chance to get very far into it, but a lot of the things that they're explaining make things seem to make even that much more sense to me, which I could also go into specifics in another post if wanted. I'm just trying to chop this post as much as possible without loosing the point of the post.

As far as the Ritalin goes, there are a lot of aspects to it, as well as questions for other people that have taken Ritalin. Yes, I absolutely perform better on the medication. My productivity level is way beyond anything that I've ever thought was possible. I'm able to follow through with the task at hand (which has always been pretty much impossible for as long as I can remember, although there are certain exceptions to that). Time seems to go slower, so it seems as if I'm completing many more things in such a short time span (which I think is so completely amazing). This has been the first time in my life where I've actually been able to function without drinking 8 - 10 sodas in a single day. My social ability has actually improved (I don't feel nearly as socially awkward as I used to; I don't worry about trying to over think of the 'perfect' thing to say, only to have the appropriate moment to say such things pass before I even get a chance to say a single thing). I am much more attentive with my daughter (I used to set her up so that she would be entertained for some time with the TV so that I could do what ever I felt like doing [which was hardly ever anything actually productive], however, with the medication, I don't mind just sitting with her and holding her after she wakes up from a nap for a few minutes. I've found that she's much more content when I do. That's just one example. Not to mention that I don't have a short-ish fuse with her on the medication, like I used to a little). I'm also able to retain, or memorize, things much more efficiently.
However, there are many down sides to the medication after it wears off. The irritability factor goes up tremendously (oddly only towards my husband, which isn't good at all because it's always in an extreme way. Everyone else though, I just simply don't want to be bothered with). In the beginning, there were bad, random bouts of really depressive thoughts, but they lessened as more time has gone on. As well as a bit of insomnia developing, depending. The biggest problem that I'm currently having at the moment is the mere fact that 2 4-hour doses are simply not enough. For most days, I need to take both doses during the time when classes are (one at 8:30am and one 12:30pm). The problem being that my last class ends at 1:15pm, and that leaves a decent chunk of the active medication time to be wasted on not focus/attentive-related events (riding [because I don't drive] the half hour home from college [which is a time that I couldn't do anything even if I wanted to because of motion sickness], setting up things for when my husband leaves for work in regards to the baby and spending time with him [because it's pretty much the only time we can spend together because when I wake up to go to school, he's sleeping and when he comes home from work, I'm sleeping].). Which in the end usually leaves me about an hour or so to do homework and housework related things. It's impossible, especially when you add my daughter. What is even worse, on most (oddly not all though), once the medication wears off, I'm beyond dead tired. Functionality is highly, highly limited. It's as if all the fatigue that I'd normally experience through out the day seems to build up and stays dormant until the medication wears off and then there's this explosion of tiredness and lethargy that doesn't seem to be helped with anything, at all, which is quite troubling for me when I have to take care of my daughter for the rest of the night until she goes to bed anywhere between 10pm and 12am.
I do realize that a lot of it is just getting the right dosage.

Question
With Ritalin, is it possible for the medication to have a lasting effect (after the four hours) on activity but not focus/attention?

It's just extremely hard for me to try to organize anything when I've been so accustomed to being so unorganized for sooo long. I don't know where to start, or even what to do to even organize things, which is also going into my academics. I'm completely disorganized and I don't know how to fix it. D: So, if anyone knows of some methods (post-it notes, to-do lists, etc), especially ones that you've found to work for you (either in the home or school setting), I would absolutely love to hear them. I need sooo much help here.

I'd also love to hear opinions from people who have read "I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?!" book. Was it something that was a good resource or was it something that didn't really make a difference?

I know that this was quite lengthy (especially being in the ADHD section), but I thank you tremendously if you've gotten this far. I just wanted to share my experience as well as possibly get some ideas and feed back.

Ritalin can be a wonder drug for people with true ADHD. I was able to complete 2 college degrees, backpack through Europe twice, go on one extensive trip through England, and get a job that truly involved my skills and abilities. Not because Ritalin speeded me up, but b/c it slowed me down, without dulling my senses.

I got up to a very high dosage and in later years developed a tolerance even to that dose. I started playing pill games and taking outrageously high doses which I would have to compensate for by going without later. Very unpleasant addict games, I came to realize. So for once I did the responsible thing and discontinued the Rx.

So by all means, benefit from the med, but watch out for the temptation to self-adjust the dosage. If you really need Ritalin, you'll know it because it will really help you sort out your thoughts and organize your life. Mike

PS -- And yes, there is a big anti-Ritalin crowd. Not sure whether any of them actually have ADHD, though!

[RoxanneMurphy]

cypher:
Absolutely. I'm very, very aware of the tolerance game (or the possibility of playing that game, especially with out intention). Which is why I've always been quite apprehensive about taking any medication of the sort. The problem is that I feel that the ADHD affects so many aspects of my life that I needed to do something, especially with the addition of college (which, in retrospect might not have been the best idea, but in a way, it's kind of necessary and the fact that I want to try to better myself to be able to provide my daughter with a better situation than what I had growing up). I have the inattentive type with impulsiveness (in regards to shopping [money], excessively disclosing private/personal information to pretty much complete strangers, as well as other things). I've never had a problem with hyperactivity. But yes, it does seem like one of those miracle type of things. It's like, 'So, this is how people function! '. It helps me stay on track tremendously and it doesn't make me go into hyper speed. I'd say it's more like a push of functionality.

Another thing that was something that really got in the way was the fact of the thought process. I have one of those circular motion minds, where it also tends to branch into every single direction possible. The biggest problem I've ever had with it is when it comes to my relationship with my husband. Needless to say, there are quite a few communication issue. I just can't seem to find the way to verbalize what's in my mind to something comprehensible. It has caused so many issues and rifts in our relationship. Lucky enough for me, he loves me enough and our relationship is resilient enough where it usually comes out okay in the end (spar for the one time where we were seriously talking about divorce over on single misunderstood statement). However, on Ritalin, I don't have that problem nearly as much. I don't have a problem verbalizing things to him, and I'll even vent my frustrations between us to him (which was once unheard of with me because of the fact that I always held things in, no matter what).

I completely understand what you mean though, and quite honestly, I'm afraid of that. It's one of those things where you have to compare the risks to the benefits. I'm depending on my PDoc to monitor my dose and to just tell her what I'm experiencing and then leaving it up to her, unless in the case of where I don't agree. Then I'd find out more about why she would think that dose (or whatever else she's decided to do), and then make a decision.

Oh, I know. There are many, many people against the use of Ritalin. I believe a lot of that's merely about context. I do believe that many of them haven't experienced (first hand or personal) ADHD, and that they're just going on different portrayals of bad. Of course everyone isn't going to respond well to Ritalin, but they fail to see that for some people, it works quite well for them (like myself).

Thank you for your reply!

[nellbells]

My social ability has actually improved (I don't feel nearly as socially awkward as I used to; I don't worry about trying to over think of the 'perfect' thing to say, only to have the appropriate moment to say such things pass before I even get a chance to say a single thing).

That comment alone makes me want to go on meds. haha I can relate all too well to thinking of the perfect thing to say two topic changes too late. I'm not daignosed yet. I had my intake last week and my testing is scheduled for Nov. 19. Urgh, soo far away. I'm keeping a count down to keep me going.

I have heard of the "You Mean I'm not lazy, stupid or crazy" book, but I have not read it. I'm also a college student. I found some helpful strategies for dealing with my symptoms (can't say ADHD without the diagnosis, uggh why can't i just get tested now!) in the college environment in the book "Succeeding in College with Attention Deficit Disorders: Issues & Strategies for Students, Counselors, & Educators." by Jennifer S. Bramer, Ph.D. It was published in '96 so it still refers to ADHD as ADD, but the strategies and personal accounts are not affected by the fact it's over a decade old.

If I ever glimpse through the other book. I'll let you know what I think.

[theotterone]

After a question was posed in a support chat I was in this morning (*GASP!* It WAS NOT ON PC!), I wrote up my thoughts on the question. (I posted it here, you guys can either thank me or throw rotten veggies at me later...)

I found that going on Adderall that my irritability factor goes up as I come off the medication. A lot of it will be learning to adjust to it.

I read the same book, which is great for general stuff, but I found it a little overwhelming to do the exercises so recently after my diagnosis. I am lucky enough to be able to afford a life coach who specializes in ADHD, so the one on one time has greatly helped.

I have found that even though I am on medication, learning to work WITH my ADHD instead of against it has helped the most.

[M.mayer]

Oh my... You sound a lot like me and I´m hopeful... Im still in the diagnosis process. I´ll check out the book. THanks!