ADD Meds and sleep

I have taken ADD medicine off and on since 1995. It usually depends on the situation or lack of insurance.... I have awesome insurance now but now I am having horrible insomnia. We have tried Medidate, Adderall, and Concerta so far. Different dosages, time of day taken, etc.... My psyciatrist is not really wanting to try anything else. That sucks for me because my life is 100% better when I am on the meds. I am happy, sociable, do (and finish) projects with my kids, and so much more. But I don't know what to do about the insomnia. When we did the Concerta, after 4 days awake my Dr called me in a rx for Thorazine. I slept for 3 days. I can't live one way or the other way. I am getting very depressed because not only is it effecting me it effects my family as well. I am thinking about switching Dr's.

Switching doctors might be best. I have ADHD (and bipolar and PTSD) and started having severe insomnia when I became perimenopausal. My doctor did not seem to realize how difficult it was for me to function on two or three hours sleep. I fired her and my new doc is much better. It took the new doc about six months to find the right combination but finally I sleep sufficient on *most* nights. Well mornings because I go to bed at 5am and sleep until noon.

Good luck to you in finding what helps you sleep. I know how frustrating that can be.

You mentioned premenopausal.... I am in that stage of life as well. I really wonder if that might have anything to do with the change?

I have ADHD (dx'd as an adult) and have been taking Adderall for about 2.5 years. Every once in a while I go off it for awhile just to remember why I take it :-) When I stop taking it I start having dreams and my sleep is distrupted. At this point I have other the other aspects of my life well managed and would like to go off the adderall an just manage my symptoms other ways. But I find the sleep disturbance challenging to deal with. I'm not sure if it is just a withdraw symptom that will lessen with time. Usually what happens when I go off it is I have a few sleep disturbed nights then a really freaky dream and then I decide...its time to start taking it again. Either that or I start snapping at my kids when i get overstimulated.

I'm not quiet premenopausal but likely cutting it close.

Switch Doctor's because you have kids and it also effects them as well as your self. I myself have O.C.D and Depression. Theres days I dont want to get up. I was on Zoloft but that made me sleep and i also have kids. Then i switch Doctor and was on Ritlin and it help. Then due to insurance i been off for three years. I have insurance now but am affarid to see a doc since i moved. Good luck to you!

Have you asked your doctor about Ambien? Also, an over the counter herbal supplement called Melatonin helps me out a lot.