[Postman Pat]

Hello,

I hope I am not wasting my time here. I thought i would give it a try as I need some feedback and perhaps it might be a place to relate with like minded types.

Where do I begin to start to introduce myself? For now, I'll leave out details. If anyone out there is really interested in knowing more about me, I figure you'll ask and if I feel like telling you, I will. Please don't interpret that as rudeness on my part.

I was diagnosed with ADHD/ADD last year. Apparently had it all my life. At first, I was sceptical, but now that I have done some research and understand things better, I have no doubt about it. I'd say it runs in our family. I am glad I can finally put a label on why some things are the way they are.

My main motivation in joining this place was to get opinions and ideas and use the chat function, but I see that I have to make at least 5 posts before I am allowed to use chat.

Here is the state of affairs as they stand now. Basically, I have two options available to me in how I should be dealing with everything with regard to professional help. Either with a private specialist or the government/state health system.

I have been seeing a private specialist since the diagnosis. I should add that the specialist is highly recommended and an acknowledged expert. He is certainly no cowboy. My only reservation about him is that he is ADHD/ADD himself. That is OK, but he does get things wrong with billing me. I can deal with that. The plus point is, he prescribes me the same medications he uses himself. I think it is good that a doctor has first hand experience of medication he prescribes.

I started off slowly building up to 2 Wellbutrin a day, but I find it makes me too edgy, so I decided to reduce it to one a day. One is good. I noticed immediate positve effects. About 6 weeks after, I started Ritalin. 10 mg 4 times a day. It is great, but I don't stick to the regime I was told to follow. Sometimes I might only have 2 or 3 or even just one. The Ritalin has made a difference for the better. For a while, for the first time in my life, I felt this is the person I should have been all along. Positive and full of optimism. It lasted about 6-8 weeks. I still feel OK, but not as "intensely" happy as before.

The thing is, I am a long time Cannabis user and use it daily. Believe it or not, I function and have functioned reasonably well. I have a respectable job and am not bad at it, though could always do better ( by the way, I am not a postman). Here is my dilemma. My specialist's approach to dealing with me and what I know of the government health authorities approach are completely different with some issues.

The State health system won't prescribe me medication until I give up cannabis. My specialist doesn't agree with that. He thinks that I will just eventually give up because the Wellbutrin in essence will make that process easier.

I prefer my specialist's approach. Giving up cannabis is not easy and admitedly, I am not even sure I want to give up. I do enjoy it. The specialist also says you should not just stop as it probably will have adverse effects. However, maybe it is hindering progress. I have reduced my consumption, but not stopped. Maybe it is a matter of waiting a bit longer and hanging in there. But since starting medication, I have experienced a couple of panic attacks (more at the start of the course of treatment, less so now), which I never had before, and I am sure it is the interaction with cannabis that causes it. The medication has certainly helped, but I wouldn't have this medication under the state health system

So there you have it. Which approach is best? The private specialist or state health system?

Thanks

[slightlysane]

Hi,
Which approach do you think is best?

I also wondered how you could type so well. When I got high I didnt want to do anything. I don't get high now.

Some of my thoughts:
1.Maybe something in the cannabis is interfering with your meds?
2.Sometimes medication doesn't work after awhile. I have experienced that with zoloft. But I keep on it because i think it lessens my aggression.
3. What effects does weed give you that you continue with it?

[DePressMe]

Hi Postman. It sounds like you have a pretty complicated situation on your hands. If you have been a daily pot smoker for awhile cutting back and not going cold turkey could be a good idea. And, yes, maybe the Wellbutrin will help with some of that. If the pot is affecting your meds then you'll eventually probably need to stop the pot all together. Just not cold turkey.

I'm in recovery (alcohol and drugs) so I no longer smoke pot or do any other drugs. But, I have a very close relative who is a daily pot smoker. He is high functioning and you'd never suspect that he even smokes it. Although I think his pot could be replaced with some psych meds. I think he is self medicating with the pot. For whatever reason, it works for him, but not for me. Maybe if you stay on your psych meds you'll no longer need the pot.

It sounds as if the psychiatrist has a pretty good understanding of your situation. Is there a reason why you need to go to the State health system?

Hang in there...