[emwell]

I started adderal a few months ago (I think). I have been taking 60 mg per day for about 2 weeks. Although I am doing a bit better at things like keeping kitchen clean, closing drawers, keeping clutter off tables, etc. I don't know if this is the result of the meds, or my extra effort to pick up and battle ADD. I still have major trouble with arriving on time,{if I arrive at all}, talking way too much, racing head, etc.

I see my doctor on Monday. I am so tempted to tell her to change the med., but i want this to work. I am tired of trying a bunch of meds. before something works.

[cocoa]

HI EMWELL

ADD OR ADHD MEDICATIONS ARE MOST TIMES IF YOUR LUCKY, 50% EFFECTIVE AND AS TIME PASSES AS YOU TAKE THE MEDS. THAT EFFECTIVENESS CONTINUES TO DECREASE. I JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW THIS BEFORE YOU CHANGE MEDS. OR SEE YOUR DOCTOR THE NEXT TIME.

IF YOU WISH TO LEARN MORE ON THIS, CHECK OUT THE BOOK " THE ADD ANSWER ", BY DR FRANK LAWLES. HE HAS BEEN STUDING THIS TOPIC FOR YEARS AND HAS GREAT INCITE. I FIND MOST TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE AN ILLNESS OR DISORDER, THE BEST WAY TO LEARN AND GET HELP IS THROUGH READING AND LEARNING ABOUT IT. YOU MAY BE SUPPRISED, MABY IN TIME YOU WILL BE TEACHING THE DOCTORS A THING OR TWO.

TAKE CARE, JACQUI :-))

[ToddAADD]

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HI EMWELL

ADD OR ADHD MEDICATIONS ARE MOST TIMES IF YOUR LUCKY, 50% EFFECTIVE AND AS TIME PASSES AS YOU TAKE THE MEDS. THAT EFFECTIVENESS CONTINUES TO DECREASE.

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Many doctors and reference material says this is not true. Is it true for aspirin? No

I just went off pure Ritalin to adderal and I love it. Ritalin produces the endorphins your frontal lobes need, it has a calming effect that will then help you compensate for ADD. It is not a cure.

[cocoa]

hi everyone

I just wanted to comment on ToddAADD"s answer to my quote.

I got my information off the doctor Phil's show in sept. The show was called "PARENTING WITH PILLS. He looked at many sides of the ADD consernes. At one point in the show he said that ADD or ADHD meds are 50% effective if your lucky and that that effectiveness does decrease over time.

I guess there are lots of oppinions on the effectiveness of these meds but i've heard Dr. phil say many times he backs up every word he says and he does his research.

You can see some of the disscusion on the show at Dr.Phil.com or you can go to the expert guest he had on the show who wrote the book "THE ADD ANSWER " Dr. Frank Lawlis at www.TheADDAnswer.com

As far as Ritalin goes my son was on it in its many forms. It is yet to be effective so i think that shows that not all drugs are effective for everyone. He is now on the very latest form right now called, CONCERTA. He has been on it for planty time for the effect to work, and it is yet to be effective. So much for Ritalin!

Jacqui

[ToddAADD]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
hi everyone

I just wanted to comment on ToddAADD"s answer to my quote.

I got my information off the doctor Phil's show in sept. The show was called "PARENTING WITH PILLS. He looked at many sides of the ADD concerns. At one point in the show he said that ADD or ADHD meds are 50% effective if your lucky and that that effectiveness does decrease over time.

I guess there are lots of opinions on the effectiveness of these meds but i've heard Dr. phil say many times he backs up every word he says and he does his research.

You can see some of the discussion on the show at Dr.Phil.com or you can go to the expert guest he had on the show who wrote the book "THE ADD ANSWER " Dr. Frank Lawlis at www.TheADDAnswer.com

As far as Ritalin goes my son was on it in its many forms. It is yet to be effective so i think that shows that not all drugs are effective for everyone. He is now on the very latest form right now called, CONCERTA. He has been on it for plenty time for the effect to work, and it is yet to be effective. So much for Ritalin!

Jacqui

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www.chadd.org sent out an email, I'm trying to get another copy now, refuting many of the falsities that were on the Dr. Phil show.

As for your son, how many opinions have you received on his diagnosis?
Every drug has a side effect whether you need the drug or not, what effect are the drugs having on your son?

[ToddAADD]

Another book by Dr. Lawlis:
Transpersonal Medicine
“Transpersonal” is defined as some influence from beyond (trans-), such as transcendence and spirituality, or across (trans-) oneself, such as love relationships and healing touch. The book, Transpersonal Medicine, is a presentation of what transpersonal forces have been shown to heal and the mechanisms of how they heal. Experts of the world have contributed their perspectives on the various dimensions.

hmmmm..............

[cocoa]

Thanks TODD

Thanks for all your input and information. I spend a lot of time searching for new information.
My son was so called dognossed by 4 doctors. I am bipolar and there is always the chance i past it on to my son. He is so much like i was at his age and growing up. Unfortunitly the simptums for childhood bipolar and ADHD are the same. I try to get the doctors to comsider the possibility of him having bipolar but they all are stuck in there ways and i seem to be the only one willing to admit his up down behavior could be bipolar. The doctors are still treating him like an adult when they look at bipolar simtums an it drives me nuts.

You would think after years of ADHD meds. and no effective results they would move on but no, they keep plugging away at ADHD. my poor son doesn't know if hes coming or going half the time. It really makes me sad.

ow by the way TODD im glad your doing well on your meds.

[ToddAADD]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Thanks TODD

Thanks for all your input and information. I spend a lot of time searching for new information.
My son was so called dognossed by 4 doctors. I am bipolar and there is always the chance i past it on to my son. He is so much like i was at his age and growing up. Unfortunitly the simptums for childhood bipolar and ADHD are the same. I try to get the doctors to comsider the possibility of him having bipolar but they all are stuck in there ways and i seem to be the only one willing to admit his up down behavior could be bipolar. The doctors are still treating him like an adult when they look at bipolar simtums an it drives me nuts.

You would think after years of ADHD meds. and no effective results they would move on but no, they keep plugging away at ADHD. my poor son doesn't know if hes coming or going half the time. It really makes me sad.

ow by the way TODD im glad your doing well on your meds.

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You just have to keep trying new docs until you find the right one, my doc says he spends most of his time taking kids OFF ritilan, if you have ADD ritilan is truly a blessing.

[emwell]

Cocoa, I am sorry no meds seem to be working for your son. I like Todd's suggestion of finding a doctor who will treat him correctly. If No ADD meds are working then maybe they are wrong and you are right. I am lucky, my doctor listens to me.

We decided to try the Adderal for a bit longer. Ritalin has been suggested, but I have it stuck in my head that it is a kid's drug. My bet is that because I am resistive to Ritalin, that will be the one that works.

Cocoa, I am glad you clarified that you got some of your info from Dr Phil. I never liked him, never watched his show, and would take none of his advise. I liked him a bit when he was on Oprah, but I got over that quick. I will check out the book you suggested though.

Todd I am glad that meds are helping you. That is what I am looking for. I know I have a battle ahead of me with or without meds. The diagnosis of ADD alone, helped me understand myself better and gave me the motivation to try and change me.

It has been a tough week. Maybe I'll go post in all the other forums now. That way I can cover all of this weeks crap.

Thank you for everyones responses. I appreciate them.

[(JD)]

as a byline here... thanks Todd for this, because I, for one, do not consider Dr Phil a real therapist. He has to hype stuff for the viewing audience... and he seems to feed on that more and more. He is more of an advice giver... and personally, I don't like nor use the advice he ever gives. (And, no, I don't watch his show enough to keep track of him.. . I evaluate him from time to time and he only becomes more radical.)

[(JD)]

Yeah, me too... but even the drug companies state that their medicines rarely help more than 30% of the population they are made for... depressing...

I've said it before and will again: diet is important!

It is ever increasingly harder to give anyone a decent diet, this day and age with the FDA allowing practically anything (except some things good for us) onto the shelf! (Like nearly EVERYTHING has sugar in it, or a chemical substitute that has even more issues...) Why do we need sugar in, say, mustard??? anyway... getting off soap box.....

I have seen time after time how a child's ADHD/ADD is all but calmed when a healthy diet is eatenand I hope those of you struggling with this will truly investigate it.

[(JD)]

Cocoa you sure are correct when saying... maybe... patients will be teaching the doctors a thing or two.. for noone knows like the searching patient! It's the patient's feedback to the drug companies that let them know if something is working or not. Usually not. sigh.

[emwell]

Quite a few years ago, my primary care doc suggested I see the dietician. My diet is probably on the top 5 worst diet lists. Maybe I should investigate my insurance and see if this benefit is still available to me. I could really use some guidelines on how to eat properly.