Maybe you'll think I'm nuts but…

[Anonymous]

I’m sure you folks will think I’m crazy for doing this.

I made an appointment to see my doctor today, AND I scored me some pills! Yes, I’m jumping the shark. WHY?

I’ve gotta upgrade my math skills if I want to transition myself into a trade, and that is going to be a demanding college class, a 4 month foundation course (next spring). I’ve tried a bit of tutoring and didn’t get very far. Apparently the volunteer tutor is too busy now to be bothered to start with me again. Fall classes are coming up fast and I STILL haven’t heard from the local ADHD clinic about when I could get a first appointment. They haven’t returned my last phone call yet. It also frustrates me that they regard school kids as their primary clientele. That could leave me out of the loop indefinitely. There’s nowhere else in my locality to go to. Only other option is to get a referral to a specialist in the big city, hundreds of km’s away. Also, next spring, my employment insurance runs out *unless I start school*. I just might have to move out of my condo, which I own, maybe to a neighboring province (family there) and that’s a massive headache in of itself (causing me a paralyzing sense of anxiety as well). There is no local ADHD support group, just a local branch of the CMHA, and most ppl there don’t know much about ADHD. The walls are closing in. Procrastination is killing me. I might not get other help until it’s too late. I feel that I can’t deal with all this if I have a severe case of untreated ADHD. I just can’t get my shit together; as it were. (Depression has exacerbated things tremendously. Did I mention previously that depression meds didn’t work?)

I’m trying the Rx for Concerta tomorrow. Bloody expensive stuff, I know. Wish me luck.

Since I’m posting this here, there’s nothing I can do to keep anyone from saying anything, I suppose. If you happen to have any advice or just an opinion, fire away; if you dare. Thanks for letting me vent my spleen.

Bobcat

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[Patte Rosebank]

Concerta may be bloody expensive, but there are ways around this.

The one way that you should absolutely AVOID, is getting the generic form of it.

In most cases, generics and branded drugs are pretty much the same. Concerta, on the other hand, is VERY different from its generic form, thanks to its unique, complex delivery system. Health Canada is currently investigating this, and may soon declare that generic and branded Concerta are NOT the same. So you need to make sure that you get the actual branded Concerta.

In most provinces, even if you aren’t on a drug plan, a pharmacist can and will substitute a generic, UNLESS you have your doctor HAND-WRITE “no substitutions” on the prescription. If it’s pre-printed or rubber stamped, or put there by any other mechanical means, it doesn’t count.

Even if it is hand-written on the prescription, be sure to verify that you did indeed get actual branded Concerta. The pills look very different from other capsules or caplets. They’re tiny, hard cylinders (shorter than a standard pill or caplet), with slightly rounded ends, and one end has a tiny, round, indentation in it. They also have the word “alza” plus the dose number printed on them. If the pills you get don’t look like this, then they’re not actual branded Concerta.

Now, for the right ways to help with the cost:

If you’re on a low income, apply for your provincial drug benefit plan. In Ontario, you can get the necessary information, and even download the form, at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/drugs/trillium.html

Once you’re on the plan, it will cover the cost of most of your prescriptions. However, in the case of drugs for which a generic version exists, most plans will only cover the generic form. If you want the branded form, you’ll have to pay the difference. For Concerta, that’s quite a steep amount, but Ortho-Janssen (the maker of Concerta) has a free patient assistance plan, which covers the entire amount that isn’t covered by your provincial plan. If you don’t have any drug coverage, Concerta’s plan will still cover part of your cost. Just ask your pharmacist about it when you drop off your prescription. He/she should have some of Concerta’s patient assistance cards. The pharmacist enters the information into the computer, and a few seconds later, you’ll be approved. Result: You’ll get your branded Concerta at low- or no- cost to you!

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[Anonymous]

Any teachers out there on medication? please respond on workplace/teacher forum

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[Rick Green – Founder of TotallyADD]

I’ve been on Concerta for over a year now. I have two different doses. One for days where I’m going to want to be very focussed and I know it’s going to be routine or boring or involve a lot of listening. The lower dose for when it’s going to be a fun day and I just want to make sure I’m present, clear, and not feeling overwhelmed. (I used to do the same thing with coffee. Four one the slow days, two when I was zooming. And of course Caffeine does the same thing. In fact, when people say, “Doesn’t a stimulant medication make you more hyper and crazy?” I now ask, “Have you ever seen people sitting around a Starbucks? After they’ve had their stimulant? Are they bouncing off the walls? Or able to focus and read and do work in a noisy environment?” Concerta is not cheap. But it’s about the same as those two cups of coffee cost me. Without all the calories! Ha ha! (Oh, and when I forget to take my Concerta in the morning, which happens at least once a week, I don’t have a headache like I would when I missed my coffee.)

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[Anonymous]

GREAT point, Rick. I may adopt the Starbucks response. I have to admit, I lean on caffeine for additional support.

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[Anonymous]

Well, nine days later and Concerta was a bust – for me anyway.

I did do my due diligence and it was the real thing, not a generic. It made me nervous, twitchy, irritable and it made my heart rate skyrocket. The Doc didn’t bother trying a lower dosage with me so now it’s on to Vyvanse (his idea – not mine). I got a free sample this time so I hope the hell Vyvanse is cheaper, though that won’t matter if it doesn’t work for me either. *sigh* Another ride on the medication merry-go-round. YAY!

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[Anonymous]

You’re not crazy…::::slowly backing away:::::

One thing you DEFINITELY want to do with your current approach is to be honest – COMPLETELY HONEST – with yourself as to the hour-by-hour results you’re getting…are you REALLY being more productive taking this route, and getting done what you want to get done?

What about how you’re FEELING – is it getting better, staying the same, or getting worse?

Is there a dependency risk? Check yourself carefully until you’ve got the back-up you need.

Track it. If it’s not working, you gotta make a different move.

If it’s working, then you gotta make sure you do it BY THE BOOK as best you can muster until you’ve got the resources to help you in the way you require.

T. Lavon Lawrence

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[Anonymous]

TLavonLawrence- excellent advice

Sometimes it is necessary to use a formal checklist to evaluate your clinical symptoms. You can get that from http://www.caddra.ca/cms4/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98&Itemid=143&lang=en

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[Coach Tom]

I have been on Concerta for about 8 years now. How can you tell it is stlll working ? I feel no different when I take it or not . Do you develop a resisteance over time ?

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[Anonymous]

I can’t say whether or not you develop a resistance, but I will say that I can’t tell a difference when I’ve taken my Concerta, but everyone around me can. It was the same way when I was on Ritalin as a kid. I didn’t think I needed it because I didn’t feel any different, but everyone that had to deal with me noted a massive difference.

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