Anyone not on medication?

[Anonymous]

I was diagnosed when I was 4 and took Ritalin, concerts and clonidine. When I was 13 I was given te choice to stay on the drugs or try it on own. I decided I wanted to work it out myself. Since I have been of the mess it has been very challenging but looking back at the personal challenges, things I have learned and the stage I am at, it has been rewarding. I just watched add and mastering it and found that I am using quite a few techniques already. Anyway my question is; is anyone off the meds. If so how are you coping, things you learned helped and for those who are on meds what are the bigger benefits and downfalls of going back on the meds.

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[Wgreen]

I’m not on meds, simply because I can’t seem to tolerate them. My cardiologist said no to the stimulants; other meds have made me extremely ill. After taking Wellbutrin for a week, I thought I was going to die! Seriously. I went to see my attorney to tweak my will before I went to the doctor.

So I’m trying to muddle through at present.

This site is chock full of suggestions for navigating Attention Deficit. It’s a matter of what works (or doesn’t) for you. I find that most “techniques” do me little good, because they require perseverance, which I don’t have. It turns out that organizational tips assume a modicum of a priori organizational ability, which also is missing, or AWOL much of the time. So… if I could, I’d be on meds.

I look at it this way: ADD, like so many things, is not personal. Of course, it has an intensely personal dimension, but it also affects many other people who interact with us—colleagues, friends, family, partners. If our ADD is causing problems for others in our lives, it seems to me we have an obligation to do whatever we can to mitigate the friction, even if we have concerns. I’m not suggesting you should put your health at risk. But I wouldn’t let personal inclination trump a responsibility to be a good parent, spouse, friend, etc. (NB. I’m NOT saying we should always be trying to please others, or live by their lights, but we do have an obligation to share responsibilities, be civil, refrain from squandering family resources, etc.)

I’m going back to see a specialist next month.

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[Anonymous]

I took meds once several years ago for depression, and after completing the first script, did not renew. I believe I am ADD now under self diagnoses, and started looking into what meds might do for me. Then I took a look at my life situation. I have a job that my ADD does not negatively effect, yet. My marriage is good. Life is good. So, I thought, why would I medicate for a condition that is there simply because it’s there? ADD untreated won’t lead to any long-term health defects that I know of. The medication might. So, I’m going to try to go without until I see a real need for it.

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[Bibliophile]

I was off meds for 23 years and only started them again last year or so. I was similar to your case, Niksoh2, in that I seemed to get by “alright.” That being said, as my job pressures mounted and home life became more stressful and chaotic, e.g. two kids, I found that I was not able to maintain the coping mechanisms that I had developed as they required an almost ritualistic adherence to be effective.

Are the meds helping? They are helping my tasks at work get done, but it is sometimes problematic if I get sidetracked as now I find I lock in my attention (i.e. perserverate or hyperfocus) without realizing it on secondary or unrelated tasks and it takes me longer to extract myself, when I can. I will have to say that in many ways my job is ill suited for someone with ADHD, but I have altered it as much as possible to accommodate my issues.

I agree with WGreen in that it is just as important to ensure that your symptoms are not impacting those around you and not just look inward as one might conclude that everything was fine while others see it differently.

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[Tiddler]

Talking of symptoms impacting negatively on those around us – my husband asked me to reduce my dose of concerta because of the effect it was having in the evenings as I ‘crashed’. I’m managing okay on the lower dose and it’s a reasonable pay off.

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[Anonymous]

Being diagnosed only in November 2010, I have been on Concerta at 45 mg daily. Oddly enough, there are time – namely on weekends that I get off of my regular routine and miss taking my medication. When I get up and don’t have them in my system, I can certainly tell the difference. I am scattered, lost, dazed, confused, and distracted – and I am flashed back to the time when I struggled with everything. Its in those moments that I am grateful for the medication and the coaching that I have received – I wonder just how I managed before and know that I could not go backwards.

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[jennifermac]

As the wife of an unmedicated ADD husband I feel my name should be changed to Ritalin! As I’m sure many family members can attest, I do the job that medication should- I remind, I organize, I finish jobs, I council, I encourage, I love this man! But make no mistake I find it exhausting, and I would far rather he took medication so I could stop feeling like all this was my responsibility. People with ADD often get into co-dependant relationships with care-taker types and burn them out. It becomes just the normal routine for you and you don’t see the effect it has on those around you until they get fed up. You would save yourself a lot of painful relationship fall-out by taking meds. and thereby taking ownership of the problem. This isn’t to say you can’t expect help and support from family, friends or employers. I think people are just more inclined to help you if they feel you are doing everything you can to help yourself!

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[Anonymous]

jennifermac: as an unmedicated adult with ADHD I want to thank you for your honesty. I think my husband tends to pick up my slack. He doesn’t complain much (probably because he knows how sensitive to criticism I am), but I’m sure he can’t love it.

I’ve been considering starting medication again but have been held back by procrastination, and anxiety (from past medication experiences).

Now I just need to remember to make a doctors appointment

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[Scattybird]

jennifermac – you’re right. We need to take ownership and responsibility for our ADHD.

If we have been diagnosed there’s no reason why we cannot move forward.

On saying that, one of our biggest issues is with motivation. As Barklay said ‘it’s a deficit of motivation’. So we see things differently if we see them at all.

Mark – I agree with you. If your coping mechanisms work then there’s no need for medication. I take meds now because my coping mechanisms aren’t as effective anymore. On saying that, I prefer myself off meds – I mean personality wise – but that’s only possible under certain circumstances or when it doesn’t matter.

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[Anonymous]

Jennifermac- It works both ways in the co-dependent relationships that burn them out because the other person doesn’t understand the struggles int he same way that we can not see them struggle with our strange behaviors.

I have been UN-medicated for most of the time i have been diagnosed and I have struggled horrible both socially and personally. I tried using medication to help but instead I became a zombie on the lowest dose given. I have formed management strategies to help but since becoming a single mom, full time teacher and full time student I am falling apart again and have considered trying medication once again. I work great when I am teaching, where i fall part is school for myself and staying organized at home. I am just begiing to feel the drain of constantly feeling like I suck at life

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[kc5jck]

kyla plumlee – I see you’re new here, welcome. You might read http://totallyadd.com/forum/topic.php?id=2940 then the original thread at http://totallyadd.com/forum/topic.php?id=2907 (start at the second post, it’s an edited version of the first)

Let us know what happens.

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[Anonymous]

No meds myself, I did take meds at one time but no longer, being retired may have something to do with that……..but taking meds or not doesn’t mean anything. We are each individuals, and our situation(s), circumstances, life experiences, education, socio-economic situation(s) etc. etc. …are all varied as snowflakes……also ADD traits or behaviors also fall on a spectrum ….?????

We seem to share some commonalities or traits (some, maybe) …..but it may be that we actually share more differences. So meds…YES or NO…..hmmmmm……. I believe is really up to individuals, their circumstances and what their Doctor advises???

Toofat

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[sketchesnscribbles]

I took Ritalin in elementary school and they took me off of it in junior high to put me on some other drug (I don’t remember the name of it). But the drug that I started taking then was absolutely horrible, it kept me up all night and it made it even harder to concentrate. It might have been that the dosage was too low or something, but it was worse than how I am now (unmedicated). I started taking Wellbutrin and I had to stop taking it because it made me suicidal. But everyone is different, and it is up to you to decide what is right for you.

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[dougdougy]

symptoms are unbearable without the Dex.

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[Author]

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