Scared to take Medicine

[Anonymous]

Hey all, I was just diagnosed about a month ago. I was prescribed Vyvance, which made me feel terrible. I would like to try another medication, but I’m concerned about the various negative articles I have read about ADD drugs. Is Ritalin the oldest/best studied drug on the market?

I’m an over weight individual who has been ADD-eating for my entire life. I’m worried about the stimulant effect on my heart. I currently have no heart problems or BP problems, but I worry about dying from this stuff.

Am I overreacting?

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[laddybug3]

I have not taken medication since I was little. Even now, I don’t think I would take medication. The whole idea of taking medication to control me. I control me. That is what I normally think.

No, I don’t think you are over reacting.

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[Anonymous]

The Vyvance worked. I was able to concentrate. I just want to live to see my grandkids! Is there anything on the market that is proven to be safe long-term?

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[Hans]

tonyminch

yes you are over reacting. You should work with perscribing DR. to get the right dose…Ritalin type products are available in varous strengths and release mechanism–(how they are absorbed–rate wise)..

My DR had me get a blood pressure monitor and had me take readings 2 weeks before starting medication. In this way he can help guage the effect.s I have a right bundle branch block, higher blood pressure on my right arm, Pre trigger —I have no problems in fact my heart is steadier on medication. High blood pressure down-115-119 down to 105 low from 55-65 up to mid 70’s..heart rate up from 55 beats to 70 beats per minute….

It sounds like the Vyvance initial dosage was just to high…

Good luck…

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[Anonymous]

Hans, my nurse practitioner told me she would prescribe any medication I am comfortable with. I told her I would think about it. Does Ritalin have the most studies on it?

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[Hans]

laddybug3

I beg to differ with you. Medicine is taken so you can controll yourself. IT DOES NOT CONTROL YOU. ADHD is caused by the chemical levels in the brain. Medication helps bring those levels to an acceptable level.

If you have an ADHD brain then I doubt you are in controll- I know I have been there..I am no longer a slave to my unexplained anxiety, stress, inability to focus and carry on a conversation without changeing the subject.

These types of comments do little but add to the misconception of ADD/ADHD..its a chemical imbalance in the Brain. No amount ot weekly therapy is going to solve your problen neither is snake oil etc. .

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[Hans]

tonyminch

You should be going to a DR. Psychatrist speciallized in ADD/ADHD. Ritalin is a chemical that effects dopamine and seratonin levels in the brain. You are trying to get these checmicals to a proper level…

My Dr had me try a 5 mg dose of Ritalin for 3 days. He had me come in and asked how I felt. He went over my blood pressure with me. He had me describe howI felt, what I noticed etc. I had great results. I asked for a timed release medication. Once again a week trial and a DR. Visit to go of my physical reactions. Then a month session and a revist on dossage.

In addition there are possible drug interaction. All this you need to know about. Over the counter nasal decongestants can cause problems-MAOI inhibiters also work on brain chemistry — taking these together can cause problems…

In conclusion Ritalin in its various forms is very safe.if taken correctly..

Common houshold salt can kill you if taken in excess…

It does take expert advise from a trained Physician to help you get to the propper dosage and delivery systems.. As you read fhese post you can get some ideas how people take “Ritalin” depending on what type of mental work they will be doing. Yes for math no for english or vice versa. Remember everyone brain chemistry is different there is no automatic answer.

Good luck

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[Anonymous]

@Hans, you write “ADHD is caused by the chemical levels in the brain.” Fact is, that’s an overgeneralization that still remains to be verified. There are MRI studies of actual brain structures, many ADHDers do not respond well to medications, and all psychoactive meds have moderate to very severe “side” effects (what a joke, eh? What makes some effects regular and others, side?) —

I don’t think you should be patronizing towards people who choose not to suck in everything the industrial pharmaceutical complex tells them and their doctors they should. Critical thinking and lots of research is important.

I say do the research, make your own choice. There is no one way. Trained physicians are only people and most of them won’t help you.

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[Lindstr7]

@TonyM – I would recommend watching the series of videos offered here by Dr. J and Rick. I found them to be very educational (and entertaining). I learned that Ritalin has been used since the 1930s and it is generally agreed that it is a safe medication even taken long term. I was afraid of taking medication as well because I’d gone through so many …Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa…. and none of them seemed to help me long term.

I finally decided to get tested for ADD after doing a bit of reading and realized that my symptoms were more ADD-like than depression. Well, what do you know, the proverbial light bulb went off and I realized that this life-long condition was what was holding me back. I believe the depression was actually more due to my not getting ahead in life as a result of the ADD than actual depression itself. They are often overlapped from what I’ve learned thus far.

When my doctor finally did prescribe Ritalin, it was like the switch turned on in my brain and I could see things much more clearly and the door flew wide open. I can think clearly without a zillion thoughts cross-firing in my brain, allowing me to be much more linear in my thought process. I don’t dwell on things nearly as much, I don’t stumble over my words when speaking to someone, I don’t worry about every little thing, I SLEEP better (!), I’m more attentive to my daughter and even she is improving in her organization and planning. I can tell she is happier with me and it makes her feel more secure knowing that she can count on me. Its been world changing so far. I realize I have to keep up the good habits,medicine isn’t a cure-all, but what a difference it has made for me!

I know what HME is saying about pharmaceutical companies, and I had those thoughts too…..is the entire world being over medicated just for profit? I don’t think that is the way to look at this. If a drug can help you, why deprive yourself of your full potential. You’d take medication such as an antibiotic to cure an infection wouldn’t you? Or meds for your blood pressure, etc. I would never go back to the way I was and if I have to take Ritalin for the rest of my life I will. The only side effects for me were a restless first few nights of sleep and mild headaches as it wore off, but timing the meds right has eliminated both of those.

I hope this helps and please check in often….. lots of caring, supportive people here.

Oh, and I’m also eating less and exercising more Good luck to you!

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[Lindstr7]

p.s. TonyM….I agree with Hans that you should at least TRY to get seen by a specialist, or at least a psychiatrist. Nurse practitioners are used more and more often so HMO’s can save $$. If your plan offers mental or behavioral services, definitely look into making an appointment. Whether you choose medication or not, information is vital in making the right choice for you. I”m not advocating either for you, just recommend you consider all available options. I know I’ve tried therapy for years with little effect. For me it was the drug that finally helped me be who I always knew deep inside I could and should be.

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[Anonymous]

@Lindstr7, I appreciate your detailed description and I’m not here to tell you what to do. As a mater of fact, I will take Ritalin before taking any blood pressure medication! And I have no plans to take any Ritalin, so…

But I did some online research and for one thing, how could Ritalin have been in use since the 1930s when “Methylphenidate was first synthesized in 1944, and was identified as a stimulant in 1954”? And a cute fact: “Methylphenidate was synthesized by Ciba chemist Leandro Panizzon. His wife, Marguerite, had low blood pressure and would take the drug as a stimulant before playing tennis. He named the substance Ritaline, after his wife’s nickname, Rita.”

This is just from Wikipedia, but you can find this information in multiple places, alongside a very long list of side effects ranging from headaches to psychosis. I, for one, have learned to be wary of the drug companies. But that’s just me – and why I suggested that people do their own research and draw their own conclusions. Physicians have their own agendas, and those don’t always include our best interest.

If people with schizophrenia were cured without this type of for-obscene-profit pharmaceuticals, I think there’s hope for all of us.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate

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[Lindstr7]

HME You’re right. I’m sorry I got the info not completely right. The video I’m referring to can be found here on this site.

http://totallyadd.com/sponsored-videos-part-1

Apparently it was benzadrin/dexadrin (sp) that was used in the 30s to treat children suffering from the after effects of encephalitis. The kids nicknamed the pills their “math pills.”

and methylphenidate was being used in the sixties (according to the drs. in this video anyway).

I don’t disagree with you about the pharmaceutical “industrial complex.” It is a for-profit industry and one should always be wary and do their research before starting on any medication. That being said…. I don’t think one should NOT take medication simply because someone is making a profit off of my condition. I agree entirely that information is power when making decisions about one’s health and the more thorough your research, the better prepared you are to make good choices. I know I did and am happy with my results so far. Thanks for your input and research! Good night!

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[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link. I’m watching the informative video’s now. I didn’t know this site had those! I thought i had to buy the 40 dollar documentary for this information!

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[Hans]

HME

I’m not trying to get too technical. My layman examples are simplified explenations that everyone who reads this forum can understand.

I fully agree with you about doing research. I talked to Dr about side effects before taking any medication. His explanation was more or less as follows (DISCLAIMER). Drugs like Ritalin stimulate certain areas of the brain by increasing Seratonin and Dopamin. The increase in these chemical levels allow better access to information//functioning. of certain areas of the brain

In layman terms- a 6″ pipe allows more water to fow then a 1″ pipe.

Side efects are caused when areas are over stimulated by either taking too much of a drug or the drug is stimulating areas that do not require stimulation.

Side effects can also be caused by drug interactions-MAOI’s is an example because it stops seratonin from breaking down. leading to very high levels of seratonin…

In layman terms the 6″ pipe now is a 36″ in pipe and everything is flooded out and there is a problem in brain functioning

Hence the proper dosage is important and should not be just gueseed at but determined thu DR supervised trails.

I take a “Ritalin” medication and it has turned my life around. Yes I am lucky the medication is stimulating the right areas.

I agree with your asessment about the pharmaceutical “industrial complex” They are not doing any favors. The local pharmacies are no better with markups up to 400% over their cost. The US government is not much help either.

Drug prices remind me of the joke about devorce lawers– Why are divorce lawers so expensive— answer “because they are worth it.”-

There are many variations to the basic “Ritalin medication” The basic chemical is the same but the rate at which they are absorbed in the body is different.-hence different pattents

Best of luck to everyone….

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[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t trust anything I read on Wikepedia. I trust my doctors. I do respect that there are a lot of people who think that “natural” and drug-free is the way to go–and if that works for them, great; it has never worked for me.

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[Author]

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