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“….My new doc told me I could stop the effexor I originally took for depression and anxiety since it wasn’t necessary in my case. I am kinda afraid to stop it, I don’t know what to expect.”
I had been on Cipralex for depression and anxiety for years. My Dr told me to stop Cipralex when I started Concerta. I was hesitant as well – but have not had any issues with anxiety or depression since. I am on a different stimulant now, which is actually working! In fact even when I took Cipralex I still suffered from depression, which my Dr has told me is the side effect of dealing with my undiagnosed ADHD.
Different for everyone, but I was fine stopping my anti depressant when going on stimulants! Hooray!
REPORT ABUSEI always report them, as I am sure most of us do!
REPORT ABUSEI switched from Concerta (didn’t work along with nasty side effects) to Adderall. Startign to see some improvement and have already been on the phone with Dr to start figuring out the right dosage.
I find that if I take Adderall XR when I first get up (5:30am) it really only lasts me until just after lunch time (12:30 or so). I know it is supposed to be long lasting (10-12 hrs) and have read that the higher the dose you go the longer it lasts?
Would like to see if anyone out there has taken the XR twice daily, or any other medication as a boost near the end. My only fear is the sleep aspect, however I am also on Elavil (and have been for years) which tends to make you sleepy.
It is so awesome to start to begin to see a little bit of improvement in my focus, and would love to not have to drop off in the afternoon.
I should also mention that I am in Canada and Adderall IR is not available…
Thanks so much!
REPORT ABUSEIt sounds like I’m in the majority here with the following that have been forgotten…
– Mother’s birthday (along with many other people’s b-day, but my mom will lay so much guilt on you that it is truly the worst!)
– Plans to go over to friend’s house for dinner – totally let the day come and go and completely forgot to go
– So many thing regarding my daughter’s school – forms that need filling out, supplies needed to bring, forgetting I volunteered to make a treat etc. I’m sure I have a reputation at that school!
– I am surprised my car is running, because I can’t seem to keep straight when it needs an oil change. My husband has now taken over this chore as there have been way to many times where he checks the oil and there is barely any left!
– Doctor’s appointments, well any appointment for that matter (dentist, massage, hair, etc.) I don’t even want to guess on all the money I have spent on missed/late appointment fees.
So as you can see my life usually involves a ton of apologizing! I feel like every week there is someone I’m apologizing to for missing something…
REPORT ABUSESo interesting that my family Dr (or my Former family Dr.) fits into this. After seeing him for years and going through the same cycle – underperforming at work, get depressed, increase anxiety, take anti depressants, get a new job, feel good, start underperforming and so on and so on…
Do you know what he started to say to me when I would go in to see him after the 3rd cycle? Along the lines of, “You can’t keep doing this. You have to GET OVER IT!” So, since then I avoided going to him at all costs, feeling like a catastrophic loser for not being able to “get over it”. My low self esteem plunged lower and I resigned to just slogging through life in my nonsensical cycle, building anxiety regarding work along the way.
Then I discovered that I have many symptoms of this thing called ADHD. What?!?! I’m not just a complete impulsive lazy screw up? There may be a reason for all this? And a way to treat it? Wow, I tell you that realization made everything so much more clear!
So, I am currently being monitored by a walk in physician (that I had seen on and off for the past 8 years or so) who listened to me describe what was wrong and that I suspected ADHD. I also added what my family dr’s approach was. I am also being assessed/diagnosed by a psychologist at a learning centre (this is cost $$, but fortunately I have insurance coverage).
If it weren’t for the walk in dr and the psych and their understanding, compassion and care, I would still be slogging through thinking “get over it” is the best strategy to deal with life.
Lesson I learned: if a health professional says something that doesn’t seem right, or if you feel what they are saying to you is direspectful, and off side, go elsewhere! Search for answers! Don’t just accept it so easily.
Whew. Well that was bottled up for quite some time! Feel so much better!!!
REPORT ABUSEbilld: I always seem to learn something when you post!
REPORT ABUSESeptember 13, 2011 at 6:40 pm in reply to: HEADS UP: Maybe it's not ADHD. Maybe it's SpongeBob SquarePants! #108224Spongebob is so random!
That’s why I think he is easy to get – don’t have time to be bored cause there are always wacky things going on, stimulating my brain!
And Gary, who doesn’t just love that cat/snail?
REPORT ABUSEI am unfortunately in the “cute” club as well.
I am the master at being over friendly at first, outgoing, hugging, full of energy. Then they walk away and I think, “what was their name?” and then I will see them again a few week later and my mind is racing, “how do I know them..?”
Leads to some embarrassing moments, especially if its work related.
On the upside my work sees me as having boatloads of energy, positive and up for anything! Now if I could actually complete things, that would help. Want to get out of the, “well, guess I will find a new job because Im about to be fired” mentality…
REPORT ABUSEHi aelvecro,
You sound like me a week ago!!! – I posted what was going on in another thread. “Quick Concerta Survey” i think…
Basically I called my Dr and asked to double up – take 36mg of Concerta. He gave me the go ahead. After that there was not much improvement, but my side effects were terrible. I saw him on Friday and he said it wasn’t worth to go through all the side effects and switched me to another med.
If you do increase it will be interesting to hear if it worked well for you – I know everyone has totally different reactions with all of these ADHD meds.
Good luck!
REPORT ABUSEJust wanted to post an update – My Dr. Said that all those side effects is not worth it, and there were enough options to switch. We talked about Adderall and Vyvanse, and we decided on Adderall xr 15mg.
Happy to report today was the first day and little to no side effects! I did feel it helped with focus and felt as though my patience and anxiety were under control! Funny, looking back, I realize that Concerta likely wasnt the one for me… But I do realize everyone is different and has different reactions. It has obviously worked for a ton of people, just not me!
So, now it looks like I will be switching to the ‘Adderall XR” message board… LOL!
REPORT ABUSEkozmic: would love to hear how you make out with your medication journey… also interesting that you have “nothing” on 18mg! I am going through diagnosis right now, and one thing they do is send the notes to my family Dr., so they understand the diagnosis as well as recommended medications. Since you have been to the psych, curious to see if any recommendations she received from psych assoc were specific to you and your case, or just general info.
caper: glad to hear I am not alone! Was it fairly quick after she started on Concerta that she switched? Yes, self esteem is not a characteristic, but can be a side effect of failing at the many demands and expectations at work/home. I can empathize with the blow ups with school aged children… I am a member of that club, too! I find I am worse with my husband though, which it’s a wonder how we have been together over 10 years!!
I will see my Dr. on Friday and will hopefully see where I will be at with dosage or switching. Will post an update!
REPORT ABUSE‘Ive also noticed that when I’m extremely bored, I often get this surge of disgust which reminds me of that feeling of wanting to kill myself – only I don’t want to die, I just need something interesting to involve my brain in.”
sdwa: Excellent observation, resonates with me so much!
trashman: You are courageous to speak your mind and post your thoughts and feelings, no matter how dark or bright they are. Right there you ARE helping people! Who? Folks like me who appreciate such honesty. I echo sugargremlin – if you have not been able to speak to your dr.’s and therapists about this, you may want to think about it. Sending good vibes and positivity your way…
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So checked and all good to go with the 36mg, thanks for the suggestions! On day 2 and have noticed the following positive effects:
– not so fidgety
– able to see more detail in things (hard to explain that one!)
– more focus on activities I love
But… I am feeling the following negative effects:
– lack of appetite
– mild to moderate nausea
– bit more ‘edgy’, easily startled
– time feels like it drags by…
– more avoidance of activities I don’t love… more procrastination!
Overall still impatient, distracted, low self esteem etc.
Any thoughts on whether these things go away with time? Is it too early to give up on Concerta? Ugh, guess I better start practicing better patience (heehee)!
Any encouragement/recommendations would be great (she types as she is about to run to the bathroom to dry heave…)
REPORT ABUSELOL on the Cityville. I was an awesome citizen for a good 3 weeks, then just up and quit (booooring!)
Personally I enjoy the New York Times Crossword – they have an app and you get all their crosswords for a cheap yearly subscription (15 bucks, I think?)
Although I pick it up, then dump it, I always seem to go back and get the crossword bug again!
REPORT ABUSEFunny how through life you just know you are different, and it’s easy to think you are different in a bad way. From job hopping, to not having any true long lasting friendships it is easy to be disappointed.
It is so easy to say, “yeah, but I have some awesome things about myself too…” but harder to always believe or focus on that.
I have found that reading the site, the past blogs has helped me tremendously in recognizing that it is actually a medical issue, not just being a flake!
Hang in there, kiddo. Continue on your path with ADHD (getting diagnosed, medication, coping strategies). Like G.I Joe says: Knowing is half the battle. Did I really just type that? I remember 80s cartoons, but can’t seem to remember anything else! Ay-yai-yai!
You are definitely not alone Sherri27 in your feelings!
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