#so she is methylphenidate to me. not concerta.

[knifegremliin]

it's funny when you've been on a medication for so long and talk about it so frequently that you just. know how to spell it without double checking. like yeah that's my methylphenidate. i don't need to look at the bottle or search it up to know how to spell it. she's my longtime friend.

[weirdpersonifiedpills]

What animal you have in mind for Ritalin to be?

Ritalin has been a hard one for me since Concerta and Ritalin are technically the same medication, but I feel like they need separate characters. They’re names for the same medication, methylphenidate, but they’re different in doses and release. I switched from Concerta to Ritalin when I needed to up my dose since the next dose up of Concerta was too high for me. The stimulant meds are squirrels!

(Pardon the old art and older art here)

Ritalin came first name-wise. Methylphenidate was synthesized in 1944 in Germany, and the man who synthesized it named it after his wife, Rita (full name Marguerite). She used the drug for her low blood pressure. It was sold by Novartis, which was known as CIBA (Company for Chemical Industry Basel) at the time (Novartis came about in 1996 after two Swiss companies, Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz Laboratories). An extended release form of methylphenidate was approved by the FDA in 2000, known as Concerta, marketed by Alza Corporation. I almost feel like, lore wise, this would mean that the chemical got a second personification. This older medication, marketed with similar tactics to big names like Valium and Miltown (that being the “Mothers Little Helper” flavor of advertisement), has been used for so many different things. Ritalin was only approved for hyperactivity in 1961, and I love this ad from that time:

Very similar to what happened with Valium and the benzos, Ritalin became controversial despite the newfound blockbuster status thanks to treating hyperactivity. Both Ritalin and ADHD as a disorder were placed on the chopping block as people compared it to illegal amphetamines (we’ve all seen someone make that “well it’s basically meth they’re selling meth!” claim, it’s been around forever). Of course, Ritalin was being used a street drug as well. Ciba was against reclassifying Ritalin, worried about stigmatizing their patients. Ritalin ended up getting banned in its parent company’s home county of Sweden in the 1970s. Even back then, ADHD was criticized for being “overdiagnosed” and stimulants for being “overprescribed.” Jump to the 2000s and now here comes Concerta, a new, young, hip take on Ritalin, now with a fun new shape and a longer duration. Look at these pills!! Fun shape!!

Give it two years and now here comes Focalin, DEXmethylphenidate. Ritalin has a sibling, a twin. Just like Celexa and Lexapro (Citalopram and escitalopram), where Celexa is a racemic mixture of its two isomers and Lexapro is a pure formulation of the active isomer only (the s enantiomer), Ritalin is a racemic mixture of its two isomers, and Focalin is a pure formulation of the active isomer only (the d isomer). It was developed to try and reduce side effects and adverse drug interactions. Focalin ALSO got super fun shapes for its pills, going the benzo route and getting a letter shape, with a D for D-(dex)methylphenidate

How cute is that?? Hell, Novartis was even gonna name it Ritadex, but the FDA was like, “come on guys that’s too similar to the other one” and they went with Focalin instead (side note but I love how all of the ADHD drugs got funny names. Adderall, like ADD, what ADHD used to be called. Concerta, like concentrate. Focalin, like focus. Speaking of which, can we tell that MY Ritalin has worn off for the night?).

So imagine you’re Ritalin. You spent your life jumping from career to career, treating depression in the elderly, exhausted housewives, helping those locked away in asylums for YEARS, then transitioned to helping children with hyperactivity issues. You become a blockbuster, huge new responsibilities are placed on your shoulders, but you’re getting recognition finally. Then, people start to criticize you, your parent company, they want you rescheduled, but even when you’re made schedule III in 1970, and then schedule II in 1971, predictions continue to rise. The movement against you expands in the mid 1970s, spreading to the diagnosis you now mainly treat, ADHD, resulting in the American Academy of Pediatrics coming to your aid, basically saying “hey guys cool it, you can use non-medication therapies if you’d like, but there’s a place for stimulant drugs in this treatment.” 1980 rolls around, the DSM-III comes out, and ADD is finally included. The text revision in 1987 changes this to ADHD in 1987. Finally it seems like things are calming down, but then another company decides to basically release a new version of you ‘toy animatronic from FNAF’ style in 2000. Hello Concerta. Then in 2002, your parent company hops on this and now you’ve got a twin. Hello Focalin. On top of that, the first non-stimulant ADHD treatment is approved that same year, and here comes Strattera.

Basically, I think Ritalin is a tired older guy who, after half a century of turmoil, was suddenly handed like, multiple children he did not ask for. “Here’s your clone, here’s your twin, and heres Strattera they’re here too enjoy!!” A big part of the reason why I think Ritalin and Concerta need separate characters is because of how I’ve already characterized Concerta; it doesn’t fit what I’d wanna do with Ritalin. Concerta is nearly hyperactive herself, she’s fast and quick witted, headstrong and incredibly extroverted. Ritalin is the opposite, he’s calm and more serious, he grew up in a completely different time than Concerta would have. Ritalin is a boomer (technically he’d be part of the Silent Generation since he was 1944 but still) while Concerta, Focalin, and Strattera are Gen Z. I wouldn’t wanna do something like I did with Prozac and Sarafem, since Sarafem was literally just a recolor and rebrand of Prozac, nothing about the medication or its duration, function, or makeup was changed. I’ve struggled with the Ritalin/Concerta thing for a while but typing it out and reading it back it helping it come together more. Anyway, Ritalin would yell at Concerta and her friends to get off of his lawn probably.

[wickedhawtwexler]

lmaoooo the medication drama continues and i have progressed past "hopelessly depressed" and have transcended to "uncharacteristically angry"

i'm ranting here because i've vented to my grandmother about this too much and feel guilty

ok SOOO yesterday. i got to my pharmacy 15 minutes after it opened to try to fill my new concerta prescription. they were out. but the pharmacist told me they had ritalin (instant release concerta essentially) in stock and to contact my doctor to see if they're willing to switch my prescription.

i got home. called my grandma and cried for like 15 ish minutes. THEN immediately contacted my doctor's office. 24 hours later i don't even think my doctor has been informed of this lmaoooo. i have followed up twice (nicely and politely because i'm not an asshole) and have gotten "i'll let you know what she says" kind of responses which makes me think she has no idea i asked for a med switch lmaooo.

and like, i am 100% not expecting immediate responses with this. i get everyone is really busy, probably even more now with the adhd medication shortage!!! but!!! i also know there are tons of other ppl like me who will spend time tracking down a pharmacy that has their meds and will be able to get their doctor to call in a prescription to the new pharmacy within a few hours. which is important because like, these meds are selling out really quickly!!! my pharmacist told me that in the 15 minutes since they opened he'd already gotten 3 people calling about adderall (which i have given up on finding anywhere for the foreseeable future lmao)

soooo i'm like. debating whether i'm gonna have to look around for a different doctor to help me manage my meds??? idk. i feel like i'm being unreasonable but i don't think i am, i think that's just my Guilt As A Default Emotion™. especially considering this is the second time i've had trouble getting a hold of my doctor for medication stuff. within the last month actually. sooooo that's cool

anyway. this all just sucks because 1) there's a good chance that once this prescription gets in my pharmacy will be out lmao 2) i've never even TAKEN anything with methylphenidate as the active ingredient (the active ingredient in adderall is amphetamine) so i don't even know if these meds will WORK for me 3) all the anxiety and hopelessness is destroying my mental health and i'm fucking up at work and it's gonna be even WORSE if i run out of my medication so!!!! that's lovely. everything is so great i'm doing so great :')

[carcasstohounds]

who needs drugs when you have the dopamine rush of turning an assignment in and watching your grade go up to something passable

[iayhifbigyakwiltbsywps]

Fuckkk I had something really long written but my connection failed and now I can’t find it but this is important if you or someone you know has adhd and takes stimulant medications like methylphenidate. This will probably be weird because I wrote the original like 12 hours ago and I just got home so if the other one magically reappears then they will be really different.

Basically I wanted to make people aware that taking stimulant medications has the potential to do more harm than good. I have adhd and have drank concerta since the third grade and im currently in 11th. I have been noticing throughout the 2019-now time period that I really have lost all motivation and that I don’t really have interest in anything even getting up to eat. And I was like ‘well that’s not alright’ and so I did what every one does: I googled it. I asked google “can adhd medications cause brain damage and lessen motivation?” And honestly I was not really expecting an answer, kinda just hoping to see blankness and be relived that it was just something random I thought. Boy was I surprised.

I actually found this:

This is literally the answer I was too scared to find because a) it proved my suspicions correct and did kinda bring a different kind of relief in knowing I’m not just hysteric and b) this hit wayyy too close to home. The part in blue feels wayyy too familiar to me because all I do Is be on my bed on my phone most of tinge time and my parants keep getting concerned and like “go get a job, find a hobby, do something!” And I am honestly strangely alright with my situation, like I hate it but I still don’t try to change it because I can’t!

Forgot what else I could of said there on the fist draft, but onto the next peice of evidence!

This pretty much said that this meds were tested on rats and that the rats ended up losing all motivation to even react when they should be looking to escape a bad situation. That once the medication stops we no longer have drive to motivation.

This also states that the nucleus accumbens is the part of the brain that forms motivation into action and when you take these meds your actually risking it shrinking and leading to no motivational drive.

Also that there are other options if you are convinced you or your child needs help to lead a successful life then there are other options that are not stimulants!

I also found some videos but could only resurfaced one which I think is the most important: https://youtu.be/nif8TFPhjuI

This video basically talks about one of the beginning trails of adhd medications that ended up being a huge success after the recorded 14 months that this trial was conducted, but what most people who do their research probably don’t dig deep enough to check that after they took the pills away they came back 3 years later to see how they faired. Turns out that the my were actually worse and the adhd was too much or something. ( sorry I’m trying to remember what I wrote but I only slept like 10 minutes last night and it’s already 1am so my eyes are shutting)

I can’t remember much right nos but if I find the other articles or videos Ik re log or something.

Here are the links to the articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/06/09/fewer-prescriptions-for-adhd-less-drug-abuse/adhd-drugs-have-long-term-risks

https://www.leonardsax.com/stimulants.htm

There were more but I’m fighting To stay awake right now sorry.

Oh I just remembered something:

This is what happens when you give stimulants to a brain that is underdeveloped (brains aren’t yet developed until they are like 21) so if y’all need meds try taking non stimulants or else you’ll just cause growth problems for yourself

I really hope some people find this useful and that no one goes through what I am cuz it really kinda sucks and I hate it but I can’t do much to change it.

Also after hours trying to figure out a way to tell my mom I had finally told her and you know what she said? She said “if we take you of these meds will you promise to try to care about yourself more?” And like I didn’t say anything but sure mom I totally didn’t just work up the courage to try and tell you within the day I found this informants on when it would usually take me months to say things I think are important but yeah I totally need to try a bit more ugh!

Honestly I think it’s shit that I’m not even 18 yet and I already feel like all my fight has gone out of me. Like if it weren’t for my parents that actually care about me I would of let myself starve to death. And now there’s no way to thank them because I can barely move to get food much less show them my thanks. Mom dad I love you and I’m sorry my brain if fucked up.

Hi just a little edit here, I wanted to say that both articles are by the same person I just put the second one because the link didn’t work for me so I had to look for their actual page that was mentioned. But also I read further down on the second article and I saw there are more links to other related articles in the second link where this person wrote their actual research and citations

[thisadhdlife]

Is it weird to be scared of ADHD medication?

Ok. So... is it weird that I’m scared to try Adderall? Even under medical supervision? When I was going to college, I remember hearing horror-stories about the medication being abused all over campus. I... wasn’t really ever the kind of person to try anything illegal/controlled... so I have no idea the kind of effect it would have no me (yes, I know, I’m boring. feel free to unfollow).

“Ritalin’s main ingredient is methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH), the same ingredient in Concerta, Contempla, Metadate, Methylin, and Quillivant. It was first approved by the FDA in 1955 for treating hyperactivity and, since the 1990s, it has become the most widely known drug for treating ADHD.” - Source

I know I have NO SIDEEFFECTS whatsoever on Ritalin (I take the generic form of this medication). I also know that I’m not addicted to it (because, you know, people who’re addicts don’t usually forget to take their pill lol). I guess it’s a case of the-devil-you-know for me. I know I don’t get sick when I take Ritalin, I’m afraid of what will happen if I try Adderall... even if that fear might be unfounded in reality, and is probably completely baseless. It’s still fear. Like, pop-culture is full of references to recovery-groups (similar to AA) for people who were addicted to Adderall; and yet that’s the only medication I’ve ever heard stuff like that about. Never heard of a Ritalin Anon group, lol.

Obviously, I’ll be discussing it with my doctor. Obviously, I’ll be taking the medication under the strictest of medical supervision, and will NOT be deviating from the directions of the physician. I guess... for me... it’s more of a fear of the unknown. Honestly, I think I’d be more open to trying a different formulation of Ritalin, before jumping to a Adderall... and I think that’s perfectly OK. So long as my doctor agrees with me. If not, I’ll go with what she tells me, because my unfounded and irrational fears don’t override her medical expertise.

I decided to walk down the path of getting diagnosed, and getting treatment, for something that I didn’t even think I had. Until the first time I took the medication, I still had doubts about whether I actually had ADHD or not (despite all the evidence pointing towards me actually being disabled, I still doubted myself). It takes courage to try something new, to put your faith in someone, and to move forward. It’s not easy. I somehow gathered the courage to take that first step, and so, I must muster the resolve to walk down this path... no matter how many creatures bite at my heel, trying to drag me off of the path to getting better... building a better future for myself, and building a life that I can be proud of. I think I’m going to see if Concerta might be a better fit for me, provided the doc agrees.

Anyway, I just felt like I needed to write things out. To vent, even. Thanks for reading.

Until next time, stay safe ADHD fam.

[voidcat101]

I need to get this off of my chest, I guess it's kind of a confession.

I was diagnosed with ADHD-PI around a month ago and have been prescribed Methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta). I researched this medication before hand, as I know there are side affects, like any medication.

When doing this I discovered that it is also prescribed to people who suffer form EDs such as binge eating disorder. This is because it can suppress appetite.

To preface the rest of this, I have suffered from an ED in the past, I was extremely underweight and had anorexia due to depression and anxiety. At the moment I am a healthy weight, a little chubby actually, but not over weight.

Ever since I started gaining weight I have been anxious about it. I feel fat, but I've been trying to convince myself that it's a good thing, I'm healthy now.

However, when I learnt this medication could suppress my appetite, I wont lie I got excited. It's fucked up, I know.

On my fist dosage (27mg) I didn't really notice any difference in my appetite and was disappointed. But when my dosage was upped to 45mg, I started to notice a change.

At first it was small, I wasn't as hungry, but now, a few weeks on, my appetite is very much suppressed. By only eating one small meal and a banana or two a day, I'm not hungry.

I have to weigh myself each week, as asked by my psychiatrist, as she was worried this would happen, and I'm lying to her. I have lost weight, but the weight measurements I've been sending her are just slight variations off of my original weight before meds.

I know this is a bad thing, but I'm not going to stop I want to lose some weight, not be under weight, but just to be skinny again, so I can fit into cute clothes I like.

I just needed to confess this here, as I'm not going to tell anyone in my real life, they will try and stop me and tell my psychiatrist.

Ok that's all for now :)

[thebuffalohuman-blog]

Unpacking Childhood Trauma. *trigger warning. rape*

Well, it’s been 5 blog posts now since I ditched the “chronological” version of talking about my trip to Portland. I don’t know if it matters if I finish it exactly as planned. Who needs to know EXACTLY how things are going to work out, anyway? It’s all a huge journey.

Two days ago, I finally got deep enough into my experience to unlock a certain childhood trauma that has been one of my most long-standing challenges. Now that I’m absolutely 100% okay with it and admitting it to myself, I can admit it to other people.

For those of you who don’t know, I was essentially emotionally and psychically raped for a good portion of my formative years. Now, before I go into detail about the circumstances, I just want to make it clear that I don’t blame anyone for their roles in how this all happened... it’s all due to lack of understanding in their part. There is no space for anger or blame in me for how this all worked out. It is 100% my responsibility to deal with the fallout and how I have become as a result of it.

Let’s start where it all began, the Doctor’s office. When I was having difficulty staying still in class, causing disruptions (such as build a paper fort out of my desk and throwing paper balls at people when the teacher was teaching), my 4th grade teacher suggested to my mother that I get medicated for ADHD... since that was the common thing to do in year 2000... Therapists obviously didn’t exist and word of mouth from a fourth grade teacher and my mother, an Emergency Room nurse was enough to bypass the psychological exam or even a suggestion of asking another party for help and head straight to the medications. I was 7.

We went to this one N.P. who was a known “ADHD specialist” and she told me about how the Dopamine and Serotonin in my brain was all off and that I needed medications so I could make friends and be happy and do good in school. She prescribed me Ritalin... which became the first of about 6 or 7 drugs that I was on from age 7 until I finally kicked pharma when I was 22. So, now there was both a medical doctor, my mother and my teacher telling me that I was somehow “broken” and needed help. Over the next 15 years, not once did I ever receive a psychological examination from a qualified therapist or psychologist. I ended up on a high dose of Concerta (long acting methylphenidate... street legal speed), Ritalin (quicker acting, harder hitting, street legal speed), Strattera (a relatively benign Selective Norephinephrene Re-Uptake Inhibitor that balanced out my depression slightly that my doctor had coined, “The light at the end of the tunnel”... but the kicker was when I was prescribed Apiprazole, aka Abilify, a potent anti-psychotic used for a diagnosis of Obsessive FUCKING Compulsive Disorder because of my DISORGANIZED COLLECTION OF WILD HARVESTED HERBS.

Back story time... At this age, I had a decent collection of locally harvested herbs, flowers, leaves, bark, etc... mostly labelled (all identifiable by my eye) on two shelves in my basement. This “disorganization” was apparently grounds to label me as an obsessive compulsive hoarder at age 11, hence the powerful antipsychotic medication prescription for the next ten years... needless to say, I didn’t collect herbs too much after that. One day my mother threw them all away without asking me.

If you ask me what I’d have done in the situation, I would have helped my child pursue his or her own interests by hooking them up with a herbalist or someone who does that kind of thing the child is interested in... but I don’t get to make that kind of choice. I didn’t get to make any choices because I wasn’t 18 and my mother thought she knew better what I needed and AS A CHILD, I BELIEVED HER.

It took me until a few years ago to realize that the anger that I’ve held inside for so long wasn’t at her for all of that... It was at myself for all those years of letting someone else tell me what was good for me and what I wanted.

I was a child. Even if I had other opinions, why would I believe myself when all these capable, functioning adults told me I was wrong?

I was reading in Maya Angelou’s book, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” about how she blamed herself for the death of the man who raped her. When she traveled to St Louis to her biological mother’s place from her mother’s husband, Mr Freeman raped her and then held her like she would be safe from anything that could threaten her. Next, he said he would kill her brother if she ever told anyone about it. She then talks about how, after he raped her again, eventually her family found out and Mr. Freeman was put on trial. During the interrogation, she was asked if he had touched her before the one reported rape incident and she lied and said “no”. Her “lie” resulted in his sentence being substantially less, his lawyer got him out that very day. That night, he was killed and his body left in the slaughterhouse lot.

Maya blamed herself, her one lie for the death of the man who she somehow loved. She closed her mouth for years after that, never uttering a word, for she blamed herself for the his death. Only after she realized that, by sharing her story, was she able to connect to the greater human experience... all the deep emotions we all feel and to find the liberation that self-love brings.

So, I guess that’s why I’m sharing. Thanks, Marguerite Angelou. Thanks for telling your story. Here’s mine. I don’t blame anyone for how it happened. It is not my fault, not another’s fault... merely how it happened...

Now, the part that I only figured out recently about this... I realized why I was being disruptive and hyper in the first place.

Because my first crush, “Nicole” had completely ignored me when I wrote her a letter, asking her if she wanted to be my friend. I was a precocious little brat... and honestly, I had very little rapport with my mother, a notoriously bad advice giver who would often suggesting relationship sabotage or manipulative behaviors. I had no real “friends” to talk about this problem with... so when one thing led to another, I acted out and that’s how I ended up medicated and thus OBEYING WHAT MY FAMILY WAS TELLING ME ABOUT MYSELF. THAT I WAS BROKEN. THAT I NEEDED HELP. THAT I WASN’T WORTH INVESTING ANY REAL EFFORT INTO. THAT I WAS A BURDEN and THAT I SHOULD SHUT UP AND TAKE WHAT THEY WERE GIVING ME. They couldn’t control me without medications, so they hit me where it hurts and got me started on a violence cycle towards myself of self-deprecation, isolation and drug-addiction that it would take me years to resolve.

Now, it’s the times, really that caused this. This idea that it’s acceptable to medicate a child PERMANENTLY is terribly detrimental to our society as a whole. Not only to most of these medications cause severe side effects, both long and short term but it’s literally drugging and raping an entire generation to do as they are told and to not question the way of things. Fucking traumatic generational bullshit that is COMPLETELY normalized. In the Early days, Shamans didn’t look at people as having “mental illness” as a disorder that is characterized and labeled... People were an infinite spectrum of personalities, all with their own individual wants, needs and path that must be respected and honored so that the person can grow as a whole. Medicine focused on the WHOLE PERSON, not just a specific character trait that the doctor deems as “non-beneficial”. We have moved so far from our center as a human species.

Now, I’m learning to love myself more... to be less violent in thought and action towards myself... to accept when I don’t know what to do to fix something... to channel my anger appropriately (into art, craftsmanship, poetry, music) and to love people, despite their flaws or lack of “knowledge”. I have a deep well of compassion for humans in all walks of life. I have better boundaries now and know where my emotions and desires end and another person’s begin. I am strong and I will be respect from here on out as a survivor of childhood trauma.

To you, Mom... I love you anyways.

[kjsadd]

This is so helpful.

Most medications have an effect size between 0.4 (barely but consistently detectable results) and 1.0 (quite robust effectiveness). The effect size of stimulant medications in research is pretty close to 1.95, and in research, again, the dose is usually not fine-tuned to the individual. In dose-optimization studies when the stimulants are fine-tuned, they come in at 1.7 or above. In other words, what patients can expect from stimulant medications is nothing short of, “Wow, life changing and better than any other treatment in all of medicine.”

Vitamin C and citric acid block absorption of medication – so they shouldn’t be taken with juice or soft drinks.

Test One Methylphenidate and One Amphetamine

The right molecule at the right dose should return a person to normative levels of functioning, not to some artificial amped-up state, and without side effects.

Traditionally, physicians were trained to give the highest dose that a person could tolerate. Now research shows that this “highest dose” is too high; the optimum is typically is at least two dosage strengths weaker than this threshold.

Physicians can sit down with patients and say, “Let’s make a list of the things about ADHD that you want to get rid of, that you don’t like.” There are lots ADHD characteristics that people do like — the cleverness, the problem-solving, the creativity, the wacky, zany sense of humor — and the nice thing is, all of those things stay when medication gets rid of the things that a person doesn’t like. Then ask, “What is it about ADHD that bothers you the most?” The impairments that respond to medication are procrastination, distraction, finding it hard to stick with boring tasks, impatience, impulsivity, and restlessness. Symptoms that are not as affected by medication include disorganization, argumentativeness, and oppositional behavior.

Stimulant medications, with the exception of Concerta, are effective within one hour – including all of the benefits and all of the side effects. There are no late-appearing side effects. Stimulants are fast-acting, so adults can change the dose every day if the doctor and patient wish.

Emphasize that you will fine-tune to the lowest dose possible. Physicians can say, “Look at your target symptoms. Each time, when we raise the dose, you should see a clear, dramatic improvement in all your target symptoms, and no side effects other than a mild, transient loss of appetite.” So long as you see things getting better and better, without side effects, physicians can keep raising the dose.

At some point though, physicians will raise the dose and the patient will say, “There weren’t any further improvements. Every other time we raised the dose I could clearly see improvement. This time, this dose and the previous dose seem exactly the same to me.” At that point, the previous dose is the very lowest dose that gives the patient 100% of what that medication has to offer. If the person is over the age of 16, that dose should work for the rest of their life. Tolerance is very rare to the benefits of these medications; tolerance develops very quickly to their side effects.

Don’t increase the dose just to increase the duration of the medication. Accept whatever duration of action is at that person’s optimal stimulant dose. Increases past that will often push a person beyond her “sweet spot” dose to the point where she starts to have side effects. The increase in how long it lasts is very marginal.

Remember that even though extended-release is marketed as once-a-day or 24-hours, the longest duration is 10-11 hours of effectiveness, with the exception of Daytrana. Most times, insurance will only cover one extended-release dose per day, so to have evening coverage many people use an immediate-release format for the second dose.

After the age of 14, many people need 16 hours of coverage per day. This requires multiple doses of medication throughout the day. Patients should use medication at all times and in all situations where there is impairment from ADHD, including bedtime. It’s more than just for school. Medication helps us to be social, get along with family, do homework at night, and drive a car safely.

Most clinicians don’t offer a follow-up dose because they are worried it’s going to keep patients awake, but we know that a nighttime dose can help people with ADHD slow down, and calms the chatter in their minds. After you’ve found the right dose, ask the patients to take a no-risk trial nap in the afternoon on their optimal stimulant dose to prove that evening doses will not keep them awake. 95% of people can nap on medication. When that happens, you know your patient can take a second dose to cover all the time they need.

There is no basis for a medication vacation. For children and teens, I recommend that they take the medication very consistently. Since medication is completely effective in one hour, adults don’t have to take medication all day every day. They can use it for a specific task, if that’s what they want. However, it is worth noting that people who have ADHD and don’t take medication have a higher risk of developing a substance abuse problem, being in an injury-producing accident severe enough to go to the hospital, having an unplanned child, or being involved in the juvenile justice system. On medication, the risks are the same as they are for the general population.

[maximuswolf]

Adderall XR and Vyvanse don’t work for me, advice? via /r/ADHD

Adderall XR and Vyvanse don’t work for me, advice?

Hello! So a little over 5 months ago I got diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 21 (I’m 22 now), and I’ve been on the journey of trying medications to see if any help with my ADHD.

The first one I tried was Adderall XD at 20mg for a month, and it would only work for a day or two and then it would stop working. I figured out that if I skipped a day in between taking it then it would work, but it also completely got rid of my appetite and I’m a very skinny guy (5’6 and 120 pounds, and I can’t gain weight no matter what I do) so my psychiatrist switched me to Vyvanse.

I’ve been taking Vyvanse for 4 months now, started at 10mg and am now at 50mg and it isn’t doing anything at all to help with my symptoms. She was shocked whenever I told her it wasn’t doing anything at 30mg so she just upped my dose to 50mg to see if I just need a higher dose, and I’ve taken 50mg for two days and it hasn’t done anything at all to help with my ADHD.

The advice I was seeking is, has anyone else had these issues? And what medications did you eventually end up taking that did work for you? I know there are two kinds of stimulants, and Adderall and Vyvanse are Amphetamine-based. I was thinking maybe to suggest to her that I try a medication next that’s Methylphenidate-based, like Concerta, Ritalin, or Focalin XR. So that I can at least rule out that Amphetamine-based medicines are the issue, or if it’s just I haven’t found the right medication in general yet, regardless of the kind of stimulant it is.

I would love to hear y’all’s personal experiences with trying different meds bc tbh, I’m really frustrated that I haven’t found one that works yet.

Submitted January 21, 2021 at 03:37PM by Your-Local-Druid via reddit https://ift.tt/3p6z41Z

[perks-of-being-a-nurse]

Concerta

So, I keep saying that I’m going to make a post about this, and now I finally am!

Last Thursday on March 22 I started taking Concerta, a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD. Concerta is a long acting version of a type of stimulant medication called methylphenidate. 

There are two types of stimulant medications: methylphenidate and amphetamine. These medications are very similar, but they work slightly differently. Both methylphenidate and amphetamine block the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine in the central nervous system. On top of this, amphetamine medications also encourage the presynaptic vesicles to release more norepinephrine. 

With the guidance of my psychiatrist I chose Concerta, a methylphenidate medication. He told me that due to the extra norepinephrine released into your system by amphetamine medications, some patients experience increased feelings of anxiety. I have a history of anxiety, so we decided that it would better for me to start with a methylphenidate medication, which are less likely to have this side effect.

Now, which long acting methylphenidate should I take? He told me that there are three different medications he usually prescribes to his patients; biphentin, concerta, and focalin. I listed the three drugs in the order of how long they usually take to wear off, biphentin being the shortest, and focalin as the longest. I chose Concerta based on it’s estimated duration of action. I thought that biphentin might be too short for me because I want my medication to last longer than 6-8 hours, and focalin might last too long because sometimes I get up and take my medication later and I don’t want to be kept awake by four in the morning.

For these reasons, we settled on Concerta, which usually lasts up to 12 hours. I was prescribed 18mg daily, and told that I could increase that to 36mg in a week if I felt like I needed to, and to see him in two weeks. After my appointment I stopped off at the pharmacy to fill my prescriptions before heading to class. 

Thursday morning was the first day I took my ADHD medication. I got up at 5:30 for clinical, took the pill at 6:00, and off I went. I definitely noticed I felt different the first day I took it. I noticed that it was easier for me to initiate tasks, stay on task, transition between tasks, re-focus myself after a distraction, and keep track of everything I was doing and stay organized. I honestly felt so different. I was spending some time with a friend after clinical and she said that I definitely seemed more upbeat and talkative than I usually did, and that is how I felt. I felt more inclined to talk because I felt like I could keep track of my thoughts more easily and express myself better verbally.

I have just upped my dose to 36mg, and so far I haven’t noticed a big difference. I think I’m adjusting to this new feeling of being “awake” and engaged. I think I might benefit from a higher dose, which I can discuss with my psychiatrist next week. 

One common side effect that I have not experienced is insomnia. This is a side effect because sometimes the medication is still having its effects when you’re trying to go to sleep. I think that I’ve actually been sleeping better since I started taking it. I feel more rested in the mornings and I have been having an easier time getting out of bed. The one side effect I have been experiencing is decreased appetite. I definitely have a smaller appetite, and I feel less inclination to snack or eat while I’m studying, working, watching TV, or bored. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but I do need to have more of a plan for food than I did in the past because I don’t feel the need to eat or find something to eat.

Overall for me so far, taking concerta for my ADHD has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am excited for the future. If anyone has any questions about this medication and my experience taking it, or my ADHD, please feel free to message me!

[beautifulinsanesanity]

I saw you posted about having ADHD, diagnosed at a young age. My 6 (almost 7) year old has ADHD, and I was wondering from a personal point of view, what are some things your parents/network did to support you, or somethings you wish they had done to support you. (Feel free to answer this privately, if you prefer.)

Hey! So my mother was my absolute number one advocate! My dad was also my advocate, he just worked for 12 hours for 6 days since we own our own business, but once he was home, he tried his best with helping me with my homework! My original psychologist was also a life-savior! Unfortunately, he no longer practices, but I absolutely love my psychiatrist!

Seeing as my brother and sister are 9 and 10 years, respectively, older than me, my parents had many challenges raising me due to the different time alsongside my adhd issues. They had to learn that you simply cannot only tell me to do something once, I had to be constantly watched over. Not because they didn’t believe I could do it, but rather because I got distracted so easily!

Like I had said in my post, I take medications, and I have since I was 7, two years after I was diagnosed. My mother, like any other logical person, did not want to put her 5 year old on medications before exploring other options. She read so many books and other things to help me. So we tried everything from switching things out of my diet to enrolling me in many extracurriculars before they came to the conclusion that I did indeed need medications. Because truly, not all individuals with ADHD need medications, the above things can actually help them cope and manage their ADHD. And even then, we went through a few different meds before we found what was right for me.

I am currently on 2 stimulant medications which are forms of the same drug methylphenidate, these are Concerta and Ritalin. I am also on two non-stimulant medications, one of which I had to recently change due to me building up a tolerance to. But until recently they were guanfacine and clonidine, both of which have been shown to help with ADHD. Clonidine, also known as my sleep med, is the one I had to stop taking because it is also used as a blood pressure medication and to up the dosage wouldn’t be medically safe. So now I am currently taking trazadone, my new sleep med. But supplements were also a huge help, especially fish oil Omega 3s and glutathione.

Ok and on to school related things. I was also diagnosed with ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) which is commonly diagnosed alongside of ADHD in children. So because of all this, I was quite the handful. My pre-k teacher basically said I was possessed by the devil and didn’t want to allow me to go to kindergarten. However, my kindergarten teacher was an absolute God send! She would write daily updates to my mom every week, which was great as this was when we were trying out different medications to find the correct combination.

So I would say a good piece of advice is to be there for your child, be their advocate, set up schedules that they can follow and reward them for sticking to it, since in the long run it will truly help them!

I’m sorry if this post was everywhere! How ironic is that, a post about ADHD being ADHD haha! But I really hope this helped you! If you have any further questions, please don’t be afraid to ask! I’ll even recruit my mom 😊

[fitnesshealthyoga-blog]

New Post has been published on https://fitnesshealthyoga.com/birchington-mum-diagnosed-with-adhd-at-age-of-28-creates-dedicated-support-group-the-isle-of-thanet-news/

Birchington mum diagnosed with ADHD at age of 28 creates dedicated support group – The Isle Of Thanet News

Sarah Collins set up the support group after being diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 28

A Birchington mum who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of 28 has created a support group for others with the condition.

Sarah Collins was diagnosed last August. She was prompted to seek private help after returning to studies and realising her lack of focus mirrored not only her experience as a teenager but also that of her son, now nine, who was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of six.

Sarah’s brother also has the condition, being diagnosed when he was a child, and so does her husband John.

The mum-of-three said: “When I started studying last year it brought me back to my teenage years when I was very unfocused. My middle son was diagnosed when he was six and I felt the way he was expressing himself sounded a bit like me. I decided to take the plunge and went private as I had already waited three years on the NHS.”

ADHD symptoms include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families.

ADHD was first recognised as a valid condition in the UK in 2000, but not officially recognised as an adult condition until 2008. Charity ADHD Action says some 1.5 million adults in the UK have the condition but only 120,000 are formally diagnosed. The group is now calling on the government to record adult ADHD figures.

Sarah and husband JohnAfter Sarah received confirmation of ADHD, later backed up by an NHS diagnosis, she searched for a support group but was unable to find anything suitable.

She said: “I decided that if I was feeling lonely and isolated then there had to be other people who felt the same way and that led me to set up my own ADHD group.”

The first ADHD Thanet group social in November attracted 15 people and it has continued to grow. Originally just for adults, Sarah has now added family sessions due to demand.

The former foot health practitioner said: “A lot of people are diagnosed late and they are struggling with jobs and friends. The group is about sharing and supporting each other. There is prejudice, sadly, so hopefully this will raise some awareness too.”

Getting support

The condition can be helped with psychological interventions and medication such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Equasym), dexamphetamine (Dexadrine) and lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse).

Sarah said despite there being reluctance in some to use medication a lot of members of her group had found it helpful.

She said: “We have one man who was not diagnosed until he was 40 and the help available has changed his life. One person in the group said when you can’t see you put on glasses and everything becomes clear. Medication can be like that.”

ADHD Thanet adults group meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 7pm to 10.30pm. The group has just secured a permanent meeting place at the Queen’s Head on Ramsgate seafront. The family group meets every other Wednesday, 5.30pm-7.30pm at Bumble Beez in Pysons Road.

Find out more on the group facebook page here

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[actuallyadhd]

I’m a 26 yr old with ADHD. I’m still living at home, but have I started a new job in October. At the same time, I started taking prescription ADHD meds for the first time, because I wanted to ensure I’d be able to focus while working and not risk losing my new job. However, my father, who is very strongly anti-prescription drugs, recently learned about my prescriptions, and has begun heavily pressuring me to stop taking my pills, and instead take an L-Glutamine supplement. He insists it would basically fix not only my ADHD, but also that it would solve my long-standing anxiety issues, which he does not acknowledge at least partially stem from a history of abuse he himself has inflicted on me. I’ve started taking the L-Glutamine in addition to my ADHD meds, but he insists I have to give up my ADHD meds to know that the L-Glutamine is working, and became angry with me when I repeatedly told him that I was not willing to risk my job on a supplement that is not scientifically proven to do what he says it will. Googling for information and studies proving or disproving L-Glutamine’s effects has proved fruitless for me; all I’ve found so far are sales pitches and anecdotal evidence by random people on reddit who swear it’s apparently a miracle cure. Can anybody please help me with evidence to get him off my back so he’ll let me take my meds in peace?

I did some looking and couldn’t find much, but maybe Becca can help more (she’s better at the searches I think) or even Prue (she knows a lot about drugs and stuff). What I did find is that if you’re taking amphetamine-based meds (Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine) it may reduce the medication’s efficacy. It doesn’t interact at all with methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin).

-J

Get comfortable, friends; this is gonna be a long one.

I’m adding in links to the articles I found on this as I go to make it easier to find the ones that talk about each particular topic. Disclaimer: chemistry is not my main area of study, so I’ll try to keep the scientific stuff brief enough to be informative without being inaccurate, and you probably shouldn’t reference this on your chemistry exams. 

Glutamine is an amino acid and is important for protein synthesis, and while it has a lot of different functions, the most relevant for this question is the role it plays in neurotransmitter production. Other amino acids I’ll bring up here include phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, alanine, and theanine. Glutamine is a precursor to the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which is associated with calming effects in the central nervous system. There are results that show that GABA can have effects such as “inner calm and tranquility, also in stressful situations, improved concentration levels and a more peaceful and fulfilling sleep”. 

Additionally, glutamine protects the brain from ammonia during the process of protein synthesis. Ammonia is a cell toxin and is associated with functions such as cognition as well as memory (both short-term and long-term), so glutamine is considered beneficial in that sense. It’s unlikely ADHD is caused by the effects of ammonia, but it’s worth mentioning as a side-note.

There is a study that showed lower levels of glutamine in individuals with ADHD, as well as lower levels of phenylalanine. This supports the hypothesis of ADHD being a disorder caused by dysfunction in the inhibitory neurotransmission system; basically an inability to control impulses which leads to hyperactivity, inattention, etc. 

ADHD is also considered to be at least partially caused by dysfunction in the serotonergic and catecholaminergic systems (which include the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine), since these are associated with a lot of functions that ADHDers struggle with, like cognition and attention. These neurotransmitters are synthesised from the amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and theanine (and probably a lot of others too, but these are the ones mentioned in the articles I found) so there are theories that ADHD is caused by deficiency of one or more of these amino acids. For now they are just theories, since research hasn’t been able to pinpoint one particular cause for ADHD yet. 

I also found a study on L-theanine used in treating anxiety. L-theanine is structurally very similar to glutamine, so they may work in similar ways. The results found that L-theanine did reduce anxiety in some cases, but not in the conditions with increased anxiety. Basically it reduced anxiety if there was nothing to be anxious about, but did nothing if there was something to be anxious about. Personally, I think that kind of defeats the point. L-theanine is also a precursor to serotonin and dopamine. 

There wasn’t a lot to be found on using amino acid supplements to treat ADHD. Of the studies I did find, none had consistent, reliable or significant results. Phenylalanine treatments didn’t yield supportive results when it came to treating ADHD, and other studies found that amino acid supplements might improve symptoms for a couple weeks, but the effect disappears after that. The sample sizes in all studies were very small; one of the studies only had 14 participants with ADHD. 

Here’s what I can say from the information I found; glutamine supplements can be beneficial to a lot of processes, and potentially some functions associated with ADHD. However, treatment of ADHD with glutamine or any other supplement (which includes amino acids and things like fish oil; this recent post discusses fish oil in treatment of ADHD) isn’t something that will work for everyone. It depends on the etiology or underlying cause of your ADHD. Basically, supplements are only effective if you happen to have a particular deficiency. Even then, the etiology or cause of ADHD is considered heterogenous (caused by more than one thing). So treating a possible deficiency might help a little, but it won’t fix all symptoms. None of these alternative treatments were as clinically effective as medication in treating ADHD.

There is a lot of information included here, but here’s what I think you should take away from it: while L-glutamine supplements might be helpful in combination with ADHD medication, they are very unlikely to be as effective as it. Just make sure it doesn’t interact badly, like J said. Whether or not you want to treat your ADHD with L-glutamine is completely up to you though; frankly, your father doesn’t have much say in that matter since you’re an adult. Hopefully my extremely long answer gave you some more information, but no matter what just remember that how you choose to treat your ADHD is ultimately your decision.

-Becca

[nevamwitti]

ADHD Meds May Alter Boys’ Brains

TUESDAY, Aug. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One of the most popular and effective medications used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appears to alter the brains of boys with the disorder, a new study shows.

While the researchers couldn’t say for certain whether the changes were good or bad, one ADHD expert thinks the findings suggest the changes help young males with the disorder.

For the study, investigators evaluated groups of boys and young adult men with ADHD who had never taken methylphenidate (sold under the brand names Ritalin and Concerta). The Dutch researchers found that, among the boys, taking the drug increased the brain’s white matter. White matter is key to learning and other brain functions, including coordinating communication between different regions of the brain.

The medication “lastingly affects white matter development of boys with ADHD, and this is probably because the brain is still developing, since we did not observe these changes in the men with ADHD with matured brains we studied,” said study author Dr. Liesbeth Reneman. She’s a professor of translational neuroradiology at University of Amsterdam.

“We still need to establish the long-term implications of our findings, [but] in the meantime … we think the drug should only be prescribed to children who actually have ADHD and are significantly affected by it,” Reneman added.

About 9% of U.S. children aged 2 through 17 have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, just over 5% of all children in the United States were taking medication to treat the disorder, whose symptoms include trouble paying attention, organizing tasks and behaving impulsively.

While Reneman said the study wasn’t designed to determine whether white matter changes in boys taking methylphenidate were good or bad, a U.S. expert interpreted the changes as a “normalization” of the brain.

“The normalization of the white matter for treated children is something we hope for and wish to be true, and this [study] gives validation to that,” said Dr. Alan Geller. He’s a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist in private practice and an attending psychiatrist at Gracie Square Hospital in New York City.

“This is a population at risk, when untreated, for anti-social and oppositional behaviors, school trouble and family trouble, and ultimately this is what we want to hear — that treating kids with ADHD early will help them,” added Geller, who wasn’t involved in the study.

In the new research, Reneman and her colleagues split 50 boys ages 10 through 12, and 48 young adult men — all of whom had never taken methylphenidate — into two equal groups. For 16 weeks, one group received methylphenidate and the other received a placebo drug.

Before the study began, and one week after treatment ended, all participants underwent MRI scans of the brain, including a technique that assesses white matter.

In the boys with ADHD, four months of methylphenidate treatment was associated with increased white matter. But the effects of the drug appeared to be dependent on age, since they did not occur in adults who took it, the study authors said.

Reneman also said the results couldn’t be generalized to mean that girls with ADHD would experience the same white matter changes from the drug, “as girls differ considerably in brain white matter development.”

But Reneman said she’s “pretty sure the effects are due to methylphenidate and not something else,” since prior research had produced similar results. The new research also produced a “higher level of evidence” by assigning children with ADHD to methylphenidate or a placebo, and measuring white matter before and after treatment.

Reneman and her colleagues are continuing to research this issue, studying the long-term implications of these findings on ADHD behavior. Many ADHD patients take medications for many years, the study authors noted, so it’s important to determine long-range effects.

Geller said that based on these findings, he would continue to recommend early treatment for children with ADHD.

“I look at this [brain change] as improvement or normalization because that’s what I see clinically — I see the behaviors, attention and socialization improve with treatment, and I kind of go back and assume those changes in the brain are beneficial,” he said.

“But the study does not conclude that,” Geller acknowledged. “I guess I’m more hopeful and I have the clinical proof to back me up.”

The study was published Aug. 13 in the journal Radiology.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers more on ADHD treatments.

Copyright 2019 All right reserved

The post ADHD Meds May Alter Boys’ Brains appeared first on Be Healthy News.

ADHD Meds May Alter Boys’ Brains posted first on https://www.behealthynews.com

[nerdymedzebra]

Day #2 of Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine)

EDIT: I realize I had already written the background to this med change! I don't want to delete it after all this typing, so I'm just going to put it in quotes for easy skipping...

Early this spring I started at a new mental health clinic because I could no longer afford my cash-only ADHD specialist.  

Unfortunately, this clinic has rules about how high they'll go on ADHD doses (don't get me started on the unjust way ADHD patients are treated with meds-- tho I know chronic pain patients can relate), so my new psych cut my dose for a third.  

All other general psychiatrists have been really skiddish when it comes to high doses of medication. On one hand, I totally get it. But on the other hand, sometimes people just need higher doses of things. Especially in my case-- long acting doses just AREN'T long acting for me. My ADHD specialist had me on a regular dose of a long-acting med, 3x a day. And even then, it was worn off by 3-4pm. We had worked up to that trying to get me through a full workday with manageable symptoms so I could actually keep my job.  

But now with the general psychiatrist, she cut my dose by a third. She did also do the psychotropic tests I posted about before, and encouraged me to get a gastric emptying scan, but since both came out normal (my gastric emptying is often rapid, but wasn't that day), she couldn't justify going above the rule. She said something about having to think about her own license. (Seriously to hell with these regulators who cause these issues...)

So I took the smaller refill and that month I was a MESS. It wasn't working well enough at all, to the point where I couldn't' even get it together enough to make my next appointment with her for my next month's dose. Unsurprising, since ADHD causes major impairments with the brain's executive functions. So after a month, I was just out of the meds all together. It took 4 months for me to FINALLY call the nurse line to ask for an effexor refill (i had had refills of that until then) make my next appointment. The next available wasn't until October, but perhaps because I accidentally started crying on the phone when the nurse seemed annoyed that I had gone so long without an appointment (I cried (which i HAAATE doing in front of people) when i explained what happened, and she immediately soften completely) the nurse was so sweet and went and got a next-week emergency appointment with the doctor for me. So, I did that last week.

Anyway, it took almost a week to actually get the meds to me (my pharmacy is far away and my bf had to pick it up for me), but now I have the week's supply to try out, and yesterday was my first day with it. Thoughts so far: I wasn't doing anything but listening to the Med School for Everyone audiobook and hanging out at home, but I did manage to knock out a few tasks I've been putting off for a while, and without even thinking about it, really. That's one of the best things about ADHD meds. The motivation! It's hard to explain if you've never experienced it. Motivation isn't a choice, or even an awareness of "I should do this because X" or even "I want to do this because Y"... it's some actual wiring in your brain that gives that jolt of energy that causes you to just, go and do the thing. And my brain very, very much lacks that on it's own.

I didn't do much, but that's okay. Just doing a few of these tasks is huge for me right now, and a huge relief. I also just, felt better. More like myself, less disjointed/scattered/foggy. I can tell it's a low dose, but I was afraid that I wouldn't feel *anything* at this low dose (it's much smaller than my last med (Concerta/methylphenidate)), so I'm just happy it seems to be working at all! On day 2 now, and same seems to be true. I struggle with blogging, and writing in general, when off my meds, so that i've sat down and written this all out is a good sign! I should make sure to choose a few more small important chores to get done as well. It's also easy to hyperfocus with ADHD, even without meds, so trying to remember to not get too sucked into something at the expense of all the other tasks is always important. Okay,  I'll stop here for now. Hopefully in a few days I can update saying things are still going well! My doctor said to call her after 3 days to say if I've had any side effects so she can up my dose a bit, so I'll be doing that. I'm going easy on the chores today because, since i'm at a smaller dose, I don't want to expect to much of myself, disappoint myself, and then get it in my brain that the meds aren't working. I don't want to poison the well before it really even gets a chance to work fully.