Posted by Katz on March 4, 2001, at 9:46:15
In reply to Re: Adult ADHD - getting stimulants prescribed (UK) » Katz, posted by Leonardo on March 4, 2001, at 9:05:32
Leonardo,
I'm sooooo happy for you! I'm thrilled that you have finally gotten the right diagnosis and are well on your way to a treatment stratery that will help. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well.
As for me, I don't believe that I have ADHD but ADD is a possibility. I was on Ritilin approx. three years ago for 6 months. I was on 20 mg/day, never increased my dose and had amazing results. Dysthmia, Anhedonia and especially Social Phobia, all greatly improved. The med was discontinued when I was no longer able to travel 3 states away every month to obtain a prescription. My attempts to find a pdoc in my area to prescribe ritilin have been futile up until now.
A note about Dexedrine: The doc the prescribed the ritilin had me on dexedrine first. I eventually got up to 30mg/bid with absolutely no effect. I could take it, rollover and go back to sleep. I think the dex was possibly making me depressed also. But, as the saying goes, "everyone's mileage is different."
Unfortunately, my appt with the new pdoc is tomorrow and it appears it will be cancelled due to what is being hailed "the snowstorm of the century". Predictions are that it may dump 3' of snow here in New England before all is said and done. Looks like the gods are conspiring against me. Aughh! Anyway, I'm glad things worked out for one of us. Keep us posted on your progress.
Best wishes,
Kathy
> > >Leonardo,
> >
> > I'm keeping my fingers crossed and wish you the best of luck in obtaining the stims. I've been wondering how you've been doing, the last time we talked you were about to embark on two new AD trials. Since you're still trying to get stims I guess they didn't work out. BTW, I have an appointment with a pdoc on Monday (thanks to a fellow babbler) in which I will be trying to obtain some ritilin. Here's hoping we will both be successful in our endeavor.
> >
> > With prayers,
> >
> > Kathy
>
> Hi Kathy
>
> Many thanks for your thoughts, I can see that you know what its like to go through this dreadful quest of finding someone who can help you! I told my new doc it was like trying to fiond the Holy Grail. He agreed and is annoyed because it shouldn't be so hard.
>
> I was off meds altogether for about 3-4 weeks (quit selegeline), and had a very hard time coping at work, hence I haven't been posting much. I then tried the Zoloft which my SAD specialist recommended, but it was hopeless, made my head go into a real spin, worse than anxiety, just spinning racing thoughts that wouldn't settle down. My GP gave me diazepam (Valium) which calmed me down, but the zoloft obviously wasn't working for me so I quit after about 10 days.
>
> As I just replied to Shell, I got my consult with the ADHD specialist quicker than I thought (my insurance agreed to pay for this guy, I took a cancellation appointment at 24 hours notice and drove half way across the country!) He was great, I'm on the 5th day of dexamphetamine. It is early days, but very promising.
>
> I seem to remember that you didn't think you had ADHD? I found that the symptoms are not always that obvious, it took me 2 years to recognise it in myself after I recognised it in my son. Good luck with your new doc. Have you tried Ritalin before? My new doc is very stricy about the startup regime. For the dex it is a half tablet only, twice a day for 5 days, before going up to 1 tablet am, half at lunch, and half at 4pm. Then its reviewed after 2 weeks. He reckons that people who try to start up too quick can get a bad response which never settles down properly, and they have a lot of trouble later on. This may explain my variable response to the Ritalin I took. I went straight in at a full tablet, taken just occasionally. I got some very good responses, but some bad ones too, so I'm following orders from the doc this time. I think he has about 500 ADHD patients, so I take him seriously!
>
> Best wishes
> Leonardo
poster:Katz
thread:52294
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010302/msgs/55521.html