Any experiences with ADHD (in adults)?

[bhodi]

So, was there any consensus reached on what is the 'best' medication to get?

I'm trying to resist being snarky, so I'll just say that when you consult a medical professional he'll give you a list of available options and make recommendations on them.


ho·me·op·a·thy      (hō'mē-ŏp'ə-thē)    n.   pl. ho·me·op·a·thies
A system for treating disease based on the administration of minute doses of a drug that in massive amounts produces symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of the disease itself.

What the fuck. Seriously? People believe this?

[Teleku]

Yeah, I'm going to go to a doctor.  Just kind of wanted to walk in ahead of time with some knowledge of the various options, then hearing what they say.

[Sheepherder]

ho·me·op·a·thy      (hō'mē-ŏp'ə-thē)    n.   pl. ho·me·op·a·thies
A system for treating disease based on the administration of minute doses of a drug that in massive amounts produces symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of the disease itself.

What the fuck. Seriously? People believe this?

The original hypothesis was arrived at around the time that the medical properties of Cinchona bark, a toxic and rather unpleasant medicine, had been discovered for curing Malaria.  The rationale was that the ground up and diluted bar of the Cinchona tree worked in much the same way as we know vaccination to work, allowing the body to fight one disease by promoting the mechanisms to do the fighting.  The truth is that the doctors of the time were completely unaware of the presence or effect of Quinine, which kills many microorganisms substantially faster than it does humans in addition to being anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, and pain-relieving.  As it so happens, British soldiers preferred to drink their anti-malarial tonic with Gin.

In the meantime, a school of quackery was developed around the notion that diluting something that kills you makes it a potent curative, with it increasing in curative properties as it is further diluted, to the point where the most potent homeopathic medicines are chemically indistinguishable from distilled water.  This is ignoring the fact that by definition nearly all water on the face of the earth fits the definition of "homeopathic medicine"  unless it has been dug out of a deep underground aquifer and was thus removed from the hydrological cycle.  Of course, realizing that their medicines are a crock of shit some homeopathic medicine producers have elected to make less dilute solutions, occasionally resulting in being sued for causing harm to the user for ingesting their arsenic/lead/mercury/whateverthefuck solution like the dumb new-age shit-for-brains they are.

In the meantime, I'm sticking with this to protect me from malaria:

[Amarr HM]

Are you aware that antivenom in a lot of cases is a diluted extract of the venom itself? crackpot idea though I know imagine readministering poison to a bite victim, lots of crazy people out there!!

[Yegolev]

Yeah, I'm going to go to a doctor.  Just kind of wanted to walk in ahead of time with some knowledge of the various options, then hearing what they say.

There are two meds for ADD, possibly a new third one that I don't know about.  I have not tried either of them.  Obscene amounts of caffeine work OK for me, and really any stimulant would have some positive effect.  If you find that you perform better (meaning, more focused) when wired, you might get some traction with the ADD meds.

[Wasted]

Are you aware that antivenom in a lot of cases is a diluted extract of the venom itself? crackpot idea though I know imagine readministering poison to a bite victim, lots of crazy people out there!!

No, they inject the venom into animals and then harvest the anti-bodies.

[Sheepherder]

Are you aware that antivenom in a lot of cases is a diluted extract of the venom itself? crackpot idea though I know imagine readministering poison to a bite victim, lots of crazy people out there!!

For further perspective, 1 ml of a solution which has gone through a 30C dilution is mathematically equivalent to 1 ml diluted into a cube of water measuring 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 metres per side, which is about 106 light years. Thus, homeopathic remedies of standard potencies contain, almost certainly, only water (or alcohol, as well as sugar and other nontherapeutic ingredients). Homeopaths maintain that this water retains some "essential property" of the original material, because the preparation has been shaken after each dilution.  Hahnemann believed that the dynamisation or shaking of the solution caused a "spirit-like" healing force to be released from within the substance. Even though the homeopathic remedies are often extremely diluted, homeopaths maintain that a healing force is retained by these homeopathic preparations.

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

Secondly:

Case 1 presented with melanosis and keratosis following short-term use of Arsenic Bromide 1-X followed by long-term use of other arsenic-containing homeopathic preparations. Case 2 developed melanotic arsenical skin lesions after taking Arsenicum Sulfuratum Flavum-1-X (Arsenic S.F. 1-X) in an effort to treat his white skin patches. Case 3 consumed Arsenic Bromide 1-X for 6 days in an effort to treat his diabetes and developed an acute gastrointestinal illness followed by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and diffuse dermal melanosis with patchy desquamation. Within approximately 2 weeks, he developed a toxic polyneuropathy resulting in quadriparesis. Arsenic concentrations in all three patients were significantly elevated in integument tissue samples. In all three cases, arsenic concentrations in drinking water were normal but arsenic concentrations in samples of the homeopathic medications were elevated.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14705842

Tell me, what is it about arsenic that is supposed to inoculate a person against skin discolouration and diabetes?  Please note: homeopathic medicines are selected based on whether they cause symptoms alike the disease they're supposed to cure, there need be no causal relationship between the two.

[Amarr HM]

Are you aware that antivenom in a lot of cases is a diluted extract of the venom itself? crackpot idea though I know imagine readministering poison to a bite victim, lots of crazy people out there!!

No, they inject the venom into animals and then harvest the anti-bodies.

Yes you are right for the most part but I think in some cases they can readminister the poison, regardless the point is that mithridization is a proven technique whether they use animals or humans to build up immunity. I would be an advocate of the alternative approach though, especially when the mainstream solutions involves using a grade A narcotic for a seemingly undetectable condition that hasn't really been proven. If we were talking about cancer I wouldn't be such an advocate if you know what I mean.

EDIT: grammar

[Amarr HM]

Look I'm not a huge advocate of homeopathy just would look at alternatives and just happened to mention that, you could look at Chinese medicine for fucks sake anything but getting your child addicted to cocaine that's nuts man.

[Amarr HM]

Tell me, what is it about arsenic that is supposed to inoculate a person against skin discolouration and diabetes?  Please note: homeopathic medicines are selected based on whether they cause symptoms alike the disease they're supposed to cure, there need be no causal relationship between the two.

Did I say I was homeopathic expert? just fuck off into whatever hole you climbed out of.

[schild]

Yeah, I'm going to go to a doctor.  Just kind of wanted to walk in ahead of time with some knowledge of the various options, then hearing what they say.

There are two meds for ADD, possibly a new third one that I don't know about.  I have not tried either of them.  Obscene amounts of caffeine work OK for me, and really any stimulant would have some positive effect.  If you find that you perform better (meaning, more focused) when wired, you might get some traction with the ADD meds.

I can't function if I'm not wired. But ritalin puts me over the top into hyperfocus man. It's actually my superhero persona. I can only imagine what pure cocaine would do.

I'd probably solve the world's hunger problem and then eat the napkin because it looked delicious.

[Amarr HM]

Take a tablespoon of this shit link with some juice or milk and some guarana you will be pretty buzzin.

[schild]

Wheat grass doesn't do a goddamn thing for me, hippie.

Also, I don't know why - because it should, theoretically.

[Amarr HM]

Works for me but not as much as cocaine.

[Amarr HM]

My girlfriend is doing a distance learning programme and the main subject is dietary. There's a section on ADHD and it says to try Flax Seed oil over a few months cause it contains Omega 3, Omega 6 and Vitamin E. Over the space of three months tests have shown children (should work with adults aswell presumably) with ADHD have improved their reading abilities threefold and spelling rate had doubled. It has to do with replacing a deficiency in the brains predominant fatty acid DHA. Another thing you can try apparently is Pycnogenol which is an antioxidant and balances stress hormones.

[Azazel]

Like I said in the Effexor thread I started last year, finally getting the meds has completely changed my life for the better. Seriously. And none of the stuff I was worried about came to pass. Had i not started taking meds I am absolutely sure I would have killed at least one or more people by now. The reason I know is because I was looking up rental prices for concrete cutters to start digging out a hidden room under my basement. Thankfully I had a "I'm carefully pre-planning the construction of a hidden room under my basement. Even if meds make me dead inside, it would still be a better idea". Seriously, I had even worked out below sewer line plumbing issues, post activity waste disposal, and ensuring addequate ventilation while muffling sounds to where no one outside the room could hear. So I guess the point is to get on something when you're thinking about doing it. Chances are good if you think you need it, you do.

So who were you planning on showing your new basement renovations to?

[Ironwood]

Just popped in here to tell you all how proud I am of you that you have a 5 page thread on ADHD and no-one's derailed it.

 

[NowhereMan]

I'm somewhat surprised no one's gone for, "I didn't know bob was Austrian."

[Signe]

I've thought about it and very nearly all of my experiences with ADHD have come from this thread.

[Jeff Kelly]

Just a short necro of the thread I originally started to give a short update.

The process of assessing whether I suffer from ADD or not took the better part of the last 9 months. My psychiatrist and neurologist made me do a lot of tests and evaluations, my personal history was evaluated and other conditions were ruled out.

The preliminary verdict so far is that ADHD is very likely. I am now on my fourth day of medication and the change is rather significant. My constant tiredness is gone. I am down to one or two cups of coffee per day (from 6 to 8) and I actually don't need so much energy to start work or to finish what I started in the first place. I am now even able to concentrate on what people say and to stay alert through a whole meeting without drifting off or the urge to stand up and walk around.

Also "thinking" is easier if you know what I mean. I have done more work in the last four days, than in the week before that because I don't spend hours putting things off or leaving things half finished because they stop being interesting.

Rebound when the effect of the meds wears of is bad however, the symptoms actually get worse than they usually are.

[Yegolev]

Congratulations.  You have made me once again consider going through the hassle of trying to be diagnosed.  It's sad that the diagnostic for this particular problem requires many traits that are anathema to the patient.

[Signe]

Wait.  Bob is Austrian?

[Soln]

can you order addrerall or ritalin without a prescription? 

[Pennilenko]

Total score: 108, here, I likely have a problem, and I thought I was always just an asshole who can't focus.

[Pennilenko]

Look I'm not a huge advocate of homeopathy just would look at alternatives and just happened to mention that, you could look at Chinese medicine for fucks sake anything but getting your child addicted to cocaine that's nuts man.

That's not nuts, that's awesome. Hey kid, settle down, here's some coke.

[Fraeg]

can you order addrerall or ritalin without a prescription? 

maybe in mexico

adderall requires a triplicate form and the doctors prescription must be filled within 7 days after that it is void... Adderall is related to speed and the reallly keep a tight watch.  I took adderall in my early 30s for a bit, much less harsh than ritalin..... these days my job is such that I can be the scatter brained impulsive intuitive yahooo i normally am.. so I no longer bother with the meds. /shrug.

anyway btwn adderal and ritalin i would opt for adderal.  If memory serves adderal is a second generation drug and the feeling is "cleaner" there is less of a "ooooh shit the drugs are kicking in" feeling.

anways good luck ADHD is definately a blessing and a curse.


as to the mention of coke, yeah I tried it a few times and quickly realized it was a very very bad drug for me to do.

[LK]

I need some chemical give-a-fuck.

New sig.

Edit: Total score of: 93 (70 or Above, High Probability of ADHD) Yow. 33 on the Autism test.

I would gladly take something chemical if it would cause a positive change in my day-to-day behavior, including more success in social situations and becoming more someone a group would want me to be a part of. Right now, I suffer from terrible isolation of my own making that I want to get out of.

I'm taking Celexes for depression, which does prevent the worst of any angry-related behavior problems. The rebound if I forget two days in a row is crippling. I'm the male equivalent of a psychotic bitch until my body's chemical balance is returned.

But the aspects discussed in this thread... I am probably going to investigate.

[Yegolev]

Sounds like you need lots of alcohol.

[LK]

Let me experiment with that tonight and get back to you.

[Ralence]

Someone earlier mentioned Strattera (I know, earlier being 7 months ago), but I thought I should throw some input into this since I've had some very close experience with this medication in particular.  If you read the FDA known side effects, suicidal thoughts are among them, as well as new psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, being suspicious) or new manic symptoms.

In particular, my younger brother (He was 28) was misdiagnosed as ADHD and prescribed Strattera.  Within 3 days he had a complete psychotic break, and has since been diagnosed as Bipolar I (technically Bipolar NOS, Not Otherwise Specified), with visits to psychiatric institutions on a fairly regular basis as we have to have him involuntarily committed.  His entire life he's been Bipolar, as it's something genetically inherited, the issue was, he's hypomanic with no signs at all of depression.  He was voted class clown, and was always really happy, how that's a "disorder" is beyond me, and obviously went undiagnosed until his late 20's.

Up until this episode, he was married, with a college degree and a successful job.  Now he's on full state disability, his wife divorced him, and he has trouble functioning on a day-to-day basis.  He's on 9 different medications and takes a total of 14 pills per day.

Would he have eventually had a psychotic break?  I guess nobody will ever know, but to me, knowing that a misdiagnosis such as this, for something that is overmedicated for on a regular basis makes my hairs stand on end.

Also, the fact that he may have been just fine leading the life he was, and that this medication specifically triggered his psychotic break, definitely depresses me when I look at the state of his life as it is now. 

Just something to think about when considering treatment.

-Phil

[Amarr HM]

That's messed up, it's so easy to misdiagnose cause these quacks can't properly explore someones mind. From what I hear they don't even try they, just what are your symptoms? ok take these.

[Yegolev]

Yea, that's the main drive behind the long-ass process of being diagnosed with ADHD.  Giving those drugs to non-ADHD people is a bad idea.

[Samwise]

40 on the ADHD test and 27 on the autism test.  Woohoo, I'm just barely normal!