I am looking for more information on adult ADHD and have asked my doctor with mixed results. Wonder if others have had the same luck.

Hello. I, too, am an adult with ADHD. I didn't get diagnosed until the age of 44. When I went for testing, I didn't go in there with any preconceived notions. However, once I got the results back, it made a LOT of sense as to why I did a LOT of the things (stupid, impulsive, or otherwise) I did. I have the combination kind (focusing issues and impulsivity). Once I started taking the meds, it made a world of difference. What you need to understand is that what works for me may not work for you. EVERY body is different. It is also, for lack of a better word, a crapshoot until you find the right combination that works for you. In addition to the ADHD, I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and panic disorder. In addition to the dexadrene, I take zoloft and xanax ONLY on an as needed basis. Drop me a post if you'd like to communicate...I SO know what you are going through. Just lemme know.

I'm a 48 year old mom who got diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago, but I can pretty much tell you I've had it my whole life...along with panic disorder.

The actual diagnosis in hand explains a LOT about what has occured in my life.

It's extremely hard NOT to beat myself up and feel like a failure most of the time.

But it is what it is, and life goes on.

"The actual diagnosis in hand explains a LOT about what has occured in my life. It's extremely hard NOT to beat myself up and feel like a failure most of the time."

I feel you on that one!

I feel your pain. I finally diagnosed as an adult and started treating at 44 after ugly break up with stbx. Don't beat yourself up you are on the right track to great living.

Thank to those that responded. However, I'm afraid you don't know the REST of the story, as Paul Harvey would say... Have any of you lost jobs because someone didn't like you? What about your boss trying to "catch" you doing something wrong? Or because of you impulsive and stupid actions, you got fired??? Or what about failed relationships? Although not completely all my fault (one marriage totally impulsive...the other one, again impulsive, but he was a functioning alcoholic, a loner, a workaholic, and couldn't communicate. After 10 years and 2 kids, I couldn't live like that anymore. Now, in addition to the ADHD (combination type), a diagnosis of panic disorder which doesn't go so well along with observations and the lack of good time management skills and a serious problem with procrastination...especially when I know that the outcome will be (ex...all the papers I grade will be D or F papers.) Because of this, I am unemployed. At 48 WHO KNEW this is what my life would look like? As I said...I'm a tough cookie...still hangin in there!

ADHD women are the 'toughest cookies' around! We persist under the most horrifying circumstances, cry to make it all melt away, wipe away the tears and try again, again and AGAIN. I'm trying now to set one maybe two goals, I'm hoping they'll come full circle and be rewarded with completion! All the power in the world to you for persistance under the most chaotic frustrating circumstances... Imagine if you weren't ADHD, haven't unconsciously learned all of those coping mechanisims... Scarey to imagine! A woman without this struggle is lucky, however, women who do struggle have the most incredible ideas! Now it's time to FOCUS- I know a cruel joke really!- and set all the inner most passions into action... NOW, I need to listen to myself and do it :

to ADHD Mom, I too have lost jobs to this and it is so tempting to kick myself. I ask my mirror: "why didn't you just finish that assignment?" "Why aren't you further ahead?" "You're smart, so how come you are not in that job?".
This is not some temporary slump, or a day on the pity-pot, some days it is very challenging to dispel the intense self-loathing I feel when I my reflection and I don't understand why I'm not living the life I really feel I have the potential to achieve.

I totally applaud your statement of "still hanging in there" and I thank you for it. I really hope you will keep sharing your experiences here with the forum. Keep going!

Hello all. I do so appreciate the feedback. It's nice to know there are ways I can others feel better. Now for some more news...due to my panic disorder, it became apparent that it's most likely I will never give an administrator an acceptable "performance" on an evaluation. Therefore, I was told by my principal that she felt I could no longer do the job I was trained to do...the "deer caught in the headlights" and "everything I know I'm supposed to do goes right out the window," so now I'm faced with finding a new outlet/career. There's still a lot of unknowns at the moment, but I am going to enroll in an online university and become a licensed counselor in the mental health field...why not? I live it EVERY day...I walk in those shoes EVERY day...maybe this will be one way I can help make a difference helping others...who knows?

To those of you that have responded, thank YOU for making me feel better as I share my own frustrations of living with ADHD EVERY day (sometimes the best way I describe it is feeling like a kid stuck in a grown up body). I'm lucky to have friends that believe in me when my family doesn't. When you have a mum that comes from a totally different generation who doesn't believe that ADHD/ADD is "real," then you kinda start off behind the 8 ball before you ever get started. So, to those of you who have made ME feel not so bad...thank you from the bottom of my <3 (heart). I'm learning as I go along. : )

To ADHD mom. We are the newbies here. Both in the same boat. FYI in Canada now there are laws about firing,dismissing those with ADHD. A friend told me last night. I wish I'd had my diagnostics before I was dismissed and especially when I was already working with persons with disabilities being reintegrated into society. Well, I wouldn't be getting better if it hadn't happened the way it did. Now with my meds up to the next dosage of 27mg I have seen the changes myself and commented to a few friends at church. It can only get better now by little steps. I get to start work at 4 hr a day M&T mornings for starters. I need to be full time 'cause it is hurting us financially. But, God has abundant supply. I guess it will come when it comes. Hang in there ADHD mom. We can do it together. We'll all help encourage and exhort one another to press on, press on. ooh my hubby wrote a song about pressing on. hmm another day. hugs

Hi again, Well my meds are increasing once again. If it's too much we'll take it down. Simple as that. I will start a routine of going back to work and at the same time to lose weight. Once meds are in control, behavior can come under control for the most part. Some explained to me that the meds do their job of waking up the teacher so the teacher can tell you what to do. I thought that was a very good picture. It helped me to understand. Years ago I had a dream of trying to find my place to a picnic table through a maze of white picket fences. I saw myself darting this way and that just like when you were a kid in school shooting off elastic bands. Well, I was that elastic band for years and still am but it is changing slowly and the results just make me so pleased. So Concerta 56mg. here I come. Upgrade #3. Hang in there too everyone.

Well the increased dosage was too much. Forgetting, itching, speech was slurring. Chaned this today and today was much better. Seems the 36 is better. The other thing is that I am not working full time yet and won't until accessing again August 31st. Everything is much better. Walk on Wednesdays and tutor on Wed. For me the Concerta has worked. Mushtodo.

I made a goof. My dosage is 54mg of Concerta. When it was up 20 more mg. that when the itching, and slurring showed up in the Dr.'s office. Hubby and Dr. agreed to take it back down to the 54mg. and so did I. I didn't like the "cloudy brain" and trying to retrieve info from my brain was even more slower. Before I was on meds and now still, if I am in a room of poor lighting I feel like I'm drugged or drunk! Still working only 8 hours a week M&Tue. Recommended this way until Aug 31st by Dr. Until my next post, MUSHTODO

For the most part, there is really no need for all these medications which in themselves create more of the problem. For children, I suggest that you get Sandy Newmark, MD's new book ADHD without Drugs: Here is a brief review: "Dr. Sandy Newmark, a pioneer in pediatric integrative medicine" "Dr. Newmark's groundbreaking book is a practical and thought-provoking guide to the integrative approach to ADHD, one of our greatest challenges in children's health. I am delighted to offer this book as a resource to both patients and colleagues." Larry Rosen MD -, Chief of Pediatric Integrative Medicine, Hackensack Medical Center, Medical advisor to the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center. and Vice-Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Complementary and Integrative Medicine. "Dr. Sandy Newmark, a pioneer in pediatric integrative medicine, has synthesized his years of experience and training to provide an incredibly useful guide to ADHD. It should be considered essential reading for parents, teachers, doctors and all others seeking solutions beyond medications for our children with ADHD." Victoria Maizes MD Executive Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and an Associate Professor of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine and Public Health. &ldquo;Dr. Newmark has finally crafted the book that I have long been wishing for. ADHD For all others, please look at the results from retraining your breathing via the Buteyko Method www.buteyko.info

to None re: no need for meds some praise and criticism

My first reaction to your post is that I am happy for you to have found an answer to your challenges that does not use medication. In addition to immediate health gain of reducing the amount of chemicals in your body, reducing medication has long term health benefits. I also appreciate your sharing a book that you have found informative and I encourage you to keep posting books you discover as this is mutually beneficial.

Unfortunately, it is too simplistic to assume that everyone can stop taking medicine for ADHD. To advise people to go against medical advice is not only unsupportive of this forum it is potentially harmful. For example, I know for myself that the sudden change in in blood pressure from a full stop in from taking my medication could cause me to have a stroke. This is something that my doctor and I closely monitor.

So while I encourage your contributions, be they personal or educational, I hope that you will not tell people that their medication creates problems. This type of message lowers morale and raises health risks.

ITA with bev here...EVERY body is different! I have often wondered myself just HOW a neurological misfiring of the neurons and re-uptake inhibitors and various receptors in our brains can be "cured." I, too, am another one who can't do without medications for my high cholesterol, high blood pressure, AND my ADHD. I'd want proof provided by the FDA! As an adult diagnosed at 44 (I'm 48 now), I had no "preconceived" notions when I went in to find "answers!" It explained a WHOLE LOT of mistakes, impulsive actions in my life, and why I've met with far more failure than success. Thank goodness I was blessed with good coping skills! Please don't misinform...there's potential for harm to our bodies and our constant battle for just a smidgen of self esteem! : )

I fully agree. I'm 54 and just found I have severe ADHD,, OCD PTSD NBD(alcohol related) I'm in the same boat as you. Just starting meds tho. I'm tired, and yet I stay up all night literally like 2 days ago. I need to get motivated. Being overweight and 1 ankle swelling up for who knows why and started hurting. When I tried going off meds years ago. Grumpy and hubby told Dr. to not let me do that again and I was only on Effexor then!. Now I'm on Concerta. First 18mg. now the next dosage up. Then we'll see in 1 month if it goes up or back down. I think I'm just depressed today and a bit moody. Good thing I'm on medical ei right now too.

Hello Mushtodo...don't give up...hang in there! Most of the medicines we take for this remain a "crap shoot" until we find what works with OUR body...remember...EVERY body is different, and what medication(s) may work for you won't work in the right way with me. Case in point...my doc tried me on Strattera. I tried it during the day, and it made me really b*chy...tried it at night, and I experienced a hallucination, and that was "all she wrote." >:o However, I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere and finding a balance. I know you will, too...it just takes a little time and persistence until you find what works best for YOU! I can tell you from experience that exercise is great in warding off those depressed feelings. I was at a craft fair a couple of weekends ago and saw that the hoola hoop is making a comeback with the baby boomers...gentle on the joints and GREAT for the waist. Oh! What I'm about to tell you is TRIE! The smaller the hoop, the harder it is to hoola! So if your body is up to it, go to Wal-Mart and get a $5 hoop...find some music with a good beat and I promise...you'll feel MUCH better! I know I do.

Well, this is encouraging. I even read it to my hubby. He said "$5 are you sure?" Well, I'll check it out tomorrow. Since I used to work there I'll know where to find two. We both need to lose weight desperately. 197lb and 5'1" and hubby at 6' we need to do something in the back yard and laugh about it too. Never know we may start a new trend up here next to Alaska! By the way. I purchased another iPHONE since mine was stolen. Stress left when this was done too. I'll talk more later.

Hello, to everyone. The meds are starting to kick in. I can feel more at being focused. I don't react as much. Unsure on how the sustained release works on Conerta 37mg but I will have it taken up again and then brought down if needs be. Wow. A whole new world is opening up here. Baby steps, and repeat, repeat, repeat in learning something new. I will start to work 4hours a day 2x week in garden centre at Walmart. Everyone, please try to stay positive as best you can. It can only get better. We never want to go back to being what we were at the not knowing what we have stage. We have to be the little ships that go to the bigger ship to stay afloat and support it. Mushtodo

I agree with the no medication part... but I'm 20 years old now and only became aware rather recently that I had ADHD. It really effects nearly everything I do unless I have an intense interest in it. The only part that bothers me is how severely it effects my relationships with people. To be frank, people find it hard to be around me for long periods of time. Its either that, or I lose interest in people at the drop of a hat and then I cut them away with no hard feelings and move on to the next.

I think if medication works for some, that is brilliant and keep using it if it genuinely works for you. Medication and me just simply doesn't go. And it is a bit backwards because those with ADHD are prone to addiction, so having it worked into your head to take that little pill that will fix you everyday just doesn't sit well with me personally. I've used other medication before and after being a sad snail (literally) for 9 months, I dropped it cold turkey. But I'm at the stage now where everything seems to be intensified. I can't sit in a meeting a work and follow conversations, I'm always on my own planet doing something else.

For me I think the best way is just the fully acknowledge it and develop my own ways of dealing and getting around it. I've successfully developed some methods quite young to deal with certain areas, but others, like relationships and my mood swings are something that feel a bit out of my hand. I just do things if I want to, I have a lot of compulsive behaviour.

My 6 yr old son has been on Adderall XR 5mg since Nov....he weighs about 45 pounds. At first it worked well, helping with his impulsiveness at school, but I noticed he was more emotional than usual. So, his dr suggested increasing it to 10mg to help him control his emotions. It got 100x worse...he became "depressed", crying over everything & said his "heart hurt" & he didn't like himself. It only took a couple days of that before I took him off all together. After a couple days being off medication, it was obvious to everyone that he needed to go back on. So, back to the 5mg he went....but it hasn't seemed to be helping as much as before. I'm so scared to try different meds/doses because of the bad experience we had the last time.....not to mention the cost. Every time we try something new we'll have to purchase a full month's Rx. If it doesn't work, it goes to waste. I just don't know what to do...at this rate he will have difficulty as he starts 1st grade in the fall if we don't get a better grip on this. Any support would be great!!

If at all possible, could you ask your doctor for some samples? It can get expensive, I know! You also need to realize that what works for one may not work for another. I tried a different med for my anxiety disorder and all I did was cry...I went back to the ole one, and before I knew it, I felt good again. You can't be afraid of the medicines...just talk with your son, look for changes, and if they occur, then he's not on the right one. When you DO find the right one/or combination thereof, you will know! It will just feel "right." Hope this helps! :D

my son was just recantly offically diganosed we are in the process of seeing a psychologist to start a treatment progam that will include medication..I would love any input to what meds have worked the best for kids...my son is 5 years old and we are trying to get things under control or at least started before he starts kindergarten in the fall

Hey there new mom to all this!!! The one good piece of advice I can offer you is this...I didn't get diagnosed until I was an adult, but here are a few tidbits I found along the way. My nurse practitioner gave me some samples of Lexapro. It had a different effect on me than the Zoloft did (it made me cry a LOT). The second one I tried was Strattera to see if a non-stimulant could be just as effective as the Adderal. I had an interesting experience (right as I was going to bed, I saw a wraith at the foot of my bed--I don't like hallucinating). Just listen to him...ask him how he feels, does it make his tummy hurt, does it make him sleepy, etc...asking at random times during the day will be helpful to you in order to help you guage if it is helping him. Make sure he eats a good breakfast and then give him his medicine. It could make him not want to eat. You'll just have to play it by ear and keep up with it in the beginning. It could take a little bit of time for his body to adjust and get used to his medicine.

Your doctor will be the one to dispense the medication. Remember, the most popular medicine may work for child, but not for another. It's not about which meds have worked for who, but which ones will work for your son. : D