Wow Granny... I love your statement "we are not just a bunch of folks on a website. I have been responding to discussions, asking and providing info and experiences with this rare pain." That is a description I have been looking for for a long time. Hope you don't mind me using that quote once in a while, especially with new members.
I too have trouble focusing at work because of my medications. I asked my neurologist for a small dose ADD med to try to help. He said ok and I just asked for a very small dose. He prescribed 5 mg of Ritalin to try. Although it did help with my focus I found myself being very angry all the time. This was totally unlike me as I am normally a very laid back, kind person. My daughter and my fiancée both noticed the personality change . at first I didn’t put it together but finally it dawned on me it was the Ritalin making me feel this way. I stopped taking them and went back to my old self. I will be asking him about trying Adderrall at my next visit. So just a warning to anyone trying out Ritalin or even Concerta…they may cause anger issues. The timed release are also very expensive compared to regular pills
I took the Adderall and it made me moody. When I came down from it in the evenings I noticed I would be so mean and argumentative. And I would be hungry when it wore off too. I had forgotten about that.
Boy can I relate to these comments. I tried several ADD meds they all affected my personality.....causing extreme meaness, anger and argumentativeness. And I never walk away from a good argument to begin with....lol. I really started hating the world and not hesitating to tell them so. Thank goodness I began to realize I did not like the person I had become and I was able to wean off the meds.....and they didn't help my memory/concentration anyways.
My doctor prescribed Provigil to combat the sleepiness which results from taking Carbatrol, Lyrica, & Baclofen. He originally prescribed Nuvagil (non-generic update to Provigil), but the insurance won't pay for it. Provigil seems to work pretty well for the sleepiness and helps somewhat with attentiveness as well.
Rock Star energy drink (Sugar Free one) works for me. It has B6&12 and other stimulating ingredients in it. It’s the only way I can function throughout the day! drink about 5oz at a time sometimes more or less. I brought a can of Rock Star with me to show my pain specialist doctor, he justed noted it. I asked if it was harmful and he said, “no”
(Diagnosised with TN, depression)
Granny said:
ADD isn't just a childhood condition. It's a neurological condition that a great percentage of children don't "outgrow." Most of us weren't diagnosed as children because no one was testing for Attention deficit during our childhoods. I was diagnosed at 30. Both my children were already diagnosed and all the self-help books recommended by their docs were like reading my autobiography. The stimulant meds have the same effect on the adult brain as it does the child's brain. It wakes the ADD mind up so that it's able to focus appropriately.
I'm not sure what the effect of stimulant medication would be on a mind that's struggling as a side- effect of other meds. I can tell you most stimulant medication will make your heart race and can make you feel irritable. I couldn't stand the side-effects so I elected not to take the meds for ADD. I'm currently prescribed Gabapentin and Neurontin. I have to cut the dose of Gabapentin during the day because I'm just too loopy and uncoordinated to function at work at the full dose. It still took a lot of getting used to before I felt like I was actually able to perform my job the whole time I was there. It will still hit me for a couple of hours sometimes and I don't know what causes it sometimes and not others. I drive to work first, take my meds and then they've worn off enough for me to drive home when the time comes. Fortunately, I type and communicate for a living rather than doing a dangerous job.
Isn't this drug normally prescribed for children. Adults that take it or I should say there is an issue about this drug acting like a mood elevator or amphetamine when adults take it. Adults of their own children dx'd with ADD steal this drug to get "high". Children settle down because they have a different metabolism and can concentrate at doing a task in school and be able to learn at the same pace as other children not dx'd with ADD.
I myself could see being able to do more than I can do but in the long run you have to come "down" from this drug. If my pain medication is supposed to work for me one of side effects can be sedation and drowsiness, and I see so many medications, even non-narcotics that simply state they believe they work because they cause sedation too.
Well I don't work because I am disabled from 13 plus surgeries for the spine, ATN is an add on from tmj surgery in '86, not sure. But for some of you that need to work and your meds control your pain but make you unable to concentrate perhaps this is an acceptable add on. Check with your doctor about this possibly being addictive. Sharon
I think I am going to be stuck taking caffeine pills to keep me awake/focused. I briefly mentioned to my doctor about my sleepiness and if there was anything I can take and she doesn't want to put me on a medication to counter the side effects of a medication I am already taking. I actually kind of agree with her. The list of medications can grow awfully fast when you start doing that.
I have an appointment with her Thursday to talk about caffeine, alternatives, and other stuff as well. I just don't want to get to used to caffeine and then have to take more and more to function.
StudentNpain, you bring up a very valid point... I want to reduce my list of medications and not add to them! Plus the comments about being irritated and mean on ADD meds makes me want to steer clear of them all together. The best suggestion I've seen so far. Is sugar free Rock Star (5oz at a time). Seems like if you use that when you need it in a pinch would be much less taxing on your body and personality. Just my two-cents.
Neurontin (trade name) and gabapentin (generic name) are the same drug. I certainly hope you are not taking double doses.
BettyBulldog said:
Granny said:ADD isn't just a childhood condition. It's a neurological condition that a great percentage of children don't "outgrow." Most of us weren't diagnosed as children because no one was testing for Attention deficit during our childhoods. I was diagnosed at 30. Both my children were already diagnosed and all the self-help books recommended by their docs were like reading my autobiography. The stimulant meds have the same effect on the adult brain as it does the child's brain. It wakes the ADD mind up so that it's able to focus appropriately.
I'm not sure what the effect of stimulant medication would be on a mind that's struggling as a side- effect of other meds. I can tell you most stimulant medication will make your heart race and can make you feel irritable. I couldn't stand the side-effects so I elected not to take the meds for ADD. I'm currently prescribed Gabapentin and Neurontin. I have to cut the dose of Gabapentin during the day because I'm just too loopy and uncoordinated to function at work at the full dose. It still took a lot of getting used to before I felt like I was actually able to perform my job the whole time I was there. It will still hit me for a couple of hours sometimes and I don't know what causes it sometimes and not others. I drive to work first, take my meds and then they've worn off enough for me to drive home when the time comes. Fortunately, I type and communicate for a living rather than doing a .
Isn't this drug normally prescribed for children. Adults that take it or I should say there is an issue about this drug acting like a mood elevator or amphetamine when adults take it. Adults of their own children dx'd with ADD steal this drug to get "high". Children settle down because they have a different metabolism and can concentrate at doing a task in school and be able to learn at the same pace as other children not dx'd with ADD.
I myself could see being able to do more than I can do but in the long run you have to come "down" from this drug. If my pain medication is supposed to work for me one of side effects can be sedation and drowsiness, and I see so many medications, even non-narcotics that simply state they believe they work because they cause sedation too.
Well I don't work because I am disabled from 13 plus for the spine, ATN is an add on from tmj surgery in '86, not sure. But for some of you that need to work and your meds control your pain but make you unable to concentrate perhaps this is an acceptable add on. Check with your doctor about this possibly being addictive. Sharon
lol and I was just called for Jury duty...my doctor chuckled also when I went in for my two week checkup..with the list of medications alone, let along the medications and sensitivity to florescent lights and then the stress...I so don't think this girl would nor should be on the jury panel....
Love it. Small justice.
Hi to all, it's been awhile......
I put my son on Ritalin when he was almost 8 til he was 14. It did help him a lot!
Because the adhd comes from my side of the family and I'm pretty sure I've had it and still do. My Dr. put in a referral a few months ago for me to see some one and he's hoping that I will take the meds. He knows I hate the meds that I'm on and so reluctant to try anymore new ones because I have a past of bad side effects, as it is I can only take 600 - 700 mg. of Gabapentin and even that makes me feel all those things everyone hates.
But now I'm thinking that this might be a win win for me, whoa!
At any rate I might keep more of an open mind about it.
Take care,
Cheryl
Kc Dancer Kc said:
I took Ritalin with trileptal.....ritalin low dose, extended release -- if you are not sure to mix an ADD med and your TN med, ask pharmacist ---
My neurologist said that since his specialty is Epilepsy -- all those people take the meds we take, he said that they needed to be able to function, and if they couldn't, he let them take ADD med.
So between finding it works here - and getting blessing from my neurologist - I wasn't afraid of being a drug fiend.
It gave me energy and focus for the first time while having TN meds..... I was a TRILEPTAL ZOMBIE.... this tool helped me research for my MVD -- I can go back and look at my postings 3 years ago here, and see the ones where I was zombie out, no IQ, and no spelling! Ritalin gave me normalish functioning!