adult ADD

[Ponyup]

There have been a lot of threads about ADD & I know that one of you take medication for this has an adult. As an adult how did you find out you had this? Does the medication help?

[Janet]

My son is the one with it, so I'm really no help to you. I can tell you that a child can outgrow it or it can start in adulthood.

[RLC12345678]

I am an adult and take ADD meds. I was having a hard time concentrating in college, so I went to my family doctor and told her about it. She put me on meds without being tested because she knew me personally and knew I was responsible and knew that I didn't want the meds for "other" purposes. She didn't want me to have to pay to be tested. She put me on a low dose of the meds. She said if they worked, then great. If they didn't work, then she'd try something else. They meds worked for me and I am still taking them now 4 years later.

[Kimberley]

I actually should have probably been put on something. My mind races, wanders constantly but I don't have a problem (at least most of the time) staying on task when it's something important. In college, I had a really hard time cause I couldn't concentrate. Maybe if I would have gotten some medication, I would have finished. I guess I've just learned to live with my little quirks.

[Ponyup]

The reason I think I have it is because I can't concentrate on just one thing. If there are a lot of things going on I am very productive. However, if I only have one task I can't seem to get focused on it & it takes me forever to finish. I seem to work better if I'm talking on the phone & working. It's like I have to occupy all the parts of my brain at one time in order for it to be productive. I did realitively well in school, but only because it was easy for me. College wasn't much of an adjustment, I thought I would have to study & such, but I went to class & did my homework & was able to get good grades there too. Whenever I study I must have the t.v., radio or something going or I can't focus. Right now I'm in a somewhat repitive job & I spend most of my time on here because I can't seem to stay focused. I was just wondering what others experiences are. That the meds might help me. Are there any side effects?

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by Ponyup

The reason I think I have it is because I can't concentrate on just one thing. If there are a lot of things going on I am very productive. However, if I only have one task I can't seem to get focused on it & it takes me forever to finish. I seem to work better if I'm talking on the phone & working. It's like I have to occupy all the parts of my brain at one time in order for it to be productive. I did realitively well in school, but only because it was easy for me. College wasn't much of an adjustment, I thought I would have to study & such, but I went to class & did my homework & was able to get good grades there too. Whenever I study I must have the t.v., radio or something going or I can't focus. Right now I'm in a somewhat repitive job & I spend most of my time on here because I can't seem to stay focused. I was just wondering what others experiences are. That the meds might help me. Are there any side effects?

Hummmmmmmm....you sound exactly like my husband!!!! He has to listen to music and/or watch TV while he's studying or he can't concentrate. See, I'm the opposite...if there is any noise at all while I'm studying, I can't concentrate. I would NEVER be able to listen to music or watch TV while studying. I would be so distracted. But you sound like me in the way that I did well in school, graduated with honors from high school and did well in college (graduated with honors from there as well). But, in college, it was just different for me than high school. There were SOOO many things to distract me. I had roommates, people who were loud in class, people who were loud in the library. All of these things distracted me so much when I went to class or tried to study that I felt like I wasn't doing the best that I could do. That is when I talked to my MD about the ADD meds. After I was put on them, I had no trouble at all concentrating and staying on task. There could be a circus in the library and I would not notice. They really helped me a lot. I certainly think I would have still done well in college if I hadn't been put on the meds. The meds just made it a whole lot easier.

If I were you, I would just sit down with your doctor and have a candid conversation with him/her. Tell him/her what you're experiencing. Does ADD run in your family? See my dad was diagnosed with adult ADD and both of my sisters have it. So, my doctor really didn't feel the need to test me considering these factors and the symptoms that I described. If your doctor will prescribe you the meds without having to take a test, then I say try the meds out and see if they work. If they DO work, GREAT! Keep using them. If they DON'T work, then no harm done and that means you don't have ADD. If would have had to be tested, I probably would not have wasted the time and money on it, because like I said earlier, I feel like I still could have done well if I hadn't taken the meds, it would have just been a lot harder for me. But, if you feel like you are really having a problem and you really need to be put on medication for it and the only way your doctor will prescribe the meds is if you are tested, then get tested. Just talk with your doctor. S/he will know what is best for you and your situation.

[RLC12345678]

Oh yeah, the side effects:

You can go to this site and it will tell you everything you need to know about the meds:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/amphet_ad.htm