Rheanna,

You just started the most important ADHD mitigation thread on the internet.

I promise to contribute.

I'm "in-process" with cognitive-behavioral therapy so I can help others while I help my self. It might be a couple days until I have time. This is not a thread that I can "implusively" post to and do it any justice.

RE: Your Ritalin. Be careful with it. If you are prescribed immediate release, you should know that methylphenidate has a very short half-life. The half life span is essentially when plasma levels are high enough for efficacy. I may be mistaken but I think it is about 1.5 hours. It is measured from peak plasma concentration to half that level so from ingestion Ritalin poops out in about 2.5 hours. Everyone experiences ADHD rebound to varying degrees. ADHD rebound is our symptoms returning with a vengence. I found it intolerable and that caused me a lot of trouble.

Solution A: An extended release version such as Concerta.
Solution B: Example: If you are prescribed 20 mg / day, ask for 10mg tabs and then cut each tab in half and take 1 half approximately every hour.

Solution B approximates Concerta release timing.

Look at this carefully if you experience a "buzz" from your prescribed doseage followed by depression/anxiety or just bouncing off the walls more than your normal ADHD self.

Initially all stimulants produce a little high so expect that. But within a week or two, the only sensation you should get is your ADHD symptoms vanished.

At the get-go it is hard to determine whether the high is drug produced or ecstasy that for the first time "those of us born blind can now see." We get used to that too.

Bob

Jason,

Did you see the sun come up this AM? If you did you saw a grand illusion. The sun doesn't rise. Earth's spin makes it appear to rise.

So what?

My discussion of methylphenidate efficacy/half life came more from my perception than from science. To the best of my knowledge, it can be detected several days after ingestion. Who cares?

All of us respond differently. You did not state the Adderall doseage that got you wired. I don't need to know. It was too high for you.

One of the things my shrink feared because I am an old speed freak is my body learned how to handle amphetamine class poisons. Both shrink and I are amazed at how low a dose I need for efficacy. The trick is to maintain about 3-5 mg plasma level throughout the day. I can do it expensively by taking Concerta or cheaply by mimiking Concerta's timing manually.

Another formulation that proves effective for some is (what the heck is the name of it?) Oh, yeah, Metadate. Metadate releases about a third AM and two thirds PM. ADHD symptoms are usually at their lowest in the AM and highest in the afternoon. Metadate's thinking is sound. It doesn't matter. It doesn't work for me.

We all respond differently.

Find a shrink that knows his craft. Another thing I got royally tired of was teaching a dude I'm paying 5 bills/hour how to do his job. Most shrinks are stupid. Get a guy or gal - women have an advantage in the brain biz because they naturally read feelings whereas we hear words - that rightly you can address as doctor.

The older you get the more opionated you get. I'm a geezer so please don't be put off by me.

What's more this is ABSOLUTELY my last post to this thread that has anything to do with meds per Rheanna's request.

Bob