Gypsyguitar,

There are lots of meds out there now that are used for people who are diagnosed with ADD. This is because everyone is different in how they react to different meds. What works for me may not work for you.

Ritalin really does make a difference for me. I can focus when I've taken my pill and I am a space cadet when I skip a pill. I, like you, am in my 50's, and have frittered away my life dabbling at what interests me but never acheiving anything.

The thing to keep in mind is that drugs (may) help you to focus, but they will not help you to change the bad habits of a lifetime. Once you are diagnosed and you start trying out various meds to see what (may or may not) work for you, I suggest that you look for ways to help you get some structure in your life. Studying works best in an environment where you have to do homework and turn it in on a regular basis. This could be in a group where the others are depending on you to learn your music so that you can perform at the local gym on a specific date, or an adult education course where you are learning music theory, or whatever. ADD coaches can help with how to structure your day to get done all the things that you want to do.

The point here is that those of us with space-cadet ADD may have lots of passionate interests (mine is oil painting) and lots of talent (or so our friends keep telling us :cool: ), but without a deadline or structured class or a group that depends on us to hold up our part of the responsibility, we won't be a whole lot more productive on drugs than we were without.

To answer your original question, yes, Ritalin helps me to focus and may help you. But that is only the start of trying to make some changes in your life. As I write this response, I realize that I am writing this response to myself.

I wish you luck in finding something that helps you.

--Rheanna

Gypsyguitar,

Rheanna said it all and left nada for me to ADD.

Maybe I can append this ...

I am not a musician but have a strong interest in jazz. I find it interesting that many computer programmers share my passion for jazz. Best I can figure it is that jazz is a multi-threaded art form executed over time making it similar in structure to programming.

Problem. Both require enormous "focus." I you want to sleep at night, you can't take Ritalin in the evening. I don't think your plan will work as written.

You may be able to pull it off early AM's before your "day job."

Just a little advice from one geezer to another. I'm 56.

Bob

Thanks Bob....what about taking the Ritalin early am around 9am or so? My work day is up at 5, at work at 6 and leave at 4:30 maybe later. I get home, help with the kids and get into the studio at around 8pm. If I could still have enough left in me to focus and get in 3 hours of study, that'd be grand. Hell, I would settle for an hour and a half if it was quality time.

What is the duration usually of a moderate dose and is there a sort of peak period or is it pretty even?

Ritalin (methylphenidate) has a relatively short efficacy span. There are extended release versions such as Ritalin LA, Concerta, Metadate and others.

The devil is that stimulant meds can keep us awake longer than they can offset our inability to focus. So all extended release products are designed to quit after supposedly 12 hours. Many adults, self included, do not get anywhere near 12 hours out of them.

Not an insurmountable problem. You can sequence IR (Immediate Release) doses so that you have focus when you need it. Methylphenidate's short life can be used to your advantage. I can take 10 mg at around 5PM with lights out at 11PM. Maybe you can too.

Another option is Adderall. Adderall is more powerful and longer acting. That means you can take less and sequence doses over longer spans.

Let's go back to Rheanna's comment to the effect that we all respond differently. So very true. Your doctor must try different meds and delivery systems at initially lowest practical dose, titrating up to higher doses for him to determine what works for you. It is helpful for both your doctor and you to have a psychologist intermediary that can provide some evidence based documentation on the meds efficacy along with much needed counseling to help us unlearn all the bad habits we developed because of our disorder and replace with good habits or at least something that resembles good. :)

Humor helps. Believe me. They call it a "disorder" cause it screws up our lives and makes us miserable. Makes sense.

Yeah, it can get time consuming and expensive. So do what you can. Give it time, but be assured the process will eventually produce results.

Don't wanna rock no more? Why not? A few days ago, I blasted some 70's vintage Mahavishnu Orchastra "tunes." Damn hot stuff.

Whew.

Bob