Do you have ADD? (ADHD?) Did medication help?

[Toastedlightly]

What gives you the qualifications to make a statement like this?

For all of you saying that my dosage is too high, 70mg of Vyvanse is equivalent to about 30mg of Adderall XR, not a high dose at all. Not a low one, but there are plenty of people that are given much more.

I was first prescribed 18mg Concerta (minimum dose). Felt nothing, and eventually was up to 72mg with no benefits whatsoever. Then switched to Adderall XR at 10mg, then 20mg, 30mg, and finally 40mg. Didn't feel anything until 30mg, and was happy at 40mg, but had a lot of side effects. This led me to Vyvnase at 30mg, 60mg, and then 70mg. I was happy at 60mg, but it's easier (and cheaper) to take 1 70mg pill over two 30mg. I don't really notice a difference between 60/70 overall. So no, I wouldn't say my dose is too high. My doctor and nurse practitioner, both trained in ADD medication/treatment, agree with me.

Academic doping is a real thing that is done. Is it moral to do it just for the grades? I don't know...

However I do pop 2 no-doze and 3 ibuprofin before my 2 hour finals. No problems concentrating for me!

 

[rudder]

Yup. Medication wears off quick, like within a couple weeks, so you keep having to up your dose. And there's no real long-term studies to show how taking them affects you later in life. I tried some meds, but I'm off them now. They have weird side effects too.

Basically the biggest thing that has helped me is going to bed early, as in like 9:00pm. Nothing helps de-scramble my brain like an early bedtime. You have to do it for at least 3 days in a row to start seeing any benefit, which is really hard if you truly have ADD because it's super difficult to go to bed. I just use an audiobook to help me fall asleep, since I get really bored in bed.

Also cleaning up my diet helped a ton. Sugar really amps up the ADD - soda, gatorade, candy, anything with like more than 10 grams of sugar in it. Also avoid preservatives & chemicals, anything processed - those are HUGE. Try making homemade food for a few days or a week (to get all the crap out of your system), along with going to bed early, and see how you feel. Exercising of course helps (especially for falling asleep), but I can really only do it in the morning when I have the energy to.

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The key to the medication is to not take it everyday. Like skip on the weekends. And as far as diet goes ... starchy foods are also bad along with processed foods that have dyes, preservatives (like Diet Sodas!!)

Here is a great link:

http://www.addresources.org/article_50_adhd_tips_adult_hallowell_ratey.php

The problem though is if you have ADD you will never make it past number 8.

 

[Whisper]

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) was first added to the DMS-IIIR diagnostic manual in 1968, described as "hyperkinetic reaction of childhood".

In 1980 they described 3 types of ADD - with hyperactivity, without hyperactivity and "residual type", whatever that means (DSM III)

In 1987 the name was changed into Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (DSM III-R)

In 1994 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (DSM IV) the three types were updated into ADHD Combined Type, ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type, and ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

They're working on the new diagnostic manual DSM V. The latest work-group report is at http://www.psych.org/MainMenu/Resea...ive-Behavior-Disorders-Work-Group-Report.aspx

if anybody cares

Basically the clinical definition right now of ADHD is inability to control attention, either hyperactive or hyperfocus.

This should help answer the question of the difference between ADD and ADHD - when you were diagnosed, and if the diagnosing physician ever looked at the diagnostic manual.

This. The only difference between ADD and ADHD is the date you were diagnosed. ADD is no longer an official diagnosis; as mentioned above, it has been replaced by ADHD, which consists of three main subtypes (combined, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and predominantly inattentive) along with an NOS (not otherwise specified) category.