Adult ADD: Do you have it?

Here's a website you can visit to determine whether or not you have Adult ADD. Feel free to share your results, if you want to. I took the test, and I have it. Actually, I already knew I had it. I just need to get treatment for it.

If you do have Adult ADD, are you taking any medication(s) to fix the disorder? If you are, what is the name(s) of it?

I'm curious because I really need to go on something for my ADD. It has affected my whole college career and my grades. :( If you could provide me with some information about the medication(s) you're taking, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance! :hi:

I missed what you just said. :bounce: :dunce:

:spank:

It's changed my life. My career is better, my marriage is ALOT better,
and I'm a better father.

Best thing I ever did.

and I told him to keep me posted if any of the side effects manifest for him.

Sleep disturbances the first two weeks, occasional degradation
of short term memory, and intermittent erectile disfunction (which
Viagra takes care of).

All-in-all, well worth it.

How long does that last for? Is it anything really serious? And I'm a 22 year old male, and I hope that, if i were to go on that medication, that I don't get erectile disfunction!

I notice that I'll walk into a room having forgotten why I was going there in the first place- not a big deal, more of an irritation. And I'm 40, so age could defiantely be a contributing factor on the ED. I'm also taking Paxil, so between the two of them they put a pretty good hurt on your wood. Strattera is an SSRI and most of them have this effect. I'm also at the max doseage (100 Mg/day). You shouldn't have much trouble in that area being a pup of 22.

Thanks for providing me with that info on your medication. I appreciate it greatly. :hi:

I really hope ED won't be a problem if I were to go on those meds.

Can I have my speed now.

Dad and I both have the symptoms. I guess I should get tested.

"The responses you have provided indicate that your symptoms may be consistent with Adult ADD. It may be beneficial for you to talk with your healthcare professional about an evaluation.

Learn more about a medication option. >>Read More"

--- uhuh ---

I sure as hell wish they had invented ritalin when i was a kid.

maybe we should form an ADD special interest group on DU?

would love to hear about some successful tactics for dealing with this shit, which continues and perhaps is worse now that I'm past 50, f'chrissakes.

It was only six questions. :P :spank:

:)

Cool!

How unbiased/trustworthy can it be? Skeptical. :shrug:

that they will apply to 90% of the people in the world.

ADD, except in its real, major extremes, is not a "disorder."

have it too. But you know it's sponsored by Eli Lilly and they sell the drug. It could be right but I'm a skeptic.

who knows if the results are accuarate. After all, they only ask six questions. When I got tested for ADD, I had to go through 4 hours of testing, including many tests, remembering a lot of information, and tests to see how well I paid attention.

Maybe this test is hokey. I don't know. My mom gave me the address and told me to take it. :shrug:

Not really comfortable with taking meds for it though. I've heard some drugs have bad side effects, and others foster dependency and ever increasing dosages to maintain effective results. I'd be willing to entertain counselling or therapy, however.

But I still feel like it might be there.

My largest problem is that I fall asleep whenever I read. I get through a couple pages and I'm out. If I'm not out, my mind wanders far and wide. It's always been a problem. The weird thing is that I really like books! I can take books on tape much better, so maybe it's a reading problem rather than ADD.

I also, though, have problems doing boring work. I'd rather do anything else, like visit DU and post to any exciting topics, or check the news every 30 seconds.

david

I was diagnosed with it when I was 14, never did anything about it. Now, I notice it seems to be getting worse....either that or I'm really not interested in anything.

But for my job, I really have to make a concious effort to pay attention....I mean REALLY....it can be very draining.

It takes a lot of work for me to pay attention to anything, even just a stupid tv show. I was diagnosed with it when I was about 14, and I never took anything to remedy it.

I'm seriously going into the doctor's next week to go on something. I just want to be "normal" and be able to pay attention to even the simplest of tasks.

Funny how they can tell with only six questions....

Maybe the drug company who sponsored the test worded it in a way that most people have ADD so they go on their medications. It's sick that they have to stoop so low to get people to buy their sh!t. :grr:

When I got tested for it, I had to sit through 4-5 hours of rigorous testing.

I was diagnosed in 1983 with "atypical depression" since the diagnosis of AHDH/ADD/whatever had not become accepted by the medical community. I also had an intense pain syndrome from several operations on my ear, and was taking lots of codeine and Percodan.

I had also been on tricyclic antidepressants for a few years, and then was a guinea pig for Prozac and Zoloft, which did very little except give me gastroinstestinal problems and destroyed my libido.

I started taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) and within a few weeks, things were much better. The stuff has far fewer adverse effects on me and also reduced my need for painkillers -- I was able to discontinue the Percodan and codeine and started on Darvon, and got a superior response to it.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is inexpensive, it works well, and it has a lower abuse potential than most amphetamine-class medications. But it's not totally risk-free, and it's a Schedule 2 medication. None the less, I have not become addicted to it in 20 years of using it -- my dose has been consistently about 5-15 mg per day. Over the past decade, I have been able to discontinue it entirely during the summer and autumn.

New research also indicates that nutritional supplementation with omega-3 fats and calcium/magnesium can be helpful.

If you're a student, trot on down to the student clinic and get a full work-up for what ails you.

By the way, those mini-tests are used for screening, not diagnosing, and it's possible you have something other than ADD/ADHD. Sleep deprivation, for instance, will bring on some horrendous problems; but in most young people, the remedy involves simply getting more sleep.

Good luck!

--bkl

when I was about 14 years old (I'm 22 now). I know I have it, because I have all the classic symptoms of it.

So are you still taking the antidepressant while you're on Ritalin? I'm on Zoloft right now and I'd love to discontinue taking it if I go on Ritalin. My libido has gone down a lot, and as a male in my young 20s, it really sucks. :(

Thanks for providing me with the info. :hi:

Nope, I stopped the Zoloft when I began taking the Ritalin. The combo is not usually stable without close monitoring.

While you're waiting for the consultations and medication, you might want to improve your diet, sleep habits, etc., and try some of the "natural" treatments. Sometimes they help, they're not harmful, but just don't expect miracles!

And, of course, I'll rephrase and repeat what I said about lack of sleep -- not only will it mimic ADHD/ADD, but if you have it, it will amplify it.

As for your libido, unless you have a girlfriend who is sex-mad, don't sweat it. It will come back. Otherwise, enjoy the fact that young women now have far less ability to control you and your sexuality. And after all, isn't the standard story that men place too much emphasis on sex anyway?

:evilgrin:

--bkl

diagnosed about 2 years ago. I am 43. Have been on Adderal for 2 years. After a week or so of not sleeping, everything is "normal" except I can pay attention to what i am doing