Stimulant Vs. Non-Stimulant Adhd Medicines

[Sarah147]

Hello,

I'm looking for help with my attention, hyperactivity, and motivation problems from the ADHD.

I've been trying a [b]stimulant ADHD[/b] medicine, but even at a low dose, I don't like how it makes me over-stimulated; over-serious; less of my personality; edgy; and it gives withdrawal fatigue and worse nasal allergies.

Some say [b]Ritalin[/b], a stimulant medicine, has less side effects.

I'm wondering what the [b]non-stimulant [/b]ADHD medicines, like Strattera, are like...

There is also [b]Wellbutrin[/b], which covers depression/anxiety/ADHD. But, I don't need all of that.

Some medical sites say that "[b]Piracetam[/b]" (available at speciality pharmacies in the USA) is good for cognitive problems, so I'm also thinking about this.

Some medical sites say [b]hypothyroidism[/b] can show ADHD symptoms, too, so if I ever get treatment for that, maybe it will help.



Please, any thoughts and advice needed.

[mcts]

Personal experience says that adderall is the best. Concerta is awful and gave me the symptoms that you explained.

[rachael]

I had straterra because I couldn't use the stimulant ones with my other medicine. It worked well.

[Basilisa Marie]

My sister and boyfriend both have ADD. Not HD, but they use the same kinds of meds. My sister uses strattera pretty well. My boyfriend was on both concerta and strattera, because one was like an "8 hour" and the other built up in his system long term. He eventually went off the long-term one (I can't remember which did that) because it made him nauseous and feel "dull." But I would recommend talking to your doctor about the symptoms and what you're trying to avoid.

[Sarah147]

Lots to think about...

Please keep the feedback coming.

[arfink]

Strattera isn't a particularly grand drug. I was on it for a few years, and it can seriously mess you up.
[url="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Atomoxetine"]https://secure.wikim...iki/Atomoxetine[/url]

Also be aware that the non-stimulant drugs will hot-wire your libido, appetite, and will mess with your mood. I was on a dosage which gave me effective coverage for about 8 hours of every day, and I could feel a strange sensation every day at about 4 PM when it ran out. My heart rate would change, and I'd become very sleepy and sluggish. It would usually take me until 7 or 8 PM to feel somewhat recovered, after which I would feel absolutely ravenously hungry, and usually, um... lustful. This is a known side effect of the drug!

Besides this the drug seemed to influence my moods. During the day when the dose was still in me I'd have no attention problems but would find myself routinely unhappy and moody, with a very short fuse on my temper, which is not my normal way of behaving. In the evening when the dose wore off I would rebound and become almost manic. This happened far to often to be coincidence.

And while the drug may not be habit forming in the way an amphetamine-based stimulant might be, if you're like me, you'll feel compelled to keep taking it in order to feel "normal" and keep from having wild mood swings and other nasty side effects.

I would also avoid Ritalin. It's chemically very similar to heroin, and can be habit forming.

I won't use mind-altering chemicals on myself anymore to treat my ADD. It's just too problematic for me. If you decide to go that route I wish you luck, but I haven't had much myself.

EDIT: I would also agree on the feeling nauseous and "dull" while on Strattera. The nausea was a really annoying, dull feeling in the pit of your stomach, like you would be on the verge of being sick, and would last for the whole day. Not fun. The "dull" tended to be what would fill the gaps between the moody moments. It felt like my natural excitement and interest was sapped out of me. Now, in a way that was beneficial in class, since it abated some of my flighty distractedness. But the life of my mind, while honed to a sharply focused edge by the drug, felt like it was filled with lifelessness.

And that's the other thing that made me feel dependent on the drug. I desperately wanted to retain that "razor sharp" feeling in class and outside of it. It made me feel incredibly powerful when I would reflect on what I could make my mind do. And when I came to the realisation that I was revelling in that power, that's when I realised I needed to be off the drugs.

I don't know how else to describe it, but it was a very real, very potent "hit" to have that feeling. No, I should say, to have that ability, because the stuff does work. But I was concerned that it would erode a portion of my will to keep taking it.

Edited August 30, 2011 by arfink

[faithcecelia]

My brother was on Ritalin for 10-12years and it was fantastic for him. Unfortunately he also has seriously bad excema (as in cannot move without bleeding, literally) and it didn't mix with the drugs he was put on to treat that. He is currently on Concerta XL and thats suiting him okay.

But for him, far better than any particular drug is the combination of different therapies he has had (the drugs are essential, but there has not been a 'wonder drug'). He is very fortunately to be part of a study at the maudsley Hospital in London, one of the top psychiactric hospitals in the world, looking at people with ADD (with or without the H - he is without, but also has tourettes) who were diagnosed as children when they still believed it was something you outgrew. Through this, he has has anger management counselling [i]for people with ADD,[/i] self esteem counselling [i]for people with ADD,[/i] language counselling (to help him express himself) [i]for people with ADD, [/i]etc etc. It is an ongoing study, which may or may not end at some point. The tourettes was actually diagnosed early in this study, and a lot fell into place just knowing he has that as well, and again he has been able to have particular therapies to help him both control and even recognise his tics.

So if its possible, I really would recommend counselling as well as medication - its not all about talking about your past, its about dealing with your daily challenges. But I do think, in my brothers case at least, he could not have benefited from the non-drug treatments without the drugs stabilising and calming him in the first place.

[OnlySunshine]

I've only been on 2 ADD medications -- Adderall XR and Strattera.

My former psychiatrist who originally diagnosed me with adult ADD back in 2007 put me on Lexapro for depression and Adderall XR for ADD. Neither one of those drugs worked for me. The Adderall made me feel like my mind was racing all the time and I had heart palpitations. I also didn't like that it had a high abuse potential. He quickly took me off it.

The next medicine he tried me on was Strattera. I hated that medicine. It constantly made me feel like things that were sticking out (like clothes racks at the store) were going to poke me in the eye. I was having weird vision changes. I asked to be taken off it.

I stopped seeing him because it became clear that his office staff was only worried about collecting money and I was tired of waiting 3-4 hours in the waiting room after my scheduled time because he could NOT ever keep a schedule.

I lost my insurance coverage soon after and was forced to resort to state care at which point my nurse practitioner tried me on Effexor then Cymbalta thinking they would cure the ADD and my depression. I think they are in the same class of drugs as Strattera because I had weird vision changes with them as well. Cymbalta caused terrible mood swings. My mom was worried about me while I was on that.

I finally got on Wellbutrin SR and I've been on it to this day. It is the only thing I've found that takes care of my depression, anxiety, and ADD all in one. It's a miracle drug for me.

Edited August 31, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae

[rachael]

[quote name='arfink' timestamp='1314736079' post='2297596']
Strattera isn't a particularly grand drug. I was on it for a few years, and it can seriously mess you up.
[url="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Atomoxetine"]https://secure.wikim...iki/Atomoxetine[/url]

Also be aware that the non-stimulant drugs will hot-wire your libido, appetite, and will mess with your mood. I was on a dosage which gave me effective coverage for about 8 hours of every day, and I could feel a strange sensation every day at about 4 PM when it ran out. My heart rate would change, and I'd become very sleepy and sluggish. It would usually take me until 7 or 8 PM to feel somewhat recovered, after which I would feel absolutely ravenously hungry, and usually, um... lustful. This is a known side effect of the drug!

Besides this the drug seemed to influence my moods. During the day when the dose was still in me I'd have no attention problems but would find myself routinely unhappy and moody, with a very short fuse on my temper, which is not my normal way of behaving. In the evening when the dose wore off I would rebound and become almost manic. This happened far to often to be coincidence.

And while the drug may not be habit forming in the way an amphetamine-based stimulant might be, if you're like me, you'll feel compelled to keep taking it in order to feel "normal" and keep from having wild mood swings and other nasty side effects.

I would also avoid Ritalin. It's chemically very similar to heroin, and can be habit forming.

I won't use mind-altering chemicals on myself anymore to treat my ADD. It's just too problematic for me. If you decide to go that route I wish you luck, but I haven't had much myself.

EDIT: I would also agree on the feeling nauseous and "dull" while on Strattera. The nausea was a really annoying, dull feeling in the pit of your stomach, like you would be on the verge of being sick, and would last for the whole day. Not fun. The "dull" tended to be what would fill the gaps between the moody moments. It felt like my natural excitement and interest was sapped out of me. Now, in a way that was beneficial in class, since it abated some of my flighty distractedness. But the life of my mind, while honed to a sharply focused edge by the drug, felt like it was filled with lifelessness.

And that's the other thing that made me feel dependent on the drug. I desperately wanted to retain that "razor sharp" feeling in class and outside of it. It made me feel incredibly powerful when I would reflect on what I could make my mind do. And when I came to the realisation that I was revelling in that power, that's when I realised I needed to be off the drugs.

I don't know how else to describe it, but it was a very real, very potent "hit" to have that feeling. No, I should say, to have that ability, because the stuff does work. But I was concerned that it would erode a portion of my will to keep taking it.
[/quote]
Ah, but most drugs can mess you up. I knew people in college who were addicted to Adderall. You just have to weigh the benefits with the risks.

[Sarah147]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1314755729' post='2297833']

I finally got on Wellbutrin SR and I've been on it to this day. It is the only thing I've found that takes care of my depression, anxiety, and ADD all in one. It's a miracle drug for me.
[/quote]

Does Wellbutrin help with attention, motivation and hyperactivity issues of ADHD?

Does it dampen personality at all or make you less spontaneous/joyful/able to laugh?

Does Wellbutrin SR withdrawl cause vertigo or dizziness?


I'm thinking I should try a non-stimulant drug, and lastly the Wellbutrin SR, and see how they help.

Edited September 1, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1314898271' post='2298714']

Does Wellbutrin help with attention, motivation and hyperactivity issues of ADHD?

Does it dampen personality at all or make you less spontaneous/joyful/able to laugh?


I'm thinking I should try a non-stimulant drug, and lastly the Wellbutrin SR, and see how they help.
[/quote]

The Wellbutrin helped me tremendously with concentration issues. I was on it when I took College Algebra in the spring which was not a good subject for me in the past and I aced it with an "A"! That should tell you something. I am very motivated now in my schoolwork, too. As for the hyperactivity, I have ADD without hyperactivity, so I cannot tell you how it works for that part.

I've never noticed a change in my personality except for the better. I've been much more outgoing while on the medication. I will warn you though that it has some minor but unpleasant side effects when you first start out, but they go away in about a month, and it's not that bad.

[Sarah147]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1314898560' post='2298718']

The Wellbutrin helped me tremendously with concentration issues. I was on it when I took College Algebra in the spring which was not a good subject for me in the past and I aced it with an "A"! That should tell you something. I am very motivated now in my schoolwork, too. As for the hyperactivity, I have ADD without hyperactivity, so I cannot tell you how it works for that part.

I've never noticed a change in my personality except for the better. I've been much more outgoing while on the medication. I will warn you though that it has some minor but unpleasant side effects when you first start out, but they go away in about a month, and it's not that bad.
[/quote]

Does it cause withdrawl dizziness/vertigo?

What kind of side effects the first month?

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1314898813' post='2298721']

Does it cause withdrawl dizziness/vertigo?

What kind of side effects the first month?
[/quote]

I don't know about the withdrawal part of it because I've never forgotten to take it for a long period of time or stopped it cold turkey. In fact, you HAVE to work with your doctor because it can cause seizures in a small percentage of the population, but it's rare.

The first month or two can cause headaches, minor insomnia, and dry mouth. These are pretty minor and they usually disappear once you are used to the medication.

[Amppax]

[quote name='arfink' timestamp='1314736079' post='2297596']
I won't use mind-altering chemicals on myself anymore to treat my ADD. It's just too problematic for me. If you decide to go that route I wish you luck, but I haven't had much myself.
[/quote]

I have pretty bad ADD myself. One of the things I'm very thankful for is that my Mom never put me on ADD drugs, for all the reasons that arfink mentions, and also for some others. Considering I'm fairly small in stature and weight, the appetite suppressing effect of the drugs I would have probably been placed on would have had VERY negative consequences for me. If at all possible, do it without the drugs. Its hard, I will be the first one to admit that, but it is doable. I'm generally very wary and distrustful of medicinal drugs (really any drugs for that matter) in general, so there's that. However (without knowing anything much about your personal situation) I would really encourage you to do it without the drugs.

[Sarah147]

It's very possible that the specialist I may be seeing will try me on thyroid and cortisol, and it may relieve the ADHD symptoms. I've read thyroid and adrenal issues can look like ADHD (as well as the allergies and fatigue I have). It sure would be great so I wouldn't need those other drugs. I really want my full personality to be here everyday; it makes me sad being different.