Relief on Ritalin

[veritas]

Hi there. I have been away a while with an on and off struggle.

I joined shortly before the Bac revolution and jumped on board. Sadly, bac and I did not get on.
I have been using antebuse with mixed results. I would plan relapses and could seldom be AF for longer than a week. Most evenings were about white knuckling.

I recently went a talk on attention deficit disorder, a disorder I always suspected that I had. I listened to the doctor talk about self medication with alcohol and how this changed once effective treatment started.

I decided to try this option, as nothing else seemed to work. The doctor prescribed a low dose of Ritalin, just in case the diagnosos was incorrect. "you'll be bouncing off ceilings" she noted.

I could not believe the reaction. Suddenly I was comfortable in my own skin. What usually stimulates most of the world had me feeling relaxed, happy and most of all, not wanting alcohol.

Since then, I have started on Concerta, a long acting stimulant. My cravings have disappeared. Not only have they disappeared, but the thought of drinking leaves me cold.

I am no longer agitated, anxious, quickly tired or wired. I have the type of ADHD often missed. I have never been a nuisance, have post grad degrees, function most of the time. I was however the dreamy under performer at school. The one who sat in the corner drifting off.

I am sharing this in case there is anyone else out there with untreated ADHD.

[Doggygirl]

Relief on Ritalin

Veritas - hello! It's great to see you post and I am so happy that you have found your way out. I'm really glad you shared your diagnosis, and how this all came together for you.

One of my AA sponsees is addicted to crack and heroin. FINALLY (on her 7th trip through rehab) they diagnoses her ADHD and it has made a world of difference for her. She is now clean 1.5 years.

I am only just now beginning to understand the true magnitude and consequence in our world of addiction, of dual diagnosis (or should I say undiagnosed) problems. It is estimated that somewhere between 40 and 70% of people who enter treatment for addiction have a co-occuring mental diangnosis. Results are abysmal when both are not effectively treated, which historically they have not been. There is fortunately a lot of change going on in the treatment community related to this issue.

I hope more and more people in your circumstances start getting a proper diagnosis and treatment!!

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!

DG

[Isolde]

Relief on Ritalin

Veritas, thank you SO much for sharing your story!! I have recently begun to suspsect that I have some form of ADD too (it was actually due to something I read in the book Spark, and I realized - that's ME). I've also never been a nuisance, but I tend to have a very difficult time concentrating if I'm not under pressure. During lectures in college, I could NOT force myself to concentrate on what the professor was saying, I was constantly pulling myself back into the present, after realizing that I had been zoning out for many minutes. I couldn't get down to business and focus until it was the 11th hour and I had no choice.
I'm the same way now at work. In my job, I have to self manage, and sort of "find" projects to work on. Well, without anyone saying, "This has to be done by this time", I have no motivation to do anything. But give me a task with a deadline and I'm all over it.
I think for my next checkup w/my doc, I'll print out your story and take the excerpt from the book Spark to show him. Luckily he's very open to trying new regimens with drugs that have an off-label use, especially because I always go in armed to the gills with research! :H
As much as I love what baclofen has done for me, it's got some drawbacks too. I wonder if I might be able to titrate off of it (something I've considered doing recently) if I treated the (what I now suspect is) ADHD.

Veritas, have you had any side effects from the stimulants?

[tiptronic_ct]

Relief on Ritalin

Hiya Veritas - great to hear you're doing so well!

I too was diagnosed with Adult ADD after I had decided to consult a psychiatrist in September 2009 - severe depression was the initial diagnosis. Ritalin made all the difference. Although I sometimes felt as if I was on speed, I functioned much better and experienced a generally better sense of wellbeing.

Making changes to your diet can also make a huge difference. There is an ADD forum (almost like MWO) - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Forums where you can find more information.

I'm really pleased for you :goodjob:

[Bruunhilde]

Relief on Ritalin

V, thanks so much for your story, like others here, I've long suspected I have ADD and although tested with a high IQ as a kid, started struggling in school as soon as much concentration was required - like math. I had to change majors due to that. I am considered a top expert in my specialization (its nothing fancy, believe me) but still struggle with things unless I've done them a zillion times, and even then sometimes. I will do as Isolde will, which is take your story to the doctor. Thanks!!!!!

[Lo0p]

Relief on Ritalin

Amazing! Thank you for sharing! If only there were a way to like...index this as a possible cause and solution, so we don't forget about it.

So happy for you. :h

[Lo0p]

Relief on Ritalin

veritas;1199475 wrote: Hi there. I have been away a while with an on and off struggle.

I joined shortly before the Bac revolution and jumped on board. Sadly, bac and I did not get on.
I have been using antebuse with mixed results. I would plan relapses and could seldom be AF for longer than a week. Most evenings were about white knuckling.

I recently went a talk on attention deficit disorder, a disorder I always suspected that I had. I listened to the doctor talk about self medication with alcohol and how this changed once effective treatment started.

I decided to try this option, as nothing else seemed to work. The doctor prescribed a low dose of Ritalin, just in case the diagnosos was incorrect. "you'll be bouncing off ceilings" she noted.

I could not believe the reaction. Suddenly I was comfortable in my own skin. What usually stimulates most of the world had me feeling relaxed, happy and most of all, not wanting alcohol.

Since then, I have started on Concerta, a long acting stimulant. My cravings have disappeared. Not only have they disappeared, but the thought of drinking leaves me cold.

I am no longer agitated, anxious, quickly tired or wired. I have the type of ADHD often missed. I have never been a nuisance, have post grad degrees, function most of the time. I was however the dreamy under performer at school. The one who sat in the corner drifting off.

I am sharing this in case there is anyone else out there with untreated ADHD.

And damn it if it doesn't ring some kind of a bell with me too.

Have you ever been able to focus on things that you are intensely interested in for protracted periods until you master them.

It must be some kind of a yes. Were you interested and involved and able to focus on the subjects of your post grad work? Was it a breeze because of that or was it difficult because of what most people would consider normal symptoms of ADHD ?

I don't know how to ask this question really. You've piqued my curiosity. If you'd be willing to elaborate more that'd be very cool.

[Greg]

Relief on Ritalin

I've had good results from off-label use of pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) as an "antidepressant". It's a mild stimulant, and reduces both depression and anxiety in my case. I have no formal diagnosis of ADHD, just depression and anxiety. I only noticed this Sudafed effect by accident years ago, when I took two pills instead of one for a bad cold and became aware of psychological benefits. It has a few unwanted stimulating effects in some people and can worsen high blood pressure, so is probably not a good idea in many cases. I would try something like Ritalin except that doctors here will not think outside the box for depression treatment, instead merely going from one SSRI/SNRI to the next.

[LVT25]

Relief on Ritalin

Veritas--I'm so happy you are doing so well! Last December after several years of watching him struggle in school and after reading something someone posted here at MWO I had my son evaluated for ADD. The meds have helped him a great deal. When I asked his doctor about the risk associated with stimulant use he said on the contrary--its the people with ADD/ADHD that don't get treatment that end up self medicating with alcohol and drugs! Makes so much sense! I think my hubby probably has it, but not sure that is why he drinks so much. But I believe there is a definite link to ADD and addictions.

Thank you for sharing your experience. And Tiptronic, thank you for sharing that link!

[Bruunhilde]

Relief on Ritalin

I'm sure I'm late to the game in posting this - a simple google search is all I did and found tons of stuff. Here's a sampling.

Why ADD/ADHD Increases the Odds of Addiction and Alcoholism


ADD and Addiction Facts


[list type=decimal][*]7% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 have ADHD1[*]40% of children and teens with ADHD have a co-occurring disorder of Oppositional Defiance Disorder, 21.6% have minor depression (dysthymia) and 15.2% have an anxiety disorder2[*]Studies of adults with ADHD have found co-occurring alcohol abuse disorders at rates ranging from 17% to 45% and drug abuse or dependence at rates ranging from 9% to 30%3Studies have shown that people with ADHD are more likely to develop a substance abuse problem at a younger age, more likely to require lifetime substance abuse treatment and more likely to develop protracted substance abuse problems throughout life.4Medication treatment reduces the risks of substance abuse by 85% amongst teen patients with ADHD5[/list type=decimal]

Read more: Why ADD/ADHD Increases the Odds of Addiction and Alcoholism



Interestingly enough, ADD and video game addiction seem to have linkage, so maybe MOW and ADD do too.

[Greg]

Relief on Ritalin

I agree 100 percent with the part talking about lowered dopamine, which alcohol and other abused drugs would restore (temporarily) to more normal levels. Proper treatment involves dopamine-increasing medication, so it would make sense that the person would then feel less need to drink or abuse drugs. Treatment with most antidepressants, on the other hand, would only increase serotonin and/or norepinephrine, so not having the required effect. I am even wondering now if I could have ADD/ADHD!!

[Otter]

Relief on Ritalin

Hi,

I don't want to be a buzzkiller but have a look at this site:
Death from Ritalin the Truth Behind ADHD

[veritas]

Relief on Ritalin

Hi there

I am happy that some people relate to my story.

Otter, absolutely, ritalin, concerta and all these substances are essentially dangerous drugs, quite capable of causing death. It is one of the reasons that I need a new perscription every month. Six monthly repeats are not possible.

Greg, Sudafed is now much more controlled in our country now, just because it gives such a buzz. I know that I prefered it to other medication. Now I think I would need to see a doctor, it is no longer over the counter.

The thing about Ritalin and related substances is that it has a "paradoxical" effect, if you have add, or adhd. Although it is a stimulant, in adhd it seems to focus and calm. I do not get wired up or agitated, I get more chilled. My mood does not change that much, but my focus does. I tended to either over focus, or get easily distracted.

The major symptom that seems much improved is the lack of agitation. I realise now that I often confused agitation with anxiety. Any anxiety medication would have me flattened in a moment.

I am still AF, and while I sometimes have a little craving, I can now push it out of my mind with not too much hassle. I would say that my level of relaxation is what it was after a glass of wine in the early days of drinking.

I went to a party a couple of nights ago and was really anxious about how I would cope. It was great. I had no desire to drink as I was not having to filter our so many distracting images and sounds.

Collegues at work notice a major difference. They tell me that I was like a yoyo the way I would jump up almost the moment I sat down. They also used to laugh about how I would sometimes walk away mid conversation, leave sentences unfinished, drift of in a meeting... and.. and.. and.

[Bruunhilde]

Relief on Ritalin

Trip, thanks for the links - and Otter too, gives me pause about taking ritalin. I found this through Trip's link, fifty non-ADHD/ADD causes of ADD/ADHD symptoms.

50 conditions that mimic ADHD, PART I - ADD Forums - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Support and Information Resources Community

[Greg]

Relief on Ritalin

There are definitely potential dangers with powerful drugs like Ritalin and the amphetamines, no doubt about it. Personally I'd take the risk and try one of them if offered, because my blasted depression will not go away and these drugs work differently to all the antidepressants that have never helped me. Depression led to my last relapse, because I just couldn't hack it any more and it wasn't improving despite months of abstinence. However tolerance worries me with stimulants, although this can't happen in all cases, since they are used for long periods in ADD/ADHD and narcolepsy. I'm still hoping to try a MAOI antidepressant, since they influence dopamine (along with serotonin and norepinephrine), and tolerance would not be a limiting factor with them.

Veritas, Sudafed is also restricted here now, but for the moment you can still buy it over the counter as long as you show the pharmacist your licence or other ID. They have to enter your details into a computer database, which tracks people to make sure they don't buy the drug in large amounts from multiple pharmacies. This was happening due to illegal drug manufacturers using pseudoephedrine to make methamphetamine.