Nurses with ADD/ADHD?

[Metron]

Hey all! I was wondering if there are any nurses with ADD/ADHD out there who want to comiserate and support each other? I know I need the help/advice. It might also be a place for "regular" people (I hate the word normal) to come and read and understand what its like for us. Or ask us ?'s.

I'll start with an intro:p I'm 29, and I've had an official diagnosis for less than 2 years, but have been trying to find the answer (for what's up with me) for MUCH longer than that:uhoh21: :) I currently work night shift at a drug rehab and on call at a nursing home. I have a lot of trouble in staff meetings - sitting through them, being treated like a brat because I actually show some emotion. I had much difficulty in school, (I didn't know back then), not with grades but with social stuff. I almost got kicked out of school because of the problems I was having.

But its not all bad. I'm funny and creative and often am able to connect with my patients in unique ways.

So we'll see how many of us there are out there?:)

[chadash]

I just started on straterra a couple months ago, but it makes me feel a bit sad. I have never taken anything before. Any suggestions about meds?

[Bipley]

I just started on straterra a couple months ago, but it makes me feel a bit sad. I have never taken anything before. Any suggestions about meds?

If you are feeling badly the drug is not working for you. I still swear by plain old, tried and true Dexedrine. I like the short acting version. I have more control over when I want to take it and when I want it working.

[button2cute]

hello all,

Chad, inform your physician right away. Your physician can make the adjustment as well as to tell you more than we can.

Okay....

[chadash]

Thanks! I am due for an appointment, and I will ask her about a change. I tend to be a bit jolly normally, and wondered if the straterra was just making me feel more 'normal', but I some days it feels more like depression. It really gives you an understanding of those who struggles with depression all the time. I can't imagine what a burden that must be.

[Bipley]

Thanks! I am due for an appointment, and I will ask her about a change. I tend to be a bit jolly normally, and wondered if the straterra was just making me feel more 'normal', but I some days it feels more like depression. It really gives you an understanding of those who struggles with depression all the time. I can't imagine what a burden that must be.

My first doc told me something I really believe to be true. You just have to experiment with various drugs until you find what works for you. You and I may well have exactly the same dx but the tx may be vastly different. What works for me may or may not work for you. Thus, you experiment. I was lucky, my S/O is a psychiatrist and he's pretty darn good. He is the one that told me for years I have AD/HD. He is the one that suggested Dex and although I have tried other drugs Dex is what works best for me.

You have to be willing to spend the time and effort to see what works. If you are feeling depressed, there is a serious problem. Check out the way your drug works, that's not a good sign if you are depressed.

I have to say, I am always leary of new drugs, ANY new drug. If I was a doc I'd likely be using Penicillin for the first time right now in 2005! LOL I like to wait out new drugs and see if they are pulled from the market before using them. So I was totally unwilling to try your drug. I like Dex. I have total control over it, I take it and it works for exactly four hours. Then I can take another dose or not, my choice. It is quite effective, side effects are well known, and for me it simply works.

[chadash]

My first doc told me something I really believe to be true. You just have to experiment with various drugs until you find what works for you. You and I may well have exactly the same dx but the tx may be vastly different. What works for me may or may not work for you. Thus, you experiment. I was lucky, my S/O is a psychiatrist and he's pretty darn good. He is the one that told me for years I have AD/HD. He is the one that suggested Dex and although I have tried other drugs Dex is what works best for me.

You have to be willing to spend the time and effort to see what works. If you are feeling depressed, there is a serious problem. Check out the way your drug works, that's not a good sign if you are depressed.

I have to say, I am always leary of new drugs, ANY new drug. If I was a doc I'd likely be using Penicillin for the first time right now in 2005! LOL I like to wait out new drugs and see if they are pulled from the market before using them. So I was totally unwilling to try your drug. I like Dex. I have total control over it, I take it and it works for exactly four hours. Then I can take another dose or not, my choice. It is quite effective, side effects are well known, and for me it simply works.

Thanks for the encouragement. Staterra is new, so the side effects probably have not been completely explored. Every one is different chemically!

[Bipley]

Thanks for the encouragement. Staterra is new, so the side effects probably have not been completely explored. Every one is different chemically!

What drugs have you tried so far? Have you ever tried amphetamines? Wellbutrin? Anything other than Straterra?

[IWant2Believe]

Has anyone who has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD taken wellbutrin and found it to be helpful?? I know it is primarily for depression, but I was told that it would help alleviate sx of ADD also. I have been borderline dx now, but I am also dealing with alot of other things that made a psych dr I've been seeing to think I would benefit more from starting with wellbutrin and seeing if that would help with the ADD then starting in on adderall or other things.

I posted awhile ago about this and have been in to see someone. When they tested me for ADD/ADHD, I actually did pretty well, but the dr said she could tell I needed a very controlled environment to be able to concentrate.

I am graduating in May and have done okay, but definitely am at the point that I need some sort of assistance to keep things straight-in life and in school. I am just wondering if anyone has had success with wellbutrin or if I am wasting my time. Thanks

Ruth

It does not help, take medication for ADHD, then the symptoms that are making life difficult and are causing the depression diminish, ergo, the depression diminishes.

[chadash]

What drugs have you tried so far? Have you ever tried amphetamines? Wellbutrin? Anything other than Straterra?

I have never taken any other meds for add....I am 53 and was just diagnosed for the first time. I sorta knew, my daughter was diagnosed in high school, and the Dr implied that she probably came by it through your's truly. At work, folks would say, why are you always running, why dont your sit down? guess that's the hyper part, the the attention part, but anywho, organization is my greatest struggle. I also tend to hyperfocus, which helps with learning, but I tend to function like a rat on acid:coollook:

I think the doctor just wanted to try me on something that was for adults with ADD, but I have had family ask if I am depressed or something, and the straterra seems to suck some of the motivation out of me. I wasnt sure if that meant I don't really have ADD, or if that is just the drug is not suitable.

Thanks for asking!

[OliveVinesRN]

Hello, and thanks for bringing up this subject.

I believe I either have this or bipolar disease. Because, at work, when I work on the floor, I have a hard time getting started once I sit down and actually have time to chart and do things. I sometimes find my desk area all unorganized and messy and I just can't keep up with things, like my pen.

And I find myself writing little post-it notes or jotting things down on a piece of paper towel to remember what patient wanted what or when I gave a PRN med. And the kicker is, I often loose the note during the shift and I run back and forth into patients' rooms because I always leave something behind. And people laugh when i tell them that I write notes to keep up with all that's gone on during the shift. And I always leave last. I have been fussed at by my manager a few times for leaving too late, sometimes 2 hrs later. And everyone always tells me that I am too hyper and talk too much and tell me to calm down. I don't know what to do and I don't want to be on medication. But, it makes my job hard because I get overly stressed and uptight about everything.

[Bipley]

I have never taken any other meds for add....I am 53 and was just diagnosed for the first time. I sorta knew, my daughter was diagnosed in high school, and the Dr implied that she probably came by it through your's truly. At work, folks would say, why are you always running, why dont your sit down? guess that's the hyper part, the the attention part, but anywho, organization is my greatest struggle. I also tend to hyperfocus, which helps with learning, but I tend to function like a rat on acid:coollook:

I think the doctor just wanted to try me on something that was for adults with ADD, but I have had family ask if I am depressed or something, and the straterra seems to suck some of the motivation out of me. I wasnt sure if that meant I don't really have ADD, or if that is just the drug is not suitable.

Thanks for asking!

It is still a fairly new drug and honestly, I haven't met many folks that like it. One guy (police officer) said he noticed some difference but not enough to continue taking it.

I would really encourage you to find something that does work for you. Life is pretty amazing when it isn't a constant struggle and you know what? The funny part is that the struggle is the norm for many of us. When the struggle is gone that is when you realized it was there.

[chadash]

It is still a fairly new drug and honestly, I haven't met many folks that like it. One guy (police officer) said he noticed some difference but not enough to continue taking it.

I would really encourage you to find something that does work for you. Life is pretty amazing when it isn't a constant struggle and you know what? The funny part is that the struggle is the norm for many of us. When the struggle is gone that is when you realized it was there.

That is a very interesting insight: I have found that true many times.

Just never put it into words. Thanks!