Talk to me about adult ADHD

[Thefitfatty]

Just been diagnosed, and started on Concerta. Anyone else not figure out they were ADHD till they were in their mid-30's? Can anyone tell me about their side effects? Or what I can expect now that I'm on meds?

[Thefitfatty]

No one?

[Alfieisnoisy]

I think you were fortunate to get a diagnosis as nobody wants to know where I am concerned.

I know my son who is on Mediknet copes much better with life when on the medication (he is also autistic though). He is 13 so not an adult.

One of my friends is a psychiatrist and he tells me he has one or two adults diagnosed with ADHD who are doing brilliantly now on meds.


Have you read "You Mean I Am Not Crazy, Stupid or Lazy?" not sure of the authors but it is two women based in the USA. I found it excellent for working out why I struggled, it also gave me some tips for organisation.

[Thefitfatty]

Haven't read a thing. Came a but out of the blue during marriage counselling when I was trying to explain why I am incapable of really listening to people. Counsellor suggested the Tova test, and I "aced" it.

[Juliecloud]

What are your symptoms? I'm convinced DH has it. There was an article on bbc news a year or so about it and it described him to a T. From what his parents say, he ticked a lot of the boxes when he was younger too but he was never diagnosed or tested for anything.
He struggles at work (and at home) with getting sidetracked with stuff and not remembering to go back to the first thing or just not remembering stuff in general. I'll often be speaking to him about something and he interrupts me and goes off on one about something completely different/random.

[Thefitfatty]

I'd google it, because men and women's symptoms vary. For me, inability to comprehend what people say to me (developed a coping mechanism where I automatically say yes to everything), have trouble starting and completing tasks, I am very very impulsive (to my detroment) and I struggle with depression and low self esteem

[Thefitfatty]

My teachers always complained that I was day dreaming. I remember being kept behind at school to clean my wooden desk of all the doodles

[MadauntofA]

Hopefully the medication will help - there are various types so don't be afraid to ask to change if it doesn't suit you. Main side effects of concerts are reduced appetite and sleep difficulties

[Thefitfatty]

I'll take reduced appetite happily

[Leigh1980]

I have ADHD. I was put on Ritalin but it was too triggering as so similar to cocaine. I haven't touched cocaine in about 13/14 years 😳 Anyway I'm now on Welbutron which increases your dopamine and not seratonin so I've lost a stone and my concentration is amazing plus no depression. 😄 For my anxiety I take a beta blocker. I've spent years trying to help myself as lack of concentration has been the bane of my life!! Touch wood I've finally found a great medication and I have had zero side effects whereas others gave me awful side effects.

[Leigh1980]

To answer about Concerta it's like Ritalin and can cause depression well it does to me anyway. Don't snort it as it's super addictive they don't call it kiddie cocaine for nothing!!

[MadauntofA]

You can't snort concerta?! It is a slow release version of Ritalin

[Leigh1980]

Oh yes you can! It's got wax on but some people take off the wax before snorting it. Ritalin is much easier to snort though. It's scary but true.

concerta.urbanup.com/1189241

[MadauntofA]

You learn something new every day on mumsnet! I thought the way they had manufactured it for the slow release effect meant that it was really difficult to be used recreationally. Still is a controlled drug though.

[Thefitfatty]

So is it just the lack of appetite that makes you lose weight or the stimulant itself? I'm on Prozac for depression, was kind of hoping treating the ADHD would take care of the depression

[MadauntofA]

The stimulant causes a lack of appetite. There are obviously lots of reasons for depression but if your difficulties have contributed to your depression and they are treated,you feel more positive/ understand why you have had difficulties in the past, then that can help. As can having more concentration/ clarity of thought to be able to address your issues, so if you think counselling will help, then the medication may make it easier to work through those difficulties. It isn't an antidepressant so you may need to continue your current one

[cosamangiare]

Hi OP, am being screened for ADHD either by current psych or have been referred to the adult ADHD team, can't remember which, but was wondering what instruments yours used for diagnosis and what the whole process was like. Have never felt my bipolar diagnosis was the whole story although am unlikely to score any amphetamines an ADHD diagnosis could potentially explain a few things.

[Keeptrudging]

I was diagnosed mid-thirties. I'd had anti-depressants and they didn't help, the Dr suggested testing for adhd as my son has it and I was showing all the symptoms.

I took fast-acting ritalin. It did work well for me. Anxiety levels, poor concentration and depression all improved. However, I felt less creative and missed the 'bouncy' side of my personality, which I felt was affecting my job as a teacher. I stopped taking medication, and just try to manage without. I'm seriously considering going back on it due to anxiety levels being sky high again. It's the only medication which has ever worked for me, but I felt embarrassed being an adult with ADHD, especially working in school where so many teachers are quite sceptical/opinionated about it. I was never able to tell anyone I had it (apart from family/close friends).

[Keeptrudging]

I was diagnosed mid-thirties. I'd had anti-depressants and they didn't help, the Dr suggested testing for adhd as my son has it and I was showing all the symptoms.

I took fast-acting ritalin. It did work well for me. Anxiety levels, poor concentration and depression all improved. However, I felt less creative and missed the 'bouncy' side of my personality, which I felt was affecting my job as a teacher. I stopped taking medication, and just try to manage without. I'm seriously considering going back on it due to anxiety levels being sky high again. It's the only medication which has ever worked for me, but I felt embarrassed being an adult with ADHD, especially working in school where so many teachers are quite sceptical/opinionated about it. I was never able to tell anyone I had it (apart from family/close friends).

[Thefitfatty]

codamangiere I was diagnosed in Abu Dhabi so my psych gave me a written questionnaire first (after talking to me for a bit about my school days, drug use, impulsive desicions I may have made) then we did the Tova test. However my psych is from the UK and he said in the UK he would have asked for a meeting with your parents and school records if possible.

keeptrudging I was reading a good article about the "losr generation" of women who weren't diagnosed with ADHD as children because dr's in the 80's and 90's didn't think girls could have ADHD. Might be something you could send to your coworkers under the guise of "educating" them. Good luck managing without meds. I'm on day 3 now and liking them. I feel so calm

[cosamangiare]

Thanks Op :) my friend insists I don't have it (he's qualified to diagnose these things) but I'm keeping an open mind. Good to hear you're feeling ok with the treatment so far.

[Thefitfatty]

I hope you figure out what's going on cosamangiare Psych's in the past have thrown around bi-polar with me as well, but, when I look back at it now, I realize it was the hyperactive part of the ADHD.

[cosamangiare]

I don't think they'll exchange my bipolar for ADHD, it's too well used! (Have had quite a few admissions for mania/hypomania over the years but not lately) really it's all the stuff that persists between episodes that makes me wonder. I thought maybe a personality disorder but nothing quite fits.

[Butterchunks]

Hello from the other thread (can someone do a clicky link? Lots of really got stories of people's experiences of adult adhd).

I wanted to ask how people's relationships are affected by their ADHD? Have you found any good stratagies for you and your dps, your eds, and your wider families?

[Butterchunks]

dcs, not eds

[Thefitfatty]

Hi Butterchunks, you mean a clicky link like this?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2682822-adhd-is-naughty-boy-syndrome?