3 ms·

> I used to think much the same thing. I have, however, had the wonderful experience of being treated (for ADHD) by two very science oriented psychiatrists. Fi

> I used to think much the same thing. I have, however, had the wonderful experience of being treated (for ADHD) by two very science oriented psychiatrists. First, you're very lucky! From what I understand, those psychiatrists are not only expensive (usually they are not on insurance plans), but also hard even to schedule (as they are rare, and in high demand) Slightly OT, but were you diagnosed as a child or as an adult? If the former, did your treatments change as you grew older? If the latter, what was your impetus in getting diagnosed/treated?

DannyBee 13y ago
It is true my psychiatrists are not on insurance plans. This is a larger problem with how mental illness treatment is funded/supported. I was diagnosed as a child about 27 years ago (IE well before the current "popularity"). My treatments did change. I learned to cope with some aspects, the medications I used changed (I am on a non-stimulant now, Straterra, that works as well as my stimulants did). Besides being able to be more introspective and self-aware as I got older, I also chose a path that would set me up for success. I have a job that has multiple roles, and essentially requires me to pay short amounts of attention to a large number of things at once, which is somewhat ideal for my ADHD. The things that require longer amounts of focus tend to be lower priority.
- chimeracoder 13y ago
  > I am on a non-stimulant now, Straterra, that works as well as my stimulants did That's interesting - thanks for sharing. IIRC Strattera is relatively new; I wonder if the drugs themselves are getting more effective, or if the most effective drug for a person changes over time based on physiological changes or external factors. I don't have any personal experience to compare it with, but of my friends who have been treated for ADHD for more than 15 years, it seems all have had to switch medications multiple times. I don't see your email address on your profile, but mine is my username at gmail - mind dropping me a line?
  - DannyBee 13y ago
    "That's interesting - thanks for sharing. IIRC Strattera is relatively new; I wonder if the drugs themselves are getting more effective, or if the most effective drug for a person changes over time based on physiological changes or external factors." Yes, Straterra is relatively new. I became immune to ritalin (well, roughly) after taking it for so many years, and Adderall, even in the XR version, started becoming less and less effective for me. This is apparently normal, and medication switching is common over long term treatment. My doctor said she could up the dosage, but that she'd rather try Stratterra first, given the advantages of that vs high-dose stimulants Note that 20 years ago, the common viewpoint was that adult adhd did not exist, that it simply "wore off" as you got older. Straterra has worked fine for years so far, and i have not seen any of the gradual reduction effect that was completely obvious in all the stimulants over time. I'll drop you a line.

DannyBee 13y ago

It is true my psychiatrists are not on insurance plans. This is a larger problem with how mental illness treatment is funded/supported. I was diagnosed as a child about 27 years ago (IE well before the current "popularity"). My treatments did change. I learned to cope with some aspects, the medications I used changed (I am on a non-stimulant now, Straterra, that works as well as my stimulants did). Besides being able to be more introspective and self-aware as I got older, I also chose a path that would set me up for success. I have a job that has multiple roles, and essentially requires me to pay short amounts of attention to a large number of things at once, which is somewhat ideal for my ADHD. The things that require longer amounts of focus tend to be lower priority.

chimeracoder 13y ago
> I am on a non-stimulant now, Straterra, that works as well as my stimulants did That's interesting - thanks for sharing. IIRC Strattera is relatively new; I wonder if the drugs themselves are getting more effective, or if the most effective drug for a person changes over time based on physiological changes or external factors. I don't have any personal experience to compare it with, but of my friends who have been treated for ADHD for more than 15 years, it seems all have had to switch medications multiple times. I don't see your email address on your profile, but mine is my username at gmail - mind dropping me a line?
- DannyBee 13y ago
  "That's interesting - thanks for sharing. IIRC Strattera is relatively new; I wonder if the drugs themselves are getting more effective, or if the most effective drug for a person changes over time based on physiological changes or external factors." Yes, Straterra is relatively new. I became immune to ritalin (well, roughly) after taking it for so many years, and Adderall, even in the XR version, started becoming less and less effective for me. This is apparently normal, and medication switching is common over long term treatment. My doctor said she could up the dosage, but that she'd rather try Stratterra first, given the advantages of that vs high-dose stimulants Note that 20 years ago, the common viewpoint was that adult adhd did not exist, that it simply "wore off" as you got older. Straterra has worked fine for years so far, and i have not seen any of the gradual reduction effect that was completely obvious in all the stimulants over time. I'll drop you a line.