I've failed 3 stimulants. My ADHD (PI) hasn't gotten better with any of these medications. I've mentioned strattera to my psychiatrist, but he doesn't think it'll help for the lack of concentration issues.
Anyone been in a similar position to mine? I feel like I'm never going to find a medication that will help me.....
Posted Jul 18, 2020, 2:22 AM UTC
I was the same way. I started concerta and upped the dose to max without it helping. Tried Vyvanse as well, and still nothing. Switched to low dose Adderall and it works like a dream for me. Have you tried switching to that yet?
I tried the generic (dexedrine) at max dose. Did nothing for me as well
My psychiatrist is referring me to a clinical psychology for some CBT to help with the inattentiveness seeing as I've failed all the stimulants at this point.
I haven’t heard of CBT. I didn’t look into it but when I first started with my first psychiatrist, he was talking a lot about ketamine infusions. I just heard it come up again with a friend who is going through those treatments. Not sure much about it but hey, it might help.
For ketamine, my psychiatrist said I need to go through electroshock therapy first they said ( I have comorbid depression) because it's used off label as an investigational tool for depression, so you have to go through app the available treatments like ECT first.
I just learned a couple days ago a drug derived from ketamine (Spravato) got approved last week in Canada and it's only requirement is failing 2 prior antidepressants. Giving my psychiatrist a call about it next week.
I feel like if my chronic inattentiveness and poor concentration isnt responding to stimulants it's probably not ADHD (PI) and a symptom of the major depressive disorder. I think more work needs to be done on the diagnostic criteria and classification system.
Ugh, the process to find the right drugs is exhausting.
So I moved shortly after I was diagnosed and the new doc I found said the same thing to me, that my condition sounded more like depression than ADHD (PI). So he put me on Effexor (Venlafaxine) explaining that it is an antidepressant that also helps with ADHD. So I started that and it took about a month before I started to feel the effects. It’s what really pulled me out of my funk.
After a couple months I felt about 80% normal. Wasn’t as depressed but would still have bad days. Then we added in a low does Adderall and that got me to 100%. After a bit I actually felt like a normal person, which I found odd because I didn’t even realize I didn’t feel normal. But now set backs don’t throw me into a spiraling, self sabotaging mood.
Also, are you in Canada? I’m in the US, and I know drugs vary country to country.
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I tried adderall and it did nothing for me so i was put on Strattera and so far I haven’t really seen any changes yet but it’s only been two weeks. But yeah , I know how you feel about medication not being that effective. I’m also inattentive.