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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by yesac on May 1, 2006, at 19:38:55
Do stimulants and other ADD drugs work for almost everyone diagnosed with ADD? Or are there some people who do not respond?
Reason I ask: I have not responded to most stimulants or Strattera, and today a therapist (not a psychiatrist) told me that must mean that I do not have ADD. Seems like a little bit of twisted logic to me.
I know that I'm depressed but I have yet to respond to any so-called antidepressant, so I don't see how ADD would be different in terms of diagnosis. I'm not sure you can use a positive response or a negative response diagnostically. And, by the way, I have been diagnosed with ADD.
Posted by ed_uk on May 2, 2006, at 13:37:56
In reply to ADD med question, posted by yesac on May 1, 2006, at 19:38:55
Hi
>Do stimulants and other ADD drugs work for almost everyone diagnosed with ADD? Or are there some people who do not respond?
As is the case with all drugs, not everyone responds well. Many people do not respond at all. Other people actually get worse.
>Reason I ask: I have not responded to most stimulants or Strattera, and today a therapist (not a psychiatrist) told me that must mean that I do not have ADD.
Your therapist clearly doesn't know much about medication!
Regards
Ed
Posted by yesac on May 2, 2006, at 15:14:23
In reply to Re: ADD med question, posted by ed_uk on May 2, 2006, at 13:37:56
> As is the case with all drugs, not everyone responds well. Many people do not respond at all. Other people actually get worse.
Yeah, that's what I figured. I'm pretty much of a non-responder (and/or I get worse) to most types of drugs. My best luck has been with mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, but even that response is not great. Stimulants (Adderall and Ritalin-- both generic) did not help me and made me feel like an emotional wreck. Provigil made me speedy and hyper and made my mind race, even at very low doses. Strattera did nothing.
> Your therapist clearly doesn't know much about medication!This is a therapist who is a psychologist (Ed.D.), an expert and quite renowned in the world of DBT-- having close ties and lots of training with Marsha Linehan (who developed DBT). But you're right, she obviously has fairly little knowledge about drugs and psychiatric diagnoses. I respect her, but I think she should stick with what she knows.
Luckily, I see a psychiatrist for drugs and therapy, and I only see the psychologist in a DBT group.
Thanks for your response.
Posted by alohashirt on May 2, 2006, at 22:27:52
In reply to ADD med question, posted by yesac on May 1, 2006, at 19:38:55
> Do stimulants and other ADD drugs work for almost everyone diagnosed with ADD? Or are there some people who do not respond?
>
> Reason I ask: I have not responded to most stimulants or Strattera, and today a therapist (not a psychiatrist) told me that must mean that I do not have ADD. Seems like a little bit of twisted logic to me.It depends what you mean by respond.
Studies on children suggest that 70% show substantive improvement with an initial dose of ritalin rising to more like 90% with larger doses. The right dose does not appear to depend on body size and is very variable - in some cases no effect means simply insufficient dose / overcautious physician.
Many people finds amphetamines more effective or more tolerable than ritalin/focalin/concerta. In some cases side effects
can preclude taking an effective dose. Strattera is clearly less effective than the stimulants. Many patients do well on as combination of meds, say ritalin+desipramine or buspar. Also some find Wellbutrin useful. My belief is that the meds are less effective in adults.My personal experience is that my distractibility and impulsiveness are reduced by medication, but not my procrastination or need for stimulus. Fish oil, exercise and
coaching all help. At least 15 herbal remedies / nootropics
did nothing.What are you currently taking? What effects do you see?
> I know that I'm depressed but I have yet to respond to any so-called antidepressant, so I don't see how ADD would be different in terms of diagnosis. I'm not sure you can use a positive response or a negative response diagnostically. And, by the way, I have been diagnosed with ADD.
This is the end of the thread.
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