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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dazed on January 27, 2004, at 12:29:13
I do not think my Adderall is working. I told him that last time, and rather than switching me to another ADD drug, he added Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin helps my depression for sure, but the Adderall just doesn't do anything for my inattentive ADD.
I want to try Ritalin. How do I phrase my question to my pdoc without sounding like a drug head?
Posted by cosis on January 27, 2004, at 12:41:58
In reply to Want to change meds - how to ask?, posted by dazed on January 27, 2004, at 12:29:13
> I do not think my Adderall is working. I told him that last time, and rather than switching me to another ADD drug, he added Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin helps my depression for sure, but the Adderall just doesn't do anything for my inattentive ADD.
>
> I want to try Ritalin. How do I phrase my question to my pdoc without sounding like a drug head?
I wouldn't worry about sounding like a drug head :)Ask him what he thinks about the drug and discuss that you would like to try it. Thats what I did with Nardil.... My doc is pretty description happy though.....
Posted by holymama on January 27, 2004, at 12:59:23
In reply to Re: Want to change meds - how to ask?, posted by cosis on January 27, 2004, at 12:41:58
I wouldn't worry about sounding like a drughead either. We're all just trying to feel our best.
You could try doing a little research on ritalin and write a few notes down when you approach your doctor about it. That way you can explain to him or her that you've been doing some reading about ritalin and like what you've read, and what does he or she think about you giving it a shot? The internet is a good place to do some reading. This site and remedyfind might help too.
Good luck to you!
Posted by scott-d-o on January 27, 2004, at 15:25:25
In reply to Want to change meds - how to ask?, posted by dazed on January 27, 2004, at 12:29:13
> I do not think my Adderall is working. I told him that last time, and rather than switching me to another ADD drug, he added Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin helps my depression for sure, but the Adderall just doesn't do anything for my inattentive ADD.
>
> I want to try Ritalin. How do I phrase my question to my pdoc without sounding like a drug head?Umm, I wouldn't worry about it, just tell him u want to try it, that's all I did.. it's not like ritalin has any more abuse potential than amphetamine. Ritalin helped my inattentive ADD and depression, but then again, so does Adderall. Ritalin also gave me the same kind of "edginess" I get from Wellbutrin, a strange kind of uneasiness that benzos don't do anything for, so I've finally settled on dexedrine spansules.
scott
Posted by Sebastian on January 27, 2004, at 22:32:01
In reply to Want to change meds - how to ask?, posted by dazed on January 27, 2004, at 12:29:13
don't worry about it. just say it.
Posted by Bill LL on January 28, 2004, at 9:27:17
In reply to Want to change meds - how to ask?, posted by dazed on January 27, 2004, at 12:29:13
This stuff is all hit or miss. Adderal is only for ADD. Wellbutrin is for both ADD and depression.
If this combo does not work for you, you can either increase the dose of one or the other or both, or change meds.
If you do substitute Ritalin for Adderal, you should probably keep taking the Wellbutrin since it helps with your depression.
As for approaching your doc, be blunt. Just say it's not working very well and you want to try something else.
Posted by KathrynLex on January 28, 2004, at 14:57:38
In reply to Want to change meds - how to ask?, posted by dazed on January 27, 2004, at 12:29:13
Hi Dazed,
Here's one way you might ask: "Do you think Ritalin would work for me? I've heard it's effective in helping with ADD."
I'd be very surprised if your pdoc would think of you as a "drug head" for asking. It's highly common for people to ask their pdoc about meds they're interested in.
K.
Posted by Interject79 on January 28, 2004, at 23:20:18
In reply to Want to change meds - how to ask?, posted by dazed on January 27, 2004, at 12:29:13
You might try "How do you think I'd respond to Ritalin or a longer-acting version like Concerta?" He'll likely respond, in turn, with a question like "What's up with Adderall?" Then you could say "It doesn't improve my distractibility, ability to finish tasks..."-- whatever the case may be. Many options from here, but you will not sound like you're overly dependent on medication as long as you've done some homework and don't ramble on and on.
Some docs prefer Adderall over Ritalin because of putative 'smoothness' (which is correct for me), but many handle Ritalin very well, especially Concerta and maybe Focalin. Adderall, being a racemic mixture of salts, can also miss the mark with some people's biochemistry, being poorly absorbed.
Best wishes,
interject
This is the end of the thread.
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