stopping stimulant meds?

[blackbelt1997]

I am 29 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD in the summer of 2005. I started medication shortly after that. I feel in control of myself when I take my medication. My mom said she has noticed that I am more self-confident, but attributes this to the job change that I had. I believe it's from being happy that I final feel control over myself. My moods don't shift from angry to happy within one day with no apparent cause. My dog likes me better. I can actually spend holidays with my parents and younger sister and not get into a fight with anyone! I can go on short day trips with my parents and not get upset! (The last short day trip I went on with my family before I started Concerta I ended up sitting in the car with my mom because I had misbehaved pretty badly in the car on the way to the outing.) I went to an aquarium recently with my mom and dad and had a wonderful time! I can go shopping without getting totally overwhelmed and hysterical. My mom says that I have the most friends now than I've had in my entire life. I can deal with tough situations without getting extremely upset or giving up completely.
My mom said that after this weird work situation (long story) is over, she'd like to see me off the meds. She thinks I can do fine without them. I am scared that my "old" behaviors will return if I don't remain on the medication. I do periodically give myself a break from the meds (weekends when I don't need to be doing anything). The prescription literature (and my doctor) don't advise stopping the meds for any length of time.
Has anyone been on stimulant meds for a while and then did not see an increase in ADHD symptoms once they stopped the meds?

[PMM]

There is a whole regimen of supplements that you could try that may allow you to function without the meds. Beware though, it may take months to get to combinations to the point where they work best for you. My son was about 10yo when I started him on supplements. He went for a long time taking both supplements and the meds until I had the combinations right. It may be easier for you because you are older and more intune with how your body and mind work. If yo are interested I'll post the list he uses.

Pat

[blackbelt1997]

PMM,
Yes, I'd appreciate the list of what your son uses supplement wise.

[momster]

Hi Blackbelt - The wonderfulk thing about concerta is that you can stop and start it at will, as you know. One approach that we have taken with my son, who really had a flat affect from Concerta at higher doses, is to give him a lower than "optimal" dose. So, for example, if you are on 54 mg of concerta, you can try out 36 or 18 mg for a month or two, and see how you do. If it goes well, then you can stop altogether. We found that the lower dose does nothing for attention, but helps a little with self control issues.

- momster

[blackbelt1997]

Momster,
Thanks. I am on 18mg of Concerta. I am concerned mostly with the self-control issues. 18 mg really controls those symptoms well. I periodically stop taking the Concerta for a day or two. I used to have self-control issues crop up when I did this, but so far none have cropped up recently. I definetely take it when I am at work. Maybe I'll eventually learn to control myself without it or without it as much. I hate to go back to how I was before I started taking it though.

[PMM]

My son doesn't take the grape seed extract anymore and in addition to these supplements he takes extra B6 and zinc for pyroluria. I've never found that the brand is particularly important though some people do. I generally have bought them where I can get the best price as long as the ratios are about the same. You may find that different ratios work better for you. I would also only add one new supplement at a time especially the EFA's . I usually waited at least 2 weeks before adding another, but I was also dealing with a 10yo and had to do most of my analysis through observations than him being able to TELL me how thingswere working. I should be easier for you.

Pat



Supplements & Vitamins



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B12 6mcg
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PATHMARK NATURAL EVENING PRIMROSE 500mg

GLA 45 mg
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SUNDOWN FISH OIL 1000 MG

EPA 360 mg
DHA 240 mg

NATROL FLAX SEED OIL 1000 MG

ALA 530 mg
LA 140 mg
OA 190 mg

LECITHIN 19 Grains

Soy Lecithin 1200 mg

[blackbelt1997]

PMM,
Thanks, I have copied the list and will save it for future reference. Does the body ever develop a tolerance to the supplements like I've heard can be developed from the stimulants?

[lisa6wks]

Blackbelt,
If the meds are doing so well for you, why go off of them? My experience has been that you can stop taking the meds effectively when you are able to build a skill set that will help you stay in the state of mind that you are in while on the meds. It usually takes an adult longer to do this than a child, since you have had longer to learn ineffective skills and have to unlearn them as well as learning the new ones.

I realize that your mom does not want you on the meds, no mom wants to think that their child needs to be on meds longterm, but if she was really seeing the situation non emotionally, she would leave you alone about it since it seems to be working for you.

Lisa

[momster]

Hey, Blackbelt. What I was trying to say is that "going off" concerta isn't like going off an SSRI. You can go on and off at will. Even better, the effect is a day to day thing, not a cumulative effect. So if you decided to stop taking concerta today, but felt out of control today and tomorrow, the following day you could start again and gain the full effect from the concerta.

I can't help but add that I just watched an amazing comeback by my football team, again (the Pats).

Anyways, you'll do great if you take things one day at a time, instead of committing yourself irreveribly to a course of action.

- momster

[blackbelt1997]

An experience at work with one of the students has convinced me to stay on the Concerta. One of my students has severe ADHD. The mother periodically fills his Adderall prescription. At the beginning of the year he had no meds, mid year he did, and now he is out of meds. While off the meds, he apparently convinced police that his mother was abusive. The child's mother spent a day or so in jail as a result. He is now living in some sort of social services type of agency with a mentor.
The Concerta helps me to remain in control even when I am totally stressed out. I'm definetely going to stay on it for a while.

[momster]

Amazing story. :eek: I think only someone who has been touched by add could really believe it!! He was probably mad at her for making him do his homework, or something, and, surprise! could take the time to figure out how to really upset his mom, but could not take the time to think through the long term consequences!!

Your story is a good reminder to me that I need to work harder on finding a good med doc before that kind of thing happens here!!!

Thanks for sharing the story.

- momster

[PMM]

Pil,

I understand your concern after hearing what your student did but also remember that meds is never really the total answer with ADHD/ADD, the behavior modification that goes along with it is as important if not more important. The meds only allows the person to comply so they now hav ethe choice to comply or not but that has to do with training no differently than training a small child. What happens with most kids with ADHD is that because they don't generally start the meds or supplements until they are at least 4-5yo they end up being trained later than most kids ( yes, I know training my not be a PC word but the truth is that what we do as parents).

Your student very definitely is not getting the kind of support at home that he needs to suceed. That is not your case. From everything you have said your parents have been pro-active in helping you deal with your ADHD as well as teaching you to become a responsible adult. I know of kids that DON'T have ADHD that have done the same thing to their parents that your student did. I really don't think that had as much to do with ADHD as much as this child doesn't understand discipline and who is in charge of the household.

If you choose to easy off your meds do it on days where nothing much with be affected like when your just doing chores around the house and see how you do. If you choose to try the supplements they can be taken along with the meds until you reach a point that you may not need the meds or possibly a lower dosage. The bottom line is you have to do what is right for you. You have to take all the suggestions you get and weight how they will work for you. But understand you are who you are not because of the meds but because how you were raised. All the meds in the world are not going to make a undisciplined person into a discplined person.

Pat