Lack of attention symptoms and conditions

My side effects: Humiliation and Anger.
I take the generic form of Ritalin. I started taking it in 5th grade. Then decided that I was too embarrassed to have to go to the nurse to take my meds at school and stopped. I had a C average and teachers constantly complained of my lack of attention all through my elementary, middle and high school years. My parents allowed me to choose for myself whether I wanted to be medicated or not and I thank them for that. Wanting to ready myself for college and real life I again began taking Ritalin my senior year of High School and achieved my first ever straight A report card. At that time I had a conservative doctor who seemed convinced all I wanted Ritalin for was for recreational use, she was not an ADD specialist and only prescribed it to me after insisting I try various other drugs including Prozac! Eventually she gave in and prescribed it for me since I had been diagnosed by a specialist in the past. She was not happy to help me and I was always made to feel extremely untrustworthy and insignificant by her. Needless to say once I graduated college and got a job with my own health insurance I got my own doctor and haven't had a problem with any of my doctors since her. However, the stigma of taking this drug and the shame which comes with it is something I have never been able to escape. Regardless, I have been taking it ever since my senior year of high school at the same dose. 15mg in the am and 15mg at noon. I am 31 now and the only side effects I have had is a feeling of anger anytime people who don't know what it is like to have ADD voice their "expert" opinion or insinuate that it doesn't exist. I also get frustrated with people who like to say "Oh I am so ADD" after they do something dumb. I am humiliated by these types of people and afraid to let anyone know or see me take my medicine to this day. I understand that the same treatment for every person is never the correct treatment and some people may have negative physical side effects from this drug. For this reason everyone should be treated as an individual and a diagnoses of ADD should not be handed out by anyone but a specialist over a long period of study. My teachers and doctors began taking notice of my problems in Kindergarten and I was sent to many doctors and psychologists before they finally came to a diagnosis in 5th grade. It isn't easy to walk around with your head in the clouds only hearing the random insults tossed your way in moments of painful clarity when your inattention has drawn so much attention. It is equally painful to walk around knowing that in order to perform at the level at which you are expected to you must take a drug so stigmatized that you choke on the bitter pill every time you have to lie and tell some one it is just Claritin, when you would much rather tell the world that what you are really allergic to is their intolerance and insensitivity.

I have a boyfriend who was diagnosed with high blood pressure yesterday March 25th. Prior to this about 3 years ago had a stroke, and a second small one. The doctor prescribed Lisinopril, after the first dose taken, he seems totally different. Seems to have a lack of attention on anything, a non caring attitude, very tired and starting to get the cough that is described in these side effects. I'm concerned about him. I'm worried about his high blood pressure that could result in another possible stroke but now I'm concerned he seems totally out of it while on this drug. Are there any other blood pressure meds that seem to get less side effects. The drug may resolve one thing but may cause many other things to go wrong. I don't know which is better for him. Taking this particular drug because it is cheaper to prevent the problem of high blood pressure, and possibly have something else go wrong with all the side effects. Or, stop the drug and find another with less side effects. What is the best solution. All drugs have side effects. When one thing is trying to be cured, the side effects could cause something else to go wrong. How does anyone know what is right.

For everyone who says don't give Adderall to kids or that it is the easy route, you obviously have never had to deal with a severe case of ADHD. I find it difficult to believe that you have spent years struggling through homework, or tears at least once a week when your child is punished in school. I find it difficult to believe that you spend years, time and money to try to find out what is wrong with your child--because you KNOW something is wrong! And once diagonised--be grateful that know you know--now you can start to deal with it! How many minutes or hours did you spend in one on one time with your child and within 5 mintues of ending that one on one time you find your 6 year old in a very dangerous situation from his lack of attention ability. I could write 11 years worth of experiences here and unless you are dealing with the same situation, how dare you judge any one!

We all need education on this subject and passing judgement on others and critizing parenting ability shows that ignorance. Until you feel our pain, don't even consider the possiblity that you understand. Society as a whole needs more education on ADD and ADHD, as we are failing our children.

I may not always have done the "right" thing for my child but I can honestly say I have done the best I can do---always! And everything has always been out of love for them----always!

Yes, there has been some side effects that wore off after 3 weeks they were gone. They have been well worth tolerating, and never would I put my child through another miserable year of school without the help of counseling and the medication he so desperately needed--that would be cruel!

oct 1 2007
wow.
thanks everyone for sharing your stories and for taking the time.
my son has been on singuair for a yr now and rite from the onset
he developed a twitch in his neck and face muscles.
sincee his dad had just left to go to iraq i figured it was nerves
or lack of attention or some emotional reaction.man oh man...
after reading all your expierience...and seeing that they are too
similar to deny we are off this drug... and zyerteck too.
i just hope his asthma can be managed with out him having to be
a guinia pig for drug companies anymore.
God bless all of you with children who suffer too.God bless all of you adults
who were smart enogh to quit . God bless those with whom this stuff still works.and God bless the people who are trying to find cures for asthma