question for pharm students with ADD

[lakester2001]

I am starting my second year in pharmacy school and have scheduled an appointment to see if I need to be on Ritalin or something. I have always had issues with focusung in class and retaining info from lectures. I was wondering if anyone else is on anything for ADD and what do ya'll consider the safest. Thanks

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[Seveneighty]

I have always had issues with focusung in class and retaining info from lectures.

Didn't you just describe basically every student, ever?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I'm like that, too. I just lock myself in a quit room at school after hours alone. Nothing to do BUT study.

 

[lakester2001]

i know my post sounds lame. I make good grades, but it bothers me that I can sit through a lecture and cant remember one thing the professor said. So then i have to go over the entire lecture again just so I know what we went over that day. I am just concerned.

 

[lakester2001]

I only posted the question because I wanted some advice. I hate having to go over notes more than I should just because I cant focus. I would apprreciate some professional thoughts on this subject. Thanks

 

[ZpackSux]

You don't have ADD... or maybe you do.. but you're just not interested in the stuff. Face it. If it was a subject you're interested in..you'll absorb it like a dry sponge.

Suck it up, concentrate and study because it's obvious you don't have a photographic memory.

And stay away from drugs... especially a drug that alters neurochemicals.

 

[Poland]

If the only reason why you feel you may have ADD is because of your difficulities with this class then I would agree with the others. Don't go for in for medications lightly because you'll get just that. Psychiatrists around here seem a little too pill happy. However, if there are many other reasons to support why you feel this way... then it wouldn't be right not to check it out. A mental issue is a real issue. Actually, it affects all issues. But you will have to be the one to decide that ultimately. Like I said, if this class is the only problem then this class is your answer.

 

[kkelloww]

Everybody wants to take a pill to fix their 'condition.' Dang, it's a good time to be a pharmacist!

 

[lakester2001]

I dont think anyone understands. I am not taking any classes right now. I start back in like 3 weeks and was going to get tested before tha to see if indeed I do have ADD, becasue I have always been skeptical myself

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

I dont think anyone understands. I am not taking any classes right now. I start back in like 3 weeks and was going to get tested before tha to see if indeed I do have ADD, becasue I have always been skeptical myself

Lakester~ I don't think anyone on here is qualified to decide whether you do/don't have a neurological disorder. If you have always been skeptical, then maybe it would be a good idea for you to check it out. Good luck!!!

And by the way...I don't want to sound like I'm pushing the drugs! Maybe you can get some other techniques at staying focused in class.

 

[josh6718]

 

[twester]

I dont think anyone understands. I am not taking any classes right now. I start back in like 3 weeks and was going to get tested before tha to see if indeed I do have ADD, becasue I have always been skeptical myself

Maybe you do have ADD, but please try other things before medication. And don't stigmatize yourself with labels that may be meaningless. You've achieved a great deal for someone who has such a debilitating condition (which is why I'm doubtful that you have ADD).

What's going on to make you think you've got a disorder? How's your performance in school? Are you about to flunk out?

If you do get a diagnosis (and most people who want it do), don't go the stimulant route for medication. That's a dangerous and slippery path to tread down.

Good luck.

 

[lakester2001]

No, my grades are good I ended my P1 year with a 90 average. My grades aren't the issue. Its just that it seems that I cant focus in class no matter what I do. Its been this way for years. I just dont want to fall behind this year becasue the classes are getting really complex and I need to be able to focus in class. I was just wondering if anyone else out there had the same problem and was diagnosed with Adult ADD and what they have done to correct it with drugs or no drugs. Thanks

 

[risktaker]

I am starting my second year in pharmacy school and have scheduled an appointment to see if I need to be on Ritalin or something. I have always had issues with focusung in class and retaining info from lectures. I was wondering if anyone else is on anything for ADD and what do ya'll consider the safest. Thanks

Every student is like that.......u just need to take time and revise stuffs right after the lecture is over. By doing this, you will build up on the things that are still fresh in your mind. Later on, you can take them up again before going to the nect lecture or during the weekend. This is all u need to be outstanding student or "SMART".

 

[sdn1977]

No, my grades are good I ended my P1 year with a 90 average. My grades aren't the issue. Its just that it seems that I cant focus in class no matter what I do. Its been this way for years. I just dont want to fall behind this year becasue the classes are getting really complex and I need to be able to focus in class. I was just wondering if anyone else out there had the same problem and was diagnosed with Adult ADD and what they have done to correct it with drugs or no drugs. Thanks

lakester - this is obviously giving you some degree of anxiety. None of us here are qualified to diagnose a disorder nor are we able to provide advice on a drug choice since we don't know the diagnosis.....

Given that...I'd advise you as a parent & a pharmacist.....go to the appointment, be honest in what you tell your physician - your fears, what gives you anxiety, how you've performed, how you feel before & after an exam, how successful you feel & how happy you are generally with your life.

Know that providers won't generally jump right into prescribing drugs. They need to get to know you, do some testing, see if your expectations meet reality, etc.....so be patient! The diagnostic process takes longer than those of us on the treatment end of things realize.

Good luck!

 

[pancreas]

No, my grades are good I ended my P1 year with a 90 average. My grades aren't the issue. Its just that it seems that I cant focus in class no matter what I do. Its been this way for years. I just dont want to fall behind this year becasue the classes are getting really complex and I need to be able to focus in class. I was just wondering if anyone else out there had the same problem and was diagnosed with Adult ADD and what they have done to correct it with drugs or no drugs. Thanks

Hi there. I think the other posters have given you good advice about going to the doctor for a diagnosis, because only they can examine you...we can not do so. I wanted to offer up some info regarding ADD/ADHD that I learned in a child developmental class that I took this summer, since we did discuss this topic. I am by NO MEANS an authority...I just took a class over the summer. I just thought that I would pass along a couple of nuggets of information to you since you sound like you are really struggling with this issue.

According to my instructor (and our textbook), specialists agree that symptoms of ADD/ADHD need to be present before the age of 7 in order to be diagnosed with this disease. Obviously you are well beyond this age, but if you think back and ask your parents, they may have noticed some behaviors and difficulty in focusing. My instructor claimed that rarely would someone get diagnosed with ADD/ADHD if they didn't have or notice certain behaviors before 7 years old, although her belief was that a lot of doctors write scripts and tell patients that they have ADD/ADHD without actually giving the patient a neuropsychological exam. My instructor stressed that the only way to diagnose ADD/ADHD is by taking an neuropsychological exam. If your doctor just asks 2 questions and pops out the script pad, I would look for another specialist and get their opinion, just to be on the safe side. You don't want to be taking medication for ADD/ADHD if you truly don't have the disease.

There are three subtypes of ADD/ADHD. There is the "inattentive" type, the "hyperactive" type, and the "combined" type. The inattentive type may be what you have (if you indeed have ADD at all), and we learned that it is the hardest type to diagnose. Some of the symptoms are losing focus, daydreaming, being easily distracted and forgetful, and being disorganized.

Also, my instructor told us about someone that she knew in grad school that had ADD. She said that he would go to the gym and essentially wear himself out at the gym before his classes started each day. Then, when he went to class afterwards, he was somehow able to focus better. I think the student she was talking about had the "hyperactive" type of ADD, so this may not work for you if you don't have that type of ADD.

Please go and get checked so you can settle this once and for all. Good luck to you.

 

[julia403]

I'm also a pharm student & went to the psychiatrist & got diagnosed with ADHD for the 1st time right before starting my 2nd year of pharmacy school. I know what you mean about not being able to concentrate at all. I mean.. we're smart enough to get into pharmacy school without studying much or remembering details well. And for me, I partied 8 days a week in undergrad, but my habits just weren't sufficient for the demands of a post-grad program (barely passed my 1st year).

Anyway, my psych tried to get me to take Strattera in the beginning because it's not a stimulant, supposedly safer, & actually might help to improve the ADHD. However, I wound up with ever side effect possible, so I asked him to switch me to a stimulant that I don't have to take everyday, I just take it when I know I need it (the week before exams or whatnot).

So I've been on Concerta ever since. I like it a lot, it gives me a very mellow concentration that lasts ~12 hrs. I took one a day for an entire semester. It helped me change my habits & get used to studying for longer hours. My grades improved a whole lot too. But at the end of the semester, I was having some mood disturbances that I knew were not normal. The psych offered to add an anti-depressant (Zoloft) to my regimen, but I refused to take another drug. I stopped taking the Concerta everyday & only use it for the couple days before exams & surprisingly, my grades have still been better. And my mood has been normal again.

I think the ADHD drugs are helpful and good to have, but only use it when you know you need it. And I'm very thankful to Concerta for getting me out of party-mode & into study-mode. It's made a huge difference despite the mood changes. You know your body better than anyone else, so just be careful when youre taking the meds.

Why struggle thru school when all you have to do is enable yourself to study hard?

 

[josh6718]

Anyway, my psych tried to get me to take Strattera in the beginning because it's not a stimulant, supposedly safer, & actually might help to improve the ADHD. However, I wound up with ever side effect possible, so I asked him to switch me to a stimulant that I don't have to take everyday, I just take it when I know I need it (the week before exams or whatnot).

Even though you had side effects, was it still effective? Has anyone else ever tried strattera?

 

[HenryH]

I've been taking Strattera since last Wednesday (25 mg/day), but have so far noticed no difference (save mild insomnia during the first few nights).

I'm going to up my dosage to 50 mg. tomorrow, and, if I still feel nothing, 75 mg.

For those of you take Concerta, does it "alter" your personality? I've always been wary of trying stimulants...

 

[Requiem]

I'm going to up my dosage to 50 mg. tomorrow, and, if I still feel nothing, 75 mg.

What. The. Hell.

Jesus, if pharmacy students are doing this no wonder the public is so freaking incompetent.

From strattera.com: "While you are likely to notice improvements in ADHD symptoms by week 2, it may take up to a month to see the full therapeutic benefits of Strattera.Your system adjusts to Strattera gradually over the first month of taking it, and it can provide effective and even ADHD symptom management. "

GEE!?!?! why hasn't it been working after 6 days??? Time to triple my dose, LOL!

 

[ForcedEntry]

Read THIS and tell me ADD/ADHD is a bad thing. **** man...embrace it!

 

[HenryH]

Requiem,

The reason I casually decided to increase my dosage is because of the fact that, for my bodyweight, the recommended daily dosage is 90 mg. The psychiatrist actually prescribed 50 mg. (two pills) a day, and, if it still doesn't seem effective after doing so, he instructed me to call his office before upping to 75 mg./day (in rare cases, 100 mg./day isn't enough). I just made the decision to start the first week at 25 mg./day based on the hearsay of others (supposedly, starting Strattera at half the dosage blunts the severity of initial side effects).

Oh, I'm not a pharmacy (or dental -- haven't decided) student, yet; I'm just a freshman trying to succeed in general chemistry 1.

 

[Requiem]

Requiem,

The reason I casually decided to increase my dosage is because of the fact that, for my bodyweight, the recommended daily dosage is 90 mg. The psychiatrist actually prescribed 50 mg. (two pills) a day, and, if it still doesn't seem effective after doing so, he instructed me to call his office before upping to 75 mg./day (in rare cases, 100 mg./day isn't enough). I just made the decision to start the first week at 25 mg./day based on the hearsay of others (supposedly, starting Strattera at half the dosage blunts the severity of initial side effects).

Oh, I'm not a pharmacy (or dental -- haven't decided) student, yet; I'm just a freshman trying to succeed in general chemistry 1.

It was just a sarcastic way of pointing out that no student truly has the knowledge required to increase/decrease their dosages that have been prescribed. Whether you're a pre-dental or pre-pharm student, remember the benefits of medication are but strands of thread interweaved through a web of responsibility and professional judgement.

Definitely talk to him before you alter it yourself.