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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2009 20:09:40 GMT
One of the things about telling people that you have ADD or ADHD is that you start to get asked about children, friends etc etc. This one floated my way a few days ago (it's been described to me, haven't met the person in question):
Man, early 20s, classic symptoms of ADD and has been diagnosed. He has responded well to Ritalin.
However (and this is the interesting bit), despite responding well and feeling better, he won't use the medication and is slowly getting into a bigger and bigger mess. It's cause huge rifts in his relationship with his parents and he can't live at home, which means he is struggling on his own. He's also lost contact with his GP.
What I can't find out is why he won't take it. Might be unpleasant side effects, might be some real emotional issue with his parents.
I think my question is whether refusing to take meds that have been effective and improved life is a common occurence, and if anyone has any idea of what drives it. I've not come across it before except where the medication has had bad side effects. I'm trying to find out a little more, but would be very interested in other people's experience.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2009 20:55:40 GMT
I've come across this several times.
I've met loads more who just won't entertain the idea, even though they have used amphetamines 'recreationally'.
I can understand the fear of having a prescription and being tied to something long term/potetial side effects - but the recidivism of those that have tried and had success has me stumped.
I'd be quite open to the idea of going med free - but if it went wrong I'd be wanting them back in a flash.
It does conform to the hyperfocus/stuck in rut/bloody minded/impaired opinion forming of ADHD.
The case in point may just be the chap stretching his wings and getting his rebellion done after a period of feeling dependent on others. Or ODD.
ADHD can be very frustrating for everyone.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2009 20:59:51 GMT
Thanks--those are good points. Interesting to know that this isn't unique. Baffling, but not unique.
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Post by annie on Nov 19, 2009 9:20:07 GMT
Hi hugh
Thanks ever so much for joining the forum!
Your experiences, in terms of getting a dx so late in life, will be hugely encouraging for those on here who are doubting whether or not they should put themselves through the "hassle"
With regards to folks not being willing to go down the route of medication - it is puzzling. Unfortunately our eldest refuses to go down this route, even though she was dx at Lanc 7 yrs ago. She prefers to take her Gp's advice that it's all down to anxiety and depression!
annie
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2009 11:38:21 GMT
Thanks Annie. I'm finding the advice of you and others very helpful.
"So late in life". Um. That makes me feel awfully old. Hope I've got a bit left yet! But yes, I do agree--it is worth the hassle. I do wish I'd known earlier, and at first I did feel a huge sense of regret and loss for the last forty years, but that's just so much crap that has to be accepted and then dumped so one can get on with being alive.
Interested to hear about your daughter. I wonder if some people feel anxiety and depression are temporary and "curable", where ADHD is a permanent condition that can "only" be managed? Teenage daughter of a friend of mine is very reluctant to consider anything like ADD as she thinks it might result in being thought "weird". For her, anxiety and depression are caused by the outside world in some way, and therefore something done to her, which is more comfortable than something that's just in the wiring. I know I felt the same at her age.
H
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2009 13:14:08 GMT
The trouble is no-one can enforse the meds & the side effects can be horrible, for instance when they wear off towards the evening u can feel really crappy..
So, if he's suffering from a co-morbid condition, the meds may be increasing his paranoia or anxiety..He's still young, i think he may seek out help when he's older.
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Post by Skybird on Nov 20, 2009 14:12:30 GMT
I'm not actually taking meds for ADHD (as I've not got an official diagnosis) but I'm replying to this because I've refused to take medication at times.
Basically I've been taking ferrous gluconate (an iron tablet) for six years non-stop as my ferratin levels kept dropping every time I was taken off them and about two years ago I refused to take them, even though I knew I'd be ill within two weeks of stopping them. My reasons for the refusal at the time were a combination of things but one of the main reasons was because I was resentful that I was the one who had this problem. I just wanted to be normal. I was also unhappy because I had been told that I'd have to take them forever and was probably rebelling against that too.
I'd say that side effects of any medication have to be weighed up against the benefits you'll get from taking it. If the side effects are pretty awful it makes you wonder if you can do without a certain drug.
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