Posted by MB on July 17, 2000, at 10:53:22
In reply to ADD and history of addiciton, posted by lea on July 16, 2000, at 13:36:05
There are two people in my AA group that take psychostimulants. One is an ADD adult who has been on Ritilin for years and has never abused it. While he has relapsed before with alcohol, he says that at the doses prescribed, the Ritilin helps him feel normal, and he has never had the compulsion to increase the dose. The other is on Dexidrine because of health problems that make her narcoleptic. She, as well, has never abused her medication, though I do think her husband regulates it for her. My point is that psychostimulants and 12 Step programs are not necessarily mutually exclusive of one another. There is also a stimulant, Cylert, that has low abuse potential. It is supposedly hard on the Liver, and I, personally, wouldn't want to take it due to the probable damage I've done to my liver with alcohol. Out of curiosity, what was your reaction to Ritilin? A pdoc once gave me a trial dose to rule out an ADD diagnosis. The stuff damn near freaked me out. I can't stand it. And that's coming from someone who used to abuse amphetamine. I thought I was going come out of my skin...just too much. He decided I wasn't ADD after that experience. I also passed a TOVA, which corroborated his diagnosis of non-ADD.
> I have suffered from depression all my life. I now know after reading lots of information, that my problem must be ADD. I have self medicated with marajuana most of my adult life. I am on Paxil and Trazadone, but never have I felt right. I was diagnosed as a child with ADHD and took Ritalin for a short time. I am in a 12 step recovery program for my addiction problems, however I feel I need to have meds for my ADD. I am seeing a new Pdoc this week. I am concerned about the use of an amphetamine due to my history. I am desperate for help. Do I tell him the whole truth? Will they help me??
poster:MB
thread:40651
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000717/msgs/40742.html