Adderall alternatives?

[fonzerrillii]

That is pretty surprising that you "made it that far." However, most adults tend to overcompensate for their inattentiveness or hyperactivity in either healthy or unhealthy ways. I hate that currently the last couple of people I've been dealing with are children in Kindergarten whose parents suspect they have ADHD. I'm, like, these behaviors are so age appropriate...but, for many of them, they're seeing things that went unnoticed and undiagnosed in themselves and making hasty generalizations about their childrens' behaviors because of their own experiences.

How we expect students of any ages to sit for hours at a time testing and concentrating, especially in our current climate of a fast-food society, is incomprehensible to me. I think so many people, even without a diagnosis, could fair well with accommodations to testing. I didn't realize, until my final year of grad school for psychology, that one of my peers always got to test in that "testing room." She was concerned that her diagnosis would get in the way of being hired and being taken seriously...when, in actuality, I think it's a sign of strength and bravery to speak up about those experiences to help other professionals understand that no one is "perfect," and we all have our opportunities for change that make us human and easy to relate to others.

You are definitely right about the over compensation. I’ve had to develop little tricks to get by... like I The reason why I have such an extensive knowledge about R&b is because I have to listen to smooth chill R&B during the day to keep my mind from Focusing on the quiet in the background. It’s how I’m my most productive and I instantly give people nicknames that are close to their original name. The biggest problem that I have is that I’m almost never able to complete a project without taking mulitple breaks.

 

[alexw]

I came in here to clown but it was some very good information being shared in here.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I wasn't trying to be facetious, but I am a psychologist that studied psychopharmacology and works with children and adults with ADHD, etc. who have used Adderal, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta, etc. to try and control their symptoms. Because we are all adults here, I simply provided an alternative to pharmaceutical intervention because, as someone who has had troubles with executive functioning herself, I know how beneficial a regular schedule can be, personally speaking. I have also worked with many parents in altering their diets and/or childrens' diets.

Okay. So your comment wasn't "completely uninformed bluster," which is good.

I do think "Good ole' exercise and sleep regimen will have you thinking clearer and working more productively" assumes that I'm not exercising and sleeping properly, with no basis for doing so. In my case, lack of exercise is not an issue, though my sleep regimen is subpar. For me, less waking hours is sometimes unfeasible. To use a conceited analogy, I think I'm Barry Bonds and I didn't think your advice that I do more push-ups rather than HGH helps move me closer to my goal.

I think oftentimes people on BGOL make such responses with zero intent of actually being helpful. But you probably didn't deserve to be lumped into that.

 

[bububang]

Mainly used to manage stress and anxiety and mental fatigue and focus. Has other benefits etc. Body builders use it, which is how I found out about it and siberian ginseng.

Ive never heard of it fucking your system up. The longer you use it the better.

Does it have a crash effect to it?

 

[Art Vandelay]

I'm still on the first ten responses but the fact that this petty fool @DaMostHy entered into yet another one of my threads to like every response that questioned me and rate the thread one star is the most psycho e-stalker shit ever. Dude has rated several dozen of my threads-- Just fucking obsessed with me.

@HNIC-- Is there a way to block someone from viewing your posts when they harass you for years and refuse to put you on ignore? I'd like for this clown to just ignore me-- Lord knows the attention only goes one way. I don't want to see his interaction with my posts in any way.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I came in here to clown but it was some very good information being shared in here.

Funny how that happens sometimes.

 

[Art Vandelay]

No disrespect to ya'll, but ya'll need to kick rocks with these herbal options
If someone has to do REAL mental work, then none of these options are going to make a difference. Especially not when he's going to need them the most

Thank you!

The temptation to clown is only evidence of ignorance. I don't think many of the negative responses were from people who even understand what Aderall is or how it can be beneficial. (Stalker boy even suggested weed as an alternative. )

 

[Art Vandelay]

These are super immature responses man. I expect better from you. Google that shit if you're going to dismiss people's responses like this

Fuck you make a thread for then?

This wasn't intended as a "let's debate the merits of Aderall" thread. I don't think my response to the super unhelpful advice of "eat better and exercise" was out of line at all.

Perhaps I could be wrong about ginko biloba as I haven't read about it in years but my understanding is that it is well-known to range between placebo effect and marginal impact. I don't think I was wrong but it's possible. I probably should have just ignored it like all the coke posts.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Elutherococcus Senticosus aka Siberian Gensing (Even tho its not a gensing)

Also try Rhodiola

They are adaptogen herbs that belong to an exclusive club of 8 herbs that are adaptogens.

If you start using these on a consistent basis you will notice the change. Wont even need to fuck with Adderalls no mo.

Rhodiola you will really feel that shit working tho.

Acetyl l carnitine, resveratol and caffeine. You'l have to find the right amounts for your needs.

Adrafinil
It is pretty much Modafinil after it is processed through the liver

It doesnt give you the euphoric feeling of Adderall but it will help you stay focused. It rids you of the "damn i have to do this?" feeling. So if you have to complete a task over a prolonged period of time. you won't feel stressed out about doing it

A lot of what this guy lists here is what I use and it works for me...

Thank you for your helpful suggestions! I will look into these.

 

[meilmarc]

I got tested in Law school my first year of Law school because I could never understand how all these people in my study group got better grades then me even though I was basically teaching them the material. I also noticed that i was having difficulty focusing during tests because i would always pay attention to what everyone else in the Hall was doing. So I saw this friend of mind coming out of a quiet testing room when I came out of my exam and I asked her how did she luck up with that and if it helped her focus. She explained that she had Add and was tested as a child. She dropped her symptoms and I was like fuck... I’ve been dealing with the same issues all my life. So I first decided to get evaluated on campus... mainly because it was free and I wanted the isolated test room. It was some hot premed chick that did the testing and she found that I showed signs but she didn’t like the results. She wanted to test me again. Same results...


So I decided to just bite the bullet and go to psychologist who specialized in ADD. She ended up testing me 3 times because she could believe the results. She said I tested higher then anyone she had ever tested before. She was like “I have no idea how you even made it this far with your levels.” Basically people 90% and higher have social problems and tend to drop out of school.. they normally have high I.Q. but on average they are never able to really adjust. And I tested 97%...

Before I was tested my GPA in Law School was .15. I was on the verge of getting excluded after the next semester. After testing and medication... I graduated with a 3.25.

I’m still Fucking pissed off that I didn’t do that shit in High School or Junior High. There is absolutely no telling where I would be right now.

One day I should write a book...

That is pretty surprising that you "made it that far." However, most adults tend to overcompensate for their inattentiveness or hyperactivity in either healthy or unhealthy ways. I hate that currently the last couple of people I've been dealing with are children in Kindergarten whose parents suspect they have ADHD. I'm, like, these behaviors are so age appropriate...but, for many of them, they're seeing things that went unnoticed and undiagnosed in themselves and making hasty generalizations about their childrens' behaviors because of their own experiences.

How we expect students of any ages to sit for hours at a time testing and concentrating, especially in our current climate of a fast-food society, is incomprehensible to me. I think so many people, even without a diagnosis, could fair well with accommodations to testing. I didn't realize, until my final year of grad school for psychology, that one of my peers always got to test in that "testing room." She was concerned that her diagnosis would get in the way of being hired and being taken seriously...when, in actuality, I think it's a sign of strength and bravery to speak up about those experiences to help other professionals understand that no one is "perfect," and we all have our opportunities for change that make us human and easy to relate to others.

These are some All Star posting. My son suffers from ADHD, he's been in G&T classes since he's been in school, this last semester he has been having issues while taking test, we will study all the material then he will take the test, mind wanders off then he fails, in the retake he will make a 100.

What are some good alternatives to help a child stsy on the right path?

 

[cashwhisperer]

My adderall alternative is.......

 

[fonzerrillii]

This wasn't intended as a "let's debate the merits of Aderall" thread. I don't think my response to the super unhelpful advice of "eat better and exercise" was out of line at all.

Perhaps I could be wrong about ginko biloba as I haven't read about it in years but my understanding is that it is well-known to range between placebo effect and marginal impact. I don't think I was wrong but it's possible. I probably should have just ignored it like all the coke posts.

Ginko has a legit effect for me but it does depend on the milligram amount and manufacturer. I use Spring Valley 120 mgs on weekends when I don’t want to use Aderral but still wont to focus on a task.

 

[Mello Mello]

Does it have a crash effect to it?

I havent felt any crash effect.

I take the rhodiola every other day and I take the Siberian ginseng everyday mixed in hot water. Just make sure you take the Rhodiola Rosea preferably from Siberia with a 3:1 ratio of rosavins to saladrosides and that its freeze dried to retain the nutrients.

Check out this video.

 

[JofromthaNO]

These are some All Star posting. My son suffers from ADHD, he's been in G&T classes since he's been in school, this last semester he has been having issues while taking test, we will study all the material then he will take the test, mind wanders off then he fails, in the retake he will make a 100.

What are some good alternatives to help a child stsy on the right path?

Your son should be able to qualify for a Section 504 Plan, under our government's ADAA regulations. Although these students are covered by the same rules/regulations that impact students that receive Individualized Education Plans (IEPs,) he sounds like he doesn't need any "specialized academic instruction" that students with severe disabilities receive (i.e., small group instruction with a Special Education teacher, etc.) However, some states consider gifted students special education (when I was growing up, Louisiana did, at least.)

Section 504 is for students who have a mental health (ADHD, OCD, etc.) or physical impairment (diabetes, asthma, etc.) who will benefit from accommodations and modifications within their school day, including modifications for tests. Many of the students with Section 504 plans that I work with are very bright, but need accommodations like extra time for testing; multiple testing sessions (i.e., more frequent breaks during tests and separate setting (i.e., taking the test in an alternate place in the room or even another room.) Students can qualify for these accommodations all the way through grad/law school, as mentioned above.

Contact your school's school counselor, grade level administrator or school psychologist (depending on how the school is set up,) and he/she should be able to help with your concerns.

 

[JofromthaNO]

Okay. So your comment wasn't "completely uninformed bluster," which is good.

I do think "Good ole' exercise and sleep regimen will have you thinking clearer and working more productively" assumes that I'm not exercising and sleeping properly, with no basis for doing so. In my case, lack of exercise is not an issue, though my sleep regimen is subpar. For me, less waking hours is sometimes unfeasible. To use a conceited analogy, I think I'm Barry Bonds and I didn't think your advice that I do more push-ups rather than HGH helps move me closer to my goal.

I think oftentimes people on BGOL make such responses with zero intent of actually being helpful. But you probably didn't deserve to be lumped into that.

Perhaps I should have phrased it in a question, like, "Do you get enough sleep and/or exercise on a weekly basis?" Wasn't trying to come off "better than," but I know how beneficial those two things can be for symptoms of ADHD-Hyperactive and/or Inattentive Type.

My initial thoughts, however, are the same. As adults, we should check our basic self-care habits first before we try adding pharmaceutical interventions into our routines. But, I digress...

 

[BigDaddyBuk]

Yes, for adults, it can help with management of those symptoms. Behavioral management can help substantially, and this is a form of it. Of course, it would also depend on the level of hyperactivity/inattentiveness of the person, but it can dramatically help. Trust it from someone who is undiagnosed, but recognizes it in herself, The school system even tried to persuade her to get me tested when I was in elementary school - she put me in some physical activities, structured my time better, and...BOOM! Much better...

All the rest and exercise and proper diet and behavioral modification in the world won't be enough for me.

Trust me, I was diagnosed in 95 and followed my regimen well ever since.

My clarity of thought and productivity level on meds vs it are like night and day.

 

[JofromthaNO]

All the rest and exercise and proper diet and behavioral modification in the world won't be enough for me.

Trust me, I was diagnosed in 95 and followed my regimen well ever since.

My clarity of thought and productivity level on meds vs it are like night and day.

Oh, I believe you - I see it almost everyday. I just was wondering if the poster had ever tried work without meds.

 

[Cle Da YoungKingPin]

yoooo this is 5 stars

 

[trstar]

Monitoring

 

[BronxBomber]

I jog 5 times a week, drink lot of tea, and work on managing the effects. Ive learned that the side effects of staying on or trying to get off are too detrimental....

You gonna stay on these drugs for 20-40 years? You have to learn what works for you. There is a natural solution to most of the symptoms of ADHD. Most of it is behavioral IMO. I saw so much over diagnosis in the school it was criminal.

 

[JimJones]

Great thread.. lot of honesty and good information.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Oh, I believe you - I see it almost everyday. I just was wondering if the poster had ever tried work without meds.

To be clear, I've heard & read about Adderall but have never had access to it. 99.99% of my work has been without meds. (I've barely even ever had a prescription, never for more than a couple of weeks.)

I jog 5 times a week, drink lot of tea, and work on managing the effects. Ive learned that the side effects of staying on or trying to get off are too detrimental....

You gonna stay on these drugs for 20-40 years? You have to learn what works for you. There is a natural solution to most of the symptoms of ADHD. Most of it is behavioral IMO. I saw so much over diagnosis in the school it was criminal.

I don't have ADHD-- there are a couple of different levels to which this conversation has evolved-- and I'm definitely looking at this in a temporary way. I'm hitting a pivotal time in life and I have a particular interest in enhanced performance right now. I don't have any reason to use it all the time but there will be times that an advantage would be helpful.

 

[BronxBomber]

To be clear, I've heard & read about Adderall but have never had access to it. 99.99% of my work has been without meds.



I don't have ADHD-- there are a couple of different levels to which this conversation has evolved-- and I'm definitely looking at this in a temporary way. I'm hitting a pivotal time in life and I have a particular interest in enhanced performance right now. I don't have any reason to use it all the time but there will be times that an advantage would be helpful.

I feel you fam good luck. My point is to say that there are natural ways to achieve more out of yourself. That ENTIRE family of drug is not without consequence. Very close friend of mine got caught up on them doing same thing, using to study, then clean, etc. She became a wreck calling me crying 3 times a week. When I speak to young people I always ask them you think junkies wanted to be junkies? Just a thought fam.

 

[Art Vandelay]

@JofromthaNO -- Thoughts on this?

I don't want to cite our doofus president as an authority on anything but his quote here rings true to me.

 

[JofromthaNO]

@JofromthaNO -- Thoughts on this?

I don't want to cite our doofus president as an authority on anything but his quote here rings true to me.

I'm looking at the individuals they quoted as living that lifestyle - Leonardo Di Vinci, Tesla...they lived in a different age of time when how individuals took care of themselves, didn't do the typical type of work we do (i.e., weren't sitting for long periods of time,) and their lifestyles were quite different. I don't count DT, but even Thatcher probably had a different diet than the typical American does. These sedentary lifestyles are killing us slowly and surely...

I have read about how good naps are, of course, for refocusing. I forgot to mention this before too, but family medical history also plays a HUGE role, as well.