Grateful for company on this ride....

[OldIndigoBlue]

I'm recently diagnosed after doing a lot of research and reflection. At age 73, I'm not looking for a miracle, but am looking for others' experience and suggestions here.... I'm starting on Clonidine. Not likely to find a doc to prescribe stimulants to me due to my age and health issues, and don't have the resources to search out an expert in treating older adults with ADHD (they are very few and far between). I am reading "Still Distracted After All These Years: Help and Support for Older Adults with ADHD" by Dr. Nadeau which recommended this group for support. Maybe this is a tribe.....

[STEM_Dad]

This indeed is a tribe...And you are most welcome here!

😊

[Bravely_Me_in_Tx]

Welcome to the tribe indeed! I was 61 when I was diagnosed and I am thankful for the diagnosis every single day. It honestly explains everything from childhood to teenager to adult. I don't know about your medicine, but the diagnosis alone made me feel better. I am almost done with my Master's degree and turning 63 in 36 minutes...My "children" all have ADHD and once one kid was diagnosed in college, it began to click, but still not very fast. After my third "kid" was working on her Master's degree while living with me in a cozy apartment, she said, "Hey Mom...have you ever thought about looking into ADHD?" She takes Adderall and since what works well for one member of the family, will often work well for the rest, that's what we tried.

*I have noticed with the Adderall shortage that something is going on. I have always taken the generic and my daughter began taking actual Adderall last year, but they recently switched her to generic. We are both noticing the decline. My pharmacist said a generic is allowed to range between 80-110% the same, so if one medication is 100% and the next time I only get an 80% it could make a big difference. I do not understand how this is even possible, but insurance companies seem to call the shots.*

[OldIndigoBlue in reply to Bravely_Me_in_Tx]

That's very interesting about the difference in generic drugs versus the brand name ones.... And yes, Big Pharma calls the shots, that's for sure. Sad to hear that folks may not be getting the relief when the dosage can vary that much!!! Thank you for your words of encouragement - I, too, am feeling a great relief in understanding my whole life from a different viewpoint, altho I still grieve the loss of all those years when I just thought I was weird, and I used to revel in that, but didn't take into account how my actions affected others, particularly my sons (the 2 younger and the oldest ones have also been diagnosed at different times with ADHD; neither of them are on medications). I know we all have learned how to compensate - I used to do that by telling myself, "Wow, I'm so courageous! Look at what an exciting adventurous life I've lived!!!!" And yes, that is true. But I'm beginning to do Life Review and sometimes the rear view window gets a bit fogged over..... That being said, I find I'm starting to forgive myself now that I have some information about executive function MALfunctioning.... So I am very grateful for a better understanding. Again, thank you for sharing!!

[Allie501]

I'm 72 diagnosed at 44. Been on Ritalin since then. I moved to a different state 5 months ago. One pharmacy filled my 20mg. prescription one time. After that told me there is a shortage on brand Ritalin and they can't get it. I found another in the same chain that had 10 mg. tablets. Filled my prescription for the last 3 months through February. Now the day it was due to be filled (yesterday) she tells me she can't get any Ritalin. That it is backordered due to shortages all over the country. She can however fill it with generic manufactured by KVK-tec. Did my research last nite on that company's generic and found they've been and are in trouble with the DEA due to mfging practices. People who have used it got horrendous side effects. Why would the DEA still allow it to be sold. I don't know what I'm going to do now. Where to go from here. Does anyone else have experience with KVK-tec generic methylphenidate? Or any generic that works for you? I'm also wondering if there really is a shortage on brand Ritalin IR tablets. I've read that the Ritalin shortage is on the longacting capsules and not the tablets. Hard to know what to believe.

[OldIndigoBlue in reply to Allie501]

It truly is an unconscionable situation for so many folks, and I can't help but wonder just exactly "who" is to blame? Couldn't companies ramp up production? Pay workers to work 24/7 in shifts? It just doesn't make sense. But I see it as an affront to neuro-divergent people. If it were Viagra, would this be happening? When we have a culture built around profit and greed, I guess it's really not surprising that those people who are considered marginal in some ways would be "punished" .... I'm so sorry this is happening to you, and to many other people. I hope the situation gets resolved quickly. I also wish I could handle stimulants!!! What I'm on is possibly helping a bit, but certainly not as effective - according to books I've read - as stimulants. Ah, what a world - being in our 70's certainly gives us a different perspective, right? All I can do is try to focus on gratitude, and that's slim sometimes... Take care!

[Allie501 in reply to OldIndigoBlue]

It certainly is a different world than we grew up in. I sometimes wish I never took Ritalin or any other ADHD med. I would have survived and used the tools I used before. Now when I don't have it, I can't function or think clearly. Even worse than before I started. I just moved out of state a few months ago to help my son and 7 yr. old grandson. Unfortunately without my medication, I can see myself soon being a burden to him instead. And you are so right when you say, "if it were Viagara it wouldn't be happening". Not unless they got hit with a class action lawsuit.