Autism & AD(H)D Diagnosis' - Concerta: The cross-over med. I've hoped for?

Hey! Thanks for this response! Currently sitting here with my third cup of coffee... I also drink well into the night and sleep fine on it!

I'm probably on about an 8 a day habit at the moment! Was even higher, but I got a bigger mug for Christmas... So each one is now 3tsp Coffee and 2tsp sugar. I feel I've have a huge addiction to the stuff!

On headache. I was getting really bad headaches whilst taking the Concerta. I've never really suffered with headaches before, I'm not one who like to use Ibuprofen or paracetemol to relieve them, I've never suffered badly enough to do so. Unless alcohol related!!! Haha But yeh, these were like an elephant was grinding its foot over my forehead! Very unpleasant!!

Main point I wanted to respond though, was to thank for making the heart attack point. Having had a Grandad die before I was born of a heart attack, and being a little plump myself, its definitely something I should be considering more seriously! I was meant to be swapping out my afternoon coffees for pots of tea, but I've let this slip somewhat...

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I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and took Ritalin for a while. I did notice as it wore off I got a strange feeling like I was "about to have a headache" but not an actual headache.  From when I was about eight or nine I self-medicated with caffeine. Half a point of coffee at night helped me sleep ... weird or what?  I took a pint flask of coffee to school each day.At secondary school I joined the CCF. My housemaster thought I was very keen because I joined the signals section and went to the radio room each day. What he didn't know is we had a kettle and a tin of instant coffee, so we could have a brew and listen to music stations on shortwave!

Before I retired I had to complete a monthly spreadsheet of my cases, which involved a lot of cutting and pasting. Our team admin officer knew when I was doing my returns from the four empty Red Bull cans and five empty coffee cups on my desk. I would not recommend it to anybody else, but it worked for me.

I also worked as Education Welfare Officer for a pupil referral unit, and noticed that a lot of kids bunked off for a cigarette break ... I am assuming they were self-medicating with nicotine.

A few years ago I had a heart attack, so I cut down my caffeine consumption - I am now down to about six cups a day compared to about twenty. 

I was diagnosed as an adult and

was

Thought I revisit to update.

I did start a trial in the end, lowest possible dose for 2 weeks, then second lowest dose for 2. Currently on way to my Psychiatrist to discuss it all.

Initially on the lower dose I did feel I had more energy and focus. Although I did get a tight jaw/gurning feeling, and have had some very bad headaches, which I've never been prone to having before now.

One issue that has come up, and it's a well known/common side effect, is higher blood pressure. I've been keeping an eye on mine, checking it at home with a blood pressure monitor we have.

Thankfully I have always had relatively low blood pressure anyway. Normally around 115-120 over x. During the trial though, this has risen by about 20pts! Obviously not dangerous levels but worth noting.

Upshot of it all, is I haven't taken it today, and will be letting my psychiatrist know I don't intend to do so anymore. I am, however, glad to have at least had the opportunity to try it. 

Concerta is a form of methylphenidate, the same basic drug as Ritalin. Methylphenidate was first used in the USA in 1955s, so there are more than seventy years of research. It is one on the most-researched psychotropic medications. It It is, as you rightly say, a stimulant, but it is not a "synthesised cocaine drug " (whatever that means!) Technically it is a benzylpiperidine and phenethylamine derivative which also shares part of its basic structure with catecholamines.  Unlike antipsychotics, methylphenidate does not build up in the body - it has a short half-life of two to four hours approximately, which is the reason for "sustained release" preparations such as Concerta. All this information is available on the web.

their is more than are about seven different stimulant medication used to treat ADHD all controlled substances,They all do different things. some speed the brain up slightly to be able to process information better, some help with dopamine function. like every medications their are pros and cons but the medication has help me being somewhat function five out of the 7 days a week which enables me to undertake my GCSE as an adult and look for employment.  

Hey Dawn, just another thank you, I looked up noise cancelling ear plug headphones this morning and will be getting some in the sales. Ty. Chris

Concerta is a synthesised cocaine drug ( secretly ) & thus a stimulant. Big phama has various boxes of secrets, one of which is lack of research concerning such drugs. There are many derives which simply minimised or maximise dose levels of exactly the same substance, & masquarade. Proper information is restricted and usually what is given is deceptive. Strengths of this same concoction are named differently & dressed differently, and expected to be considered as though each one took large resources to develop. 

I'm not really working at the moment. I had a brief spell of employment in a transport office recently. About a month ago. But only lasted a week, because it was a transport office for truckers and rather lively...

I hope to get back into employment, but I just can't think doing what? I've had basic accountancy training. But with accounting rules its very formalised thinking.

I've done website design, but only basic WordPress stuff. The happiest I've been was being self employed as a gin distiller. The freedom to do things my way and no one can tell me I'm wrong!

But that was at the same time I was trying to "make friends" at a local pub, having initially just gone in to try and sell the landlord gin... 2k of bar bills over a few months later, and when I was beginning to struggle those so called new friends all disappeared...

True. Tbf the ones I've missed have either been on other side of country, or, in a totally different one, so haven't had the opportunity to show up for a short time. I know at least one of the guys was so peeved he stopped talking to me completely. I guess that's just a sign. My closer mates haven't minded. Especially when I explained I'd rather miss it then cause a scene on their big day

Chris said:

I seem to work well on discrete projects where I'm told what needs to be done and left to it with a reasonable free reign

Yes, I like to work that way too.  The pandemic home working has been great for me.  Any chance your employer might go along those lines?  A lot of places are right now because the pandemic has made them see what they could be saving in office space and running costs.

See originally I worked for the ministry of defence as a property surveyor. But it's a very man-ly stiff upper lip boys club job. I had told them about my mental health. I was undiagnosed at the time. I was there for 5 years but I broke in the end.

Since then I've had 2 or 3 office jobs, but private practice seems even less willing to accept disruption. 

When left to my own devices I can do big things. I set up the project for the govts biggest solar farm project at RAF Lyneham (now MOD Lyneham). But it was big and shiny and when people started muscling in, I again shut down.

I seem to work well on discrete projects where I'm told what needs to be done and left to it with a reasonable free reign.

But then other staff got jealous as they just saw me sitting there. They didn't realise that whilst I was sitting there, in my head I was assessing all aspects of 3 or more methods of doing things. That then exasperated the feeling of being an Imposter.

Chris said:

I've skipped three mates weddings, because I have a history of meltdowns at big/loud/mix of friends and people I dont know, events..

Another tough one.  Sometimes you want to be there for your mates but it's a big ask for you to "do" the social thing in that environment and for an extended period of time.  All I can suggest is use a bit of "energy accounting" to make sure you get enough rest and recuperation before and after these events and pick and choose carefully which ones to attend and for how long.  Most people who care about you, but who know it's difficult for you will really appreciate that you went to show your face and support for a short while, even if you then had to dip out early when things get too busy.

Chris said:

Tasks wise, I have trouble holding down jobs. It's the office environment, lots of people, chatting, printers, phones, and then there's me with a hint of imposter syndrome.

Yeah, it is a tough one.  This raises the old issue of should/shouldn't you tell your employer and what sort of reception do you get.  Do they know?  If they do, or you feel could consider telling them, it would be a perfectly "reasonable adjustment" to give you a side office, or construct one with some noise dampening screens in a corner for you.  I've known that done very successfully for people before.

I will take a look!!! I'm not particularly up to date on tech. Ty :-)

Chris said:

I have tried ear covering headphones, but then I feel like I'm drawing attention to myself, and that can sometimes exasperate it.

I have seen a few discrete little noise dampening ear inserts for people with ASD advertised on the web.  Presumably, no one but you might notice those. 

Hey Dawn,

Yeh, to be honest I am now wondering whether its the right route to take, having heard from yourself and Pickled Rick. I just don't know.

I live in a village on the outskirts of a town, the local pub is nice, has a big beer garden, and isn't too crowded, but sometimes even when it's not crowded it can be difficult as other conversations are then more pronounced. :-(

I find the anxiety of it all really difficult when I'm left alone there, either waiting for friend to arrive, or when they pop to loo or something. I have tried ear covering headphones, but then I feel like I'm drawing attention to myself, and that can sometimes exasperate it.

Obviously its Christmas time, and one of my friends has a birthday on the 27th... they want to go to a pub in the town centre, known for being the student pub and quite raucous, which I'm kind of dreading. I've skipped three mates weddings, because I have a history of meltdowns at big/loud/mix of friends and people I dont know, events...

I just really struggle in social situations where I'm trying my hardest to work out what people really mean, which is difficult enough at the best of times.

Tasks wise, I have trouble holding down jobs. It's the office environment, lots of people, chatting, printers, phones, and then there's me with a hint of imposter syndrome. I can quite obviously see that no one else is too worried about their productivity, but in my head it feels like I'm still being judged. I have a tendency to not ask for help, and that leads to me shutting down.

Personally, I'd never touch meds.  I know some folks do and some say they are helpful, but I've always been scared of the side effects and the possibility that they might be addictive.  I guess we must each make our own decisions on that.

Now that I know I'm autistic, however, I'm delighted I never did give into pressure to take them as Pickled Rick says there are a battery of things that act on the neurological system which don't operate the same way on us, including some anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and even anaesthetics.  Personally, I'd see if there is any research out there on the specific effects on folks with ADHD/ASD.

As for the focus issue, it's not always possible in every instance, but could the environment be changed rather than your brain chemistry?  For instance, might your mates not be persuaded to meet up in a quiet country pub with a beer garden, rather than one rammed to the rafters with a juke box, bright lights and crowds of noisy drunk people.  What's the environment like where you are trying to do your daily tasks - any way to change that?

I didn't realise concerta was anti-psychotic? I thought it is a stimulant? Yeh, I've been on low doses of anti-psychotics before. I've had a long history of "smoking" so got put on them ten years ago, it's taken me ten years to persuade psych that the 'voices' at that time were real and that stress (I was at uni and had final exams, my nan had her first stroke and I  was falsely accused of something quite serious all at the same time) caused me to mis-interpretate. I hated being on them as they just dulled everything.