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

Chris

Hey, first time post for me, just wondering if anyone can help. 

I was diagnosed with AD(H)D (ADHD minus the H) in 2015. I was on a dose of Concerta for a brief spell, like I had been on it less than a week, before I had a breakdown due to other life issues at the time. I was then diagnosed with Autism a few years back, told there was nothing that could be done meds wise and haven't had a lot of support since, although I've also struggled to focus on what needs to be improved and how to go about that. Which brought me here. :-)

Question is, I've now re-visited the AD(H)D diagnosis and am meant to be going on Concerta again...

The main symptom I struggle with, apart from being a little cold and not picking up on "normal signals" is the sensory stuff.

For instance: I walk into a pub to meet a friend (I was lucky to be accepted by a group of 8 guys who I played football with at school - we've all kept in touch and I'm now 33 - sure I was the weird one, but they didn't care). Anyway, the issue is I struggle with auditory and visual stimulation, when I enter the pub I feel like I'm smashed by everything at the same time, especially with the Christmas decs and lights and busy-ness.

I can't focus properly on my own sh!t. Like, I'll be sitting there, but its almost like other peoples conversations (even on the other side of the pub) are as loud as the one I'm having.

Has anyone had any experience of Autism and AD(H)D meds? Concerta is meant to help concentration and focus, which I feel might help me focus not only on stuff I need to do, but also help with my interactions. Focus on my conversations, rather than get distracted by the conversations of others, and therefore at least give me a chance of being able to try and pick out the "normal signals"?  

Just wondered if anyone had any experience with this? I'm waiting on a prescription to arrive, which is a story in itself, I've been chasing my psychiatrist, but she's just replied via email that: It won't be a magic bullet... and to stop phoning every day...

Even if it doesn't help with interaction, I'd like to think it will help me focus better on daily tasks at least?

Parents

  • 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. 

Reply

  • 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. 

Children
  • in reply to Chris

    I

    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.