If I took Adderall in HS I wouldve gone to an Ivy

I'm 26 and was recently legitimately diagnosed with ADD and after taking Adderall now for a couple months I am getting projects done 3x more efficiently than before, my concentration bursts are 5x longer (used to get distracted every 5 minutes, now I can sit and focus on the thought process of a project for ~45-60 consecutive minutes no problem).

Now I may not have gotten into Harvard, but if I had had this diagnosed sooner and started taking something back in HS I wouldnt have ended up at no-name state U.

Yes hard work is a HUGE part of getting into a top school, but having a clinically diagnosed problem (some form of ADHD) does put one at a proven disadvantage, imo.

I've still done pretty good for myself, but shit wouldve been a lot of easier and there's probably a few more BIG projects I couldve accomplished by now.

I think when prescribed / used properly - Adderall can work wonders.

Update: Please read further as I've clarified some things in the comments below

 
Downeasta:
$10 says this post was written during an Adderall-fueled burst of euphoria.
adderall fueled yes, euphoria no
First person that comes out this fucking door gets a... gets a *lead salad*, you understand?
 
SECfinance:
What is the point of this post? To make yourself feel better?
I guess I didn't make it clear - I think Adderall gets a bad rap on here sometimes (see comments on http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/blog/how-rampant-is-cheating-does-addera…) but there are really times when it is useful, and the need for it should be diagnosed earlier to potentially improve the quality of one's life
First person that comes out this fucking door gets a... gets a *lead salad*, you understand?
 
wannabeaballer:
You are taking a drug to appease your master.

what do you mean by "master"? i'm an entrepreneur and my own boss. If anything my freudian id is my master

mhurricane:
Have you noticed any side effects? I am strongly considering adderall, too.
Nothing yet, mainly just dependence on it - like I feel like I can't get focused and do a project unless I do take it, the main reason I waited to start taking it until now. It wasn't until I started to see it affect my work and hold my career back that I started to seek out help.

============================================

Virginia Tech 4ever:
My only issue is that ADHD really isn't a "disorder" as much as it's a personality trait. I have ADHD and it is fundamental to my personality--how I struggle to hold long conversations because of distraction but also how the trait helps me hyperfocus on things I'm really interested in for countless hours--not just 60 minute bursts but half day bursts. ADHD is an ancient trait from when we were hunters and gatherers, and it typically affects males. The trait allowed the human male to hyperfocus on the dangerous, critical task of hunting. It's simply a largely obsolete trait in today's world.

Would life be easier without ADHD? Sure. But I wouldn't be who I am today without it--it is a trait that is fundamental to who I am and to how I've developed.

That's great if you're able to use it to your advantage in your career field. I was diagnosed with "ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type" - (ones in bold are traits specific to myself, from http://add.about.com/od/adhdthebasics/a/ADDvsADHD.htm)
Symptoms are primarily related to inattention. The individual does not display significant hyperactive/impulsive behaviors. Most people refer to the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD simply as ADD. These individuals may have trouble paying attention, finishing tasks, or following directions. They may also easily become distracted; appear forgetful, careless and disorganized; and frequently lose things.

============================================

bankerella:
Nice. You're like a poster boy for Shire Pharmaceuticals' go-to-market strategy. You know, the one they rolled out when the patent ran out on Adderall and they switched to marketing Vyvanse. They're working hard on legitimizing and normalizing amphetamine use in the older twenties and early thirties, particularly among people who've never used before.

You can bet the product management team would be thrilled to read this. "I coulda gone to Harvard if only I'd discovered amphetamines sooner! Ask your doctor for a legitimate clinical diagnosis today!" They couldn't have gotten a better plug out of you if they'd paid you a million bucks.

Not hating, not judging, just saying.

Haha... their check should be in the mail

blackrainn:
No, just no.

The people I know at Harvard are not adderall users (at least to any major extent).

The people doing good work are the ones working hard on problems for months or even years. Adderall won't help you do that.

1. maybe they don't take it now, but how do you know they didn't use adderall to help get there (ie studying for the SAT?) 2. I probably wouldnt have gotten into Harvard just by taking Adderall (I never said this) but a lower level Ivy couldve definitely been a possibility.
3. a major problem with my form of ADD is finishing projects short & long. it's hard to know what this feels like unless you're actually experiencing it. In my career I was able to finish projects it was just a lot harder / took a lot more of my time to do it because of the constant inability to focus.

============================================

kidflash:
I kind of agree with this sentiment. I've always been a bright kid, and I'm at a lower target right now. However, my family has a history of stuff like ADHD, and I was also recently diagnosed. I wonder where I would be if I had realized this a couple of years earlier.

Obviously talk to a doctor about whether you should take it or not, but if you want to go far in finance it's really not too late at all even if you're at at a lower target. Get a top GPA, kill it in interviews and at networking, work hard, follow bankerella's gmat tips, and get into a top mba program.

Culcet:
Dude, change the attitude ASAP.

I'm not judging, as I've had this problem before. And it is unfair that some people get to use Adderall while others don't (for what its worth, I'm not one of them). But keep in mind that other people are getting laid, working out, becoming more knowledgeable about the markets, traveling the world, making new friends, getting laid, learning new hobbies, mastering foreign languages and getting laid while you think "if only". This type of thinking is poisonous. Stop now.

  1. "Some get to use while some dont" - From what I've heard it seems like pretty much anyone can get it prescribed easily, right? So not an unfair advantage.

  2. Ha re your little list there, trust me buddy i'm doing all that in a level beyond your wildest dreams. I'm not saying "if only" -it's really not that big a deal, and i'm happy where I'm at, just wanted to pass on my opinion in case some younger monkeys out there read it and actually do have ADD/ADHD and can get it diagnosed sooner. You don't know... until you know, and for some it can really make a difference, for the positive.

First person that comes out this fucking door gets a... gets a *lead salad*, you understand?
 
everyman:
mhurricane:
Have you noticed any side effects? I am strongly considering adderall, too.
Nothing yet, mainly just dependence on it...

I laughed at this one.

If you got this far in life without it? Why do you want it now?

My WSO Blog "Unbelievably Believable" -- RG3
 

Have you noticed any side effects? I am strongly considering adderall, too.

The difference between successful people and others is largely a habit - a controlled habit of doing every task better, faster and more efficiently.
 

My only issue is that ADHD really isn't a "disorder" as much as it's a personality trait. I have ADHD and it is fundamental to my personality--how I struggle to hold long conversations because of distraction but also how the trait helps me hyperfocus on things I'm really interested in for countless hours--not just 60 minute bursts but half day bursts. ADHD is an ancient trait from when we were hunters and gatherers, and it typically affects males. The trait allowed the human male to hyperfocus on the dangerous, critical task of hunting. It's simply a largely obsolete trait in today's world.

Would life be easier without ADHD? Sure. But I wouldn't be who I am today without it--it is a trait that is fundamental to who I am and to how I've developed.

Array
 
Virginia Tech 4ever:
My only issue is that ADHD really isn't a "disorder" as much as it's a personality trait. I have ADHD and it is fundamental to my personality--how I struggle to hold long conversations because of distraction but also how the trait helps me hyperfocus on things I'm really interested in for countless hours--not just 60 minute bursts but half day bursts. ADHD is an ancient trait from when we were hunters and gatherers, and it typically affects males. The trait allowed the human male to hyperfocus on the dangerous, critical task of hunting. It's simply a largely obsolete trait in today's world. Would life be easier without ADHD? Sure. But I wouldn't be who I am today without it--it is a trait that is fundamental to who I am and to how I've developed.
Took the words right out of my mouth; this is exactly my situation and opinion.
Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 
Virginia Tech 4ever:
My only issue is that ADHD really isn't a "disorder" as much as it's a personality trait. I have ADHD and it is fundamental to my personality--how I struggle to hold long conversations because of distraction but also how the trait helps me hyperfocus on things I'm really interested in for countless hours--not just 60 minute bursts but half day bursts. ADHD is an ancient trait from when we were hunters and gatherers, and it typically affects males. The trait allowed the human male to hyperfocus on the dangerous, critical task of hunting. It's simply a largely obsolete trait in today's world.

Would life be easier without ADHD? Sure. But I wouldn't be who I am today without it--it is a trait that is fundamental to who I am and to how I've developed.

I agree but this only really applies to ADHD-predominatly hyperactive: the ideas that the strongest negative traits are behavourial/personality based, and that ADHD is egosyntonic (i.e. you actually feel that its part of who you are).

However, for many predominately-inattentives, this isn't the case (especially those with SCT symptoms). PI's get a host of other symptoms which hyperactives do not get, that are far more crippling imo, the worst being terrible working memory, brain fog, and dissociation. It basically feels like you are stoned and tired the entire time, but anxious rather than chill (atleast if you have PI + SCT). This then becomes far less a personality disorder and a real neurological one, and being on medication makes you feel far more like yourself than without it.

I know quite a few hyperactive types who can definatly do well without the medication, even though it might be a bit difficult at times. However, many PI/SCT types will find it extremely hard to go without it especially in any client facing role.

 

Nice. You're like a poster boy for Shire Pharmaceuticals' go-to-market strategy. You know, the one they rolled out when the patent ran out on Adderall and they switched to marketing Vyvanse. They're working hard on legitimizing and normalizing amphetamine use in the older twenties and early thirties, particularly among people who've never used before.

You can bet the product management team would be thrilled to read this. "I coulda gone to Harvard if only I'd discovered amphetamines sooner! Ask your doctor for a legitimate clinical diagnosis today!" They couldn't have gotten a better plug out of you if they'd paid you a million bucks.

Not hating, not judging, just saying.

 
bankerella:
Nice. You're like a poster boy for Shire Pharmaceuticals' go-to-market strategy. You know, the one they rolled out when the patent ran out on Adderall and they switched to marketing Vyvanse. They're working hard on legitimizing and normalizing amphetamine use in the older twenties and early thirties, particularly among people who've never used before.

You can bet the product management team would be thrilled to read this. "I coulda gone to Harvard if only I'd discovered amphetamines sooner! Ask your doctor for a legitimate clinical diagnosis today!" They couldn't have gotten a better plug out of you if they'd paid you a million bucks.

Not hating, not judging, just saying.

Still in love. Call me maybe. Just saying.

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 

I kind of agree with this sentiment. I've always been a bright kid, and I'm at a lower target right now. However, my family has a history of stuff like ADHD, and I was also recently diagnosed. I wonder where I would be if I had realized this a couple of years earlier.

 

Dude, change the attitude ASAP.

I'm not judging, as I've had this problem before. And it is unfair that some people get to use Adderall while others don't (for what its worth, I'm not one of them). But keep in mind that other people are getting laid, working out, becoming more knowledgeable about the markets, traveling the world, making new friends, getting laid, learning new hobbies, mastering foreign languages and getting laid while you think "if only". Stop now.

 

Like baseball, your name should have an asterisk next to it for using PEDs. Do it the natural way or be flagged for cheating. When will the field of medicine stop creating disorders as reasons for people's deficiencies, ie ADHD or sex addicts?

 
bigge2win:
Like baseball, your name should have an asterisk next to it for using PEDs. Do it the natural way or be flagged for cheating. When will the field of medicine stop creating disorders as reasons for people's deficiencies, ie ADHD or sex addicts?
1. "Creating disorders"- that's a philosophical debate and true for some conditions, but in this case you can't fully judge the condition if you yourself don't have it.
  1. THIS IS NOT CHEATING. If chemically for the last 26 years I was at a disadvantage in learning / school / work and now finally the game is equalized then I don't see how you can say this. If it now give me an advantage over the average person... well where do you draw the line? For a short term project is someone who drinks coffee / takes supplements / drinks a 4 hour energy / also at an unfair advantage?
First person that comes out this fucking door gets a... gets a *lead salad*, you understand?
 
Best Response
everyman:
bigge2win:
Like baseball, your name should have an asterisk next to it for using PEDs. Do it the natural way or be flagged for cheating. When will the field of medicine stop creating disorders as reasons for people's deficiencies, ie ADHD or sex addicts?
1. "Creating disorders"- that's a philosophical debate and true for some conditions, but in this case you can't fully judge the condition if you yourself don't have it.
  1. THIS IS NOT CHEATING. If chemically for the last 26 years I was at a disadvantage in learning / school / work and now finally the game is equalized then I don't see how you can say this. If it now give me an advantage over the average person... well where do you draw the line? For a short term project is someone who drinks coffee / takes supplements / drinks a 4 hour energy / also at an unfair advantage?

You weren't disadvantaged. You had strengths and weaknesses that others didn't posses. If you didn't lean on your strengths then you made mistakes. Nobody is without weaknesses, but most of us don't correct our personality flaws with drugs.

Array
 

How hard was it to get the prescription? I am going to do some research this weekend, then, see a doc next week.

The difference between successful people and others is largely a habit - a controlled habit of doing every task better, faster and more efficiently.
 
mhurricane:
How hard was it to get the prescription? I am going to do some research this weekend, then, see a doc next week.

Very easy. Every person I know who has gone in for an ADD/ADHD consult has walked away with a prescription of some sort. Most people who walked away with non adderrall scrips didn't like them (stronger/more severe side effects like lack of sleep and appetite). The notable exception is a friend who got a time release patch. He said it was great. Once you finished your work, you could take it off, and not have the effects lasting all day.

My WSO Blog "Unbelievably Believable" -- RG3
 

Sometimes in college when I took adderall, life seemed to fast-forward 2 hours and I found myself watching Kimbo Slice knock out videos.

I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum.
 

ADHD has been proven to be a real disorder - it isn’t really debated anymore in the medical community. Chemical imbalances in the brain are a real issue and it gets really frustrating to hear people who obviously just watched an episode of Dr. Phil and think they know everything. I think way too many people get falsely diagnosed with ADHD but that doesn’t mean it does not exist.

 
Gangsta Killah Blood:
ADHD has been proven to be a real disorder - it isn’t really debated anymore in the medical community. Chemical imbalances in the brain are a real issue and it gets really frustrating to hear people who obviously just watched an episode of Dr. Phil and think they know everything. I think way too many people get falsely diagnosed with ADHD but that doesn’t mean it does not exist.

But there are varying degrees of the so-called "disorder." What the OP is essentially doing is labeling himself as almost disabled. Only a small percentage of adults "suffer" from ADHD and among those only a small percentage have serious life issues as a result of the severity of the disorder. ADHD has positive and negative side effects, as does medication.

This is like labeling "short" or "slow metabolism" as a disability.

Array
 
Virginia Tech 4ever:
Gangsta Killah Blood:
ADHD has been proven to be a real disorder - it isn’t really debated anymore in the medical community. Chemical imbalances in the brain are a real issue and it gets really frustrating to hear people who obviously just watched an episode of Dr. Phil and think they know everything. I think way too many people get falsely diagnosed with ADHD but that doesn’t mean it does not exist.

But there are varying degrees of the so-called "disorder." What the OP is essentially doing is labeling himself as almost disabled. Only a small percentage of adults "suffer" from ADHD and among those only a small percentage have serious life issues as a result of the severity of the disorder. ADHD has positive and negative side effects, as does medication.

This is like labeling "short" or "slow metabolism" as a disability.

If it’s stopping you from performing at a level where your intellectual peers are then it is considered a disorder. There are no positive effects for ADHD (IMO) - hyperfocus would be useful if you could direct it but the neurotransmitters are not properly regulated in the synapse. From the outside this does look like a BS disorder for people who are “creative” or “lazy” but it is tormenting living with this, trust me.

 

A lot of people have trouble focusing or get distracted easily. I found myself falling asleep after reading a paragraph in a textbook or checking my iPhone for new e-mail every 5 minutes. But I don't attribute it to having ADHD. It's because I have my priorities mixed up and I'm not valuing the task at hand. I feel the material is boring so I doze off, or it's just easier to slack off. Well, when you realize that someone dumber than you gets better grades or someone younger than you with worse pedigree than you gets promoted, then you'll be motivated to bust your ass and not blame your incapability on anything but yourself.

Yes, ADHD is a legit disorder, but as VTech has said, everyone seems to resort to it as an excuse if they can't focus. I mean, every guy thinks about sex and checks out every remotely attractive looking girl. That doesn't make him a sex addict. Or when fat people blame eating McDonalds for why they're fat. It's because fat people can't stop eating or can't keep their body in shape. There are people in shape who also like to eat fast food, so you can't blame that. Lack of attention applies similarly.

 

Vtech is bang on, I was "diagnosed" late.. I think at around 15, and even I think its total bullshit. I was sent in for a 3hr consultation and it was basically a personality exam. "Do you have outbursts of rage? Do you have an addictive personality? ( Even then I was hooked on coffee and cigs) Do you procrastinate and find yourself doing other shit?" It was basically hundreds of behaviour questions followed by a stupid computer game. I remember going home later and having my parents explain to me how they understood now why I was fucking the dog in school.. I have a "condition".. So sticking to my ADD behaviour profile I lost my shit at them and said theres no way i'm using my personality as a crutch in life.. I was fucking the dog for the same reason most 15 year old kids were, not due to some crippling personality disorder.

You guys out there are really going to tell me that the person you are when your on vyvance, adderol or dex is the person you were naturally supposed to be? That demonstrates a very egocentric and selfish perspective on things if you ask me.

 

It may be the case for the OP, but I think real ADD is really rare.

There are a couple easy tests that can be done if yu suspect it.

For a kid that has trouble in school, let him play GTA or Call of Duty online. If after 5 minutes he's looking at the ceiling or chasing butterflies, that's ADD. If he plays it for 2 hours and you can't get him to come down for lunch, the kid just doesn't like to study that much.

For a highschool/college student you can check your own self. Sit on a table for 20 hours with the books and nothing else. You'll be surprised how much you'll study. If you're getting up to get something from the fridge or check your e-mails that's probably just laziness - everybody has that to some extent.

We all have advantages and disadvantages in life. Higher or lower intelligence, discipline, physical endurance or whatever... If you have ADD or not, Adderal may push you up a couple notches (although I'd argue that having the discipline to sit with the book for 20 hours matches beats any Adderal junkie - it's just not as easy/pleasant). But, like any other amphetamine, it has some issues. If you think it's worth it, more power to you. If you have true ADD and it hinders your life in a way that you're really useless without it, take it and be happy you're healthy again.

But, again, if you can watch the Dark Knight for 2 and a half hours or play a long game of Halo with full attention, maybe you don't have that much ADD...

 

Even if I did have ADHD (maybe I do?), I would stay away from it. Just think about what adderall can do to your dick. Adderall is a VASOCONSTRICTOR (reduces blood flow throughout your body). It's known to reduce penis size and cause erectile dysfunction. I rather be distracted all the time than have some bitch laugh at my short limp dick.

Array
 
3176401:
Even if I did have ADHD (maybe I do?), I would stay away from it. Just think about what adderall can do to your dick. Adderall is a VASOCONSTRICTOR (reduces blood flow throughout your body). It's known to reduce penis size and cause erectile dysfunction. I rather be distracted all the time than have some bitch laugh at my short limp dick.

What if I got a hard-on first, and THEN took Adderall? Would it constrict my blood vessels and not allow the blood to escape from my dick, letting me keep my boner up for hours?

 
Angus Macgyver:
3176401:
Even if I did have ADHD (maybe I do?), I would stay away from it. Just think about what adderall can do to your dick. Adderall is a VASOCONSTRICTOR (reduces blood flow throughout your body). It's known to reduce penis size and cause erectile dysfunction. I rather be distracted all the time than have some bitch laugh at my short limp dick.

What if I got a hard-on first, and THEN took Adderall? Would it constrict my blood vessels and not allow the blood to escape from my dick, letting me keep my boner up for hours?

You think I'm fucking around? I have many friends who PERMANENTLY shrunk their dicks because of addreall. Most cannot even sustain an ERECTION without the aid of viagra or cialis.

It's one thing to use caffeine to help you concentrate, but to use adderall is extremely dangerous and detrimental to one's health. Even if you do maintain an erection and impregnant a woman, there's a huge risk that the child can have a birth defect.

Hope this helps OP.

Array
 

TL;DR Summary: As someone who also has dreamy state ADD (also called inattentive state - ie: the same type as the OP), it's an interesting topic. I've shared my story below to explain to the OP that while he's not alone and yes, he might have got to a target school, there are some pluses to having got the late diagnosis. I'll also outline benefits of medication and adverse affects to medication, and some of my personal medical justification for my diagnosis of ADD, and why I don't believe it's purely a personality disorder.

ADD Symptoms and initial diagnosis: I was diagnosed with ADD in primary school, after teachers suspected a learning disorder. Their observations were seeming inattention, perceived social immaturity (basically I had no interest in talking to kids my age and hung out with adults and older students), failure to do homework tasks or repetitive basic tasks, forgetfulness, and other issues such as anxiety. I was viewed as disruptive since I did my work too quickly and got bored, or came to school and told the maths teacher the algebra text book was wrong (it was) or that the science lesson was wrong when the teacher classified everything on earth as plant, animal or mineral, as it didn't allow for various amebos and fungus and other things. I also had little patience for double-checking my work, so would make mistakes in simple tasks, and would skip reading instructions but jump right to the questions.

Tests: An IQ test was conducted, as well as a behavioural examination of home and school life, by the school psychologist. I was then diagnosed with ADD.

Benefits of medication and response in early life: I was prescribed with Dexamphetamines by a child pediatrician who was a specialist, given special support for the clear intelligence that was recorded on my IQ tests, fast-tracked to an advanced class, and was recommended for dux of the school.

Childhood symtoms of Medication: I experiencing migraines as a result of being taken off the tablets on weekends (withdrawal symptoms).

My response and results: I stubbornly declared myself well, and my grades dropped again. I bombed in highschool, and despite scoring in the top of my grade on some exams (like our equivalent of the STAT), was not handing in assignment work on time, and didn't know what on earth the criteria sheets the teachers were handing out with the assignments meant, which made it difficult to get marks appropriate to the effort I was putting in (basically I kept answering the wrong questions), so my high school GPA was shot.

Outcomes - College: I got into a non-target without medication. I retained my ADD associated symptoms, which doctors tried to diagnose and treat as depression, which failed miserably, and affected my grades negatively. Going "Cold turkey" and refusing to take medication, I pulled my grades up and then transferred to one of Australia's Big 8 without medication.

Analysis of results: Yes, medical stimulants may have helped me get into the target school straight away, but better support, motivation, help with planning and an understanding of why I actually needed to do my assignments and hand them in on time in high-school (as apposed to just acing tests) could have done the same without my resulting to medication. Proper career planning and support would have helped. But that's the past. By going off medication, and getting into a target, it proved to me that I don't need to rely on medication for the rest of my life. It also helped teach me coping strategies to deal with my anger, frustration, distraction, time management issues, and other related symptoms of ADD in a way that medicating wouldn't have.

Current Medication Benefits, Adverse affects, and Limitations. I take it medication now, and it helps me get my assignments done, as well as speed up my cognitive processes when dealing in social situations and regulate my mood. However, on medication, I need to be responsible too, for taking it, for using it effectively (or I become hyper-focused on things like forum posting, reading assignment work rather than typing, shopping on ebay, and other non-productive activities). It's not the silver bullet everyone makes it out to be, and if I skip it I get mild withdrawal symptoms like the munchies, headaches, drowsiness and may be emotional. If I take it, I have tachycardia, mild anorexia, insomnia, and major issues if I mix it with alcohol (I think I'm sober until the long release drug drops off, and I'm so drunk and drugged up I'm so sick I think I'm dying, which may be in part from the alcohol - basicly it creates a psycostimulant through the reaction of alcohol with the amphetamine, and it's a mess).

Medical Justification for ADD Diagnosis: I know from cognitive tests that though my general intelligence is what psychologists diagnose as "very superior," there is an extreme variance between some of my scores, with two scores in a "borderline" range. These outlying borderline results are factored into my averages when working my intelligence, so the fact that I still fall into the "very superior range" means obviously I'm still very capable as a person, despite these scores. My digit spanning, category switching, spelling, and processing speeds have been impaired at times when considered with my peers and my general intelligence. This sort of range between scores falls within 1% of the population, and the areas correspond to those shown in frontal lobe damage in the brain. ADD is shown to be caused by an under-development of particular sections of the brain. So I'm content with the science behind the idea that my medically diagnosed ADD is actually a psychological problem, not a behavioral issue. I have a medically proven diagnosis corresponding with the psychological results, and both times the ADD diagnosis's was the combined result of behavioural reporting and IQ tests, among other tests.

General Performance Outcomes and response to Medical Justification: Yes, having a borderline score means I'm technically "retarded" at some of these cognitive activities, which would fall under the Disability's Act's definition of disabled. That said, I don't typically claim I'm disabled, and only rarely find the need to disclose to my employees, as generally my performance in work is comparable or better than that of my peers, and I can ask for clarification of points I don't understand at work in a way I can't on exams. My performance also is good in university, but at uni I struggle with managing deadlines, so having plans in place to support this helps. That said, I don't get extra help, I just get concessions around extensions with planning, and have my lecturers ensure I hand my assignments in and work on them promptly, and get a little bit of extra time in exams, as relates to my medical diagnosis. (Generally I disclose to my schools, but not my employers). I still have problems summarising and structuring data and deciding what the most important points are in a story, which I'm currently working on (and have found headings helpful and am recently learning to use outlines).

Benifits I've experienced from dealing with ADD in general: That said, I'm excellent at sales, have learnt to be very unselfish, I have developed compassion for people who are disadvantaged in society, I try harder to over-compensate for any percieved "disability" people may think I have, I am good at retaining information, due to what my Taxation Lecturer called the "Anal" side of my ADD - ie the hyper-focused obsession on key points and inability to move on from some issues - which can be utilised to really help my work when I am put on a topic I can start to understand and become passionate about. Though I still have to learn about processing the appropriateness of information, I present well to people and build repport with clients easily, because I'm down to earth. I need to be given clear guidelines at work so I don't bend the rules, but once I understanding the justification behind these, I adhere to them very strictly.

Overall Conclusion and Summary: So while I'd say to the OP, sure, getting medication early in life would help, if you are actually ADD (my brother was diagnosed with ADD but actually isn't, so yes, misdiagnosis is something I view as common), not getting it isn't the end of the world, and if you were as smart as you claim, you could have got into a target regardless, by choosing a different way to get into it (I got in via an easier degree then transferred by improving my GPA). It teaches you creative ways to approach problem-solving which you wouldn't explore otherwise. It also teaches you how to deal with your problems, rather than medicating them and pretending they don't exist.

To the OP, don't feel too bad, it seems you've been reasonably successful, and you don't have 15 years of heart damage from sustained tachycardia stemming from the Adderall use, which may potentially lead to early heart failure. You also don't have a record on your medical history as "drug dependant" (the only way doctors can prescribe amphetamines a later age here is to record such, and grant it under an expensive private script, unless ADD was diagnosed and amphetamines were prescribed in a childhood diagnosis), in the way that it is monitored in some countries. I think you're doing pretty good for yourself.

 
Aimez:
The only real credibility on the "deformed children from A father's adderall use" is that male parents with Add are more likely to give birth to Add kids. Beside this, I'm not buying it without some quality, peer reviewed medical journal published study.

Yep. This is someone making shit up because it sounds good.

 

Like I said, addreall is a vasoconstrictor. Many people who are on the drug experience erectile dysfunction (google if you don't believe me) and must take viagra/cialis to allow them to sustain an erection and have sex. Once you're off the drug, and after a short period of time, you start to recover and have a normal erections again. This largely depends on the person, but even if you don't experience erectile dysfunction your erections will be weaker than they normally would. Regarding the shrinkage of dicks, I feel like I worded this wrong. Many of my friends who started addreall during beginning puberty (e.g age 12) feel that their dicks didn't grow to their fullest potential. Think about it, it makes sense. If your blood vessels are narrowed wouldn't it be difficult for your dick to grow during puberty? There is no study on it because 1. no one has done a study on it, 2. Big Pharma pays Drs. to keep their mouths shut. I've been doing research in labs for the last three years (with very prestigous doctors and labs) and I can honestly say that this happens quite frequently in medicine. I couldn't get one of my papers published because of this (not an adderall study though). If you're wondering why, the reason that big pharma does this is because its cheaper for them to pay Drs to keep their mouth shuts rather than going through the process of changing the adderall formula to make it safer for patients. Anyways, its already been confirmed that adderall can cause birth defects in pregnant women. There's also a study on birth defects (in men) on pubmed somewhere. Most of these claims can be googled, there was really no reason for this rebuttal. The main pont is, these sorts of medications are not worth taking unless you absolutely NEED them (Like if you can't walk, urinate, etc.). If you're taking them just to concentrate on work, then you need to find a different job. Not everyone has the "fit" for certain jobs. For example, I am not dexterous so I feel that I wouldn't be a good surgeon. Should I take medications that are going to have severe side effects just so I can gain more dexterity? It would be rational to find a job that is similar to that of a surgeon but does not require dexterity (such as a primary care physician). In the same way OP, find a job that isn't as mentally demanding but still interests you. Truth is, there are just some jobs we aren't fit for and we shouldn't force ourselves into them. Posted from my iphone, forgive the typos/etc.

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3176401:
Like I said, addreall is a vasoconstrictor. Many people who are on the drug experience erectile dysfunction (google if you don't believe me) and must take viagra/cialis to allow them to sustain an erection and have sex. Once you're off the drug, and after a short period of time, you start to recover and have a normal erections again.

Yes, this is a side affect reported in a minority of cases. I'll grant you that one. That said, guys experiance this problem all the time, it can't conclusively be linked back to the drug all the time, and it's not the end of the world. I'm a chick, so it's not my concern. Pseudoephedrine and Caffine are also vasoconstrictors. You're not going to taking their headache pills and coffee away from us next, are you?

3176401:
Many of my friends who started addreall during beginning puberty (e.g age 12) feel that their dicks didn't grow to their fullest potential.

I think that's just their excuse because they feel inadequate. Plus it's a bit of a queer conversation to have with your friends. What, did you just go, "So, Jim feels the reason he's so small is because of his casual amphetamine use in primary school, what do you think?" "Oh, yeah bro, I thought that too!" You're asking us to assume (a) You have many friends who were ADD as a kid (b) they were all put on the same medication (c) they'd feel comfortable talking about their genitals to you (d) they'd admit their percieved problem about the size of their genitals to you (e) they all feel a commonality that this is caused by drugs, and not something else (f) that you've verified the issue by eliminating other variables such as genetic factors through paternal control sampling.

I don't believe it. As someone who's claiming to work in science, I'm betting your methodology is flawed.

3176401:
There is no study on it because 1. no one has done a study on it, 2. Big Pharma pays Drs. to keep their mouths shut. I've been doing research in labs for the last three years (with very prestigous doctors and labs) and I can honestly say that this happens quite frequently in medicine. I couldn't get one of my papers published because of this (not an adderall study though).

A lot of research is done by bachelor and PhD students in labs. I know several biomedical engineers personally, the uni pays them to develop vaccines. Big Pharma pays for nothing and isn't involved in the process. If you can't get your paper published, you're not approaching the right journals or it's not written in a format that qualifies it for publication. Stop blaming others.

3176401:
If you're wondering why, the reason that big pharma does this is because its cheaper for them to pay Drs to keep their mouth shuts rather than going through the process of changing the adderall formula to make it safer for patients. Anyways, its already been confirmed that adderall can cause birth defects in pregnant women. There's also a study on birth defects (in men) on pubmed somewhere. Most of these claims can be googled, there was really no reason for this rebuttal.

No sauce, bro. Plus pregnant chicky's stop taking this medication generally, once they realise they are pregnant. There's no major birth defect caused by these drugs, though the fetus may develop drug dendancy and may have ADD as a genetic trait from the parents.

3176401:
These sorts of medications are not worth taking unless you absolutely NEED them (Like if you can't walk, urinate, etc.)

What are you talking about?? Adderall is a pharmaceutical psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. Amphetamines aren't going to help with urinary retention, but may exasperate the condition, and definately won't help with paralysis.

Next time, credibility over quantity. Please.

 

Aimez, you can't compare headache pills/coffee to adderall. Allergy medications that contain Pseudoephedrine are usually prescribed for only 10 days. Headache pills are not taken routeinly everyday, but rather whenever somone feels that they have a headache. The point i'm trying to make here is that long term/chronic use of vasoconstrictors can have damanging effects on the body. Thats why medications with pseudoephedrines are used rarely. Chronic use of coffee is also bad for you and this is a well known fact. Pateints who take adderall are usually take it every day, rather than when they feel that their attention spam isn't high enough for a certain day. Also, lets not forget that caffine isn't as strong of a vasocontrictor.

You'd be suprised, but big pharma (at least in the united states) plays a major role on what research gets publisher. Consider this scenario: Student interns at a prestigoius medical lab that recieves large grants by X big pharma company. Student decides to propose and carry out a research study with the assistance of one of the many doctors of this lab. The student finds that a certain medication created by X big pharma lab can be severly harmful to humans. The student tries to publishes the research study UNDER and WITH the assitance of the doctor (so it was reviewed, edited, and appropriate for publishing), but cannot because the head of the lab decides against it. Why? If the study is published the big pharma company will cut its grants to the lab. Big pharma doesn't want to go through the process of creating a new formula for the product. It's cheaper for them to continue to "hand out grants" so that the lab keeps its mouth shut.

What I meant in the end was all medications in general (not just adderall) aren't worth taking unless your life absolutely depends on them. I'm done here, but all I'm trying to say is that its better to stay away from medications if you can. A lot of side effects for many medications (even over the counter) aren't documented or published.

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