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Thread : Concerned  
20 Mar 2009 @ 5:14 PM
MySecretADD Join Date: Fri 20th Mar 2009
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Concerned

I have been looking for a community like this for a long time. I have been taking Concerta 36mg for almost 4 years. I recently went to the doctor and he told me my blood pressure was high. I am 27 years old, exercise 3-4 times per week (lift weights, light cardio and yoga), eat healthy, don't carry much stress with me and sleep well. I weigh 140 pounds and am 5'10''. The only reason I could think a blood pressure reading would show up high is because of my medication. I have not told anyone about my medication. All the guilt I have felt for my four years on medication has come to a head with this blood pressure reading and am now debating if I should quit the medication, how tough that will be and what lifestyle changes will be required.

It started in college for me. I was having trouble studying and a friend introduced me to Adderall. I took it illegally every once in a while when I really needed to focus for exams or papers. I had never experienced motivation and focus like that. Because of how much I enjoy learning and reading, being able to do so with such vigor was exciting. After finally feeling like my life was missing something without the medication 3 years after first exposure, I went to the doctor/therapist and was diagnosed with ADHD. Since I have been on the medication, I have been a top performer professionally and in many other aspects of my life. It kills me to attribute my success to the drug, but it's definitely a major part of the story.

I know there are no studies that report long-term harm from ADHD medication, but without a doubt, my heart rate is faster because of it and I just can't get over the fact that my body on this medication is not a natural state of existence. And to read studies that say these drugs are no different than cocaine is not comforting. Besides, I just can't imagine myself on this medication for the rest of my life. I want to come off the drug, but am afraid of withdrawal and reverting to the sub-par mental capacity I lived with four years ago.

Does anyone have a similar story or sentiment that can offer me some advice on what to do? Should I quit the medication? How should I do it? What kind of withdrawal should I expect? What have others found most effective as alternative treatments?

Graciously yours

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Last edited by MySecretADD : 20 Mar 2009 @ 5:15 PM. Reason:
22 Mar 2009 @ 10:01 PM Reply # 1
ADD RN Join Date: Wed 21st Nov 2007
Threads: 11 Posts: 358
How high is it

If you just finished eating a high sodium diet or Increased fat. Smoked a cigarrette , drank a cup of coffee or anything like a sport drink, Proventil or Albuterol , ate licorce your BP would be high, some of the herbs such as Green tea, Gingseng and too many to count things in weight lifting things can be a prime cause it is creatine and some have ephedra which converts in the body to epinephrine given in a code situation to stimulate the heart also increase the heart rate and BP would be high. If you are very focused on the medication I would not just stop these meds you will get depressed and your ADD/ADHD symptoms will come raging back. Some people have white coat anxiety meaning if you see a doctor your BP will be high ; most people can't control it. When you are non-stressed get your BP taken and don't do it right after exercieeating or if you smoke the top 120-90 is considered normal bottom 90-60 is also normal so a BP 120/90 is okay anything like 130/90 is considered slightly elevated and no meds would be given 150-160/90-100 would be given something Heart rate normal is 60 -100 anything slower would be normal if you are an athlete 100 and over is considered fast but medication again would not be prescribed until it was very fast 150-180 . Normal thing like dehydration and fever increase the heart rate and children have higher heart rates until their teens where they are like adults Baby normal heart rate is 160 -180 . One time high BP doesn't mean your hypertensive repeated high BP make you hypertensive and then meds will be looked out. Hope I helped before just d/cing meds look into what could have caused it before you own it up to your ADD med

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25 Mar 2009 @ 10:21 AM Reply # 2
Coveduck Join Date: Wed 25th Mar 2009
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Blood Pressure

If it turns out that you do have high blood pressure, they actually use the blood pressure medications Clonidine and Tenex to treat ADHD. You can also take these medications with stimulants. You should be going to a doctor that you are comfortable enough to talk about the fact that you do better on Concerta, who will make sure that it is Concerta causing the blood pressure issue, and knowledgeable about all of your treatment options. It could be that a stimulant delivered by a different mechanism might not affect you the same way. Or a small dose of Tenex will allow you to remain on Concerta.

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