medications for ADHD that do not raise blood pressure?

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Todesking
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06 May 2010, 9:31 pm

Are there any medications for ADHD that does not effect heart rate or raise blood pressure? I have extremely high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. I am going to going for job training in July and will be seeking out medication to keep me from being overly distracted.

also who should I ask about obtaining a perscription my general physcian or psychologist or something similar? While I am at I will be trying to see if I diagnose for aspergers.



willaful
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06 May 2010, 9:32 pm

Tenex is a blood-pressure lowering medication that's prescribed for children with ADHD. Off-label, I believe. I have no idea if it would help in your case, but you could certainly ask about it.

A psychologist can not prescribe medication, so you should ask your physician. (Though a psychologist might be able to make recommendations about what to prescribe.)


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auntblabby
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06 May 2010, 11:58 pm

strattera didn't raise my blood pressure, but i am only speaking of me. my shrink said that in his experience it didn't have the blood-pressure effects of other stimulant drugs such as concerta. but if you have GERD or such [hiatal hernia], then proceed with caution.



OddDuckNash99
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07 May 2010, 5:38 am

Yes, Strattera is the ADHD drug to ask your doctor about. I don't know if it would be safe for you, either, but it's the only non-stimulant medication specifically made for ADHD. It's an SNRI (Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor).
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Todesking
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07 May 2010, 12:12 pm

What are the ones I should avoid at all costs?



Kiley
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07 May 2010, 12:43 pm

Todesking wrote:
What are the ones I should avoid at all costs?


I think that the best doctor to prescribe for ADHD is a Psychiatrist. They have a medical degree and go through medical school just like any doctor but specialize in Psychiatry as opposed to Podiatry or whatever. A Psychologist will have a degree, or degrees in Psychology but doesn't get the medical training. They may have just as much education as a Psychiatrist, just not the medical stuff.

A GP is going to be able to prescribe but won't have the experience with this kind of drug that a Psychiatrist will.

Most ADHD meds are stimulants, except for Strattera, or maybe some off label things (meds not officially for ADHD but might work for some people anyway). I've got low blood pressure and Concerta works well for me. If you had to have a stimulant Concerta might be better than some because of the way it's delivered. It's in this little sack thing and is very slowly released. With heart issues I think you should be very cautious about all of it and make sure that whoever you're seeing for the prescription knows your full medical history and has experience treating ADHD in people with high blood pressure.

Kiley



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07 May 2010, 2:02 pm

Kiley makes a good point, with these kind of concerns you want to see a specialist.


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Todesking
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08 May 2010, 1:07 am

Lets say my doctor perscribed Strattera how would it affect my adhd? What type of changes will I see or notice?



auntblabby
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08 May 2010, 1:16 am

Todesking wrote:
Lets say my doctor perscribed Strattera how would it affect my adhd? What type of changes will I see or notice?


for me, it was very subtle at first. after a week or so, it dawned on me that i felt much more "normal," with no drama, with level moods and no more intrusive Automatic Negative Thoughts. i could finally handle the slings and arrows of life with some grace. sanity in a capsule. but the GERD came first, unfortunately. so after a few months of tolerating that, i had to drop it after a few too many times waking up in the middle of the night choking on my regurgitated stomach fluids- this was in spite of a food-avoidance regimen and acid blocker 4 hours before bedtime. i stopped the strattera and my GERD largely abated. 'tis a pity, as it was such an effective drug otherwise. other folk without my GI tract issues would fare much better, and might do well to investigate further.



Todesking
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08 May 2010, 4:48 pm

auntblabby wrote:
Todesking wrote:
Lets say my doctor perscribed Strattera how would it affect my adhd? What type of changes will I see or notice?


for me, it was very subtle at first. after a week or so, it dawned on me that i felt much more "normal," with no drama, with level moods and no more intrusive Automatic Negative Thoughts. i could finally handle the slings and arrows of life with some grace. sanity in a capsule. but the GERD came first, unfortunately. so after a few months of tolerating that, i had to drop it after a few too many times waking up in the middle of the night choking on my regurgitated stomach fluids- this was in spite of a food-avoidance regimen and acid blocker 4 hours before bedtime. i stopped the strattera and my GERD largely abated. 'tis a pity, as it was such an effective drug otherwise. other folk without my GI tract issues would fare much better, and might do well to investigate further.


If it not one thing its another. My indegestion at night has cause me to vomit almost in sleep before and thats after taking three tums. Jeez



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08 Feb 2015, 3:59 pm

I tried Ritalin (officially prescribed). buth that made me very unstable.

I tried dextroamphetamine (officially prescribed), but that may me rather numb.

I tried various illegal substances including LSD, levoamphetamine, methylone and 2-FMA (self-medicated). Those did benefit me a lot, but the stimulants to tend to be addictive and result in dependence.

Currently, I try to stay free from any medication most of the time, although I do self-medicate occasionally.