Posted by toddindc on November 9, 2003, at 15:35:18
In reply to Re: Straterra approval., posted by deLane on October 9, 2003, at 17:59:44
First off, good luck on the LSAT. I'm a third year about to graduate with a terrible class rank and was diagnosed with ADD in July of this past summer. I experienced many of the same issues as you did but thought that it was "just the way I am". I've always been told I'm a under-achiever, day-dreamer, et. al only to read an ABA (American Bar Association) Journal article on Adult ADD with specific regard to a 41 year-old attorney who discovered he had it. I found a good psychiatrist who affirmed my suspicions and started me on Dexedrine. My dosage has tripled over the past five months but I have to say that it has been amazing. I was able to manage a 160 on my LSAT and can only wonder how I would have done had I known about the ADD. I'm 31 now and having a bit of trouble with being diagnosed so late in life and wondering what could have been had I known earlier. With specific regard to the Straterra, I can't help out much but it is ironic that my 61 year-old father was also just diagnosed (being prompted by my diagnosis) and is on Straterra. I have great success with the stimulants and very honestly enjoy the extra energy they have provided which certainly helps with the marathon study sessions you'll have in law school. My doctor would like me to explore other medications but with so much riding on the last year in school, I can't afford to mess things up. I've seen nothing less than a B+ since I've started my meds and am thrilled at my new found focus and the fact that I can now sit and read a case book for four hours and remember what I read. Sorry for the long post, feel free to message me privately if you'd like. I'd be happy to share my experiences in school trying to deal with ADD and meds. On a side note and to answer one of your questions, I have not been through the psychological testing for ADD, but will be doing that in January in order to receive accomodations on the Bar Exam (you have to think ahead). If your family physician will not accomodate your needs for meds, you may want to explore a psychiatrist who is more specifically trained and can provide many more medication alternatives and accomodations that your family physician is probably comfortable with. Good Luck.
> I noticed that bige was in his third year of law school and is taking strattera. I am trying desperately to do well on my LSAT but am having difficulty concentrating on the passages without my mind wondering. Plus, I'm having to read over the statements continuously before I can even go to an answer. I went to the Dr today and he gave me a sample to try. I'm taking my LSAT on 12/6. I was supposed to take it on 10/4 but my score wasn't high enough due to my problem. How long is this going to take to kick in and how long will I have this side effect of an upset stomach? The upset stomach is pretty bad.
> My Dr wouldn't put me on adderol because he said I would have to take numerous tests to see if I really had ADD. Did everyone else who is on this had to have a ton of tests before it was prescribed to them?
> Just curious.....
poster:toddindc
thread:133458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/277951.html