ADHD medications - dangerous even for those diagnosed as ADHD?

I'd like to hear from some people that take or used to take medications for ADHD - only the people who were correctly diagnosed and were prescribed by a doctor, please. I am going to be starting them soon...I think. I am a 25 yo female, recently diagnosed.

I have heard conflicting stories about how it affects people with ADHD, and although I know the FDA can't let people take outrightly dangerous meds, I also know from experience that some meds (Topamax, for example) made me a blithering idiot unable to recall the word for the color blue. (I was given Topamax for depression - I am no longer suffering from depression nor do I need meds for it, though.)

So, just wondering...what do/did you think? What are the side effects, if any? Are there any sexual side effects? Do you experience a "come down" if you don't take each dose on time?

I am inattentive type, not hyperactive, if that helps. Thanks!

Hi
I'm a 40 yr old female who takes concerta xl for my adhd. i was diagnosed as a child but meds were not an option in those days so i actually didn't start on them til about 5 yrs ago. The plus side of concerta xl is that i don't have to take them everyday. i agree with pgd that caffeine in coffee does help a lot. its because caffeine has the opposite effect on adhd people. With age my hyperactivity level have dropped and my main problem is inattentiveness. I have a strong coffee in the morning when i get up and within 30 mins i know if i will need my med or not, you soon learn! I know there are side effects as with any controlled drug but the only one i got was that i do loose my appetite at times so if i do have a tablet i always make sure i eat a large breakfast first. Because concerta xl is a slow releasing tablet that i only take one in the morning there is no come down unlike the regular Ritalin that i tried. Neither of these tablets for me have had any sexual side effects nor with anyone i know. I am neither for or against meds for ADHD but for me personally it opened up a new world and i love the fact that i am able to control my meds on a daily basis as my needs are different on different days. Try the coffee first though, maybe all you need.

I have used coffee - caffeine compounds for ADHD Inattentive for well over one decade with my physician's knowledge. This is because for some reason, for me, weak caffeine works better for me than Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, or Dilantin. Good luck.

While I don't know about the meds themselves, I do have my $.02 to contribute.

If, for whatever reason, the meds aren't good enough or you can't take them, try to find snacks loaded with GLUCOSE (not sucrose/fructose). ADHD brains don't process glucose properly and if you constantly snack on some glucose throughout the day, it can help fuel your brain and let you focus. My teacher (who is really into neuroscience) has these mints that taste good and take time to dissolve in your mouth, and they're full of glucose. He throws them at people when they fall asleep in class. :)