AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
I was likely put right on 20mg XR because of my weight. Doc probably went there to make sure we could see results. Because of the blood pressure meds, I'm not sure how much of any digestion issues I'm having is due to the stimulants or due to those, but I will say I'm loving being able to actually taste my food again (or at least recognize it and enjoy it). I powered through a book in the last 3 days unlike I've done in a while, and I spent 5 hours this morning working on a pretty trivial review without headphone music going for half of it. Which was just incredible given how much I need music to distract myself usually.
My biggest fear now is how to know if something.. isn't working. Like I hear all these stories that the first thing you try doesn't work, and you need to dial it in. But I'm seeing what appears to be positive growth in such a way that I have no clue how to tell if it stops working or if there are better options. Granted I'm on day 8, but... you know what I mean.
I'm not sure where to get started besides 'talk to my doctor', and my research on getting diagnosed for ADHD has just lead me to not wanting to do it because of the cost ($1800 for a diagnosis, my insurance doesn't believe in mental health). Do doctors/phych's prescribe without a full diagnosis?
I've basically been struggling with my focus among other things for the past couple years following my life imploding, at that time my doctor recommended CBD therapy which has helped somewhat. Over that time I've over-analyzed my life and realized that I probably have been dealing with some form of ADHD for my entire life. Some days are good, some days are bad, and sometimes I have anxiety-related chest tightness that won't go away - this one I actually had happen twice where it lasted 2-3 weeks at a time, usually it is 2-3 days and I can mentally right the ship.
I'm to the point where I need to ask for help instead of my usual route of sucking it up and suffering through, but just asking or seeking the answers creates anxiety on it's own and I drop it to do something else.
Because if you're going to attempt to squeeze that big black monster into your slot you will need to be able to take at least 12 inches or else you're going to have a bad time...
I'm not sure where to get started besides 'talk to my doctor', and my research on getting diagnosed for ADHD has just lead me to not wanting to do it because of the cost ($1800 for a diagnosis, my insurance doesn't believe in mental health). Do doctors/phych's prescribe without a full diagnosis?
I've basically been struggling with my focus among other things for the past couple years following my life imploding, at that time my doctor recommended CBD therapy which has helped somewhat. Over that time I've over-analyzed my life and realized that I probably have been dealing with some form of ADHD for my entire life. Some days are good, some days are bad, and sometimes I have anxiety-related chest tightness that won't go away - this one I actually had happen twice where it lasted 2-3 weeks at a time, usually it is 2-3 days and I can mentally right the ship.
I'm to the point where I need to ask for help instead of my usual route of sucking it up and suffering through, but just asking or seeking the answers creates anxiety on it's own and I drop it to do something else.
I'm sorry you've been feeling this way. This was a bit like me, I've been struggling for so long and just attributed it to burnout due to workload and personal responsibilities I had to take care of. After I moved on from the responsibilities things didn't really improve but I was able to finally take a good look at myself and ask what was going on.
It is a legitimate screener. This is an online version that will give you the results after you do it. It is NOT diagnostic, but if you meet the threshold of the measure it will indicate whether further investigation into ADHD is warrented.
You can then maybe take that to your doctor which will at least start the process of understanding you more so that alternative treatments with less benefit are utilised. I'm not American so I only have some understanding of the medical system and insurance, but with at least something to go on and a doctor behind you, you might be able to access a psychiatrist for an assessment in hopefully an affordable manner.
But yes. Ask for help. If you do have ADHD it is not a 'suck it up you lazy sod' situation. ADHD is a disability that needs to be managed properly.
Good luck! We're all here if you need support.
3DS Pokemon Y Friend Code: 0645 5780 8920
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Because if you're going to attempt to squeeze that big black monster into your slot you will need to be able to take at least 12 inches or else you're going to have a bad time...
AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Also if your insurer doesn't believe in mental health, do what you can to find one that does. Modern insurance companies are very much into prevention, and are recognizing that mental health can prevent later physical problems (and thus let them keep more profits via cheaper treatments).
It never hurts to write your insurance company and ask them if you can file claims for mental health professionals as specialist visits or the like.
From my 4 months of therapy they only covered the first visit so that added up quick. Benefits are all part of work so I'm stuck with what they provide, and OHIP (Ontario health plan) is also anti-mental health for the most part when it comes to prescriptions so that will be fun to sort out.
But, I've taken my first step at least, have an appointment scheduled two weeks from now with my Dr. to get something going.
Because if you're going to attempt to squeeze that big black monster into your slot you will need to be able to take at least 12 inches or else you're going to have a bad time...
I was likely put right on 20mg XR because of my weight. Doc probably went there to make sure we could see results. Because of the blood pressure meds, I'm not sure how much of any digestion issues I'm having is due to the stimulants or due to those, but I will say I'm loving being able to actually taste my food again (or at least recognize it and enjoy it). I powered through a book in the last 3 days unlike I've done in a while, and I spent 5 hours this morning working on a pretty trivial review without headphone music going for half of it. Which was just incredible given how much I need music to distract myself usually.
My biggest fear now is how to know if something.. isn't working. Like I hear all these stories that the first thing you try doesn't work, and you need to dial it in. But I'm seeing what appears to be positive growth in such a way that I have no clue how to tell if it stops working or if there are better options. Granted I'm on day 8, but... you know what I mean.
Hi from me, 2 weeks later!
So I'm definitely wondering about this now. I still seem to be able to get things going pretty quickly, but the last few days I've been feeling very lethargic, and such. I can still dial in and focus, but it's harder to just pick something and go with it like I did last week or the week before. Like the effect has lessened. I'm not sure how to describe it.
I'm still seeing positive results. My effort to clean my apartment has went well, but I'm back to just.. not doing much after work. While I'm down 10 lbs, and I have been more willing to exercise, it still isn't a consistent thing. And today, I really just want to take a nap, despite a very strong night of sleep last night.
I have my 1 month follow-up with my psychiatrist in a week, and my counselor after that. I don't want to become an addict or a junkie, but I am feeling like that initial energy surge has definitely died down.
I was likely put right on 20mg XR because of my weight. Doc probably went there to make sure we could see results. Because of the blood pressure meds, I'm not sure how much of any digestion issues I'm having is due to the stimulants or due to those, but I will say I'm loving being able to actually taste my food again (or at least recognize it and enjoy it). I powered through a book in the last 3 days unlike I've done in a while, and I spent 5 hours this morning working on a pretty trivial review without headphone music going for half of it. Which was just incredible given how much I need music to distract myself usually.
My biggest fear now is how to know if something.. isn't working. Like I hear all these stories that the first thing you try doesn't work, and you need to dial it in. But I'm seeing what appears to be positive growth in such a way that I have no clue how to tell if it stops working or if there are better options. Granted I'm on day 8, but... you know what I mean.
Hi from me, 2 weeks later!
So I'm definitely wondering about this now. I still seem to be able to get things going pretty quickly, but the last few days I've been feeling very lethargic, and such. I can still dial in and focus, but it's harder to just pick something and go with it like I did last week or the week before. Like the effect has lessened. I'm not sure how to describe it.
I'm still seeing positive results. My effort to clean my apartment has went well, but I'm back to just.. not doing much after work. While I'm down 10 lbs, and I have been more willing to exercise, it still isn't a consistent thing. And today, I really just want to take a nap, despite a very strong night of sleep last night.
I have my 1 month follow-up with my psychiatrist in a week, and my counselor after that. I don't want to become an addict or a junkie, but I am feeling like that initial energy surge has definitely died down.
Hey dude. Thanks for the update! I check this thread every few days or so to see if there are any more posts/discussions so it's good to see something from you.
One thing I want you to understand. You just named a bunch of achievements that are happening NOW when they were happening before. Seriously. Let's list them. Let's make them clear:
- Lost 10 pounds
- More willing to exercise
- Get things going/moving quickly - so increased motivation, or "get up and go" as I like to call it
- Apartment cleaning going well
These 4 things are huge, particularly in just 2 weeks! So it is definitely having a positive impact for you and I want you to keep that in mind.
However, what you are saying is fair. You are starting to feel less effective and more fatigued on your current dose.
Keep in mind that this is your starting dose. Your dose is currently being titrated to help you get used to taking the medication, gauge it's effect for you both in terms of behaviour and physiology - as in, to be aware of any detrimental side effects.
You will not be considered a drug seeker or you will not turn into one because your body has gotten used to the starting dose and you will likely be due for an increase at your next visit. Your fatigue after work is a key factor here.
My doctor told me that one of his considerations is to help me with is my fatigue during the day and after work. So the way I've interpreted that is, if the medication helps me be effective during the day AND I'm not a zombie after work, then the medication is working. So something I understand in myself is that some of my problems during the day like with mentally heavy tasks etc is me still having to battle some bad habits. That's me, not the medication.
So to make that relevent to you - you have more motivation to exercise and you have lost weight! That's great! However, the medication won't make you exercise. It just makes the road less uphill for you, but you still have to get out of your own way. When I don't want to go to the gym, that's what I tell myself. The medication is helping me, I've set my schedule to allow THIS time to exercise and if I don't use it I lose it. So, get out of my own way and go. I might not go immediately, but I go.
So my point is, you are likely due for a dose increase and that's okay. You can give yourself permission to tell the doctors/counsellor that you are still having benefit however it has become reduced, particularly in terms of fatigue. Before I was put on my current dose of vyvanse and was on adderall, I would start to get really fatigued, and then spike up after my next dose. It was good but kind of sucked. I felt like I was going up and down a lot over the day.
Also, understanding whether the difficulties with with motivation etc, stemming from old habits or the medication helps too. It's often a bit of both. But the medication allows you to instill some new, good habits but it won't create them.
It doesn't and will not make you an addict to discuss the effectiveness of your medication in good faith. This is your medication! If you had medication for blood pressure and it wasn't working you would tell the doctors. I understand the concerns and there are some shit doctors out there, but it sounds like these ones are okay.
I'm really glad you've been having benefit.
I hope this helps!
3DS Pokemon Y Friend Code: 0645 5780 8920
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Thanks. That's ... really good to hear. My GP was very happy with how the blood pressure meds were going, and would like to see me maintain 120/80 to start backing off on those a bit. I still do feel more motivated than I have in the past. The building new habits part is definitely the piece I need to focus on.
AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Today I had my 1 month follow up with my psychiatrist.
The literal first thing he did was point out how I'd lost weight. I have no clue how he did that.. but he said he could tell in my face, despite me wearing a mask.
I went down the laundry list of all the good things that have happened, how I'm more focusing and energetic. I let him know that my meeting with my counselor was next week, and he made a quip about letting her know how much things have improved. I was sure to mention how I still felt tired after work sometimes, but I was making progress, and I had even gotten on the elliptical once in the last week.
The most surprising thing to me... is he gave me the OK to cut back on my depression/anxiety meds. He said I was free to drop the prozac from 60mg/day to 40mg/day, and see how I do. I must admit... I wasn't expecting that.
I'll probably stop posting updates in here after next week, when I visit with my counselor. But.. I really want people to hear my story, and see my journey. If I can help anyone else give this a shot... then I've done some amount of good in this world.
Today I had my 1 month follow up with my psychiatrist.
The literal first thing he did was point out how I'd lost weight. I have no clue how he did that.. but he said he could tell in my face, despite me wearing a mask.
I went down the laundry list of all the good things that have happened, how I'm more focusing and energetic. I let him know that my meeting with my counselor was next week, and he made a quip about letting her know how much things have improved. I was sure to mention how I still felt tired after work sometimes, but I was making progress, and I had even gotten on the elliptical once in the last week.
The most surprising thing to me... is he gave me the OK to cut back on my depression/anxiety meds. He said I was free to drop the prozac from 60mg/day to 40mg/day, and see how I do. I must admit... I wasn't expecting that.
I'll probably stop posting updates in here after next week, when I visit with my counselor. But.. I really want people to hear my story, and see my journey. If I can help anyone else give this a shot... then I've done some amount of good in this world.
Hey man, that's fantastic news!
I'm really glad the Dr brought up your immediate visual changes, it's good reinforcement because - at least for me as an adult diagnosis in my 30's - it's really hard to know when you're doing well because you've been struggling for so long. It's good you went over the positives but also talked about the fatigue, that is important. I'm not a Dr but I'm not surprised he talked with you about cutting your other medication back. It's very possible that many of your symptoms are related to the distress of ADHD. So now that it's treated, they're not as necessary as they were.
I knew someone who was engaged in therapy and mood medication for some years without feeling they were ever making headway until they were diagnosed with ADHD and put on the right medication, and then things started getting better.
Please don't stop posting updates - as long as you're comfortable doing so - it really is a positive story for people in your, mine, and others positions. ADHD is missed a lot and chalked up as depression, or laziness, or something else. We continue to struggle until we finally get the help we need.
I also enjoy seeing your progress and positive experiences!
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Alright. Like I said, this is my last post on the subject.
My meeting with the counselor went really well. She was shocked it had been 2 months since I started down this journey (well, longer than that if you consider my bringing it up). She was worried about cutting back on my prozac going into winter, because I do get really bad depression during it... but knowing I can go back up at any time helps. She also said she never knew anyone who said food tasted better after starting ADHD meds, which makes me really think I should keep an eye out for that as a sign of early Parkinson's or something, like dad.
I think I've had a few times when those big crashes have come on. Like.. where my whole body just shuts down. I had one Wednesday night into Thursday, where I was just so tired. I slept a ton during that time. But... even a couple crash days like that isn't enough to make me go back.
One big observation I'm making is that I am finding it much easier to play games, as opposed to watching them. As I've commented elsewhere, in the last week or two I've beaten Metroid Dread, Metroid Prime 3, and Metroid: Other M. I'm a little Metroid'd out, but it felt good to get some of that backlog off my plate! I just need to make sure I make time to get other things done, like properly cleaning or laundry or the like.
I also ran into a strange situation at gunpla build club on Tuesday. I felt... overstimulated? There were just so many conversations going on, and the volume was high, and I was trying to focus on all of them (and what I was trying to do). I just... kind of zoned out and did my own thing. I have found more than once where I have had no desire to speak up and correct people or push back against things, but.. well, I wanted to.
I don't know if Adderall is the right meds, long term. Right now my doc is keeping me on 20mg extended release daily, and I don't know what signs he is gonna look for to change that. I just know that I've lost nearly 20 lbs in the last month, and overall things are feeling pretty good.
And as a side effect, a lot of my friends are looking into if they are affected by it as well. That may not be the journey for them, but.. at the very least, they aren't sitting around and letting life pass them by.
So yeah. That's been my experience with Adderall. All in all, pretty positive. Hopefully that answers the OP's question.
AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Okay, I lied.
Today is.. new. It's the first day in a while I have felt literally no motivation to do anything. Like I'm just not focused. I'm flitting between various online resources, and not working on my work that I'm actually excited to do. I started the day with an outage incident for a couple hours, then organized a team get together to talk about skill improvement, then participated in an open zoom call for the department to just talk about things.. but then I have been drifting.
I don't know if it is the weather, my recent food intake, or what. But even the "do it because it'll only take 2 minutes" kind of things seem tougher today. I still feel I'm having more on days than off days, but it's just... wild.
I'm hoping that expressing this out-loud -- in a space where my family won't just say "Suck it up and do your work," will help jumpstart me.
I do know that my openness with my experiences led another friend to get diagnosed. Lucky guy almost got immediately on 10mg of Adderall XR as a starting thing, to the point where he felt bad at what I had to go through. But hey, again, helping. It's why this focus-less day is fascinating me such.
Maybe doing my big hurdle - scheduling some vacation time for myself - will help.
Also: Man, I wish I didn't need to see my psychiatrist every month for these meds. I like him well enough, but I already felt the meetings were just rote "Yup, everything's cruising" kind of things.
GnomeTankWhat the what?Portland, OregonRegistered Userregular
edited October 2021
Back with a report on how thing are going for me:
I've been on the twice a day adderall for 1.5 months. I think at this point I've decided I really don't like the immediate release, twice a day, pills. First and foremost I don't like the up/down feeling twice a day. The rush of taking the initial pill, feeling focused and locked in, than a slow let down until I take the next. Second if I screw up the timing of my second pill it's guaranteed I will not be able to fall asleep well. In fact sleep has been my biggest side effect so far. It absolutely ruined my sleep for a couple of weeks, where I was only able to sleep a couple hours a night. I've mostly got that under control now but it still pops up. Finally it's made me more irritable than I'd like to be, which is a known side effect of stimulants. Some of this is tied to the sleep issues as well. When I'm getting enough sleep this isn't a problem but when I was going through that phase of rough sleep it was making me very irritable with a short fuse.
As far as the desired effect: It's been a night and day difference. Adderall definitely works for me, I've been more focused and productive than I think I've ever been. The side effects have just not been ideal for me.
I'm going to talk to my clinician this week and talk about trying XR, see how that makes me feel, and possibly going to Vyvance if I'm still not dealing well the adderall side effects.
I've been on the twice a day adderall for 1.5 months. I think at this point I've decided I really don't like the immediate release, twice a day, pills. First and foremost I don't like the up/down feeling twice a day. The rush of taking the initial pill, feeling focused and locked in, than a slow let down until I take the next. Second if I screw up the timing of my second pill it's guaranteed I will not be able to fall asleep well. In fact sleep has been my biggest side effect so far. It absolutely ruined my sleep for a couple of weeks, where I was only able to sleep a couple hours a night. I've mostly got that under control now but it still pops up. Finally it's made me more irritable than I'd like to be, which is a known side effect of stimulants. Some of this is tied to the sleep issues as well. When I'm getting enough sleep this isn't a problem but when I was going through that phase of rough sleep it was making me very irritable with a short fuse.
As far as the desired effect: It's been a night and day difference. Adderall definitely works for me, I've been more focused and productive than I think I've ever been. The side effects have just not been ideal for me.
I'm going to talk to my clinician this week and talk about trying XR, see how that makes me feel, and possibly going to Vyvance if I'm still not dealing well the adderall side effects.
I really like extended release medication for ADHD. The jolts of productivity with my dexamphetimine (adderall) was nice and gave me a good jump start to do things like get ready for work quickly or do things around the house but I constantly felt like I was on a downward slope. I would realise I'm not being productive and then notice it's actually time for my next dose. If I went out for the day and forgot to take my pills with me, it would be quite frustrating. My partner even said she was starting to feel like I was 'chasing' that initial jolt, because it was the best part of the dose.
With vyvanse it's a lot better. A lot smoother, my anxiety about the day melts away after an hour and I start to feel more confident. I don't have to take anymore tablets over the day and it helps me stay mostly on top of things as long as I'm structuring myself to not get distracted e.g. if working from home, avoiding computer games etc.
However I'm unsure if my medication is working as effectively anymore. I've been on the same dose since June, but I've had some weird circumstances. I quit my salaried job in my field so that I could expand my own business with my colleagues into full time. So while that was building up it was nice. I've just kind of hit full time workload recently and I'm finding I'm exhausted at the end of the day. Not quite a zombie like I was pre-medication, but I feel like I can't do anything, especially if it requires split focus like cooking. I've also been sick with an infection which may have impacted my medications effectiveness, and since then I've fallen out of my exercise routine. I'm trying to sleep better and it mostly goes okay but sometimes I procrastinate about bed time and stay up late.
So there's many factors involved and I can't just blame the medication. But thankfully my appointment with my Dr is this Friday so I'd like to talk about it then and see what he thinks.
3DS Pokemon Y Friend Code: 0645 5780 8920
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I've noticed in my experience of Ritalin extended release that if I am tired/hungry or haven't otherwise been taking care of myself the impact of my medication is much less powerful so to speak. I get a lot more utility out of it by eating something and sleeping well enough that I don't have extant brain fog.
In your circumstance stress/changes could also impact the efficacy of your meds.
I've been taking Ritalin (Methylphenidate rather) as that's what available here in aus/nz but I've lucked out vis-à-vis side effects where it is a appetite suppressant (in a somewhat bad way) and if I don't eat near when I take it it makes my think I need to pee all the time.
It definitely makes the process of getting myself to do things much simpler. It still takes effort but I can more easily convince or trick myself into getting started (I'll get up and get a drink but actually clean the kitchen.) It does however cause a dip in my mood when it wears off. Kind of like a crash that's noticeable to my friends as I get pretty emotional.
Want to play co-op games? Feel free to hit me up!
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Two additional observations:
First, this whole getting dehydrated/dry mouth thing sucks. I can tell how productive / "on" I am by how much water I have to drink and how dry my throat gets after talking for an hour.
Second, I guess I'll get to see what not being on Adderall is like! My current perscription runs out on Saturday, so I'll be going 2 days till my next Psych appointment on Monday without it. And because I procrastinated and forgot that the psych isn't in on Thurs/Fri, I can't get an emergency supply easily.
Morblitz, illness and dropping exercise is absolutely going to impact your energy level. Get back on the horse! It’ll help.
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
edited November 2021
Something feels really.. off with my Psychiatrist. I don't know if it is bias, or what, but... I dunno. It's weird enough that it is just a 15 minute checkin, though the last few visits it has been more like 5 minutes at most, with most of it spent with him writing my prescription...
So I let him know that my attempts to cut back on my prozac didn't really do much -- that I felt really down. He went to writing notes. I then told him how I ran out of meds over the weekend, and how I'd called to see if he could give me an emergency supply. That's when I was told that because Adderall is a controlled substance, they wouldn't do an emergency supply for a few days. Which is like.. what? That seems way off from what I gathered from talking to others. He then wrote me a prescription for another 30 days at the current level.
I dunno. When it was just checking in with him every 3 months for Prozac, it felt like "okay, this makes sense, let's catch up and have him observe for the 15 minutes." Now, it seems like I'm a burden or something. He sees me early and I'm out like 10 minutes before my scheduled appointment time in the first place. I don't think he has ever liked that I talked to my counselor and we decided to try the ADHD route.
My appointment with my counselor is later this week. I'm going to bring it up to her. The downside is that I really, REALLY like her as a counselor, and feel I wouldn't be as far as I am now without her. But they share an office. And if I drop him as a psychiatrist, I worry about the impression it'll leave.
Also: As mentioned, the doc scheduled me for 30 days. I was almost scheduled for 5 days after that ran out for my follow-up, but I forced going as early as I can. I hate the prospect, but I think I'm going to skip taking my meds a few days just so I can build up a buffer. Just in case things go sideways. I don't like getting prescribed for 30 days (that supposedly can't be extended) when months happen to be 31 days quite often.
Edit: It's the next morning, and I did look up the state's laws.. and yeah, it really does look like Adderall is extremely heavily restricted, such that you can't get more than 30 days at a time and you can't request it more than 2 days in advance. So most of my ire should be aimed at the state as a whole. But... I dunno. still feels off.
Adderall is an amphetamine which puts it in the same family of drugs as meth (aka methamphetamine) so it's not surprising that it is tightly controlled.
When I was younger (probably 10-12) and first heard about ADHD I thought it was probably something I suffered from, and continued to think so for years. But, because of ADHD, I'd forget about it by the time I was around an adult. Thanks to Athenor's efforts, I recently talked to my GP. He told me there's no definitive test, and that in his experience the best thing to do was just to try the meds.
So, a few weeks ago, I started taking it in the morning. And wow my work day is night and day different from how it used to be. I'm much more productive, I stay focused for longer and rarely get distracted now. I usually start at 8 am and will take my first dose then. Some days I will take a second dose at 1 pm (I have a script for 2/day), but I have been trying not to do so because I have a lot of insomnia issues. I'm not sure if it makes any difference, though, as I've always had insomnia. I do notice that I will run out of energy around 1-2 pm if I don't take a second dose.
The reading I've done on Adderall tells me that it is out of your system in 4-6 hours, so this isn't a med that builds up. So, I haven't been taking it on the weekends. Is that something I should do? I don't want to build up a tolerance.
I'm also concerned that I don't really know if I have ADHD and if the Adderall is helping me with ADHD or my productivity is just due to the fact that I'm starting off my day with a dose of amphetamines. I don't know if this is a worry others have or not.
First, to answer the "Do I really have ADHD?" worries, there is more to ADHD than a lack of job productivity, and you can very easily have concentration problems for reasons that are not ADHD. For instance, if you are bored at work I'd expect you to be distracted easily without ADHD ever coming to mind. For me, there is a distinct increase in my ability to remember to do daily things like grab my keys as I walk out the door, or to eat when focused. My wife says there is a very noticeable difference in my ability to regulate and deal with my ADHD when I am medicated. If the only real change an amphetamine is giving you is more productivity at work, then I'd be worried about a misdiagnosis. As an example for what my medicine does for me beyond being productive, last night I was not medicated and went to grab take out. I grabbed my meal and drink, set the drink down to grab something else, and then left without my drink and didn't realize until I got home. Had I been medicated I would have remembered to grab the drink, or at least realized I didn't have it when I got back in the car.
Second, there are tests for ADHD. They are mostly asking you a long series of questions, categorizing your honest answers, and end with a score in those categories with a minimum threshold for it to be ADHD. At least, that's what my ADHD specialist did to diagnose me. I'd recommend seeking out a specialist instead of relying on a GP that obviously doesn't know as much as they think they do.
Third, about the drugs, sadly what your psychiatrist says is true. I can only ever get a 30 day supply, which can only be sent to a pharmacy to be filled once every 30 days. I do infact not take medication when I am being lazy at home to build up a buffer stock, that is kept separate from regular stock, so that when I forget to call for more until I am empty. Blame DEA and their controlled drug policies
Veevee on
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
edited January 2022
Someone reacted to one of my posts in this thread which reminded me of it's existence. Living with ADHD is harder now than it was in previous years, because I'm in a job that is mentally challenging for the first time in my life. In most jobs I would have reached a point where at least half the work was from memory at this point in (I've been here nearly a year), but this job still involves researching almost every question. On top of this, my psychiatrist has not been as quick at getting me my medication as I really need, so right now I have been out of Adderall XR (which is the one that seems to work best for me these days, Vyvanse was a wash!) for three weeks now and will only today, finally be able to pick up a new prescription. This is half a problem with my psychiatrist taking too long to send the script into the pharmacy, and half my pharmacy not keeping the drug in stock, not ordering it once they get my script, and not filling the script once they get the special order in stock. It's like I have to call each party on each step in the process, which for someone with ADHD means something that would take 1 week will take 3 weeks. Maybe my psychiatrist and pharmacist also have ADHD.
I've been re-reading some of the old posts here with curiosity about what we posted in 2016 because from what I've read since then a lot of it sounds wrong, and (I think) was even known to be wrong back then. For example, in some posts we talk about ADD but from what I've read since then, "ADD" is not really a thing, even though women and girls rarely get the hyperactivity component, the disease is still under the umbrella of ADHD. This, incidentally, is why so few young women get diagnosed with ADHD as children; for a little girl the component isn't being disruptive in class, it's staring out the window and daydreaming.
I'm also even more annoyed in retrospect about how someone in the thread described what amphetamine is "supposed" to do in the brains of ADHD sufferers. What ADHD is at the root is the failure of your brain to produce as much dopamine as a normal person - there were already a lot of studies on this when this thread was created, I just only started reading about it recently. So much of the reason you can't focus on anything is because you don't get the normal reward system of a neurotypical brain, your brain is like "this is painful, lets stop doing this and do something that isn't painful instead" so you daydream or play video games instead of trying to force your brain to do the painful thing. Adderall or Ritalin like any hormone treatment, it's medicine to give you the dopamine that neurotypical brains get for free. There are even studies that long-term treatment with amphetamine strengthens the dopamine pathways in ADHD patients! So for anyone else with ADHD who comes into this thread and worries that they might just be "taking speed": if you were diagnosed by a doctor and are taking Adderall under a doctor's orders then no, you aren't taking speed, you're taking required medication. Someone may as well judge a Diabetic for taking insulin. (and I know that there are people who do, but those people are also idiots)
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"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
Morblitz, illness and dropping exercise is absolutely going to impact your energy level. Get back on the horse! It’ll help.
So I went to the doctor recently because I was sick and had a bloodwork panel drawn up.
It turns out I was also iron deficient! I'm taking supplements now. It takes weeks to build your reserve back up but I started feeling quite a bit better after about 4 days. I wondered if I was having a placebo effect so I looked online. Just with the general reading I did I found that people often start to feel better after a few days on iron supplements but it does take a while to build it all back up.
So I think yeah the answer for me was lack of exercise and Iron and hopefully not a problem with my medication. I realised this yesterday after I had a full day of work. Normally 2/3's of the way through the day I'm tilting, but I felt... fine? It was nice.
My psychiatrist had previously said that if I'm sick of unwell it doesn't stop the medication from being effective but sits on me and makes me less productive and effective. Now that I'm feeling better I can feel how the medication is benefitting me again. So hopefully this is an ongoing thing. I'm due back at my GP in 2 months to check my iron levels.
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Sorry for the double post. But I've been doing some research into low iron and ADHD. I found a recent study that tested this and found that low iron can account for upto 30% of ADHD severity. That would explain why I started feeling particularly shit over the last couple of months. As my schedule became more flexible I was hitting the gym a lot more, and vigorous activity requires iron. I don't eat a lot of red meat and perhaps not enough iron-rich alternatives so my iron levels became depleted. So I stopped exercising, felt constantly lethargic, and felt like my ADHD medication wasn't even working. I did get sick over this time as well which didn't help.
So, a PSA for everyone with ADHD here. Get your iron levels checked if you havn't in a while. I really felt the difference. I'm about 3 weeks into iron supplements now. I'm feeling a bit better from just taking them but I havn't built my reserves up yet so I'm still being cautious about taking too much on.
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Interesting! Also, Cambiata pointed out some interactions with Vitamin C over in the job thread. Basically it can render Adderall inert if taken too close to your meds.
Also, I don't think it counts as a double post when there are 20 days between said posts.
Interesting! Also, Cambiata pointed out some interactions with Vitamin C over in the job thread. Basically it can render Adderall inert if taken too close to your meds.
Also, I don't think it counts as a double post when there are 20 days between said posts.
Ah yes! I was aware of this but it is tricky because citrus is in many a thing. I take vyvanse and it takes an hour to process so I take it from bed with a glass of water when I first stir, and then I get up about 30-60 minutes later. I don't drink a lot of juice anyway but I think that helps me avoid complications.
With things like short release medication though that's harder. I got frustrated a lot when I was taking it as I'd have to keep them on me or else I'd miss a scheduled dose and start to struggle. It was an effort to get on vyvanse but I'm glad I did. In Australia many medications are partially subsidised, but to obtain subsidised Vyvanse you need to prove that you've had symptoms before the age of 12. So I had to get a written letter from my parents detailing symptoms they observed of me growing up. It's a bit humiliating, sitting your parents down and going 'okay tell me about all the times you go frustrated with me for being, what appeared to be, sheer unexplained laziness". We had a fun time talking about all the difficulties I had being motivated to do things, and how much resistance I would give when my parents were trying to push/encourage me. Ugh.
But it was worth it in the end.
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I'm also even more annoyed in retrospect about how someone in the thread described what amphetamine is "supposed" to do in the brains of ADHD sufferers. What ADHD is at the root is the failure of your bring to produce as much dopamine as a normal person - there were already a lot of studies on this when this thread was created, I just only started reading about it recently. So much of the reason you can't focus on anything is because you don't get the normal reward system of a neurotypical brain, your brain is like "this is painful, lets stop doing this and do something that isn't painful instead" so you daydream or play video games instead of trying to force your brain to do the painful thing. Adderall or Ritalin like any hormone treatment, it's medicine to give you the dopamine that neurotypical brains get for free. There are even studies that long-term treatment with amphetamine strengthens the dopamine pathways in ADHD patients! So for anyone else with ADHD who comes into this thread and worries that they might just be "taking speed": if you were diagnosed by a doctor and are taking Adderall under a doctor's orders then no, you aren't taking speed, you're taking required medication. Someone may as well judge a Diabetic for taking insulin. (and I know that there are people who do, but those people are also idiots)
Thank you for sharing this, it really helps me. I've been very hesitant about taking the adderall I've been prescribed because of the fear that I'm taking speed, and not just a medication that I know helps me.
I'm an extremely introverted person, as well as what my wife kindly refers to as a "professor type". One of the things that helped me to understand I have ADHD is the fact that I'm a metal head. I can recall many encounters with my friends when I give them a ride somewhere, and they are surprised by the music I'm playing. But I think I'm attracted to really loud energetic music because it stimulates me. If you put on slow relaxing music, I get bored. If you put on music I like, I will generally tune it out but be energized by it. I've also read studies that link introversion to understimulation issues. Specifically that the babies that seem to be the most outgoing and active tend to be the most quiet and reserved later in life.
It also made me realize that my two 5-hour energy a day habit was because the stimulant was letting me focus at work. I was basically self medicating.
Unfortunately, this all intersects with my imposter syndrome, who looks at me and says "You take stimulants to make you work better, and you take sedatives to sleep at night. Maybe you have a problem." And it's hard to know if I do or not. I've had insomnia issues almost all my life. The only time I didn't have it was when I was working a full time job and taking a full time class load, because I was exhausted all the time.
Interesting! Also, Cambiata pointed out some interactions with Vitamin C over in the job thread. Basically it can render Adderall inert if taken too close to your meds.
Also, I don't think it counts as a double post when there are 20 days between said posts.
So I can't yet rule out placebo effect based on a million other state of mind variables, but NOT taking my pill with a tall, frosty, delicious glass of orange juice seems to have left me in a far better place.
Are you fucking kidding me right now, science? I need to worry about my stomach chemistry in order to properly adjust my brain chemistry?
I can't anymore with this body. Intelligent design my ass.
New doctor put me on Adderal XR and the slow extended release carries me through the entire day with no crash feeling afterword. And I don't get the speed jitters now.
New doctor put me on Adderal XR and the slow extended release carries me through the entire day with no crash feeling afterword. And I don't get the speed jitters now.
Same, I switched maybe 6 months ago. The other benefit I found was that I can take it on an empty stomach (ie: skip breakfast because I am perpetually late) without completely tanking my appetite up for the rest of the day.
New doctor put me on Adderal XR and the slow extended release carries me through the entire day with no crash feeling afterword. And I don't get the speed jitters now.
Dude that's awesome. I'm glad you are getting a benefit without the jitters and the worry about the medication.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Interesting! Also, Cambiata pointed out some interactions with Vitamin C over in the job thread. Basically it can render Adderall inert if taken too close to your meds.
Also, I don't think it counts as a double post when there are 20 days between said posts.
To clarify, it's not just vitamin C, it's also acids, and there are a lot of things with citric acid in them that you don't expect (like granola bars). I also found out that for the same reason if you take an antacid around when you take your Adderall, you improve how much of the drug gets in your bloodstream as well. I take a daily antacid anyway, so I've been taking it at the same time as my morning Adderall.
"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
New doctor put me on Adderal XR and the slow extended release carries me through the entire day with no crash feeling afterword. And I don't get the speed jitters now.
Same, I switched maybe 6 months ago. The other benefit I found was that I can take it on an empty stomach (ie: skip breakfast because I am perpetually late) without completely tanking my appetite up for the rest of the day.
I've noticed the same thing. In fact, for the first time in a very long time I'm regularly eating lunch and sometimes even breakfast. When I was on the non-XR version I was hardly eating.
I really, really wish that someone had put me on this as a teenager. This is as life changing as Zoloft has been for me.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
New doctor put me on Adderal XR and the slow extended release carries me through the entire day with no crash feeling afterword. And I don't get the speed jitters now.
Same, I switched maybe 6 months ago. The other benefit I found was that I can take it on an empty stomach (ie: skip breakfast because I am perpetually late) without completely tanking my appetite up for the rest of the day.
I've noticed the same thing. In fact, for the first time in a very long time I'm regularly eating lunch and sometimes even breakfast. When I was on the non-XR version I was hardly eating.
I really, really wish that someone had put me on this as a teenager. This is as life changing as Zoloft has been for me.
Agreed with both of ya'll, I'm on XR now and it's literally the only version of the drug that helps me anymore. I wish insurance would cover it for me, though.
"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
I just wanted to give an update, I'm quitting taking ADHD meds. Unfortunately the side effects are too much for me. I don't really like how they make me feel (although I can't complain with the results) because even with XR, I still feel wiped out after work. The extra concentration ironically means I'm not taking enough breaks.
I'm also dealing with:
1) Reynaud's Syndrome - Basically the drugs make blood vessels contract more in your extremities, which in turn reduces blood flow, so they don't retain heat well enough, which creates a feedback loop to the point that my feet would turn purple and even white due to lack of blood flow. It also meant I constantly had the pins and needles feeling of my feet waking up and going to sleep. Just all around very unpleasant.
2) The temperature control issues made me feel like I was freezing all the time.
3) I've lost 15 lbs in 2 months because I basically quit eating.
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
I just wanted to give an update, I'm quitting taking ADHD meds. Unfortunately the side effects are too much for me. I don't really like how they make me feel (although I can't complain with the results) because even with XR, I still feel wiped out after work. The extra concentration ironically means I'm not taking enough breaks.
I'm also dealing with:
1) Reynaud's Syndrome - Basically the drugs make blood vessels contract more in your extremities, which in turn reduces blood flow, so they don't retain heat well enough, which creates a feedback loop to the point that my feet would turn purple and even white due to lack of blood flow. It also meant I constantly had the pins and needles feeling of my feet waking up and going to sleep. Just all around very unpleasant.
2) The temperature control issues made me feel like I was freezing all the time.
3) I've lost 15 lbs in 2 months because I basically quit eating.
I'm glad you identified that it isn't working for you, and hopefully you can find something that will help without being so harsh.
I just wanted to give an update, I'm quitting taking ADHD meds. Unfortunately the side effects are too much for me. I don't really like how they make me feel (although I can't complain with the results) because even with XR, I still feel wiped out after work. The extra concentration ironically means I'm not taking enough breaks.
I'm also dealing with:
1) Reynaud's Syndrome - Basically the drugs make blood vessels contract more in your extremities, which in turn reduces blood flow, so they don't retain heat well enough, which creates a feedback loop to the point that my feet would turn purple and even white due to lack of blood flow. It also meant I constantly had the pins and needles feeling of my feet waking up and going to sleep. Just all around very unpleasant.
2) The temperature control issues made me feel like I was freezing all the time.
3) I've lost 15 lbs in 2 months because I basically quit eating.
I believe there are non-stimulant medication that could be an option if stimulants are untenable for you.
Good luck mate and hope you find a good pathway that works for you!
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Reviving this thread because ADHD is dear to my heart - perhaps we could look at making a standalone ADHD thread somewhere - but also because I have a question.
Does anyone have any experience with 'boosters' to help combat the 'rebound' effect where the medication, particularly extended release medication is beginning to wear off? In these situations, a smaller dose short acting one is prescribed to top you up in the afternoon/evening.
I'm on vyvanse and it gets me through the day. I am so much more functional and effective than I've ever been and my work is so much higher quality and efficient. I look at my organisation systems and things I've done pre-medication and I just wonder what this person was even doing!
However, in the afternoons and evenings I collapse. I doomscroll on the couch in a haze, am slow with dinner, and have to force myself to get up and do things. I have my own business working with clients so often I have a free morning which I spend doing admin, and then cognitive heavy client work in the afternoon. I come home fried and can barely think. I struggle to do cognitive tasks that I want to do like prepare for my TTRPG homebrew game. The only thing I can really do is scroll, watch tv, or play video games.
I take Friday off to do the bulk of my admin work but I'm often so fatigued and dopamine drained it's a big struggle to not procrastinate and do other things. So I then catch up more over the weekend.
It's hard with my partner who works a physically demanding job, and if I come home late or tired she bears the brunt of the evening tasks such as dinner which isn't fair.
Don't get me wrong, the medication has changed my life, but I just feel like I'm not quite over the line.
I havn't been exercising because I have a back injury I aggravated badly and have been recovering, have been low iron for a long time (which worsens ADHD, which I'm trying to fix with supplements) and I'm also recovering from post-covid so there's additional brain fog nastiness there.
It's a big mess.
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Oh hey this is a thread. I recently got kicked up to 30 mg of Adderall, like today recent, and honestly felt very much like a manic but more...directed I guess. Usually when something makes me manic I have energy to spare and it's fidget time. But this instance I instead felt like I wanted to put it into something, a task or direction. That's what's supposed to happen right? This sensation is what I've been looking for?
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My biggest fear now is how to know if something.. isn't working. Like I hear all these stories that the first thing you try doesn't work, and you need to dial it in. But I'm seeing what appears to be positive growth in such a way that I have no clue how to tell if it stops working or if there are better options. Granted I'm on day 8, but... you know what I mean.
I've basically been struggling with my focus among other things for the past couple years following my life imploding, at that time my doctor recommended CBD therapy which has helped somewhat. Over that time I've over-analyzed my life and realized that I probably have been dealing with some form of ADHD for my entire life. Some days are good, some days are bad, and sometimes I have anxiety-related chest tightness that won't go away - this one I actually had happen twice where it lasted 2-3 weeks at a time, usually it is 2-3 days and I can mentally right the ship.
I'm to the point where I need to ask for help instead of my usual route of sucking it up and suffering through, but just asking or seeking the answers creates anxiety on it's own and I drop it to do something else.
I'm sorry you've been feeling this way. This was a bit like me, I've been struggling for so long and just attributed it to burnout due to workload and personal responsibilities I had to take care of. After I moved on from the responsibilities things didn't really improve but I was able to finally take a good look at myself and ask what was going on.
This is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale:
https://psychology-tools.com/test/adult-adhd-self-report-scale
It is a legitimate screener. This is an online version that will give you the results after you do it. It is NOT diagnostic, but if you meet the threshold of the measure it will indicate whether further investigation into ADHD is warrented.
You can then maybe take that to your doctor which will at least start the process of understanding you more so that alternative treatments with less benefit are utilised. I'm not American so I only have some understanding of the medical system and insurance, but with at least something to go on and a doctor behind you, you might be able to access a psychiatrist for an assessment in hopefully an affordable manner.
But yes. Ask for help. If you do have ADHD it is not a 'suck it up you lazy sod' situation. ADHD is a disability that needs to be managed properly.
Good luck! We're all here if you need support.
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It never hurts to write your insurance company and ask them if you can file claims for mental health professionals as specialist visits or the like.
But, I've taken my first step at least, have an appointment scheduled two weeks from now with my Dr. to get something going.
Hi from me, 2 weeks later!
So I'm definitely wondering about this now. I still seem to be able to get things going pretty quickly, but the last few days I've been feeling very lethargic, and such. I can still dial in and focus, but it's harder to just pick something and go with it like I did last week or the week before. Like the effect has lessened. I'm not sure how to describe it.
I'm still seeing positive results. My effort to clean my apartment has went well, but I'm back to just.. not doing much after work. While I'm down 10 lbs, and I have been more willing to exercise, it still isn't a consistent thing. And today, I really just want to take a nap, despite a very strong night of sleep last night.
I have my 1 month follow-up with my psychiatrist in a week, and my counselor after that. I don't want to become an addict or a junkie, but I am feeling like that initial energy surge has definitely died down.
Hey dude. Thanks for the update! I check this thread every few days or so to see if there are any more posts/discussions so it's good to see something from you.
One thing I want you to understand. You just named a bunch of achievements that are happening NOW when they were happening before. Seriously. Let's list them. Let's make them clear:
- Lost 10 pounds
- More willing to exercise
- Get things going/moving quickly - so increased motivation, or "get up and go" as I like to call it
- Apartment cleaning going well
These 4 things are huge, particularly in just 2 weeks! So it is definitely having a positive impact for you and I want you to keep that in mind.
However, what you are saying is fair. You are starting to feel less effective and more fatigued on your current dose.
Keep in mind that this is your starting dose. Your dose is currently being titrated to help you get used to taking the medication, gauge it's effect for you both in terms of behaviour and physiology - as in, to be aware of any detrimental side effects.
You will not be considered a drug seeker or you will not turn into one because your body has gotten used to the starting dose and you will likely be due for an increase at your next visit. Your fatigue after work is a key factor here.
My doctor told me that one of his considerations is to help me with is my fatigue during the day and after work. So the way I've interpreted that is, if the medication helps me be effective during the day AND I'm not a zombie after work, then the medication is working. So something I understand in myself is that some of my problems during the day like with mentally heavy tasks etc is me still having to battle some bad habits. That's me, not the medication.
So to make that relevent to you - you have more motivation to exercise and you have lost weight! That's great! However, the medication won't make you exercise. It just makes the road less uphill for you, but you still have to get out of your own way. When I don't want to go to the gym, that's what I tell myself. The medication is helping me, I've set my schedule to allow THIS time to exercise and if I don't use it I lose it. So, get out of my own way and go. I might not go immediately, but I go.
So my point is, you are likely due for a dose increase and that's okay. You can give yourself permission to tell the doctors/counsellor that you are still having benefit however it has become reduced, particularly in terms of fatigue. Before I was put on my current dose of vyvanse and was on adderall, I would start to get really fatigued, and then spike up after my next dose. It was good but kind of sucked. I felt like I was going up and down a lot over the day.
Also, understanding whether the difficulties with with motivation etc, stemming from old habits or the medication helps too. It's often a bit of both. But the medication allows you to instill some new, good habits but it won't create them.
It doesn't and will not make you an addict to discuss the effectiveness of your medication in good faith. This is your medication! If you had medication for blood pressure and it wasn't working you would tell the doctors. I understand the concerns and there are some shit doctors out there, but it sounds like these ones are okay.
I'm really glad you've been having benefit.
I hope this helps!
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The literal first thing he did was point out how I'd lost weight. I have no clue how he did that.. but he said he could tell in my face, despite me wearing a mask.
I went down the laundry list of all the good things that have happened, how I'm more focusing and energetic. I let him know that my meeting with my counselor was next week, and he made a quip about letting her know how much things have improved. I was sure to mention how I still felt tired after work sometimes, but I was making progress, and I had even gotten on the elliptical once in the last week.
The most surprising thing to me... is he gave me the OK to cut back on my depression/anxiety meds. He said I was free to drop the prozac from 60mg/day to 40mg/day, and see how I do. I must admit... I wasn't expecting that.
I'll probably stop posting updates in here after next week, when I visit with my counselor. But.. I really want people to hear my story, and see my journey. If I can help anyone else give this a shot... then I've done some amount of good in this world.
Hey man, that's fantastic news!
I'm really glad the Dr brought up your immediate visual changes, it's good reinforcement because - at least for me as an adult diagnosis in my 30's - it's really hard to know when you're doing well because you've been struggling for so long. It's good you went over the positives but also talked about the fatigue, that is important. I'm not a Dr but I'm not surprised he talked with you about cutting your other medication back. It's very possible that many of your symptoms are related to the distress of ADHD. So now that it's treated, they're not as necessary as they were.
I knew someone who was engaged in therapy and mood medication for some years without feeling they were ever making headway until they were diagnosed with ADHD and put on the right medication, and then things started getting better.
Please don't stop posting updates - as long as you're comfortable doing so - it really is a positive story for people in your, mine, and others positions. ADHD is missed a lot and chalked up as depression, or laziness, or something else. We continue to struggle until we finally get the help we need.
I also enjoy seeing your progress and positive experiences!
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My meeting with the counselor went really well. She was shocked it had been 2 months since I started down this journey (well, longer than that if you consider my bringing it up). She was worried about cutting back on my prozac going into winter, because I do get really bad depression during it... but knowing I can go back up at any time helps. She also said she never knew anyone who said food tasted better after starting ADHD meds, which makes me really think I should keep an eye out for that as a sign of early Parkinson's or something, like dad.
I think I've had a few times when those big crashes have come on. Like.. where my whole body just shuts down. I had one Wednesday night into Thursday, where I was just so tired. I slept a ton during that time. But... even a couple crash days like that isn't enough to make me go back.
One big observation I'm making is that I am finding it much easier to play games, as opposed to watching them. As I've commented elsewhere, in the last week or two I've beaten Metroid Dread, Metroid Prime 3, and Metroid: Other M. I'm a little Metroid'd out, but it felt good to get some of that backlog off my plate!
I also ran into a strange situation at gunpla build club on Tuesday. I felt... overstimulated? There were just so many conversations going on, and the volume was high, and I was trying to focus on all of them (and what I was trying to do). I just... kind of zoned out and did my own thing. I have found more than once where I have had no desire to speak up and correct people or push back against things, but.. well, I wanted to.
I don't know if Adderall is the right meds, long term. Right now my doc is keeping me on 20mg extended release daily, and I don't know what signs he is gonna look for to change that. I just know that I've lost nearly 20 lbs in the last month, and overall things are feeling pretty good.
And as a side effect, a lot of my friends are looking into if they are affected by it as well. That may not be the journey for them, but.. at the very least, they aren't sitting around and letting life pass them by.
So yeah. That's been my experience with Adderall. All in all, pretty positive. Hopefully that answers the OP's question.
Today is.. new. It's the first day in a while I have felt literally no motivation to do anything. Like I'm just not focused. I'm flitting between various online resources, and not working on my work that I'm actually excited to do. I started the day with an outage incident for a couple hours, then organized a team get together to talk about skill improvement, then participated in an open zoom call for the department to just talk about things.. but then I have been drifting.
I don't know if it is the weather, my recent food intake, or what. But even the "do it because it'll only take 2 minutes" kind of things seem tougher today. I still feel I'm having more on days than off days, but it's just... wild.
I'm hoping that expressing this out-loud -- in a space where my family won't just say "Suck it up and do your work," will help jumpstart me.
I do know that my openness with my experiences led another friend to get diagnosed. Lucky guy almost got immediately on 10mg of Adderall XR as a starting thing, to the point where he felt bad at what I had to go through. But hey, again, helping. It's why this focus-less day is fascinating me such.
Maybe doing my big hurdle - scheduling some vacation time for myself - will help.
Also: Man, I wish I didn't need to see my psychiatrist every month for these meds.
I've been on the twice a day adderall for 1.5 months. I think at this point I've decided I really don't like the immediate release, twice a day, pills. First and foremost I don't like the up/down feeling twice a day. The rush of taking the initial pill, feeling focused and locked in, than a slow let down until I take the next. Second if I screw up the timing of my second pill it's guaranteed I will not be able to fall asleep well. In fact sleep has been my biggest side effect so far. It absolutely ruined my sleep for a couple of weeks, where I was only able to sleep a couple hours a night. I've mostly got that under control now but it still pops up. Finally it's made me more irritable than I'd like to be, which is a known side effect of stimulants. Some of this is tied to the sleep issues as well. When I'm getting enough sleep this isn't a problem but when I was going through that phase of rough sleep it was making me very irritable with a short fuse.
As far as the desired effect: It's been a night and day difference. Adderall definitely works for me, I've been more focused and productive than I think I've ever been. The side effects have just not been ideal for me.
I'm going to talk to my clinician this week and talk about trying XR, see how that makes me feel, and possibly going to Vyvance if I'm still not dealing well the adderall side effects.
I really like extended release medication for ADHD. The jolts of productivity with my dexamphetimine (adderall) was nice and gave me a good jump start to do things like get ready for work quickly or do things around the house but I constantly felt like I was on a downward slope. I would realise I'm not being productive and then notice it's actually time for my next dose. If I went out for the day and forgot to take my pills with me, it would be quite frustrating. My partner even said she was starting to feel like I was 'chasing' that initial jolt, because it was the best part of the dose.
With vyvanse it's a lot better. A lot smoother, my anxiety about the day melts away after an hour and I start to feel more confident. I don't have to take anymore tablets over the day and it helps me stay mostly on top of things as long as I'm structuring myself to not get distracted e.g. if working from home, avoiding computer games etc.
However I'm unsure if my medication is working as effectively anymore. I've been on the same dose since June, but I've had some weird circumstances. I quit my salaried job in my field so that I could expand my own business with my colleagues into full time. So while that was building up it was nice. I've just kind of hit full time workload recently and I'm finding I'm exhausted at the end of the day. Not quite a zombie like I was pre-medication, but I feel like I can't do anything, especially if it requires split focus like cooking. I've also been sick with an infection which may have impacted my medications effectiveness, and since then I've fallen out of my exercise routine. I'm trying to sleep better and it mostly goes okay but sometimes I procrastinate about bed time and stay up late.
So there's many factors involved and I can't just blame the medication. But thankfully my appointment with my Dr is this Friday so I'd like to talk about it then and see what he thinks.
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In your circumstance stress/changes could also impact the efficacy of your meds.
I've been taking Ritalin (Methylphenidate rather) as that's what available here in aus/nz but I've lucked out vis-à-vis side effects where it is a appetite suppressant (in a somewhat bad way) and if I don't eat near when I take it it makes my think I need to pee all the time.
It definitely makes the process of getting myself to do things much simpler. It still takes effort but I can more easily convince or trick myself into getting started (I'll get up and get a drink but actually clean the kitchen.) It does however cause a dip in my mood when it wears off. Kind of like a crash that's noticeable to my friends as I get pretty emotional.
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First, this whole getting dehydrated/dry mouth thing sucks. I can tell how productive / "on" I am by how much water I have to drink and how dry my throat gets after talking for an hour.
Second, I guess I'll get to see what not being on Adderall is like! My current perscription runs out on Saturday, so I'll be going 2 days till my next Psych appointment on Monday without it. And because I procrastinated and forgot that the psych isn't in on Thurs/Fri, I can't get an emergency supply easily.
I think I'll be fine. But we shall see.
So I let him know that my attempts to cut back on my prozac didn't really do much -- that I felt really down. He went to writing notes. I then told him how I ran out of meds over the weekend, and how I'd called to see if he could give me an emergency supply. That's when I was told that because Adderall is a controlled substance, they wouldn't do an emergency supply for a few days. Which is like.. what? That seems way off from what I gathered from talking to others. He then wrote me a prescription for another 30 days at the current level.
I dunno. When it was just checking in with him every 3 months for Prozac, it felt like "okay, this makes sense, let's catch up and have him observe for the 15 minutes." Now, it seems like I'm a burden or something. He sees me early and I'm out like 10 minutes before my scheduled appointment time in the first place. I don't think he has ever liked that I talked to my counselor and we decided to try the ADHD route.
My appointment with my counselor is later this week. I'm going to bring it up to her. The downside is that I really, REALLY like her as a counselor, and feel I wouldn't be as far as I am now without her. But they share an office. And if I drop him as a psychiatrist, I worry about the impression it'll leave.
Also: As mentioned, the doc scheduled me for 30 days. I was almost scheduled for 5 days after that ran out for my follow-up, but I forced going as early as I can. I hate the prospect, but I think I'm going to skip taking my meds a few days just so I can build up a buffer. Just in case things go sideways. I don't like getting prescribed for 30 days (that supposedly can't be extended) when months happen to be 31 days quite often.
Edit: It's the next morning, and I did look up the state's laws.. and yeah, it really does look like Adderall is extremely heavily restricted, such that you can't get more than 30 days at a time and you can't request it more than 2 days in advance. So most of my ire should be aimed at the state as a whole. But... I dunno. still feels off.
When I was younger (probably 10-12) and first heard about ADHD I thought it was probably something I suffered from, and continued to think so for years. But, because of ADHD, I'd forget about it by the time I was around an adult. Thanks to Athenor's efforts, I recently talked to my GP. He told me there's no definitive test, and that in his experience the best thing to do was just to try the meds.
So, a few weeks ago, I started taking it in the morning. And wow my work day is night and day different from how it used to be. I'm much more productive, I stay focused for longer and rarely get distracted now. I usually start at 8 am and will take my first dose then. Some days I will take a second dose at 1 pm (I have a script for 2/day), but I have been trying not to do so because I have a lot of insomnia issues. I'm not sure if it makes any difference, though, as I've always had insomnia. I do notice that I will run out of energy around 1-2 pm if I don't take a second dose.
The reading I've done on Adderall tells me that it is out of your system in 4-6 hours, so this isn't a med that builds up. So, I haven't been taking it on the weekends. Is that something I should do? I don't want to build up a tolerance.
I'm also concerned that I don't really know if I have ADHD and if the Adderall is helping me with ADHD or my productivity is just due to the fact that I'm starting off my day with a dose of amphetamines. I don't know if this is a worry others have or not.
Second, there are tests for ADHD. They are mostly asking you a long series of questions, categorizing your honest answers, and end with a score in those categories with a minimum threshold for it to be ADHD. At least, that's what my ADHD specialist did to diagnose me. I'd recommend seeking out a specialist instead of relying on a GP that obviously doesn't know as much as they think they do.
Third, about the drugs, sadly what your psychiatrist says is true. I can only ever get a 30 day supply, which can only be sent to a pharmacy to be filled once every 30 days. I do infact not take medication when I am being lazy at home to build up a buffer stock, that is kept separate from regular stock, so that when I forget to call for more until I am empty. Blame DEA and their controlled drug policies
I've been re-reading some of the old posts here with curiosity about what we posted in 2016 because from what I've read since then a lot of it sounds wrong, and (I think) was even known to be wrong back then. For example, in some posts we talk about ADD but from what I've read since then, "ADD" is not really a thing, even though women and girls rarely get the hyperactivity component, the disease is still under the umbrella of ADHD. This, incidentally, is why so few young women get diagnosed with ADHD as children; for a little girl the component isn't being disruptive in class, it's staring out the window and daydreaming.
I'm also even more annoyed in retrospect about how someone in the thread described what amphetamine is "supposed" to do in the brains of ADHD sufferers. What ADHD is at the root is the failure of your brain to produce as much dopamine as a normal person - there were already a lot of studies on this when this thread was created, I just only started reading about it recently. So much of the reason you can't focus on anything is because you don't get the normal reward system of a neurotypical brain, your brain is like "this is painful, lets stop doing this and do something that isn't painful instead" so you daydream or play video games instead of trying to force your brain to do the painful thing. Adderall or Ritalin like any hormone treatment, it's medicine to give you the dopamine that neurotypical brains get for free. There are even studies that long-term treatment with amphetamine strengthens the dopamine pathways in ADHD patients! So for anyone else with ADHD who comes into this thread and worries that they might just be "taking speed": if you were diagnosed by a doctor and are taking Adderall under a doctor's orders then no, you aren't taking speed, you're taking required medication. Someone may as well judge a Diabetic for taking insulin. (and I know that there are people who do, but those people are also idiots)
So I went to the doctor recently because I was sick and had a bloodwork panel drawn up.
It turns out I was also iron deficient! I'm taking supplements now. It takes weeks to build your reserve back up but I started feeling quite a bit better after about 4 days. I wondered if I was having a placebo effect so I looked online. Just with the general reading I did I found that people often start to feel better after a few days on iron supplements but it does take a while to build it all back up.
So I think yeah the answer for me was lack of exercise and Iron and hopefully not a problem with my medication. I realised this yesterday after I had a full day of work. Normally 2/3's of the way through the day I'm tilting, but I felt... fine? It was nice.
My psychiatrist had previously said that if I'm sick of unwell it doesn't stop the medication from being effective but sits on me and makes me less productive and effective. Now that I'm feeling better I can feel how the medication is benefitting me again. So hopefully this is an ongoing thing. I'm due back at my GP in 2 months to check my iron levels.
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So, a PSA for everyone with ADHD here. Get your iron levels checked if you havn't in a while. I really felt the difference. I'm about 3 weeks into iron supplements now. I'm feeling a bit better from just taking them but I havn't built my reserves up yet so I'm still being cautious about taking too much on.
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Also, I don't think it counts as a double post when there are 20 days between said posts.
Ah yes! I was aware of this but it is tricky because citrus is in many a thing. I take vyvanse and it takes an hour to process so I take it from bed with a glass of water when I first stir, and then I get up about 30-60 minutes later. I don't drink a lot of juice anyway but I think that helps me avoid complications.
With things like short release medication though that's harder. I got frustrated a lot when I was taking it as I'd have to keep them on me or else I'd miss a scheduled dose and start to struggle. It was an effort to get on vyvanse but I'm glad I did. In Australia many medications are partially subsidised, but to obtain subsidised Vyvanse you need to prove that you've had symptoms before the age of 12. So I had to get a written letter from my parents detailing symptoms they observed of me growing up. It's a bit humiliating, sitting your parents down and going 'okay tell me about all the times you go frustrated with me for being, what appeared to be, sheer unexplained laziness". We had a fun time talking about all the difficulties I had being motivated to do things, and how much resistance I would give when my parents were trying to push/encourage me. Ugh.
But it was worth it in the end.
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Thank you for sharing this, it really helps me. I've been very hesitant about taking the adderall I've been prescribed because of the fear that I'm taking speed, and not just a medication that I know helps me.
I'm an extremely introverted person, as well as what my wife kindly refers to as a "professor type". One of the things that helped me to understand I have ADHD is the fact that I'm a metal head. I can recall many encounters with my friends when I give them a ride somewhere, and they are surprised by the music I'm playing. But I think I'm attracted to really loud energetic music because it stimulates me. If you put on slow relaxing music, I get bored. If you put on music I like, I will generally tune it out but be energized by it. I've also read studies that link introversion to understimulation issues. Specifically that the babies that seem to be the most outgoing and active tend to be the most quiet and reserved later in life.
It also made me realize that my two 5-hour energy a day habit was because the stimulant was letting me focus at work. I was basically self medicating.
Unfortunately, this all intersects with my imposter syndrome, who looks at me and says "You take stimulants to make you work better, and you take sedatives to sleep at night. Maybe you have a problem." And it's hard to know if I do or not. I've had insomnia issues almost all my life. The only time I didn't have it was when I was working a full time job and taking a full time class load, because I was exhausted all the time.
So I can't yet rule out placebo effect based on a million other state of mind variables, but NOT taking my pill with a tall, frosty, delicious glass of orange juice seems to have left me in a far better place.
Are you fucking kidding me right now, science? I need to worry about my stomach chemistry in order to properly adjust my brain chemistry?
I can't anymore with this body. Intelligent design my ass.
Same, I switched maybe 6 months ago. The other benefit I found was that I can take it on an empty stomach (ie: skip breakfast because I am perpetually late) without completely tanking my appetite up for the rest of the day.
Dude that's awesome. I'm glad you are getting a benefit without the jitters and the worry about the medication.
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To clarify, it's not just vitamin C, it's also acids, and there are a lot of things with citric acid in them that you don't expect (like granola bars). I also found out that for the same reason if you take an antacid around when you take your Adderall, you improve how much of the drug gets in your bloodstream as well. I take a daily antacid anyway, so I've been taking it at the same time as my morning Adderall.
I've noticed the same thing. In fact, for the first time in a very long time I'm regularly eating lunch and sometimes even breakfast. When I was on the non-XR version I was hardly eating.
I really, really wish that someone had put me on this as a teenager. This is as life changing as Zoloft has been for me.
Agreed with both of ya'll, I'm on XR now and it's literally the only version of the drug that helps me anymore. I wish insurance would cover it for me, though.
I'm also dealing with:
1) Reynaud's Syndrome - Basically the drugs make blood vessels contract more in your extremities, which in turn reduces blood flow, so they don't retain heat well enough, which creates a feedback loop to the point that my feet would turn purple and even white due to lack of blood flow. It also meant I constantly had the pins and needles feeling of my feet waking up and going to sleep. Just all around very unpleasant.
2) The temperature control issues made me feel like I was freezing all the time.
3) I've lost 15 lbs in 2 months because I basically quit eating.
I'm glad you identified that it isn't working for you, and hopefully you can find something that will help without being so harsh.
I believe there are non-stimulant medication that could be an option if stimulants are untenable for you.
Good luck mate and hope you find a good pathway that works for you!
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Does anyone have any experience with 'boosters' to help combat the 'rebound' effect where the medication, particularly extended release medication is beginning to wear off? In these situations, a smaller dose short acting one is prescribed to top you up in the afternoon/evening.
I'm on vyvanse and it gets me through the day. I am so much more functional and effective than I've ever been and my work is so much higher quality and efficient. I look at my organisation systems and things I've done pre-medication and I just wonder what this person was even doing!
However, in the afternoons and evenings I collapse. I doomscroll on the couch in a haze, am slow with dinner, and have to force myself to get up and do things. I have my own business working with clients so often I have a free morning which I spend doing admin, and then cognitive heavy client work in the afternoon. I come home fried and can barely think. I struggle to do cognitive tasks that I want to do like prepare for my TTRPG homebrew game. The only thing I can really do is scroll, watch tv, or play video games.
I take Friday off to do the bulk of my admin work but I'm often so fatigued and dopamine drained it's a big struggle to not procrastinate and do other things. So I then catch up more over the weekend.
It's hard with my partner who works a physically demanding job, and if I come home late or tired she bears the brunt of the evening tasks such as dinner which isn't fair.
Don't get me wrong, the medication has changed my life, but I just feel like I'm not quite over the line.
I havn't been exercising because I have a back injury I aggravated badly and have been recovering, have been low iron for a long time (which worsens ADHD, which I'm trying to fix with supplements) and I'm also recovering from post-covid so there's additional brain fog nastiness there.
It's a big mess.
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