Has ADHD Medication Saved My Life?

@Nasir if you have breakthrough symptoms you may just need to titrate. If you don't think it's actually addressing or solving all your symptoms, it may be indicative of another issue that isn't being addressed. As my psych told me, "you can keep lighting a fire underneath yourself for your whole life, but you still need to address your mood." @TerminallyUnique: Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. It's dexamphetamine literally coated in L-Lysine, which is why your body takes all day to break it down and it's "extended release" effect is realised, but variable subjectively to the day, stress, mood, and diet. Not trying to poke holes in your 🎈, but you should be aware of this as I simply believe everyone should be aware of their medications' chemistry and method of action. All stimulant medications are amphetamines, because they are dopamine precursors ("dopaminergic prodrugs") in the human body and that's how they "work" to interact with us. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisdexamfetamine « Vyvanse works by slowly increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that increases attention and alertness. Dopamine is a natural substance that increases pleasure and helps you focus. ...Lisdexamfetamine is an inactive prodrug that works after being converted by the body into dextroamphetamine, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. ...Long-term amphetamine exposure at sufficiently high doses in some animal species is known to produce abnormal dopamine system development or nerve damage,[22][23] but, in humans with ADHD, pharmaceutical amphetamines, at therapeutic dosages, appear to improve brain development and nerve growth.[24][25][26] Reviews of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that long-term treatment with amphetamine decreases abnormalities in brain structure and function found in subjects with ADHD, and improves function in several parts of the brain, such as the right caudate nucleus of the basal ganglia.[24][25][26] » A very interesting article, if you've the interest. 💕

Yes

It did for the longest time but I think I need to try something else. I’ve noticed I’ve had really bad anxiety on the days i take it. It doesn’t seem to make me feel better anymore, just worse.

I’m taking adderall xr and I was on the lowest dose since last year and it just recently stopped working 2 weeks ago and I’ve been struggling without it

I have a history of alcoholism and don’t like Adderall for they similarities to Meth, but Vyvanse has been hugely helpful! However, just like any controlled substance you build a tolerance to it and need a higher dose which scares me. So I take breaks from those meds occasionally. I noticed I stim a lot with food while doing boring desk work, so it has helped me a lot in that area too! Plus there are less crumbs and food stains on my paperwork! 🤣

Wow, I hope you find someone to take you pro-bono and you sue your doctor for discrimination of a protected disability and knowingly harming you with no justifiable cause, breaking the literal first rule of medicine "Do no harm."

Also @cathys your doctor is an idiot, with all-due respect (of which there is none). Opiates are literally the opposite of stimulants, if opiates were your drug of choice there's little chance you'll abuse a stimulant, without a general overarching dopamine problem.

Yes!!! I am on Dexmethylphenidate XR (basically off brand Focalin) and when I turned 18 my childhood doctor cut me off and basically said that I needed to learn to function without it, even though I took it from 2011 to 2018 daily. My life was a total mess from 2018 to 2020 and the best thing I ever did was go find a new doctor and be put back on it. Feels like I can breathe, I can think, that I can function.

Vyvanse is pre-auth approved for anyone with SUD history, even self-reported history. It's processed in the GI so it can't be abused the same way

My doctor won't give it to me because I'm a recovering opiate addict , but I have been clean for 2 and a half years.

YES!!! First dose of Vyvanse and around 6pm I stopped to try to figure out what was different—something was off (alexithymia problems) and i realised it was the first morning I woke up and didn't regret it in memory. The CONSTANT clenching of my jaw and gritting down on my teeth over every emotion and thought stopped (and I immediately realized how bad the problem was and how many teeth I've cracked and how badly it actually hurts all the time that I've been ignoring) I'm going to sleep on a schedule for the first time in over 20 years (usually slept 4 nights/wk avg, now i sleep 6-8hrs/night!) And yknow—being able to think clearly and set to tasks again is like having my old life back. I will say, as fair warning— What was a life-changing molecule, my body processed down to complete indifference by day five. I had no sweats, no appetite issue, had some depressive spirals, couldn't think straight, got none of my to-do list done, and had a generally terrible night. Then I got anxiety because of this and feeling like yet another good thing or success was taken from me. A close friend with ADHD-ASD reassured me that this is what's supposed to happen, that if your body adapts and begins to process it normally and stops the sweating and you can feel hunger through the pills, as long as you aren't having breakthrough symptoms then it has kind of normalized things for you. But if someone issues or lack of clear head space come back ("break-through" the meds) then it's simply time to let your doctor know and titrate! I went from 20→30→40→50 and I think 60 or 70 might be my key. Lucky, because "they" just adjusted the allowance to 70mg total, I guess /= But I can drink coffee and stuff on top of it and that definitely helps too! Either way, not wishing I could rejoin the Void and having the motivation to do... Anything... is an absolutely wonderful thing. I was at rock-bottom, so, if this didn't work, well—it did! 🎉♾️💛

🙌 ❤️ yes it helps so much! First dose was too low, had it raised a little and it’s helped so much!

Yes but I think I need the dosage raised because I'm starting to really struggle again but the first time I took it I cried I couldn't believe how calm my mind could be.