Are you sure this isn't just due to habituation? I was diagnosed ADHD in gradeschool and definitely experienced some euphoric side effects when starting on both Ritalin and Adderall. They quickly subsided after a few days/weeks on the medications but my ADHD brain still reacted that way at first. I tried taking Adderall again as an adult for a few months (after a decade being off the drug) and had a similar experience.
Many prescribers will also start patients on very low doses and titration up to minimize the distraction of the euphoric effects.
Unfortunately, many mew ADHD patients mistake the initial euphoric effects for the medication “working” and get frustrated when the effects go away. They start chasing bigger prescriptions, shopping around for prescribers willing to give higher doses, doubling up doses and so on.
Everyone going into stimulant treatment should know that excessive stimulant dosing can worsen focus. If you’ve ever seen someone abusing stimulants, you’ll know exactly what this means. People on too high of a dose tend to be overly energetic, or overly focused on the wrong things.
Ideally, you want to be on the lowest dose you can get away with. Contrary to what is often repeated online, it’s best to take the medication continuously rather than skipping days. The medication should blend into the background while you work on improving ADHD. Don’t fall into the trap of leaning on the stimulant to solve everything for you.
> Contrary to what is often repeated online, it’s best to take the medication continuously rather than skipping days.
I don't like being on stimulants though. When I'm on stimulants I can't just let my thoughts wander and do whatever feels right at the moment, and I really like that part. If I don't have work to do I greatly prefer not being on them.
The only time I feel the need to abuse them is when I am over burdened with work and I feel I need the extra focus to complete tasks. At those times I try to do the opposite, quit taking the medicine and calm down and tell people that I don't have time to do the tasks now.
As always, the only real answer is to consult with your doctor. Taking breaks from medication isn't a terrible idea, especially if you hate it. The real problem is the people who associate taking the pill with getting work done, to the point that they forget how to accomplish anything without first reaching for the medication. The key is to break that connection before it becomes a craving for medication.
> I don't like being on stimulants though.
It's very possible that you're on too high of a dose, or that you'd do better on an alternative medication. There are at least 4 different classes of ADHD medication, 2 of which aren't traditional stimulants. Guanfacine is remarkably effective, for example, but it's nowhere near as popular because it's much less enjoyable than stimulants during the ramp-up phase.
> The only time I feel the need to abuse them
Yikes. If you ever find yourself feeling the "need to abuse" a medication, I strongly recommend you keep an eye on those tendencies. That's the kind of warning sign than can spiral into addiction if you ever find yourself burdened by some unfortunate life circumstances (the trigger).
> Yikes. If you ever find yourself feeling the "need to abuse" a medication, I strongly recommend you keep an eye on those tendencies.
I don't abuse them though. Its just a thought in my head that pops up that I quickly dismiss.
> The real problem is the people who associate taking the pill with getting work done, to the point that they forget how to accomplish anything without first reaching for the medication.
Well, I couldn't accomplish anything before taking the pill. I didn't forget, I just couldn't get anything done ever. I learn stuff ridiculously fast though so I had no problems passing exams, but anything which required effort and focus like doing homework was never possible. Basically I was the best in class at exams and the worst in class at homework, to the point it prevented me from graduating. And as we know a job is more like doing homework than exam, so I never could do the things needed at a job.
Entire Right side goes numb, weak and icy cold.
Lose the ability to write by hand. Vision goes double. Thinking becomes very difficult. Lose balance, Various levels of confusion. A bad One made me mostly forget my kids for a couple of months.
It’s kind of between a TIA and a full stroke.
I used to Get TIAs a lot, but ignored them as they lasted under 30 seconds.
Now they are much worse.
Blood thinner mostly Prevent. Side effects can be brutal though. I seem to have permanently lost ability to write by hand. Thankfully typing is mostly intact.
Anything that acts as Vascular constrictors is seriously off limits for me.
I agree that seeking the lowest effective dose is ideal, but you cant get addicted to something you dont take constantly, so taking it for specific purposes and having constant breaks from it ensures you're not in the addiction cycle. Taking it daily is exactly how you'd end up requiring a higher dose. I dont think our hearts should be pumping 120bpm all the time either lol. An interesting experment would be measuring your BPM carefully on and off the meds. For me it was what got me to cut down and eventually get off them and use other management strategies. Im glad I had them, really helped me build a life where I dont need them at all.
I regularly stay off medication for a few weeks so I know what it feels like to start again with them. I don't feel any euphoria, the first day of medication is often the worst, and I hate taking them. But without medication I can't work, with medication I am a top performer. I got diagnosed as an adult since I couldn't even do easy tasks reliably and therefore couldn't hold a job.
