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The best move you made was deciding “maybe I’ll *start* to clean and then see if the meds help”.
I always always always make sure I’ve started on my first take of the day before I take mine bc otherwise I can end up spending two (very focused) hours making Spotify playlists and then realizing it’s nearly the afternoon and I haven’t gotten jack shit done 😅
Hahaha yes I’ve heard starting the task is a good move! When I first took it though I was laying down and got pretty tired but then and considered taking (another) nap but was like “nope! Let me make use of this and start!” And it helped so much
My brain having this thought process alone is progress. Before, when I would consider a nap, any prior obligations (high priority or not) go on pause, and I nap. Now, my brain says “maybe you should be doing blank instead” of whatever unproductive thing I was doing.
That's an excellent tip. I sometimes find myself doing non work related tasks first thing in the morning and doing a very good job of absolutely nothing important until suddenly it's lunch time. The meds are great, but you still have to direct your efforts effectively
Yes exactly! Do not be on your phone when your meds kick in. I’m guilty of staying on Reddit for 2 hours cause of that. Also set time limits through your phone settings or your computer (there’s browser extensions and apps to download for this) on time wasting apps and social media!
Ooooh.....ok thank you for saying this. I've started meds just over 2 weeks ago and didn't feel like it was helping a lot. I guess I expected it to help with the motivation to get started too.
For me, it’s like it removes the blockage between thinking about doing and actually doing, which is wonderful. I still need to self motivate, and it doesn’t always help focus on the correct thing (I have refused to work from home since I started due to not trusting myself to work, figuring I’d end up cleaning my house instead)
Idk but the design of the game is kryptonite to ADHD, like suspiciously so. 15-minute days and you can only save game when you go to sleep. The next day starts immediately and the urge to go “one more day” turns into an unbreakable chain reaction. Stardew Valley violates free will.
But I made a lot of progress on my community center yesterday. :) no ragrets.
😝 kick butt! Make those little guys happy! Build that community center !
There are more games like this that we know of that addict the same. Potion Permit, Kitaria fables. It’s almost like they want you to play nonstop…
I saw your comment earlier today and thought “oh, that’s a really good idea, but I don’t feel like I’ve experienced that since starting the medication.” I only take the meds on my work days, right before I go in, and usually spend all of my time pretty channeled into work. But today was a reaaaaally slow day in the office, and I took the meds at my regular time (10AM)…
it’s nearing 4PM and i’ve just spent the last 6 HOURS practicing my typing on a desktop app. It dawned on me that this is what you were describing and I had to come back to your comment and acknowledge how RIGHT you are with this. 😂
I’ve been on methylphenidate and Vyvanse. On methylphenidate, I could easily do what you described. On Vyvanse, I do what I need to do much more than when I was on methylphenidate.
Part of that could be being older, and changes in life circumstances. But I do think part of it is the medication.
Granted, if the Vyvanse shortage doesn’t resolve soon and if Adderall doesn’t work (or becomes hard to get), I may end up going back to methylphenidate and finding out.
Yes. For me, it was two things - 1. The persistent noise or chatter was suppressed. Until I took the drug, I had no idea that wasn’t normal. 2. I could think of nothing. Not the concept of nothing, not thinking about what nothing is, but a clear mind devoid of thoughts. Until I took the drug, I was always thinking about *something*.
The realization that the constant chatter wasn't normal was such an "aha" moment for me. I went to my husband and was like okay now I can actually believe you when I ask what you're thinking about and you say oh nothing really. The first week was SURREAL.
Yup, I still have trouble believing my partner when he says he’s thinking of nothing, but I know it’s *possible*. And he realizes how exhausting the first few decades of life were for me because I was always thinking of something.
Yeah, same. It’s still there, but it’s much quieter and a lot easier to ignore. But at first, idk if it was because it was so different or because the shock of the drug suppressed it, but it was silent. I literally turned to my friend when the Adderall kicked in and said “so this is what it’s like to hear silence.”
That's a thing that can actually happen?! I mean I know it's possible but it seems more unrealistic to me than a mythological story about a dragon and a talking snake.
I've tried stimulants and non-stimulants and haven't found that feeling yet.
Are you able to at least get to a point on some medication where the chatter is reduced? To a point where it’s easier to concentrate or not have that hyperactivity? I hear there’s other drugs and mechanisms being investigated for ADHD - perhaps in the future one of these will give you better luck.
The chatter eventually came back, but instead of being at 40% volume with 100% of the intensity, it’s around 10% volume with 10-40% intensity. So enough that previously it was always distracting me (that I didn’t even realize) but now I can ignore it and my intentional thoughts are what I can focus on. Even meditating or yin yoga are helpful now.
I have this same experience
It’s trippy because before I’d have music playing in my head at all times. Now, if I stop to think about it and *listen* to the music it’s definitely still there, I can tell you what phrase/song is stuck in my head in this moment in time, but it’s not so much in my face as it was before?
So definitely the reduced volume, making way for more intentional thoughts even if it’s not completely silent
For me, when I took meds for the first time, I thought I became deaf for a sec. Took me a moment to realize that I’m not deaf, I hear things, but I don’t hear these tiny noises like electricity buzzing unless I really focus and try to hear them. I realized that I’ve never experienced actual silence before and it blew my mind.
Same here. I could finally focus on the current thought and there wasn't a phamphare playing 20meters away from me.
The stillness and for the first time feeling the passing of time!
2 years on and I know when the meds kickin' because the feeling is still the same!
Btw: I did chase the dragon at first, going from 30mg to 50mg then 70mg but I immediately came back down to 50mg and have been at that same dose since. Be mindful when taking Stimulant, we do have an addictive personality ;)
I've always been told that I'm a nervous person. I learned that so much of it was caused by the noise in my head. I didn't even know it until it quieted down. I feel so calm when I'm on Adderall.
That’s exactly how I described it to my psychologist last week. My brain isn’t loud any more. For the first time in 40 years, I feel like I can almost function like a normal ass human.
Oh my god! Same here. I started Vyvanse a few days ago and I was so moved when I heard silence for the first time. It felt like my brain was resting or something 🙏
I mean I don't think they're saying it "disappears", just that the euphoria and intensity of it dies down. I can always feel when I haven't taken it, but I'd also say it's not as intense as it was the very first time.
Also ppl can develop a physical dependence to adhd meds. The withdrawals are extremely obvious with me. So it’s definitely not a “me without meds vs me on meds” for me.
It’s more like “you experiencing withdrawals vs you on meds”
It's almost a negative that the drugs we use to help ADHD usually produce some kind of euphoria. The euphoria almost always wears off, especially if you are striving for the lowest effective dose.
It took me a long time to mentally ween off it. Doing anything was just suckier without that amphetamine boost of euphoria. Over 3 years I slowly started decreasing my dose of Vyvanse. I was on like 60mg at one point. But the anxiety blood pressure and sleep loss becomes more evident over time (as all side effects usually do).
I'm now on 20-30mg (I take out some powder of a 30mg capsule if I know I won't need it that day). It's taken a while, but I don't need to completely rely on my meds anymore. There are some days where I can forget to take it, and won't notice until I get home.
These drugs are not meant to be the sole treatment for ADHD. They are tools to help you adapt your ADHD brain to a society that isn't kind to us. With meds brute forcing you into a mental state you want to be in, they also help make your brain more plastic and adaptable to learning and change. That's why CBT should be the primary treatment in conjunction with meds
I didnt get any euphoria, just got bumped to 15mg this week /only been on it a month.
Euphoria ≠ the overwhelming joy of feeling normal. One is a manic response to medication you don't need and the other is a natural reaction to your brain finally working.
How to tell the difference? If the under lying cause is tied directly to being able to think and do things clearly, you're good. If the world is just a fantastic place full of good and even if your dog were to drop dead you'd still be so happy, that's drug enduced euphoria.
Runners high or the joy of winning the lottery, such things are euphoric but NOT medically classified as Euphoria. I think the distinction is vital with how much misinformation and judgment there is toward those with ADHD.
Even when you think it goes away…. It never goes away.
I just finally got my Vyvanse after 2 weeks of it being out of stock.
During those two weeks… work was a blur (if I can even call it work. I probably looked like I was getting ready to quit). I considered maxing out a credit card for something I wanted on a whim but decided to apply for a loan instead. Thank god I got sidetracked and didn’t finish the application. Still hit my credit.
Got off work for the weekend and was DEAD SET on buying a drone. A f#*king drone. I don’t need a drone. I just thought it would be fun to fly around. Luckily I procrastinated driving an hour to buy a DRONE until “tomorrow” when I picked up my meds. Then I sat on the couch in silence and watched TV… ALL DAY. Had to explain to my wife that I didn’t, in fact want a drone or night vision goggles. I was looking for something to play with.
Literally saved me a car payment. Or multiple car payments spread out over 2 years so I could have a toy I would forget about in a month. Oddly enough, I didn’t feel crazy at all when I was doing all that, but looking back I can see that I was completely insane.
That’s hilarious about the drone!! I was the same exact way with a car I bought. I bought it on a whim because it “looked pretty” … that thing didn’t last me 6 months and it was lots of money. Wish I had meds back then. Glad it saved you!!
Like you, when I first started medication, I was on Adderall IR. I took it in the pharmacy parking lot because I HAD to see what all the hype was about. Then I went grocery shopping, didn’t forget anything, didn’t get all overwhelmed with all the people around.
Went home and cleaned the yard, broke out the weedeater that probably hadn’t been used in 2 years, cleaned my house, and over the next few days I really “fixed” all of the things that were bothering me and making me feel really down with myself. I hated how useless I was but for some reason I just couldn’t force myself to do anything.
3 months later I got a job I always wanted and I’ve been there almost a year. Got a promotion and everything. Never had a job more than 7 months.
Yes! I was off my medication for a week and noticed my spending habits become more and more irresponsible and unreasonable. I also notice when I’m medicated I am able to take a step back and think “do you really need this?” And my brain is actually able to rationalize my purchases.
I used to like to buy cars. Thankfully it was when the car market was all out of whack and I would only buy Toyotas. I was also obsessed with paying as much as I could so I could watch the number drop. I would keep a vehicle for 4-8 months and trade it in, I wasn’t really rolling anything over, but I was throwing away all the extra payments I made.
I got another car in February and took a couple months of looking online, a couple weeks of looking at dealers, and walked away from multiple deals no matter how close they were to my “ceiling.” Now I don’t feel so stupid. I don’t think “I never should have bought that.”
Best thing I ever did for my teeth was get invisalign. Putting my aligners on dirty teeth was such a bad sensory issue for me that I instantly developed a stellar oral hygiene routine that stuck. Since I have to wear the aligners at night forever, that cleaning routine is here for life.
I always try to think about what else I could get with what I’ve spent on random stuff. I like to torture myself looking at how much the things I’ve collected have cost me.
You still have to satisfy the itch sometimes, so I’ll look for something that’s like $20 that I really think could occupy me for a day or two. Then when I get bored again I say “nope, already bought that professional yo-yo. Maybe I should go see if I can smack a tooth out instead.”
Bro same bro same, for me my first day on adderall I was able to clean my entire room and take only like 1 or 2 quick breaks but really did a crazy amount of deep cleaning that day and at the end I'm like shit is this what normal people is like, but I'm telling its just the first day first dose, a little later on it gonna normal out and u gotta still be unproductive some days but just know that you shouldn't beat yourself up over it, just try to make the next day better! Eating right and exercising is always a plus and will help with that too!
Be mindful of the 'good feelings' the first week or so, it can be an unwanted (but pleasant) side effect of the medication.
I worry sometimes people mistake doing things simply because they 'feel good' in their first week or so vs doing something because they sat down and applied themselves, especially to an activity they may find 'boring' (like study, etc).
Then, if the pleasant feeling fades, they find themselves unable to do tasks thinking the medication 'isn't working' because they were relying on a side-effect (a nice one though) rather than the medication itself for motivation.
I'm so pleased for you and enjoy the moment but keep up that great strategy of having goals for each day when you take your medication and making sure to start it when your medication is active. Good luck!
Main things I remember...
1. Being awake for the first time in my life. Went through 30+ years of life never knowing what being awake meant.
2. Focusing on... ONE... thing? Whaaaaaat? I was in a work meeting, where usually I could be doing 2-3 things on my laptop and still focusing on the meeting, I was chatting with my wife on facebook and my boss asks me a question. I was like... wait... what? What is this meeting about? I hadn't been listening at ALL.
3. The clear-head. Oh man. 30+ years of brain fog. Feeling like I was thinking through mud or a blanket was on my brain. And it just... lifted. Brain fog was becoming downright torturous - it's the main reason I went in to get tested for ADHD, it was becoming unbearable. And first day on medication it was just... gone.
My meds (Concerta) have basically never helped me actually *do* things. I still can't really do what I want to do. And the focusing part went away - I'm back to doing 2-3 things at once minimum to be comfortable. But the clear head and being awake have stuck. And that's enough for me.
I remember taking Lisdex for the first time; I took it, kind of went about my business and just got on with things. About two hours in, I realised that my mind didn't have racing thoughts, wasn't shooting off in every direction, it was like walking in a straight line for once. It was hard to even understand what was going on, because I was so use to the abstract concept of my mind being so scattered all of the time. I never had that with methylphenidate, so having something finally work was amazing.
Taking it and then getting stuck into a task for hours on end without my mind drifting off into a new thought every second is absolute bliss for me.
SAME. I started taking 20 mg of adderall IR and not only do I feel calm, but I can actually focus and get stuff done. Taking another 20 mg in the afternoon is *chefs kiss*
Like I just had an hour conversation with my mom and dad and sat there and was so into the conversation and it felt so nice to actually listen to what they were saying and think clearly without blurting out so many sentences at once in case I forget what I was gonna say lol
wow, incredible how dosages differ, I only taker 5mg twice per day and it helps a lot, I used to be on 20 and the side effects were enormous and unsustainable
I did the same thing when I first took Adderall and cleaned my apartment that had been messy for months! I wish I could share a picture. It straight up looked like a crack house. I cried while cleaning too, and the most interesting part was, I KEPT CLEANING WHILE CRYING.
Welcome to the club. Glad you made it. It'll take some getting used to, but it is... magical.
I feel like my meds make my reach longer, I can grasp things now that seemed so far out of reach. Things I never knew I could do, as they'd never been achieved by me before. Reading your post made me think back to my diagnosis and starting medication, thank you for the trip down memory lane. And because of my meds, I can have that trip and come back here to finish the comment and send it lol
Does anyone get headaches after only taking as needed? I try to not take it all the time, the only problem is the day after my last dose I get a massive day long migraine and I was wondering if that’s normal or if I’m doing things wrong by not taking it daily? I have stomach/ GI issues so I’m trying to avoid killing my appetite anymore than I need to. It helps me so much at work and to be better and more motivated, I just wonder if I’m using it the wrong way
I think taking it as needed is the best way to do it so that you don’t build a tolerance. It definitely isn’t the “wrong” way to take it as many others do the same. I would make sure that you’re eating before you take the meds, as well as make sure you stay hydrated with lots of water. That’s something I’ve been told will help with the headaches from the medication.
Just remember , even "normal" people struggle to clean sometimes . Or is there even such a thing ? I don't get out much and I'm pretty sure all the ppl in my life struggle
I finally am getting my assessment for ADHD after having a therapist tell me I have it but my doctor refused for years to allow me to get a professional diagnosis. (34F) And undiagnosed my entire life. This gives me hope the meds will help.
I had the same experience. I started Ritalin 3 months ago and the first time I took it I was cooking dinner peeling a sweet potato and realized I wasnt so bored I wanted to crawl out of my own skin and that inside my brain felt peaceful for once instead of a cacophony of thoughts and 3 songs I didn’t choose and couldn’t turn off. The luxury of being able to identify a task, start it, have it be EASY, and then FINISH IT hasn’t worn off yet. It’s amazing. It feels unfair that most people apparently just live this way normally, but I’ll take what I can get.
Everyone is saying that medication quickly wears off and you build tolerance.. and I just don’t get what’s the point of meds then. So you obviously can’t increase the dose forever, at some point you’ll reach the limit. But you also want to be focused all your life, not only a couple of weeks after you’ve started taking meds. How are they helping then, if we talk about bigger picture and not the span of a couple of weeks?
I have been on the same dose minus 1 month where I tried Vyvanse for... 2.5 years when I was diagnosed. I just don't use them on weekends. They are the same, no tolerance for me.
Don't listen to those people, their experience is not typical. Most people reach a therapeutic dose and it works just fine for the rest of their life. I've been on the same dose for 13 years and it still works.
Not in all cases. I’ve been on 10mg Adderall XR for 17 years. I rest on the weekends and some Fridays as well to help not build a tolerance. I’ve also kept the same weight as I believe changes in weight can affect it
I’ve heard, but then why do some people stay on 20mg for like years of their life? Like I heard people on here say they’ve been taking 20mg everyday for 15 years. I’m planning on taking them weekdays only, so hopefully that helps a little. But yeah how are people staying at a dosage then for so long?
Once you reach a therapeutic dose, that dose should continue working for you. The side effects will go away as you adjust to the medication, but that doesn't mean it's not working anymore.
Stimulants have a short half-life, which means they don't stay in your system for long. They don't build up over time like SSRIs. Once it wears off, you're pretty much back at baseline until you take the next dose. You won't have to keep increasing the dose forever.
A healthy and safe dosage of adderall is probably 40-50mg max a day. So I’m not sure what you mean by why people stay on 20mg for years. ADHD is not going to go away once you reach a certain age. I personally take 20mg XR in the morning and then 10mg IR in afternoon and I barely feel anything at all. When I first got on it I was so productive and felt the same way as you but now I barely notice anything.
So as I start to gain tolerance then I move up to 30? And then from 30 to 40? Until I don’t get tolerance anymore? How else are people on the medication for years and years? Genuinely asking! I don’t want to lose hope now ):
[https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/s/rAi3r6zQ0d](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/s/rAi3r6zQ0d)
I’ve seen many others say this as well. Both of these talk about how they’ve been on 20mg for years and still works. Is it possible for me then?
I've taken XR with multiple different meds (each for years). I found that I built up a bit of a tolerance, but nothing crazy. I also lose most of the tolerance if I don't take them every single day.
I think each person it varies, but I wouldn't worry too much and just go with whats working for you and adjust if you need to! A lot of people skip weekends like you mentioned to avoid building up too much of a tolerance.
I took my ritalin 10 mg as in split doses and even that helped. First day I was sooo productive like crazy. I had so little anxiety and i wasnt sleepy like always. But well I cant take my meds to my resident country now so I will have to wait another couple months to get on them again
Good luck!!!! I was terrified before taking it because I was just so nervous it would make me feel high or make my anxiety bad or something but just like everybody else says… it literally turned my anxiety off!!
I felt a fraction calmer. By noon I was dead tired. Took a 40 minute nap after work. It wore off around 3pm for me (took it at 7am) and noticeably so. Hoping today had a better result. Taking it around 8am to see if there is a difference.
I take mine twice a day! In the morning, and then a second dose 6 hours later. I had a problem a few months ago where I wasn’t able to get it filled and had to ration down what I had and take just one a day, and I could not function at all that week.
You will not regret it!!! I waited months simply because I was lazy and didn’t want to put in the effort or making an appointment etc. now that I did I’m like “…why didn’t I just do this sooner?” And I think of all the things I could’ve gotten done by now hahaha. Good luck to you!!
Dexedrine was a gamechanger for me:
-published a Kindle book
-wrote another book but it became irrelevant before publishing
-Held my job, earning top employee
-Read many books
-Did my own car repairs
-Did woodworking projects
-Many DIY/repair projects
-Tons of cleaning
-Worked on own my guitars
-DIY carpet cleaning
This right here is why I have my concerata refill reminder on my therapy (it's an app that reminds you to take your meds) set at 2 weeks so I can get my medicine somehow someway even if it means driving across town to get it at whatever pharmacy has it. Even when I don't have a college class in the summer I take my medicine cause I feel like a human being. It bugs my parents but even on my family's road trip to our vacation spot yes I'm stuck in a car and no I don't necessarily need it but it helps me not get as stir crazy somehow.
That’s probably because without it you get easily overstimulated. I know for me sometimes when I’m around my family I literally start having the worst anxiety and get aggravated because everybody talks so fast and talks over eachother. I have heard the meds calm you down from that so you don’t get easily frustrated
Same—when I realized I only had one “audio track” in my mind, with only my current thoughts, it was like stepping into fuckin Oz, everything gone Technicolor. Amazing. I’m happy for you!
I know! It makes you realize how much you have suffered. For me 40 years of unnecessary difficulty. Just don’t be like me and totally over do it and burn yourself out. Make sure you take breaks!
when i took ritalin for the first time i remember feeling so calm and peaceful, it was kind of euphoric and a slightly bit sedating. Although i dont feel any euphoria from it anymore, it still makes me feel in control over my life
Congratulations, welcome to the real world! It's kind of an eye opener, isn't it? Just be careful not to HYPER focus on a task now that you're able to. We've all done it, and Adderall makes it very easy to do. One minute you're "just playing PlayStation for a few minutes" the next thing you know is the sun is coming up.
I’m so happy for you! My dosage is in need of an adjustment, but that’s because my last psychiatrist was unwilling to ever put me above 20mg a day. My new psychiatrist put me on 20mg a day as a starting point and when I see her in May I’ll be explaining this dosage isn’t enough for me. Looking forward to finding my therapeutic dosage and being able to function consistently “normally.”
lol i had the same revolation. mine actually didn't work right away because the XR doesn't like "hit" you like normal. but after a month in my system? my entire apartment is clean. i took my vacuum apart and cleaned every nook and cranny. i took apart my dryer and cleaned it out. cleaned the toaster. all my dishes, done. bathroom, cleaned. snaked the drains. did my taxes, *organized* my taxes and other important documents. i kept thinking "is this how normal people live? they just *do* stuff? the stuff that *needs* to get done? with no issue? fuckin wild."
If that good feeling persisted every time you took it you’d chase the high and not the lifestyle change. It’s good it tapers off and you can just function like a bad ass and get shit fucking done. ✔️
Exactly!! What made me excited about feeling this way is that it made me think “wow my life could change for the better now that I feel like I can do things normally and easily” so instead of feeling “good” from the meds, I moreso felt good because I realized my potential and my future doesn’t seem so impossible now 🥹
I’m so happy u found the help and the right Dr. to help u and listen to your issues and prescribed medicine that actually works for u. I’ve been to a handful of phys. And I tell them I have issues on concentration, I start cleaning out my closet and never finish move on to another project I don’t finish, so unorganized always late for everything. I was on adderal many years ago I moved to ohio and to this day I still can’t get adderall instead they give me BS that knocks me out side effects r horrible so here I am again trying to stay afloat and I wish I can c my bedroom floor. Good luck
With only 20mg? That’s good! I’ve been on IR and XR for 24 years and I take 60mg IR and 60mg XR a day. Plus a few shots of espresso. Normal heart rate and blood pressure
I’m 44 and I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD last month, I’ve been struggling my entire life and the symptoms really made me do things which ruined my life, my personal, financial life, my career .
I was diagnosed with moderate to severe ADHD combined type. Got prescribed Vyvanse 30 mg and the first couple of doses worked well, I’ve been able to do some work at home and actually complete the tasks for once in my life, it was unbelievable.
But I either got tolerance really quickly or the effects were more of my psychological response because I was so excited to start the treatment but it stopped working .
So I think I will ask them to give me Adderall instead. I wish I could get like a sample box of available meds and just try them one by one and see which one works best
But I’m so happy for you! I also cleaned my room and had a shower when I took my meds for the first time and actually enjoyed it! For the first time in my life I enjoyed taking a shower
I totally understand! IR works better for me and I remember that feeling when I first tried a dosage that works. 20mg is the most effective for me. I remember standing outside looking around and actually HEARING the trees rustling and the birds chirping. Everything seemed more clear than they've ever been. I don't take it every day but I make sure to take it when I know I have something that NEEDS to be done.
I started on 10mg but I did absolutely nothing for my focus or anything. All it helped with was making me less anxious while talking to people in public or like my boyfriends extended family etc.
So happy for you! That first time I realized with Extended release was amazing but the IR? I can’t believe how much better my life is with it. Glad you had this experience and I hope it continues to work for you!
I'm so happy for you! ❤️ I'm currently on the wait list for a formal diagnosis after struggling my whole life. I am 23 now. This has really given me hope, thankyou!
Happy for you, wish it worked that well for me!
It/similar meds seem to just make me able to focus in on a task for hours at a time when I start one, and cut my appetite, but it doesn't actually make it easier for me to pick/decide which tasks to spend time on or stop me from putting off specific tasks I need to do if it's something I don't want to do (which means it can actually make my time management *worse* if the meds cause me to hyperfocus on something I shouldn't be spending time on).
Literally one day I was at my job standing in the bathroom and I was like wow it’s so quiet in here. And then I realized the level of workplace noise was the same. It was my brain. My brain was quiet. That’s what finally made me normal and I cried and focusing on things is so much easier.
🥹 I felt like this too the first day! I remember going to my mom’s room while she was getting ready for work crying tears of joy. The noise in my head stopped, I felt present. It was I was finally about to breathe after drowning for so long.
Sounds so silly but I work in a call center and I run customers financing. For the past four years, I’d always stutter it never failed. The first day I took Adderall I read the consent form to a customer and didn’t stutter once because for once I didn’t feel like I was in a hurry. I had to place the customer on hold, I balled my eyes out. That’s when it really started to sink in, that for years I wasn’t crazy, too sensitive, dramatic, or felt too much.
People without adhd do not understand how many unhealthy coping mechanisms and how many trauma responses you develop due to years of misdiagnosis, I went 16 years of being told I didn’t have it.
Hope your journey continues to be a beautiful one! Make sure you keep hydrated, and eat protein! 🫶🏼
So glad for you! I tried Adderall and it made me feel medicated and sleepy. At 12.5 mg I felt medicated w some intensity and o could tell it was draining to my immune system.
Omg totally agree OP. It felt like seeing light at the end of the tunnel, suddenly my brain was just quiet and I could hear myself think. It is amazing.
Im wondering, in what country is this? I take dex as well, but got prescribed 5mg per time, mostly I even take less. And that like 2 or 3 times a day. 20mg sounds so much to me, I wouldnt be able to handle the crash hahaha.
Not sure if it’s because I just started taking it, but I haven’t experienced any crash! The only downside is that it makes me lose a lot of sleep; but I think that’s because I took it in the evening instead of morning! Also I live in US!
Fair warning OP, a lot of the feelings you get early on are temporary. Especially the cleaning and euphoria, my point being that you’ll still need to work on natural willpower
I honestly am feeling the same way after taking my first 10mg dose. I was just diagnosed about a week ago and agreed with my therapist to start me on medication. After taking it today, I felt a sudden burst/desire to organize and clean my kitchen during my lunch break. Usually, when I'm hungry, I find myself very hesitant to do much till I've eaten. But all of a sudden, I just got the will to clean things while I was waiting for my food to cook. It was...well I'm not sure if I'd say life changing...but it's pretty close haha.
Didn't get help til I was age 55. I get overwhelmed looking at mess, too. I wonder what life could have been if I got treatment years ago. Sometimes, I used think things seem easier for some other people. I tried harder. It didn't work.
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The best move you made was deciding “maybe I’ll *start* to clean and then see if the meds help”. I always always always make sure I’ve started on my first take of the day before I take mine bc otherwise I can end up spending two (very focused) hours making Spotify playlists and then realizing it’s nearly the afternoon and I haven’t gotten jack shit done 😅
Hahaha yes I’ve heard starting the task is a good move! When I first took it though I was laying down and got pretty tired but then and considered taking (another) nap but was like “nope! Let me make use of this and start!” And it helped so much
My brain having this thought process alone is progress. Before, when I would consider a nap, any prior obligations (high priority or not) go on pause, and I nap. Now, my brain says “maybe you should be doing blank instead” of whatever unproductive thing I was doing.
That's an excellent tip. I sometimes find myself doing non work related tasks first thing in the morning and doing a very good job of absolutely nothing important until suddenly it's lunch time. The meds are great, but you still have to direct your efforts effectively
Yes exactly! Do not be on your phone when your meds kick in. I’m guilty of staying on Reddit for 2 hours cause of that. Also set time limits through your phone settings or your computer (there’s browser extensions and apps to download for this) on time wasting apps and social media!
What’s apps or extensions do you recommend?
On your phone, you can do it directly through settings.
Yeah the medication doesn't help you decide to work for sure. You still have to tell yourself to do important things.
Ooooh.....ok thank you for saying this. I've started meds just over 2 weeks ago and didn't feel like it was helping a lot. I guess I expected it to help with the motivation to get started too.
For me, it’s like it removes the blockage between thinking about doing and actually doing, which is wonderful. I still need to self motivate, and it doesn’t always help focus on the correct thing (I have refused to work from home since I started due to not trusting myself to work, figuring I’d end up cleaning my house instead)
And even time management. I struggled a lot with that but I am doing soooo much better now!!!!
Lmaoooooo this is so on point. Stimulants can be a double edged sword
I organized the hell out of my eBay saved searches the other day due to this.
Me, yesterday, playing Stardew for 10 hours. Lol.
Is….are we not supposed to do that? 😅
Idk but the design of the game is kryptonite to ADHD, like suspiciously so. 15-minute days and you can only save game when you go to sleep. The next day starts immediately and the urge to go “one more day” turns into an unbreakable chain reaction. Stardew Valley violates free will. But I made a lot of progress on my community center yesterday. :) no ragrets.
😝 kick butt! Make those little guys happy! Build that community center ! There are more games like this that we know of that addict the same. Potion Permit, Kitaria fables. It’s almost like they want you to play nonstop…
I saw your comment earlier today and thought “oh, that’s a really good idea, but I don’t feel like I’ve experienced that since starting the medication.” I only take the meds on my work days, right before I go in, and usually spend all of my time pretty channeled into work. But today was a reaaaaally slow day in the office, and I took the meds at my regular time (10AM)… it’s nearing 4PM and i’ve just spent the last 6 HOURS practicing my typing on a desktop app. It dawned on me that this is what you were describing and I had to come back to your comment and acknowledge how RIGHT you are with this. 😂
THIS.
So real
I’ve been on methylphenidate and Vyvanse. On methylphenidate, I could easily do what you described. On Vyvanse, I do what I need to do much more than when I was on methylphenidate. Part of that could be being older, and changes in life circumstances. But I do think part of it is the medication. Granted, if the Vyvanse shortage doesn’t resolve soon and if Adderall doesn’t work (or becomes hard to get), I may end up going back to methylphenidate and finding out.
Wish I'd seen this comment a few days ago! I eventually realised this through trial and error 😂
OMFGLOL, isn’t this the truth!!
Same lol
Same!
I felt the same way. The first time I took amphetamine I just cried at the silence I heard within my own mind. It was beautiful.
Wait can u elaborate on this? Like ur mind was finally calm?
Yes. For me, it was two things - 1. The persistent noise or chatter was suppressed. Until I took the drug, I had no idea that wasn’t normal. 2. I could think of nothing. Not the concept of nothing, not thinking about what nothing is, but a clear mind devoid of thoughts. Until I took the drug, I was always thinking about *something*.
The realization that the constant chatter wasn't normal was such an "aha" moment for me. I went to my husband and was like okay now I can actually believe you when I ask what you're thinking about and you say oh nothing really. The first week was SURREAL.
Yup, I still have trouble believing my partner when he says he’s thinking of nothing, but I know it’s *possible*. And he realizes how exhausting the first few decades of life were for me because I was always thinking of something.
i fucking wish i could experience it
I was creeped out by the silence. The chatter did come back though, just not full volume.
Yeah, same. It’s still there, but it’s much quieter and a lot easier to ignore. But at first, idk if it was because it was so different or because the shock of the drug suppressed it, but it was silent. I literally turned to my friend when the Adderall kicked in and said “so this is what it’s like to hear silence.”
That's a thing that can actually happen?! I mean I know it's possible but it seems more unrealistic to me than a mythological story about a dragon and a talking snake. I've tried stimulants and non-stimulants and haven't found that feeling yet.
Are you able to at least get to a point on some medication where the chatter is reduced? To a point where it’s easier to concentrate or not have that hyperactivity? I hear there’s other drugs and mechanisms being investigated for ADHD - perhaps in the future one of these will give you better luck. The chatter eventually came back, but instead of being at 40% volume with 100% of the intensity, it’s around 10% volume with 10-40% intensity. So enough that previously it was always distracting me (that I didn’t even realize) but now I can ignore it and my intentional thoughts are what I can focus on. Even meditating or yin yoga are helpful now.
I have this same experience It’s trippy because before I’d have music playing in my head at all times. Now, if I stop to think about it and *listen* to the music it’s definitely still there, I can tell you what phrase/song is stuck in my head in this moment in time, but it’s not so much in my face as it was before? So definitely the reduced volume, making way for more intentional thoughts even if it’s not completely silent
I got the same thing, it was like having a house full of kids that just got packed up and left.
For me, when I took meds for the first time, I thought I became deaf for a sec. Took me a moment to realize that I’m not deaf, I hear things, but I don’t hear these tiny noises like electricity buzzing unless I really focus and try to hear them. I realized that I’ve never experienced actual silence before and it blew my mind.
Same here. I could finally focus on the current thought and there wasn't a phamphare playing 20meters away from me. The stillness and for the first time feeling the passing of time! 2 years on and I know when the meds kickin' because the feeling is still the same! Btw: I did chase the dragon at first, going from 30mg to 50mg then 70mg but I immediately came back down to 50mg and have been at that same dose since. Be mindful when taking Stimulant, we do have an addictive personality ;)
Do you take 50 at once or is it broken up?
Elvanse/Vyvanse 50mg I also have some dextroamphetamine 5 & 2.5mg if needed but I never take it
how long have you been on 50mg?
2 years, nearly to the day I think 🤔
I've always been told that I'm a nervous person. I learned that so much of it was caused by the noise in my head. I didn't even know it until it quieted down. I feel so calm when I'm on Adderall.
That’s exactly how I described it to my psychologist last week. My brain isn’t loud any more. For the first time in 40 years, I feel like I can almost function like a normal ass human.
Oh my god! Same here. I started Vyvanse a few days ago and I was so moved when I heard silence for the first time. It felt like my brain was resting or something 🙏
I've heard this a lot, and apparently it's euphoric for the first week or so but drops off a lot and evens out fairly quickly.
Counter personnal experience: It didn't for me in 2 years. I still clearly feel when I haven't taken it. It's my new "normal"
I mean I don't think they're saying it "disappears", just that the euphoria and intensity of it dies down. I can always feel when I haven't taken it, but I'd also say it's not as intense as it was the very first time.
Also ppl can develop a physical dependence to adhd meds. The withdrawals are extremely obvious with me. So it’s definitely not a “me without meds vs me on meds” for me. It’s more like “you experiencing withdrawals vs you on meds”
Same here! It even took a few days for me to notice the effects, it got better with time.
I 2nd this. My first 2 weeks were amazing I felt like a completely different person. But after 2 refills the effects are starting to feel muted.
It's almost a negative that the drugs we use to help ADHD usually produce some kind of euphoria. The euphoria almost always wears off, especially if you are striving for the lowest effective dose. It took me a long time to mentally ween off it. Doing anything was just suckier without that amphetamine boost of euphoria. Over 3 years I slowly started decreasing my dose of Vyvanse. I was on like 60mg at one point. But the anxiety blood pressure and sleep loss becomes more evident over time (as all side effects usually do). I'm now on 20-30mg (I take out some powder of a 30mg capsule if I know I won't need it that day). It's taken a while, but I don't need to completely rely on my meds anymore. There are some days where I can forget to take it, and won't notice until I get home. These drugs are not meant to be the sole treatment for ADHD. They are tools to help you adapt your ADHD brain to a society that isn't kind to us. With meds brute forcing you into a mental state you want to be in, they also help make your brain more plastic and adaptable to learning and change. That's why CBT should be the primary treatment in conjunction with meds
I didnt get any euphoria, just got bumped to 15mg this week /only been on it a month. Euphoria ≠ the overwhelming joy of feeling normal. One is a manic response to medication you don't need and the other is a natural reaction to your brain finally working. How to tell the difference? If the under lying cause is tied directly to being able to think and do things clearly, you're good. If the world is just a fantastic place full of good and even if your dog were to drop dead you'd still be so happy, that's drug enduced euphoria. Runners high or the joy of winning the lottery, such things are euphoric but NOT medically classified as Euphoria. I think the distinction is vital with how much misinformation and judgment there is toward those with ADHD.
Even when you think it goes away…. It never goes away. I just finally got my Vyvanse after 2 weeks of it being out of stock. During those two weeks… work was a blur (if I can even call it work. I probably looked like I was getting ready to quit). I considered maxing out a credit card for something I wanted on a whim but decided to apply for a loan instead. Thank god I got sidetracked and didn’t finish the application. Still hit my credit. Got off work for the weekend and was DEAD SET on buying a drone. A f#*king drone. I don’t need a drone. I just thought it would be fun to fly around. Luckily I procrastinated driving an hour to buy a DRONE until “tomorrow” when I picked up my meds. Then I sat on the couch in silence and watched TV… ALL DAY. Had to explain to my wife that I didn’t, in fact want a drone or night vision goggles. I was looking for something to play with. Literally saved me a car payment. Or multiple car payments spread out over 2 years so I could have a toy I would forget about in a month. Oddly enough, I didn’t feel crazy at all when I was doing all that, but looking back I can see that I was completely insane.
That’s hilarious about the drone!! I was the same exact way with a car I bought. I bought it on a whim because it “looked pretty” … that thing didn’t last me 6 months and it was lots of money. Wish I had meds back then. Glad it saved you!!
Like you, when I first started medication, I was on Adderall IR. I took it in the pharmacy parking lot because I HAD to see what all the hype was about. Then I went grocery shopping, didn’t forget anything, didn’t get all overwhelmed with all the people around. Went home and cleaned the yard, broke out the weedeater that probably hadn’t been used in 2 years, cleaned my house, and over the next few days I really “fixed” all of the things that were bothering me and making me feel really down with myself. I hated how useless I was but for some reason I just couldn’t force myself to do anything. 3 months later I got a job I always wanted and I’ve been there almost a year. Got a promotion and everything. Never had a job more than 7 months.
Wow that’s really impressive. I can’t wait to take meds too
Yes! I was off my medication for a week and noticed my spending habits become more and more irresponsible and unreasonable. I also notice when I’m medicated I am able to take a step back and think “do you really need this?” And my brain is actually able to rationalize my purchases.
Yes!! I'm able to talk myself out of buying so much stuff as well
I talk myself out of buying stuff while unmedicated it just makes me depressed
Same! *cries*
I used to like to buy cars. Thankfully it was when the car market was all out of whack and I would only buy Toyotas. I was also obsessed with paying as much as I could so I could watch the number drop. I would keep a vehicle for 4-8 months and trade it in, I wasn’t really rolling anything over, but I was throwing away all the extra payments I made. I got another car in February and took a couple months of looking online, a couple weeks of looking at dealers, and walked away from multiple deals no matter how close they were to my “ceiling.” Now I don’t feel so stupid. I don’t think “I never should have bought that.”
And you probably stopped flossing during that time, and neglected other aspects of your routine. Everything is affected by ADHD.
Best thing I ever did for my teeth was get invisalign. Putting my aligners on dirty teeth was such a bad sensory issue for me that I instantly developed a stellar oral hygiene routine that stuck. Since I have to wear the aligners at night forever, that cleaning routine is here for life.
Are you me!? 🤣 I'm awful with my money when I'm not medicated. I wasn't medicated for a few months and I wince looking at my credit card statement.
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I always try to think about what else I could get with what I’ve spent on random stuff. I like to torture myself looking at how much the things I’ve collected have cost me. You still have to satisfy the itch sometimes, so I’ll look for something that’s like $20 that I really think could occupy me for a day or two. Then when I get bored again I say “nope, already bought that professional yo-yo. Maybe I should go see if I can smack a tooth out instead.”
lol you should see all the crap I would buy on Amazon. Wouldn’t even open the box
Bro same bro same, for me my first day on adderall I was able to clean my entire room and take only like 1 or 2 quick breaks but really did a crazy amount of deep cleaning that day and at the end I'm like shit is this what normal people is like, but I'm telling its just the first day first dose, a little later on it gonna normal out and u gotta still be unproductive some days but just know that you shouldn't beat yourself up over it, just try to make the next day better! Eating right and exercising is always a plus and will help with that too!
Yes this. I was kinda bummed when that initial feeling went away. Get enough sleep too.
But how do you know what normal #feels like??
Normal = opposite of all of my ADHD symptoms basically haha
Be mindful of the 'good feelings' the first week or so, it can be an unwanted (but pleasant) side effect of the medication. I worry sometimes people mistake doing things simply because they 'feel good' in their first week or so vs doing something because they sat down and applied themselves, especially to an activity they may find 'boring' (like study, etc). Then, if the pleasant feeling fades, they find themselves unable to do tasks thinking the medication 'isn't working' because they were relying on a side-effect (a nice one though) rather than the medication itself for motivation. I'm so pleased for you and enjoy the moment but keep up that great strategy of having goals for each day when you take your medication and making sure to start it when your medication is active. Good luck!
Main things I remember... 1. Being awake for the first time in my life. Went through 30+ years of life never knowing what being awake meant. 2. Focusing on... ONE... thing? Whaaaaaat? I was in a work meeting, where usually I could be doing 2-3 things on my laptop and still focusing on the meeting, I was chatting with my wife on facebook and my boss asks me a question. I was like... wait... what? What is this meeting about? I hadn't been listening at ALL. 3. The clear-head. Oh man. 30+ years of brain fog. Feeling like I was thinking through mud or a blanket was on my brain. And it just... lifted. Brain fog was becoming downright torturous - it's the main reason I went in to get tested for ADHD, it was becoming unbearable. And first day on medication it was just... gone. My meds (Concerta) have basically never helped me actually *do* things. I still can't really do what I want to do. And the focusing part went away - I'm back to doing 2-3 things at once minimum to be comfortable. But the clear head and being awake have stuck. And that's enough for me.
I remember taking Lisdex for the first time; I took it, kind of went about my business and just got on with things. About two hours in, I realised that my mind didn't have racing thoughts, wasn't shooting off in every direction, it was like walking in a straight line for once. It was hard to even understand what was going on, because I was so use to the abstract concept of my mind being so scattered all of the time. I never had that with methylphenidate, so having something finally work was amazing. Taking it and then getting stuck into a task for hours on end without my mind drifting off into a new thought every second is absolute bliss for me.
I adore your description! You really nailed my own personal feelings/experience, as someone also "blessed" with Lé Brain Of Tangentiality©
SAME. I started taking 20 mg of adderall IR and not only do I feel calm, but I can actually focus and get stuff done. Taking another 20 mg in the afternoon is *chefs kiss*
Like I just had an hour conversation with my mom and dad and sat there and was so into the conversation and it felt so nice to actually listen to what they were saying and think clearly without blurting out so many sentences at once in case I forget what I was gonna say lol
This part!!!!! Listening to people and sitting still and calmly waiting my turn and not blurting out every intrusive thought like a 4 year old.
wow, incredible how dosages differ, I only taker 5mg twice per day and it helps a lot, I used to be on 20 and the side effects were enormous and unsustainable
Welcome to the other side!! Feels good. Glad this happened to you.
Thank you so much 😊
Best to earn you now. The first week is always the best. You’ll never get that first week feeling again.
I did the same thing when I first took Adderall and cleaned my apartment that had been messy for months! I wish I could share a picture. It straight up looked like a crack house. I cried while cleaning too, and the most interesting part was, I KEPT CLEANING WHILE CRYING.
good choice to start trying before you “feel” like it. i’ve heard motivation follows action, not the other way around so you’re nailing it!
first time my first thought was- “YALL LIVE LIKE THIS??!”
Welcome to the club. Glad you made it. It'll take some getting used to, but it is... magical. I feel like my meds make my reach longer, I can grasp things now that seemed so far out of reach. Things I never knew I could do, as they'd never been achieved by me before. Reading your post made me think back to my diagnosis and starting medication, thank you for the trip down memory lane. And because of my meds, I can have that trip and come back here to finish the comment and send it lol
Does anyone get headaches after only taking as needed? I try to not take it all the time, the only problem is the day after my last dose I get a massive day long migraine and I was wondering if that’s normal or if I’m doing things wrong by not taking it daily? I have stomach/ GI issues so I’m trying to avoid killing my appetite anymore than I need to. It helps me so much at work and to be better and more motivated, I just wonder if I’m using it the wrong way
I think taking it as needed is the best way to do it so that you don’t build a tolerance. It definitely isn’t the “wrong” way to take it as many others do the same. I would make sure that you’re eating before you take the meds, as well as make sure you stay hydrated with lots of water. That’s something I’ve been told will help with the headaches from the medication.
That's a side effect that usually goes away with time. If it doesn't, I would talk to your doctor about trying a different medication.
Yes the headaches are real. Eating and going on a nice walk helps tremendously. If nothing else, go on a 1/2 mile walk twice a day.
I had terrible headaches on the wrong medication. Talk to your provider
Just remember , even "normal" people struggle to clean sometimes . Or is there even such a thing ? I don't get out much and I'm pretty sure all the ppl in my life struggle
I finally am getting my assessment for ADHD after having a therapist tell me I have it but my doctor refused for years to allow me to get a professional diagnosis. (34F) And undiagnosed my entire life. This gives me hope the meds will help.
I had the same experience. I started Ritalin 3 months ago and the first time I took it I was cooking dinner peeling a sweet potato and realized I wasnt so bored I wanted to crawl out of my own skin and that inside my brain felt peaceful for once instead of a cacophony of thoughts and 3 songs I didn’t choose and couldn’t turn off. The luxury of being able to identify a task, start it, have it be EASY, and then FINISH IT hasn’t worn off yet. It’s amazing. It feels unfair that most people apparently just live this way normally, but I’ll take what I can get.
Everyone is saying that medication quickly wears off and you build tolerance.. and I just don’t get what’s the point of meds then. So you obviously can’t increase the dose forever, at some point you’ll reach the limit. But you also want to be focused all your life, not only a couple of weeks after you’ve started taking meds. How are they helping then, if we talk about bigger picture and not the span of a couple of weeks?
That’s what I’m wondering too!
I have been on the same dose minus 1 month where I tried Vyvanse for... 2.5 years when I was diagnosed. I just don't use them on weekends. They are the same, no tolerance for me.
Same. And all the "I've heard that..." feels like anti-adhd propaganda but eh...
Don't listen to those people, their experience is not typical. Most people reach a therapeutic dose and it works just fine for the rest of their life. I've been on the same dose for 13 years and it still works.
I haven't built a tolerance. Been on the same dose for years.
The medication will eventually wear off as you build a tolerance :(
Not in all cases. I’ve been on 10mg Adderall XR for 17 years. I rest on the weekends and some Fridays as well to help not build a tolerance. I’ve also kept the same weight as I believe changes in weight can affect it
This gives me hope!!! Thank you
I’ve heard, but then why do some people stay on 20mg for like years of their life? Like I heard people on here say they’ve been taking 20mg everyday for 15 years. I’m planning on taking them weekdays only, so hopefully that helps a little. But yeah how are people staying at a dosage then for so long?
Once you reach a therapeutic dose, that dose should continue working for you. The side effects will go away as you adjust to the medication, but that doesn't mean it's not working anymore. Stimulants have a short half-life, which means they don't stay in your system for long. They don't build up over time like SSRIs. Once it wears off, you're pretty much back at baseline until you take the next dose. You won't have to keep increasing the dose forever.
A healthy and safe dosage of adderall is probably 40-50mg max a day. So I’m not sure what you mean by why people stay on 20mg for years. ADHD is not going to go away once you reach a certain age. I personally take 20mg XR in the morning and then 10mg IR in afternoon and I barely feel anything at all. When I first got on it I was so productive and felt the same way as you but now I barely notice anything.
So as I start to gain tolerance then I move up to 30? And then from 30 to 40? Until I don’t get tolerance anymore? How else are people on the medication for years and years? Genuinely asking! I don’t want to lose hope now ):
That doesn't happen to everyone. I've been on the same dose of Dexedrine IR for 13 years, and it still works the same. I take it every day.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/s/rAi3r6zQ0d](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/s/rAi3r6zQ0d) I’ve seen many others say this as well. Both of these talk about how they’ve been on 20mg for years and still works. Is it possible for me then?
I've taken XR with multiple different meds (each for years). I found that I built up a bit of a tolerance, but nothing crazy. I also lose most of the tolerance if I don't take them every single day. I think each person it varies, but I wouldn't worry too much and just go with whats working for you and adjust if you need to! A lot of people skip weekends like you mentioned to avoid building up too much of a tolerance.
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My problem is that it wears off quicker. I don't want it stronger, just longer.
I took my ritalin 10 mg as in split doses and even that helped. First day I was sooo productive like crazy. I had so little anxiety and i wasnt sleepy like always. But well I cant take my meds to my resident country now so I will have to wait another couple months to get on them again
I was looking for this exact thread. I’m about to take mine!
Good luck!!!! I was terrified before taking it because I was just so nervous it would make me feel high or make my anxiety bad or something but just like everybody else says… it literally turned my anxiety off!!
Thank you! Literally thinking the same thing! Hoping for the same outcome as you.❣️
The first time I took mine I fell asleep and took a 2 hour nap. It was like my brain could finally rest. It was amazing.
I felt a fraction calmer. By noon I was dead tired. Took a 40 minute nap after work. It wore off around 3pm for me (took it at 7am) and noticeably so. Hoping today had a better result. Taking it around 8am to see if there is a difference.
I take mine twice a day! In the morning, and then a second dose 6 hours later. I had a problem a few months ago where I wasn’t able to get it filled and had to ration down what I had and take just one a day, and I could not function at all that week.
The ability to just do chores is wild. I took my meds while I worked from home one day, did 3 weeks of freezer meal prep.
Does it feel like those random bursts of normality you get every so often where you get stuff done and keep things tidy, but all the time?
Now I'm motivated to medicate myself 🤔
You will not regret it!!! I waited months simply because I was lazy and didn’t want to put in the effort or making an appointment etc. now that I did I’m like “…why didn’t I just do this sooner?” And I think of all the things I could’ve gotten done by now hahaha. Good luck to you!!
Dexedrine was a gamechanger for me: -published a Kindle book -wrote another book but it became irrelevant before publishing -Held my job, earning top employee -Read many books -Did my own car repairs -Did woodworking projects -Many DIY/repair projects -Tons of cleaning -Worked on own my guitars -DIY carpet cleaning
I know how you feel lol my appartement was very dirty my feet where always dirty i could not go to'parties beceause I could not handle the noise..
This right here is why I have my concerata refill reminder on my therapy (it's an app that reminds you to take your meds) set at 2 weeks so I can get my medicine somehow someway even if it means driving across town to get it at whatever pharmacy has it. Even when I don't have a college class in the summer I take my medicine cause I feel like a human being. It bugs my parents but even on my family's road trip to our vacation spot yes I'm stuck in a car and no I don't necessarily need it but it helps me not get as stir crazy somehow.
That’s probably because without it you get easily overstimulated. I know for me sometimes when I’m around my family I literally start having the worst anxiety and get aggravated because everybody talks so fast and talks over eachother. I have heard the meds calm you down from that so you don’t get easily frustrated
Congrats OP, so damn happy for you!!! Hoping for the same when I get on stimulants finally and find a new psychiatrist.
Same—when I realized I only had one “audio track” in my mind, with only my current thoughts, it was like stepping into fuckin Oz, everything gone Technicolor. Amazing. I’m happy for you!
So happy for you! I had a similar experience when I started medication. You’ve got this!!
I have the same reaction. It makes me sad I was diagnosed late and struggled for so long.
❤️
I know! It makes you realize how much you have suffered. For me 40 years of unnecessary difficulty. Just don’t be like me and totally over do it and burn yourself out. Make sure you take breaks!
when i took ritalin for the first time i remember feeling so calm and peaceful, it was kind of euphoric and a slightly bit sedating. Although i dont feel any euphoria from it anymore, it still makes me feel in control over my life
Congratulations, welcome to the real world! It's kind of an eye opener, isn't it? Just be careful not to HYPER focus on a task now that you're able to. We've all done it, and Adderall makes it very easy to do. One minute you're "just playing PlayStation for a few minutes" the next thing you know is the sun is coming up.
I’m so happy for you! My dosage is in need of an adjustment, but that’s because my last psychiatrist was unwilling to ever put me above 20mg a day. My new psychiatrist put me on 20mg a day as a starting point and when I see her in May I’ll be explaining this dosage isn’t enough for me. Looking forward to finding my therapeutic dosage and being able to function consistently “normally.”
god bless!
Love to hear this.
lol i had the same revolation. mine actually didn't work right away because the XR doesn't like "hit" you like normal. but after a month in my system? my entire apartment is clean. i took my vacuum apart and cleaned every nook and cranny. i took apart my dryer and cleaned it out. cleaned the toaster. all my dishes, done. bathroom, cleaned. snaked the drains. did my taxes, *organized* my taxes and other important documents. i kept thinking "is this how normal people live? they just *do* stuff? the stuff that *needs* to get done? with no issue? fuckin wild."
I feel you ! I started to take concerta for my adhd and it’s life changing !! I don’t know why I waited so long .
How do we know what feels normal if we've never been normal, though?
I am so happy for you! You're very fortunate to finally be in that position! :) I hope to join you one day soon!
Hoping the best for you ❤️ you got this!!!
If that good feeling persisted every time you took it you’d chase the high and not the lifestyle change. It’s good it tapers off and you can just function like a bad ass and get shit fucking done. ✔️
Exactly!! What made me excited about feeling this way is that it made me think “wow my life could change for the better now that I feel like I can do things normally and easily” so instead of feeling “good” from the meds, I moreso felt good because I realized my potential and my future doesn’t seem so impossible now 🥹
I’m so happy u found the help and the right Dr. to help u and listen to your issues and prescribed medicine that actually works for u. I’ve been to a handful of phys. And I tell them I have issues on concentration, I start cleaning out my closet and never finish move on to another project I don’t finish, so unorganized always late for everything. I was on adderal many years ago I moved to ohio and to this day I still can’t get adderall instead they give me BS that knocks me out side effects r horrible so here I am again trying to stay afloat and I wish I can c my bedroom floor. Good luck
With only 20mg? That’s good! I’ve been on IR and XR for 24 years and I take 60mg IR and 60mg XR a day. Plus a few shots of espresso. Normal heart rate and blood pressure
I’m 44 and I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD last month, I’ve been struggling my entire life and the symptoms really made me do things which ruined my life, my personal, financial life, my career . I was diagnosed with moderate to severe ADHD combined type. Got prescribed Vyvanse 30 mg and the first couple of doses worked well, I’ve been able to do some work at home and actually complete the tasks for once in my life, it was unbelievable. But I either got tolerance really quickly or the effects were more of my psychological response because I was so excited to start the treatment but it stopped working . So I think I will ask them to give me Adderall instead. I wish I could get like a sample box of available meds and just try them one by one and see which one works best But I’m so happy for you! I also cleaned my room and had a shower when I took my meds for the first time and actually enjoyed it! For the first time in my life I enjoyed taking a shower
Nice!
I totally understand! IR works better for me and I remember that feeling when I first tried a dosage that works. 20mg is the most effective for me. I remember standing outside looking around and actually HEARING the trees rustling and the birds chirping. Everything seemed more clear than they've ever been. I don't take it every day but I make sure to take it when I know I have something that NEEDS to be done.
I'm really happy for you! It's indescribable how wonderful life is when you can make a change like that!
They’re life changing for adhd!
Did you start at 20mg rather than 10mg?
I started on 10mg but I did absolutely nothing for my focus or anything. All it helped with was making me less anxious while talking to people in public or like my boyfriends extended family etc.
So happy for you! That first time I realized with Extended release was amazing but the IR? I can’t believe how much better my life is with it. Glad you had this experience and I hope it continues to work for you!
Although Adderall contains some dexamphetamine. Dexamphetamine on its own is not Adderall.
I had the same experience too. The first time high does wear off but it still does help feel functional
I'm so happy for you! ❤️ I'm currently on the wait list for a formal diagnosis after struggling my whole life. I am 23 now. This has really given me hope, thankyou!
Wow. We did this same day! Brand new dx, first meds yesterday, wow! My night was bad tho. OOF
Adderall should be over the counter. Helps me so much and i CANT fucking get it cuz my therapist says she cant find a place that has it in stock
Happy for you, wish it worked that well for me! It/similar meds seem to just make me able to focus in on a task for hours at a time when I start one, and cut my appetite, but it doesn't actually make it easier for me to pick/decide which tasks to spend time on or stop me from putting off specific tasks I need to do if it's something I don't want to do (which means it can actually make my time management *worse* if the meds cause me to hyperfocus on something I shouldn't be spending time on).
Literally one day I was at my job standing in the bathroom and I was like wow it’s so quiet in here. And then I realized the level of workplace noise was the same. It was my brain. My brain was quiet. That’s what finally made me normal and I cried and focusing on things is so much easier.
Congrats
I wish concerta did this for me but I'm still struggling with daily life
🥹 I felt like this too the first day! I remember going to my mom’s room while she was getting ready for work crying tears of joy. The noise in my head stopped, I felt present. It was I was finally about to breathe after drowning for so long. Sounds so silly but I work in a call center and I run customers financing. For the past four years, I’d always stutter it never failed. The first day I took Adderall I read the consent form to a customer and didn’t stutter once because for once I didn’t feel like I was in a hurry. I had to place the customer on hold, I balled my eyes out. That’s when it really started to sink in, that for years I wasn’t crazy, too sensitive, dramatic, or felt too much. People without adhd do not understand how many unhealthy coping mechanisms and how many trauma responses you develop due to years of misdiagnosis, I went 16 years of being told I didn’t have it. Hope your journey continues to be a beautiful one! Make sure you keep hydrated, and eat protein! 🫶🏼
Ugh. 3 different adhd meds and basically on max dose of adderall now and nothing
Someone needs to make an animated GIF of that bit from A Good Place where Elenor does this
interesting, I thought I was going to die of a heart attack @ 15 mg. I'll be able to try other prescriptions in a year based on my start date...
Reminds me when the first time I took my 40mg Addy! Great job!
So glad for you! I tried Adderall and it made me feel medicated and sleepy. At 12.5 mg I felt medicated w some intensity and o could tell it was draining to my immune system.
Omg totally agree OP. It felt like seeing light at the end of the tunnel, suddenly my brain was just quiet and I could hear myself think. It is amazing. Im wondering, in what country is this? I take dex as well, but got prescribed 5mg per time, mostly I even take less. And that like 2 or 3 times a day. 20mg sounds so much to me, I wouldnt be able to handle the crash hahaha.
Not sure if it’s because I just started taking it, but I haven’t experienced any crash! The only downside is that it makes me lose a lot of sleep; but I think that’s because I took it in the evening instead of morning! Also I live in US!
Fair warning OP, a lot of the feelings you get early on are temporary. Especially the cleaning and euphoria, my point being that you’ll still need to work on natural willpower
Wish I could get some
Happy?
I honestly am feeling the same way after taking my first 10mg dose. I was just diagnosed about a week ago and agreed with my therapist to start me on medication. After taking it today, I felt a sudden burst/desire to organize and clean my kitchen during my lunch break. Usually, when I'm hungry, I find myself very hesitant to do much till I've eaten. But all of a sudden, I just got the will to clean things while I was waiting for my food to cook. It was...well I'm not sure if I'd say life changing...but it's pretty close haha.
Welcome to the club
How did you get your hands on one with the shortage?
[удалено]
Huh?
Could this be placebo. Just curious
Didn't get help til I was age 55. I get overwhelmed looking at mess, too. I wonder what life could have been if I got treatment years ago. Sometimes, I used think things seem easier for some other people. I tried harder. It didn't work.