I’ve been taking 70 mg Vyvanse for years. It generally works well. Although there are occasional days where I feel like maybe it’s not quite as effective as it should be. That probably has more to do with outside stressors and diet than anything. By this point I’ve built up some tolerance to it. I know a lot of other people try to take breaks from their stimulus occasionally to try to help with the tolerance.

Well, I’ve learned that that is not for me. I tried taking breaks two Saturdays in a row and holy shit, the anvil-on-chest anxiety is more than I can take. Feelings of dread that I have not felt in years come bubbling right back to the surface.

This is something that I have, in the past, tried to explain to parents who are apprehensive about putting their kids on stimulants. For me, the worst part about ADHD isn’t the poor short-term memory, it isn’t the inattentiveness, It isn’t even the “inner restlessness”. It’s the emotional dysregulation. The fact that it makes me feel anxious and depressed all the time and I can’t just shrug it off. It’s like a dark cloud hanging over you and no matter how much you wish it would go away, it never does. And, if you don’t want your kid to kill themselves or develop substance abuse issues, then you need to try to help them get a handle on it while you can.

It took me 28 years and becoming a borderline alcoholic to get the help that I needed. I guess if I didn’t get anything else out of my experiment, I got a reminder to not take what I have for granted. Getting my meds dialed in dramatically improved my quality of life.

  • BOMBS@lemmy.worldEnglish
    261·
    11 months ago

    yep! I had a conversation with my psych at our last session. I was only taking ritalin on days I needed to focus. She reviewed my days and when I was taking it, pointing out how the ritalin was improving all sorts of areas in my life and that taking daily will help me stay stable and develop a stable identity and confidence. She encouraged me to take it daily as ADHD can cause problems in many areas of your life beyond productivity. I was worried about developing tolerance. She said we could easily address that if it becomes a problem.

    Moral: Talk openly to your psych about it. Also, find a compassionate and engaged one. There are many that do care.

      • BOMBS@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        11 months ago

        Oh, she would either increase the dose or change to another medication. She was confident that it would be addressed.

        • aStonedSanta@lemm.eeEnglish
          2·
          11 months ago

          lol. Addressed is an interesting phrasing. Were those her exact words? I’d take that as she will make sure you get through withdrawals myself.

          • BOMBS@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            10 months ago

            No, that’s me using my professional tone. She was much more laid back about it and told me something like, “We can take care of it.” She’s super awesome, and I have 100% confidence in her intentions.

  • ChaosSpectator@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    11 months ago

    Apparently many ppl on Vyvanse (including myself) are noticing a significant difference in how the medication is working for them. Low and behold - when the recipe for Vyvanse went public - so many users noticed a difference in effectiveness!! I’ve been taking Vyvanse for about 6 years and just this past year I have felt a huge difference in effectiveness. It doesn’t work the same. I’ve been on 40mg for years and boom early March/April something was up.

    Also did you know drinking/eating anything citrus can make the drug ineffective?!

    The hope for many in the Vyvanse taking community is that the generic brand that comes out will actually set things right…but I won’t holding my breath…it’s gonna be awhile…

  • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    8·
    11 months ago

    I am usually on Ritalin and my doc suggested Elvanse (not sure. Maybe same brand).
    I only take it during week days and have some mental disorder regarding nausea and being nervous/stress in combination with food.

    The time I got off the new drug was bad and I am not used to it in comparison to Ritalin which I could break at any time without repercussions.

  • rowinxavier@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    11 months ago

    I don’t take days off for Concerta 27mg + 18mg AM and Ritalin 20mg 6.5 hours later. I have tried and my first psychiatrist recommended it but it was awful and pointless. I recently was in hospital for a time due to endocarditis and had to stop for that period and wow, it was terrible. I am back on it and have no intention of stopping again.

  • cheese_greater@lemmy.worldEnglish
    62·
    11 months ago

    Its strange to me because you would think the body would release calming neurochems to compensate for the adrenaline/stimulating by sedating and pacifying you, and in the absence of the stimulant counterbalance to that, you should be more relaxed…

    I feel like it might be the general disorganization and executive dysfunction shadow creeping back in or something but obviously dopaminergic dysfunction is no picnic either.

    • aStonedSanta@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I tried this when starting Vyvanse. And I would not get ANYTHING done on my weekends. I think that’s a bad sign myself but I don’t think anything else will improve my QoL the same… it’s a tough situation.