So hi all you cool fediverse thingies,
(Edit: I just realized I posted this on ADHD memes. Can't stop being a clown)
After an odyssey I've been finally diagnosed at 18 of age with "a textbook example of ADHD" (-my psychiatrist) and high QI. Lmao I wish.
They gave me 30gm of lisdexanfetamin (Elvanse) and I just took a pill a few hours ago after getting up.
The thing is that I'm not feeling a single thing different in any way and I don't even what should I be expecting. I might be scared of having expend more money and time because of the dosage not being right…
How were your first moments/days/weeks with medication? (I you don't mind sharing).
I don't want to fail uni. :c
First off: Congratulations on getting diagnosed. It's a huge step and 18 is a really nice timing. Untreated ADHD in adults can be really crippling, because all the supporting structures like school and family break away and suddenly you realize that managing your own time schedule and house hold is really fucking hard. So good job 👍
Second: You took 30 mg of Elvanse/LDX for the first time and you felt nothing? That's... impressive, honestly. Methylphenidate Non Responder are fairly known, but usually that amount of dexamphetamine does something to the human body. From your age I'd guess you are not a regular user of recreational amphetamines and have built a massive tolerance...
I also started with 30 mg Elvanse and was pretty seriously zoned in, deep focus, elevated mood, highly awake, loss of appetite and a very revelatory feeling, that I could finally tackle all the bullshit that I had avoided, delayed, ignored and forgotten. For me, the 30 mg were honestly too much. Over the last year I've built a tolerance and am now taking 40-70mg daily, depending on the challenges of the day.
Still I wouldn't worry. No effect also means no bad side effects. Adjusting the dosage is entirely normal in the beginning and something your psychiatrist should do anyway. The therapeutic dosage goes up to 70 mg and there are edge cases with even higher doses. There is also methylphenidate (Ritalin, MPH, etc) and Atomotexetin. But for now, just stick with what you got.
Dealing with ADHD is a marathon, not a sprint. You've just started, so take the days as they come and trust your feelings above all else. If it works, you'll know. And if not keep at it.
Also check out /c/neurodiverse, there are a lot of good posts and ADHD experiences shared.
First off: Congratulations on getting diagnosed. It’s a huge step and 18 is a really nice timing. Untreated ADHD in adults can be really crippling, because all the supporting structures like school and family break away and suddenly you realize that managing your own time schedule and house hold is really fucking hard. So good job 👍
Thank you for taking the time to write that response. They are being incredibly helpful, both for the information and empathy.
I almost broke down in tears after hearing my psychiatrist talk. I had already accepted it; I had it myself not long ago but hearing it from her with my mother present felt really validating. My mother, although very supportive, didn't fully understand it, so, at some point, the explanation was targeted at her. (It's somewhat difficult communicating what you considered to be “normal” to a different kind of normal person, xd).
Now I have hope again for things to get better; it's refreshing. :)
Second: You took 30 mg of Elvanse/LDX for the first time and you felt nothing? That’s… impressive, honestly. Methylphenidate Non Responder are fairly known, but usually that amount of dexamphetamine does something to the human body. From your age I’d guess you are not a regular user of recreational amphetamines and have built a massive tolerance…
I can assure you I don't. xD I don't even like alcohol, which I'm told is a plus in this case, since it might not be compatible with this medication. (I'm pulling this from the dark places of my memory, so don't quote me on that.).
Still I wouldn’t worry. No effect also means no bad side effects. Adjusting the dosage is entirely normal in the beginning and something your psychiatrist should do anyway. The therapeutic dosage goes up to 70 mg and there are edge cases with even higher doses. There is also methylphenidate (Ritalin, MPH, etc) and Atomotexetin. But for now, just stick with what you got.
Yes, I guess not having to deal with side effects is good. I'm trying to be as responsible as possible and noting everything down with timestamps, just in case it is useful for my psychiatrist.
Dealing with ADHD is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ve just started, so take the days as they come and trust your feelings above all else. If it works, you’ll know. And if not keep at it.
Yep, apparently I've been already living with it all my life, so now that I know more, and I have better tools, I should be able to make improvements in the long run!
Also check out /c/neurodiverse, there are a lot of good posts and ADHD experiences shared.
Just joined, thanks again for the post!
I don't always feel anything, but if I try to do work after taking the meds I can ...just work.
The only exception is when I'm already hyper focused on something other than work.
That's a downside I have not considered until now... Makes sense. I will try to be more observant with myself.
It can take time to find the right dose.
I even started with 5 mg only, and it felt great. Crashed after just 3 - 4 hours, and within the first week figured that 12 mg is right for now.
The individual differences can be enormous.
This guide to understand dosage finding is pretty good, but doctor's orders first: https://www.adxs.org/en/page/232/dosing-of-medication-for-adhd
How were your first moments/days/weeks with medication? (I you don’t mind sharing).
I am twice your age so my life looks a lot different that yours does right now, but I was only diagnosed a year ago, so I will share anyways!
I was diagnosed by my GP, after discussions with my therapist so my titration on to drugs was not ideal. I am waiting on a referral for a psych, who I am hoping will help dial the meds in better. They are not doing as much as I think they could, but they are honestly a lifesaver.
Initially, I was given 5 mg dexamphetamine to try out. This drug behaves a lot differently than Lisdex, and I could feel it kicking in on my drive into work because I could feel the road rage melt away in real time, lol. It also wore off very quickly, and I started with lisdex shortly thereafter. The biggest change I noticed was that I wasn't crying every day. I don't think I was depressed, just distressed and it really helped with the emotional regulation. I still have my bad days, but they are far less frequent.
Other than that, I'm not sure I could really tell you what changed, because like many with ADHD I have awful metacognition. I sometimes forget to take them and I think I notice because I become unable to complete a task, I just jump between one thing to another and completely forget what I was doing. I think I also notice them wearing off in the evenings because I feel the same way there too.
ETA: I also lose my appetite, and it comes roaring back in the evenings so this is another way I can tell if I've forgotten to take them!
I am taking 40 mg right now. I feel extremely high strung but I feel that way if I take them or not so I no longer think it might be on the edge of too high a dose, which I did initially. In fact, I feel like it might not be working so well any more right now.
I would encourage you to try and take notes if at all possible. There are templates out there to make it a guided exercise. You could also ask those close to you if they notice a difference.
Good luck and it's amazing you are getting diagnosed in university! I think my biggest struggle with adult ADHD is that I don't know how to exist in the adult world in a healthy way, so learning and accepting my limitations (My whole body tenses when I write that) is extremely hard. I hope this helps your transition into the adult world as smooth as possible 💖
Good luck and it’s amazing you are getting diagnosed in university! I think my biggest struggle with adult ADHD is that I don’t know how to exist in the adult world in a healthy way, so learning and accepting my limitations (My whole body tenses when I write that) is extremely hard. I hope this helps your transition into the adult world as smooth as possible 💖
I hope to arrive in time to save my first semester of uni but it has at least give me more hope and will to continue trying. (Not just the medication but the whole diagnose and the posibility of things getting better).
I'm also worried about adult life, I don't feel anything near the definition of an adult... Idk, I just want to be a silly little goose a bit more, you know? I guess it's something I have to learn eventually.
But thank you for the post, I'm learning a ton and I can't say thanks enough. Let's all learn to live a healthy live. <3
I would encourage you to try and take notes if at all possible. There are templates out there to make it a guided exercise. You could also ask those close to you if they notice a difference.
I just started a journal with timestamps to record and keep track of things that might be interesting to tell to my psychiatrist. I also asked all my close family and half my friends to keep and eye on me. (The other half haven't been notified because they are my control group).
I don't know what you are studying so I can't promise this is true for you, but I did my first 2 years of uni "on time", took 2 years off to do internships, a semester off for a wee mental break down and then did my last 2 years over a 3 year period. I got the equivalent of a B- average. Overall pretty mediocre.
But I'm very externally successful despite the non linear path through school. Don't fret if you need to take some time off, it's not the end of the world 💖 I think what would have helped me a lot was understanding that I'm not actually bad at engineering, just very good at a very specific subset lol.
P.S. You can remain silly!
I started Adderall XR several months ago. My experience during the first week was that I was superhuman and could actually get things done. The first day I think I experienced the euphoria that I presume recreational users go for, but never since. After about a month it wasn’t doing much for me, psychiatrist adjusted the dosage, and it’s been decent ever since. Some days I can really feel it working, other days not so much. I mostly work from home (software dev) so I have a pretty strong control over my environment, but despite that I haven’t been able to figure out what might cause (or even influence) good days and bad days with stimulants. I would encourage you to keep meeting with your psychiatrist, there are like a dozen different medications and maybe this one just isn’t yours. Besides, you’ve arguably the hardest part by getting that first appointment. Best of luck!
Thanks for the response!
Yeah, my action plan is to give it time until I meet with my psychiatrist again. It is a bit anti-climatic, but I guess better to go from light to hard in terms of drugs… You're right, there are a ton of different options, and maybe I was a bit delusional expecting things to work at first try. While this might not be the end, at least is a step further and that makes me happy.
Btw: I'm studying CS from home too, and sometimes it's a titanic effort to get anything done; nonetheless, I also appreciate having the ability to control my environment as much as I like.
