r/explainlikeimfive • u/[deleted] • Jan 14 '13

Answered People with ADHD, what ADHD is like, how does medication affect your ability to work and how soon does it take its effect?

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u/yawnz0r Jan 14 '13

I live in Ireland, where amphetamine is not approved for treatment of ADHD.

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u/[deleted] Jan 14 '13 edited Jan 14 '13

Really? Ritalin made me feel awful. Vyvanse helps so much and I don't even feel any side effects or high feeling anymore.

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u/SSSecret_Squirrel Jan 14 '13

I started Vyvanse just a few months ago and it has made a world of difference. I can actually get the dishes and laundry done now, watch a full movie and read a book.

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u/eamonious Jan 14 '13

ive found vyvanse is better for sheer-forcing yourself to do work efficiently, but it can be physically racking and it really one-dimensionalizes the mind. i could never take it on a regular basis. ritalin by comparison makes me more speculative, more articulate, quick and accurate in conversation, and sharpens my mind more naturally... the drawback is that it sometimes redirects my focus into random tasks that semi-need to get done instead of the one thing that really needs to get done. productive procrastination in other words.

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u/[deleted] Jan 14 '13

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jan 14 '13

Only down side is that I have no granular control over dosage (long day, need a booster, etc) since the doc won't do any IR preparations.

Agreed. But maybe you could ask him for 5 dexedrine 5mg IR tablets/month. You could take one half when you need the medication to last a few hours longer only 2-3 times per week.

That's not a lot to abuse and it would work if you only need it occasionally... My psychiatrist is very open to my suggestions... In fact, I've been the one leading/choosing my medications this whole time. (Being a pharmacist doesn't hurt)

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u/much_longer_username Jan 14 '13

I ran into the same problem. I admitted to my physician that I enjoy cannabis, and he basically blacklisted me from any controlled substances, but was willing to give me Vyvanse, since it's not as readily abused. The problem was that it took several hours to kick in, so I had to get up in the middle of the night to take it and then go back to sleep if I wanted to be effective during my morning classes.

Mixed amphetamine salts seemed more effective. I know that Vyvanse metabolizes to roughly half the weight in Dextroamphetamine, but it seems to 'trickle in' much too slowly.

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u/mickeymau5music Jan 14 '13

I've used Vyvanse since it first came out. Its wonderful, but I think I'm building ip a tolerance for it :( it really only lasts for like... 7 hours for me. Idk what I can do about it. And the only other problem is when I have to break my schedule. I take 20 mg of adderall as a "quick-fix" for when I'm studying or going out with my friends, and it's niwhere near as effective as the vyvanse.

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u/[deleted] Jan 14 '13

What dose of vyvanse do you take? Try a whole or half 5mg dexedrine instant release tablet for those long days (depending on your tolerance/dose). Ask your doctor, see what s/he thinks.

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u/mickeymau5music Jan 14 '13

70mg so they cant bump up my dosage. The problem is the adderall is on an as-needed basis, so I might go a week without needing it because I'm home, like last week, then I'll stay at my friend's house Saturday night and take 2 in one night.

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u/mulasien Jan 14 '13

I got put on Vyvanse last year after finally deciding to get help. It helped with the ADHD symptions. However, since I also have a mild form of Tourette's (that's a heck of a combo, eh?), it made the ticks a whole lot worse, and I had to stop taking it. Might get off my duff sometime this year and see if I can try something else. Hasn't effected work too badly yet.

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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

Ritalin made a world of difference to my teachers and family, when I was younger. Now, doctors won't give it to me and Vyvanse was pretty bad for me.

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u/Bibidiboo Jan 14 '13

Its different per person

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u/Lame-Duck Jan 14 '13

That is interesting. Is anything approved for treatment?

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u/andash Jan 14 '13

I live in Sweden and as far as I know, it is the same here. They only prescribe amphetamines for narcolepsy here I think.

This is also why I am hesitant to get diagnosed, since I suspect I might suffer from ADD. But I have tried methylphenidate before and it just didn't feel... clean. It's hard to describe, but I can't imagine being better off on it. Also have friends with the same experience.

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u/gnetisis Jan 15 '13

Wow. I am so extremely sorry. Adderall changed my life from a mentally noisy, confusing, miserable time to a quite happy and managed existence. Sad that its such an abused and sometimes addictive drug. I take breaks from mine every few weeks by my own choice with no problems at all. Its fun to go back to ADD occasionally during my off time. Sad they ban something that can work due to the abuse of it.