reg
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 33
|
Post by reg on Sept 23, 2018 16:59:43 GMT
I realise this may be a silly question, but i have no point of reference in this area.
A few days ago, I started taking stimulant medication for the first time and i feel happier, more alert, able to concentrate better, and a number of other improvements in my day to day life. The problem is that i am still regularly getting distracted, as well as other symptoms common in combined type -- just to a lesser extent than previously.
I was hoping someone could let me know how it feels to move onto higher doses compared to the initial jump from not being medicated. I have little doubt that i am going to ask for a higher dose next month, but i am asking this question so hopefully i will have a better understanding of what to expect.
Thank you
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2018 14:26:50 GMT
The ADHDer inside you will simply look to push the boundaries until something breaks. You will build a rationale that satisfies that inner desire. This is probably unavoidable. However, the people around you are generally an excellent barometer. Don't ask, just listen to what their observations appear to be. Minimum Effective Dose - but the definition of effective is subject to change
|
|
|
Post by Stedasaurus on Sept 27, 2018 4:14:11 GMT
It depends what meds you are on IMO.
I am on ritalin and it's really the sides that limit the dose.
If I take more it works better in the day but then I don't sleep.
It also changes sex a lot (don't know if you're M or F, but for me as a guy, sex is still possible but the climax does not feel anywhere near as good).
So you may find that other things get in the way of increasing the dose even if you feel a higher dose would be better for your ADHD. The best dose for my ADHD would interfere with the rest of my life too much, so I compromise.
When I first started meds it was different. I had palpitations and dizzy spells and felt generally felt weird as the meds kicked in. I got over that though so just be aware that things do change.
|
|
oreevo
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 2
|
Post by oreevo on May 24, 2019 12:17:45 GMT
For me, it was a bigger jump to go from no-meds to low-meds. When I started a 5mg dose once per day (short release ritalin) it definitiely helped for those 4 hours, but then the normal distractability returned after the drug wore off. It was helpful when I started being able to take 3x5mg tablets per day, covering me for 12 hours.
I noticed that I had a significant heart-strain for 2 weeks at 5mg level, but my body then adapted and had no side-effects whatsoever. I still found the drug incredibly helpful - I managed to write 30 hours of job applications that month (in comparison to 0 for the previous 12 months).
When I jumped to 10mg the next month (as per my psychiatrists titration timetable) I noticed the heart-strain returned. However this time it was short lived, and it went away after 2 days at 10mg.
I've now just a few days ago been bumped up to 15mg, but this has brought substantial negative side-effects for me. Every time I've taken 15mg in the past few days I've felt incredibly anxious, jumpy, jittery, depressed, and then absolutely shattered when the drug wore off (probably from being so anxious!).
My pschiatrist told me that the main negative side effect of ritalin is anxiety, and I now know what she means - you know it when you feel it as it does NOT feel good. Luckily she's prescribed me 1x 10mg tablets and 1x5mg tablets to take together, and she said that if it is unbearable this month then I can just go back to taking just one 10mg tablet every 4 hours instead of 15mg, which is what I'm now going to do.
This is no-doubt going to be where my titration-trial finishes. When I see her next month and say about the anxiety on 15mg she'll no doubt suggest I be put on 10mg as the stable dosage for me to have for the rest of my life. For others though, it might be higher, or it might be lower. The max in the UK is 100mg per day in total (my 3 x 10mg is obviously therefore 30mg per day). The lowest they produce is 5mg, however if that causes you anxiety like I descirbed then Ritalin probably isn't for you, and your pyschiatrist might offer to trial you on either the long-release form of Ritalin (1 tablet covers 12 hours rather than 4), or other drugs such as Strattera, Adderall, etc. Those drugs may suit you better and not give you those negative side-effects.
Otherwise, maybe medication isn't right for you. It wasn't for a friend of mine, who decided to stay off meds completely. Instead he found incredible power and support through meditation. He said the book 'The Power of Now' changed his life and worked better for him than any medication ever did . I'm reading it now and it's great (even if a little odd to wrap your head around) - i'd really recommend anyone with ADD or an overactive mind or life to read it.
Hope this helps. Sam
|
|