Which Med Should I Try Next?

SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml to ADHD@lemmy.world – 19 points –

My main problems:

  • Inability to stick to lowly stimulating tasks
  • Executive dysfunction
  • Forgetting what I was doing every 2 minutes
    Bonus mention: random bouts of anxiety
    (Don't know which subtype this amounts to)

Meds I've tried so far:

  1. Atomoxetine (extinguished the anxiety but did nothing for the ADHD)
  2. Methylphenidate (amplified the ED, essentially gluing me to even boring tasks. This helped for reading but not for my executively intensive physics homework, where I literally had to use my inner voice to guide myself. Did nothing for the forgetfulness.)

Has anyone had a similar response? What ended up working? I'm in the UK so there's no Aderall.

20

Not ADHD, but y’all really should start asking doctors for prescriptions and stop asking the internet. This goes for any illness.

The problem is most doctors don’t have experience with any of these medications. Going to folks who have experience isn’t a terrible idea. As long as you know to do additional validation and talk with your doctor. I never would’ve heard of vyvanse if not for folks online.

In an ideal world they should, but not everyone is privileged to have affordable or state sponsored healthcare, especially for mental health

Can you get Vyvanse? That’s been my favorite for years, the time release mechanism makes for a nice smooth ramp-up which is nice.

That said I don’t take it unless I’ve got a plan for the day. It’s equally easy to get sucked into something trivial or minor. If my brain is really fighting me I try to set time limits, and work in rounds.

Have not found one specific drug that fixes everything so I can just flow through my days… but I’ve learned some better ways to cope.

Yeah, I guess this is what it's going to be for me too. I wish there was a magic pill that made it fully go away

Ugh. The U.K. There's a reason two psychiatrists have told me they don't prescribe non-stimulants for ADHD. They don't work.

They work for some people, and even then they usually don’t work as well as stimulants. But they can help.

Something you can try is magnesium supplements. Someone mentioned it to me so I’ve been doing it. It’s not as much as an ADHD medication I’m sure but it has helped. I’ve tried 3 different meds and nothing has stuck. Magnesium is helping with memory, focus and a small boost to ED. I buy mine off the shelf at target.

I take ZMA, is that the same type/quantity of magnesium? If nothing else it helps me sleep.

I don’t know anything about ZMA. Quick search says it has 450mg of magnesium in it? The one I take is 250mg.

Sometimes it takes multiple meds too. Have you tried any combos?

Yeah, I've only ever taken the methylphenidate while on the atomoxetine (I kept taking it for its anti anxiety effects). Do you recommend any other conbos?

So in my experience methylphenidate and dexamphetamine are the two most common. I tried dex and it was not useful, it made small differences but also made me jumpy, but methylphenidate is my personal ambrosia. Maybe consider also the dose, for methylphenidate which is my ideal drug the lowest dose was not very useful, the highest dose was pure Satan, but the dose I have is absolutely perfect, giving me support without side effects most of the time.

The carnivore diet.

Like, only meat?

Yes, fatty meat, or at least a ketogenic diet. See the revolutionary work being done by Dr. Chris Palmer and Dr. Georgia Ede for mental illnesses, including ADHD.