6 ms·

> one month in is way too early to know if the change is long-term positive. This is especially true with stimulant medications. Agree. It's important to remin

> one month in is way too early to know if the change is long-term positive. This is especially true with stimulant medications. Agree. It's important to remind people that the effects of the first few weeks aren't like the effects for the next 10-50 years. It's especially concerning when people say the meds give them "more energy to do things" because that's more of a side effect that goes away after a while. The focus-enhancing effect is separate from the energizing/euphoric side effect that people experience in the first few weeks.

eyelidlessness 4y ago
I’ve never experienced more energy to do things nor euphoria from my stimulant meds. They make me less anxious and allow me to muster executive function that I struggle with otherwise. Not because I’m more focused or productive or whatever else people ascribe to the drug, because I’m less overwhelmed by the world that’s loud and fast and bright and complicated and dangerous. My brain and the world around me are quieter and more reasonable.
- FollowingTheDao 4y ago
  > They make me less anxious High-dose pyridoxine as an 'anti-stress' strategy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ Anxiolytic-like effect of pyridoxine in mice by elevated plus maze and light and dark box: Evidence for the involvement of GABAergic and NO-sGC-cGMP pathway https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305718301011 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00913...
- thenaturalist 4y ago
  Same here. Your description perfectly matches my experience.
- devde 4y ago
  Same here. If anything I actually feel a bit tired when they kick in throughout the day.
  - hirvi74 4y ago
    Same, I feel like I could fall asleep, but I know I couldn't if I tried.
    - khios 4y ago
      Have you tried? I can take a nap no problem on them. I would even say that they greatly help me falling asleep!
      - hirvi74 4y ago
        I have tried, and I cannot. They help me fall asleep if I time the crash correctly, but other than I will have trouble falling asleep. If I stop taking them, then I have trouble falling asleep, so I am kind of in a catch-22 lol.
    - eyelidlessness 4y ago
      You might be surprised. My first prescribing doctor emphasized that an appropriate dosage wouldn’t disrupt sleep and might even improve ability to get to sleep. He wasn’t right about several other things, but on this he was exactly right. So much so that early on I took a morning nap about an hour after meds kicked in because I couldn’t stay awake. Now with a higher dose I don’t get so lethargic, but I certainly could sleep when the meds are effective, more than I ever could during daytime before.
      - hirvi74 4y ago
        I guess I am on the wrong dosage then, because when they are in full effect, there is no way I could fall asleep. Stimulants do wonders for my hyperactivity e.g. I turn from Ace Ventura to being able to sit in an office. However, I would never say they calm me down in a mental sense. In fact, they kind of tend to do the opposite sometimes.
BandOfBots 4y ago
“more energy to do things” is directly correlated to the level of dopamine ADHD medication augments in our brains
- Skgqie1 4y ago
  I disagree with this. For me, the energy is because I have to use less energy doing basic day to day shit. Unmedicated, it takes far more effort and work, and leaves less energy for later tasks.
  - ojkelly 4y ago
    Yep this is common. Imagine doing the dishes. Unmedicated, thats 2 or 3 tasks. Each with a high failure rate, and high cognitive cost. 1. Stop what you’re currently doing. 2. Decide you next task will be to wash the dishes. 3. Wash dishes. The spoon theory [0] covers this concept well, and can be a useful tool. > The spoon theory[a] is a metaphor describing the amount of physical and/or mental energy that a person has available for daily activities and tasks, and how it can become limited. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory
  - sedivy94 4y ago
    It’s amphetamine. The energy is from the amphetamine. The mechanism of action (norepinephrine and dopamine reputable inhibition) isn’t far from that of cocaine or methamphetamine. Let’s be real here. Amphetamine is known to skew one’s self assessment of their performance while on the drug.
    - ojkelly 4y ago
      > It’s amphetamine. The energy is from the amphetamine. Energy still comes from food, and if you forget to eat on stimulants your body will eventually catch up with you. Like coffee, stimulants let you better tap into that energy. > The mechanism of action (norepinephrine and dopamine reputable inhibition) isn’t far from that of cocaine or methamphetamine. Yep, they’re all stimulants. ADHD meds however, are manufactured in very controlled conditions, and taken in specific doses. Street drugs are more variable in quality, ratios, ingredients and strengths, and so not relevant to the treatment of ADHD. Methamphetamine is a legitimate treatment for the most severe ADHD cases, it’s often a last resort. It’s sold as Desoxyn. It’s rarely used, but it _is used legally and successfully_. > Let’s be real here. Amphetamine is known to skew one’s self assessment of their performance while on the drug. If you don’t need it, stimulants are going to have a different effect. People with ADHD are in my experience, going to be able to self-assess performance on their meds better than off them. Don’t assume one experience is universal, especially when we’re talking about neurodiversity. Even among those with ADHD, experiences are not universal. We may rhyme, but we don’t always repeat.

eyelidlessness 4y ago

I’ve never experienced more energy to do things nor euphoria from my stimulant meds. They make me less anxious and allow me to muster executive function that I struggle with otherwise. Not because I’m more focused or productive or whatever else people ascribe to the drug, because I’m less overwhelmed by the world that’s loud and fast and bright and complicated and dangerous. My brain and the world around me are quieter and more reasonable.

FollowingTheDao 4y ago
> They make me less anxious High-dose pyridoxine as an 'anti-stress' strategy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10859691/ Anxiolytic-like effect of pyridoxine in mice by elevated plus maze and light and dark box: Evidence for the involvement of GABAergic and NO-sGC-cGMP pathway https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305718301011 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00913...
thenaturalist 4y ago
Same here. Your description perfectly matches my experience.
devde 4y ago
Same here. If anything I actually feel a bit tired when they kick in throughout the day.
- hirvi74 4y ago
  Same, I feel like I could fall asleep, but I know I couldn't if I tried.
  - khios 4y ago
    Have you tried? I can take a nap no problem on them. I would even say that they greatly help me falling asleep!
    - hirvi74 4y ago
      I have tried, and I cannot. They help me fall asleep if I time the crash correctly, but other than I will have trouble falling asleep. If I stop taking them, then I have trouble falling asleep, so I am kind of in a catch-22 lol.
  - eyelidlessness 4y ago
    You might be surprised. My first prescribing doctor emphasized that an appropriate dosage wouldn’t disrupt sleep and might even improve ability to get to sleep. He wasn’t right about several other things, but on this he was exactly right. So much so that early on I took a morning nap about an hour after meds kicked in because I couldn’t stay awake. Now with a higher dose I don’t get so lethargic, but I certainly could sleep when the meds are effective, more than I ever could during daytime before.
    - hirvi74 4y ago
      I guess I am on the wrong dosage then, because when they are in full effect, there is no way I could fall asleep. Stimulants do wonders for my hyperactivity e.g. I turn from Ace Ventura to being able to sit in an office. However, I would never say they calm me down in a mental sense. In fact, they kind of tend to do the opposite sometimes.

BandOfBots 4y ago

“more energy to do things” is directly correlated to the level of dopamine ADHD medication augments in our brains

Skgqie1 4y ago
I disagree with this. For me, the energy is because I have to use less energy doing basic day to day shit. Unmedicated, it takes far more effort and work, and leaves less energy for later tasks.
- ojkelly 4y ago
  Yep this is common. Imagine doing the dishes. Unmedicated, thats 2 or 3 tasks. Each with a high failure rate, and high cognitive cost. 1. Stop what you’re currently doing. 2. Decide you next task will be to wash the dishes. 3. Wash dishes. The spoon theory [0] covers this concept well, and can be a useful tool. > The spoon theory[a] is a metaphor describing the amount of physical and/or mental energy that a person has available for daily activities and tasks, and how it can become limited. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory
- sedivy94 4y ago
  It’s amphetamine. The energy is from the amphetamine. The mechanism of action (norepinephrine and dopamine reputable inhibition) isn’t far from that of cocaine or methamphetamine. Let’s be real here. Amphetamine is known to skew one’s self assessment of their performance while on the drug.
  - ojkelly 4y ago
    > It’s amphetamine. The energy is from the amphetamine. Energy still comes from food, and if you forget to eat on stimulants your body will eventually catch up with you. Like coffee, stimulants let you better tap into that energy. > The mechanism of action (norepinephrine and dopamine reputable inhibition) isn’t far from that of cocaine or methamphetamine. Yep, they’re all stimulants. ADHD meds however, are manufactured in very controlled conditions, and taken in specific doses. Street drugs are more variable in quality, ratios, ingredients and strengths, and so not relevant to the treatment of ADHD. Methamphetamine is a legitimate treatment for the most severe ADHD cases, it’s often a last resort. It’s sold as Desoxyn. It’s rarely used, but it _is used legally and successfully_. > Let’s be real here. Amphetamine is known to skew one’s self assessment of their performance while on the drug. If you don’t need it, stimulants are going to have a different effect. People with ADHD are in my experience, going to be able to self-assess performance on their meds better than off them. Don’t assume one experience is universal, especially when we’re talking about neurodiversity. Even among those with ADHD, experiences are not universal. We may rhyme, but we don’t always repeat.