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I wasn't aware that stimulants could even reliably create dependence when prescribed to treat an appropriate underlying condition versus being abused. I'm a bit
by xyzzy_plugh 3y ago
I wasn't aware that stimulants could even reliably create dependence when prescribed to treat an appropriate underlying condition versus being abused. I'm a bit confused: is the dependence you refer to any different than if you were simply unmedicated? That is to say, that your livelihood depends on being medicated? Or that you will have even further reduced focus than normal due to long term usage? The latter is completely novel to me, if that's indeed the case.
I cannot possibly imagine becoming addicted to stimulants. It's a chore to remember to take them. Tolerance builds quickly so I have to take regular breaks (or reduce the dosage) or the effects simply disappear. I treat myself to a "cheat day" every once in a while where I just don't take any and it's always extremely not productive but otherwise fine. I'd love to find an alternative but the alternatives seem strictly worse.
When I was younger I would frequently let my Adderall prescription lapse (because it's such an ironic chore to maintain) and sometimes would go months without any medication without any discernable negative effects.
- catiopatio 3y agoYes, my livelihood now depends on my being medicated — if I don’t take a pill, I don’t get work done. No matter how hard I try to force myself to sit down and work. It’s as if my original ADHD has been dialed up to 100. If you can go months without Adderall, and struggle to even remember to take it, I seriously doubt you ever had ADHD in the first place.
- xyzzy_plugh 3y agoSo people who haven't been diagnosed yet don't have ADHD? I don't understand. We're in the same boat, I assure you. What I do not understand is that stopping medication makes everything significantly worse. I've been on a lot of different medications and I've never experienced that. Are you at a high dose? It took me a long, long time to realize a lower dose is ideal, but I build tolerance rapidly. Managing this has been significant.
- catiopatio 3y agoThe “significantly worse” part is being completely unable to function at work. If I don’t have to work, I have no problem stopping cold-turkey — I skip taking it entirely on vacations, for example.
- xyzzy_plugh 3y agoThat doesn't sound like a dependency in the traditional sense. Being completely unable to function at work is often a symptom prior to acquiring medication, and I'm not exaggerating. Are you saying you were able to work before being medicated?
- catiopatio 3y agoI can assure you it’s a chemical dependency.