6 ms·

Nothing feels (in my personal life don't @ me) as much of an attack on my neurodivergence as the nonsense that is getting medication for my ADHD. I have to go t

Nothing feels (in my personal life don't @ me) as much of an attack on my neurodivergence as the nonsense that is getting medication for my ADHD. I have to go to a doctors appointment to get a prescriprion, I have to call to get that prescription filled, I can't fill the prescription early so I don't run out, I have to go to the pharmacy to pick it up. All so we can pretend that college kids wont be able to obtain a substance that is arguably safer than caffeine. (They sell Tylenol over the counter and you can kill yourself with that even easier don't @ me). If you don't know, all of the steps listed above are what my medication helps me accomplish. Its like they designed a wheelchair store with a full flight of stairs in order to get in.

phaedrus 2y ago
This rigamarole is why I stopped taking ADHD medicine. I waited too long to make an appointment once (because, you know, ADHD), and then ran into a problem that my doctor's office had reorganized duties to give the renewing prescriptions role to a newly hired nurse aid without considering that he can't refill controlled substances. I kinda wondered how that could work, but either because was new to the job or overconfident he assured me I was wrong about the legality of that and he definitely would get the prescription scrip for me. By the time he / the doctor's office realized actually no, he can't refill my ADHD medication, my doctor was out and a four day weekend would soon begin. At this point I was already a few days off the meds and going through withdrawals, which got worse over the weekend. By the time Tuesday rolled around I'd essentially been forced to "quit" cold turkey, and so I was like, what is the point of re-starting this now I've gone through the hardest part of getting off it?
- whalesalad 2y ago
  Same. it was always a nightmare. hated the way everything needed to be literally scheduled down to the very day. prescribers would get shit wrong all the time, there would inevitably days without. I was using an online service at one point (done, the worst of the worst) and they just straight up ignored my pleas for help for 3 solid weeks. when they finally came back and said sorry we fucked up I had basically decided to just quit, and quitting cold turkey is never fun. After years of being on/off I decided to say fuck this for once and for all and will never touch them again. Until they are available in vending machines - which I firmly believe is how they should be available. People cry about the comparison to "legal meth" but that is literally what it is. There is no difference. Your dealer is replaced by a licensed psychyatrist but at the end of the day they are just a dealer with a nice office and a certificate from a university.
  - buffington 2y ago
    There is a difference. Adderall is a combo of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, while "meth" is typically mostly methamphetamine (with other "enhancements" or impurities). They are chemically different. While Adderall isn't the same as meth, there is a ADHD medication that is pure methamphetamine: Desoxyn, and it's significantly more difficult to get a prescription for, and comes with far more warnings about its use since it is pure meth. I've never tried it, nor have I ever had a doctor recommend it. The doctor who I was seeing when I was first diagnosed with ADHD explained the differences between Adderall and meth by saying "Adderall is like a bright line painted on the ground helping remind you of where to go. Meth is like riding a bullet train. It'll lock you in tight and take you for a ride, hurtling at full blast whether you want to be a part of it or not until you and everything you love shakes to pieces and you die. And it'll tell you it's fun while it's happening." I had a friend who'd been addicted to meth and is in recovery say "Adderall is like taking a comfortable stroll around the block, while Meth is like travelling to the moon and back. Yeah, they're both 'getting you somewhere', but they're not remotely the same activity."
    - whalesalad 2y ago
      I agree they are chemically different, but their effects are the same. Dosage is the most important thing here.
      - buffington 2y ago
        Weird, because in another comment, you said: > it's literally the same thing. anyone who claims otherwise is uninformed. That they are chemically different is a fact, but their physical effects have also been proven to be different as well. I've never tried meth, but I know people who have, and who have also used Adderall, and the descriptions of their experiences would suggest the two drugs have different effects, regardless of dosage. But I can't prove those differences, so won't argue further.
      - alan-hn 2y ago
        Methamphetamine not only has a different volume of distribution, meaning it is distributed in tissues differently than amphetamine but methamphetamine also has much greater serotonergic activity which greatly impacts the effects.
- Aloisius 2y ago
  > what is the point of re-starting this now I've gone through the hardest part of getting off it? Wait, what? Withdrawal is the hardest part? Not, you know, untreated ADHD?
- buffington 2y ago
  > what is the point of re-starting this now I've gone through the hardest part of getting off it? For me, the point of re-starting would be because I have ADHD. I've had to jump through the same stupid hoops, even going without for months, and I can say that the single hardest thing for me is not having the meds.
_boffin_ 2y ago
Give me a break… yes, it’s frustrating, but manageable. I’m in the exact same boat as you, but to consider it an attack, really? 1) tele appointments are avail 2) the doctor sends in it 3) you can’t fill, but you can have it ready to be picked up. 4) the travesty of going to the pharmacy.
- whalesalad 2y ago
  A lot of individuals have experienced what the op describes. Your comments are so dismissive and lame.
  - _boffin_ 2y ago
    As have I and yes, I’ll agree that it’s dismissive, especially without knowing the explicit circumstances of OP.
    - zackmorris 2y ago
      Just for anyone curious - pharmacists explained the situation to me about the government limiting the supply of ADHD meds and the resulting shortages, then I found news that confirmed it. Mental health is a private matter, so I will just say that nurses can prescribe these meds in many states and often work with patients without insurance. Please see someone if you struggle with depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, or similar nebulous issues. There really are treatments starting at about $1 per day that can drastically improve the quality of your life. - In my case, I've been healing from my second burnout with physical symptoms since my first one in 2019. My high cortisol levels overwhelmed my other hormones, and the way I found out is that I stopped recovering after workouts and took some injuries. For men, the dopamine-testosterone pathway is the weak link in the chain that governs our overall vitality. For women, I think it's oxytocin-estrogen but I haven't done a deep dive on it. Anyway for overweight men, the aromatase in their fat converts testosterone to estrogen, which tells their body to lower production of testosterone to prevent tumors and eventually even cancer from the estrogen. Also phytoestrogens from foods like legumes and estrogenic chemicals in plastic cause the body to think that estrogen is higher than it is, which shuts down testosterone production. In women, BPA and other endocrine disruptors might cause conditions like PCOS and throw off their hormones, but I don't know enough about that to speak more on it. Basically these environmental factors are messing with our hormones, and I believe that's why young men today have lower testosterone (so probably dopamine too) than previous generations, which may be causing a rise in mental health issues and dopamine-seeking behaviors like video game addiction (the horror!) Since endocrine disruptors are unavoidable in the modern world, people are juicing with leafy greens and other vegetables to combat them. I've heard good things about Man Greens and estrogen blockers like white button mushrooms. You can also eat walnuts, 1-3 brazil nuts per day, a serving of dark chocolate over 72%, pomegranate juice, bacon and 2-4 eggs, and various other foods to raise dopamine and testosterone and lower estrogen. It's also good to aim for about 8% body fat before pursuing other fitness goals. The quickest way to do that is to walk briskly for 45-60 minutes at least 3 times per week in addition to your current exercise, and add a large loose leaf salad with a low calorie dressing like a vinaigrette each day. I mention this because I've found that improving my physical health has had a drastic effect on my mental health and I'm working towards being free of all medication until late in life. YMMV
tzs 2y ago
It is safe and not too painful or stressful to occasionally skip a day of your medicine? If you can occasionally skip a day then maybe you could try skipping a day every so often until you've got a comfortable gap between when they think you've run out and when you actually run out.
- harrisi 2y ago
  I think this is a suggestion made with the best intentions, but hopefully the absurdity of it isn't lost. We don't suggest people should keep their glasses in their cases on the weekend, or avoid insulin on holidays.
  - tzs 2y ago
    OF course it is absurd--but having to see your doctor for each refill and only being allowed to refill when you are almost completely out is also absurd. Sometimes an absurd situation calls for an absurd response. At least two people so far have described glitches at their doctor's office combined with not being allowed to request a refill until they are almost out resulting in them running out and missing their medicine for days. Your glasses comparison doesn't really fit. A better fit would be disposable contact lenses, which you are supposed to only wear once and not wear for more than a day. I wear glasses, not contacts, but if I switched to such contacts and they would only give me a 30 day supply, would not give me a new supply until I'm on the last few days of my current supply, and made me see an optometrist for each refill probably would try to use my old glasses every now and then instead of the contacts to widen the resupply window. The insulin comparison also doesn't really fit because from what I've read missing your insulin for even a few hours, let alone a day, can cause serious and dangerous problems quickly. The skipping to build a reserve would only be an option with medicines where an occasional missed dose doesn't have any serious consequences.
    - from-nibly 2y ago
      It's not that its unsolveable by me. It's that it even has to be solved. People who need wheelchairs could also figure out creative ways to go to a wheelchair store with no ramps. That doesn't mean its not insane that that would exist.
harrisi 2y ago
One of the frustrating things is even if you can get a prescription, pharmacies run out randomly. They'll often tell you neighboring pharmacies that have it, but you can't just pick it up down the street - you have to have your prescriber call in a new prescription. Just a couple weeks ago this happened to me, and by the time my prescriber could get it sent to a new pharmacy, they were also out. It took two weeks to fill a mild prescription, and it was made worse since I was unmedicated and had difficulties talking to people to get it fixed.

phaedrus 2y ago

This rigamarole is why I stopped taking ADHD medicine. I waited too long to make an appointment once (because, you know, ADHD), and then ran into a problem that my doctor's office had reorganized duties to give the renewing prescriptions role to a newly hired nurse aid without considering that he can't refill controlled substances. I kinda wondered how that could work, but either because was new to the job or overconfident he assured me I was wrong about the legality of that and he definitely would get the prescription scrip for me. By the time he / the doctor's office realized actually no, he can't refill my ADHD medication, my doctor was out and a four day weekend would soon begin. At this point I was already a few days off the meds and going through withdrawals, which got worse over the weekend. By the time Tuesday rolled around I'd essentially been forced to "quit" cold turkey, and so I was like, what is the point of re-starting this now I've gone through the hardest part of getting off it?

whalesalad 2y ago
Same. it was always a nightmare. hated the way everything needed to be literally scheduled down to the very day. prescribers would get shit wrong all the time, there would inevitably days without. I was using an online service at one point (done, the worst of the worst) and they just straight up ignored my pleas for help for 3 solid weeks. when they finally came back and said sorry we fucked up I had basically decided to just quit, and quitting cold turkey is never fun. After years of being on/off I decided to say fuck this for once and for all and will never touch them again. Until they are available in vending machines - which I firmly believe is how they should be available. People cry about the comparison to "legal meth" but that is literally what it is. There is no difference. Your dealer is replaced by a licensed psychyatrist but at the end of the day they are just a dealer with a nice office and a certificate from a university.
- buffington 2y ago
  There is a difference. Adderall is a combo of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, while "meth" is typically mostly methamphetamine (with other "enhancements" or impurities). They are chemically different. While Adderall isn't the same as meth, there is a ADHD medication that is pure methamphetamine: Desoxyn, and it's significantly more difficult to get a prescription for, and comes with far more warnings about its use since it is pure meth. I've never tried it, nor have I ever had a doctor recommend it. The doctor who I was seeing when I was first diagnosed with ADHD explained the differences between Adderall and meth by saying "Adderall is like a bright line painted on the ground helping remind you of where to go. Meth is like riding a bullet train. It'll lock you in tight and take you for a ride, hurtling at full blast whether you want to be a part of it or not until you and everything you love shakes to pieces and you die. And it'll tell you it's fun while it's happening." I had a friend who'd been addicted to meth and is in recovery say "Adderall is like taking a comfortable stroll around the block, while Meth is like travelling to the moon and back. Yeah, they're both 'getting you somewhere', but they're not remotely the same activity."
  - whalesalad 2y ago
    I agree they are chemically different, but their effects are the same. Dosage is the most important thing here.
    - buffington 2y ago
      Weird, because in another comment, you said: > it's literally the same thing. anyone who claims otherwise is uninformed. That they are chemically different is a fact, but their physical effects have also been proven to be different as well. I've never tried meth, but I know people who have, and who have also used Adderall, and the descriptions of their experiences would suggest the two drugs have different effects, regardless of dosage. But I can't prove those differences, so won't argue further.
    - alan-hn 2y ago
      Methamphetamine not only has a different volume of distribution, meaning it is distributed in tissues differently than amphetamine but methamphetamine also has much greater serotonergic activity which greatly impacts the effects.
Aloisius 2y ago
> what is the point of re-starting this now I've gone through the hardest part of getting off it? Wait, what? Withdrawal is the hardest part? Not, you know, untreated ADHD?
buffington 2y ago
> what is the point of re-starting this now I've gone through the hardest part of getting off it? For me, the point of re-starting would be because I have ADHD. I've had to jump through the same stupid hoops, even going without for months, and I can say that the single hardest thing for me is not having the meds.

_boffin_ 2y ago

Give me a break… yes, it’s frustrating, but manageable. I’m in the exact same boat as you, but to consider it an attack, really? 1) tele appointments are avail 2) the doctor sends in it 3) you can’t fill, but you can have it ready to be picked up. 4) the travesty of going to the pharmacy.

whalesalad 2y ago
A lot of individuals have experienced what the op describes. Your comments are so dismissive and lame.
- _boffin_ 2y ago
  As have I and yes, I’ll agree that it’s dismissive, especially without knowing the explicit circumstances of OP.
  - zackmorris 2y ago
    Just for anyone curious - pharmacists explained the situation to me about the government limiting the supply of ADHD meds and the resulting shortages, then I found news that confirmed it. Mental health is a private matter, so I will just say that nurses can prescribe these meds in many states and often work with patients without insurance. Please see someone if you struggle with depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, or similar nebulous issues. There really are treatments starting at about $1 per day that can drastically improve the quality of your life. - In my case, I've been healing from my second burnout with physical symptoms since my first one in 2019. My high cortisol levels overwhelmed my other hormones, and the way I found out is that I stopped recovering after workouts and took some injuries. For men, the dopamine-testosterone pathway is the weak link in the chain that governs our overall vitality. For women, I think it's oxytocin-estrogen but I haven't done a deep dive on it. Anyway for overweight men, the aromatase in their fat converts testosterone to estrogen, which tells their body to lower production of testosterone to prevent tumors and eventually even cancer from the estrogen. Also phytoestrogens from foods like legumes and estrogenic chemicals in plastic cause the body to think that estrogen is higher than it is, which shuts down testosterone production. In women, BPA and other endocrine disruptors might cause conditions like PCOS and throw off their hormones, but I don't know enough about that to speak more on it. Basically these environmental factors are messing with our hormones, and I believe that's why young men today have lower testosterone (so probably dopamine too) than previous generations, which may be causing a rise in mental health issues and dopamine-seeking behaviors like video game addiction (the horror!) Since endocrine disruptors are unavoidable in the modern world, people are juicing with leafy greens and other vegetables to combat them. I've heard good things about Man Greens and estrogen blockers like white button mushrooms. You can also eat walnuts, 1-3 brazil nuts per day, a serving of dark chocolate over 72%, pomegranate juice, bacon and 2-4 eggs, and various other foods to raise dopamine and testosterone and lower estrogen. It's also good to aim for about 8% body fat before pursuing other fitness goals. The quickest way to do that is to walk briskly for 45-60 minutes at least 3 times per week in addition to your current exercise, and add a large loose leaf salad with a low calorie dressing like a vinaigrette each day. I mention this because I've found that improving my physical health has had a drastic effect on my mental health and I'm working towards being free of all medication until late in life. YMMV

tzs 2y ago

It is safe and not too painful or stressful to occasionally skip a day of your medicine? If you can occasionally skip a day then maybe you could try skipping a day every so often until you've got a comfortable gap between when they think you've run out and when you actually run out.

harrisi 2y ago
I think this is a suggestion made with the best intentions, but hopefully the absurdity of it isn't lost. We don't suggest people should keep their glasses in their cases on the weekend, or avoid insulin on holidays.
- tzs 2y ago
  OF course it is absurd--but having to see your doctor for each refill and only being allowed to refill when you are almost completely out is also absurd. Sometimes an absurd situation calls for an absurd response. At least two people so far have described glitches at their doctor's office combined with not being allowed to request a refill until they are almost out resulting in them running out and missing their medicine for days. Your glasses comparison doesn't really fit. A better fit would be disposable contact lenses, which you are supposed to only wear once and not wear for more than a day. I wear glasses, not contacts, but if I switched to such contacts and they would only give me a 30 day supply, would not give me a new supply until I'm on the last few days of my current supply, and made me see an optometrist for each refill probably would try to use my old glasses every now and then instead of the contacts to widen the resupply window. The insulin comparison also doesn't really fit because from what I've read missing your insulin for even a few hours, let alone a day, can cause serious and dangerous problems quickly. The skipping to build a reserve would only be an option with medicines where an occasional missed dose doesn't have any serious consequences.
  - from-nibly 2y ago
    It's not that its unsolveable by me. It's that it even has to be solved. People who need wheelchairs could also figure out creative ways to go to a wheelchair store with no ramps. That doesn't mean its not insane that that would exist.

harrisi 2y ago

One of the frustrating things is even if you can get a prescription, pharmacies run out randomly. They'll often tell you neighboring pharmacies that have it, but you can't just pick it up down the street - you have to have your prescriber call in a new prescription. Just a couple weeks ago this happened to me, and by the time my prescriber could get it sent to a new pharmacy, they were also out. It took two weeks to fill a mild prescription, and it was made worse since I was unmedicated and had difficulties talking to people to get it fixed.