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Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and on stimulants (went through 3 kinds before we found one that seemed to help). What "high"? Our brain chemistry literally w

Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and on stimulants (went through 3 kinds before we found one that seemed to help). What "high"? Our brain chemistry literally works differently than neurotypical people and the stimulants don't get us high. In fact they often have a calming effect. I had to fight not to fall asleep at my desk two days this week (Not entirely the medication's fault, lotta family stress wrecking my sleep). Does tolerance eventually cause the dosage to increase or the medication to cycle? Yes. But as others have mentioned taking the weekend off (or hell, just forgetting periodically in my case) mitigates that to a large extent. And, since there is such a hard time acquiring the medication even with a prescription skipping weekends or vacations has the benefit of seeing people through the inevitable shortage their pharmacy will have.

y-c-o-m-b 29d ago
> What "high"? Our brain chemistry literally works differently than neurotypical people and the stimulants don't get us high. In fact they often have a calming effect. Is this actually true? I see this repeated a lot. The one time I increased dosage of Adderall too quickly, I felt very calm and almost "normal" again, but I attributed this to a mild euphoria because euphoria is technically the effect one gets when high on these drugs. When I see people repeat what you said, I begin to question if that was just the drug working as intended. Sadly I ended up having to get off the drug shortly after this because A) I got too spooked about how nice it was and didn't want to chase this feeling and B) I noticed the "crash" phase resulted in deep suicidal ideation.
- drakythe 29d ago
  My statement was perhaps too broad. It is possible for ADHD people to get high off their medications, yes. But that is a signal the dosage is too large. Normal dosage and usage won't get a person "high" in the traditional sense, much in the same way injecting insulin into a healthy person is bad but a diabetic person requires it for standard function, however too high of a dose would still be bad for a diabetic person too. Suicidal ideation as a side effect is bad. I'm sorry you had that experience.
bcjdjsndon 29d ago
> In fact they often have a calming effect. That's clucky addiction mate same reason opioids can make addicts chatty and full of life again if they've been struggling to score all day
- drakythe 29d ago
  Its not addiction at all. I literally forget it once or twice a week on average, even on work days. I don't think you know what you're talking about.
- preg_match 29d ago
  Right but amphetamines are supposed to have the opposite effect. You’ve seen people on meth, do they look calm to you?
  - bcjdjsndon 24d ago
    Euphoric? Yes. Same for opioids.
    - preg_match 21d ago
      Okay, having executive function and the ability to function normally is not euphoria. Also opioids are an entirely different class of drugs from amphetamines. Their effects are very different. You can’t just classify everything under the umbrella of “euphoria”, that’s anti-science. Amphetamines are stimulants, opioids are not. For people who have ADHD, they have dopamine dis-regulation. Stimulants return their brain to the correct amount of dopamine, which is why they can have proper executive function on stimulants. Meaning, and hold on to your seat here, the amount of dopamine they have on stimulants is equivalent to the amount you have all the time. They’re not addicted, they’re meeting you where you are. If they’re addicted, then necessarily you must be even more addicted, because you have the effects 24/7.
      - bcjdjsndon 18d ago
        > For people who have ADHD, they have dopamine dis-regulation I hear this vague idea all the time. It's not true. > Okay, having executive function and the ability to function normally is not euphoria. Never said it was. And why always so vague.... "Ability to function normally", what were your disabilities? What was restored to you when taking the meds?

y-c-o-m-b 29d ago

> What "high"? Our brain chemistry literally works differently than neurotypical people and the stimulants don't get us high. In fact they often have a calming effect. Is this actually true? I see this repeated a lot. The one time I increased dosage of Adderall too quickly, I felt very calm and almost "normal" again, but I attributed this to a mild euphoria because euphoria is technically the effect one gets when high on these drugs. When I see people repeat what you said, I begin to question if that was just the drug working as intended. Sadly I ended up having to get off the drug shortly after this because A) I got too spooked about how nice it was and didn't want to chase this feeling and B) I noticed the "crash" phase resulted in deep suicidal ideation.

drakythe 29d ago
My statement was perhaps too broad. It is possible for ADHD people to get high off their medications, yes. But that is a signal the dosage is too large. Normal dosage and usage won't get a person "high" in the traditional sense, much in the same way injecting insulin into a healthy person is bad but a diabetic person requires it for standard function, however too high of a dose would still be bad for a diabetic person too. Suicidal ideation as a side effect is bad. I'm sorry you had that experience.

bcjdjsndon 29d ago

> In fact they often have a calming effect. That's clucky addiction mate same reason opioids can make addicts chatty and full of life again if they've been struggling to score all day

drakythe 29d ago
Its not addiction at all. I literally forget it once or twice a week on average, even on work days. I don't think you know what you're talking about.
preg_match 29d ago
Right but amphetamines are supposed to have the opposite effect. You’ve seen people on meth, do they look calm to you?
- bcjdjsndon 24d ago
  Euphoric? Yes. Same for opioids.
  - preg_match 21d ago
    Okay, having executive function and the ability to function normally is not euphoria. Also opioids are an entirely different class of drugs from amphetamines. Their effects are very different. You can’t just classify everything under the umbrella of “euphoria”, that’s anti-science. Amphetamines are stimulants, opioids are not. For people who have ADHD, they have dopamine dis-regulation. Stimulants return their brain to the correct amount of dopamine, which is why they can have proper executive function on stimulants. Meaning, and hold on to your seat here, the amount of dopamine they have on stimulants is equivalent to the amount you have all the time. They’re not addicted, they’re meeting you where you are. If they’re addicted, then necessarily you must be even more addicted, because you have the effects 24/7.
    - bcjdjsndon 18d ago
      > For people who have ADHD, they have dopamine dis-regulation I hear this vague idea all the time. It's not true. > Okay, having executive function and the ability to function normally is not euphoria. Never said it was. And why always so vague.... "Ability to function normally", what were your disabilities? What was restored to you when taking the meds?