STIMULANT STIGMA? | ADHD Information

I don't know what its like for people that don't have add but I take my meds so I don't feel like crap, as opposed to someone abusing a drug to feel really good.  The idea of it being habit forming, for someone like me that needs it is a joke.  When they talk about habit forming drugs uaually they are talking about drugs that you need to keep increasing the dosage to continue the same effects (opiods, ect).  If I took more adderal than I needed I would just feel like crap again, but in a different way.  So to me the idea of getting "hooked" on it is just stupid. just my 2 cents

This requires a long answer. I suggest reading at least portions of the book Delivered from Distraction by Dr. Hallowell. It is easy to find. I checked it out of the library.

People who take Adhd meds take them to lead productive, happier lives. Often when people who would benefit from meds don't know about them, like the previous generations, they end up self medicating with alcohol, drugs, eating, gambling, etc. If you want a thorough answer on the subject, check out a few books by reputable doctors and start reading. It's a complicated answer for a complicated diagnosis.

Lewiss - practically once you get the correct dosage of a med that works it seems you can take it indefinitely.  That's what I've been told and so far I've been on one dose one med for over a year and haven't found any loss of usefulness.

Some people more than others seem to become tolerant to a med over time.  I think that happens with almost any med and is dependent on the particular person.  Maybe it has to do with the person's liver and metabolism as some seem to break down meds poorly or in a different way. 

There are many meds as well - so a person say in their late 20s could theoreticaly change meds every so often and just keep rotating to keep them working.  I use therapy as well so if by some chance I can't take meds someday I'll be trained how to use the tools of life better - maybe even keeping the same level of usefulness without meds.  But I like my life with them so I'm not pushing my luck.

I just wanted to pose a question for all on meds.  The stimulants that we take, they are "habit-forming" as my dr. oh so cutely likes to refer to addiction, do they only work for a short amount of time?  I mean, how long do you take Dex, Add, Rit and what have you?  Am I to believe you take it forever?  Surely not.  So when it stops working, and your habit is formed, then what?

I think everyone has struggled with this question and here's what I've sorty of settled on

It's your life. You decide how to best manage it. The powers that BE gave you a brain - however misfunctioning right now, but you get to decide - that's right - all by yourself - what the quality of your life should be.  The docs should be there to make sure you are not self-destructing... but if it improved your quality of life who are they to judge?  Who is anyone to judge.

Where are you getting these meds prescribed... family doc, psychiatrist... it kind of sounds like maybe you should interview a few other doctors or specialist on this.  Maybe one who is more supportive of a psychiatric predicaments..... I'e run into some supposedly educated docs who've told me to snap out of it, you have a great life.  Obviously that was not happening....

If you are depressed, poorly functioning etc.....does it matter if it is habit forming if it sincerely improves your life.  You don't need to broadcast it

I've also read that if you are truly ADHD, you'd be less likely to develop and addiction which I would view as seeking the HIGH.  People with ADHD truly don't get the high and actually are calmed by these meds.  So I ask then is it truly and addiction.....or do you need it.

I am also big right now into neurotransmitter testing.  It has changed my life over the past two months.  I am sure there are a few of you out there sick of hearing about this from me.....but I think it has lead to the most scientificly recommendation from any doctor I've seen. and I've had two good STRAIGHT months after laying in bed for two straight months.  Anyway, you can PM me if you want more information on it...

One HUGE thing it also did for me was confirm that there was a physical, quantitative issue and it made me feel like I wasn't just drug seeking... there was a physical issue that needed to be corrected.

Good luck and pm me if you want.

 

I talked to my doc about this and she said sometimes after a few years of being on Adderall, it can lose effectiveness in some people, but she felt that if this happens to me down the road, by then, there probably will be new therapies to try since this is becoming so much more recognized in adults and there is more research coming along.  She was not very concerned with addiction, and we agreed that the huge benefits I'm receiving from taking this medicine far outweigh the risks. 

And the thing about addictive drugs like alcohol and opiates - they are things that hurt the people around you who love you as well as yourself.  I don't think this is the case with stimulant meds at all. 

I think I'm physically unable to look so far into the future and worry about it - it's all I can do to get through today and this is helping me in a very positive way, so that is what I can deal with right now.