This includes even if you have changed medications. I want to know as I'm starting on my first one which is Ritalin. I'm interested in seeing if ppl come to rely on medication or not. I really don't want to. It scares me.
Been on adderall XR for 5 years. Only stopped taking them once for about 6 months when I couldn't afford meds.
Thank you for those comments. I just took my first pill of ritalin and in just a matter of hours I felt the difference. It seems like my energy is back and I feel very "grounded". I just cleaned up my house too! Before the med I used clean the house then in the middle of cleaning switch gear to something else.
Hard to describe but I felt good about completing the task I was set out to do.
I’ve been on Adderall XR for several weeks. Originally, I planned on not taking the medicine on weekends cause I thought maybe I would miss my old spazzy self and I too didn’t want to ‘rely’ on stimulant meds. After only a few weeks (and well after the negative effects disappeared) I haven’t wanted to skip a dose. My personality is pretty much the same—I have noticed that in social situations, I’m not as talkative as I usually am. So far that’s been a GOOD thing. I’m also no longer accused of being on drugs. As one who has tried pot and HATE the effects I DESPISE being accused of being stoned. So even on weekends I prefer taking my adderall. Thankfully, my life hadn’t reached the ‘scary’ point sans medication, but it certainly was NOT fulfilling.
At this point, I don’t think I ‘rely’ on the medicine. I prefer a less scattered and more productive day (weekends included). I ‘managed’ 30+ years without stimulant meds, I could ‘manage’ more days without, but why?
Also, the first few days I took stimulant meds I was a cleaning machine and a bit speedy, the cleaning machine went away after 2 days (I wish she would come back). But I think the lasting differences have been a combination of changes I’ve made (chiming clocks, more scheduled time, a consolidated ‘to do’ list). The meds are a big help, but I defiantly can’t (and don’t) rely on them.
I have been on various meds for 8 years, and I choose to take them. I like to think of them as a tool, not the solution but and aid of sorts. The way I see it is: if a person had a sprained ankle they can walk w/out any sort of crutch, but it helps them walk easier.
That's how I like to think of my meds. I can live w/out them, I did for 20+ years, but I like that they help my thinking be a little more...linear--instead of all over the place. I can get my house cleaned in less than two days, because I'm not going from one room to another, to another, to another...LOL
Like MafiaKiddo said, "Nothing to be scared of really if you need to take meds then you need to take them. Some people can get by without taking meds others can't. My life was much scarier off meds then it ever could be on." Ditto.