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Comment by moojacob | Hacker News Reader

As someone who has experienced a bad reaction to ADHD medication after years of using it, I can say that it was a frustrating and difficult time. I felt like I had been relying on the medication to function, but it suddenly stopped working for me and made me feel even worse. I was worried about how I was going to manage my ADHD symptoms without it.

However, I eventually discovered that I could improve my executive functioning skills by getting ten hours of sleep a night and engaging in intense exercise. These changes have made a huge difference for me and have greatly improved my ability to manage my ADHD. I'm glad that I was able to find alternative methods that work for me.

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Quite a similar experience to me. After a change of meds I had a bought of intense disphoria and anxiety which I (perhaps falsely) attributed to the meds after 9 years of use and misuse (insufflation etc). I stopped cold turkey until my special authorization expired and haven't used them since. It is a relief in some ways that my overall as methylphenidate is quite hard on the heart and addictive, so it got me through the quitting phase. I've found other ways to get by with my ADHD; diet, sleep, caffeine, environment etc. Its possible the meds had already helped to establish the patterns of concentration too.

Could you elaborate on the bad reaction that you experienced? Which treatment, brand, and daily amount?

I was on Adderall, then tried Dexamfetamine. I was on 30mg a day long lasting I think. For the first six months the medication worked, then I began to feel sick and paranoid. My social life fell apart and my work became mediocre.

Now when I take any stimulant after a couple hours I start to feel dehydrated and light headed. If I continue using for a couple days I am unable focus on anything except a couple intrusive thoughts.

Different medications work for different people, so please don't ignore ADHD treatment! It's a powerful tool, just be careful not to cut yourself like I did.

Likewise, did you try non-stimulant medication?

I can throw in my two cents as well.

I've been on several different stimulant medications for ADHD. They all make me anxious, even the one I'm taking now.

Adderall: Grinding teeth, anxiety, didn't like feeling euphoric ("good" for no reason), stomach pain

Vyvance: Same as above

Focalin: Better than both above. This is what I'm currently on. It works for me well but it still comes with some side effects. I have stomach pain pretty consistently after taking my dose, and I have anxiety throughout the day.

It's unfortunate. I absolutely need these meds to keep my life in order, but they honestly suck pretty bad.

Did you consider non-stimulant medication?

In particular: atomoxetine (Strattera), bupropion (Wellbutrin), guanfacine (Tenex), and — if everything else fails — tricyclics such as nortriptyline (Pamelor/Nortrilen).

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