What if medicine is not allowed?

[joefriday14]

I have taken adderall for over 35 years but had to stop due to an irregular heart beat. Alternatives caused problems and now I am not on any medication. However my A fib and irregular heart beat have been replaced by a regular heart beat. I am forgetful, more impulsive and overall less intelligent. Is the trade off worth it?

[Hidden]

Hi Joefriday,

I've lived unmedicated for all my 41 years here on this rock and was diagnosed at 38 by a neuropsychologist. I went to a psychiatrist to look into beginning medication but access to it where I live is so limited that I gave up on the idea of medication. That said, before I knew what the frack was the real issue was (thanks to a friend steering me in the right direction by saying I act like so and so who has ADHD and then seeing a doctor who could administer all the tests), I was self medicating with otc pseudoephedrine off and on during the day and simply marveling at how at peace I felt, how easy it was to finally focus, and how many things I could actually finish that I'd started. Miraculous. I imagine that's what ADHD medications felt like for you. You mentioned that you think your intelligence is being affected by no meds but it could just be that it only feels like it is because you feel scattered; my intelligence remained the same whether on sudafed or not, it's the articulation work that drove me up a tree when I wasn't under the influence of sudafed, AKA the work you have to do before you can do the real work. I've read that ADHDers have brilliant minds and the trouble lies with the confusion of the steps in between, where 100% of the articulation resides; but we're amazing at beginnings, big picture perspectives, and problem solving; so, beginnings, ends, everything other people find difficult are all easy for us, whereas the things other people find easy like following directions and doing these 4 things in sequential order without stopping to attend to these other 12 things throughout are a nightmare... and make us feel stupid because we see how easy these processes are for others without ADHD and they often see us struggling so it's all just baseless perceptions unduly influencing our opinions of ourselves. And, of course, we may be negatively influenced by some of the short-sighted priggishness of others when they catch us in these moments. I sincerely doubt we're less intelligent without meds, I just think we're exhausted at trying to do everything the regimented way everyone else does. I'm relieved you're not taking prescribed meds anymore and that I'm not taking un-prescribed ones because it sounds like you and I are both massively healthier now. I dropped 63 lbs when I stopped taking it, which is wild because I don't even remember eating while I was using it; that's not to say weight loss is a marker for improvement of health but in my case, it was, and it was only one of many positive things that happened when I stopped using. I think I'd built up a tolerance over the two years or so I was doing it, and unsupervised I could have caused more damage to myself than I already had. Sometimes the "cure" is worse. The tradeoff is indubibly worth it. Impulsivity and forgetfulness can be ameliorated with a board from Trello, scheduling some rewards for yourself for not doing the first wild thing that comes to mind, and being upfront with people about your challenges.

[joefriday14 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply

[pelekus]

I’ve recently been diagnosed with the same issue (A Fib). My drs do not seem to think the adderall caused the issue, and have not (yet) recommended that I come off of it; but I’m afraid that’s coming, and I’m not sure what I’ll do if /when it does. What alternatives did you try, and what problems did you have with them (if you don’t mind sharing)?

To answer your question, IMHO, I would say the risks of ADHD symptoms do not outweigh the risks of A Fib, so yeah, it’s worth it; but, I do feel your pain. Living with the adhd fog is no joke, and depending on the severity of your ADHD, it can be crippling. Still, AFib can cause stroke, heart failure, etc. so... no real comparison.

Also, I agree with the previous poster. You are no less intelligent off adderall, you just feel that way.

[sortofoutdoorsman]

Hey joefriday14 , can I ask how healthy of a life you lead? Sometimes physical conditions can be greatly affected by physical conditioning. I'm no doctor, but I work hard to stay active and in shape, and either on or off medication, exercise and eating right has been associated with better focus, and identifiers of life satisfaction.