When meds stop working?

[Snucheese]

I was diagnosed and put on Dexedrine 15 mg 6 months ago and it completely changed the entire way I process information. as if it created a road map in my brain between my thoughts and feelings & I was able to process everything with such ease. I started working on my health, learning how my brain works and healing old traumas.

I didn’t know I was capable of thinking so clearly and being so happy.

I’m noticing the effects are no longer working. I am gaining weight. I’m noticing I am riddled with small anxieties. My brain is muddled, I’m completely irritable with people and I feel general emotional dysregulation.

I get the sense that if I try other medications I will be cashing that high of how wonderful Dexedrine made me feel. I feel frustrated as if it was a false quick fix and I was just initially over medicated and will never be able to attain that mindset again.

Any thoughts?

[BlessedLady]

It is common to have to make adjustments to medications. Is the Dexedrine 15 mg extended release? If it is, you might need to add immediate release later in the day. or you might need another medication. You will know when you find the right dosage or medication because the symptoms you are having now will improve.

It is common for the side effect of appetite suppression to wear off. It could also be what you are eating. Are you exercising regularly? In order to maintain weight you have to watch what you eat and exercise. Not eating or snacking after around 6pm is also important to maintain weight..

[Gettingittogether]

You have to help the medication. Sleep, exercise, reasonable eating. Lack of those can undermine the best meds. Also, untreated depression or anxiety.

[Snucheese in reply to Gettingittogether]

I’m very active, eat really clean and sleep like a log. You’ve probably got a point regarding depression. I was on such a high from feeling like a normal person and it seemed to take care of my depression, I thought maybe depression was just linked to my previously undiagnosed ADHD. But that makes a lot of sense.

[Gettingittogether in reply to Snucheese]

Unfortunately depression for people with ADHD is often not caused by the ADHD. Rather, it's just another condition that typically goes along--apparently biologically--with ADHD.

Talk to your prescriber about depression.

Yes, many of us get that treatment high at the start of ADHD. But typically that does decline. We can only stay at a high for so long. Also, my theory is that with more energy and focus, we take on more tasks or try to do more tasks better--thus increasing the challenge the medication faces. Oh, and taking on those new tasks is a good thing.

[lovemypups2020]

Definitely a question best presented to your doctor but I don't think it's unusual to have to increase the dose over time. I'm not sure exactly what Dexedrine is but if it's similar to adderall, 15mg isn't much.

[lovemypups2020 in reply to lovemypups2020]

I also echo what others said about depression/anxiety. Apparently if those conditions are related to ADHD then the ADHD meds can help but I think in many cases, they're separate. I'm on Lexapro and it has changed my life.

[sharkticon]

That’s about the same time I went on adhd medication. I’m on vyvance, pretty much the same thing as adderall. I have similar questions. I did learn that for the first little while of taking the drug it’s common to feel like you have some extra energy which wears off after a few weeks. I think some of it is the excitement and optimism that life's going to be better now.

I also struggled with depression. Some of the depression was being caused by adhd. Or more what I would consider as intense boredom. Dopamine is the chemical that motivates you to do things. So when you have less of it the amount you do have you burn through quicker, it can very easily lead to depression, and dopamine seeking behaviors.

Right now I still believe my drugs are helping me, but feel like it could be doing more. My doctor told me to take a vacation from my drugs on a weekend once a month. It very quickly reminds me how bad stuff was before, and then the drugs seem to work much better again. He said some people need to take a quick break from the meds for them to maintain their effectiveness. But I do wonder if I need to up the dose just a bit.

But it sounds like you are doing a lot of great things I’ve gotten good at doing as well like exercise, therapy, and better eating.

I would just keep talking with your doctor. I think it’s Ok to not have it all figured out yet. I don’t think it hurts to try some other drugs and see if they work better. You can always go back to Dexedrine if it works best. Seems like some drugs could help more symptoms than other medications. Usually I read about people finding different drugs till they find the one that works. But it makes more sense to me that some could help a little and others could help a lot. It might take a little experimenting.

Have you tried things to reset your central nervous system like cold showers and meditative walks?

[psychtech]

I noticed that with adderall as well. But, I take holiday breaks 2x a week to wask out the medication and then restarted which becomes effective once again . Also, you may want to ask your provider to switch stimulant medications every couple of months that seemed to work with me as well.