Hi
Has anyone experienced being more talkative or easily distracted as a result of taking meds? My focus is worse. It has me thinking that ive been misdiagnosed but then I see or read things to do with adhd and I'm reminded of how I have these symptoms.
Maybe another medication would help?
Do you feel Buzzed or extra wired up? Antsy? You may have been given too high of a dosage. Or maybe another brand/type of ADHD would be a better fit for you.Keep going!
Yes, antsy and buzzing. I don't really shut up and I feel all over the place. I didn't feel like that in the weeks previous. I mean I did to some degree but yesterday I was 100mph. Also, should you avoid caffeine on methylphenidate?
I felt different when I would drink a cup of coffee. So I stayed away from it.
That I can't answer. For me, Coca-cola is my bad habit. It usually helps me relax. For others, the sugar and caffeine would probably make them more wired. But I'm an anomaly, weird, different, etc. Best to ask your MD.Finding the ADHD Rx that works for you is usually mostly Trial and Error. They can't prescribe a certain Rx at a certain dose and know it will work. They can't base it on sex, height, weight, etc. The Doctor will probably choose the Rx, at low or medium dose, because he's seen that has been a good place to with his other patients. Hang in there and don't give up. It may take a while to find your Rx at your dosage. I've been there. Peace of mind to you
There are dozens of ADHD medications, each with varying doses. One med at one dose means nothing. You need to report your symptoms and have the provider adjust medications.
My doctor just had me do a DNA genetic test for psychiatric meds because I have a lot of adverse reactions or absorb meds too fast. It's called genesight. I don't know how legit it is yet. I just submitted my test. But some meds have increased our caused me more symptoms. Luckily I'm hanging in there with what I'm on now.
I found methylphenidate made my symptoms worse! And I also had a hyperactive episode which I don’t tend to have often
Dear Nurse,
I get more talkative on my meds as this and many previous replies show but I also enjoy it.
With ADHD I have long been justifiedly talkative anyway. I subconsciously had, later with increased awareness FELT the need to talk too long. Like a pressure cooker.
Later I experienced the overwhelming desire to express myself after "discovering" antidepressants and every time they lifted my mood out of the darkness and constant fear of my younger ugly duckling mentality.
The first such time was over 20 years ago when I was already over 30 but clueless and still ashamed of too many things.
In England my workmates are nurses, doctors, cleaners, porters, health care assistants, managers, medical secretaries and patients and friends (I talk to them all, to strangers in the streets and in the lift and also on this forum which at least distributes solid and the other waste over several land fills) who have known me as extrovert/monkey/open book/soap/family comedy for long enough.
5 years ago I was lucky to arrive somewhere where humour is celebrated and applied where possible and where even unfunny silliness and giddiness are forgiven with a grin.
And here I hope my avatar protects me. I wouldn't even be horrified if it didn't. I'm too old as I was already old as a child.
It might annoy some readers, this effusiveness and exhibitionism, but I am selfish and say it helps ME.
I am much more the person I really am when I can talk. With age it may go both ways. My younger hominid versions were embarrassed and hated this logorrhoea but at 56 I found I can't help it and no longer want to "work at it".
It is far too much hard work to hold back. I get miserable when I hear people talking about them or others having to work at or on something to do with themselves.
Eff off. Work is work and in my free time I don't want to work.
So I enjoy talking and writing. I try to make the best of it for others i.e. try not to burden them with the miserable parts but entertain and make them laugh. Apart from the gratification of seeing they are well for a moment I believe one only stays popular when one doesn't abuse their fellow hominids with constant moaning and yapping. By observation, absorption and analysis of their reactions one can refine their antennae for when it's enough. Which must definitely be BEFORE - I am confidently optimistic here - boredom sets in. One best stops or leaves right at the most hilarious moment.
Some people quietly hate happy chatters. Some think they need to be taken down from up high, some need to see them miserable to feel happy. In my experience it helps to make payback, to mutter something in a foreign language, to stare menacingly at the enemy for a bit or to have an extra-loud laugh or hugs with someone else nearby. At least it is way more fun than just ignoring them which is what neurotypicals may manage and recommend but which obviously goes against the neurodiverse nature.
My younger ego would have ruminated over the shame of rejection and gotten depressed but, actually, talking and joking (and many talking points can be artfully lightened that way) comes with an incredible sense of liberation and joy. There is also the relief and fresh air that comes with venting. I could not do this for such a long time in childhood, adolescence, younger adulthood when I was still unaware of the power of words and speech, wrapped up in insecurity and wasted good energy chastising myself over personal and academic misadventures.
Having adopted talking I've honed my senses to sense. I alter, adjust, apologise (profusely obviously, never less than that), explain, stop, whip something up again and I practice to no longer fear reactions to my natural impulsiveness. I have decided that those dark times of fear, shame, embarrassment are over as long as I can help it.
I have thought about things and decided that I'd sooner accept that people have a negative opinion of chatter than falling back into suppressing my needs and the fear to talk. Writing this I have a fleeting recall of those days, the shameful regret, the existential greying out of thought and the distortion of priorities that comes with overanalysing everything.
When I was diagnosed with ADHD but not yet on meds for it it was this earlier resolve to no longer hide what mattered that made it possible for me to tell people. I was already on permanent antidepressants which also helped.
Response came with a lot of interest in the condition and in opening up of others about their mental wellbeing. Some staff and friends (the family keeps it under wraps if they even think about it) think they may have it, too, some know of someone who potentially has the symptoms and is or isn't diagnosed yet.
Re myself I feel that people appreciated it and some said they weren't surprised. If anything, people reacted warm and friendly. They are anyway, they are a great bunch, but some staff relationships seem even more solid since. And I don't think I am wrong here (When I receive feedback - verbally and non-verbally - patients and staff usually say or signal that I'm "getting it".) Some people have now seen a psychiatrist themselves or have opened up about their struggles. That's a good thing, too.
I am on my first ADHD drug which is the one I asked for after doing my own research and my psychiatrist could agree with my choice.
I take Vyvanse/Elvanse 70mg daily on a prn basis which is most days and I probably benefit by still being sensitive to its effects way past its supposed efficacy duration of 13 hours and even on the days I don't take it provided I've had enough sleep. I guess then I benefit from the learning and unlearning the brain does when bathed in more of the good stuff.
Approximately 75-90min after taking Elvanse - with lots of lovely coffee before and after which doesn't make me uncomfortably wired at all - I feel my senses starting to sharpen, a great feeling of calm and content coming over me, a sense of being at ease and peace with this beautiful life and I get an eagerness to read something to drill my synapses into, to analyse, strategize or to enthuse.
And I feel total freedom of fear which is massively quality-enhancing having lived with the ebbs and flows of anxiety between 6 and 30 something.
I am also on Venlafaxine and sometimes wonder if I should try reducing this and be on my top dose of Elvanse every day but then why rock the boat?
For me the whole thing has been a success. Being diagnosed, starting and experiencing the effect of titrated treatment, enhancement of existing resources and - some hard learned - life skills, developing positivity and happiness with myself and my life, aiming towards the point where one day I hopefully WILL stop thinking about "myself in the world" quite as much, all of this I continue to feel grateful for and not being a spiritual animal understand why people are drawn towards a god or faith it fate.
I even feel good in the imagination what I could have achieved had it been possible to diagnose and treat me decades earlier.
That person is still me and is alife.
It's never ever too late to do the things that fulfill us. I have a few more years to retirement and in the meantime I am resolved to enjoy the ride as much as I can including my work place and co-workers and use both, the knowledge of the diagnosis and my treatment to their full advantage. I am not afraid of rejection and no-one has walked away yet. Which is great as those who stand next to you before the fan are the ones most likely still standing when the real sh1t hits.
Finally, distractions. I get a lot of things out of it. Mostly joyful thought experiments but also visual highlights, variety, some accomplishments in staying with what interests me to the end. Maybe one could develop a strategy of arranging distractions in order to get things done that need to be done. Tricking your ADHD so to speak.
Maybe try Wellbutrin vs a stimulant medication? I am naturally chatty and can find that it gets magnified on stimulants. I've taken Wellbutrin before & found it helped me a lot, I may think about going back on that and dropping my stimulant.
Hi! My symptoms are not worse on ADHD medication but you might want to listen to Episode 3 of the Bodies podcast.
bodiespodcast.com/resource-...
The woman in this podcast was originally diagnosed with ADHD but her medication was making resulting in risky behavior and it turned out she was misdiagnosed.
Also, you might consider genetic testing to help find the best medication.
additudemag.com/genetic-tes...
Good luck!
I do at times. If I let it. So I keep my focus on my something to keep my brain and motor skills going. We are normally all over the place but overall the meds shows me to finish. I rather get something done than just being all over the place. One positive aspect of this illness. We work best under pressure. How much is your dosage? I feel 60 a day is the best fitting to me. 30 mg of time release in the morning and then 30mg of tablet of Adderal. Otherwise, I feel like I’m on speed. I guess we have to pick and choose our battles. Good luck
Thanks for your reply. I take 36mg Xaggitin XL each day. I've found not drinking caffeine has helped me feel less anxious and like I'm wired, as someone described previous. I'm starting a masters degree and it's making me want to come off meds completely rather than go through peaks and troughs whilst trying to take on such a challenge. I've only been titrating for 6 weeks.
I feel this very deeply! I am also a nurse, who went back for her masters after 14 years academic gap. I crashed and burned miserably on re-entry, aware of last adhd -related academic trauma from undx adhd. I got an evaluation, was properly diagnosed with mixed adhd predominantly inattentive. Then came a difficult year of experimenting with several different prescribed adhd medications. Stimulant, nom-stimulant, Effexor for unmanaged adhd anxiety. All while attempting to write and produce amazing academic-level work. Numerous side effects and rapid dose ascent made it near,y impossible to do this. Finally I had to stop because assignments were piling up and meds were more counter productive. Now taking nootropics and raw food, trying lifestyle and therapy approaches. Didn’t fix problems but I trust my brain more. Was advised here results can take longer. Also menopause connection was a big aha related to drop in dopamine! More to come here on this.
I'm sorry tha you've had that experience. I'm going to try supplements and advising the university of my diagnosis. I was able to obtain high grades in my degree (undiagnosed) but that was not easy and time will be against me in the Masters. Iron deficiency is another thing to add to the mix. Plus all that comes with attempting to remedy that.
Yes, do go for accommodations- my university, probably like others do as well, has an AccessAbility education department for student support- adhd coaching, etc. Use it all. I learned a lot about the way I have been masking and accepting blame when I failed in the past. As a student with ADHD it is your right, (surrender the stigma) and for me it took a lot of the pressure off time/ deadlines which was causing most of the anxiety that was preventing me from focusing- catastrophizing that my profs would punish me for late assignments eventually stopped, and it has been very healing for me considering my late diagnosis. I’ve masked it my whole life working night shifts ( less micromanaging), icu ( focus on ONE patient), specializing in ONE area and being kick ass at it. Grad school kicked my ass but I made it and am graduating this fall! You can do it too- allow yourself to surrender to all the help that is out there and then be the best patient advocate for yourself. I also participated in student development support and mindfulness co-curricular offerings, free through the university. This was very helpful for me. I hadn’t considered how all coursework in grad school would be writing assignments ( no exams) -no matter what you do they can stack up fast! Be proactive about your needs and be honest with yourself too! Best of luck on your journey!
Thank you. I'm so touched by your encouragement and support. I actually felt embarrassed writing about my diagnosis on the uni form the other day. I really am in denial despite all the evidence to the contrary. It's so reassuring to communicate with someone who has shared similar experiences. I'm extremely independent and asking for help is not in my nature, to my detriment. Congratulations on all that you have managed to achieve pre and post diagnosis. Telling your story and sharing it with people is to be commended and I hope that you feel some pride in knowing that it gives others hope 🙏
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