Higher Elvanse dose for a few days?

[Hopeandsleep]

I have a few different dose pots of Elvanse from when I was titrating. Normally 40mg is a good therapeutic dose for me but I have a huge weekend where I am going to feel pretty triggered and need to be on top of my game (big birthday party that I’m organising in our garden, loads to coordinate, I’m pretty socially anxious anyway etc). Normally with these things I just go into a sort of fight or flight out of body experience - I hate them.

Question is; could I take a higher dose of Elvanse for the weekend like a 20mg plus a 40mg to help me with overwhelm? I am not sure if this is abusing the drugs or a sensible tactic for what I know will be a challenging few days. Drugs are only a part of the puzzle- I have talked to a counsellor to prepare as well.

Would appreciate any insights. H

[STEM_Dad]

The only recommendation that I can give you is to call your doctor.

I can't in good conscience advise anyone to take a medication other than as prescribed to them, because it might be harmful to do so.

But your doctor would know whether that dosage might be beneficial for you, or not.

[Gettingittogether]

Me too: I can only say call your doctor. I will note that if you have a strong reason for something, trust that your provider won't be a jerk. The goal is to keep our providers out of the box of being "parents." Where they say no, we feel ashamed.

Call the provider and leave a message with the question. Don't just ask for callback. Ask for answer to specific question ... good luck ....

Now I assume people do this occasionally without asking the doctor, but I don't want to formally recommend it.

[Hopeandsleep in reply to Gettingittogether]

thanks Gettingittogether great point about shame. I often feel embarrassed just to ask - it’s mad

[Gettingittogether]

Being afraid or guilty about being assertive with providers seems pretty widespread. Or maybe widespread among people with conditions like ADHD. I literally had a therapist who devoted like a key session to me being direct with doctors. She knew I was about to see a doctor and she worried that I was going to be too timid (She was right).

Forcefully, she made the case that I am not friends with a doctor and don't need to be their friend. It is a professional relationship and I'm hiring them! In a sense, I want to use them. Tell them what I'm doing, what I feel, so I can get them to help me. Took a while for this to sink it, but it has sunk in over time.

It's like a mantra I say to myself: I am not trying to be cute for a doctor, not trying to be their friends. They can handle whatever I share and if they can't I need a new doctor.

So you're not alone in the weirdness about being assertive with doctors. Just know there is tons of room to ask for what you want that does not at all reach the level of rude.