Neucon 36mg - how would I know if dose is too high

[RoxyBee]

I was first on Mefedinal 18mg and that worked well but just for a burst of few hours. Psych then changed me to Neucon and said to try 27mg or 36mg to see what works best (got script for both) Chose 36mg first; THat worked well for a week or so and now it feels like a car that struggles to start. I feel slightly low and I am not feeling the focus effect as much as I did in the beginning. I felt a big shift in the beginning but now I feel sluggish again and daily focusing takes effort so it makes me feel like napping in the middle of the day. If i walk around or engage in conversation then it feels like i pep up again and then when i need to focus and move away from the fun interaction my focus dives.... is this me getting used to my meds? Its my second month now. Will be chatting to pscyh about all of this and will also ask him if it perhaps my body that is not metabolising meds properly. I take it on an empty stomach as prescribed and im on the slow release long acting med. I kind of feel less peppy than I usually am but is this just the old hyper me self that was all over the place getting nothing done? I am overthinking things and its making me paranoid thinking perhaps Im not adhd and google is not my friend lol. After reading a few articles it seems that the low mood could mean that the dose is too high... please share if anyone has experienced this?

Thank you.

[Ejcox2002]

Hey! I'm on Concerta both a methylphenidate.

You are right, on both things (personal opinion)-

At the start of the - it can be your body getting used to it. But if it continues then it is also a sign it is the wrong dose ( I think they like you to try it for 2/weeks?)

Is it as soon as you take it, or is it part way through the day- I get the latter as such, im prescribed 2x slow release a day.

[RoxyBee in reply to Ejcox2002]

thank you for this. When I took the 18mg mefedinal It was less than an hour in and I would start to feel the effect but it would only then last a few hours. I should probably have tried 27mg first but when I took the 36mg for the first time (neucon) it took hours to kick in, then it would peak and then have little sparks of it till later in the evening... but nothing like what i felt on the 18mg for those few hours. So I thought ah well, 27mg will be too weak. I'm inclined to think I need 2 smaller doses and will chat about that at my next appointment. Only thing is now im stuck with an almost full bottle of possibly the wrong dose. this is going into my second month, so ive completed 4 weeks on the 36mg and it's been up and down as far as me feeling like its working well. Perhaps I should give it another week (last week in my town was stressful and there was a public holiday which made it a weird unstructured week) It's also information overload as a newbie adult diagnosed, so also years of unlearning coping mehanisms and learning how to just be me. But I knew going into this that it could take some time to find the right fit thanks again for sharing.

[RoxyBee in reply to Ejcox2002]

p.s to answer your question; is it when i take it or part way thru the day? It's now not even really kicking in... i feel like a dud firework lol that's the only way I can explain how I feel... like I WANT to be productive but im lacking the enthusiasm I had, now i feel kinda flat.

[Ejcox2002 in reply to RoxyBee]

The weird thing with ADHD medication it is not like painkillers (the higher dose the better kick) it's about getting the right dose to work with your head... If you get me.

So 27mg, actually may work better! But it may wear off after a few hours, if it does then you could suggest to the Doc that you take 2x during the day. 1 in the am and 2nd before it disappears!

[RoxyBee in reply to Ejcox2002]

Yes, this was my thinking too.... What are your thoughts about the 36mg not really kicking in ... do you think a dose that's too high could have an adverse effect?

[Ejcox2002 in reply to RoxyBee]

Yeah, it probably doesn't work with your chemistry. You should give it a chance, then try the 27mg.

I also think, you need to be in the right mind too, if you get me- like if im having a shit mood day (something has pissed me off, massively), my meds will actually make that mood worse for longer too.. Again, don't know if there is any scientific evidence behind that but also worth thinking about- have I been in the right place to see if my meds work the best!

Also, if I am on vacation (mind not being stimulated that much) then I get all the anxiety side-effects too... Because the meds is setup for my active mind...

[RoxyBee in reply to Ejcox2002]

yeah, I get you. this is me too.... i felt that today. it makes the world of difference knowing that I am not alone feeling this way. Was starting to feel super paranoid that i would start having bad medical side effects!! phew let me just go and calm down LOL. Thanks so much for your replies.

[Ejcox2002 in reply to RoxyBee]

No worries! ADHD meds suck. But... They are also amazing, when they work. It's all about working it out, in your mind and coming to terms with it all.

I still struggle to this day, and im lucky I have had a diagnosis for years. But this is the ADHD... This is why it is a disability... I'm in my 20s and still cuddle a teddy and a blanket... Because I get in shit places.

But when you get the right balance, those okay days are turned into good days.

If you can afford it, I recommend coaching with an ADHD specialist (ideally someone with ADHD or autism too) not necessarily for 'coaching' but more offloading your moans too! Then they let you unpick and help.

I still have coaching- it doesn't work every week, as it only works when im in good place and not tired but then I moan about things ha. Situtions or things that annoy me... Then she will emphasise(sometime) then we rebuild!

This is where I learnt about spoons! Or tokens-

So- two people all have 10 tokens-

A neurotypical person goes to the fun fair... It costs them 1 token to play the game. So they can do 10 things before running out of tokens...

A ADHDer they have to pay 4 tokens- so they can't do as much at the fair...

In essence, we use more energy to do things...

So we have to find strategies (I call them discount coupons ha- to get more value for money) in order to get more things done!

ADHD meds is just another coupon to help us get more value for our energy during the day!

[RoxyBee in reply to Ejcox2002]

omg! love how you explained that. Yeah the acceptance and getting educated is my priority right now. and yes, I really have to find strategies to deal with stuff. I'll look into an ADHD coach, tks for the tip.

[Slmndrs]

could be that the higher dose affects sleep quality. For me that’s cumulative and I might be fine for a few days and then start deteriorating. Sleep is so key.

My current regime is extended release Ritalin in the morning (18-36mg, still playing with that) and immediate release once in the afternoon (trickier for me to remember but it makes a good difference when I do, 5-10mg). This actually helps with my sleep overall because it helps my have the executive function to actually get myself to bed. But it’s still a constant balancing act on the sleep.

[RoxyBee in reply to Slmndrs]

the sleep is a balancing act definitely! Getting used to meds and 36mg working very well again.... i think being peri menopausal also affects my hormones so I need to just be aware of it.

[_Sarah_J]

The slow release long acting is supposed to prevent the crash. You might prefer the short acting methylphenidate. You can learn how long each dose lasts (my experience 3.5-4 hours) and take the next dose around 1/2 hour before the current one wears off. It gives you more control. You can choose to use it for shorter stretches of time if you don’t need it all day, or for example, need it in the morning and evening, but not afternoon. You can also cut them if you need to take less on some days. Good luck.

In the US the long acting is way more expensive than the short acting, and there’s also genetic for short acting (though it’s questionable if the generics are as good.)

[RoxyBee in reply to _Sarah_J]

THank you, I will ask my doc for this option. 36mg is working like the bomb again and I think the crash is related to my cycle.... Im perimenopausal and also on anti-depressants so I think with the addition of adhd meds it's just my body adjusting. I also am learning that I am inattentive adhd and not hyperactive adhd, so when im off meds im totally unproductive and cannot focus. On meds I feel normal and productive, albeit a bit hyper but ive been missing that productive component from my life for many years. The meds help me feel structured and its a process learning how to be this new person who can actually do things. So on 36mg im go go all day and still feel good at night but need to take something to sleep.... so perhaps the short acting one would definitey be an option for me.

[_Sarah_J]

I’m glad you’re experiencing positive results with the meds. You seem to be taking everything into account, are exploring all options, and are able to advocate for your yourself with your provider, which seems to me likely to result in finding what best works for you. 👍🏻

[seancc]

hey i know the response is a little late. im on my third on months and tbh getting the perfect dose is work and takes time. My first month was neucon 18mg, worked for a bit until the curve totally flattened, i had insane anxiety (almost paranoia) the first week but that got better as the month progressed. my second month was mefedinel 36mg, it kicked in fast and but didnt last and i felt the kick the first week and went on to being my old sluggish self, the sleep quality was trash too arghh. this month wanted to get 36mg neucon but the pharmacist said it was the same thing and mefedinel was cost effective and forced me into it. now im here stuck with a full bottle of nonsense lol. i think next month ill ask my doc for a 36 mg prescription of concerta and see how it goes. hopefully ill get to my perfect dose soon

[Fozthefunny]

I take 108mg a day .don't give me less cause it's a was of time . But someday when I am very busy at work I will take an extra 54mg that is total of 162 . If I don't take that I just start to loose focus . But on a normal day 108 MG work