Zombie effect

[BethnyL]

I was given ritalin for my add/adhd. The hole time I was a zombie now I don't k kw what I'm looking for but are only problem with this country is that we feed kids meds and expect them to be adults when we don't even get raised. Sick of not being heard! Tired of the labels that have been put on me.

[STEM_Dad]

Welcome to the community BethnyL !

The zombie effect from stimulant medications might indicate that the dosage is too high. It might also indicate that it's the wrong type of medication.

Sometimes what's needed is to change from the Instant Release (IR) formulation to an Extended Release (ER or XR) one.

Some people do better on amphetamine based stimulants like Adderall or Vyvanse, instead of methylphenidate ones like Ritalin or Concerta. Or vice versa.

Then again, for some people, non-stimulant medications are a better option. I started on Adderall XR, but when it didn't work well enough and then even gave me concerning side effects, I convinced my doctor to switch me to non-stimulant Strattera.

Some relatively recent research found that a greater percentage of women and girls with ADHD respond better to non-stimulants than to stimulants for treating ADHD.

• For most males, stimulants usually treat ADHD better. (I'm the exception to the rule.)

• For most females, it seems to lean more the opposite way.

(I have a theory that people with more prominent Hyperactive-Impulsive traits would probably respond better to stimulants, while those with Predominantly Inattentive traits would be more likely to respond better to non-stimulants.)

It varies by the individual. We each have our own unique sensitivities to the different types of ADHD medication.

[BethnyL in reply to STEM_Dad]

I don't believe I was add/adhd to beginning with but now after meds for so long as a child it's like my brain adopted to it

[STEM_Dad in reply to BethnyL]

It's possible to be misdiagnosed with ADHD/ADHD. If you don't truly have it, then that would explain why the medication made you feel like a zombie.

If you don't mind sharing, can you recall your symptoms, traits, or behaviors that were believed to be due to ADHD?

Do you have some ideas of what it is that caused/causes you to be that way?

I know that other conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), OCD, depression, anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, or other medical conditions can exhibit similarly.

There's another attention disorder called Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) which can appear to be just like Predominantly Inattentive ADHD. It's believed to often, but not always, be comorbid with Inattentive or Combined ADHD. CDS is not yet in the diagnostic guide, so it has been studied, but rarely given as a diagnosis. (According to study results, CDS is not effectively treated by methylphenidate/Ritalin, but atomoxetine/Strattera does seem to treat it well.)

[Mamamichl]

I have the opposite experience. I was never labeled, so people just kept firing me because I socialized different. I can’t get my daughter meds though I know the meds have helped me greatly. She’s 10 now and going through puberty, so I think it’s about time before we start middle school when I had the most trouble.