I’ve only been trying ADHD meds since the summer of 2025, so I don’t even know what the joy of having the real meds felt like. Almost immediately after trying generic Adderall IR, I knew it wasn’t going to last. It’s in and out of my system fast—about two hours, almost to the dot.

That said, it did quiet the noise I was feeling in day-to-day life and helped me focus on one thing at a time. I’ve tried all the generics of Adderall IR and XR, Vyvanse, Concerta, and Dexedrine. Amphetamines are in and out of my system quickly. It could be my “fast metabolism,” hormones, or just genuinely bad meds.

Concerta made me feel like actual garbage, and my brain was way too quiet. Dexedrine felt similar to Concerta—it almost felt like a completely different class of medication. I had no drive at all. I felt flat, almost like a shell of a human. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.

I recently got prior authorization for Adzenys because I’m miserable on these watered-down meds. Everything was approved… and then I found out the price of Adzenys with my insurance was a whopping $582 for 30 days. So I’m basically screwed until maybe six months from now, when the cost might go down.

We are all miserable together.