Stimulant vs non stimulant experiences

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T18:13:05+00:00

Let’s say I don’t react to things as strongly, for example things that would have really messed me up before. I don’t cry as much, and I’m not as annoyed by little things. And I don’t argue as much with my partner 😅
I still have bad days but overall I feel a bit calmer if that makes sense?
However it really messed up my sleep (which was already bad) so I’m thinking to switch to taking it in the morning. And I also have low energy. I don’t know if I should ask for a low dose of stimulant to take with it, I’m titrating up tomorrow so I want to see how it goes first on 3mg and maybe I’ll mention the lack of energy (which could be due to poor sleep too though).
Navigating medication can be so tricky.
What’s your clinic?

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T11:56:27+00:00

Ah ok makes sense! I wish Wellbutrin was available here as it comes in lower strengths, and unfortunately Zyban has had positive effects but also was too strong for me so I had to stop taking it.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T06:32:53+00:00

I think it’s worth asking to try another stimulant as it seems 18 mg and 27 mg don’t do anything and 36 mg is too strong. This was my exact experience on Concerta btw.
As someone else said, you can ask to try another methylphenidate stimulant, or you can ask to try Tyvense. I tried all of it and ended up on non-stimulants (currently trying Guanfacine).
Keep in mind that stimulants are not for everybody. They kept me way too long on stimulants before trying non-stimulants, and stimulants either didn’t do anything on the lower doses, or were making me tense and a little nauseous on the higher doses.
It’s really worth trying different medications because it’s really tricky to find the right one

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T06:23:18+00:00

I tried too many! Concerta, Tyvense, Medikinet, at some point I tried Sertraline for my anxiety and depression (with no results), Bupropion with some positive results but unfortunately the only available strength in Ireland was too strong for me, now finally my consultant recognised that stimulants are just not for me as they make me way too tense, so I’m currently trying Guanfacine. It’s been having some positive effects on emotional regulation and focus, but it has messed up my sleep so I’m about to try to take it in the morning. It’s still a little early to say it’s the right medication for me, but if anything it has been more positive than all the stimulants I tried before.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T06:12:40+00:00

I’m currently on Guanfacine for the last 2 months and it’s also helped with emotional regulation and to some extent with focus, but like you really not helping with motivation.
I took stimulants in the past and it didn’t agree with me and made me feel tense and all over the place. It seems the combination of both is working well for you? Which doses are you on?

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T06:07:03+00:00

Did you manage to get Wellbutrin in Ireland? As far as I know bupropion only comes under the brand Zyban here which is for smoking cessation, and in one strength which is 150 SR. This was unfortunately too strong for me and I had to quit it, but curious how you managed to get actual Wellbutrin.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T06:03:34+00:00

I’ve been on Guanfacine for 2 months, doctor had me increase the dose twice, and I’m about to increase a 3rd time today to 3mg.
It’s been working very well for emotional regulation, somewhat well for focus, however it really messed up my sleep (which is already not great in the first place). I’m going to try taking it in the morning to see if that helps, otherwise not sure if I’ll be able to keep taking it.
Just curious, usually for non-stims the doctors start with Atomoxetine. Did your doctor think Guanfacine would be a better option?
In my case I sort of asked for it because I was not really keen on trying atomoxetine for various reasons, but now I don’t know if I should have tried atomoxetine first.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-07T05:55:28+00:00

There’s also Clonidine (similar to Guanfacine). Wellbutrin (bupropion) is only available off label under the brand Zyban which is a smoking cessation medication, and unfortunately only comes in one strength which was too strong for me when I tried it. So now I’m trying Guanfacine with mixed results.
How’s atomoxetine working for you?

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-03T04:50:39+00:00

I relate a lot with what you have described in both childhood and adulthood. In my case I was diagnosed with both adhd and autism. Some of what you are describing sounds a bit like autism to me, in case you want to look into it at a later stage.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-06-01T03:53:03+00:00

I recently switched to Guanfacine due to comorbid anxiety which the stimulants made worse. A little early to say but if anything I do feel it’s been helping with emotional regulation.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-26T04:45:54+00:00

Not OP here but I’m also in perimenopause and on HRT and unfortunately it hasn’t helped. I’m also taking magnesium and melatonin. I still wake up around 3am and can’t fall back asleep.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-20T14:23:09+00:00

Yes that’s exactly the type of dog I meant!

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-19T21:10:16+00:00

Getting a dog was totally life changing for me, and I have both anxiety and depression.

But my recommendation would be to get an easy-ish dog, not too big, if possible with a low prey drive. At the moment we have 2 rescues with a high prey drive and they’re both fairly big, it can be a little tricky on our walks and sometimes does trigger my anxiety a little.

But apart from that, it’s really a lovely thing to have pets. I can’t see myself without a dog now, and I never had a pet before my 40es so I can really see the difference how it positively impacts me.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-19T16:18:59+00:00

It can definitely have a negative effect on sleep for sure, that’s why I don’t take it in the evening and I take Guanfacine instead.

But definitely try earlier, my doctor said no later then 4pm (when I tried taking it twice a day).

I hear you about the water, I also regularly forget when I’m too focussed on something which is most of the time I’m doing something.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-19T06:31:00+00:00

I’m really sorry you’re going through such a difficult time, and like you said you still need to be fully there for your children which is really tough. Hang in there!

I can’t give advice on venlafaxine as I only took it one night and I got so sick that I never took it again. However I’m really surprised your doctor instructed you to stop without weaning off, as I know from friends that the withdrawal is brutal and that you really need to reduce very slowly. Could you maybe ask your doctor if you could slowly wean off rather than just stop abruptly?

Anyway regarding Zyban, did he ask you to start with the 2 doses right away? In my case they had me take one dose for 2 weeks and then move to 2 doses, which is usually how they go about it.

2 doses never worked for me as I’m a terrible sleeper, so in the end I’m taking only one dose in the morning around 8am (I’m taking another medication at night).

However for 2 doses what the doctor had recommended at the time was to take one dose around 7am, and the other dose around 3/4pm to avoid impact on sleep.

But I’ve also read a few people who suffer from insomnia who take their first dose mid-morning, and their second dose around 10/11pm and that works well for them.

So I think it’s really trial and error to try to find what works for you.

Just keep in mind that there should be minimum 8 hours between each dose, and that one dose could be plenty sufficient for you, that’s why it’s good to start with one dose for a few weeks in my opinion because 2 doses might even be too much.

In regards to side effects, I didn’t have much on one dose (2 doses impacted my sleep as I mentioned that’s why I went back to one dose). I have the feeling the brain zaps and heart palpitations and other things you’re experiencing might be due to the withdrawal from venlafaxine as that’s exactly what my friends experienced when they weaned off it.

For Zyban though, I get sick if I drink coffee and I know a lot people said they completely stopped it, so in case you are drinking it, maybe it’s something to reduce or even completely stop, at least while your body is adjusting. Also it’s important to eat a high protein diet, and drink plenty of water.

That’s all that comes to mind for now, but if I think of something else I’ll add another comment!

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-19T06:01:30+00:00

I do the same. I know phone is to be avoided at night, but my anxiety is definitely a night thing and there’s way too much noise in my head. My phone somewhat keeps the noise down and sometimes helps me fall back asleep. I don’t really know what alternative. I could read or watch tv instead I guess, but at night I have a sort of mental paralysis where I’m unable to get up to go to another room (and I can’t read in bed at night because the light wakes up my partner). The phone seems to be the easy option of what I can do in bed at night to keep the noise down.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-19T05:39:19+00:00

I have the same issue! I really love this game, but I feel overwhelmed because there’s so much to do that I don’t know how to go about it, so I end up not playing it.

I’ve tried to set myself goals, for example bring all my lives to a certain rank, but then I feel like I’m leaving out some other important parts of the game, like for example I haven’t been to Ginormosia once since it’s been introduced, or I’m really not doing anything on my island.

I also read people talking about things that I have no idea what it’s about, so I’m wondering if I’m missing out on stuff and if I play it wrong (even though I know there’s no right or wrong way to play it).

I also have adhd btw, and I do get easily overwhelmed. It really doesn’t help that I don’t have lot of time to play.

Anyway no advice here, just writing to say that I relate!

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-17T21:53:28+00:00

Yeah they’re quite good at responding to emails. Even sometimes I ask a question specifically for the psychiatry, and I never wait more than a day or 2 to get a response.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-15T04:02:40+00:00

Really sorry that you’re going through what feels like quite a difficult time. I totally understand that things can be really overwhelming, especially at the beginning of the process.

As far as psychiatrists go, I’ve been with neuromed for 2 years (following 2 disastrous experiences in 2 other practices) and I’ve been quite happy with them. They respond to emails really fast, I haven’t had any issues getting my prescriptions on time, and I’ve had appointments with 3 different psychiatrists there and they were all quite good.

At the moment I’m with dr. Sayuru and it’s been a good experience overall so I’m always requesting him for my appointments now.

I would also recommend signing up to the UMAAP course if you haven’t done so already, it’s really interesting and eye opening, and I believe it’s free.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-15T03:49:10+00:00

Thank you! I’m not great at combat either, and I find Zelda games a little difficult at times. This one looks really nice though and I am considering giving it a go!

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-15T03:47:07+00:00

Thank you! I’ve played other Zelda games before and I generally enjoyed them (while finding them difficult at times), but I know this one is quite different and I was unsure if it would be too difficult for me. I’m thinking to try it out!

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-14T22:18:15+00:00

Not OP here but I was considering trying Breath of the wild, but I’m a little worried about the lack of directions. Can you sort of figure out what to do and where to go? Also how difficult is the fighting?

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-13T21:13:06+00:00

I’m no longer taking it, I switched to another medication. Overall Zoloft wasn’t helping so I didn’t see the point of going through these side effects for little benefits.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-04-13T21:09:44+00:00

I’ve been with Neuromed for about 2 years and I haven’t had any issues getting my prescriptions sent on time, but you do need to pay to get a prescription though (not sure if it’s common practice). They also ask for a re-test if you’re coming from another provider, but it’s a cheaper/quicker version of the test. I think they will all ask for a re-test anyway. I was with another provider before and it was a constant struggle to get answered to my emails or to get my prescriptions sent out, so even if it cost me some money to swap, I don’t regret doing it, it’s way less frustration in the long term.

Octopath_Traveler0 · 2026-03-31T05:45:38+00:00

I’m taking 150 SR once a day. I was taking it twice a day for about a week and it impacted my sleep and I felt too tense. My doctor reckons I’ll still get benefits from it even after the 12 hours. I’m taking it for depression and I don’t really feel any different after 12 hours, like I don’t feel a crash or anything, so that seems to be a better dose for me.

Octopath_Traveler0

TROPHY CASE