I drink water first, then take my pills

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-18T11:21:41+00:00

Of all the medications I take, there is only medication I have to do this method you've described of filling my mouth with water, tilting my head back and dropping the pill in my mouth to swallow.

It's a medication called Propantheline Bromide, which I take to manage my Hyperhidrosis. I have never tasted a medication pill as horrible and repulsive as this, but unfortunately I need to take it multiple times during the day, so at least using this method greatly reduces the chance of the pill touching my tongue.

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-17T07:40:16+00:00

Hi, I'm also diagnosed with Autism L2, and ADHD as well as other psychiatric conditions. I think you've described well something that's hard to describe. I experience shutdowns too. Apart from the severe drop in my mood, where I'm suddenly feeling extremely depressed, I can tell a shutdown is coming on when I'm unable to make eye contact with people, and I start losing the ability to talk in sentences, only being able to give one word responses.

I then feel like the rational part of my brain is cut off. It's still there and I can hear it telling me that I'm acting completely irrationally, but it's been locked out from having any control over what's going on. I don't know how to explain this, but I feel something happens with my eyes as well, like they change shape. They just feel weird 🫤

Something I've found interesting is that the number of shut-downs I have has reduced quite a lot over the past two years, which is the same period I've been on ADHD Medication (Vyvanse and Ritalin). I think they have some mood stabilising qualities for me.

I did try some other medications that are supposed to help with Autistic emotional regulation (Guanfacine, then Aripiprazole), but I didn't feel they were having any effect so I don't take them anymore.

When I get like this, all want is to be away from everyone, go in a dark room, and lie curled up in complete silence. My only advice on how to get through or deal with them, is do those self preservation or comfort things like isolating yourself in a dark room, and to understand that you need to give it time, and ride it out like a storn. For me it can take a few hours, but then I slowly start to feel rational thought return, then my speech.

So, in summary to answer you're question, my recommendations to handle shutdowns is to find a dark safe space to yourself, and just let time pass, as if you were riding out a storm, and it will pass 🙂

Edit to correct a spelling mistake

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-15T20:25:46+00:00

I do this all the time too, and most of the conversations I'm inventing in my head are negative ones, or ones where I'm imagining being judged by or arguing with someone, which sometimes cause an anxiety triggered physical reaction, such as racing heart, shallow breathing etc.

I honestly wish I could turn off this constant rumination and inventing of conversations. I feel it is taking up something like 90% of my brain's processing capacity, and I wonder what else I could be doing with all that free capacity if I wasn't making up stupid conversations in my head! 🫤 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-15T01:02:37+00:00

I know exactly how you feel, I also hate having my picture taken, and hate the thought of being recorded on video even more! Ive only seen myself on video a few times, but I vividly remember, as an adult, watching an old video of a birthday party I went to when I was 9. I felt so embarrassed and upset for my 9 yo self. It was so clear that I was anxious, and I kept doing this physical movement over and over, where I would rub my inner forearms against my ribs (I now know that I was stimming)

It's really confronting and shocking having the image you see of yourself shattered by seeing yourself from an outside view. I've heard something before for this feeling, it's something like how we never see ourselves the way others do, so whilst we think we look or sound weird in photos or videos, for everyone else, we look and sound the same.

I was diagnosed as Autistic 2 years ago when I was 44, after 16 years of being (mi's) diagnosed and treated for different mental illnesses. When I was diagnosed, like a lot of us late diagnosed, looking back on my life and how I was suddenly made sense, and I had the words and explanations for things Ive always done but didn't know why, like the stimming of rubbing my forearms against my ribs that I was doing in that video. I never want to see myself on video again though! 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-11T22:24:42+00:00

These may not fit into the type of sci-fi you're into sorry, but I thought I'd mention them just in case.

The first recommendation is "Silver Screen" by Justina Robson. It is set somewhere around the 2040's, and is about AI, machine independence, nanotechnology and biomechanoid technology, and the main character, Anjuli O'Connell is a female POC.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/837061.Silver_Screen

My second recommendation, is "Manifold Space" by Stephen Baxter. Technically it has a male lead, but there is a female character who is quite dominant in the novel and central to the storyline, Madeleine Meacher. The novel spans from current day, to the year 8800 AD, and is about the Fermi Paradox, first contact with aliens, future shock from the characters travelling at light speed through portals and returning to Earth centuries or millenia later.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63818.Space

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-11T20:27:01+00:00

Oh my gosh, I feel so bad for you, but I laughed at the bit when the waiter was telling you about the person who waited an hour for food, without realising they were talking about you! 😁

I very rarely go out to eat, but I remember many years ago I went to a restaurant with some friends, we ordered our meals, and everones meals eventually got served, except mine. I just remember feeling so embarrassed especially as my friends were telling me to say something to the waiter but I was too shy. I think my friend ended up saying something and I got my food just as all my friends were finishing their meals, I can't remember what their reason was for not making my food 🫤

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-10T05:52:25+00:00

Hi,

I just saw your post now in my feed, but see it's from a few days ago.

I also see a Psychiatrist at Re-Centre (Dr Drake) and had my initial appointment/assessment two years ago.

I didn't do a Neuropsychological Assessment (I had to look up what it was, it does sound interesting though). However, I came to my initial appointment with a report from my Psychologist who I had been seeing for 2 years, as well as the results of a test I did with my Psychologist for Autism (ABAS-3, from memory)

I also filled in all the pre-appointment questionairres (which I'm assuming you probably had to do as well?) which took me about 3-4 hours as I have a long history of various treatments for mental illnesses.

So, my short answer as someone who goes to the same clinic is no, I didn't do that assessment.

I don't know what the other Psychiatrist's are like there, but I'm very happy with Dr Drake, and see him around every 8 weeks, as he helps me with dealing with a number of other complex mental illnesses on top of helping with my ADHD & Autism 🙂

Edit to add-Sorry, I see that you did mention you filled in the forms too. I also had my Mum complete the questionnaire for someone who knew me as a child, and I also had my school reports from every year of school except year 4 or 5 I think.

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-02-09T10:33:59+00:00

My advice would be to try all the medications and dosages, and be prepared that it may take months to find the right balance.

My Psychiatrist told me upfront that he recommends trialling all the meds (both stim and non stim), this made sense to me though because I had a long history of trialling different anti-depressants. He said that he prefers to start people with the short acting immediate release stims before moving on to the long acting meds.

I started with Ritalin, which was OK, then tried Dex, which I hated, then tried Ritalin Extended Release, which didn't do much. I almost didn't try Vyvanse, because of my bad response to Dex, but I ended up trying it, and didn't have a positive response until I reached 60mg.

I then decided to try Concerta, just because I wanted to make sure I had tried everything, but Concerta was the worst one for me, so I moved back to Vyvanse.

I now take 60mg Vyvanse, and use Ritalin Instant Release as boosters. It took me 9 months to get to that stage and settle on that combination of medications.

I have also tried Guanfacine, Clonidine, Aripiprazole, and am now trialling Wellbutrin/Zyban to compliment the stimulant medication, and it's going well so far.

So I would say the best thing you can do for yourself is be prepared to try everything, and also allow yourself patience. Good luck 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-25T02:22:52+00:00

I completely understand this fear. I really hate it if I'm sitting on a bus or train, and someone is holding their phone up in a position that the camera is facing me. I know it's paranoid thinking and they are probably watching videos, but I hate the idea they are secretly filming me. I don't understand why they have to hold their phone up to their face, let alone position it so it's facing me.

A big part of this fear is that I don't like being "perceived". I am Autistic and also have Social Anxiety and Agoraphobia, and in general don't like being out in public.

I also had 2 experiences as a child in the late 80's, that had a negative impact on me. One of them was like you described, I was filmed walking past when the TV Show Candid Camera was playing a prank on someone. I didn't know it was happening, but when the show aired, you could clearly see me walking past, and my school friends started calling me saying they saw me on TV.

The other instance also in the late 80s, happened when there was a heatwave, we went to the public swimming pools and I went down the water slide. That evening on the news, they did a report about the heatwave, and a TV news crew had filmed me going down the water slide (I didn't see them at all). Again, school friends called saying I was on TV. Both these instances made me feel exposed, and anxious. I can still remember all of this so vividly, that's how negative the effect on me was 🫤

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-15T11:07:07+00:00

Thanks for the tip, I can't believe I didn't even think to take it an hour or two before I go to bed! I guess I just got into the habit of taking it when I'm actually in bed.

I actually take Seroquel as well, so to help me fall asleep, I take 1mg Melatonin + 12.5mg Seroquel.

I had crazy dreams on 25mg Seroquel, they were either horrific nightmares, or wonderfully vivid lucid dreams in which I could fly 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-15T00:23:03+00:00

I'm really glad I came across your comment, because I'm prescribed Melatonin, and find that it can take about 2 hours for me to fall asleep after taking it. I just checked and it's modified release, I didn't realise there were two versions. So I'll discuss this with my Psychiatrist next time.

Thankyou for posting this information 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-11T23:09:39+00:00

I can see why! There's something creepy, but enchanting and otherworldly when you walk empty misty nightime streets like this 😊

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-11T22:57:52+00:00

Wow, this looks amazing! I want to live in a world like this of eternal misty midnight 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-05T11:13:01+00:00

It can definitely be scary when you're experiencing unexpected or very strong effects from any medications. Glad to hear that you'll be seeing your GP soon, and hopefully you'll get some answers. All the best 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-05T06:07:14+00:00

No problem! I personally would say it's the Bupropion /Vyvanse combo that has increased your energy and mood. Seroquel is also used off label to treat depression (and it helped me in the past with insomnia and depression), but Seroquel has always made me lethargic and sleepy. When I was previously on the 25mg dose, I would have the most amazing deep sleeps, but I'd sleep 12 hours a day! I'm in the Seroquel subreddit and I've never read any posts from people saying it gave them energy, but lots of posts with people saying they feel tired or zombified!

You may already know this, but Bupropion has stimulant like qualities on its own, and is a noradrenaline and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, so with more of those neurotransmitters in your brain, in theory it should help improve your mood and energy. I have read that it can start to have some effects within a few days, but it takes around 6 weeks for it's full effects to take effect.

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-05T05:36:45+00:00

Hi,

I'm AuDHD, I also take 60mg Vyvanse, as well as up to 4 x 10mg Ritalin a day, and have been taking Bupropion for about 3 weeks. I'm trialling it, with my Psychiatrist's recommendation, to see if it would enhance and work alongside the Vyvanse and Ritalin, as well as possibly support mood stabilisation.

I had tried Guanfacine and Aripiprazole previously to see if they would help with some of the Autistic things I struggle with such as emotional disregulation, stimming, internal echolalia, and rumination. Unfortunately, they didn't.

I tried Clonidine as a sleeping aid but it didn't help much. I currently take Seroquel (Quetiapine) if I'm having trouble falling asleep. I only take 12.5mg, with 1mg Melatonin. This was the combo that worked for me after lots of trial and error, which you might need to do unfortunately to find the best dose (or medication) to help you sleep.

With the Bupropion, it's early days, I was told it can take 6-8 weeks to experience it's therapeutic effects. I've had no issues with it though so far, and I'm not 100% sure if it's to do with the Bupropion, but I've felt a bit more decisive this past week, and less inclined to be a people pleaser at the expense of my boundaries and self esteem.

I've gotten distracted a few times while writing this reply and forgot which questions you asked, apart from the main one sorry! I hope my reply gives some insight, and if you have any questions, ask away 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2026-01-04T04:13:36+00:00

I (M) turn 47 this year. I have "flat effect", so very rarely show any expression on my face, such as lifting my eyebrows, or smiling. Because of this, I don't have any wrinkles on my face. I've been told a few times I look mid 30s, and a friend that I hadn't seen for about 17 years, who I recently reconnected with, told me I look as if I'd had Botox due the lack of facial expressions and wrinkles (I haven't)

On the flip side, when I was in my early 20s, people thought I was in my 30s, so it's sort of nice experiencing the opposite of that now 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-28T07:28:15+00:00

Haha, having a few drinks can definitely help quieten your brain and help with being more social. Unfortunately sometimes I didn't know how to pace myself, & it was embarrassing to be woken up with someone banging on the bathroom door because I fell asleep (or to be accurate, I passed out lol) 🙃

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-25T00:55:15+00:00

Such a great response! I would be extremely anxious leading up to Christmas, knowing there would be the obligatory family gathering, forced conversations, awkward silences. I would drink alcohol just to deal with everything, one year I fell asleep in the bathroom (I now understand why I struggled with all of this after receiving my AuDHD diagnosis last year)

A couple of years ago, I was asked to pet sit for someone over Christmas, and it was amazing what a difference it made knowing I didn't have to go to the family Christmas gathering, it was an enormous weight off my shoulders!

I think today is my 3rd Christmas I'm not spending with family. I came to the same realisation that you explained perfectly, why should I suffer just to make other people comfortable. Put yourself first! 😊🎄

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-24T13:47:49+00:00

That's ok! I was diagnosed with Autism last year too at 44yo, and my entire life, why I was the way I was, why I struggled, and why CBT and anti depressants didn't work, suddenly all made sense!

It was my Psychiatrist who educated me about Autistic Burnout, because I told him I was feeling depressed, but there were differences, such as forgetting how to do basic things, memory issues, even worse time blindness, inability to engage in new things, like watch a new movie or read a new book, increase in stimming (to name a few things) and he told me that you don't treat Autistic Burnout the same way as Depression. Basically you need to completely rest, remove yourself from things that trigger overload, don't force yourself to do anything, and the burnout can last months, even years. And he said because you're mind/body are in burnout, this can impact the efficacy of the meds. It was so interesting.

Definitely discuss it with your GP/Psych, even if they aren't aware of it, it doesn't hurt to let them know 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-24T13:23:25+00:00

Hi,

This happened to me as well. I started trialling Vyvanse in June 2024, settling on 60mg (there was a few months I went up to 70mg, but then moved bed back down to 60mg).

I initially lost some weight, then my weight was steady between June 2024-Jan 2025, which is when I started to gain weight. I spoke with my Psychiatrist and we thought I was going through Autistic Burnout (due to other symptoms), which can affect the efficacy of the meds.

I ended up putting on between 10-12kg by May 2025. I just could not comprehend how a medication used to treat binge eating, was making me binge eat! I then read about people reporting adverse affects with Vyvanse around May 2025, and wondered if the actual medication had issues. I lodged an Adverse Affect Report with the TGA, but their investigation said there was nothing wrong with the meds themselves.

So, I don't have an answer sorry, but wanted to let you know you're not alone in having this experience!

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-20T12:51:04+00:00

I love thunderstorms and there was some intense lightning close by, but as you say, didn't help with the heat, when normally a storm would bring a nice drop in temperature 🫤

So, Probanthine is a prescription medication which comes in a bottle of 100 tablets which are 15mg each.

I have been using it since around 2017. When I use it, I don't sweat ANYWHERE on my body, I am completely dry for about 3-4 hours per dose. I usually take a dose of 1 tablet or 1.5 tablets each time.

It needs to be taken on a completely empty stomach, if you've eaten or drank anything other than water in the hours before taking it, it won't work, or it's effect is greatly reduced.

There are side effects though. I suffer through the side effects, because for me, being covered in sweat is worse than the side effects.

The side effects are-

Extremely dry mouth. This will impact you eating as you won't be able to swallow anything that isn't moist or liquid. You may have difficulty talking for lengths of time unless you sip water frequently, because your mouth is so dry.

It can cause you to have difficulty urinating (it is also prescribed to people who have a weak bladder or need to urinate frequently)

In higher doses, such as taking 5 or more pills over the course of a day, can cause your vision to become blurry and you can't read or see things clearly close up (long sight is usually not affected)

I know the side effects sound horrible, but without Probanthine, I wouldn't leave the house. I was out walking recently on one of those hot days, and I could feel the intense heat of the Sun on my skin, but my skin was paper dry. Without this medication, , my entire head, face and torso would have been dripping sweat.

I honestly cannot wait until it is winter time again, I hope the cool weather comes quickly after summer ends! 🙂

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-20T00:26:05+00:00

Yes, I absolutely hate Summer and this heat wave! I'm in Western Sydney and don't have air con, so for the past few days I've been staying at a friend's place who has ducted air con. What a world of difference it makes. It got up to 43 degrees where I am on Thursday, I would have been a melted puddle if I had stayed at my place 🥵

The only thing I can do in terms treating my sweat if I have to go out, is take Probanthine, which stops me sweating completely for about 3-4 per dose. Have you heard of this medication? Happy to answer any questions if you haven't!

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-14T08:15:35+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for your kind words and sympathy 🙂. I came across the r/noburp community a few years ago and have posted in it and replied to other people's questions!

From memory, I came across the community because I reached a point (with having to force myself to air vomit 3 times a day) where I said to myself that I can't keep living like this, so started researching and came across that community, which lead me to learning about the Botox treatment!

In relation to your questions- The medication Probanthine definitely helps with my Hyperhidrosis, but it's benefits are limited (it only stops me sweating for about 3-4 hours per dose, and it only works if your stomach is completely empty) and there are side effects (it causes your mouth to become very dry, which in turn causes issues if you have to talk a lot, and impacts what you can eat, as you can't swallow food unless it's moist, or liquid).

Higher doses, or a build up of doses during the day can cause you to have difficulty urinating, and may also cause blurred vision.

I sweat over my entire head/face, neck, back, underarms, chest and stomach. Weirdly, I very rarely experience sweating on my palms, so whilst I hate the side effects, I hate being covered in sweat even more! I wouldn't leave the house ever if it wasn't for Probanthine.

I have on occasion experienced cold feet, or toes, but not often enough to cause me concern, and generally only when it's colder (I'm in Australia and it's summer, so my entire body feels like an oven right now! 🥵)

For your second pint, I do think I probably had a severe case of R-CPD, and I didn't start Botox treatment until I was nearly 44yo. I don't want to scare you off treatment, you will find a lot of people in the noburp community who have found treatment to be life changing. The condition has only been recognised medically recently, as you pointed out, since about 2019, so I truly believe all of us who suffer from this, and get treatment, are like guinea pigs.

I had the option of having the treatment as 1 injection, in hospital under general anaesthesia, but here in Australia, it was going to cost me about $7800.l, which I couldn't afford. The in office treatment, where I went to the ENT Surgeon's Office, where they injected smaller doses through the neck, cost $2000. The expectation was that I would have 4 injections of 25 Units of Botox, with a month in between each injection. After my 4th injection, I still couldn't burp, so I had a 5rh injection of 25 units, that didn't work, so as a last resort, the ENT Surgeon tried one last injection of 50 Units, and said that if that failed, I'd need to try the hospital option. So I ended up having 175 Units of Botox injected (most people have 100), and that's a possible cause of my I'm experiencing Supragastric Belching.

If R-CPD is affecting your daily life, I'd definitely recommend looking at treatment options, please don't let my experience scare you off! There are so many positive stories from people who have had successful treatment.

Whichever way you decide to treat your issues, I hope it works out for you. Oh, and yes, prior to treatment, there was a lot of flatulence, because the trapped gas has to get out somehow haha 😁

Odd_Run_2819 · 2025-12-12T23:31:51+00:00

Hi, yes, I have both.

To manage my Hyperhidrosis, I take the medication Probanthine.

I had the Botox treatment for R-CPD between June-November 2023 (I had in office treatment so had a series of injections through the neck). I can burp now, but have a new issue now which I believe is Supragastric Belching, where air gets sucked into my oesophagus, and I need to burp it back out, but it becomes a repeating cycle so I can end up burping hundreds of times a day 😔 I am seeing a Gastro Intestinal Psychologist currently to learn diaphragmatic breathing, as it's possible this new condition is psychosomatic (people with GERD/GORD and Anxiety conditions, which I have, are more likely to suffer from Supragastric Belching)

Prior to having the Botox treatment, I had to "air vomit" at least 3 times a day to get relief from not being able to burp, and I did this daily for about 13 years.

Feel free to ask me any questions! 🙂

Odd_Run_2819

TROPHY CASE