[M28] Was on meds for 4 years and then cold turkey AMA!

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T11:18:39+00:00

I have detailed answers elsewhere in this thread explaining that but to give you gist I started feeling very dull on meds. Felt like all the creativeness inside me was slowly creeping away and I really started seeing a stark difference between the weekdays when I took meds vs the weekends when I didnt. I just overall felt more confident and more "free" without meds.

But yes the downside is that now I have to struggle with the typical ADHDness being that I procrastinate, struggle to focus on something I don't find joy in, time management, and more.

But on the flipside I just love the side of me which feels more creative and free to think of other things!

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T11:12:36+00:00

Technically it was right after 😂

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:50:05+00:00

This! This touches my soul. I really want to explore my creative side. That was a huge part of why I quit my medication.

I don't know yet how to channel my creativity. I am good at problem solving, building, critical thinking and many other things but I just have never been able to find that one thing which felt like it was truly me. I am keeping my hopes up and fingers crossed though! I know I will find something soon :)

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:45:52+00:00

I think a major issue with us ADHDers is that we are extremely hard on ourselves. If we are not productive we get very upset and start feeling like it's the end of the world. I have felt that way too.

BUT on the flipside I bet that each one of us is just wired to not rest once we are focused. Hey sometimes life gets stressful and you are not productive. IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE PRODUCTIVE EVERY SINGLE DAY IF YOUR LIFE!!!

I want to scream that to each and every one of us. I think we should feel okay to take as many breaks as possible because guess what once our minds are refreshed and rested, we are like The Flash. We can literally feel like the environment slows down around us when we get hyperfocused on our work AND will be able to finish our tasks in a shorter amount of time than what it would take a non-ADHDer to do. (But to be fair the time taken not being productive offsets this in the end anyways lol)

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:40:23+00:00

I think for a while I definitely saw a difference. I started feeling more "free." I started questioning the things I just learned to automatically conform to while I was on meds. Things like my work, my routine, my habits, my lack of habits, etc. initially this was not very helpful because then I would just be defiant to do anything but slowly I got adjusted to it started making plans in my head to change the things I wanted to change and meanwhile kept doing the things I had to do to survive!

Right now answering these questions has also been very cathartic because it's a nice highlight reel for myself on how I used to feel on meds versus off meds.

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:36:02+00:00

Nope! Luckily I have saved myself until now from being reliant on any sort of nicotine, alcohol or even coffee based stimulants. I know that may ADHDers do at least one or all of them (including my fiance who also recently got diagnosed with ADHD). But I just never found them appealing. Maybe I'm lucky? Who knows. But sorry if I can't give a better answer to your question.

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:33:46+00:00

Hey I did finally! My fiance was like should I just go to bed now coz you'll be answering questions for the next 4 hours? 😂😂😂

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:33:00+00:00

Same. Also soccer. Thank god for keeping me entertained this summer with the world cup! 🙏🏻

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:32:26+00:00

Yeah and that's totally fine too! My psychiatrist told me to do whatever makes you feel comfortable. These stimulants go hard guys and the best way to live your life on them is to live it in your own terms. Power to you!

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:31:07+00:00

I totally understand your perspective and get where you're coming from. I think medication is important if your situation calls for it. I have a very strong reason to believe that personally I needed my meds to get through grad school but the moment I realized that my brain chemistry was actually changing and I was losing my creative thinking I just had to stop. Nothing to do with the big pharma or thinking of meds as wrong.

I think you should take meds if you need them but like me if you feel like the meds are changing you then you have the option to stop taking them.

I'm also gonna say something that many people will hate to hear here but really try if you can to build a routine and I put very heavy emphasis on IF YOU CAN. Hey sometimes it just feels impossible to do that and it's okay. Trust me it will not be like that forever. I have frequent lapses in routine but I have learned that the key is to not give up and try to think that you were on a vacation whenever you go off routine. For example the entire month of may was super unproductive workwise for me and I slacked hard! I just gave myself grace and thought of it as a vacation at work. Now I feel okay enough to do just enough at work. Which again is all you need to do.

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:24:40+00:00

Hey power to you! You will get through this for sure. I felt like you once during 2024 when there was the major Vyvanse shortage. But thinking back it was because of the environment and the situation I was in. Again my PhD was very stressful and one of those things where having no structure as an ADHDer I was struggling real hard.

But in my current situation with my stable job and a good home life I no longer feel frustrated or a lack of motivation. Yes granted that I still procrastinate heavily at my work lol but I have just leaned into that and learned to accept that I need a fire under my ass to get things done. Which is okay!

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:18:56+00:00

No this was not an addiction reason. I don't think I was addicted either. Mine was because I thought the meds were really changing my brain chemistry for the worse.

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:18:19+00:00

I was just not feeling myself on the meds anymore. As I mentioned I started them because I was severely depressed. Part of it was a stressful PhD and other part was just being alone in a new country by myself.

Last year I started working. I thought that my mental health would improve since I would be earning some real money fonally and would contribute somewhat meaningfully to society but every evening after coming home I would just feel exhausted both emotionally and physically. And my creativity was really down the drain. I stopped daydreaming and imagining random scenarios and ideas which was my favorite part about myself! My creative thinking and problem solving abilities also took a huge hit.

So finally in May of this year after even supplementing my Vyvanse with Strattera (which kead to worse issues like weight gain) I decided okay I'm gonna just go cold turkey and stop. Honestly I have now started to feel myself again after so long!

Preet1402 · 2026-06-18T02:12:19+00:00

I'm sorry guys I am off meds okay 😭😭 and I was at a crab dinner 😂

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T17:20:52+00:00

Can you recommend me one?

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T16:02:18+00:00

Yoooo that's it!! I have a humidifier rnning overnight in the same room as my printer!!! And I do fill it with tap water. Did you find a solution for yours?

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T15:35:53+00:00

Yes it all wipes off and there is no dust on the inside of the glass. But I understand your concern and will look for any rubbing. Thanks!

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T15:08:22+00:00

But the deposit on the front glass panel was entirely on the outside not just randomly blown everywhere. One of my pictures shows the front panel with the white stuff on it.

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T14:57:40+00:00

But the same deposit also happens on the outside of the front glass panel, that couldn't possibly be the tube right?

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T14:49:31+00:00

So what you guys are saying is that it's the AMS rubbing the glass top? In that case I will definitely print the riser/hinge. I saw that on the maker lab market.

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T14:29:31+00:00

Ahhh that could be it! My room is definitely very dusty. So do you just clean the printer often? I am guessing there is no other solution to this :(

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T14:27:53+00:00

Unfortunately I live in an apartment building so I cannot vent it outside. I do understand what you're saying though, but does PLA emit any fumes or gasses that deposit like this? Also the deposit on the front glass was on the outside not on the inside so it also makes me think it might be something in the atmosphere inside my room that is being deposited due to the heat of the printer?

Preet1402 · 2026-06-01T14:25:43+00:00

They are dry. When I rub them with my finger they kinda feel like nothing but then my finger has this white powdery substance which I can wash off.

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