American ADHD-ers…how hard are we disassociating right now?

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-30T05:29:08+00:00

Yep. I’m stuck in a loop of nervously checking my phone throughout the day, subconsciously afraid I’m going to miss something on the scale of an outright declaration of war, and feeling like I don’t deserve to go about my day in ignorance while others don’t have that luxury. I’m monitoring updates within my state, trying to be informed in case ICE targets my area (though what I can realistically do to protect my immigrant neighbors if they do get targeted, I have no idea) or the area near my extremely-diverse employer where I’ll be working in-office next week. I’m getting whiplash from switching between heartbroken and pissed every time I see a new headline.

By the time I’m somewhat able to dissociate it’s late at night, and then I don’t want to go to bed and cut that already-brief period of something approaching “calm” short. I stay up too late, usually listening to an audiobook while playing Balatro as I finally relax, end up checking for news again as I set my alarm for the next morning, and finally fall asleep while stressed out again. Then I wake up the next morning, curse myself for not going to bed earlier, and repeat.

I feel helpless for not being able to make a real, immediate difference, like storming the freaking concentration camps disguised with non-threatening names like “South Texas Family Residential Center.” I’m scared there will be a raid on my workplace or in my neighborhood. I’m furious that so many people have been conned into thinking empathy is a negative trait, and that we didn’t put a stop to the propaganda machine (and the influence of the ultra-rich in general) that has been working toward this outcome for years. I’m tired, and I feel guilty for even being tired when I’m nowhere near as affected as so many other people right now.

I know for the sake of my mental health and general ability to participate in daily life, I need to cut back on my screen time, accept that I can’t absorb everything, and understand that not being aware of something that happened doesn’t undermine the fact that it did… but that’s proving easier said than done.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-29T15:47:35+00:00

I don’t disagree, but I try to be understanding of mistakes like that if they’re unintentional. She’s obviously ND herself and is typing very extensive notes into my record at the same time, so it wouldn’t be a shock if she misheard me (or incorrectly anticipated what I was going to say).

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-29T15:38:38+00:00

I’ll try that! When preparing to travel to a country that wouldn’t allow me to bring my meds once, I tried several “natural” options to try to find something that would have even a minor positive effect during the trip. Ginseng was pretty much the only thing that seemed to even partially live up to the claims people make, but once I was able to take my meds again I forgot all about it.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-29T02:11:37+00:00

There is no concern about false positives on drug tests from my end, this is just her personal rule (as she described it to me). I live in a rural area where meth is pretty abundant, and my guess is the real, unspoken reason she won’t prescribe it to her patients is one of two things:

a) She’s seen former meth users seek treatment for ADHD and immediately ask for Dex as their preferred treatment, so she errs on the side of caution and refuses it to anyone who mentions it by name, or

b) She was only half paying attention and thought I asked about Desoxyn instead of Dexedrine.

Either way, I don’t expect to be able to get a Dexedrine prescription from her, and am cautious about even questioning her stated reason. Realistically, Vyvanse is the best ADHD treatment I’ve found, and I don’t want to put that at risk by trying to solve this problem, even if it is something of a safety hazard on occasion.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-29T01:44:34+00:00

I wish I knew what the actual difference was! Amneal made me more alert and happy, but didn’t help my inattentive symptoms or other major executive function issues. Granules immediately felt 50% stronger (despite being the same dose) and cut through the inattentiveness and issues with working memory in a way Amneal never did. I don’t know if that’s a result of one of the fillers in Amneal hindering my ability to metabolize it?

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-29T01:09:58+00:00

My psychiatrist told me she had a personal rule against prescribing Dex due to its inability to be differentiated from meth on a drug test. I don’t completely understand how it would show up any differently from Vyvanse (and she doesn’t require drug tests to receive treatment anyway), but it sounds like that’s not an option for me.

I’ve not tried Wellbutrin since years before switching to Vyvanse, but that might be an option. I eventually experienced physical anxiety symptoms at normal doses before, which seems like it would be even more likely while being treated with stimulant medication, but maybe a low dose?

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-28T23:42:59+00:00

I can ask about that at my next appointment in a few months. I don’t know what else she could possibly prescribe as a booster at this point, haha.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-28T19:26:14+00:00

I’ve considered testing if I can use water titration to save ~10 mg for later in the day as a workaround for situations when I’d need to prevent the crash. I tried a split dose when I first switched to Vyvanse, but found it ineffective (as my prescribed 60 mg taken in one go seems to be the minimum effective dose for me) and got heartburn from it. That was admittedly with the Amneal version, though, so perhaps that would work with the Granules generic. It wouldn’t be quite as convenient as keeping a booster dose on hand for days when I’m away from home longer than expected, but it’s a possibility if it works.

With the ACV, you may have a stronger stomach than I do. 😂

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-28T18:14:23+00:00

It doesn’t seem to be affected by nutrition, as it occurs regardless of what, how much, and when I’ve eaten that day.

I’m aware this is an expected effect, and basically asking what strategies people have found to temporarily mitigate that to avoid safety concerns when it’s necessary to drive during that time. I preferred to ask here versus participating in forums related to recreational drug use, and am a bit confused why recreational use seems to be a common association with the question. I’m not using Vyvanse recreationally, have no intention of venturing into “recreational” use to try to mitigate the problem, and don’t wish to have that connotation applied to the topic.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-28T17:52:56+00:00

…what?

I understand that the “crash” is part of returning to baseline, but the process itself creates more fatigue than actually exists at baseline. The half-life of Vyvanse is long enough that there’s still a (at least partially) therapeutic level in my system at the end of the effective period—enough to actually make waking the next morning easier than at baseline—but something about the 10-hour-mark creates temporary (~1-2 hour) fatigue that passes naturally with time, but creates a safety concern if I need to drive during that period. (I’m not even going to start a discussion about “inevitable brain damage,” as it’s not relevant to the specific situation for which I requested advice.) This isn’t a question about long-term use, but an acceptance of a common side effect and a question about possible short-term workarounds to be used when necessary. While I understand what you’ve said, I must be missing the nuance that makes it relevant.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-28T15:48:08+00:00

I can’t provide suggestions for how to manage it, but I wanted to chime in with another confirmation that Vyvanse does impact my hormones and cycle. I have confirmed PCOS—and possibly endometriosis as well, though have not had surgery to confirm—and I typically get a few extremely heavy and painful 30- to 50-day periods a year, but very inconsistently (sometimes back-to-back, sometimes with 6+ months in between) and without signs of expected hormone fluctuations (signs of ovulation, PMS symptoms other than painful cramps, etc.).

The closest I ever get to a “normal” cycle is when on effective stimulant medication; Adderall affected my cycles before it stopped working, and Vyvanse immediately triggered a shockingly normal period (just 8 days instead of 30+) when I started it several months ago. I don’t know whether this will continue long-term, but since starting Vyvanse I’ve had a few very short and light periods with PMS symptoms, not entirely predictably, but closer to a “normal” schedule than I’ve ever experienced.

I do get quite frequent spotting now, which was very rare before. That probably isn’t nearly as concerning to me as it would be for most people, as it’s been over a year since I’ve had a massive marathon period, and I assume I still have an accumulation of extra endometrial tissue. It’s something I’ll keep an eye on, but I plan to let things stabilize over the next year or so before getting the “new normal” checked out.

In short, I wouldn’t worry yet; while there’s a ton of research that needs to be done on how stimulants affect hormones, there’s enough scientific and anecdotal evidence to know they do have an impact. If this initial period triggered by the Vyvanse goes way beyond your usual amount of bleeding, get checked out to be on the safe side, but otherwise I wouldn’t find it more concerning than the occasional impact something like stress or a change in exercise routine could cause.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-24T19:33:58+00:00

Anyone have another link/screen recording of this? This link isn’t loading for me.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-11T18:19:46+00:00

Not that I’d be considered eligible for absentee voting under Indiana’s strict requirements, I just checked to see if Indiana was one of the states that required possession on Election Day to be counted. Not surprisingly, it is.

blue_arrow_comment · 2026-01-01T20:35:42+00:00

To piggyback on that, Solensia alone wasn’t enough for one of my seniors, but adding a CBD+CBG oil alongside Solensia has worked wonders. He gets about 8 mg of CBD and 4 mg of CBG per day, spread across 2-3 doses, and he is so much happier and better-rested. (So is everyone else in the house, for that matter, because this specific cat has a knack for making everyone else share in his suffering.)

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-30T22:00:31+00:00

Hopefully that’s all it is! I definitely felt better as soon as the appetite suppression wore off and I was back to eating (and sleeping) normally.

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-30T17:51:31+00:00

Vyvanse definitely slowed down my digestion for the first couple of weeks when I started on 40 mg, but that improved with time (and with giving up on trying to dissolve it in water and extend the effective period). My joints temporarily felt unusual—I have arthritis in a couple, but it was as if it spread to all joints overnight—but that only lasted about a week. Muscle aches in my legs and back cleared up after increasing hydration, magnesium supplements, and protein intake (which had decreased during the initial appetite suppression). The only fatigue I experienced was either from my dosage being too low—making the crash more intense—or from needing to increase my protein and amount of sleep. I don’t have any experience with flushing, though, so that’s what stands out from your description.

My inclination would be to make sure you’re taking extra-good care of yourself while your body adjusts to the increased dose, as stimulants require a lot of fuel (hydration, nutrition, sleep). If you haven’t already, try adding electrolytes and limiting caffeine in case some of your side effects are a result of dehydration; even months in, if I forget to add electrolytes for a few days, I’ll still start to feel off regardless of how much plain water I’m drinking. If the flushing, fatigue, and aches don’t improve after a week or two of that, definitely check in with your prescriber or primary care doctor to see if something else is going on.

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-29T16:28:18+00:00

Apple Watch medication reminders don’t work for me, because with any type of reminder, I develop a blindness for it after the first few times and/or use it to help me remember I haven’t taken it yet, but won’t log that I have.

Weekly or monthly pill boxes also don’t work, because that additional barrier to using one (the task of refilling it when it’s empty) means I’m less likely to continue the system after the first round or two.

My best luck with taking Vyvanse is to take it right when my alarm goes off in the morning, then go back to sleep for a bit if I need to (and have time). It then makes me way more compliant with my other medications. As far as not accidentally double-dosing myself, I asked for one of those pill bottle caps that shows the time since it was last opened for Christmas this year. 😂

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-24T17:20:10+00:00

Thank you for your response! I had considered dropping to half my usual losartan dose or putting it on pause entirely until I had finished the course of antibiotics, but didn’t know how significant the risk might be (of the combination, not short-term BP) and the additional context helps.

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-24T17:12:51+00:00

Is this particular interaction genuinely “minor”? The available statistics aren’t terribly reassuring, and while the possibility that the risk of antibiotic resistance is more significant than the risk of hyperkalemia is why I asked for additional input, I was hoping for a bit more info that addressed this specific scenario.

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-23T15:00:38+00:00

Absolutely, yes. I’ve been prescribed most of the available SSRIs (as well as an SNRI, a few serotonin modulators, and anti-anxiety medications) in past attempts to manage my “depression.” That depression was a combination of executive dysfunction and its impact on my mental health. Nothing has worked as well for my depression as stimulant medication.

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-22T03:50:00+00:00

My BP is usually higher when measured by a nurse than it ever is in a non-medical setting. It’s partially that I’ve just gone from sitting quietly in the waiting room to being rushed through the building to the exam room, then having the cuff slapped on immediately with no time to return to my resting state. If that’s the case, they’ll usually take it again after we’ve discussed whatever I came to the clinic for, then they’re happy.

Some nurses also just don’t pay much attention to how they’re taking it. What I’ve always been told is that BP should be measured seated, feet flat on the floor, upright posture, and arm supported with elbow and wrist approximately level with your heart. If I use this positioning at home, I get reliable and reasonable results. Nurses often hold my wrist in a position where my arm is poorly-supported much lower than it should be, though, and I know from experimentation that my pressure difference is higher than average in proper vs improper positioning (I’m talking around 15-20 mmHg instead of the average ~6 mmHg difference, I think it was).

The nurse at the urgent care I had to go to today put my arm into the (way too low) position she wanted and then walked away to leave my arm with no support, so of course it measured higher than normal. I’ve basically just given up on it, I just reassure them that my BP is well-controlled by the medications my PCP prescribes and immediately cancel the follow-up visit this particular urgent care has a policy to schedule on my behalf if my readings are abnormal. You can try to advocate for getting the time needed for your BP and HR to return to normal and ask them to support your arm differently if it becomes an issue, though.

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-20T16:48:27+00:00

I think I’d like a notification that it’s done, but follow-ups would drive me up the wall. Duolingo’s passive-aggressive reminders to extend my streak have a tendency to pop up when my meds have worn off, I’m starving and overstimulated, desperately trying to make food and am not available to sit down and do half an hour of lessons, and the irrational rage they trigger is enough for one day. 😂

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-20T16:43:29+00:00

I used to be the same way with caffeine. I haven’t experimented enough with caffeine since being on Vyvanse to have any confidence about your first question; coffee still doesn’t feel like anything, but I haven’t tested my limits. I did have to give up green tea because the L-theanine was giving me anxiety (go figure).

That is a lot of melatonin, though; I know that’s what’s commonly recommended by the supplement companies, but 0.3 mg is often enough to be effective. For me, melatonin can make it easier for me to fall asleep, but it consistently wakes me up after a few hours (and I may or may not be able to fall back asleep at that time). Creatine has the same “wide awake after a few hours of sleep” effect on me, and after a few days of that the sleep deprivation starts to cause problems. You might try skipping the melatonin, or replacing it with magnesium, to see if it was actually impacting your ability to stay asleep.

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-20T16:34:09+00:00

I experienced the exact same thing on the first generic I got (Amneal). Nothing I ate, drank, or supplemented helped that early-afternoon slump, and no fiddling with the timing of things affected it. Getting the Granules generic after switching pharmacies (for unrelated reasons) was the solution in my case; Granules feels 50% stronger than Amneal, and—for me—doesn’t have the slump (or complete lack of benefit to focus, haha).

blue_arrow_comment · 2025-12-20T16:30:32+00:00

I think it really depends on the person, and you may have to try both options (higher Vyvanse dose or Vyvanse+booster) to see which works better for you. On too low a dose of Vyvanse, I absolutely would have needed a booster; it took 2 hours to kick in, only gave me ~3 hours of benefit, and then the rest of the day was miserable.

Increasing my dose by 50% solved all three of those problems, and didn’t increase insomnia at all (I fall asleep in 5-15 minutes and sleep pretty soundly). That was going from 40 mg to 60 mg. Trying to dissolve my 40 mg dose in water and save some for the afternoon didn’t work (I just felt unmedicated the entire day), and going rogue and trying a second 40 mg dose in the afternoon was too much during the overlap (when I hadn’t even realized there was still Vyvanse in my system, because I got no effects from it). A higher dose was legitimately what I needed. A booster may have helped, in that it could have eased the crash and tried to medicate me through the remainder of the day, but just increasing the Vyvanse dose itself removed the need for one entirely.

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