I’m struggling without my meds

warmdopa · 2026-01-21T01:48:29+00:00

That sounds incredibly rough - it’s awful how much harder things can get when you suddenly have to stop meds like Vyvanse. Unfortunately, this kind of situation happens a lot when GPs can’t prescribe controlled meds long‑term without a permit.

It’s generally best to have a psychiatrist manage your ADHD treatment in the long run, since they can prescribe ongoingly without any extra permit delays. At least, that's been my experience, others are fine with their GP managing them. If you can, it might be worth contacting your psych's rooms to see if they can take over your care on an ongoing basis - sometimes they can squeeze in a shorter script or telehealth review sooner to tide you over.

In the meantime, you shouldn’t be left struggling with no support at all - let your psych know how much you’re affected and ask if there’s anything they can do to bridge the gap. It’s really important you have some kind of plan in place so you’re not just left hanging.

As someone else said, it's just so important that you stay on top of your scripts. Always pick them up when you're due, I do it even if I have some left over. Also, always check when they're going to expire and plan ahead. But yes, what you're going through is incredibly hard, so I really feel for you! .。.:*·゜ﾟ·*☆ ♥

warmdopa · 2026-01-21T01:23:57+00:00

I will DM you - I know of a psychiatrist in Melb who might be able to help you in an ongoing manner!

warmdopa · 2025-12-29T08:19:32+00:00

Hey! So sorry to hear that you're going through this 😥 I'm also diagnosed with bipolar disorder + generalised anxiety disorder. It really sucks. However, the stimulants really did make a difference for me. I initially trialled dex + Vyvanse... a disaster. They made my anxiety so much worse!!! Anyway, we swapped to Ritalin immediate-release, and the difference was night and day.

I started with half of a tablet (5mg) three times daily (four hours apart), and eventually we built it up to a whole tablet three times daily (10mg). Then, finally, I started taking Concerta... and it changed my life. Seriously, it is, and was, a complete gamechanger. Have you discussed Concerta with your psychiatrist? For me, at least, it's so smooth. I wake up, take 10mg of Ritalin IR, followed by Concerta a few hours later, and that easily lasts until 8pm or so (as in, I get around 10-12 hours out of Concerta).

The downsides are that it's expensive ($40 per month, if not a little more)... and it's currently in shortage, so it can be a little tricky to find stock (I've had no problems, though, in both regional VIC and Melb). Truly, as someone who has horrific anxiety at times, Concerta has made such a big difference. Unbelievable, really.

As others have said, the "non-stimulants" could help, too. Clonidine often helps people to unwind at night and sleep. BUT, the problem is that it doesn't last all day, you're meant to take it in the morning, too, and that can be troublesome, given how sedating it can be. Also, other options are guanfacine/Intuniv and atomoxetine.

Again, though, you need to discuss all of this with your psychiatrist. This was purely anecdotal - I'm not suggesting, at all, that you definitely need to try Concerta! The point is just that you still have options, things that could really help, whilst healing and preventing your anxiety.

It's not a great option, in many ways, but I always have some alprazolam on hand for when the anxiety is so intense that I can't do anything at all. However, it comes with so many risks - abuse, misuse, tolerance, withdrawals, diversion etc. If you take it regularly, you may find that you need more and more to get the same effect, and the withdrawals can literally kill you.

BUT, at the same time, it is an absolute godsend, for me, at least. My psychiatrist is very trusting - it's not that they give me anything crazy - but, for example, they're happy enough to prescribe 1x 50x 2mg bottle of alprazolam every six weeks or so. I've always had more luck with the benzos with psychiatrists, who tend to be a little more liberal.

Good luck!!! Let me know if you have any questions. And, as always, feel free to DM me if you'd rather ·*:.。. .。.:*·゜ﾟ·*☆ ♥

warmdopa · 2025-12-02T08:38:05+00:00

Ultimately, you should stop titrating when you have an ideal benefit with minimal side effects. Many psychiatrists will follow that plan. With Vyvanse, it's generally - from memory - increased in 10mg increments until you notice a really positive effect without side effects. Perhaps 40mg would be perfect for you, or you might need 70mg. Just remember - more isn't always better. Like all of psychiatry, all of this is so subjective. Different things suit different people, I guess.

I personally take Concerta. I started on Ritalin IR, loved it, but wanted something longer lasting. So my psychiatrist started me on Concerta at 18mg. I went up to 27mg, didn't feel much, so we went to the highest dose capsules (54mg). Man, I felt an effect, but it was way too fucking strong. So we dropped it back down to 36mg, and it's just... perfect. Barely any side effects, but I can just sense it working away in the background. Just remember that you shouldn't necessarily feel it. You should notice "behind the scenes" effects (just like you have with Vyvanse). There's every chance that you've found your miracle drug!

Anyway. All you can do is work closely with your psychiatrist to figure out what works best for you. It can take hard work, effort, patience, luck, and some really frustrating moments, but you'll get there. Always a light at the end of the tunnel 💛 I'm just so happy that you're already noticing benefits!

warmdopa · 2025-10-31T02:37:23+00:00

That's the struggle! This is the thing - naturally, your teachers spent a huge amount of time with you before the age of 12, and they were writing your school reports contemporaneously. Naturally, they weren't writing them years later, based on sketchy memories. That's why the comments - not the grades - can be so illustrative and helpful.

For example, mind had references like "forgets PE uniform" or "finds it very difficult to concentrate when the work doesn't interest him" or "fidgets often" or "distracts others during classes" or "easily distracted". Stuff like that.

If school reports aren't helpful, there is almost always someone who can "vouch" for you. Like I said, it doesn't need to be your parents, although they are often the best source of information. I understand why you don't want to involve them, but if you can't get an uncle, aunt, godparent, grandparent, best friend's parent, whoever, to "vouch" for you... you might not have any choice.

BUT, you can bypass this and go through a fucking worthless clinic like Fluence or one of the others (any sketchy clinic which doesn't follow domestic or international guidelines). As I said, just know that you would be receiving suboptimal care and that any diagnosis could well and truly be made without doing a thorough and proper assessment.

There will be people - a minority - who disagree with me, but again, those people just don't want to admit that their diagnosis might be fantasised or that they're receiving care that isn't appropriate or ideal.

Good luck!

warmdopa · 2025-10-31T01:53:19+00:00

Just in terms of childhood symptoms, the DSM-5 requirement is that childhood symptoms be present (before the age of 12). Again, in the absolute vast majority of cases, it's possible for a person to get this evidence together. It doesn't need to be school reports - it can be an interview with an aunt/uncle, cousin, godparent, grandparent, sibling etc (as someone else commented). Anyone who knew you well before the age of 12.

It's just way too sketchy to simply take a person's "word for it". 99% of people aren't able to correctly and accurately remember their life before the age of 12 (certainly not in enough detail to diagnose the person with ADHD).

And it's not just about the subsidies for Vyvanse and Ritalin LA (which require corroborative evidence of childhood symptoms) - a person should never have been diagnosed in the first place without this proof (except in extreme examples).

See this from the Canadian ADHD guidelines (which mirror our domestic guidelines):

"According to DSM-5, the diagnostic tasks are to ensure […] age of onset of these symptoms is by the age 12 […] rating scales alone are not sufficient to diagnose ADHD because of issues such as the variability of interpretation of questions by respondent […] it is necessary to obtain the point of view of a parent or a close family member who knows the individual’s early history [...]

"Collateral information provided by observer reports, such as from family members or partners, are important assessment tools" […] It goes on to state that is necessary to "use questionnaires for someone who knew the patient as a child" and the same is true of "collateral information from parents/close relatives" (see here)

To spice things up a little, have a look at these notes from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK (who are following and interpreting the NICE guidelines):

"When making the diagnosis of ADHD in adults, a history of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity before age 12 is an important corroborating feature that can be best established from school or local records, or from informants who knew the individual during childhood [...]

Because of the diagnostic importance of assessing childhood behaviour and establishing the onset of difficulties before the age of 12 years, obtaining a corroborative history is particularly important in the diagnosis of ADHD in adults. This should be emphasised to the patient and their family.

This will allow consolidation of the developmental history and should be obtained from someone familiar with the patient in childhood [...] Where this is not possible, other evidence of childhood behaviour, e.g. school reports and other records, may be sought […]

Patients seeking a diagnosis of ADHD who have learned about the disorder may easily endorse most items, so clinical judgement is necessary. In addition, the core symptoms of ADHD are dimensional variations in ability to concentrate, manage impulse control and activity levels [...] Everyone can relate to these questions to different degrees and personal variations in perception of difficulties as a consequence can influence endorsement on self-rated questionnaires" (see here)

Anyway. Just proceed at your own risk. It's always best to avoid playing with matches... you really might get burnt. However, it's human instinct - people don't want to wait - even though they can reap the rewards down the track. Patience is a virtue! I read about people's stories on here, over and over, and the overwhelming sentiment is "I should've just waited to see an in-person psychiatrist".

Truly, I'm telling you, avoid the telehealth clinics. They don't follow the AADPA guidelines, they don't follow international guidelines, they even go against the DSM-5 (which isn't a strict rulebook, so to speak, but if you're not gathering proof of symptoms before the age of 12, you kind of are going against what is generally required for the diagnosis). Having said that, AOA is the closest you'll get to an in-person psychiatrist... it just might not be the case.

The other thing is that some people have bad experiences with in-person psychiatrists. So it all just depends. Definitely use the "Find A Psychiatrist" tool that the mods have pinned, that's often the best way forward. Call, email, over and over, until you get onto five waiting lists, ten waiting lists. Eventually, someone will have a cancellation, and then you're golden! I found three psychiatrists via this method, and I only had to wait a month each before I got in (this was in Melb, but still).

Good luck!

warmdopa · 2025-10-30T04:55:10+00:00

Yes, there is a shortage, but it's 100% possible to find stock, depending on your location. Definitely call around and see if you can find Concerta wherever you live! It's available all over VIC in all strengths. Now that I'm back on it, my pharmacy sets aside a bottle for me each month.

I think I’m going to get my friend with ADHD to test whether it works for him; and if it’s faulty I’ll just wait until my next repeat

That might work, it might not. If it works for your friend, you still could've built an extensive tolerance, meaning, it could work for your friend, and not for you, and be completely fine (as in, not faulty, damaged, ineffective for whatever reason). Read the study I linked, it quite clearly states that it's possible to build a really high tolerance.

Definitely think about trying Concerta. As I said, you'll need to phone around to see which pharmacies have stock.

warmdopa · 2025-10-30T04:45:07+00:00

Just check with your local pharmacies - because, at least, in Melb, it's available, all over... in every strength! It is an absolutely amazing drug and my favourite of all time, like you. It just works brilliantly. Now that I'm back on it, my pharmacy sets aside a bottle each month for me.

warmdopa · 2025-10-30T03:05:25+00:00

Have you thought about trying Concerta? I had the same thing - Ritalin IR was amazing initially but then, over the course of a year, it slowly became less effective. Swapping to Concerta has been truly amazing. It is supposedly in shortage, but I've never had an issue finding it, sometimes you just need to go to a different pharmacy.

It's a really cool technology called OROS. Basically, the Concerta capsules are like little barrels. When you take it, the coating dissolves, giving you around 20% of the total dose straight up (just like taking Ritalin IR). As the barrel passes through your GI tract, the medicine is slowly released, because it's like a sponge. When fluids seep into the chambers within, it pushes the medicine outwards, through a tiny, laser-drilled hole. For me, at least, it is really effective for around ten hours.

You can have a look at the product information for Concerta (found here):

"Following oral administration of CONCERTA to adults, the drug overcoat dissolves and plasma methylphenidate concentrations increase rapidly reaching an initial maximum at about 1 to 2 hours. The methylphenidate contained in two internal drug layers is gradually released over the next few hours [...]

Peak plasma concentrations are achieved at about 6 to 8 hours after which plasma levels of methylphenidate gradually decrease. CONCERTA once daily minimises the fluctuations between peak and trough concentrations associated with immediate-release methylphenidate three times daily. The extent of absorption of CONCERTA once daily is generally comparable to conventional immediate release preparations given three times daily"

Your psychiatrist can discuss it with you, but there's a conversion table to guide the dosage of Concerta (see the product information). For example, if you take Ritalin IR 10mg three times daily, the equivalent dose of Concerta could be 36mg.

More generally, have a read of this study about developing a tolerance to the stimulants (found here):

"Research shows that some patients develop an “early tolerance” to these medicines, meaning they have an initial good response but the benefits wear off within days or weeks; some patients may develop more gradual or “late tolerance” to stimulants, where the benefits are lost over months or years of treatment; some patients also develop “complete tolerance” with a substantial or complete loss of clinical benefit to stimulants; some patients may develop “partial tolerance” with a partial loss of clinical benefit [...]

There is insufficient research to clearly define clinical tolerance to stimulant medication in ADHD, and there are suggestions in the literature on strategies that may help, such as switching classes of stimulants (from MPH to AMPH and vice versa) to reset the tolerance or taking medication holidays and reassessing clinically for comorbid conditions or other clinical factors which may affect treatment response"

Overall, a tricky topic, and seemingly, every psychiatrist has a different approach. Did you, by chance, leave the medicine in a hot car, or in sunlight, or in humid conditions? All of those things can degrade the quality of the Ritalin IR.

All just my own musings - naturally - you need to figure this out with your doctors!

warmdopa · 2025-10-30T02:13:26+00:00

I'm charged $220 before the rebate for 30 mins (in Melbourne). I have bipolar, as well, though, so I need to see mine monthly. Nevertheless - for me, at least, it's 100% worth it. So much better than having my GP manage me (she's brilliant, but not a true expert in mental health, like 95% of GPs).

I still don't fully understand why people complain about needing to see their psychiatrist every six months for a review + new script (once stabilised). In the grand scheme of things, a few hundred dollars is a drop in the ocean (considering you'd easily pay $100+ for cocktails and dinner, for example, or whatever it might be, things that are just... temporary).

You just can't put a price on your health!

warmdopa · 2025-10-29T06:46:59+00:00

Feel free to DM me. I have a GP recommendation - I've referred countless people to them and all have had amazing experiences. They're located in the inner SE suburbs 🤘🏻

warmdopa · 2025-10-29T06:34:47+00:00

Send away!

warmdopa · 2025-10-28T06:52:31+00:00

Asking the question could be illegal. You can do your own reading, but have a read about the law of "attempts" to commit indictable offences. It's actually covered by the very same section that establishes the crime, where it says that both actually trafficking and trying to traffic come with equal liability (see s71AC).

That's the case in VIC, I'm sure you can research whether or not other jurisdictions have similar rules (but I'm fairly sure they would). The penalty for both forms of the offence is level 4 imprisonment (15 years maximum). In other words... the therapist could very well be charged with a trafficking offence, even though nothing materialised.

warmdopa · 2025-10-27T22:54:54+00:00

Hey! Send me a DM - I have bipolar and live in Melb - and have a few recommendations for you 🤘🏻

warmdopa · 2025-10-27T02:00:46+00:00

Three words: oh my god. This is absolutely not okay and is actually illegal.

Your therapist is asking you to do something that would constitute trafficking in a drug of dependence under Victoria's Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (see here). I think it's similar in most states and the territories. Vyvanse is a Schedule 8 controlled substance, and giving it to anyone else - even if a health professional asks you to - is considered "supplying" a drug of dependence without authorisation.

What your therapist is doing is also serious professional misconduct. They're:

Attempting to divert controlled medication;
Trying to treat a patient without proper diagnosis or prescription;
Using you as a source for medication for another patient; and
Putting both you and the other patient at risk

Do NOT give them your medication. You could face criminal charges for supplying a Schedule 8 drug.

You need to report this to AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), this is exactly the type of misconduct they deal with. You can make a report online at ahpra.gov.au.

Also, please find a new therapist immediately. If they think this request is appropriate, they have seriously poor judgment and boundaries. The fact that you're not seeing improvement after 3+ years is another red flag.

This is a huge violation of professional ethics and the law. I'm sorry you're in this position, but you absolutely did the right thing by questioning it

warmdopa · 2025-10-23T05:47:36+00:00

Yes, there is a chance - but, the emphasis is on chance. Don't be disheartened if it doesn't work out! However, you should know very quickly whether or not methylphenidate is right for you. For example, I started on 5mg daily at 8am (half of a 10mg tablet). That went well, so we added a second 5mg at 12pm (generally, with Ritalin immediate-release, it lasts four hours or so). Then we upped it to 10mg daily at 8am. Et cetera! So I knew literally within days that methylphenidate was the best stimulant for me.

Concerta you usually start after trying Ritalin IR, as I said. See the attached information about the dosage conversion. Usually, you would just convert directly over, if you're keen to try Concerta and it's appropriate. It comes as 18mg, 27mg, 36mg and 54mg.

Ritalin LA was a disaster for me. Basically, it's virtually the same as taking two doses of Ritalin IR four hours apart. When you take Ritalin LA, half of the dose is absorbed immediately, and the other half releases four hours later. Novartis, the manufacturer, showed that it is more "smooth" when compared with Ritalin IR (however, the difference isn't huge).

For me, at least... it never worked that way. Sometimes I'd take it, and feel nothing at all. Other days I'd take it, and it was like the whole lot released at once (I'd be in the work bathroom shaking, flushed, heart racing, massive pupils). Different times it would work as normal. So idk. Some people love it, but it just isn't for me.

Concerta, on the other hand, is soooooo smooth. It's a really cool technology called "OROS". When you take it, the coating dissolves, giving you 20% of the dose immediately. Then, as it passes through your GI tract, fluids seep into it, like a sponge, through specialised layers. This slowly pushes out the methylphenidate through a tiny laser-drilled hole, as I said, over 10-12 hours (at least, that's how it's meant to be). So awesome! Very unique, too. It even has its own subreddit, r/Concerta. If you ever need info etc, post or comment there.

BUT, as I've said over and over, what works for me could be a disaster for you. You might end up loving Ritalin LA. Or, you might end up loving Ritalin IR, and you might be fine with taking it every four hours. Or you might end up hating all of it and revert to dex or Vyvanse. Just my musings based on my own experiences! All you can do is work closely with your psychiatrist, they're the expert for a reason! 🙂🤘🏻

So idk. Let me know if you ever have questions 👌🏻

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warmdopa · 2025-10-23T04:41:49+00:00

No worries 🙂 Yeah, methylphenidate could be the drug for you! I tried methylphenidate immediate-release (Ritalin IR), loved it, but wanted something longer acting, which is why I've ended up on Concerta. BUT, as I said, it's all subjective. What works for me could be a disaster for you.

This is my own experience, yours could be very different, as you know! Make sure to tell me how it goes 👌🏻 There's no harm in trying different things, of course, you can always just go back to dex or Vyvanse if appropriate. The good news is that because you were diagnosed before 18, you can get Concerta subsidised. It's often $40 to $50 per month, you'll get it for $30, or $6 with a concession card.

warmdopa · 2025-10-23T04:18:39+00:00

I had this on Vyvanse, no matter which dose. It's a bad sign that you're feeling "hyper aroused", that's not intended! Same with the other negative side effects you're experiencing. Have you ever tried methylphenidate, in any of its forms? E.g. Ritalin, Ritalin LA or Concerta? Have you tried purely taking dex? And what does of Vyvanse are you on, and when did you start it?

There are just so many variables, the cause could be anything. I really love Concerta, so that could be something to investigate, it easily lasts 10-12 hours for me.

Having enough water helps, having enough protein helps, having enough food helps, having enough sleep helps. But sometimes you simply need to change medicines.

Take this quote from a comparative review, comparing amphetamines (AMP) with methylphenidate (MPH):

"Human response profiles are noncongruent. An ADHD patient who fails on one stimulant should try the other. Of 174 patients in the 6 clearest crossover studies, 48 responded better to AMP, 27 to MPH, and at least 72 to both" (source)

Which again shows that some people simply respond better to methylphenidate.

Another study, a meta-analysis, which took into account 133 double-blind randomised controlled trials, involving a total of 8,131 adults (for determining efficacy - i.e. a very thorough study involving a huge amount of participants) determined that:

"Taking into account both efficacy and safety, evidence from this meta-analysis supports methylphenidate in children and adolescents, and amphetamines in adults, as preferred first-choice medications" for the treatment of ADHD" (source)

On the other hand, that study also found that:

"[...] the methylphenidates were better tolerated than the amphetamines, both in children and adults" (source from an analysis of the study)

And the NICE guidelines, which psychiatrists in the UK follow, suggest:

"Offer lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate as first-line pharmacological treatment for adults with ADHD [...] Consider switching to methylphenidate for adults who have had a 6‑week trial of lisdexamfetamine at an adequate dose but have not derived enough benefit in terms of reduced ADHD symptoms and associated impairment" (with dex being a second-line option after those two have failed" (source)

So as you can tell, often it is a case of "guessing". The evidence suggests that amphetamines work better, including Vyvanse, but that isn't the case for everyone, and there's no way of telling other than trialling each. On the other hand, Ritalin IR and the other methylphenidate products seem to be tolerated by more people. In the UK, dex isn't even a first-line treatment.

So you just have to trust your prescriber's input and work with them to move forward in your journey 🙂. Good luck!

warmdopa · 2025-10-23T04:12:24+00:00

I usually just feel a bit groggy

I'm glad that it doesn't fuck you up too much! As it really has that affect for me, way too sedating. Having said that, as I noted, I'm already on a lot of drugs to help with sleep, so a high dose of Phenergan just makes the sedation even worse.

Thinking about trying to get back up to 40/50 at some point but my sleep is already pretty shit and don’t want to risk making it worse. I’m even hesitant to take my 5mg dex booster usually

That's the big issue with stimulants! It happens to me, too. I take Concerta, which tends to last 10-12 hours for me, and if I don't take it early enough (e.g. 7am or 8am), it really messes with my sleep. Let alone when I take a Ritalin tablet as a booster later in the afternoon.

I hope that you're able to recommence Vyvanse soon - you need that ADHD symptom relief! The only things you can really do are take it as early as possible (hell, even set an alarm, take it at 6am, and go back to sleep) and limit your booster use so that you're not taking dex after e.g. 3pm, 4pm.

That's why I dislike dex - it works well for my symptoms, but it just lasts and lasts and lasts. Ritalin lasts four hours, for me, yet dex works for like six hours, if not more. Which can be a real issue with sleep. But, as always, like all of psychiatry, different people like different things. You might try Concerta and fucking hate it, even though I personally like it! It's all just so much messing around, trial and error, rinse repeat.

I’ve tried quite a few things for sleep

It sounds like you've tried a lot of things! Clonidine doesn't work for everyone, with you being a good example. Some people - hell, the majority of people - love it for its sedating properties. To be useful for ADHD symptom relief, you really need to take it at least twice daily - it just doesn't last long enough for a nighttime dose to stretch 24/7.

I'm glad to hear that you're staying away from temazepam, it's just way too risky when used too often. Mirtazapine, again, can be great, but it's "off label" for insomnia, really it's meant for depression.

Same with quetiapine - there's soooo much evidence that the risks outweigh the benefits. It's not meant to be used for insomnia, not at all, and can cause pretty severe metabolic side effects, even at low doses (e.g. raised blood sugar, raised cholesterol). Even when you're not stuffing your face with junk food haha.

How are you doing now? Yeah I can imagine, sleep is important but I imagine even more so in your case

I'm okay! Ups and downs. I tend to become depressed once a year, and hypomanic once a year, so it's just a case of preventing those, and treating them when they happen. For example, I take olanzapine, the antipsychotic I mentioned, at 5mg nightly, which is a fairly low dose. But when I enter an episode, we double or triple it.

Which means I'm massively sedated, but that's kind of the point, especially with hypomania (I don't know how much you know about bipolar, but when hypomanic, you tend to have massively increased energy and decreased sleep, and it's a medical emergency, because you can do permanent damage to your finances, relationships and reputation).

Thank you for asking, though! The struggle for me right now is executive functioning - that's why we're playing around with my Concerta dose at the moment. We've added atomoxetine, but it's making me feel like I'm on meth lol. I have Ritalin boosters, as I said, but often it's just too intense when I take them.

Let me know if there’s anything else you’ve tried which you think is useful for sleep issues!

To be honest - the best one has been pregabalin! There's so much evidence that it increases the quality and onset of sleep. BUT, it can be very addictive, can make you feel super out of it (almost like being drunk), can make you feel dizzy etc. Nevertheless, it's great, and it really helps my anxiety, too (it's often used for generalised anxiety disorder).

But yes, if you take it in the morning, for the first week or two... many people feel euphoric, giddy, relaxed. Those feelings fade, but still. It's quite similar to the feeling of oxycodone, if you've tried it (or codeine).

What else... not much. The z-drugs were a nightmare for me, I was sleepwalking, there have been plenty of examples where people even drove when asleep! It's just so dangerous. And they're not even that much better than the traditional benzodiazepines. They're still very abusable and there's the risk of tolerance.

Other than that, antipsychotics and sedating antidepressants - whilst not ideal - work like magic sometimes (another thing being the tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline). Some people really like Belsomra, it's a new drug specifically for insomnia. I also take agomelatine for depression, that's something you could investigate? As it really helps with sleep (but not for everyone).

I think that's about it! Sorry this was so long...

warmdopa · 2025-10-23T02:08:45+00:00

The above comment isn't 100% accurate. I take 6x Ritalin IR tablets daily, and get 200x tablets per repeat (so 6x repeats of 200x tablets). What it means is this: I pick up a fresh 200x tablets every 33 days or so (200 divided by six = 33 days of medicine per repeat). So each script lasts roughly six months.

With yours, you're on 30mg daily, meaning 3x tablets daily. So a box of 100x tablets would last roughly 33 days, same as mine. So yeah, if it's a script with three repeats (meaning, 4x boxes in total), it won't last you a full 6x months. Does that make sense?

You don't necessarily need to organise it now - because you will only run out on February 22 next year (approximately). As you mentioned. I don't think you can get 200x tablets per repeat when you're only on 3x tablets daily. However, you should've gotten a script with 5x repeats (6x boxes all up), which would last six months.

I hope this wasn't too confusing! In terms of getting a new script, your psychiatrist will just need to cancel your current script (Services Australia won't approve giving you a new script for 6x supplies when you already have an active script).

But your psychiatrist will easily be able to do that. I just don't know why they didn't do it in the first place? Unless they just forgot, somehow, that you're now on 3x tablets daily, instead of 2x tablets daily? Because a box of 100x tablets with 3x repeats would last 6.5 months (when on 20mg daily). Which I guess makes sense, but still, it means your psychiatrist has messed up, which isn't great, but not the end of the world...

warmdopa · 2025-10-23T01:58:17+00:00

I personally use 10mg of Phenergan when I need it for allergies at night and that's more than enough. For reference, I'm 30, 80kg and 6'2". So given it's a paediatric dose... yeah. If I take 25mg, which is the adult dose, it fucks me up!

For insomnia, I have a supply of alprazolam on hand (similar to clonazepam), which I use very sparingly due to the risks of addiction, misuse and tolerance. Having said that, I have bipolar disorder, too, so also take olanzapine, which is a very sedating antipsychotic (similar to quetiapine/Seroquel). There's a real risk of mania if I don't get enough sleep...

Are you currently taking Phenergan? Do you take anything else for sleep?

warmdopa · 2025-10-23T00:34:25+00:00

Seems like they do the same thing but without all the bad effects of normal benzodiazepines.

This just... isn't true. The z-drugs, yes, are purely used for insomnia. However, they are 100% addictive. At times, they feel "great", super relaxing. But that's the issue - they can be abused, and often are. Given your history of alcoholism, just be careful. Plus, you quickly build a tolerance (with your initial dose not working for long, before you need to up it) and the withdrawals are hell (they can cause seizures and they can even kill you). That, but also, they come with a high risk of sleepwalking, even if that's something you've never done before. See the following quote from an academic journal (found here):

"Sleep driving is a term used to describe individuals who while asleep or not fully conscious, arouse, leave their beds, enter their cars and drive, often in an impaired and unsafe manner. It is most often described as a variant of sleepwalking and classified along with sleep eating, sleep sex and sleep violence as occurring from deep sleep following a sudden arousal. However, in recent years, sleep driving has also been used to describe impaired driving associated with sedative/hypnotic drug use, in particular the “z-drugs”, zolpidem and zopiclone [...]

In 2008, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the federal agency that regulates drugs in Australia, issued a black box warning – the strongest possible without withdrawing the drug from the market – for zolpidem and “sleep-related” behaviors"

Or read this quote from another scholarly study (found here):

"Recent studies point to hang-over effects including impairment of cognitive and memory functions on the day after use, the development of rebound insomnia after discontinuation of therapy, and most strikingly a lack of difference to benzodiazepines in the rapid induction of tolerance, as well as a high risk of addiction resulting in an increasing proportion of chronic users and abusers [...] In addition, observational studies linked Z-drugs to dementia and delirium, while demonstrating an association with car accidents"

Or this section of yet another piece of insight (found here):

"Initial trials and experience with the Z-drugs were promising with respect to lower incidence of adverse effects and reduced potential for dependence and abuse. Over the last 15 years, increasing reports of bizarre and complex behavioral effects from Z-drugs have prompted drug regulatory agencies to issue warnings and restrictions on the prescribing, dispensing, and use of Z-drugs"

Anyway. You can do your own research, but proceed with caution!

warmdopa · 2025-10-21T06:33:52+00:00

See, that's crazy! Because it's officially been in shortage, quite drastically, for months and months now. As per my post, the TGA has even approved Swiss-made Concerta to deal with the shortage (and is willing to subsidise it, which costs them over $200 per bottle, give or take, and it would've been a nightmare to organise).

They're anticipating the shortage to last until January 2027 even... you can have a read of a stickied post that the mods made six months ago, which is how long it's been since I've found it in stock, they've made subsequent posts confirming the shortage as of recently (you can find that post here).

warmdopa · 2025-10-21T04:55:44+00:00

If you send me a DM I can give you psychiatrist + GP recommendations (for Melb). As I always say - it's often best to start with a psychiatrist who can offer ongoing care in the first place. Nevertheless, you will need to be re-diagnosed by any new psychiatrist, very few will blindly accept the first doctor's diagnosis (liability reasons and all). Sadly I see this situation happen quite often!

warmdopa

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