TLDR: What is ADHD medication supposed to feel like? Is it supposed to feel like anything at all? Will someone with ADHD feel really gacked out/high? does it change based on food intake or other factors?

So I received an unofficial diagnosis from my AuDHD psychologist a while ago, and then my psychiatrist did a very short written assessment on me and determined a positive diagnosis. I really want to get a full assessment one day, but for now I was prescribed Focalin (dexmethylphenidate). I originally wanted it as a prn.

The first time I took it, I definitely felt “peppy”, needing to stand while gaming, needing to move around more frequently, generally more awake. I didn’t eat breakfast, and had coffee. My blood pressure was also very high. Within a couple of days I took it again, but being good and eating in the morning with no coffee. I couldn’t even tell if it was working. I may have taken it another time soon after and did not notice a difference, so I stopped taking it. I’ve been extremely fatigued and my executive dysfunction has been off the charts so I tried taking it again. Yesterday I didn’t eat right away, and I felt gacked. Tight jaw, jittery, like definitely felt like I was on stimulants. I felt like that today as well; I tried to eat a little something this morning but it didn’t seem to make much of a difference. It kicked in during a client appointment, too. Jaw tight, jittery, making a ton of typing mistakes, my body feeling fuzzy.

So, is it something where you should be able to notice a difference when you take ADHD meds? I’m assuming that I felt it so intensely because I didn’t eat, but when I do it it literally doesn’t feel like anything has changed. I may also not even have ADHD at all and was misdiagnosed (I was informally dx’ed with ADHD, Autism and bipolar disorder).

  • ratboy [they/them]@hexbear.netOP
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    1 year ago

    Yep, that hasn’t been my experience. It’s day 4 of taking them consecutively; I ate more in the morning and I feel like that helped but I was still way more interested in talking to coworkers than focusin on anything. I’m extremely burnt out and VERY VERY resistant to staying on task regardless of taking meds. I definitely feel wired, but I feel like I"m just doing what I would do regardless, just more alert. When you very first started did you have an adjustment period at all or it kinda just clicked in the way you’re describing?

      • ratboy [they/them]@hexbear.netOP
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        1 year ago

        yeah, I’m not seeing that with this stuff. I have also read a lot of shitty experiences with this specific drug though so I’m gonna keep trying and then see if I can switch to something else. I get super jealous of reading people’s accounts being like “my meds changed my life I could focus and get things done and now I exercise 6 days a week and I’m on time for work and I love hanging out with my friends!!!” like, gimme that ;~; I am glad for you and them but still

          • ratboy [they/them]@hexbear.netOP
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            1 year ago

            Totally. Today is day 5 and I’ll give it a bit longer but may just see if I can switch. I just wanna be motivated to do anything at all again!