r/ADHD • u/Far_Dependent2 • 1d ago
Success/Celebration Medication for the 1st time— AM I DREAMING???
I know this is probably the millionth time someone has gone on here to talk about the life-changing effects of ADHD meds. And I’m going to be the millionth and one, lock in.
The whole ‘it’s so quiet’ thing never made sense to me, but now I get it. It’s like, a stillness? And not an uncomfortable one. I’ve never felt comfortably still — ever. I just finished my late work for ALL my classes in like 3 hours. Like, I single-handedly fixed all my failing grades overnight. I probably shouldn’t expect to be doing that all the time. But the fact that I managed it without feeling completely dead? The fact that I managed it at ALL? This is all so incredibly surreal.
I don’t think I ever realized the sheer amount of energy that gets sucked out of me every time I even THINK about doing something. It could be something I enjoy, it literally would not matter. And now, boom, I can sit down and not worry about not going back to what I was doing because just doing feels so much easier. The barrier of dread and resistance is just gone. So’s the anxiety, which I didn’t expect with a stimulant.
Have you ever seen Into The Woods? There’s this line: “Careful the tale you tell, that is the spell”. I’ve been under this spell of guilt and borderline self-hatred for years. And now, it’s suddenly gone. Probably because I realized that realistically, I’m not to blame for virtually every problem in my life. You have no idea how much good that’s going to do for my mental health.
Will the crash be crazy? Most definitely. But now my brain can’t say that I’m just lazy or victimizing myself. So I think it’s been plenty worth it. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
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u/PiesAteMyFace 1d ago
That first silence is magic. Unfortunately, it doesn't last. You really gotta pair meds with a bunch of coping strategies to get the most out of them.
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u/600Bliss 1d ago
This. Plus the comedowns for some people can make you question whether it’s worth it or not. By the end I was literally unable to do anything in the evening except lie on the couch feeling nothing but impending doom.
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u/Mammoth_Result_102 1d ago
Yes. You need a plan. You cannot jump out of bed, ingest the meds and think life will sort out itself. You need tools and strategies. ADHD is extremely complicated.
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u/Far_Dependent2 1d ago
at this point, now that I know what it feels like? I’d do anything to get the most out of my meds. the difference is so huge.
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u/TightNectarine6499 13h ago
Had the same experience. It lasted 2 to 3 days. It’s probably still better with meds than without, but it remains hard work.
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u/Gotsims1 1d ago
Tbh I had been off my meds a long time, took 'em again today and realized damn... Why have I been putting myself through torture just to save an imagined amount of money
It probably costs me more money how hard everything is to do all the time, than to pay for those damned meds every month. If I'm on meds I become a better functioning worker, as sad as it is that that's a vital part of getting by in capitalism.
My emotional regulation is a bit better on concerta too I think.
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u/Far_Dependent2 1d ago
Emotional regulation was another huge thing, I was shocked by how emotionally stable I felt
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u/Forsaken_Maximum_215 1d ago
I just started taking meds for the first time a couple months ago (I’m middle aged af) and this is the biggest difference I’ve seen, my feelings don’t get away from me as much. It’s amazing.
Who would’ve thought that self control could feel so good. Hahaha☺️
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u/Far_Dependent2 23h ago
I know, right? It’s literally a different world
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u/Forsaken_Maximum_215 16h ago
It really is! Quiet too☺️
It’s so nice, welcome to your new life. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself a bit too, that’s important and easy to forget.
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u/Sketaverse 1d ago
It's like putting on glasses for the first time and realising how much more clear the world is.
Wait till you get drunk for the first time, it's completely different lol.. more chill and merry.
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u/trophicmist0 20h ago
Bit late but do you drink on the meds? So if I took them in the morning and went out in the evening, that's generally ok?
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u/Sketaverse 15h ago
Yeah. If anything I’ll take an extra one before I go out.
Without meds I’d be a bit too wild when out drinking, like, I’d have 1 and that would turn into 8 more and I’d get home at 3am etc
On meds, I can go out for 1 or 2, have a nice catch up with friends and then happily go home.
It’s totally different, for me at least
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u/Mammoth_Result_102 1d ago edited 1d ago
Don't make the mistake of looking up what the average dose or maximum dose is for adults with ADHD and ingest that. Don't take more than you actually need. We don't know what the long-term side effects are. Nobody knows practically anything about the brain nor ADHD, relatively speaking. But it's more about not getting your brain accustomed to a higher dosage that you actually and practically don't really need.
I am 32, male, textbook ADHD, and i manage very well with... 1.25mg of dextroamphetamine (similar to what is known as ''adderall'' in USA but not quite) per day. That's right 1mg + 1/4 mg. For the entire day. And these are short lasting meds that supposed to stop working after 4 hours, followed by a ''crash''. And that's how it was in the beginning for me but then my brain adapted so fast. I have no crash. Zero. Sometimes I can even still ride on the wave of the previous day without having to take any meds, just some green tea.
Knowledge from online sources or your GP is good. But I know more about ADHD and ADHD meds than my GP. She said it herself. Your personal experiences are highly valuable. You identify what it is that you need to accomplish for the week and break it down to the day. You make a plan for how you will execute the task(s). All this without having taken any meds yet. You zero in on the task for the first 30 - 60 mins struggling and unable to focus, but just wait it out until the storm settled down a bit. Just sit down for 60 mins and do nothing if you have to. THEN take the meds.
Prior to all this you should have had a morning routine that is calm and familiar. Don't touch your phone or start doing random things like making phone calls or rushing outside to get breakfast. Finish the morning routine with a plan for the day. Calmly. Your brain is a machine and it works a certain way. Work with it. Flow with it as much as possible. Help it a little. Don't just ingest and voila. It wants focus. it loves to be deeply engaged in a task. It hates distraction and multitasking. If you have a good start of the day, you already 50% on your way. Guaranteed.
But don't screw it up with social media, dating apps, gaming, gambling, caffeine, drugs, porn, alcohol, simple carbs like bread or soda. That's sabotaging the effects of the meds and then you think ''oh i need a higher dose''. No. All those things need to be eliminated OUT of your system first. Trust me, when you're in flow you won't even think for a minute about all those things. It replaces them all.
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u/Newgirlllthrowaway 18h ago
This is super helpful. Thank you. Do you think this would also work with vyvanse? Or longer acting meds?
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u/TightNectarine6499 13h ago
I’ll try this, thanks. I’m also on a low dosis 3x a day. Don’t want to go up. Tried it, but seems to make things worse.
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u/kikibee78 1d ago
The first time I tried ADHD meds and my mind went quiet… I cried. I’d never felt peace like that before. All I kept thinking was “is this how everyone else feels all the time!?”
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u/Far_Dependent2 1d ago
yessss the difference it’s SO insane i genuinely just started crying a bit bc there was no way this was real life
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u/kikibee78 1d ago
When you’ve lived life on “hard mode” and didn’t know there even were other modes…
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u/TightNectarine6499 12h ago
I was thinking how can people without adhd ever be moody or down, with such a calm head.
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u/Odd_Judgment_2303 1d ago
When sometimes you have a bad day, remember to tell yourself that it’s the disorder that you have not your character! Congratulations!
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u/TAPgryphongirl 1d ago
Yes, meds can be revolutionary. Be aware your brain may respond a bit less intensely after the initial "honeymoon period" with your current dosage, but your "leveled out" medicated brain will still function more easily than without the meds.
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u/National_Air_5275 1d ago
I don’t know why I don’t have comedowns from medication. People speak of it but I’ve never experienced it. I think maybe because I’ve always been really good at taking my vitamins and in the early evening I always take ashwaganda & magnesium glycinate. I also do a late afternoon workout so maybe the endorphins from that make it so I don’t have the typical “comedown”? I think there are ways to combat it if you are experiencing an intense comedown.
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u/_jackiesaurus 22h ago
I recently started medication too and I couldn’t believe how quiet my mind was! Before I took the medication I didn’t even realize that I had music and a handful of random thoughts cycling through my mind at all times.
I also feel like my self-esteem is through the roof! It’s not perfect but it’s much better than it was.
After reading other comments it sounds like the medications might not always work like this, but holy crap I’m loving the first few days of meds too!
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u/Far_Dependent2 21h ago
omg yes!!! it was like all the extra thoughts running in the background were filtered out. the self esteem thing is so real too, because I could actually follow through on the things that I said I would do. and yeah, I’ve always heard about the ‘honeymoon period’ of ADHD meds wearing off. i’m not sure if it’s a matter of dosage or your body adjusting, but i’m just gonna ride this wave for as long as I can yk?
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u/fishonthemoon 21h ago
Didn’t believe it was possible for someone not to have constant thoughts until I went on meds. I thought everyone else was bs-ing 😂
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u/Far_Dependent2 20h ago
I genuinely just thought everyone else was better at life than I was 😭 like damn no wonder I’m so out of it all the time my brain won’t shut up
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u/czechsonme 1d ago
Your post gave me goose bumps, I’m a year in, older. Yeah, pretty fucking crazy, eh? Welcome to your new life.
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u/Mamahei2 1d ago
I just started vyvanse and I hope it does the same thing for me
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u/sudz3 21h ago
Ditto. Started Friday, 20mg. I take it at 7:30, get to work at 8:30 when it hits. More productive, less stressed but I do hit a wall around 15:00 where I go back to “roomba” mode bouncing off things and making minimal progress. I didn’t get the “quiet” mind but I will say I’ve had one singular coffee in the last week whereas I’d normally be 3-5 a day to function.
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u/Mamahei2 20h ago
It makes me be in the moment (not 100%) but I’m not constantly thinking of all the different stuff in my head and multitasking . But I’m going to wait and see what other results I’ll get from it.
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u/SubterraneanAlien89 1d ago
Honeymoon period doesn’t last.
Been on all the adhd meds for the past 26 yrs At all dosages. (Including well above the prescribed limit)
People will realize your brain balances out to homeostasis after a few days that’s why people Tend to take more and then you have an addiction problem. Don’t chase that feeling. If the medication makes you feel good or euphoric don’t chase it it’ll go away on its own .
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u/Far_Dependent2 23h ago
I wouldn’t say it makes me feel euphoric. Just more stable, you know? More regulated I think is a better term. Which is honestly all I could possibly ask for. I’m well aware that it levels off after a while though
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u/Recent-Snow-1056 21h ago
It's like living life with blinders on .
Nutrition, vitamins , gym will even out the come down
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u/ComparisonHot97 19h ago
Tried them for the first time this week too! Exact same reaction. Though it did give me tachycardia and a bit of physical restlessness, but it dissipated toward the end of the day. I guess I'll have to nullify my caffeine intake... I'm glad they worked for you too. Did you notice any side effect?
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u/Far_Dependent2 18h ago
I did feel a bit jittery, but I think that was also due to the cold. I also noticed that if I didn’t pick a thing to focus on doing, I had all this unspent energy coursing through me. Otherwise, it worked great! I would definitely recommend staying off caffeine when on them though, since it’s also a stimulant and is probably contributing to the tachycardia. I’m not a doctor though, so make sure to ask yours!
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u/Adventurous_Being578 17h ago
I tried taking ritalin for the first time recently and nothing happens, I'm pretty sad about it. I actually can't tell if i took it or not. 20mg LA
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u/Far_Dependent2 16h ago
definitely talk to your doctor about it, they’ll probably up your dosage/switch meds! mine was really adamant that I remember that it’s all trial and error — it’s different for everyone
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u/TheDecalcomanie ADHD-C (Combined type) 1d ago
Good on ya!! Just make sure to take breaks in your ADHD medication (if your doctor says it’s okay). It’s easy to forget that even though medication helps, it’s not the whole solution. Managing ADHD is about more than just taking a pill—it’s about understanding yourself, finding systems that work, and giving yourself grace on tough days. Breaks (again, if approved by a doctor) can be a good reminder that while medication supports you, YOU’RE the one doing the hard work.
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u/Own_Ice3264 1d ago
With my first med I never had the whole my head is quiet stuff. I was buzzin 😂 and painted my corridor in like 30mins.
Now I get the “my head is so quiet” on 70mg but that’s because I’m falling asleep 2 hours after taking it 😭
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u/Electronic-Set-1722 23h ago
Anyone else got tinnitus on here before meds? If so, did meds help?
It's more like a chirping as opposed to a ringing, and ive(42M) had it since childhood. 😩
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