Adhd medication isn’t working anymore- feeling so hopeless

Non-Running Other

1 year ago 08/05/2022 5:31pm EDT

Hey everyone,
I’m hoping I can find some hope and encouragement on here as it has been a hard past few months. I have on adhd meds for 4 years now. They worked great for the first 3 years (I took Adderall 20 IR 2x a day) it wasn’t until after I got Covid in Nov of 2020 that I started to struggle and was feeling more down on Adderall so I switched to Vyvanse. Vyvanse worked great but I was having some anxiety so my doctor put me on Zoloft for about 6 months and then I switched to prozac for 6 months. I started struggling at the end of 2021 and decided to go off the ssri and just took the Vyvanse and this worked great but I still got anxious.. so at the start of 2022 I tried lexpro. I didn’t enjoy this one too much either because of the lack of motivation/ tiredness and no focus. I did feel like the Vyvanse worked okay for like a month on this but once again the ssri cancelled out the Vyvanse once it it got more into my system. In May, I tried Wellbutrin and it helped a bit but I felt super anxious and it def made the Vyvanse less effective. I decided to go off it for a while and just took the Vyvanse but started having bad brain fog so I started the Wellbutrin and then went off it because I couldn’t sleep.

Moral of the story: since I went off the Wellbutrin about a month and a half ago, I have cycled through ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse and none of them are working at all. I feel no focus, motivation, and have brain fog as well. I started a new job in June and it has been so incredibly hard feeling like this like life has been miserable. Iv tried not taking the meds for a week (it’s horrible I just want to sleep) and take weekends off and nothing helps. I’m hoping that with time my meds will start working again but has anyone else experienced this? Did the anti depressants completely mess up my brain? Im just so worried this will never end. My doctor isn’t much help other than saying he thinks my dopamine is too low. I’m a super healthy girl, I workout eat well, and go out to get drinks maybe twice a month.
I hope someone can help, thank you!

1 year ago 08/05/2022 5:35pm EDT

re: Healthygirl123

Find another psychiatrist who specializes in this. I don't think you're going to find much reliable information here.

1 year ago 08/05/2022 6:44pm EDT

re: Healthygirl123

One way or another you need to get off the dope. It works great for a while, but it becomes less and less effective over time. Happiness, or at least satisfaction, is possible without the pills. It just takes time.

1 year ago 08/05/2022 7:04pm EDT

re: Healthygirl123

You need to keep working on a new treatment plan or doctor.

My impression is that SSRIs work very differently than, say, Adderall. The former only works over long periods of use (which some say is the reason they are effective, there is no narcotic effect). I am not an expert here, however, just a long-time caretaker and payor.

My niece went through many of the same struggles as you are currently experiencing. It seemed hopeless at the time, but it eventually worked itself out, even if we didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel for some time.

She found an elderly psych doc who looked at her medicines in a different light, and if fact, reduced them.

It also seemed that a DBT type of therapy increased her self-awareness and caused her to know when to stop pushing herself so much. This self examination and self restraint allowed her to keep the drugs to a minimum.

Best of luck. It isn't easy.

1 year ago 08/05/2022 7:43pm EDT

re: Healthygirl123

Healthygirl123 wrote:
Hey everyone,
I’m hoping I can find some hope and encouragement on here as it has been a hard past few months. I have on adhd meds for 4 years now. They worked great for the first 3 years (I took Adderall 20 IR 2x a day) it wasn’t until after I got Covid in Nov of 2020 that I started to struggle and was feeling more down on Adderall so I switched to Vyvanse. Vyvanse worked great but I was having some anxiety so my doctor put me on Zoloft for about 6 months and then I switched to prozac for 6 months. I started struggling at the end of 2021 and decided to go off the ssri and just took the Vyvanse and this worked great but I still got anxious.. so at the start of 2022 I tried lexpro. I didn’t enjoy this one too much either because of the lack of motivation/ tiredness and no focus. I did feel like the Vyvanse worked okay for like a month on this but once again the ssri cancelled out the Vyvanse once it it got more into my system. In May, I tried Wellbutrin and it helped a bit but I felt super anxious and it def made the Vyvanse less effective. I decided to go off it for a while and just took the Vyvanse but started having bad brain fog so I started the Wellbutrin and then went off it because I couldn’t sleep.
Moral of the story: since I went off the Wellbutrin about a month and a half ago, I have cycled through ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse and none of them are working at all. I feel no focus, motivation, and have brain fog as well. I started a new job in June and it has been so incredibly hard feeling like this like life has been miserable. Iv tried not taking the meds for a week (it’s horrible I just want to sleep) and take weekends off and nothing helps. I’m hoping that with time my meds will start working again but has anyone else experienced this? Did the anti depressants completely mess up my brain? Im just so worried this will never end. My doctor isn’t much help other than saying he thinks my dopamine is too low. I’m a super healthy girl, I workout eat well, and go out to get drinks maybe twice a month.
I hope someone can help, thank you!

Someone show this to Molly

1 year ago 08/05/2022 8:52pm EDT

re: Paging Ms. Shapiro

You’re not healthy. You need a serious detox, like a year long juice cleanse to get that crap out of your system. Start over and stop taking drugs. And no vaccines. Geez.

1 year ago 08/05/2022 11:32pm EDT

re: Healthygirl123

You concentrated long enough to write this blog post…

1 year ago 08/06/2022 1:45am EDT

re: PB lovr

Thanks for the comment but it doesn’t sound like you understand Attention deficit disorder and being medicated whatsoever. My doctor is the one prescribing me these, I’m not getting them off the street. I’ll be sure to buy some juice in the meantime :)

1 year ago 08/06/2022 2:07am EDT

re: Paging Ms. Shapiro

Do you really not have better things to do then comment this?

1 year ago 08/06/2022 2:15am EDT

re: Healthygirl123

Agree with the posts suggesting you find a new Specialist.

One other thing to consider is that if the meds are directly causing an increase in your anxiety, then the dosage may simply be too high. A very common mistake with the prescription and use of both stimulants and anti-depressants. Often 'less is more' in pharmacology.

Either way you need a Specialist that understands your condition and will help you tweak your treatment regime, rather than the chopping and changing you have experienced.

1 year ago 08/06/2022 2:17am EDT

re: tlm1959

Thank you so much for this. Reading this made me feel like I’m not alone as you mentioned your niece struggles with a similar thing. I will definitely implement your recommendations. Your right- it isn’t easy but I have to remind myself that tough times don’t last.

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