I (25f) am recently diagnosed (April 2023) and still figuring out meds. My primary started me on qelbree which was a total mess and the worst month of my life. After being referred over to a psychiatrist because my doc was uncomfortable prescribing anything other than non-stimulants, my psych started me on adderall. It was a godsend from day one. I noticed an immediate decrease of stress and uptick in being able to actually get things done which helped with a whole slew of related mental health struggles. We have gone through a few different dosages, and I am currently at 15 XR in the morning and 5mg IR in the evening. I am thinking, sleeping, and working better than I have for as long as I can remember, though not without some issues when the drug leaves my system.

Now to the point- About two weeks ago, I went on vacation and the week after was trash as far as the meds working. I felt terrible, and all of the issues that adderall was helping with came back with a bang. The issue has since mostly resolved itself, but I am trying to figure out what caused the problem so that I can keep myself from spiraling in the future. I will include some details below and would appreciate any ideas or thoughts from your experience.

  • the vacation lasted 6 days, all of which I took my meds.

  • all 6 days, I averaged less than 5-5.5 hours of sleep

  • I consumed alcohol the last 2 days out of the 6 with the last evening possibly exceeding what I should have. I do not drink more than once a month usually

-food consumption was normal and I did not eat anything out of the ordinary.

-the last day of the trip, I noticed that I was not feeling as focused with my evening dose. The morning that I left, I was back to feeling like trash mentally as I had prior to starting these meds back in May.

-because I have heard hormones could impact things, I ended my period half way through the trip. I do not remember having any issues following other periods.

Please let me know what you guys think.

  • midori@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Were you drinking carbonated beverages, caffeine, or anything with vitamin C around the time that you took your dose? These can reduce the efficacy of the medicine.

    Beyond that, you definitely needed more sleep. Adderall is not a sleep replacement, and it will not help you as much if you aren’t giving your body adequate rest. Your body will also adjust to your dose over time, and the dose will need to be increased a little bit.

    For now, focus on getting adequate sleep whenever possible, and remember to drink enough water. Give your body what it needs to function at its best, and the meds will be more effective for you in return. If this isn’t enough, then it’s time to discuss a dosage increase until you can find and maintain a therapeutic dose.