| I've had ADD and slow executive function all of my life, along with a few other problems. I was in denial or at least unsure about it for years. I'd had docs diagnose me with ADD, one who tested me extensively who though ADD was overdiagnosed that said I didn't have it, and had tried natural remedies, attempted to self-treat with caffeine- probably 5-12 cans of soda a day or several cups of coffee- and had a few really bad experiences and reactions with the meds that I tried. Then I finally went to a psychiatrist that had been recommended to me by my doc and an friend of a friend and took GeneSight tests for genetic markers that indicate problems with different types of medications. I found one for ADD that was recommended and was prescribed that. It was Vyvanse which is amphetamine-based. It is lisdexamfetamine which is basically like a time-released dextroamphetamine. It becomes dextroamphetamine when the body cleaves off the lysine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisdexamfetamine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextroamphetamine I took Vyvanse and within an hour, I had a lot more energy and felt like I was "on". I didn't have any trouble focusing and it revved up my executive function so I was not thinking as slowly. I felt like it was going to solve all of my problems. However, even though I felt great and helped with some depression I was having also, I had some negative interactions at work. After getting "called into the office" after one of those, I knew I was going to have to do something else. Away from work, though, it was a great medication to be on, and since it was time-released, so I only had to take one in the morning. I still don't think it's a bad med. I went back to the psychiatrist. She put me on Evekeo. It contains 50% levoamphetamine salts and 50% dextroamphetamine. On it, I can focus on what I'm doing like what I think a normal person does- or maybe better. I still will hear what others are saying and get distracted, but when I want to, and with help of music, I can really focus on my work. I can even focus more that I think that I could when I was younger and ADD wasn't affecting me as much. I still feel a little slower and am considering taking it and a smaller dose of dextroamphetamine. For me, it's a little like the real-world clear pill from Limitless. I think eventually what I'd like to be on would be a combination of lisdexamfetamine and levoamphetamine (or a time-released version of it). It's possible that the L-lysine of lisdexamfetamine was also having some positive affects: https://www.drugs.com/npc/lysine.html |
With it I'm a different person. I can focus, I can finish a thought process, I'm motivated, things become clear. I can actually "keep up" with others in "normal life", and it makes me a great programmer.
It really does feel like the magic pill from limitless.
Now, I tried alternatives when I was younger, and none really worked that well. Vyvanse put me to sleep, concerta (sp?) Didn't work at all. adderal-xr worked, but the "come down" sucks, it ruins my appetite, and its almost impossible to get around here (every place never has it).
I'm afraid to start trying others as I feel entirely useless without my medicine, and I know that because of the legal issues around these drugs, trying one out but keeping my backup of my old medicine is not going to fly. So I just deal with it.