Hi everyone. I am 35, diagnosed inattentive ADD when I was 33. I have tried meds on and off and am currently off. I find myself self medicating with usually a couple glasses of wine or something. I stopped smoking grass before I was diagnosed but I just started again to see if it will help as far as the self medication thing goes. You know, to "even out" my brain....if that makes sense.

I was hoping to get some feedback from you all on this. Does anyone else self-medicate and how does it help?

Thanks everyone

My experience from my college years was that it didn't help at all. When you already have a condition that makes you disorganized and forgetful, you don't need to add ganja on top of that. It just makes you ultra disorganized and forgetful.

WIth alcohol, one or two glasses of wine shouldn't be a problem, if only because in its first stages, alcohol primarily inhibits activity in the frontal lobe, and we don't really have much activity there to begin with. Interestingly enough, alcoholism is suspected to involve some processes in that region as a result, and this might explain why alcoholism does not have the same prevalence as overall substance abuse among ADHD people.

That being said, alcohol will also make you disorganized and forgetful. Also, unlike marijuana, excessive long-term use of alcohol has been linked to brain damage. However, one or two glasses of wine isn't likely to cause a problem in this regard.

It is possible, of course, that moderate amounts of either drug might help someone deal with stress and anxiety, although obviously I cannot recommend that.

When you were on meds, did they help? Were there any side effects or health issues?

I found that smoking pot helped to stabilize my mind. (Ironicly I'm sure many anti-drug folks will chime in). It did help, but the side effects are hard to live with on a daily basis.
It did help, although I think meds are a better choice.

I believe self-medicating with alcohol is a bad idea, I tried self-medicating with alcohol whenI was thirteen (which was really stupid as I have a very addictive nature), by the time I was fourteen I was drinking before school, then I was drinking in school and my life started to spin out of control.
Then a teacher saved me and gave me the help I needed.

So no, self-medicating did not help me, I hate the person I used to be.

I do think that medication prescribed by a doctor is ok although I haven't tried it myself, but I think I would benifit from it.

:)

I agree with Hyperion. RX meds are meant to address the specific issues at hand; self-medication is a tricksy business indeed.

Imagine the receptors you need activated as star-shaped. You will be able to fit a triangular object into them...but is that the perfect fit?

You see my point, I hope.

This is why I love this site. Good feedback from different sources. Thank you all so far.

I've never self medicated with Alcohol or illigal drugs but I have medicated with other things....


Primarily Food...I"m an emotional eater and while the food in and of itsef didn't change my brain chemistry it was a way to self sooth

Soda....I used to drink 3 to 4 20 ounce bottles of Diet coke a day. I couldn't figure out why I drank it so much when everyone else got by on one bottle. THe caffiene was a self medicated way for me to calm myself down. The reason I drank so much was because the effect of caffiene is unreliable and short lived.
Not to mention I could have ruined my teeth.

I think most of us have at some point or another. It could be with food, drugs and drinking. You will be better off just going back on your meds. If you feel better on meds, who cares what others think. You need to let your "true colors" shine through. :)

whatwasIsaying,

Ready to go back into ancient history? Good. I had a Microceratops for a pet. Now I keep a Microsoft beast happy.

Back in ancient times in the 1960's even "cats" that weren't ADHD self-medicated on all sorts of goodies from pot, acid, barbs, speed, (surprisingly little coke), meculine, and the goody list goes on and on. Of course, I never transgressed just relating what I heard other long haired dudes tell me.

Some of them helped ADHD symptoms but had a very serious drawback. THEY WERE ILLEGAL. Do you know what it is like a "down" a bag of weed cause the "man" happened to pull behind you and then turn off the next street?

Don't do it. It ain't worth spending time in the slammer. That's what they tell me, anyway.

Get it?

Bob

good call on the "true colors" K. you remember...:p

REcently I"ve begun to self medicate (even though I also take concerta) with music and exercise...by excercise I mean I take a walk every day with my portable cd player. I can zone out or daydream and it's quite addictive. THere are worse tihngs to be addicted to I suppose.;)

Crack, lots of crack..














Just kidding!

Self medication in add individuals is seen often. Does it really help anything? Probably not, and from personal experiance it made life much worse in the end.

This is especially true when dealing with illegal stimulants, the war on drugs is in full swing against methamphetamine. If you get busted your life will be torn apart and your chances of having a good job in the US completely gone.

You could try one of those brain wave generators, but I dont think they work. But there fun sometimes to play with, assuming you dont have to pay for them. They are somewhat freaky. I am playing around with this one http://www.bwgen.com/download.htm

:eyebrow:

Crack, lots of crack..

Me yea I am into “Crack loads of crack” such as in “wise crack” – :p !!!

I frequently get my Adderall and this identical bottle of smart as* pills mixed up! :eek:


Probably not, and from personal experience it made life much worse in the end.

For me pot helped with the hyperactivity when I was younger and had more energy and less understanding. I actually did better in high school because I was less disruptive . . . I could sit still for the first time in my life. I no longer smoke weed no need now. . . .it just messes with my "bounce" and removes my natural motivation . . . .at 40 some thing pot just turns me into a sloth!

I did stimulants when I went to vocational school after high school however again I made good grades Reader please note there was no legal option for treating my ADD. Adult ADD did not exist, very few children were diagnosed in the 70’s I was also much luckier than many of my “friends” who went into to “harder drugs” they ended up getting addicted . . . .many died early . . . .most have felony records . . . . . . . .I have always felt like there was Devine intervention on my behalf. . . . .I was also blessed with a “gift” in pharmacology (literally) which I still use today for the benefit of my patents . . . . .

I will tell you the truth out of the 50 or so folks I knew over the years I am one of the few alive with clean record, and only one left with an intact career . . . .the hand-full who weren’t brought down by literal chemical dependency; succumbed to the life style . . . . .I no longer have need to use illegal substance because medical science finally caught up with me and dear ole grandpa! (who was an ADD chemist probably where much of my “knack” came from)

For me pot helped with the hyperactivity when I was younger and had more energy and less understanding. I actually did better in high school because I was less disruptive . . . I could sit still for the first time in my life. I no longer smoke weed no need now. . . .it just messes with my "bounce" and removes my natural motivation . . . .at 40 some thing pot just turns me into a sloth!
I swing on the other side of the spectrum, totally sedate, unmotivated, fatigued. So you can see how alcohol and pot probably arent all that good for me.

I swing on the other side of the spectrum, totally sedate, unmotivated, fatigued. So you can see how alcohol and pot probably arent all that good for me.I dunno, pot inspired me and I am PI.

Hi everyone. I am 35, diagnosed inattentive ADD when I was 33. I have tried meds on and off and am currently off. I find myself self medicating with usually a couple glasses of wine or something. I stopped smoking grass before I was diagnosed but I just started again to see if it will help as far as the self medication thing goes. You know, to "even out" my brain....if that makes sense.

I was hoping to get some feedback from you all on this. Does anyone else self-medicate and how does it help?

Thanks everyone

What, if anything, did normal meds do for you?

I have been diagnosed with ADD for only about 6 months now and am finally feeling some clarification of why I am the way I am. I stopped medicating myself with the wacky tabacky and alcohol and am doing quite well on a new generic Adderral XR. This is my first post and am not too sure what to say, but I am looking forward to getting more involved and geting support from people who can empathize with my lifelong struggles.

Hey eliz nice to meet ya! I didn't think they made a generic brand of Adderall XR? Only IR

I think xr goes generic in 07.

Caffine has alway been my main med. There were times I could kill off a 12 pack of moutain dew in one day. I have been taking Adderall for about month and it worked great for about 2 weeks but seems to have lost its effect lately.

Hi everyone. I am 35, diagnosed inattentive ADD when I was 33. I have tried meds on and off and am currently off. I find myself self medicating with usually a couple glasses of wine or something. I stopped smoking grass before I was diagnosed but I just started again to see if it will help as far as the self medication thing goes. You know, to "even out" my brain....if that makes sense.

I was hoping to get some feedback from you all on this. Does anyone else self-medicate and how does it help?

Thanks everyone
Your killing brain cells, how can that be a good thing?

Speaking from personal experience... Don't do it, it isn't worth it. Honestly, life is better without the self medicating of pot and booze.

Hmmm. I know what you are saying about pot & other forms of cannabis sometimes being able to be helpful, just like a glass or 2 of wine, in small amounts. I think this is why I was a pot smoker for 20 years. The trouble is my behaviour, I think, can be qualified as having been addictive because i kept smoking even when it didnt steady me, in the vain hope that it would. I was chasing the elusive few instances when it would work, which were really down to circumstance.

I definitely think that a lot of people who are habitual pot smokers/drinkers etc are undiagnosed ADDers who are self-medicating

One of the main advantages of the prescription ADHD meds is not just that they are more effective, more targeted towards the specific problems involved, legal, safer, etc, but also that one takes them in consultation with a physician. Just the fact that you speak regularly with a medical professional about how they are affecting you makes a huge difference; it allows someone else to examine how they are affecting you, from a neutral, objective viewpoint. Are they helping? Are there any side effects? Are there serious negative health consequences? How much are you taking? Has that increased lately? How well is it helping you manage your symptoms?

One of the major problems that a lot of illicit drug users have is that they spiral out of control without anyone there to notice that they've suddenly started using far too much, or that they're not eating, or that they are having seriously bad effects, etc.

And of course, it goes without saying that a pharmaceutically pure compound of known dosage, manufactured in a sterile, controlled laboratory by licensed professionals will always be safer than something JimBob and his cousins cooked up in a trailer park, or that was smuggled across the border inside someone's...ughhh, I don't even want to think about that one, but you get the point.

Hi everyone. I am 35, diagnosed inattentive ADD when I was 33. I have tried meds on and off and am currently off. I find myself self medicating with usually a couple glasses of wine or something. I stopped smoking grass before I was diagnosed but I just started again to see if it will help as far as the self medication thing goes. You know, to "even out" my brain....if that makes sense.

I was hoping to get some feedback from you all on this. Does anyone else self-medicate and how does it help?

Thanks everyoneI find a few (2) glasses of wine have the same effect as stimulant medication on ME..not that it will the same for everyone..it is very calming..
but..as soon as I go over the *line* ,then the alcohol can have a different effect..(bad, I can get snappy...) now, if only I could stop at one glass, I'd be fine, and not need my avo dose of meds...but...if it's there, I will drink it :o :o

heh. I had to laugh. I quit smoking last year after a pack a day (of 120's, so prolly more like a pack and a half) for 20 years. Quitting for me was just amazingly BAD, and threw me into absolute mental chaos. (I quit cold turkey, except for a sleeping pill scrip I got from my Dr. because I had the most wicked insomnia) I am relatively smoke free (I ocassionally take a puff if I am around a friend who smokes), since April of last year, but I always thought it was strange that quitting smoking affected me so drastically.

Once I was diagnosed from my Psy/MD last month, he asked me if, when I quit, did I get any meds and was it still a struggle to stay off them. I was floored. Said 'Yah hunh!', and he explained that nicotine patches are used by some in medicating for ADHD, and when I quit smoking, I took away my likely ADHD med that had at least kept me semi-funtional or at least kept it to where it was in slightly in check. (I can't tell you how many work reveiws I've suffered through because I got the 'doesn't pay attention to detail,' or 'can't complete projects in a timely fashion, etc.')

So, as a former smoker, if you do decide to quit (which is best for you, healthwise), make sure to at least get some kind of nicotine replacement so it doesn't kick off some of your more dominant ADHD symptoms. You might also check with the Dr. about using Wellbutrin or something to help you ease out of not smoking.

ADHD's and cold turkey smoking cessation are a DANGEROUS mix, believe me! lol!