Why do meds make things worse when they stop working?

[jman05]

I am an innattentive, and looked long and hard to find meds that worked. I finally found provigil (worked ok) and vyvanse (worked very good), but they both eventually stopped working and actually made me feel worse than being unmediated. I don't get it. I was so happy I finally found something. I actually started taking them after a break. The first day it worked great, day 2, 3, etc were all horrible and worse than with no medication.

[spunkysmum]

My guess would be that things seem worse because you now know what you're missing. Before you started taking meds that worked, as bad as your problems were, they were still the only reality you knew. You really didn't know that you could do better until you got treatment. Now you do know, so you know what you're missing.

[jman05]

Originally Posted by spunkysmum

My guess would be that things seem worse because you now know what you're missing. Before you started taking meds that worked, as bad as your problems were, they were still the only reality you knew. You really didn't know that you could do better until you got treatment. Now you do know, so you know what you're missing.

Well that couldnt be true because i just said that on days I don't take meds I'm better than when on meds. It could be day 1 on meds, day 2 no meds. Day on meds I feel like ****.

[spunkysmum]

Originally Posted by jman05

Well that couldnt be true because i just said that on days I don't take meds I'm better than when on meds. It could be day 1 on meds, day 2 no meds. Day on meds I feel like ****.

Could you point out where in the following you said that?

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I am an innattentive, and looked long and hard to find meds that worked. I finally found provigil (worked ok) and vyvanse (worked very good), but they both eventually stopped working and actually made me feel worse than being unmediated. I don't get it. I was so happy I finally found something. I actually started taking them after a break. The first day it worked great, day 2, 3, etc were all horrible and worse than with no medication.

[Fraser_0762]

Withdrawl/tolerance/wrong stimulant for you

Could be either of the 3.

[jman05]

Originally Posted by Fraser_0762

Withdrawl/tolerance/wrong stimulant for you

Could be either of the 3.

Well it used to work so it couldnt be wrong stimulant. No withdrawl because I feel better than when on them like I said. Could be tolerance, but why would tolerance make me feel worse?

[Fraser_0762]

Originally Posted by jman05

Well it used to work so it couldnt be wrong stimulant. No withdrawl because I feel better than when on them like I said. Could be tolerance, but why would tolerance make me feel worse?

I'm sorry, but I really don't understand what you're trying to say.

Are you trying to say that you feel better "off" the medication? If thats so, then perhaps you don't need medication after all?

And when you build up a tolerance to something, it generally becomes less effective and in some cases "counter productive".

[trishcan]

People with ADHD-PI tend to rely more heavily on the stimulating effects of stimulant medication--alertness, wakefulness, sociability, motivation. Those things are also, unfortunately, the quickest effects to fade away... We often describe them as side effects or euphoria, but I imagine that for someone who quite nearly requires such things, the medication is mostly useless when those effects are absent.

The OP is probably left with some unpleasant side effects and none of the ones that could be deemed reasonably therapeutic, so it stands to reason that someone in that position would feel worse on meds than off them.

[spunkysmum]

Originally Posted by trishcan

People with ADHD-PI tend to rely more heavily on the stimulating effects of stimulant medication--alertness, wakefulness, sociability, motivation. Those things are also, unfortunately, the quickest effects to fade away... We often describe them as side effects or euphoria, but I imagine that for someone who quite nearly requires such things, the medication is mostly useless when those effects are absent.

I think you are probably right about that.

[jman05]

Originally Posted by trishcan

People with ADHD-PI tend to rely more heavily on the stimulating effects of stimulant medication--alertness, wakefulness, sociability, motivation. Those things are also, unfortunately, the quickest effects to fade away... We often describe them as side effects or euphoria, but I imagine that for someone who quite nearly requires such things, the medication is mostly useless when those effects are absent.

The OP is probably left with some unpleasant side effects and none of the ones that could be deemed reasonably therapeutic, so it stands to reason that someone in that position would feel worse on meds than off them.

Wow. That actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks. The thing is though, that now when I take the med I am less social and alert than when off of them. Its almost like I crash as soon as I take it, and when it wears off later in the day and I feel better.

[trishcan]

Have you tried something for a more long-term approach to symptom control? Possibly Wellbutrin?

[jman05]

Originally Posted by trishcan

Have you tried something for a more long-term approach to symptom control? Possibly Wellbutrin?

Ya, but I just don't think it's powerful enough for me. Plus I don't have any co-existing conditions like depression.