ADD/ASD, dexamphetamine and a psychiatrist visit.

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Okay so its official. I have ADD/ASD as per my psychiatrist (Been waiting on this point for nearly a year). He isnt too bothered with Aspergers as it is getting removed from DSM-V anyway and says that ASD covers it. He did put me onto dexamphetamine to control the ADD side of it, 5mg tablets taken ad-hoc, maximum 30mg a day. He is happy for me to work out times/dosages that work for me as long as I dont exceed the maximum. I took some today and have been happy with the results. There was a noticeable difference.

Does anyone have experience with this diagnosis or medication? I understand that dexamphetamine can cause weight loss? Wow. A side effect that I actually WANT to have!

I attended support group meetings ADHD and many there were on stimulant medication
It definitely was not for me
being all hyped up like on mega caffeine

Once you stop taking the harmful meds
all your symptoms will return
but stronger than before
rebound effect

All the other [many and dangerous] side effects are non desirable

Last edited by Surfman on 14 Feb 2013, 4:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

Funny how controversial threads seem to go like this.....

I'm not following?

That's specifically why I try to go 2 days a week without taking meds and will always take the lowest dose possible.

I don't want to depend on meds to control my symptoms and I found if I went a month taking it every day, as you said when you come off it symptoms are much worse (I get so out of practice using my coping mechanisms because my meds take the weight for me).

My son was on stimulant medications and was notably calmer when taking them. We did a blind run without his teachers knowing and they actually asked what we were doing differently because he was so much calmer in class. I suspect that if people were acting "hyped up" on them, perhaps it was the wrong medication, or maybe that level of "hyped up" was way less than what they would be au natural.

For my son, when he stopped his hyperactivity did not return, but he still has other issues like disorganization, but that was never really helped with the meds anyway. That is why we stopped.

And yes, he lost a lot of weight. And yes, he gained it all back when he stopped the meds. He also developed tics that I thought might be related, but now he periodically still has them so I think it is just part of him being him.

I think it is up to each adult to determine whether the effects and side effects of a medication are worth it to them. Yes, there is risk. But for some people, they may view the risk as worth it. Personal choice.

To this point I'm finding that they seem to be helping with focus, curbing impulsiveness and leaving me feeling more energised and able to manage my Aspie traits than normal. It is true that Dexamphetamine behaves differently in the brain (has different outcomes) in the presence of certain neurological conditions and can cause hyperactive like symptoms if given to someone that doesn't need it.

Yes, his impulsivity went way down. The only thing it didn't seem to help was his level of disorganization. I do think, however, that the effect wasn't always a direct one. IOW, sometimes it wasn't that the meds impacted a particular problem. More that it allowed him to focus enough to learn compensatory strategies.

Okay - on second thoughts - this medication may not be so good.. I think it is causing some sort of problem with me.. MAJOR DRAMA! Since I have started taking it, unusually, I'm not minding doing the housework, to the point that I actually FELT like wiping over the kitchen cupboard doors today.... what's next I wonder....

i was on ritalin for the longest time and it helped me a lot, i was not wondering into space, i was less hyperactive, i was able to talk to people more, i was also less awkward. but i stopped ritalin because i got tolerance to it. Im on a different stimulant now focalin xr and its less effective than ritalin but it still works to a point

my daughter was put on 10mg/day Ritalin to reduce impulsive behavior and increase focus

The Stepford Wives!

I'm on dextroamphetamine, and have been for many years, but I'm starting to lower my dosages because I feel as if my dependence to it has gotten too strong and I'm somewhat against pharmaceuticals. Really, it is what works for YOU, and nobody else. I know people who have hated dex and I know people who have loved it. I fall under the love side. Just make sure you're not taking it any later than noon or you won't be able to sleep at night. Dexedeine is an amphetamine, so if taken incorrectly it will stimulate the nervous system in a bad way (similar to methamphetamine), but when you actually need it it will calm you down and fix most of what's wrong. I have a healthier sleep schedule, and I find myself more focused than normal when I'm taking it. The only thing that is concerning is that you may start to develop a love-hate relationship with food since it suppresses your appetite. I find myself forcing myself to eat meals due to this side effect. One way I've worked around it is that I eat a really big healthy breakfast BEFORE taking it in the morning, and then I snack during the day. When I'm craving I eat what I'm craving because I don't enjoy food otherwise.