Normal people can just DO this without medication? I can sit here and listen to music without feeling the need to be hyper-tensed and aware of everything around me? Why does my heartbeat feel calm? Why am I not on edge?
I was recently reading a book on sanitation conditions in Stalinist Russia, and it made me think about how many ‘normal’ things I take for granted in my day-to-day life that simply were not the norm for the majority of human history. I guess this is the reverse - something which other people take for granted, but I’ve only just received, and it’s like the Holy Grail in my hands.
Yup.
Make sure to always fill your meds at the scheduled time. If you happen to miss a dose or two treat it as a backup as most meds will have shortages and a bit of padding can be a lifesaver. Last time for me was a three week gap and luckily I had enough backstock for workdays during two of those three weeks.
Only having a week of struggling was far better than three!
u fuckin’ wot
This is my first time being on meds that might have shortages. How terrifying.
I am lucky that the one I take acts per dose and isn’t one that builds up over time and doesn’t have withdrawal. There is generally a shortage once a year or so where I need to find out which pharmacy still has some in stock which is annoying because the doctor has to resend the prescription to the new location, which generally means to try and get refills earlier in the week.
Also, my insurance has an annual ‘preauthorization’ period where the doctor has to send them a confirmation that I need to stay on the same medication I’ve been on for over a decade because their suggested alternates don’t work well for me. The whole thing is a hassle and I have so many freaking reminders to ensure it gets filled regularly. Totally worth the effort though!
It can be a nightmare. If your pharmacy cant get your meds. Start calling pharmacies and asking them if they have stock of your medicine and get your doctor to transfer it. This is the only way to speed up the process I’ve found. I lie to their phone systems and tell them I am a doctor. Lol
Edit. This advice is for stimulant medication.
Is it just the stimulant meds that have shortages or is it everything? Waiting on appointment with psychologist for official diagnosis, kinda curious what im getting into
I’m on atomoxetine (a non-stimulant). I asked my psychiatrist about shortages, and she said it’s really only an issue for the stimulant based medications.
There were several atomoxetine shortages in EU already. Dunno about other parts of the world, but it is also an issue for the atom.
Just stimulants. The DEA won’t let drug manufacturers purchase enough ingredients to meet demand (which skyrocketed during covid).
I take a stimulant med and that’s the only one I have experience with. I hear about other adhd meds having shortages, but don’t know which ones are stimulants and which ones aren’t.
Different meds can have wildly different results both in effectiveness and side effects. I tried several that had a mix of ineffective results and some extremely negative side effects before settling on one that has zero apparent negative side effects and is very effective. I think there is a possible long term usage risk of liver or maybe kidney damage, but my doctor keeps an eye out for signs of that.
It was worth the two years it took to get on the right dosage of the right med.