A drugmaker’s feud with the DEA is exacerbating the ADHD meds crisis — at a rate of 600 million missing doses a year.

A drugmaker’s feud with the DEA is exacerbating the ADHD meds crisis — at a rate of 600 million missing doses a year.

  • flicker@lemmy.world
    15·
    4 months ago

    The reason you’re getting pushback is because people diagnosed with ADHD who take a prescribed dose of stimulant medication are not capable of addiction to stimulant medication.

    And the reason that this language is harmful is because my doctor had to spend two years convincing me to please, just try the medication, because my mother is a drug addict and a gambling addict and I refused to try anything that might be at all addictive.

    That set my treatment back. I had accepted that I had ADHD but refused extremely valuable medication because of the stigma of precisely what you’re underlining. You seem like you have good intentions so the best distinction, when talking about addiction with regards to these meds, has nothing to do with predisposition to genetic addiction and everything to do with underscoring the difference between talking to your doctor and actually determining if you have ADHD. An example;

    If you’re worried about the shortage, and you’re currently prescribed stimulant medication, please be aware that there are non-stimulant medications that may work for you.

    …and one of the reasons people are so downvote happy over that is because you’re right. It’s a crapshoot. The ritalin side of stimulant medication doesn’t work for me and neither do nonstimulant medications. It’s either the adderall family or nothing. And it’s terrifying, because without that medication I can’t function at all. I was trying to find an alternative for a few months and in those few months I was demoted at work, I left my long-term relationship, and about a billion other things went wrong because I couldn’t focus.

    It’s scary out here. People are afraid. It shouldn’t be this way.

    • sramder@lemmy.world
      6·
      4 months ago

      One of those rare times where I wish I could upvote twice. Thanks for putting all that better than I could.

    • 🐍🩶🐢@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      4 months ago

      Thank you for being able to rationally explain what I couldn’t. I broke my rule on responding to people before I had taken my meds, so I was a little excited.

    • Ragnell@kbin.social
      2·
      4 months ago

      Not just that it’s a crapshoot, if you are taking other medications some meds are not possible because of potential drug interactions.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      42·
      4 months ago

      The downvotes don’t bother me. I may have put things the wrong way, but I was only trying to let people know they may be able to, if their doctor agrees, find a solution that will make this shortage not a problem for you.

      • 🐍🩶🐢@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        4 months ago

        No problem! I am not mad at you, promise. We have entirely had good conversations in the past and I was having a hard time getting my point across without getting frustrated. Flicker explained it far better than I could. It is entirely a matter of framing and I know you were just trying to help.

        Due to the laws in my state, if not federal, I have to see my doctor every 3-6 months, have drug tests, and get blood work. The state/fed ultimately decides on whether I am allowed to refill my prescription every month. I know not every state is 100% the same, but the script restrictions pretty much are. I guess my point is, we definitely see our doctors plenty and know there are options.

        It has been almost a year since I had issues getting refills, but for about 6-9 months before that it was utter hell. I am still paying for name brand, but honestly the side effects are so much better that I have no desire to go back to generic.

        There was one particular manufacturer of generic, Actavis, that was so bad I went back to the pharmacy in tears after about a week ish, begging them to take the pills back. There was nothing they could do other than put a note to never give it to me. I had to go without until I was legally allowed a refill again and hope they could get something different. I asked about it, and apparently I am not the only one who has problems with that manufacturer. These are the kinds of experiences I am trying to avoid, especially when the consequences to my mental health are so costly.

        Anyways, good health to you and your daughter. Take care.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
          2·
          4 months ago

          I didn’t think you were mad at me. Clarification is always important.

          And although I am not in good health, I do wish good health to you and yours.