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Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

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Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#211

Post by mesh472 »

jyrkesh wrote: post #171
thebigspacefuck wrote: post #24

I got on meds for ADHD and they objectively didn’t help that much. I also felt like my pulse and emotions were greatly elevated in confrontational situations to an uncomfortable extent (though caffiene was involved). The other aspect was that it was almost $300/month for a prescription. In social situations they did help a bit. Any impact on productivity was minor. I’d also say right after the meds kicked in I would…

I recently got an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, and similar to you it was a "no doubt, you 110% check every box in every aspect of your life" from both my therapist and psychiatrist. My therapist obviously can't prescribe, but I have a fantastic relationship with them, and they did convey that they think I'd probably be a better fit for non-stimulant ADHD meds based on some of my other behaviors. My doc, however, start…

Almost exactly my experience, I went to the lowest possible dose and have never felt better.

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#212

Post by green-eclipse »

haffi112 wrote: post #125
green-eclipse wrote: post #48

Not ADHD, but some similar symptoms for me. I could not focus on anything at work. Massive procrastination. It was just brutally painful to try to finish things I was working on. Long story short: the culprit was sleep apnea. After a sleep test, I got a CPAP machine. After a bit of time to adjust to the equipment, it made a profound change to my life. The next year or so was perhaps the most productive of my life. My…

What made you decide to get tested for it?

Wife told me I was snoring. But then my dad was diagnosed with apnea, and I decided to get a test. So glad I did.

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#213

Post by throwaway_51122 »

wintermutestwin wrote: post #176
throwaway_51122 wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, at least in some parts of Europe methylphenidate is the 1st medicine considered, not amphetamine derivatives. (Also suggesting that a medically prescribed and oft beneficial medicine is akin to "giving a kid street drugs" is an un-nuanced way of looking at (stimulant) medications. Not to mention all the "amphetamines are just like meth" folks who probably haven't studied biochemistry.)

FWIW, I was using "speed" as shorthand to summarize stimulants. In the US, methylphenidate is known as Ritalin and, while it is not "meth," it is an addictive stimulant with nasty side effects and withdrawal symptoms* My point is that if there is a chance that a reasonably healthy habit like running could possibly alleviate ADHD symptoms, wouldn't it be clearly better to try that before giving kids drugs of any sort?…

You’ve got a pretty valid point about “why not exercise instead of meds” - the answer to which I do not know, though my guess is meds are more “reliable” of a solution. The side effects, yes, they’re not great but (with the caveat of having a proper doctor) should be very little/manageable. Disclaimer, I am on (prescribed) methylphenidate for my ADHD, and the side effects can be annoying but I’m generally better off with the medical + side effects than otherwise. Exercise does help pretty well for me too, though unfortunately now in 2 degree C weather it’s not convenient.

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#214

Post by throwaway_51122 »

rumblerock wrote: post #188
throwaway_51122 wrote: post #173

A slight semi-tangential/related question for OP/others who've benefited so much from medication - did you receive any guidance from your doctor on how to use it, or do you use any strategies you figured out yourself? I have been prescribed (generic) methylphenidate, but the doc essentially told me "Take the tablets twice a day, good luck!". The medication does give me more mental energy, but it's much closer to "bei…

As someone who just started on methylphenidate this year with good results: - I initially started on Concerta but found that I was burning through the dose way faster than advertised (4hrs vs 8hrs) and experiencing an unpleasant crash at the end where I felt zoned out, emotionally flat and unable to focus at all; and this was with the supposed holy grail Janssen variant. - IR was slightly better but the rush up and c…

Thanks a lot for your reply! Your list makes a lot of sense. I think I need t be more mindful before and after taking the medication (namely, planning, and doing the said tasks).

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#215

Post by CommitSyn »

PhasmaFelis wrote: post #189
CommitSyn wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Taking caffeine with Adderall gives me horrendous anxiety and heart palpitations so I don't drink coffee anymore. When I take adderall + magnesium I'm almost as calm as I am unmedicated. For anyone else taking them both that may not have made the connection yet.

What does the magnesium do?

Helps with the minor amphetamine-induced.. not sure what to call them, OCD-type symptoms for me. Teeth grinding, messing with my beard, making weird throat noises, etc. It also helps a lot with sleep.

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#216

Post by CommitSyn »

ericmcer wrote: post #143
CommitSyn wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Taking caffeine with Adderall gives me horrendous anxiety and heart palpitations so I don't drink coffee anymore. When I take adderall + magnesium I'm almost as calm as I am unmedicated. For anyone else taking them both that may not have made the connection yet.

I thought caffeine + adderall was sending my heartrate through the roof, as I usually feel extremely alert on that combination. I was blown away when I finally got a watch with a HR monitor on it and found that it was barely moving it, from mid 60s resting to low 70s on stimulants. I figured it would be closer to 100 because it makes me feel like my eyes are vibrating lol.

weird. it felt like your heart was pounding out of your chest as well? what about heart palpitations (feeling like your heart skipped a beat)?

my blood pressure is high but I never tested it with specifically caffeine + Adderall, I just know it was high with Adderall.

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#217

Post by CommitSyn »

haffi112 wrote: post #123
CommitSyn wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Taking caffeine with Adderall gives me horrendous anxiety and heart palpitations so I don't drink coffee anymore. When I take adderall + magnesium I'm almost as calm as I am unmedicated. For anyone else taking them both that may not have made the connection yet.

Some people don't experience anxiety from caffeine whereas others do. This effect has been linked to polymorphisms on the A2a receptor gene ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12825092/ ).

Interesting, thanks!

Edit: are low quality replies like this appreciated on HN or no?

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#218

Post by LanternLight83 »

CommitSyn wrote: post #217
haffi112 wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people don't experience anxiety from caffeine whereas others do. This effect has been linked to polymorphisms on the A2a receptor gene ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12825092/ ).

Interesting, thanks! Edit: are low quality replies like this appreciated on HN or no?

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https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#219

Post by danr4 »

anonym29 wrote: post #113

For struggles with executive functioning like you are describing, traditional ADHD meds (variants of, and combinations of variants of amphetamine salts) have been demonstrated to increase self-reported perception of productivity more than actual productivity. Try out Modafinil or Armodafinil sometime. They are not chemically amphetamines, and the actual productivity increases on those appears to match the elevated se…

where is it cited?

Re: Tell HN: If you have trouble focusing on projects/meetings, see a psychatrist

#220

Post by [deleted] »

thebigspacefuck wrote: post #71
bmitc wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it possible that you don't have ADHD? I am not an expert, but it is my understanding that the medications affect those with and without ADHD totally differently. In reponse to the original post, I don't think psychiatrists are really the ones who should be diagnosing ADHD. It is again my understanding that neuropsychologists should be the ones administering the tests and diagnosis, where psychiatrists will then ma…

It’s possible, but I’ve been diagnosed multiple times by multiple psychiatrists who said there was no doubt in their mind. This also included a questionnaire to my parents that showed I had it as a child. It’s also been mentioned to me by coworkers or even commented on by strangers. I do have a free floating anxiety and that was something the meds helped with.

[deleted]
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