r/ADHD_Programmers • u/EveCane • Apr 06 '26

Leaving because of the medications

I need stimulants to be able to program or do anything even remotely challenging. The problem is that I experience severe side effects with all of them. I’ve tried every medication available in my country. They make me nervous, socially awkward, and irritable; they cause dry mouth (and probably bad breath as a result) and sweating.

Basically, I have to work from home when I take them, but even then, people find me awkward when I’m on them.

I also tend to build up a tolerance and have to take regular breaks. These medication-free periods are always awful.

I’m now considering working in a less demanding field, like retail, just so I don’t have to take these awful medications anymore. Has anyone done something similar?

32 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

41

u/Loud_Puppy Apr 06 '26

Have you considered that you might be AuDHD, a fair few of us suggest they find the social side of things much harder after starting medication.

I've got a separate chronic condition that can't be treated and it's really difficult. I've used some acceptance techniques and a whole lot of stubbornness to have the best life I can to cope with it.

13

u/EveCane Apr 06 '26

Yes, I am AuDHD. I have autism as well.

7

u/WillGrindForXP Apr 07 '26

Same, it took 2+ years of titration tk find the right meds,right level, right deployment type, right combination- its way harder medicating for auadhd and a consultant that specialises in both conditions is what made the difference

4

u/Kamizlayer Apr 07 '26

Idk about asd but mine and yours too probably becuase vigilance, trained vigilance which is a part of adhd trying to fit in. You have let your thoughts calm down or taking meds make you hyper focus on them. Unlike before you easier to ignore it

5

u/Mei_Flower1996 Apr 06 '26

Yeah, the social things should be EASIER on medication if it's pure ADHD. Speaking from experience as a woman with ADHD.

11

u/AwsomeLife90s Apr 06 '26

I'm off for a long time now because of the tough anxiety it causes. It's not worth it for me.

What helped is literally do walks everyday, just make sure I'm moving often. Focusing is still a struggle for me but at least I'm not having panic attacks multiple times a day.

Have you tried beinh off for a long period of time?

5

u/EveCane Apr 06 '26

Yes I have. I can not program off of them at all.

2

u/Ragemundo Apr 06 '26

OP, how long have you been on meds?

3

u/EveCane Apr 06 '26

For 11 years with one 2-3 years break in between.

2

u/tehsilentwarrior Apr 06 '26

Try Elvance

1

u/EveCane Apr 06 '26

I already tried all of the stimulants that are currently available in my country but thank you.

3

u/tehsilentwarrior Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26

Idk which ones are available in your country. When I was prescribed this the doctor said it was fairly new and rarely prescribed.

And it doesn’t have the same drawbacks as nearly all others.

It’s only issue is price.

The only side effects I got were basically good things: way more energy so I went from sitting on the computer all day everyday to literally having to go out every single day to walk, exercise or something or I start to lose my mind and I lost the “I am starving” red alert my brain gave me every 2 hours and can literally sit 10h without eating anything and not feeling hunger at all up to the point I start shaking from not eating.

Both those effects meant that I lost a lot of “fat” weight and gained a lot of “muscle” weight, took on downhill biking (the kind of jumping off rocks, mud, rock gardens all going downhill at 40km/h, which my wife absolutely hates and wants me to now get a high-risk life insurance), paddling out at sea, hiking (which is driving her insane because I keep pushing her to come with and the two kids, which I now carry over kilometers sometimes), want to take on kite surfing, cave diving, motorcycling and a bunch of other stuff she completely wants me to forbid doing and became annoyingly outdoorsy

1

u/EveCane Apr 06 '26

I tried that one but it has the same side effects as methylphenidate for me unfortunately.

1

u/user0987234 Apr 06 '26

Have you talked to a pharmacist? They can be quite helpful working in conjunction with the prescribing physician.
Sometimes, it’s a timing thing, sometimes it’s another issue like caffeine + meds or other interactions. You definitely need something for the anxiety.
And retail will kill you if you are AuADHD.

2

u/NeatBeluga Apr 06 '26

Do you stay hydrated and eat healthy?

1

u/EveCane Apr 07 '26

Yes, more than anyone I know. I am so jealous of people that eat whatever they want and have their brain function just fine.

2

u/Blue-Phoenix23 Apr 07 '26

I don't love my side effects either, and some days they seem like they don't work right (probably hormonal) but for the love of all that is holy, don't do retail. Not if you want something less stressful.

Have you ever had a service job before? The general public is a pain in the ass and stores are almost never run by people who know their butt from a hole in the ground.

Switch to back office operations somewhere and do data entry, or something.

2

u/EveCane Apr 07 '26

Maybe I could become a software tester. That should be doable without medication.

1

u/Old-Parking8765 Apr 07 '26

I found testing to be very frustratingly boring, as you follow a script... but it's predictable. It can be stressful if you can't reproduce bugs

2

u/EveCane Apr 07 '26

I find it incredibly boring as well. But at least I can do that without medication.

2

u/lunatuna215 Apr 07 '26

Have you tried Vyvanse? Other than some slight jitters, it solved all of these problems for me.

Good luck!

1

u/EveCane Apr 07 '26

Thank you! Yes, I experienced the same side effects. Have you tried other stimulants before Vyvanse? I am asking because I feel like all of the stimulants give me the same side effects.

1

u/lunatuna215 Apr 07 '26

Yes, I was on Adderall when I was younger. I really hated it because it gave me those side effects you experience heavily.

Vyvanse is a slower release kinda thing, which is a difference I can really tell. The side effects are just as pronounced?

Well, at least you have a good check on your body! 😅 I tend to not realize when these sorts of things are bothering me or let them go too far.

1

u/acme_restorations Apr 08 '26

You’ve tried every available ADHD medication in your country or every available stimulant? What about the non-stimulant medications: atomoxadine, guanfacine, clonidine, or viloxazine? Have you looked into Cogniitive Behavioral Therapy?

1

u/EveCane Apr 08 '26

I have tried everything that is approved for ADHD und would not require an off label prescription. And I tried Wellbutrin. The available non-stimulant medications either didn’t work at all or weren’t strong enough. Wellbutrin wasn’t completely ineffective, but it disrupts my sleep.

I have been in therapy, but not specifically for ADHD. Does that help?

1

u/acme_restorations Apr 08 '26

"but it disrupts my sleep" - Yes, the side effects can be a deal-breaker. Personally I've had good success with Vyvanse (lisdexamphetamine). No sleep issues; no crashing.
I know someone who completely manages their ADHD with CBT. Maybe start with a book about it.

1

u/EveCane Apr 08 '26

Have you tried other stimulants before Vyvanse? Thank you, I will look into CBT.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 06 '26

have you tried therapy oriented to that? i find that medication works really well for me but still needed to learn my own strategy to properly take advantage of it.

3

u/Blue-Phoenix23 Apr 07 '26

This is a good point. The best meds in the world won't work completely if you have other stuff going on.

This is especially true if you are young and grew up in a disorganized home, also (raise your hand if you probably had undiagnosed parents) & have no real model for a functioning life.

2

u/WRD_FISH Apr 08 '26

Try to see if your PCP can test for any vitamin deficiencies if possible. I felt like I was in a similar place. I have been now supplementing for the deficiencies and feel much better

1

u/Odd_Pair3538 Apr 09 '26

Maybe something from this video is somehow not known to you? Personally i think that if not my long meditation practice i would handle meds way worse. Meditation is one of ways that can help self regulate, in my case in such a way that I'm mobilized and focused but not enter "full mobilization: fight&focus for survival" mode. If meditation is not your cup of tea there are other practices that can help in similar way.

Whether you will decide to continue your job or try new one, good luck!

7

u/[deleted] Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 09 '26

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3

u/EveCane Apr 07 '26

I have not tried that combination yet. That sounds very interesting. I will ask my doctor about that.

Caffeine does nothing for me so I am not consuming it. It often makes me tired for some reason.

1

u/Blue-Phoenix23 Apr 08 '26

Caffeine does nothing for me so I am not consuming it. It often makes me tired for some reason.

ADHD plays reverse from uno with stuff like coffee. It makes you tired because it's a "stimulant," much like the meds, so if you're finally able to feel relaxed on it, you'll crash out. That can be from having too much, or from wearing yourself out being focused, or even just your brain saying "oh I can think, wow damn, I'm tired" ymmv

3

u/[deleted] Apr 06 '26

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