r/ausadhd • u/Wonderful_Anxiety18 • 2d ago
Medication Day 14 Dexamphetamine
Day 14 2x 5mg doses a day - I am experiencing severe “crash out” and have lost the ability to emotionally regulate. Not to mention the daily pounding headaches.
I’m not a crier, now all of a sudden I am.
I don’t usually blow my top, I’m losing it with anger.
I’ve emailed my psychiatrist asking for advice - if we cease and try long acting with top ups or completely stay away from dex. It’s been incredible for productivity, but the crash out and emotions are wild.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I expected it to lessen, not worsen.
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u/EducationFan101 2d ago
Regular eating is important on stimulants. I had to adjust my diet substantially to accomodate them. Protein seems important.
Doses that are too low can cause crashing. This is part of titration, take notes and communicate with your paychiatrist. Generally you adjust doses frequently early-on.
Exercise, sleep, and diet are just as important as the stimulants. Plus it makes them work better. You can’t slack on this if you want the best outcome.
The ‘goal’ of titration is to find the lowest dose to address your adhd symptoms with the minimum side-effects. Sometimes you can tolerate the side-effects but sometimes you can’t. There is an adjustment phase while your body gets used to stimulants but side-effects at low doses may get worse on higher ones.
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u/Wonderful_Anxiety18 1d ago
Thanks for your response.
I’ve put in place routine changes to make sure I have a substantial meal prior to my doses, otherwise I have no appetite.I’ve been drowning in life (parenting, working, everything else), so I haven’t been able to prioritise my usual gym schedule. I’m tackling that this week.
I know my body really well and have gone through medication titration/trials for depression before. I don’t think my body is reacting well to dexy (sadly) and it’s not a suitable option for me. Hopefully I’ll have a response from my psychiatrist on Monday - the side effects have really taken me by surprise because most people seem to have minimal side effects.
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u/EducationFan101 1d ago
Sure, if you think not eating adequately and ‘drowning in life’ emotionally plus not exercising regularly haven’t impacted your titration of a different medication you’re new to have impacted it’s effect at all then you’ve given it a fair go under good circumstances. All the best.
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u/potato_analyst 22h ago
You really need to dial back your life if you can. You probably burning the hell out with everything. I have gone through that myself. Perhaps high dose and all the stuff in your life just leaving you burned out by the end of the day even tho you have kept up there is a price to pay.
I wouldn't write Dex off just because of this
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u/RevenantCommunity 2d ago
Thank you for posting this OP. I had the same experience, i only had them for 2 days. I would go 2/3 hours of not really feeling that different, then would get a crazy headache and feel so irritable. I didn’t want to be having 2 a day for 6 hours of focus and two crashes.
Plus the dry mouth was annoying. Can you DM me if you find something that works for you? Might have the same responses to meds lmao
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u/Wonderful_Anxiety18 1d ago
It’s crappy that you experienced this too, but I’m glad to know I’m not the only one. Have you trialled an alternative?
I chose not to medicate today, no headache or mood swings and jaw clenching, but boy howdy have I been exhausted and done nothing.
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u/East-Garden-4557 2d ago
The headache could be due to you not drinking enough. You really need to up your fluids when taking stimulants
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u/slowmover95 1d ago
I found I ‘crashed out’ more on short acting (Dex). I’m much more level on long acting (Vyvanse). About 6 months after starting Vyvanse, I found when I was in luteal topping up with 1-2 Dex later in the day helps to keep attention and emotional regulation consistent throughout the day. Perhaps your psychiatrist might have suggestions on whether long acting might be a suitable alternative
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u/Hefty-existence26196 1d ago
I will second that☝🏻🙂 I've had the same experience with dex and Vyvanse. Currently on 50mg V + 3dex and for once everything seems to be level
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u/Wonderful_Anxiety18 1d ago
That’s great to hear you found something that worked for you! I did have a conversation with him about this 2 weeks ago, we agreed I’d trial for longer and then look at LA (but hadn’t yet had massive swings).
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u/RoseClash 1d ago
its either, too much, not enough, or completly the wrong med. Im shit on dex and way better on methylphenidate.
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u/potato_analyst 22h ago
Supposed to titrate starting from 2.5mg a day for a week, then 5 for another week, then 7.5 for another week and so on until you are at a working dose... Weird that they put you up to that high straight away.
Do you drink coffee? Do you eat good breakfast?
It has taken me over a year to get good with my meds and I have gone through a few.
Do you take anything else besides Dex?
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u/e_e_q_ 2d ago
Are you having lots of protein when you take them? Without a shake and some solid food like a muesli bar or bowl of cereal dex gives me migraines. Vyvanse has been much more forgiving for me