Is It Me or My ADHD Meds?

Is It Me or My ADHD Meds?

Millennials grew up during a major boom in ADHD diagnoses when the number of children taking stimulants like Ritalin jumped from 600,000 in 1990 to 3.5 million in 2013. For many, meds make it easier to function or even thrive in our productivity-obsessed society. But there can still be a complicated relationship, leading some to wonder: Are meds allowing me to be the best version of myself or just enabling me to fit in?

The power of stimulants

Stimulants can be a “game changer” for ADHD, says Lidia Zylowska, MD, psychiatrist and ADHD specialist. On a recent episode of his podcast, PJ Vogt described how transformative they were for him: “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, this is what it's like for other people.’” And that he “accomplished a life I was proud of, and that I owed no small part of it to the molecules,” Vogt explained.

These feelings are common among people who take ADHD meds, but can also be difficult to deal with: “I was held hostage by the feeling that my success wasn’t caused by my own hard work; it was caused by the prescription,” says one writer in ADDitude. Riley, who has taken stimulants on and off for over a decade, says she used to “joke that I can't read without [my meds], which obviously isn't true, but it felt that way.”

Your move

When stimulants work, they should make you feel like the best version of yourself, says Zylowska. “I would encourage people to … keep [asking], ‘How is this helping me?’” she explains. If they’re not, talk to your doctor. The dose could be wrong, which can exacerbate side effects and potentially make you feel “flat or like a zombie,” says Zylowska.

Or, with your doctor’s help, you may decide to reduce the frequency or stop altogether. There are non-stimulant medications as well as natural alternatives to explore.

Read more about the complicated debate on taking ADHD stimulants.

We asked you to vote on a question you’d like answered. The winner was:

How can I stop grinding my teeth at night?

FEATURED EXPERT:

Leena Palomo, DDS

A board-certified periodontist and chair of the Ashman Department of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry at NYU

“Let your dentist know. If there is something off about the way the teeth fit together, [you’re] likely to grind. We can do braces or Invisalign and correct that bite. If you have a filling or crown that is sitting just a bit high … that would need to be adjusted. 

“[Another cause of grinding] is when we're stressed out. A bite guard that you wear at night is very useful to protect your dental work and also your joints and your muscles.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You can read the full story here.

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