My ADHD is reacting really strangely to my medication.

[Lize]

I have been diagnosed with ADHD and also have mild ASD. I also suffer from hEDS and suspect a spinal cord disorder. my life is a mess due to executive dysfunction.

I wrote this sentence using Google Translate, so I apologize if it's hard to understand.

Personally, I feel like I have issues with my cerebellum as well as my frontal lobe.

My current concern is executive dysfunction. (I have no mental health issues at all.)

I have a strange reaction to medications, and even very small doses of psychiatric medications only seem to have an effect a few hours after taking them (even medications that are said to be effective after a few days).

Here are my reactions to medications:

1. What helped improve my ADHD?

Atomoxetine, TCAs in general, norepinephrine-boosting drugs in general, memantine, blonanserin (antipsychotics), and some BZDs.

In particular, norepinephrine-boosting drugs, memantine, and blonanserin (dopamine-blocking drugs) have been effective for my ADHD.

② What made my ADHD worse?

All medications that boost dopamine even slightly.

What kind of illness is this?

Whenever I talk about this, people always talk about the inverted U-shaped curve of dopamine or bipolar disorder, but I can't relate to that at all.

Even the tiniest doses of DRIs cause a significant decline in my hedonic, impulsive, and executive function. So, rather than a dosage issue, I think I have an unusual reaction to the DRIs themselves.

(The only exception is Memantine, but after just 1.25 mg, my sleep time went from 8 hours to 1 hour, so I couldn't continue taking it, and I experienced manic episodes. I don't normally have delusions or hallucinations, but dopamine-blocking medications make me feel much calmer.)

When I take SSRIs or norepinephrine-boosting medications, I don't experience any of these symptoms. (SSRIs make me lethargic, and norepinephrine-boosting medications help with my overall executive function, but they put a lot of strain on my heart, and I have an aortic aneurysm at age 25.)

Is this some kind of syndrome that just doesn't have a name yet?

And what options do I have in this case?

I'm at a loss. Please let me know if there are any drugs or substances, no matter how trivial, that might help.

Alternatively, creative methods like rTMS are also welcome.

I'm desperate to somehow address my executive function with a non-norepinephrine drug.

 

[emkee_reinvented]

So dextro isomer s of disqualify in general. They don t help but make it worse ?

Assuming at least Methylphenidates maybe Amphetamines are trialed.
No experiece with the rest SSRI or Atomoxetine.

My use of dextro-Amphetamine is no way near daily. Weekly. Best.
And it made me un easy the last time. It s piling.

What DRI s you used ?

 

[JitteryKitteryDoo]

What does your executive dysfunction look like? What area of daily life gives you most trouble?

 

[Allylbenzene]

I have been diagnosed with ADHD and also have mild ASD
...
Is this some kind of syndrome that just doesn't have a name yet?

It is possible that what your doctor is interpreting as ADHD is something else, an issue where standard ADHD treatments are not appropriate.

• What helped improve my ADHD?

Atomoxetine ...and some BZDs.​

In particular, norepinephrine-boosting drugs, memantine ... have been effective for my ADHD.​

Benzodiazepines work via GABA which calms excitatory substances (eg adrenaline) and reduces the effects of stress (cortisol).

Drugs which solely boost noradrenaline (like atomoxetine) help because noradrenaline activates the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor which in turn promotes GABA (calming) and reduces the influence of adrenaline/noradrenaline.

Memantine has several properties including reducing the effect of excess glutamate, glutamate is an excitatory substance.

I'm desperate to somehow address my executive function with a non-norepinephrine drug.

You might find some benefit in reducing the activity of your stress system (cortisol) and lowering the "noise" from excitatory substances, particularly adrenaline and possibly glutamate. I realise this is broad advice but it addresses fundamental areas which should benefit many other things, including mood, sleep quality and energy levels.