this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2023
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ADHD

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Medication holiday (lemmy.blahaj.zone)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/adhd
 

My psychiatrist strongly suggested that I take a "medication holiday", meaning not taking meds for up to a month during the summer holidays.

And god damn. I've already ruined my face with skin picking (Started eating compulsively due to lack of stimulation and DoPaMiNe), have gone back to an irregular sleep schedule due to being constantly tired (currently 6AM where I am), and have like 3 trash bags in my house cos I'm having trouble leaving my house.

We love to see that the meds are working! The medication holiday just makes me grateful for the impact of the meds on my everyday life.

Still not gonna take a whole month off though. My life would be in shambles by the end lmfao

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago (9 children)

It makes no sense to me why we pressure people to take breaks from psychiatric medication when we don’t for like any other condition?

Take your meds, fuck em.

[–] Hardeehar 6 points 1 year ago (6 children)

We do take med holidays for other conditions.

Taking a holiday from stimulant adhd meds allows our body to come down to "normal" chemical levels again so that when we really need to take it, the effect from the meds is better.

Im not your doctor but maybe non-stim might work better? Or every other day dose timing with extended release formulas. There are ways to get the meds you need and live normally. No need to feel like some crazy animal for weeks on end.

[–] ickplant 11 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I would never take a break from my bipolar meds. Like, ever. It would be absolutely insane (literally) for me to do so.

I understand that everyone is different, but for me my stimulants work just as well as I keep taking them without any breaks. Plus, my it’s not something that every doctor believes in. Mine doesn’t.

[–] oocdc2 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seriously, I doubt any doctor would recommend a patient with depression to take a "medication holiday."

I appreciate that some doctors are concerned that a med will lose its effectiveness because of tolerance, but can happen with any medication. That's also why there are multiple medications on the market.

[–] Hardeehar 4 points 1 year ago

There are definitely conditions and reasons to do drug holidays with medications. They are recommended, I know this.

For sure, with everything, it's different for everyone. And everyone's needs need to be catered.

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