Related Posts
Conversation Starter
What do you all think about the new vaccine?
Conversation Starter
Rising Star
Enthusiast
How do you get more dopamine?
More Posts
what does Deloitte pay for SC in Toronto
Is part time work in audit ever possible?
What’s up RipCity! Who’s drinking tonight?
Additional Posts in ADHD Professionals
Rising Star
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Every day and I find it super unusual that a psychiatrist would recommend taking it as needed.
Agreed. As needed medication for adhd? Stimulant or non-stimulant based, that would affect your brain activity regardless of the type of meds. Get a second opinion! Anything that alters your brain functionality should be taken consistently as prescribed. Understood.org has a plethora of resources available. I highly encourage you to explore the site when you’re able to.
I used to forget it a lot too, or take a double dose and forget I took the first one to begin with. This is a recipe for disaster, fyi! I use weekly pill sorters to monitor my medication now and it helps keep me on track and sane. :)
I only work in the office 2x a week but I keep all of my meds in my work bag, to make sure I don't ever forget them at home. I don't take my stimulant on the weekend though, to give my body a break from it.
I take it every work day, but rarely on the weekends. Only on PTO days if I have a lot to do or am on a vacation that is jam packed with scheduled activities like Disney with the fam.
You might put it in a little dish by the door the night before work. Or you can use your FSA/HSA to buy the timer pill bottle.
I have one because I will forget if I took it that day because it’s such a repetitive task that feels the same each time. So I have the reminder cap because taking double my prescribed dose would be very dangerous for any adult, ADHD or not.
Do you have a work bag? Put a few in there and leave the rest at home. Then you always have some with you. I take mine every day and have no issue remembering to because I take other medications, use a pill organizer, and have so much anxiety about how the day will go if I don’t take it. But I understand others aren’t like that. Lol
So true. There is no alarm clock like fear.
I take it every day and I think it works really well, but I haven't tried it as needed. I still have trouble forgetting it, but I set multiple alarms in the morning and some of them are reminders to take my medication. If you're constantly forgetting it I would recommend a sticky note on your front door, or keeping an emergency mini stash of medication in your car in case you don't remember until you're on the way or already at work.
I take my meds daily and I still end up being forgetful. My trick is to always keep a few extra pills in my work bag for times when I might forget. The actually bottle is usually on my desk and I seee it first thing when I grab my bag or sit down to work (if wfh)
I keep them in my work bag so I always have them.
I take it during the week and take a break on the weekends.
I’m starting to realize that it really depends
I’ve tried both and find that it gets more effective if I take it every day, my theory is that it helps me do other things that curb negative behaviors (such as going to the gym)
I have severe ADHD and I take my medicine everyday. Sometimes later than I would like to but I always take that morning dose. The second dose sometimes gets missed but working full-time, being a parent, and a student, I find it necessary to take my morning dose daily.
I either put it in my bathroom or next to bed so I take it right before work.
Working remotely it's right in front of my screen
I have to take it everyday or I forget to take it for like 2 weeks.
On my nightstand (and ‘requiring’ that I take it before my feet hit the floor in the morning) and next to my coffee maker (have to take it with my first sip of coffee) have been the best two routines for me.
Like others have said - Keep a few in a container in your laptop bag/purse/whatever you carry regularly.
Do you use a reminder system like Alexa or calendar reminders? That could help.
You could try habit stacking - for example, always take it when you brush your teeth. This requires you to keep the pill bottle next to your tooth brush.
Could you use the buddy system? Even if you have to ask your parents to do it, it’s helpful if someone else asks you every day if you’ve taken your meds.
I’ve asked my provider to write me a 2nd prescription for a low dose version of the med I am on (or one I’ve tried before that’s worked, but maybe not as good as the higher, extended release dose that I regularly take). I asked for the lower dose “just in case” prescription in the event I forget to take my usual meds and don’t remember until much later in the day. This way I can take my meds but not have it impact my sleep because the medication wears off well before my bed time even if I don’t take it until 3pm or later.
I’d also definitely try to take your medication consistently for a period of time and then assess whether it’s making an impact. Intermittent use won’t really yield enough solid results for you to make a determination, so I’d try to stay as consistent as possible.
You may also want to eventually consider hiring an ADHD coach who can help you create systems that work for you. Trying to copy what others do doesn’t always bode well for us ADHDers.
Also, go gentle on yourself. As you can see here, almost all of us routinely forget to take our meds and then have to throw spaghetti at the wall to try to figure out what reminder system might work for us.
When I don't take it consistently (8/12pm) I may feel all out of sorts so I use a reminder on my phone and have the pills with me on my desk or in my keychain just in case I go anywhere. I used to forget it and felt frazzled. Also I drink about a gallon of water every day ... the pills won't work well unless you're hydrated. I don't take them on vacation or weekend breaks
I take it everyday during the work week. I'm less consistent on the weekends