#Medication /

[cripplecharacters]

Hi! I'm writing a character with ADHD who has been on medication for a couple years. It has worked well for him in managing his symptoms, but I'm scared about possibly implying that *all* neurodivergent people should have the end goal of behaving more like their non-disabled peers. Is there a way that I can avoid this, or will it appear no matter what?

Hi asker,

I understand that you're concerned about this and that it's coming from a place of care, but I want to point out that the goal of ADHD medication is not just "behave more like non-disabled peers."

The main goal of medication is to manage symptoms in order to reduce distress and improve a person's chances of doing things they want and need to do. That's not un-disabling a person, that's just giving them a tool to help them out.

It's really, really stressful to have to deal with not being able to do things you want to do and things you need to do, which is a big thing in ADHD. It's stressful to have problems with memory, with emotional regulation, and with attention. If medication is helping with that, it's a useful tool. In fact, ADHD medication is pretty old, well-researched, fairly common, and very effective for many many people. If your character likes it and it works for them, that's a win.

I don't think it would come across as that being your implication or goal – it's a tool that has worked well for your character. As long as you don't imply within the story that your character is better than others who don't take medication or those for whom it's not effective, or things like that, I don't think it'll come off as what you're worried about.

Hope this helps,

mod sparrow

[icarusinfreefall]

reminder that adhd medication isn't a luxury or preference, but a lifesaving medication. a 10 year long study in the usa showed that, when properly medicated, the rate of car crashes people with adhd get into goes down significantly--men's rate drops by 38%, and women's by 42%. the med shortage, denial of meds by doctors, rising prices, and the "war on drugs" has killed--with such a car dependent society, not driving frequently isn't an option, which means we need better healthcare and need it now.

https://shorturl.at/8VD8B

edit because i forgot to explain: short link is to an article by the washington post, it should be free to read

[accidentalkilljoys]

What order do you take pills in?

A followup post, because this has been fascinating!

[cocklessboy]

The other day I told a friend of mine that I never forget to take my ADHD meds because I fucking love my ADHD meds. I'm in my late 30s, I didn't finally get a diagnosis and meds until less than two years ago, and they have changed my entire life.

And he raised his eyebrow at me. We'd been discussing addictive medications a few minutes before, like the Tramadol I finally got from the pain specialist to take once a week or so to give me a break from my chronic pain, so I reassured him that methylpenidate (Ritalin/Concerta) is not addictive (at least not in people with ADHD).

His response? To raise his eyebrow even harder and say "Well it sure SOUNDS like it's addictive!"

And I had to explain to this man - who works in a healthcare related job by the way - that just because medication makes you feel good and helps you, just because you look forward to taking it, that doesn't make it addictive or dangerous. And he wasn't convinced.

The simple fact that I was excited to take a daily pill that has literally changed my life, after decades of fighting to get that medication, made him think I shouldn't be taking it so often. That it must inherently be dangerous.

I'm not even in America, but I'm pretty sure this attitude began there and then spread over here to Europe. This Puritan idea of "if something feels good, you must beware of it. Pleasure is dangerous, it is sinful, it is addiction, it is evil."

I know too many people who subconsciously believe that pleasure = addictive = dangerous = bad. Joy is a slippery slope to hell.

So here is your reminder for today that you don't need to be afraid of feeling good. If something improves your life, use it. Even if it is addictive - learn what that addiction means, whether the addiction is inherently dangerous or not, and whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and risks.

My ADHD meds are, in fact, not addictive. But I will take them every day because they make my life orders of magnitude easier. I will enjoy them every time I take them.

My tramadol is addictive. I will still take it. I will keep it on a schedule to avoid becoming addicted, primarily because addiction in this case would mean reduced effectiveness. But I am not afraid of my painkillers. They are life changing.

Take your meds, everyone. Don't let anyone scare you away from doing something that improves your life.

[ratbastarddotfuck]

Trying to remind myself that im allowed to take painkillers even if the pain is "my fault".

A migraine is a result of, not a punishment for forgetting to eat - take the painkillers.

Back pain is a result of, not a punishment for poor posture - take the painkillers.

Sore joints are a result of, not a punishment for overexertion - take the painkillers.

Pain is not a punishment for a mistake. Painkillers are there to ease suffering. There is no glory in misery. There is no virtue in agony.

[didyoutakeyourmedstoday]

Did you take your meds today?

[adhdandcomics]

"adhd is the easiest disability to have" “sure plenty of people have adhd but most people are faking” “people are abusing the resources that WE need so that’s why i can’t get my adderall!”

there has been an artificial shortage of all adhd medication for the past 4 years in the US. every investigation into this shortage has returned with the unequivocal result that simply nobody thinks we need it enough to solve the problem.

so they point fingers at the “faker” gaming the system to get adderall who “thinks” they have adhd or is “abusing stimulants to get ahead” for a problem that Our system MANUFACTURED.

so we would be at each others throats instead of realizing that our government and big pharma is to blame for all of this. because their First priority is to punish addicts and to punish folks with adhd and to punish anyone who relies on medication. over everything else. even over profit.

[auschizm]

No, schizophrenics usually can't just take antipsychotics and be fine/normal. Even when the meds can control the psychotic aspect of the illness, the antipsychotic pills are actually very likely to worsen what's known as the cognitive and negative symptoms in the process, and they definitely won't resolve those aspects of the illness. As is, there is no effective treatment for either the cognitive OR the negative symptoms, which means that even when in effective antipsychotic treatment, about 2/3rds of the symptoms associated with having schizophrenia will still be present. So here's your reminder that schizophrenia is a complex illness that can't just be fixed with a pill, even if there are pills that can help

[69constellationsinatrenchcoat]

Sending love to anyone whose disability has changed the way they look.. whether that be through surgery, medication, shifts in weight, using mobility aids, being limited in the ways you can exercise, having a colostomy bag added, glucose monitors, prosthetics, or anything else that's changed or added to your appearance

It's hard having your body change, especially if it's in a way you don't like at first — whether your disability has given you scars, stretch marks, spots, marks, or altered your appearance entirely: sending love, you've got this.

[greg-katana]

If you're between the ages of 21-35, how many prescription medications do you take in a day?

[crowo]

There is a recall for albuterol inhalers that don't deliver adequate doses in the midst of an albuterol shortage. These companies are so wasteful and greedy that they used faulty batches of valves that didn't seal properly and allowed an already finite medication that saves lives be further wasted until entire batches of said medication became unsafe for use.

the batch numbers are IB20045, IB20055, IB20056, IB20057, IB20059, and IB20072.

Stay safe out there. Fuck capitalists <3

Cipla Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol Voluntarily Recalled (pharmanewsintel.com)

[ebenrosetaylor]

Healthcare can be expensive depending on the country you live in, but it is impossible to attain when you live in a country/place where no doctors can perform the procedures that you need. It may be due to lack of equipment, lack of specialized doctors, or no hospitals at all.

I am raising $ for my friend's mother Nabila @nabila60 This is urgent. Her life is at risk RIGHT NOW and we don't know how much longer she can hold on without treatment. If you answered this poll, please reblog it to reach more people. If you have ever had expensive hospital visits, please show sympathy to a mother who will die without treatment. You can save a life! Every donation counts.

[positivelyqueer]

solidarity between people who want to take psychiatric meds to function and those who don’t.

What’s important is that we both have autonomy, informed consent and safe access to treatments we want, and to not be forced, coerced or pressured into those we don’t.

[spooniestrong]

[desultory-suggestions]

Yearly reminder: do not stop taking your medications of any kind because you’re feeling better. You are feeling better because of the medicine and that’s okay! If you stop taking it you’ll feel worse again soon, so trust it to do what it needs to. If you have any other concerns ask your physician.