Minor revelations.

[hannah]

I was today years old when I connected the rare and memorably sleepless nights I've had over the last few years with my having taken industrial-strength behind-the-counter 24-hour Sudafed before all of them. It didn't occur to me until this morning to see if "sleeplessness" was a side effect. Turns out, it is.

It's downright bizarre to have gotten about two hours' restless dozing at most and still operate at reasonable capacity and capability. I submitted some job applications, did a decent workout at the gym, wrote some fic - basically, a good day. I don't even feel that out of it. I feel present, definitely. I think if this was the intended, marketed effect, I could better understand why this drug is so heavily regulated, because it's a tremendously powerful thing.

Next time I need to make sure I have to be able to breathe, I'm taking it in the morning.

Comments

[mecurtin]

um, YES. I remember when the med students would say it was their drug of choice. (this was in the late 70s-early 80s)

[lilacsigil]

Yes, it's a stimulant! But breathing is also important...

[rosefox]

Conversely, Adderall and other drugs marketed as stimulants are effective decongestants. When a friend of mine went off her Adderall while she was pregnant, her seasonal allergy congestion got way worse.

My ADHD partner has the paradoxical ADHD response to stimulants; they can take pseudoephedrine and then lie down for a nap. Meanwhile, I react so strongly to the stimulant effect that I hallucinate. Even pediatric doses of Mucinex make me agitated. I use a lot of steroid nasal sprays instead.

I don't even feel that out of it. I feel present, definitely.

You know yourself best, but one of the defining features of hypomania (which can be caused by too-high doses of stimulants) is that you feel clear-headed while actually having poor judgment, so it's probably best to occasionally check in with someone and confirm that you are merely adequately perked up.

[hannah]

It's nice to know some things haven't changed much.

[hannah]

I sure was awake enough to be aware of my breathing, all right.

[hannah]

I didn't make any impulse purchases or committed to anything, thankfully. Next time, I'll be aware enough of the side-effects to watch out for hypomania.