Big Pharma and ADHD - total sham!

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So, I have ADHD but it actually took me forever to get a proper medication because big pharma is full of it.

I started on Adderall because I assumed because it was was so well known it'd be the best. It kinda worked and got me through my first semester of college, but it made me feel angry and speedy and way more sensitive to sensory overload. This went on for months.

So I go to my doctor and ask about the other options- Vyvanse and Dexedrine. He tells my vyvanse is too expensive for my insurance and that Dexedrine is "basically speed" and insists I continue taking Adderall.

So then I do my own research and find that 25% of Adderall is levoamphetamine, which basically makes your body go into a physical adrenaline rush. 75% of it is dextroamphetamine, which gives the dopamine to your brain aka treats the actual ADHD issues. It was only partially a CNS stimulant, it was also a PNS stimulant and that was giving me issues.

So I read that Dexedrine is actually 100% dextroamphetamine, so no PNS stimulation. No speedy, overwhelmed, angry feelings.

Turns out big pharma made Dexedrine, the patent ran out, they smeared it as evil to promote Adderall, then Adderall had its patent run out and now Adderall is the boogeyman and Vyvanse is the new thing, which turns out is actually pure dextroamphetamine just like the original medication that they called evil.

I presented my case for the Dexedrine to my doctor and explained why I thought it would stop the rage fits from a scientifically informed perspective. He decided I was right and reluctantly prescribed Dexedrine and it worked as I expected. Helps my ADHD and no rage.

This experience has taught me that big pharma can be very corrupt when it comes to patents and profit.

The system is different in the UK but it's still pretty obvious the drugs companies pull a lot of strings to keep their money rolling in.

I've had Type 1 Diabetes for 40 years and I've seen a lot of these tricks. A common one, for example, is to give NHS specialist teams "demonstrator" testing kits and insulin pens. The sales reps know damn well they'll end up being given out to needy patients, but that means the NHS are then tied into buying the right testing strips, needles and insulin bottles to go with them. Which of course was the end goal right from the start, because those aren't cheap.

With anxiety / depression meds the situation here is they'd rather feed you cheap pills with horrible side effects than spend any real money on therapy, work groups, adult support etc.. As you say some medicines also go in and out of favour, seemingly for no reason. I got on well with Buspirone but then it was "banned" rather mysteriously, and there's nothing else I can take, so that's a big frustration. I daresay money is involved in that somewhere, too.

I never had any problems getting any of the Ritalin, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, Concerta, or Adderall XR. Adderall XR worked the best for me but it along with every other stimulant destroyed my appetite and made food all taste like cardboard to me. I also felt wired regardless if it was Adderall or any of the drugs I listed though I found the rest less effective in treating my ADHD. They were all covered by my government health insurance though I did need to jump through hoops and try Ritalin before they would cover Adderall, I think Vyvanse required the same.