ADHD meds and understanding drinking

I now only drink on rare occasions. I will plan it though and won't take meds on that day. I'm of an age where I've had my binges in the past and today my body says 'enough' after a couple..

Which is kinda ideal.

I can only speak about my experience, but I'm very careful with booze these days. Alcoholism runs in my family, and I LOVE booze and being drunk. I don't mean being a bit tiddly, but absolutely, utterly, shit- yourself-and-shag-your-boss's-dog hammered.

This is not a good way to live. I've tried.

Now I keep it to a couple of drinks a week. I've worked out that I can have ONE drink without fucking myself up for the next day. More than that and I might as well not bother taking my Methylphenidate. I miss the booze, and I will admit that a couple of times a year I'll think screw it, take a long weekend off the meds, and do my best to accidentally kill myself with whisky, or vodka, or tequila, or hand gel. Seriously, I would suck the alcohol out of a deoderant stick if I had no other option.

I suspect my enthusiasm for alcohol is because, before being medicated, it was the only way I knew how to stop the constant hamster-wheel of thought.

I've noticed that since starting Methylphenidate it takes much less alcohol for me to feel drunk. I don't know why this is, and I'm pretty sure that I'm very much a minority. But I do know I'm happier drinking less. The boss's dog is also relieved.

Ahh... ADHD and the relationship with alcohol. I get you, I am generally the fastest drinker pre meds, and the first one to suggest the pub / round at the bar. I'd be lying if i said i was restricting alcohol consumption when i started titration just over a month ago, right at the end of a busy season of being at music festivals and other outdoor music events in my line of work. What I found is that I wasn't feeling the effects of alcohol as much and so i was drinking much more. Obviously not a good thing. I've since cut it right back and I'm happy to order a non alcoholic lager or pale ale or just had a soft drink. I don't feel the need to order two bottles of wine with every dinner with my other half. Your body and mind will thank you when you get to that point.

I've always been a big, if intermittent drinker.

I'm seldomly in the mood to drink. But when I AM in the mood, I drink like I'm on holiday.

I did my first few months titrating on elvanse with no caffeine (or at least just decaf tea) then lightly introduced caffeine & booze back into my diet.

They have pretty much no discernable effect on my meds, luckily.

I've always been a big drinker, but meds have helped me cut down loads.

Official advice is no alcohol at all. For me, I will sometimes have one or two drinks at the end of the day while on meds - like an impromptu visit to the pub.

Anymore than two and I definitely have a worse hangover the next day, than if I was med free.

If I want to have more than a few, then I don't take my meds on that day nor the day after.

I did once drink during the day when I'd taken my meds and I really didn't like it at all. Felt very weird and the alcohol didn't really have an effect.

I've never done it, but I've heard that taking your meds on a hangover is hell. Don't do that either.

Haven't taken a drop in 8 or so months since starting.

Considered it once or twice but I simply can't take the hangover or extreme anxiety it can trigger.

No longer worth it for me, I've had more than most in the 16 years or so I did drink but that's over for me now I guess.

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I am also on elvanse and explained to my friends that I won't be drinking and why. They are very understanding and we now do things other than just drinking and partying like yoga, walks, nice lunches, fun workshops.... And we have a great time! Conversation is so much better and I can actually remember what we talked about (as I always used to forget everything instantly and then felt shame and blamed booze for it all) and I feel our bond is stronger.

If I am out and still fancy a drink I just go for alcohol free beer - there's some really nice ones out there and they make me feel giggly and happy anyway!

It's such a mindset change but it's so worth it! And the meds I find make me crave booze less anyway.

I never drink by itself, I only have a glass of wine with food that complements it - like meat or fish. Otherwise I don’t drink at all. If you do it with food it slows absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. This is generally how it’s done in Europe.

I think the UK has a really toxic drinking culture. I remember going to a Christmas party in my first job and people were getting blind drunk and I found it gross as a 22 year old - and they were all married with kids 😂 It’s really important to know your limits.

Also as a woman, I make a point of avoiding alcohol in public, because you just never know - possible spiked drinks, and getting drunk in public opens you up to dangerous situations.