> This contrasts starkly to ordinary people, who will quickly build up a tolerance to typical stimulants.
This isn’t really correct.
Everyone builds up tolerance to the euphoric effects. People expecting stimulants to make them happy, motivated, and energized forever are going to be disappointed, ADHD or not.
The concentration enhancing effects are more durable because they’re not re-regulated exactly the same as the euphoric component.
This is the real reason why ADHD people find long term value in stimulants but non-ADHD people do not. They were taking the drug for different reasons.
It’s also possible to overshoot the dose and get to the point where too much drug is counterproductive. This is a common problem for people chasing that euphoria who have doctors who don’t care and keep writing for higher doses. In many patients when the drug “isn’t working” a dose reduction can actually put them back where it’s effective as an ADHD medication.
This isn’t really correct.
Everyone builds up tolerance to the euphoric effects. People expecting stimulants to make them happy, motivated, and energized forever are going to be disappointed, ADHD or not.
The concentration enhancing effects are more durable because they’re not re-regulated exactly the same as the euphoric component.
This is the real reason why ADHD people find long term value in stimulants but non-ADHD people do not. They were taking the drug for different reasons.
It’s also possible to overshoot the dose and get to the point where too much drug is counterproductive. This is a common problem for people chasing that euphoria who have doctors who don’t care and keep writing for higher doses. In many patients when the drug “isn’t working” a dose reduction can actually put them back where it’s effective as an ADHD medication.