[?] Subscribe To This Site

Taking An ADHD Drug Holiday

An ADHD drug holiday is when you stop taking the ADHD medication for days, weeks or months.

There are few reasons why would you want to do this:

It can be done to get back to normal and look at how well the medication is working for you

To maintain sensitivity to the drug. Since not much is known about the long term effects of these drugs some patients may develop a tolerance to their ADHD medications. Over time the dose may get larger and larger until the maximum recommended dose is reached. Taking a drug holiday can clean out the system and let you come back at a lower dose.

To reduce the likelihood and severity of side-effects. Appetite and growth are generally lower while on stimulant medication. Many report having an unstoppable hunger when they forget their meds or go on a drug holiday.
For younger patients who are growing kids. They need every chance they can get to grow up strong. An ADHD drug holiday on weekend and during the summer gives them that normal time to grow.

Taking a break is the only real way to see how the medication is affecting you.

Feeling the Side Effects

When I was on Ritalin I would not take my medication on the weekends or during holiday or he summer. The contrast I felt between the weekdays and the weekends is still a strong memory.

When I would come down off Ritalin it would feel like I was melting. The tension and fast heartbeat from the day would slow down and I would loosen up.

I would sometimes twitch or knock my head or arms and legs against things as the tension left. This knocking continued for years after I stopped taking the medication.

The weekends felt like rest time where I would get my personality back. They felt softer.

The Medication Holidays Were Good For Me.

I was always glad to have time off my meds. It gave me my personality back. I was more carefree and I could enjoy playing more. During the time when I was not on Ritalin I was able to get a grip on the real me. In the years that I took medication for ADHD the time off allowed me to stay in touch with what the Ritalin was doing for me and what it wasn't doing.

This perspective is what allowed me to eventually stop taking medication and return to being my regular self. It allowed me to use new skills in dealing with my ADHD on my own. Without the help of the drugs.

It was the time that has allowed me to continue my life and ADHD treatment drug free.

It has worked out for me so far. This was a lot of hard work. Once in a while I imagine that I was still taking medications. I still remain curious as to how much more I might be able to accomplish. Overall I am happy with my decision not to medicate.

When I look back taking the drug holidays really helped me take the control of my ADHD that I needed and wanted.

Like this site? Please share this ADHD site.

Return from ADHD Drug Holiday to Medications for ADHD

Return from ADHD Drug Holiday to ADHDaction homepage