Forum topic: Medication Abuse

Wed Dec 24th, 2014 - 12:25am by Ontherocks

Forum: 
Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD

Just wondering if other people have this issue.  My spouse was diagnosed with add as an adolescent and has been on stimulant medication  for many years.  However he does not take it as prescribed.  He regularly takes extra doses, sometimes to get more work done, sometimes due to feelings do depression on top of addiction to the high that comes with abusing stimulants.  To make up for this, he has to skip days. he claims to need days off from his meds in order to relax anyway   Almost every month he runs out of his meds before the refill date, sometimes 5+ days.  We have many issues, and these days are the worst for both of us.  He has amplified adhd symptoms, plus withdrawal, and this on top of other relationship issues leads to angry outbursts, fighting, crying, etc.  we are planning on starting couples therapy and I would like to be able to bring this up, but he is worried that a therapist would contact his doctor, and that his doctor would stop prescribing his meds as a result.  We both agree that this would be a disaster for both our relationship and his career.  Has anyone else dealt with this, personally, or as a family member?

Comments

Submitted by sunlight on Fri Dec 26th, 2014 - 8:43am

"Has anyone else dealt with this, personally, or as a family member?"

No, but..

" addiction to the high that comes with abusing stimulants"

His doctor should certainly know about this, yesterday. If that means changing medications so be it. But you will never solve issues by couples therapy if some part of his behavior is down to his drug usage. A therapist can't overcome chemistry.

Submitted by overwhelmedwife on Sun Jan 11th, 2015 - 12:06am

my H is on a variety of meds....Adderal, pain meds, depression meds, sleep meds, tranquilizers. Since he is impulsive, he typically takes too many, and then runs out. He often doesnt tell us, instead we find out after he's been in a bad mood. Also...he takes a hormone med which also makes him agitated. He has taken 3-4 sleeping pills in a night. He has taken 5 tranquilizers. He's a mess....he's an addict when it comes to booze and pills....always looking for the quick fix, the magic bullet. He gets very angry if I say that this abuse is part of his addictions. He only wants to admit that he addicted to booze.