I’ve been on slow release methylphenidate for about a year and it’s mostly been a great help with executive disfunction, focus and motivation.
But there’s something strange I’ve noticed: I have a feeling that it’s making me crave alcohol (or drugs in general but the only drug I’d take is alcohol).
Before starting meds the number of times I’d drink in a year had already gradually decreased to maybe four or five times and when I started meds I pretty much stopped completely, I’ve only had any alcohol twice since then.
But I miss it a lot more than I used to and on some days I get an insanely strong craving.
I’ve read people say that adhs meds helped them with addictive behaviour but has anyone experienced the opposite?
It doesn’t really make a difference.
It absolutely could. There could be different options to manage symptoms depending on if they occur at onset, at peak, during withdrawal, or after withdrawal.
But as for answering your question: no, I have far less cravings on meds than off. I have slightly more cravings at night when the meds have worn off, but still almost none unless I’m off the meds for like a week or more.
I have more snacking cravings on meds though. Once I specified it to be late afternoons/evenings, I figured out was because I don’t eat enough during the day on meds, then I could manage that symptom by solving the issue.