Meds causing alcohol cravings? (lemmy.cafe)

submitted 2 months ago by cinnamon@lemmy.cafe to c/adhd@lemmy.world

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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?

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[-] snooggums@piefed.world 5 points 2 months ago

There is a mental association I have with alcohol and weed dulling my senses from before I started taking that exact med a long time ago, apparently self medicating. I still use both socially since as well, but less frequently and only get urges when alone the meds wear off and my mind starts racing.

Pretty sure it is just memory of both working to dull senses from ADHD symptoms from before I was diagnosed. Don't get the urges while the medication is in my system.

[-] cinnamon@lemmy.cafe 3 points 2 months ago

Weed, interestingly enough, never dulled my senses but rather heightened my awareness. Often I would feel super present and attuned. But at some point it started to make me feel anxious and so eventually I stopped using it (many many years ago).

Alcohol sometimes also makes me feel "more emotionally awake" and I think it's this feeling that I crave.

this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2026

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