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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[-] 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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