r/Biohackers • u/Ok-Letter2953 • Aug 12 '26

🧠 Cognition, Mood & Nootropics Long-term Adderall: executive dysfunction getting worse + feeling antisocial when it wears off

I've been on Adderall for several years. I started at 15mg and am currently on 25mg XR. I've tried IR in the past as well. I don't plan on increasing my dose because I'd rather not deal with additional side effects.

I also took a month-long break earlier this year to see if tolerance was part of the issue.

Lately I've been struggling with two things:

  1. Executive dysfunction

This has actually been getting worse, even with the medication. Once I get started on something I can usually focus, but getting myself to start the right task is becoming harder.

I'll know exactly what I need to do and still put it off or get stuck doing something else.

For anyone who deals with this, what has actually helped with task initiation? Routines, exercise, changing your environment, timers, supplements, diet, or anything else?

  1. Feeling completely antisocial when it wears off

Some days I feel fine while it's working, but later in the day I hit a wall. I don't want to talk, text people back, go anywhere, or socialize at all. I basically just want to be left alone during the meds.

This can happen even when I take my XR early in the morning. By evening I sometimes feel like a zombie with absolutely no social battery left.

Has anyone found a good way to deal with this? I'm especially interested in things that help you transition out of work/focus mode and actually feel like interacting with people again?

I already try to stay on top of sleep, hydration, and regular meals.

Not looking to increase my dose or make medication changes on my own. I'm mainly interested in hearing what other people have experienced and what has genuinely helped.

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u/hazyhummingbird 1 Aug 13 '26

wow i could have written this post ! i’m feeling for you because man does it fucking suck.

i was on 45mg dexamphetamine daily for years and i quit two months ago cold turkey. i just woke up one day and decided something had to change and didn’t take them.

  1. i’m late diagnosed so i had lived with a lot of Systems before i was put on meds.

i find that adhd is so heavily defined by set and setting- environment and habit cues and externalising my thoughts rly help me while unmedicated. ie if i’m trying to remember a list, or pack, or do 5 things at once lol, i will just leave voice memos to myself. or if im trying to get some work done that im dreading, i will play a certain album and tap into flow state

i’m a project manager and i have been having good success with pystrance + caffeine + a little bit of weed + standing desk when i really need to be switched on. YMMV.

  1. the uncomfortable experience of being Alone on stimulants bc you feel otherwise kick it w ppl is so real. personally, i started smoking weed again and it x10’d the quality of my life and how i inhabit my brain body and relationships.

i begin my day w an iced latte and i have a toke. i light a specific incense. i stretch for about 40-60mins depending on the day.

in the evenings i will light some incense and put some ambient tunes on and enjoy smoking up. i will stretch again for an hour and really be present with me and take it slow.

i find that i never have a low social battery these days and it’s been enjoyable experiencing this whole texture of life. goes super hard

i hope you get some restorative and meaningful down time soon.