DOSE:

10 - 15 mg

oral

Amphetamines

(daily)

BODY WEIGHT:

75 kg

I have been diagnosed with Narcolepsy since I was 22 years old. Realistically, I've had symptoms since I was 15 or 16 but the real issues kicked in as I attended University and got sober off all other drugs. I had a history of using methamphetamine on occasion, but my use was not heavy (though my doses were). In reality, I was self-medicating as I generally used meth to get things done on short notice that I didn't have the energy to do previously.

I was sleeping 14+ hours a day, sleeping at uni between and during lectures, stopping on the side of the road to sleep, and sleeping during my breaks at work. Basically, I would sleep whenever I was given the chance. When I did my sleep test, I was given the opportunity to nap 5 times in a day for 20 minutes in 2 hour intervals and I passed with flying colours, my sleep latency (time it takes to get to sleep) being under 6 minutes. At that point I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy due to my low sleep latency and my other symptoms (sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and suspected incidents of cataplexy).

Now, due to my past 'abuse' of stimulants I was put on Modafinil. This worked for around a year. The first time I took it, I had this amazing feeling of clarity that I hadn't felt in forever. I literally could not remember the last time I felt that clear-headed. After a while though, it wore off. Time to try Armodafinil - the long acting version. This worked, for around 4 months. At that stage, I was drinking 8 coffees a day just to stay alert because while I couldn't sleep on it, I wasn't energised. So I couldn't take scheduled naps in order to regain energy.

Finally, I was trusted enough to try Dexamphetamine, 5mg up to 4 times a day. The first time I took it - wow. 'Is this how normal people feel?' That was my first thought. I took it at approximately 4:30pm, knowing I would still be able to sleep after due to having a sleep disorder and ADHD. I had no further urge to dose more, as this is the last option I have for treating this condition. There are no medications left after this, except for other stimulants that aren't approved and therefore will cost me a lot out of pocket. I chatted with someone for a while and spent some time engaging in hobbies I hadn't previously had the energy to do, and then went to sleep at 10pm - that was the latest I'd stayed up without feeling completely exhausted in more than 3 years.

Over the next few weeks I followed the dosing instructions to the letter. Sometimes I would wait longer than necessary to take my next dose, if I wasn't doing anything particularly important. I realised 5mg was a bit too strong for just being at home doing things around the house, so if I'm not driving or working I just take 2.5mg. Generally, I'm allowed to take up to 20mg a day. My absolute maximum I take is 15mg, but on a normal day I might just take 10mg.

The best thing about this drug? When it wears off, I get a nice crash, which sets me up brilliantly for a scheduled nap to get my energy back and being able to skip a dose. Modafinil didn't do that, and I couldn't nap on Armodafinil. Armodafinil also wore off by around 6pm, so I was utterly useless past that point. With Dexamphetamine, I can time my dose so that if I want to get dinner with a friend, I'll skip my afternoon dose or only take a half dose at 6pm to stay awake and alert until 9pm. By that time, I'm more than ready for bed.

I wish less people would abuse this drug. It is a lifesaver for people like me. My life was pointless before I was given a prescription for this drug. I honestly felt like killing myself because I didn't have the energy to do anything. I could barely work, I couldn't drive for more than 20 minutes, and I was in bed by 6pm. I had no social life, and felt embarrassed that I had to leave events after an hour because I needed to sleep or just lie in bed trying to sleep. Narcolepsy is so underdiagnosed and barely anyone knows it exists. It's more than a sleep disorder. I'm only going to get worse as I get older - it's a neurodegenerative condition. But the best I can hope for is that this keeps working and my tolerance stays low until my country approves Xyrem (GHB) for use for people like me. This drug is a life-saver. I don't care that I am going to be dependent on it - I'm dependent on any stimulant or wakefulness promoting agent they give me. Imagine a life where no matter how many hours you sleep, you wake up more than 8 times a night then have to sleep 4-5 times a day just to make it through. It's no life. This drug has given me my life back.

Exp Year: 2021	ExpID: 115800
Gender: Not Specified
Age at time of experience: 26
Published: Oct 6, 2021	Views: 1,265
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