Do you take medication for your ADD/ADHD?

[thelegohooverer]

If you take medication for your ADD/ADHD what do you take and how have you found it?

Posts on here really resonate with me but I’m not sure that it would be worth my while or money pushing for a diagnosis.

Ive found it life changing to change my attitude about myself and accept that my brain is wired the way it is and work with that instead of beating myself up for things I can’t help.

And I’ve found some great strategies and organisational tricks in add/adhd resources that have helped on a daily basis.

I’m not in a position where I need accommodations, so aside from accessing medication, I don’t know if there’s a point to pursuing a diagnosis (although validation would be nice)

I’m cautious about medication in general because I’ve had bad side effects to things in the past. But I’m not sure if this is something that I should consider which is why I’d appreciate hearing the good and the bad from those who have tried it.

without a diagnosis you won't be able to get anything that must be prescribed.

There's a lot of info on what supplements & dietary changes helped people - always trial and error though, for every person that swears by coffee there will be some who had to cut it out.

And honestly the more I read about meds the more I'm unsure about them in terms of brand, dosage, duration etc.
again, it seems very trial & error.
plus it all depends on which country you live in.

sorry if it sounds vague and apologies if it's unhelpful

I was medicated on a low dose now unmedicated.

Its going to sound really boring but sleep, diet, exercise, water make a massive difference. Also having short and long term goals, routines and keeping things tidy.

What I found was they made it easier to start things and focus, its like having a huge amount of ram and your brain works smoothly.

Downside were forgetting to eat (the irony), insomnia, tense jaw, they don't work at all on my period, anxiety,
made me slightly less creative.

Now I'm off them I am enjoying feeling more creative, but I feel like I am having six fuzzy radio stations on all the time and I still have anxiety but for different reasons of feeling slightly inadequate.

I went on an antidepressant Citalopram 10mg which is good for people with ADHD as it helps with focus and motivation. That helped a lot to get through lockdown but I have tense jaw and feel slightly spacey on it, so am talking to the doctor about coming off it. Then I'll be totally unmedicated but I'm kind of looking forward to it, as meds became an excuse/crutch for me not doing all the good things- maybe I will go back on them once I'm into a routine.

I've been medicated but didn't stick with it long term. To be honest, I didn't find it that helpful. Although worth noting I didn't explore every medication type.
What I found most helpful was actually acknowledging my diagnosis and making other adjustments to my lifestyle; diet, routine, exercise, sleep etc.
Practical tips have been far more helpful than taking medication in my opinion, but there are many people who do find medication helpful too.

I was on methylphenidate, but I felt like I was going to have a heart attack, in spite of also being on beta blockers as well.

I couldn't afford the other meds the psychiatrist wanted to prescribe instead, so I just gave up and I'm unmedicated now.

I'm feeling a bit better on LTyrosine and n-acetyl l cysteine which are amino acids. I also take vitamins, minerals, fish oil, lions mane supplement, vitamin B complex and avoid carbs and sugar. I use apps to help me keep track of things.

Yes I do and I really do feel they help.

Medicated on Elvanse 70mg since January.

Better

Able to focus is dull meetings
Procrastination better but not perfect.
Calmer with the kids.
Able to concentrate long enough to help with homework.
Screen time dropped by about 2 hours a day.
The feeling that the motor is constantly running lessened.

Worse
A bit more anxious
Imposter syndrome worse than before

No change
Still drinking too much wine in the evening to help switch off 😬

I'm on a low dose of slow release methylphenidate in the morning, with a fast acting booster dose in the afternoon. It's def had a suppressing effect on my apatite, but nothing too dramatic. I found being medicated lifechanging though - it's like a found an hour within every hour. I'm so much more productive and less chaotic and overwhelmed.

Loving these posts from people who have managed to ‘conquer’ their ADHD with meds

I am recently medicated and feel transformed. But it might be the honeymoon period.
I can concentrate and organise. But the major two benefits are much, much better emotional regulation and the newfound ability to think about what I want to think about and stick with it until I’ve finished the thought. A revelation.
When it wears off, I still feel good at the moment. The thoughts come back but they’re amusing me, knowing that tomorrow I can be rid of them again for a while.
They’re not anxious thoughts necessarily, just constant, ever changing and never finished.

Curious2021

Loving these posts from people who have managed to ‘conquer’ their ADHD with meds

Not sure what you mean. Aren’t people sharing a range of experiences as asked for in the OP?

@Curious2021
I re-read your earlier post! You weren’t being sarcastic! I’m so sorry.
Told you they wore off in the evening for me! I didn’t pay attention to your post, impulsively posted AND felt rejected by my misunderstanding of what you’d said.
None of those things have happened during the medicated day!

Now, if anyone can help me sleep…

Just took my first dexamfetamine dose a couple of hours ago after a failed trial of methylphenidate. So far all that's happened is I fancied and ate some crisps. And that happens anyway sometimes. No sign yet of this vaunted appetite loss 🙄😂

I’ve been ravenous all week!

@parrotonmyshoulder

what meds are you taking, please?

I wouldn't put it past me to be able to gain massive amounts of weight on an appetite-suppressing stimulant. Happens with pretty much anything else I take

Xenidate XL. A generic version of methylphenidate as cheapest for the NHS.

Oh, my Rejection Sensitive Whatsjt is worse too. Wondering if that's because medication gives me more space to think and my brain is using that space against me!

There is def a dawning that medication helps. But isn't a magic wand.

thanks parrot

Thank you for sharing. It’s such an interesting range of experiences. For those who have persisted with meds and found them helpful, and even life changing, do you also have side effects?

I’m not really clear what is meant by medicated days, or it wearing off. It’s not like an anti-depressant then where the dosage is sort of constant?

Yes, completely different to an anti-depressant. Acts immediately (within 30 minutes) and remains active while in the body. Mine is long release and I think I get about 9-10 hours.
My morning routine has been in place for a while and isn’t terrible, so I don’t take it until I leave for work at 7.45. It’s kicked in by the time I start up my computer at work!

I sound like a pro - it’s all a front. I’m only on my 6th day. Started last Sunday.

They do affect people differently so it's really best to try and see how it is for you.

I took methylphenidate and it did nothing for me.

Then moved to nortriptilin low dose which apparently works like strattera. That was more helpful. It makes time go slower for me (!) as in I don't look at the clock and go oh god it's 3pm! I go oh look it's 10am. It also makes me more likely to notice things that need doing and remember that I need to do things. But it doesn't solve every problem and is a very mild effect overall. I still get frustrated with myself.

Side effects were bad nausea and tiredness for about 6 weeks while I got used to it, then these went away. After that period I get occasional fuzzy head days where its like my adhd is turned up to 11.

Stimulants have that immediate on /off effect. Non stimulants are more like anti depressants and need to build up in your system.

@BertieBotts
Hello, we were on infant feeding threads together a long time ago. I probably used a different name then. My eldest is nearly 12 now.
When were you diagnosed, if you don’t mind me asking? I have only recently realised ans been diagnosed, after struggling with the symptoms all my life (and thinking it was anxiety, depression or being an utterly useless and flaky person).

Ah my eldest is 12 as well (well perhaps that is obvious if we used to be feeding buddies!)

It was a few years ago now. I want to say 2016? Some time around then. I can't remember exactly.

I am off my meds now because I have started again DC wise and have a nearly 3yo and am pregnant again.