Think I might have ADHD… medication question

[User63847439572]

Reading threads and the screening list on psychiatry Uk, am starting to wonder if I might have adhd.

the thing is I’m kind of used to myself being rubbish at getting anything done and the self loathing and shame that comes with that. I get by because I live with my 3 Dc and have to keep things under control for them - it kinds of builds up then gets blitzed. Also I care s lot what people think of me so have friends round regularly which makes me tidy up.

I don’t suffer too much with losing stuff or forgetting things but did a lot when I was younger: these days I just have to be super careful to always put things like keys in the same place, and write all appointments in my phone diary.

work is ok…. Much better in the office than at home and luckily it’s quite short task focused which suits me

self care is touch and go but I manage better these days, but if I didn’t have to see anyone or go in the office things would go to pot.

the area I struggle with most of all is Eating. Binge eating, compulsive eating. It’s blighted me since I was a teenager and on average I’ve mostly been a 16-18 but on a short small frame. I’ve yo yo dieted a bit and been most successful when low carbing but can never maintain it.

im also a lifelong adult thumb sucker and nail biter but I manage that by getting acrylics/builder gel regularly.

I wondered if anyone could relate? If I were to get assessed and diagnosed: would I be likely to get medication mainly to help with compulsive eating?it feels like it is a Dopamine hit I’m after when I binge.

Should have said, I’m 42.
I also have realised recently (separated last year) that I find being in my own company for any length of time really hard: can’t seem to switch off and relax and the quiet and my thoughts feel really ‘loud’.

but I’m kind of ok with all of it and accepting that’s who I am, apart from the eating and weight side. I hate what I’m doing to my health and have such shame and self loathing about it. I’m short and don’t carry it well, have a humongous belly.
would they give me medication if the eating side is all that’s really bothering me? (Although would be nice to change the rest I don’t want a personality change!)

This sounds exactly like me, but I'm not ADHD as far as I know. I struggle with procrastination a lot more now but think that is because I WFH a lot and also at peri/menopause age.

I accept it might just be my personality type coupled with binge eating. I’ve just had so much therapy about eating and exploring reasons behind it, cbt, different approaches and nothing seems to work as I can’t control the impulse.
reading about adhd medication it just really sounded like that could help with my eating.

I eat as an avoidance/boredom tactic I know that's the case because when I am busy I don't eat like I do when I'm not.

Is this something to ask your doctor about if they have already treated you with other therapies?

So I'm still in the titration stage and think I will probably have to up my dose to feel the full benefits of my medication but I can definitely say already I see benefits in my eating habits, ability to just do the things I want and feel a bit more in the moment.
I have been a bit more mindful in my grocery shopping so to be fair that might be impacting it as well but even still I can buy a big bag of crisps and for the most part not eat it in one go (still a battle but definitely better).
There are other medicines you can be given purely for binge eating which aren't necessarily ADHD treatments so even if you were to not be diagnosed that doesn't mean there isn't help. I believe some to the anti-depressant medications have proven successful in treating binge eating so may be worth exploring with your doctor.

I’ve never spoken to the dr in detail about my eating issues, as felt shame and didn’t want it on my record. Have had private counselling. Only thing I tried through them was anti depressants but that was mainly for PND. Thought it might help with the comfort eating too but did kind of ‘happy overeating’ instead

Thank you

yes as above I have tried ADs which helped my overall mood but gave me a kind of laissez faire ‘what the heck’ attitude to eating and didn’t help with impulse control.

I try to control it at the shopping stage but with the Dc in the house I can’t really do that fully

I also tried injecting saxenda but it made me feel nauseous in a way that made me crave carbs

Sorry that was to @Nn9011

A little hopeful bump

I have ADHD and impulsively eat rather than because I’m hungry. I initially tried Elvanse and lost a stone in a few weeks as I was only eating at meal times. I couldn’t tolerate the other side effects so came off it and have gained the weight again but I’m much more excepting of this as I know understand it’s disability related.

It's worth having the conversation with professionals to get to the root of why exactly you are binge eating - ADHD is just one of many possibilities.

Eating and weight issues with ADHD aren't only about a dopamine hit. It's the lack of interoception and the inability to read the signals your body is giving you when it comes to hunger and thirst, needing to pee, sleep etc. So you don't realise you're hungry until you are ravenously so and you then just impulsively binge what's immediately convenient as well as satisfying - which is very likely to be unhealthy. Then add in the challenges with creating habits and sticking to a healthy eating plan and fitness - even remembering to buy food or tolerate the overstimulation of a trip to the supermarket.

Meds are not the only way to manage ADHD - and they're not a miracle fix in the long term as you become tolerant to them. They just help reduce the symptoms (admittedly sometimes drastically, even if only for a short period) so you can manage.

I believe Elvanse can actually be used as a treatment for diagnosed binge eating disorder as well as ADHD. I tolerate it well but I didn't really lose significant weight because of it, it just stopped me gaining more and helped me get a little more control on diet and fitness. In fact, if you do lose weight rapidly on it, it would likely be seen as a concern and you'd probably be experiencing other side effects like nausea that could make it intolerable. Many ADHD meds can also often increase blood pressure and have the inconvenience of being a controlled drug and potentially addictive.

Also may be worth noting that if you're nearing perimenopause, ADHD symptoms can worsen, along with all the other fun stuff. I'm not quite there yet but mentally preparing for it as I already have to increase my meds between ovulation and my period as symptoms worsen then.