ADHD meds - elvanse?

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

I've got my first meds appointment tomorrow and have got all kinds of anxious.

I think I want to try elvanse as its what most adults go onto - and tbh I've had weight issues but now I'm on Mounjaro that's less of an issue! I do think it's all linked.

But I'm really anxious now (!!) about increasing anxiety and not being able to sleep.

Did people find that? What did you do to help?

I really need to be able to function better, I could do with getting things done and energy to do it. I hope it will help.

Or they'll help but I won't sleep. And I'm so tired already.

I'm worried the drugs won't really help or how will I know if they help. And maybe I'm just not managing well.

Id love to hear people's stories.

I love it. Lost three stone on it, manage life better, don't need to nap every day now. Sucks as I level out and need to titrate upwards as I'm approaching maximum dose but it has changed my life. My house nearly always clean and tidy, manage boring jobs better, less compulsive spending etc.

My (adult) daughter was on Elvance, and whilst it helped calm her mind down, she got terribly thin as it suppressed her appetite so much.

And for the past couple of years it’s been really difficult to get hold of too, so the stress of driving from pharmacy to pharmacy on a fruitless search was not helpful either.

She’s in a happier place generally at the moment so feels ok (for now) without the meds, and has got back to a healthy weight.

You don’t have to accept Elvanse - adults can also take fast-release methylphenidate if Elvanse isn’t available.

I think it's the one I want to start with as it has less side effects (!) and seems to work with getting things done and procrastination but I am nervous of not sleeping.

Some of the posts above sound unreal - I can't imagine how much more productive I'd be if I could do things.
But would I be me?

No need to worry about being thin currently - I'm 21 stone. But I guess lack of nutrition would be if it led to more tiredness/health stuff.

I'm taking mounjaro to reduce appetite already.

I just want to be on top of things. I keep thinking maybe its my job. But I'd love to be able to just get hings done. Right now I'm hiding in bed from my work and the day. And anxious about starting a mind altering medication.

I so hope it works for me.

@Apothecary266 that sounds amazing!!! I can't even imagine a tidy house currently and I'm behind with everything. I'm so stressed. Have you had any side effects? How long did it take to titrate? Does reaching maximum dose mean it will stop working or just that it will be even?

@CuppaAndABiccie sorry to hear it made her too thin, but I'm pleased her life is more sorted now. Part of me thinks if I could get my house/life/job organised maybe in time I'd get to a place where I don't need it. I hadn't raalised it was hard to get hold of.

Following as I'm hoping to start this soon too. Interesting that you are on Mounjaro - so am I. Can I ask, is this NHS or one of the right to choose providers? How long have you waited?

It sounds amazing.

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden no side effects apart from reduced appetite. I just make sure I have an actual meal in a morning before I take it. If I take it too late in the day I struggle to sleep though. I find it's not as effective when I need to titrate upwards. Plus I start eating more. And everything becomes more of an effort and I procrastinate. I have a feeling I'm going to end up on 70mg of elvanse with a 10mg immediate release methylphenidate to top me up later in the day. I work evenings as well as daytimes so I need something to last longer than eight hours.

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright right to choose through NHS (gp referal) so will be NHS prescriptions. I went with Dr Js as they had a short waiting list - was 4 months then a couple of weeks before titration! Are you waiting g too? How are you finding mounjaro. I'm only a couple of months in and wish I'd been on to a bit longer before starting elvanse!

@Apothecary266 glad you don't have side effects. Do you just eat early morning and late night?

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden yes

I’ve just been speaking to the Dr about possible ADHD, so this is really interesting (more interesting than the work I’m supposed to be doing…)
To be able to focus would change my life so much.

My GP was really unhelpful. I think they're quite variable about middle aged bright women and neurodiversity.... They did eventually agree to do the forms though.

I've had half my autism assessment and need to do some homework which I haven't done!

My daughter is on it.

She:
*has less anxiety and overthinking

• functions better, *gets more done *has more energy

If it doesn't suit you, you stop and try a different one. In our house we went thru ritalin, medikinet, and strattera and both ADHD kids are on Lisdexamfetamine now and it seems to be suiting both.

It does affect their appetite a bit but they try and eat even if not hungry, and may end up eating a substantial snack before bed as meds have worn off then.

It hasn't really affected sleep, both would struggle at times and have melatonin to take if needed.

I see such a difference in them on it...hope it works for you too, but there are other ones to try too if it doesn't or if it has side effects that mean it doesn't suit you

Took it. I found it to be absolute rocket fuel. Felt like I could see through time. Potentially too strong for me actually. Made me a bit irritable. Got a promotion at work though. Now only use occasionally.

I've been on Elvanse for three years - I am very much still me, and it's not a magic bullet but it does help with focus. It's a lot more effective when I am rested and well-slept. It doesn't quieten my brain but it does let me focus - I'm happy with this because my chattery brain is where some of my best ideas come from and I didn't want to lose that.

It's also made a lot of my anxiety better because now when I leave the house I am doing one thing at a time, so trust my brain to remember that I locked the door rather than panicking halfway up the road that I've left the door open and the iron on, or whatever.

It kills my appetite in the day but am fine for morning and evening dinner, lost some weight initially but levelled out now and still happy at a size 18. My house is still messy because I'll always prioritise joy over housework and live alone, but it's much easier to clean and tidy when I do want to than it's ever been before.

I repeat not a magic bullet, because it's so easy to hope that the meds will change everything completely and immediately - but it does help with focus and being able to get out of mental inertia and actually do stuff, which I have struggled with my entire life.

Good luck!

wow functioning better, getting more done and more energy would honestly be like winning the lottery. So many years lost...
I really really hope it works.

And LESS anxiety would be amazing!! My fear is it goes the other way. I guess we will see. I hate the thought of taking a drug that will change me or potentially affect me like this. BUT the thought it could make me function overrides all that.

Wow! I am looking for a new job...

Thankyou - yes the being able to actually DO things would be lifechanging.

Was not effective enough for me. Barely made a difference to my focus so now on Concerta XL. I do miss the appetite supression. Don't miss falling off an energy cliff just at the time i needed to be looking after kids

Ime it takes a while to hit the sweet spot - find the right meds, the right dose, with tolerable side effects. So don't give up if it doesn't work right away, it seems to be a bit of trial and error for a few months. You might need a different dose / med etc. It was hard for us but so worthwhile now to have found a good med and dose.

Tbf as I'm on Mounjaro I don't need the appetite suppressant as much as I did initially but I thought elvanse was the longer lasting one which wa smy other reason for going for it.

I'll read up a bit more about concerta too. I have my appointment in the morning and I know they'll ask me!

So I'm starting with Elvanse this weekend if the meds arrive. It sounds like it's the first one recommended as works well but has side effects some find tricky - she said if I find that we can change to another one of the drugs and there are options.

I'm quite excited now although I so hope I'll sleep.

Sorry to resurrect this thread. I started Elvanse 30mg today. I was looking for others experiences.

I started off just a lot calmer and for about an hour I was more motivated. Then the anxiety (I've always had) started to return and after 5 hours I was just exhausted and had a headache. Headache hasnt gone anywhere either.

Will tomorrow basically be the same? Or does it change over the first couple of weeks?