Has anyone tried ADHD medication?

[ADHDS]

When I first started school, my family was told I seemed developmentally delayed and should be tested. I was diagnosed with dyslexia, but ADHD was also suspected. I was referred to a doctor, but my mum chose not to follow it up at the time because they were pushing Ritalin, which she felt uncomfortable with. After that, I was just treated as dyslexic.

Even with a lot of extra support at school, I struggled badly. My reports always said I needed to concentrate more, get organised, stop fidgeting, and pay attention. I also found friendships hard and always felt different, so I copied other people to fit in.

As an adult, I still struggle with overwhelm, forgetfulness, disorganisation, impulsiveness, and sensory issues like certain textures in food and materials. Since having a baby, everything has felt much worse. It’s affecting my relationship as although he tries to be understanding
he’s found it difficult I’ve recently found my childhood notes and I’m now looking into getting a formal diagnosis.

If it does come back as ADHD, has anyone found medication helpful?

Following

I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and have taken meds for the last two years. They have honestly changed my life for the better - I am able to focus better, to concentrate and I’m no longer lurching from huge highs to huge lows so life feels more even. I would describe it as turning down the noise in my head.

Hi. About to go for an assessment. I get big highs and real lows . Good to hear it’s helped with that. Which medication are you taking?

Yes I took them for a few years (Ritalin). I'm not taking them at the moment due to various factors but did find them pretty helpful at the time - not least in getting to see what I'd actually been dealing with and how difficult everything had been and how it wasn't my fault, wasn't a moral failing.

So for example I might find 10 minutes of washing up very hard to do and be worn out by the relentlessness of having to do it regularly. It felt like far longer than 10 minutes and the boredom caused real suffering. That was the hardest thing to get across to people because they would be like yes of course it's boring, everybody finds this stuff boring. But with ADHD, for me anyway, that kind of boredom feels really awful, real mental suffering that could have me close to tears. When I took Ritalin doing a task like that felt neutral and easy. It wasn't just that the boredom didn't feel like suffering, it wasn't really there at all. It made me realise how impossible it was for people to understand not being able to do these tasks who haven't experienced executive dysfunction. Because I didn't even feel really different - I could just do things. For me it didn't help with initial activation so much, but if I managed to start something I could do it.

I say it didn't make me feel different but actually it helped with lifelong anxiety that normal anxiety meds only made worse.

Sorry I sound like a spokesperson for ADHD meds! I know some people aren't as helped by them or maybe have side effects that outweigh the benefits.

(Edit: yes exactly @Twittable - turning down the noise in my head is exactly how I'd describe it too.)

Edit again!! Good luck to everyone awaiting assessments.

They've changed my daughters life- amazing medication - it was her third try as Ritalin wasn't great, then another one messed with her inhaler but she's now on dexamphetamine and she is flying - anxiety under control, sleeping and so so much happier and dealing with the usual shite that life throws at you x

For people who are on medication, how many different ones did you try? I’m trying concerta just now but I’ve not noticed any difference.

My daughter tried Concerta and it was horrific for her, we stopped it on day two. Then she went onto Prozac and it was like the sun coming out again.

I am watching this with interest as my partners ADHD is really weighing on him just now, and it’s probably time for him to try medication, so he can at least sleep.

@Darkspiderplant I was lucky with the first one but a friend of mine didn't get on with stimulant medication at all but found Strattera very good, including that it helped with mood.

@Darkspiderplant,I’ve tried Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, Vvyanse and Wellbutrin!

I HATED Concerta - it made me depressed. I was on Strattera for 5 years, it’s a non stimulant so O found it smoother. I only stopped taking it as it gave me stomach issues when peri menopause hit. It gave me an awesome sense of calm and I didn’t engage with my worst ADHD symptoms.

Vvyanase was also great, very smooth for a stimulant, no crash. I’ve switched to Wellbutrin for niche reasons, but will got back to Vvyanase if it doesn’t work out.

It might take a few tries - hope you find the one that makes it all easier.

Following. I was diagnosed on Monday and I know it’s going to be a long road to titration.

This. Every word of this.

I have a doctors appointment for next week

Medication is effective in 70% - 80% of cases.

It's been life changing in our house.

When they forget to take them...the difference it makes.

Ds forgot to take his tablet yesterday. He came home from school and said that. He really struggled to focus in school. And homework was a disaster. He could only do about 10% of it.

When he's on meds...he finds school so much easier and is able to do his homework himself without any issues.

Also helps here with executive functioning, motivation, reduces anxiety and overthinking.

The only side effect really is loss of appetite. This is a common side effect so need to eat before taking the meds, try to eat on it even when not hungry and be prepared to be starving when they wear off and have a substantial meal then.

I found it life changing. It’s like all the switches in my brain are flipped and connected. Everything that seemed impossible before now becomes easy.

only drawback is I now can’t manage without it and there’s a national shortage due to over prescription

pretty much the same experience here. Appreciate it sound like hyperbole but it’s been life changing

I know. I’ve never had to remember to eat in my life! 😂

GP? Or psychiatrist for assessment? It was a long slog in my area and I was lucky to have cover for diagnosis under my private medical insurance - the NHS mental health practitioner suggested I might want to take that route rather than the many years waiting list. I’d never thought of having ADHD before she’d suggested it to me.

Gp going to see what they say and paying I have too we have insurance but it won’t cover due to pre existing help from 1999. Shame my mum never took it further but I think she felt it would go away if they didn’t mention I have it or that it would be an excuse for me when younger

Written a list of evidence or things I do and don’t do it’s ended up 6.5 pages long. My husband also wrote some things down that I do that annoy him that are traits of mine.