ADHD meds - insomnia

[mozartangel]

I have just started to take Elvanse 30mg for my recently diagnosed ADHD. The effects so far have been amazing! Clear mind, no racing thoughts, focus, motivation, energy.... the list goes on!

The only downside is that I can't seem to sleep. The last couple of nights I have got around three hours, whereas I would usually have around nine hours. I have been going to bed at the usual time but I just can't fall asleep then wake up after three hours.

I have been taking the tablet at 7am, not drinking caffeine during the day, reducing screen time, and exercising in the morning.

Has anyone else experienced this and did it get better? Or has anyone got any tips on anything I could do to improve the situation? I have emailed the psychiatrist but he usually takes a few days to respond. I really would like to make these meds work as I am feeling so much better on them - but I do need to sleep!

What time of day are you taking it?

Maybe set an alarm for 5.00am, or even a bit earlier, one morning just to take your tablet and then go back to sleep while it boots up. Cuts out the useless hour or two in the morning before it starts working too. That's my only bugbear with it - works amazingly but I could really do with it getting to work more quickly as mornings are my worst time!

Hi @BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

I'm taking it at 7am

Like Daisy said, perhaps take it a bit earlier?

Do you drink coffee? Make sure you don't have any after early afternoon or even midday.

Do you smoke?

I've had a lot of success with herbal sleep aids at bedtime. Look for passiflora, valerian, hops and melissa. You can get these in capsule form, as a tea or tesco do a herbal sleep aid tablet which I like.

The insomnia side effect may wear off or lessen once your body is used to the medication. You could also ask them to reduce the dose to see if that helps. Medicating adhd is a matter of achieving the right balance and it can take time.

@DaisyStPatience oh that's a good idea to take it even earlier. I'm currently up at 5am anyway so I may as well!

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation I haven't been drinking any coffee, only decaf tea, and I don't smoke. That's interesting to hear about herbal sleep aids, I hadn't thought of that - I'll go out and get some today.

Yes, I was thinking that it may take a while for my body to adjust to the meds. I've looked it up and it says that Elvanse can continue to have effects for up to 13-14 hours. That doesn't explain why I am still wide awake at 1am, but maybe it will just take a while to get used to it!

People with adhd tend to be night owls so it doesn't take very much to induce insomnia in us. If the balance is out, we're up all night.