ADHD medication and creativity

[Creativelytellme]

I have ADHD, was diagnosed a decade ago and have been considering medicating lately.

The only reason I want to medicate is to get some (creative) work done. I get the idea down and get halfway, but can’t take it to the finish line (when the dopamine has run out!).

But I have heard that ADHD mediation can zap creativity. I have always had creative jobs and hobbies but feel sad that I don’t fulfil my own potential as I lose interest in something midway.

Is there any point in me taking medication in that case?!?

Anyone do a creative job / hobby and take ADHD medication?

I'm sure there are designers, engineers etc that take it.

Why not try and see? You can decide to stop if its not helping/ has side effects that don't work. I take quick release so I can just choose when to take it.

As an aside the body has normally ramped up its dopamine production by about 2pm, not sure if looking at your schedule would help.

I take ADHD meds and they haven't affected my creativity. I'm just as batshit as usual. 😂The meds do help me maintain focus for longer though. Can be good when it's hyperfocus for work but I tend to become even more consumed by things than before!

Here is to being bat shit crazy forever💃

This is very helpful, thank you!! I’m glad to hear it doesn’t totally zap your creativity! That’s my biggest worry as getting my creative work done to a more polished standard is the only reason I want the medication in the first place!

hopesdreams does that mean your body has used most of its dopamine by 2pm? (Drugs or no drugs?) That sort of makes sense for me, but I am a night owl in denial, so I do get a burst later on!

No, it's the other way round. Dopamine is low in the morning and if you start doing things it starts to build (effort creates dopamine, ah the irony). By 2pm is when you've kind of woken up iyswim. I can't remember where the 2pm came from, I've read quite a few books and podcasts on ADHD.

The thing with meds is you don’t just go to the GP and get prescribed meds then just take a pill and everything falls into place
Meds have to be prescribed initially by a psychiatrist and it could take months before you get to the right meds and right anounts

I initially took 30mg of Elvanse daily for a month (20mg meds were not available) and it did nothing
I took 40 then 50 then 60 then 70mg and then added 2 x 5mg of dexamphetamine to boost the 70mg

I don’t really feel any change
I know it stops me snacking and keeps me awake during the day but after that it doesn’t do much

I also take Saffron and Lions Mane and L carnitane to help me focus on 10 or 20 tasks as opposed to being completely paralysed thinking about the 1000 things I remember I have to do…all at once

However a couple of times per year (at the most) I get a couple of hours where my mind goes completely silent (don’t really get that on meds normally) and I can focus on one task at a time and I know I have other things to do but they are patiently waiting not making a sound

If I could live like those 2 hours through out the day , everyday, I would be a multi millionaire.

Most of the time I have to be reminded to take my meds

Hello all,
wondering if anyone is still looking at this thread, but I have a question that's very related, so I thought I'd start here: I am a teacher and I have started taking a very low dose of Methylphenidate. Whilst I feel it helps me to do the marking / admin stuff, I get the feeling that it changes my creativity during the delivery of my lessons. I feel I can't think on my feet come up with examples etc.. Can anyone relate to this?I am reluctant to carry on with the medication, because every day is teaching and admin.. any thoughts appreciated :) Thanks a lot