ADHD medication advice for adult

[Wholetthedogsoutwhowhowho]

Hello!
I've only this year been diagnosed with adhd, late 30s female (not that it makes much difference my age or gender!)

I have decided to try medication, Elvanse was fantastic! Helped me focus, got rid of the distractions, stopped the constant binge eating and generally had such a positive effect. I had to stop it though due to unbearable stomach cramps every day from around 2pm. Once I stopped them, the stomach cramps went.

Onto Meflynate. These for me didn't do anything at all, I may as well have taken jelly beans! So obviously these were stopped.

I am now on Xaggitin, only had 2 days and already noticing stomach cramping and indigestion.

My question is, for anyone that's also experienced this, do the side effects go if I just push through and keep on taking? I feel awkward asking to change medication again. But I want the feeling back from when taking Elvanse as I can't believe how much of a positive impact they made on me.

Thank you all!

I don't know how common stomach cramps are as a side effect, it's not one I've experienced. Are you eating differently on/off them? You mentioned less binge eating - maybe that could be the cause rather than the medication?

I wonder if there is something which you could take alongside to alleviate the cramps, and let you continue with Elvanse?

It might be worth asking in the weight loss area as if it is possibly related to diet change then it could be something people have experience of with other medications which help with binge eating, rather than being ADHD medication related specifically.

Thank you for your reply!

today and yesterday on these new tablets I'm still binge eating, eating as normal and I can feel the cramps already. This is on the lower dose, I have another five days then the dose will increase.

I hadn't thought of asking if there's anything I can do or take for the stomach cramping whilst on Elvanse. The doctor did say that cramps are a side effect of Elvanse. Could it be something to do with them being slow release? These Xaggitin are also slow release.

I've just remembered, Elvanse gave me a terrible dry mouth as well which I wasn't keen on!

Not a side effect I've had unless I haven't ate enough and then when I do eat my stomach cramps. It's so hard to eat on elvanse because it's suppresses your appetite but you definitely need to eat, I personally find it works better if I eat a good breakfast. The dry mouth I had for a few months but it did finally go away but it always came back if I stopped taking it for a few days or changed dose. Have you asked for something alongside elvanse to take for your stomach? Maybe it's just too harsh on your stomach for you, a lot of people are like this with medication and they take the likes of omeprazole or lansoprozole to protect their stomachs. Maybe an idea since it worked well for you as it would be such a shame to not be able to take the medication that actually worked! Also I'm 30 and female too! Apparently hormones are also an issue for ADHD ... I had zero symptoms when I was pregnant... Apparently it was the estrogen! Xx

To be honest it came as a complete surprise to me, adhd diagnosis, so i'm still learning alot about it. I thought i was autistic. That's interesting regarding hormones, I'm going to have a Google and a read around it thank you!

Good idea regarding omelrazole or lansoprazole. I'll see how I get on with these xaggitin and if I don't like these then I'll ask to switch to Elvanse and something else alongside. I'm only on day 3 low dose of the xaggitin so not really feeling anything as yet apart from a little stomach cramping, indigestion and an acidic taste in my mouth. I'm waiting for the positive effects to kick in!!!

I've had a headache past couple of days and felt nauseous all day, i don't know if it's these new tablets, xaggittin, or if it's some sort of bug?
Contemplating not taking today as have a busy day today and fed up feeling like this. At least I'd know then if it is the tablets.

It's pretty common to have both! I was convinced I had ADHD which I have but I have been told I've been put on the NHS wait list for an ASD assessment.. that was a surprise to me! The omeprazole for example would also be good for the acid reflux so you never know something as simple as this could help you have the elvanse! My mum takes naproxen and it's really harsh on the stomach so she also takes lansoprozole and if she doesn't take it her guts kill her and she has really bad heart burn. It could be a side effect of the tablets every side effect I've had lasts about 4 days each time I change dose but there was one time I tried 70mg of elvanse and I couldn't stand it I felt like I was dying, I think if it's impacting your day then it's not worth it I'd say. Maybe miss a day and see how you feel? I've don't that before but just know that sometimes if you do that the side effects come back because your body's not had it and it's like starting over again if that makes sense?

Thank you for your reply!
To be honest, it's starting to get me down now as I feel like I've had an insight into 'normal' and then it's been taken away due to side effects. I know everything has a side effect and that it'll be trial and error, but i am impatient and just want to get these meds right.
I'll speak to the doctor again, I have a telephone consultation in the new year and ask for something to help with the stomach pain also. Thank you again!

Perhaps they could prescribe one of the medications which are not slow release to see if that makes a difference, I tried Elvanse, methylphenidate and eventually moved to Amfexa which I take twice, once in the morning then another after lunch.

Elvanse works for me but I cannot eat until 130 (if I have pmt) or 2-3pm normally.

I have a large latte in the morning to feed me and then I eat when I absolutely have to as I don't enjoy the food much- then if wears off around 330 and I get ravmeous around 4-5pm

She mentioned taking a tablet twice daily but then put me on the modified release. I will speak to her about this as this could be another option to try, thank you!

I just had to halt titration due to side effects like stomach pain, headaches, muscle tenseness and sore neck. I started on 30mg Elvanse and only made it up to 50mg before having to stop. It's such a shame because I loved the impact it had for work but not worth feeling rubbish all day! I am going to try again when I'm less tired and run down from horrible winter bugs

there are a few topical adhd topical patches (called transdermal) which are now available in different countries. it may be worth letting your dr and pharmacist know that when they are available in the uk you might like to try them.

Hello!

So I am now on Amfexa which i take twice daily, thank you for this @TamanTun ! I am finding that from around 2pm I'm getting stomach cramps and pain. Just been to do the food shop and it was agony! Starts off on the left hand side, feeling like a stitch, then spreads to abdominal pain.
This also happened when i was on Elvanse so had to stop which was frustrating as I really found it worked for me apart from the stomach pain.

With the Amfexa I've made sure to have it just I've eaten my breakfast and lunch. I'm having a snack mid morning and mid afternoon as well so it can't be because I'm hungry. I mentioned the stomach tablets suggested on here and she was dismissive of them.

Has anyone any idea why I'm getting these stomach pains please and what is can do? She said that there's no other stimulant meds i can try after these Amfexa. I feel like the Elvanse that these Amfexa are working, I just don't like the pain with it.

Make sure you are drinking lots of water throughout the day, if I don't drink at least double what I normally do I run into problems with my stomach. Lansoprazole may help, ask your doctor about that, it reduces stomach acid. Studies have been done on the impact of amphetamines on the stomach and has found that they delay gastric emptying, causing food to remain in the stomach for longer, thus causing GI issues (example study bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/sj.bjp.0701937) Check it's not anxiety too

Try eating more protein at lunch, see if that helps. There are other non-stimulants that they can try you on too, they build up in your system, such as Atomoxetine or Guanfacine which are norepinephrine modulators so they allow the neurotransmitters to be available for longer in the brain but they also come with side effects, stomach problems being one. Check with your doctor.

I've been drinking nearly 3 litres of water a day, I'm finding it hard but doctor told me I need to. I've also been having electrolytes in two of the glasses of water as ive read that helps with dehydration when taking adhd medication.

Defo not anxiety, I do get anxiety though. This is stomach pain and also bloating that im experiencing. I ended up going to bed early last night as it was so painful and moving around made it feel worse.