Can we have a discussion about ADHD & Mounjuro

[plantpottie]

I had my first injection a few days ago (25ml)

I have ADHD and have always yo-yoed.
I can lose weight when I absolutely commit to it, but it has to be very full on otherwise I just lose interest and throw in the towel.

I started ADHD drugs (Elvanse) a few years ago and that lead to me 'naturally' in that it was effortless. I assumed I was losing weight because I had more energy to be more active, and the drugs gave me some dopamine which I am normally lacking, which had lead me to seeking dopamine through food/eating.

My weight was easily stable for a couple of years, I was slim, didn't think about needing to diet and more importantly my weight was not creeping up which it always did if I wasn't actively trying to keep it stable.

I then had a bout of illness and fatigue following a very difficult time and put on a 3 stone in a year

So last week I ordered my first prescription of Mounjuro. I was very apprehensive because fatigue is still a big problem for me, so much so I can't exercise and get very tired doing normal day to day activities. I had read on here some people reported feeling more tired on the jabs so it was a worry for me.

However (I jabbed last thing at night) the next day and every day since I've felt much less fatigued. I've been eating regular small meals or my usual food, I don't feel especially hungry, but there is a feeling of hunger throughout the day before I eat. I'm drinking the usual amounts of tea or water.

But what's really extraordinary is my head space. I've been finding my thoughts seem more ordered and focused, I'm not constantly being bombarded with 'noise' physical feedback from my body (stomach) so it's not just the release from the temptation to eat, but that my brain can get peace to just get on with work and get my thoughts down cohesively (I'm writing a paper for work at the moment, WFH).

I'm now thinking how the hell can I stay on these jabs, not for my waistline but for my career!
I'm still taking my ADHD meds as usual.
But the combination of the two is remarkable.

Has anyone else with ADHD experienced this?

@Caffeineneedednow wow, that sounds incredible, congrats you must be over the moon! Are you buying MJ privately? How to you think you'll be able to stay on it for life once you get your BMI under 25?

@WildCherryBlossom, not at all! Really interesting to read.

@HoppingPavlova this is true, it's so very rare to see 'thin' children/people and our perception of body weight has shifted so much, you only have to look at vintage clothing, everything is so tiny, even kids clothes sizing is so different now.
It's stupid because I should know better, but I'm happier if my DC eats something even if it's crap, makes me feel reassured I'm 'looking after them' when really allowing them to get hungry and then present healthier choices is the logical and more nurturing thing to do. DC isn't over weight and hoping I can get better at making better food choices for both of us if I can keep fatigue at bay and reaching for easy calories to give me those little kickstarts to get me through the day

I have ADHD was medicated but due to shortages didn't have meds for months. I've been on MJ since beginning of Jan and one of the first things I noticed was how much better my ADHD symptoms were!!
I can't describe it but I feel calmer and less noise in general going on in my head. I've heard other ADHDer's on a MJ forum I'm on say the same thing.

@plantpottie you can stay on maintence doses of MJ for life. I switched to oushk when my BMI was approaching 30 as they have a clear maintence policy so for all the reasons listed above I plan on staying on it long term.

Apparently the pharm companies are working on a pill rather than injections which would be a game changer I think and I assume the cost will plummet?

Be very interesting to know what impact this could have on food production and food culture if most of us end up having the genuine ability and it be within our control to eat less and stay within a healthy weight.

At the moment I think I'm probably saving at much on my food bill as I am on the jab, well not this week because I like a fool I had really underestimated how little I would fancy eating and I'd stocked the fridge up with healthy expensive perishable foods, but hopefully my next weekly shop I'll get it right!

@Keefe33 I'm sorry to hear that, is that a common side effect with the drug combination you are on?
Does MJ clear out the food noise I wonder, then that leaves the anxiety more airtime?

I thought it was fairly well known that the drugs help with impulsivity and for some people, also compulsive behaviours, they have a range of benefits.

What is the actual difference to the recipient between nervous energy vs anxiety. Anxiety often takes the form of nervous energy.

@Caffeineneedednow I'm on Voy (so far) because they only needed a full length photo and didn't require you to submit GP details. I'm not massively keen on my GP being notified and hoped to avoid that as I haven't got much weight to lose.

But that was before I had my first injection and realised the potentially (because it's early days for me so the effect might wear off?) much much more beneficial side effect of my head being so much clearer.
I also wasn't sure what other side effects I might experience as I am quite sensitive to nausea. But so far no side effects at all.

So now I'm wondering about a maintenance jab regimen when I get to goal in a few months, how I might achieve that if I'm in low 20s BMI (which isn't particularly unusual for me), and how the heck can I afford it/justify spending the money.

Fingers crossed the cost comes down,
I won't be able to get this prescribed through my GP I'm guessing if it's no way near being approved for helping to treat ADHD I've never been diagnosed with any weight related conditions.
If anyone knows of any trials when the pharm companies need guinea pigs, let me know....

I was calculating that it might take me the whole of the rest of 2025 to get to goal, so only 11 months of MJ, and had justified the cost and written it off in my head.
Didn't really imagine I'd love it so much, especially as I was prepared for my mood and energy to get low as it usually did when I've dieted before.
So didn't really think about shelling out for maintenance long term

@soupyspoon I'd seen about the benefits re alcohol dependence and craving, but that's never been an issue for me. I've now read up a bit more and seen people report it curbing their compulsive spending, that's fascinating and probably something I do as I can get very excited about a project/new hobby and throw lots of money at it and then wonder why so many fucking parcels keep getting delivered the next week because I've moved on by the time all the stuff arrives

I dont have ADHD but me too!!

I think it will take me over a year to lose 10stone...

I've got my appointment tomorrow. I'm so nervous about everything around meds - whether Ill be anxious or sleep less.

And if it will. Make any difference on top of MJ.

And all the questions!

I so want to functio better.

If both work on dopamine will I be joyless??

This is all very interesting. I have ADHD, but don’t take meds as my lifestyle (and very organised dh) means I can manage well without. I am on sertraline for anxiety though.

I started Wegovy last week - chose Wegovy over Mounjaro as I was nervous about side effects and Wegovy listed fewer. I’m not sure whether it’s helping with focus yet, but it is definitely working - it kicked in almost instantly - lost all interest in food, not feeling hungry, getting full much more quickly.

Still drinking coffee and did have some wine over the weekend, but couldn’t finish a pint of Guinness as I was so full (this has never happened to me before 😂). So it hadn’t necessarily put me off my vices, yet…

Ah. I am definitely a compulsive spender - trying to think whether I’ve bought anything since I started taking it and I’m thinking maybe not!

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden good luck today, try not to worry to much about the meds, you'll be started off on a very low dose, they don't stay in your system so if you don't like them you can stop whenever you like and return to 'normal'.

Re the dopamine, I definitely didn't notice a drop in mood with ADHD meds, because they helped me cope better with life they have lifted my mood overall because I feel more confident about work etc

I was very concerned MJ would make me depressed because I definitely relied on food to 'pep' me up and give me energy. Dieting has always made me sad in the past but so far so good

Hi

I found this post because I’ve noticed similar symptoms with Mounjaro. My ADHD symptoms have much improved, my head is quiet and I’m able to stay hyper focused for longer. I’m not taking anything else.

I also have more energy, before my fatigue was from mental exhaustion. I don’t have that. I decide to do something and I just do it, no inattentive feelings or other thoughts popping into head.

The hyper focus is stronger but I don’t mind that. Although I’m going to have to set reminders to eat, drink, use the toilet walk about. I can see it becoming a problem otherwise.

I just wanted to share that it has helped me too! I hope this is researched because it could help so many other people.

I’ve signed up with Voy.

fuck this shit, something needs to change and this may as well be it