ADHD and WLI

[AuADHD]

I’ve seen this asked on another thread and have been wondering about it for a while. I’ve read of several posters with ADHD on various WLI threads that say WLI have helped their ADHD.
With all the articles in the news about these injections helping other conditions and anecdota from posters here, do you think WLI might be licensed for those of normal BMI with ADHD, high BP, high cholesterol, inflammatory conditions etc? ADHD medication is hard to access. I’m on a waiting list to get it but who knows how long my GP will agree to shared care. I have high BP too that is due to stress and genetics. I don’t smoke or drink; I’m vegetarian and get lots of exercise daily: walking miles, weights, and gardening. My diet is poor due to being ND but my BMI is smack bang in the middle of the healthy range. I’d love to lose a stone or so and WLI seem the perfect solution at times to treat several conditions at once and have the benefit of losing unwanted weight.
Do you think WLI might have a role in treating conditions in those with a normal BMI or should it be restricted to those who are overweight/obese?

Just to clarify, I mean paid for, not on the NHS.

I have been wondering about that too.

if I seek dopamine from binging then what happens if that unhelpful behaviour ends?

Snacking is a stim. I’d rather eat several snacks through the day than eat meals. Less effort, more dopamine.

No I absolutely don't believe that Mounjaro will be licenced to treat anyone with ADHD, obese or not.

I know Mounjaro helps people on here with the dopamine & food issues but there is far more to ADHD than just needing help with dopamine control.

Also if people had a poor diet before they started mounjaro they've probably found benefit from more protein and less sugar.

If someone is obese and has ADHD it’s already available so some of those with obesity are benefitting in more ways than weight loss. Of course there’s far more to ADHD that dopamine issues but if WLI targeted that one issue then having ADHD would be less troublesome in that one area. For those who have food cravings to get that dopamine and it significantly impacts their life, then surely it would be beneficial?
Maybe for those of a normal weight the weight loss wouldn’t be as significant because there isn’t as much of an issue of overeating but rather eating too much of the wrong thing instead of balanced meals.

For those who have food cravings to get that dopamine and it significantly impacts their life, then surely it would be beneficial?

Unlikely I think. Even if MJ quells some of the food cravings, the dopamine seeking will come out in some other activity whether that be drugs or exercise or shopping or whatever. MJ has no impact on dopamine levels and people with ADHD will still find ways to get their dopamine hit when they need one. It just won’t be via food.

I wonder how WLI is helping ADHD then? Perhaps someone posters will be along to share their experience.

I have ADHD and take medication (Elvanse) which is also used off label in some countries to treat binge eating.

I was a healthy weight but struggled massively with binge eating/compulsive eating as part of my ADHD.

I’m not in the UK but my doctor prescribed me Wegovy and I’ve been on it for around 4 months now. It hasn’t helped my ADHD symptoms as such but it has stopped my disordered eating habits 100%. I’ve lost around 8kg as a result so am now at the bottom end of a healthy BMI.

I have (formally diagnosed) ADHD and also take MJ (haven’t tried any other WLI) has made zero difference to my ADHD. In fact, if anything my ADHD is worse as now I don’t get a dopamine hit via food and due to health issues, some of my other coping mechanisms (such as frenzied exercise) are no longer possible for me.

Edit: obviously ADHD is a gazillion times more complex than just dopamine seeking of course.

Mounjaro has also worsened my Adhd. I have to microdose, below the minimum dose as it led to several of main adhd symptoms deteriorating when they were quite well managed before.

I'm on Ozempic and have ADHD. The Ozempic helped so much with my erratic eating patterns, binge eating, eating junk etc. It was working so well I decided to come off my Concerta and see if I could function as well. The eating was still fine - the Ozempic takes care of that - but my executive functioning decreased so badly, I went back to being disorganised, forgetful, no focus, no motivation, barely functioning. So I'm back on Concerta.

But that's just my experience. I suspect that in the future it will be prescribed for drug and alcohol addiction and smoking cessation too.

Thank you to those who have shared your experiences.
It will be interesting to see what happens with regards to other issues being treated with these drugs. There seems to be several areas where research is showing positive results. I hope there’ll be lots of research to read over the coming years.

Reminder to post

It might stop sugar binges which are detrimental with ADHD?

Exercise especially HIIT is great for ADHD symptoms.

I do notice my adhd is more manageable when I exercise but I don’t exercise well when I am very fat. So if I can be less fat I’ll move more and then I’ll sleep better and then my executive function will be better.

I had to come off elvanse because my BP was far too high. Being less fat is key to managing my ADHD, I barely function without elvanse and it’s really difficult.

so I’m hoping this works

This isn't true. I have found all of my usual dopamine seeking behaviour has quelled on MJ. I'm not longer shopping excessively, I'm not seeking dopmine through food/drink etc. I do think it should be studied further as a treatment for ADHD in conjunction with stimulants.

It hasn't helped at all with my executive functioning though but having blood sugars evened out and not eating as much sugar has helped eased some of the symptoms.

It’s the exact opposite for me. My dopamine hunting has increased significantly. MJ seems to exacerbate it.

It helped my dopamine seeking behaviour, for a while, but the upshot was that I was very down as not getting the dopamine from anywhere.

Now it's evened out mostly. But the spending is back a bit.

Oh lord, I was hoping my spending would remind gone! I'll save as much as I can whilst it lasts!