Diagnosed at age 41, meds???

[SDPartyof6]

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, combined type. I work a high pressure, fast paced job and I am a mother of four. I am very nervous about trying meds, especially stimulants. Has anyone had success with Wellbutrin? I have taken it in the past for depression and my husband remembers how spotless our home was for the first time ever. I now realize it was probably treating my ADHD symptoms fairly well.

Would it be better to try just exercise first? I love how I feel when I’m exercising but it is REALLY difficult for me to stay disciplined (did I mention I’m also a mom of four?!?!)! I have such a packed and busy life I worry I can’t stay consistent with exercising as treatment.

I guess I need some encouragement that meds can make a difference and are worth the effort it takes to figure out which ones work best.

[HopelesslyExhausted]

Hi. I am also a mom of 4 and was diagnosed right before I turned 39. I tried the stimulant meds and found that the XR meds (both adderall and vyvanse) made me sleepy. So, my psychiatrist decided to try adderall Instant release. It has been a game changer. If adderall had not worked, she would have added in welbutrin. I would follow their recommendations and be honest about how the meds are affecting you so that they can find the right one for you. It is 100% worth it. My anxiety is better, my depression struggles have significantly decreased. Now I'm trying to teach myself new habits so that I can be a better mother and more productive all around. I've made amazing progress and I am very happy to finally know what is going on with me and have a chance to accomplish all of the things that have been hanging over my head for years. You've got this! Don't over think it! Go with doctor recommendations. 😊

[SDPartyof6 in reply to HopelesslyExhausted]

Thank you so much! That is very encouraging and helpful!

[Accio_Motivation]

I was also diagnosed at 41 (F). I've heard Wellbutrin works well to treat ADHD for some people - so when you took it last time, it probably did help treat your ADHD symptoms! If you didn't experience any side effects and it worked well for you, then I would definitely consider talking to your doctor and trying it again!

For non-stimulant treatment like exercise...it can definitely help, but for ADHD people, it's easier when you find an activity that becomes another "fixation" that interests you, because otherwise, if you're like me, you'll get bored and won't like performing anything "routine." A few years ago, when I was still undiagnosed, the only exercise that worked for me was a program called Orangetheory because they "gamified" exercise (they give you a heart rate monitor and they tell you to hit a certain target) to make it FUN! It was great because it was a NEW program every day, you just show up and the coach tells the group what to do (no planning needed, just show up!). I wasn't forced to "compete" with anybody except myself (no anxiety), and yet, there was the accountability factor (great for ADHD people) because everyone in the class (mostly women) were also "suffering" (LOL) through the same exercises, and I ALWAYS got such a HUGE dopamine hit after finishing. Plus, you get the happy chemical benefits of endorphins, etc. from the HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). I always HATED exercise, but Orangetheory actually made me look like an athlete and I lost 20lbs and was probably the most fit I have been in my life! With that said, once the pandemic hit and all the gyms were locked down...I "lost" my treatment and became a bit depressed due to weight gain, etc.... However, if the lockdown hadn't happened, I'd still be at Orangetheory probably.

In some ways, maybe it was a good thing because it was only recently that I finally discovered I had ADHD and it caused me to seek an official diagnosis. Now, I'm on Vyvanse, which is also life-changing (no more anxiety, better moods, no more racing thoughts, better focus, etc.) and I feel just as good as I was when I used to use exercise (Orangetheory) as a way to treat my ADHD symptoms. It really is like wearing "glasses" to be able to "see" better!