Two steps forward, one step back.

[Old_Owl]

So I feel like I've made progress since my diagnosis. I've done a lot of research, started making some life changes, such as adding more exercise, changing up my diet, and I've hired an ADHD life coach.

The bad? I had to stop Vyvanse for now. My blood pressure is running high, it was running high prior to starting. I've been tracking it, and it looks like it actually dropped a bit after I started the meds. But after talking with the psychologist who prescribed it, they recommended I stop until I see my regular doctor in a few weeks. Interestingly I became a more health conscious after starting Vyvanse than before. I'll see how it plays out.

My biggest worry is can I keep up the motivation, especially going cold turkey? One of the benefits of Vyvanse for me was I felt more motivated (or the motivation is just my new hyper fixation). Either way, I gotta stick to this.

[Jozlynn]

Hi Old_Owl! Wow...nothing quite like getting started on getting things together and then having the rug yanked out from under you. I was also worried about being on a stimulant and my blood pressure, but thankfully it hasn't affected it. I'm curious to hear what your doctor has to say.

I love that you've been making progress! Isn't it such a good feeling to have things feel like they're moving in the right direction? When I first went on meds, it felt like having my eyes opened for the first time in a long time. I could function on a level that I just couldn't seem to before the meds. Thankfully, there are non-stimulant meds out there that a lot of people find effective - so if the doctor thinks this is dangerous for you, I truly hope there's another med that helps.

Thanks for the update on your journey!

[Old_Owl in reply to Jozlynn]

Thanks for your reply. I'm realizing this is all part of the process once diagnosed- figure out what meds work and don't work, dosage, therapy, and so on. Fix one side, then fix the other- and so it goes.Like you my brief time on the stimulants seemed to be like waking up for the first time. It didn't magically fix everything, but the effort was much less than before to keep things going.

But now I know what I'm dealing with and have hope things can be better. And I am a bit more motivated to get my health a bit back in order- which will help in it's own way.

For now I'll take it a day at a time. My though is to work with my doctor to get a plan to allow me to start Vyvanse again (odd trying to get back on a drug than off, but it feels to help)

Again, thanks for you reply and support.

[Jozlynn in reply to Old_Owl]

You're absolutely right - it is all a part of the process - and that's an excellent perspective to have! I know a lot of people can be discouraged when there isn't a quick fix, but it took a while to find the right dosage, therapist, and coach for me. Once I did, it still wasn't a magic fix - but it does make living life with ADHD less of a struggle when you have all of that support.

I'm SO glad you have hope! Hope can make all the difference in how we move forward with this.

[BlessedLady]

Your primary will probably want you to see a cardiologist. Although some doctors are completely against stimulants when the patient has cardio side effects. The FDA came out with a warning ini 2017 against stimulants for those that have cardio issues before or as a side effect of them.

[Old_Owl in reply to BlessedLady]

Yep. There is a study published in JAMA Network Open that looked at 3.9 million people and concluded there was no statistically significant risk of ADHD drugs. But that study may or may not impress my doctor. Either way, I need to get my blood pressure down first. In a few weeks I'll see what my Doctor and I come up with.

As I said, it's a process.

[BlessedLady in reply to Old_Owl]

Doctors go by FDA warnings because stimulants are Schedule II drugs.

[Hominid711]

Hi Owl, are you already on BP meds? If not see your GP as soon as they give you an appointment (not because your problem is medically urgent but because you want back on Vyvanse asap)If you are on the meds, do you have a BP monitor? Check your own BP once or twice daily and follow the movement over time. Once it no longer significantly changes see your doctor. It will obviously fluctuate as it normally does with blood vessels not being rigid pipes but constantly adjusting their diameter to blood volume, flow speed, pressure all constantly changing with activity level, body position, time of day, digestion etc so you see a zigzag line rather than a straight line over time and that is normal. With sleep the zigzag line itself should drop a bit and go up again with being awake. After each newly introduced BP med it takes days to a few weeks for a BP to settle. You can also google how long for which med and go by that. That's what docs do ;^)

You may need 1-3 different BP meds. Once BP is controlled - again, you can google all about BP yourself - there is absolutely no reason for your doc to not put you back on Vyvanse. It's not really up to them (it is but it shouldn't and you should challenge them), it's up to science and if he/she really doesn't want to do the script ask him to liaise with a bp/cardio specialist for advice and that for your sake ASAP!!

This from a GP who's done 2y cardio and the most recent research.

Btw by how much did your BP go up and what was it before Vyvanse?

[Old_Owl in reply to Hominid711]

Yep, I'm on blood pressure medication. And had I been regularly monitoring it, I could have maybe avoided all this (three cheers for self-care). I did get a weeks worth of readings prior to starting Vyvanse,, and regularly took it during. My Average blood pressure was lower after starting on Vyvanse, so I don't see why I couldn't go back on after I get the Blood Pressure lowered again.

Again, nothing to do but live healthy, monitor my BP daily, and wait for my doctor's appointment.

[El-Eektrified]

you could try a combination with guanfacine, this med was originally developed to lower bp. But now it’s mostly prescribed to children with ADHD.

I use Guanfacine 4mg in combination with 50mg vyvanse and my Bp is around 127/60 /60.

Before I used ADHD meds my bp was around 115/70/55- guess this is on the lower side of blood pressures.

When there is only guanfacine in my system, (early morning) my bp is 90/55/60 - I can still function, but it causes all kinds of hypotension side-effects and somnolence….

Intuniv nevertheless was the best ADHD med, in terms of effects. But in combination with vyvanse, it solved the side-effects and as a plus it also improved focus and lifted my mood.

[Old_Owl in reply to El-Eektrified]

Thanks for your reply with some other options.

[JazzElvis1]

maybe try a non stimulant?

[Old_Owl in reply to JazzElvis1]

I'm open to trying, again I'll know more after I talk to my Doc.

[Achtungalert21]

Hi Owl. I’m sorry to hear you have had a temporary bump in the road. I know how frustrating that can be. It’s good you are working together with your doctors to find options that best serve your collective health needs. And yes, a positive mindset is so important together with other lifestyle changes. I’ve been surprised by the positive impact some activities and exercises have had and am intrigued by others still to be tried. It’s a journey of trial and error and I try to approach it all with a mindset of curiosity, which has helped me.

Others have mentioned non-stimulants. I tried Strattera and liked the effect but for me the side-effects outweighed the benefits unfortunately. A non-stim is certainly worth being put on the consideration list in my opinion.

Keeping fingers crossed and wishing Happy Holidays!

[Old_Owl in reply to Achtungalert21]

Thanks for your reply. Taking it one step at a time until I see my doctor in two weeks, at that point I am hoping to have a better plan in place (I'm also open to non-stimulants if that works for me)

[75ADHDgal]

I was diagnosed with ADHD primarily inattentive type about 20 years ago . I was on stimulant meds for years and now have a diagnosed cardiac rhythm irregularity so my cardiologist says no to any stimulant meds. I finds the non stimlants do not help me at all. Frankly, I am a Medical Professional and after a good deal of research and consultation with other Mediical professionals have been treating my own ADHD with Cannabiis tincture high in CBD which primarly does not make you "high" I consulted with a Pharmacist and use a tinctue 8 to 1 which means 8 parts of CBD to 1 Part of THC per ml. I use 0.5 ml two to three times a day . But the trick to staying on track for me was not the medication it was support ! Using a buddy system calling them two times or more a day and making promises of what I wa am going to accomplish. Also making a do do list an making sure I have the msot urgernt things listed first.And estimate time - by that I mean if your mind says this will not take more than 15 minutes in your daily plan write 30 minutes . we are bad when it comes to figuring out how long things will take - with time in general

And I have medical expertise in Cannabis and Complimentary Medicine so if you are interested in this a adjutant send me private message. Your physician cannot recommend it since according to the FEDS it is a painstakingly labeled as a Category 1 drug meaning there is supposedly no medicinal value ( only only other drugs in this category - Heroin and Methamphtimene