ADHD Medication update

[Salah_09]

Hi All,

Just wanted to provide an update. I initially tried Vyvanse and noticed zombification, lowering the dose did not help. I also noticed that I felt a bit depressed as the effect wore off and when not using it I didn't feel right emotionally. I caught up with my Psychiatrist and he said that I should try methylphenidate and he specifically recommended Ritalin (10mg) - I am only taking 5mg for a start but may increase after. He did note that I could have stayed on Vyvanse for longer to see if effects would go away but he decided to change it for me to see side effects.

I have noticed that I feel much more like myself on Ritalin, improved focus, better mood, less brain fog and no noticeable side-effect. I also feel like myself, it hasn't changed my personality or anything. I just feel more switched on in general and more empathetic and better with emotional regulation. This was what I was expecting.

I didn't like how vyvanse even on 15mg gave me a sort of high and I just felt like a different person. Crash was bad in terms of emotional aspects. I guess vyvanse is just not for my biology and was too strong for me.

[SunFlower2909]

Hi Salah, so I experienced exactly the same thing as you on Vyvanse. It's like I wrote that! Not for me as well, at all. I am now on generic of Concerta, and it is much better for me. Doesn't change the way I feel, little to no side effects and I am more focused, I can complete tasks, most of the time I feel more driven and it is a good feeling! Just sharing...I didn't like the high Vyvanse gave, because it felt unnatural, and the crash was like 4-5 hours later, and I got it bad, feeling down, didn't want to talk to anyone, or focus on my work. It doesn't work for everyone, that's for sure.

[Salah_09 in reply to SunFlower2909]

I'm glad you found something that works for you and sounds like we had similar experiences. I was very disheartened after my vyvanse medication and hated medication but now I have a much better and balanced opinion knowing that I am just myself but more switched on and aware etc.

[STEM_Dad]

So glad for you that the switch from Vyvanse to Ritalin is working for you.

From what I understand, many people respond better to one type of stimulant than the other, and some people respond well to either. For me, the best medication seems to be a non-stimulant. (I haven't tried Ritalin, so I don't know how it would affect me. I originally started on Adderall, but it gave me tachycardia and only halfway treated my ADHD symptoms.)

[SunFlower2909 in reply to STEM_Dad]

Hi, what medication for ADHD do you use, that is a non-stimulant? Would love to know if there is another option.

[STEM_Dad in reply to SunFlower2909]

Welcome to the community SunFlower2909 !

I take atomoxetine (generic, the name brand is Strattera).

It acts on the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, instead of dopamine like stimulants do.

[Gettingittogether]

Glad Ritalin feels better. But just know: your body changes over time. The way I reacted to Adderall at first wasn't the way I reacted to Adderall like 5 years later.

[Emsil21]

it’s really interesting how things affect people differently I have tried everything and vyanase in my experience is the only one that works Ritalin I felt hungry and tired and certainly not focused. But it’s interesting you meant emotions I have been very teary lately and by 8pm I want to be in bed I wonder if it’s the vyanase

[Salah_09 in reply to Emsil21]

How long have you been on Vyvanse and has this always happened?

It's really hard to say because you will have to look at the bigger picture and rule out other factors. My psychologist had an interesting opinion that sometimes these medication can make you more aware of your emotions . Maybe the medication has made it easier to detect some underlying issue or trauma which may have contributed. Anyway this was just his opinion. I find it complicated to truly understand ourselves.

But for me I could confidently say it was vyvanse because I don't randomly feel depressed and normally I experience positive feelings unless there is something going on in my life or an external event . So to me it was obvious that vyvanse messed with my brain and even my siblings could tell that I looked very down.

[Emsil21 in reply to Salah_09]

I have been on it for 2 months ( Iv been on it before but the side effects that time were horrific, basically realised it was my one instant coffee a day causing the side effects so now I have no caffine apart from my morning tea pre tablet) Iv always been emotional, I actually started therapy last week unfortunately I got a task adhd work sheet sent to me by the therapist - I have no issues with tasks! Lazy analysis, next she told me I’m depressed as I have social anxiety (evenings with friends) not in general. Iv had a hard time recently but I don’t think I’m depressed I look after myself and family, keep my house clean and work full time with enthusiasm - as I write this Iv decided I want a new therapist as this first impression really doesn’t feel right! But when I read your post I did wonder if the easy to cry ( relationship conflicts family and work recently) is vyanase but I also think it could be the contraceptive implant, pregnancy did a number on me and my hormones I think. So have you found Ritalin more stable for you?

[Salah_09 in reply to Emsil21]

You've made a right step to start therapy but it can take time till you find the right one and normally you will know within the first few sessions if not the first. I actually changed mine 3 times before finding the one who actually was able to pick out that I had ADHD and he seems to read me very well and is a very skilled. The other ones made me feel worse. And psychologists can make mistakes too, they don't live your life and only make judgements based on the information you provide them. Good psychologists will be careful and gather all the information carefully and ensure you become an expert at yourself.

Ritalin gives me a different type of effect than vyvanse, it gives me the clarity to choose what to focus on then I kinda go into hyperfocus. Vyvanse was also amazing in terms of productivity (maybe even slightly more than ritalin) and made me super calm (to the point that I couldn't even think when I wanted to lol - scared me a bit). But it was making me very uninterested in other activities such as catching up with friends, pursuing hobbies etc. I think it produced so much dopamine for me to the point that even regular talk wouldn't interest me and I felt like a boring person with no personality.

Ritalin is a bit gentler than vyvanse, I feel like myself when I take it and haven't lost interest in anything, I just have better control and don't feel overwhelmed when deciding what to do. But the effects don't last that long as much as vyvanse(I am currently on the short acting one, there is a long-acting one too apparently).

Ultimately every drug impacts people differently, some people love vyvanse and it does amazing things for them, others hate ritalin, vice-versa. I guess it also comes down to what you're seeking from medication and what side effects are tolerable (or a non-issue) for you.

[Emsil21 in reply to Salah_09]

It’s great to hear that it’s better for you I tried concerta xr I think that’s the same thing as Ritalin but stronger release! I changed my therapist the reason I didn’t automatically was when I raised concerns she said ‘sorry I tried my best for you’ which played into my people pleasing and made me feel I couldn’t change - I’m using the betterhelp app, which isn’t cheap so I don’t want to waste my time and just selected one that focuses on cbt and abt which I think is what I’m looking for. 🤞 vyanase is for binge eating which I wouldn’t have said I have but it has proven to me that I don’t think about food or drink anymore or trying to control my consumption so maybe I did have a varying degree of binge eating, I feel so calm about food and drink which I have never ever felt like before. Ritalin felt like I was out of control with a lot of things actually, part of me wondered if I had adhd it didn’t work at all! It is very interesting that not one size fits all, hope you have a lovely Sunday

[Emsil21]

I also only got diagnosed 10 months ago so I don’t have a long history on adhd meds , typically Iv been treated with anti depressants/ anxiety meds most of my adult life

[S0NIC]

Hey Salah, How are you feeling/where did you land 2 month's on from your medication switch?

My doc is about to swap me from Vyvanse to Ritallin after I was finding 40mg was giving me more negatives (similar to what you were describing) that were outweighing the positives. 30mg was fine and didn't experience these symptoms but it was running out by 1-2pm...

[Salah_09 in reply to S0NIC]

Hi Sonic, yes my experience wasn't great with vyvanse.

I'm still on ritalin and it's been doing a great job. The initial effects have worn off but it's still good to make me feel collected and I'm nowhere like I was with ADHD the main reason I switched to Ritalin because it's not as intense as vyvanse.

However recently I tried the long acting version of vyvanse. Normally they start us with short acting for a while then switch to long acting, they're the same thing but just the release. I actually prefer the short acting so I have another appointment and may tell my psychiatrist to switch me back to short acting. Because with that I feel I have more control since it wears off quicker.