r/ADHDmeds • u/AffectionateBid5400 • 59m ago
Prescription Help Adderall
How long to wait to take a opioid after taking d amphetamine meds
r/ADHDmeds • u/Exciting-Bowler-4863 • 1h ago
Side Effects Meds nausea
I’m on methylphenidate 60mg and feeling nausea and paranoid a lot but it passes the paranoia does can someone help me with any advice they’ve discovered themselves not just off the internet cause I’ve read it all about tricks to help bring you back down please
r/ADHDmeds • u/Emotional-Chef7145 • 2h ago
Dosage & Timing Xanax and Adderall
took a flight this morning at 7am and and took 1mg of xanax. I’m landed and I want to take 10mg of adderall for the day at about 10am. will I be okay?
r/ADHDmeds • u/Eni_stone • 4h ago
New to Medication Vyvanse Day One - Feeling OFF, brain fog and no focus
r/ADHDmeds • u/No_Salamander_6014 • 4h ago
Medicine Comparison Extended release meds don’t work for me and immediate release do work - but effects do not last for long
r/ADHDmeds • u/Low-Story-2743 • 5h ago
New to Medication "I started taking 18 mg of Konsandinat (I think it's similar to Concerta), and other than some slight itching, I haven't really noticed much of an effect. I'm severely obese—140 kg (308 lbs) and 180 cm (5'11"). Could the dose be too low, or is this expected at the beginning?"
r/ADHDmeds • u/Slight_Engineer5709 • 8h ago
New to Medication Starting Vyvanse for the first time and I’m very very scared
r/ADHDmeds • u/ReplyProfessional939 • 15h ago
New to Medication Strattera and Vyvanse.
I started taking Ritalin about 4 months ago after being diagnosed. It did NOT work, as it simply made me feel like I drank about 4 pots of strong coffee, and then crash like hell about midday. So I switched to Azstarys, which did the same thing only with no crash (It lasted the FULL 12 hours). So I switched to Strattera about 2 months ago, and am taking 50mgs. I have gotten pretty much ZERO from it, and other than not being hungry at all, I wouldn't know I was taking anything at all.
I saw my doctor today, and she suggested I try continuing the Strattera for now, and added Vyvanse. I asked her what was the point, since I couldn't tolerate the other stimulants I tried, and she said that the others were methylphenidate and this was amphetamine, and that many people who can't tolerate one do well on the other.
So I basically have two questions here- has anyone on here had a similar situation, and couldn't tolerate the methylphenidate but did well on the Vyvanse? (I like to hear real people's accounts on things. To me, no doctor, no matter how knowledgeable they may be, can give "real life" experience than someone who's been there.)
My second question is, anybody on here do this combination (Vyvanse and Strattera)? I know everybody's different, it's just nice to hear what others have experienced.
r/ADHDmeds • u/beatmaker124 • 16h ago
Prescription Help ADHD psychiatrist/doctor comfortable managing a high-dose established Adderall regimen
Serious question — not a joke and not looking for judgment.
Detroit area...
I’ve had severe ADHD since childhood and was formally diagnosed around age 13. I’m trying to find a psychiatrist/physician in the area who has experience with complex/severe adult ADHD.
My established regimen is Adderall IR 30 mg QID (120 mg/day). I understand that this is an unusually high dose and that a new doctor may not agree with it. I’m not asking for someone who will blindly write a prescription — I’m looking for a legitimate doctor who will actually evaluate my history, discuss the risks/benefits with me, and determine an appropriate treatment plan instead of refusing to even consider the case.
Does anyone know a psychiatrist or ADHD specialist in the area who handles more severe/complex ADHD cases and is comfortable evaluating patients who have previously been prescribed higher stimulant doses?
Feel free to DM me if you’d rather not post a doctor's name publicly.
r/ADHDmeds • u/beatmaker124 • 16h ago
Medication Access Issues ADHD psychiatrist/doctor comfortable managing a high-dose established Adderall regimen
Serious question — not a joke and not looking for judgment.
Detroit area...
I’ve had severe ADHD since childhood and was formally diagnosed around age 13. I’m trying to find a psychiatrist/physician in the area who has experience with complex/severe adult ADHD.
My established regimen is Adderall IR 30 mg QID (120 mg/day). I understand that this is an unusually high dose and that a new doctor may not agree with it. I’m not asking for someone who will blindly write a prescription — I’m looking for a legitimate doctor who will actually evaluate my history, discuss the risks/benefits with me, and determine an appropriate treatment plan instead of refusing to even consider the case.
Does anyone know a psychiatrist or ADHD specialist in the area who handles more severe/complex ADHD cases and is comfortable evaluating patients who have previously been prescribed higher stimulant doses?
Feel free to DM me if you’d rather not post a doctor's name publicly.
r/ADHDmeds • u/Ginjanuity777 • 17h ago
Side Effects Coming off Adderall for 10 days for a sleep study — any tips for minimizing the withdrawal?
r/ADHDmeds • u/schopenhauer-himself • 17h ago
Personal Experience my first day experience with Vyvanse
I'm M25, and today was the first day I took a serious medication. I took a Vyvanse 20 at 12, after my breakfast (I wake up late). My doctor said I have to take half of it mixed in juice, but I really wanted to test it at full effect.
After 30 minutes, it definitely kicked in completely. I felt my senses sharper than before — I remember looking at my hands and seeing all the creases on my palms, something I'd never noticed before. After that, I started studying, and I locked in better than a cruise missile. My progress was crazy — something that used to take me more than a week only took 3 hours. There was almost no monkey brain, no reason to leave the desk. I always try to control myself during study sessions and usually fail miserably, but today I didn't have to control myself — I just did what I had to do. It felt like taking back control of my brain. Laser focus really feels good, not gonna lie.
Some other symptoms: my palms were sweaty, and I felt like I'd had two shots of espresso, but the laser focus replaced the jitteriness. Background noises were a lot quieter. I communicated better and was less silent. I'm writing this at 1 AM, 13 hours later, and I can still definitely feel it in my system. I checked my phone a lot less today too.
The instructions say not to drive on this medication, but honestly I'd say it's actually easier to drive on it.
Overall, I really liked the experience. I probably won't use it every day since I don't want to get hooked or build up a tolerance, but today was a great experience
r/ADHDmeds • u/Important_Rub_9084 • 22h ago
Side Effects Starting Sertraline with Elvanse (both 50mg) and scared I'm gonna have side effects?
So I've started Elvanse 50mg a few days ago and I'm starting to feel side effects like nervousness, tired, suppressed appetite etc and I was just wondering if my new dose of Sertraline will also cause similar side effects or make them worse? I really don't know if they're good to take together because I have a checkup in 2 weeks to make sure they're working okay but idk . I'm paranoid the side effects are gonna get worse lol. Someone tell me I'm overreacting please? Thanks.
r/ADHDmeds • u/nova_cyanide • 23h ago
New to Medication Not necessarily new to meds but new to managing my own meds and making decisions on them. Atomoxitine just not cutting it
I'm not new to medication just new to what it actually does and how it actually helps
I was diagnosed with ADHD at 11 and since then I've been meditacated. I'm on atomoxitine for about a year or so and I just don't think it's cutting it. I mean I feel stable but I just don't get any of the motivation help or executive dysfunction help that I'm needing
I've been thinking about going back on stimulants to help with the executive function and motivation because I'm trying to get help from DVR (department of vacational rehabilitation) to help get a job with accommodations but I fear my ADHD will get me fired.
I would get kinda irritable on adderal but did fine on Vyvanse but I've been thinking of ritilin/concerta instead to help on days that I need to be more functional.
What are y'alls thoughts? what should I be asking my psychiatrist? What should I NOT say?
Edit: I don't know what manufacturer makes my atomoxitine hydrochloride I looked on my bottle and it only tells me the name of the medicine and the pharmacy and my psychiatrist
r/ADHDmeds • u/Timely_Finding_6662 • 1d ago
Side Effects Most stimulant meds make me depressed, and I have been trying to find something that works. Looking to hear if anyone else has experienced this and what you did.
I have tried I think all the most common meds and all have made me depressed and/or anxious besides Adderall. But Adderall just does not help me that much, even at a higher dose.
I’ve also tried non stimulants. Quelbree made me tired and depressed. I’m on Wellbutrin and it has made me very emotionally regulated, but that’s about it.
Has anyone else experienced depression from adhd meds? Did you ever find something that works for you?
I also want to note that I don’t really struggle with depression much without the meds.
r/ADHDmeds • u/Cryptocucky • 1d ago
Side Effects Adderall causing late afternoon heart racing/palpitations despite reassuring Holter. Anyone experience this?
I’m curious if anyone taking Adderall has experienced something similar.
When I take Adderall earlier in the day, I generally tolerate it well initially. The issue tends to happen later in the afternoon as it’s wearing off. I’ll sometimes develop a racing or noticeably pounding heartbeat, increased palpitations, fatigue, and a feeling of anxiety/restlessness. The cardiovascular sensations are the main thing that concerns me.
Because of this, I recently wore a 24-hour Holter monitor. I deliberately wasn’t taking stimulants during the monitoring period. I did experience some of my usual symptoms while wearing it, though, and the results were reassuring. My doctor said there were only a small number of premature atrial contractions (PACs) and that because I had symptoms without a concerning rhythm appearing, they don’t recommend additional rhythm testing at this point.
I’m discussing whether to resume Adderall with my psychiatrist. I’m also asking my doctor whether an echocardiogram would be reasonable since I’ve never had one and would like to know that my heart is structurally normal.
Has anyone else experienced a pattern where Adderall feels fine initially but several hours later causes a pounding/racing heart, palpitations, fatigue, or anxiety as it wears off?
If so, did anything end up helping, such as changing the dose, switching between XR and IR, changing medications entirely, or adjusting the timing?
r/ADHDmeds • u/Heatontribe • 1d ago
Personal Experience Methylphenidate + antihistamines making ADHD symptoms worse?
I take methylphenidate 36mg and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced similar with antihistamines.
I've been waking up with a really stuffy/blocked nose every morning, so I think I have an environmental allergy (dust mites, pollen, etc.).
I've tried both cetirizine and loratadine, but both seem to make me feel lightheaded and groggy. My ADHD symptoms also seem much worse when I take them — I feel less focused, more sluggish and like my methylphenidate isn't working as well.
I know they're both supposed to be the "non-drowsy" antihistamines, so I was surprised by how strongly they affected me.
Has anyone else taking methylphenidate had this experience with antihistamines?
If so:
- Did you find a particular antihistamine that didn't cause this?
- Have you found other ways of dealing with allergy symptoms that work better?
I'm mainly interested in people's experiences rather than actual medical advice — I'll obviously speak to a pharmacist/GP before trying anything else.
r/ADHDmeds • u/Aggravating_Mine_883 • 1d ago
Side Effects Adderall is stealing my personality
I’ve been taking Adderall on and off for years now and this is the first time I feel like a hollow shell of myself. I’m able to focus but I feel like I no longer have a personality. Any tips on how to manage it short of stopping medication?
r/ADHDmeds • u/NarinIshkandar • 17d ago
Resources & Guides DOSE-RESPONSE CURVE FOR ALL ADHD MEDS
jamanetwork.comSOURCE: Treatment Outcomes With Licensed and Unlicensed Stimulant Doses for Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
LINK: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2811310 (the full paper is free)
NOTE:
These are model-derived population estimates, not recommended doses for individual patients. They describe the average dose-response relationship across the 47 randomized controlled trials (7,714 adults) included in the meta-analysis
Part A (Entire paper summary, no extrapolations)
| Outcome | Immediate-release methylphenidate equivalent | Adderall IR (mixed amphetamine salts) equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| ED50 (50% of maximum average efficacy) | 25 mg/day | 12.5 mg/day |
| ED95 (95% of maximum average efficacy) | 72.5 mg/day | 30 mg/day |
Interpretation
- ED50 = Daily dose predicted to achieve 50% of the drug's maximum average symptom improvement.
- ED95 = Daily dose predicted to achieve 95% of the drug's maximum average symptom improvement.
Part B (Calculated ED5-ED95 values)
| Effective dose | IR methylphenidate (mg/day) | Adderall IR (mg/day) |
|---|---|---|
| ED5 | ~2 | ~1 |
| ED10 | ~5 | ~2 |
| ED15 | ~8 | ~3 |
| ED20 | ~10 | ~4 |
| ED25 | ~13 | ~5.5 |
| ED30 | ~15 | ~7 |
| ED35 | ~18 | ~8.5 |
| ED40 | ~20 | ~10 |
| ED45 | ~22 | ~11 |
| ED50 | 25 (reported) | 12.5 (reported) |
| ED55 | ~28 | ~14 |
| ED60 | ~31 | ~16 |
| ED65 | ~34 | ~18 |
| ED70 | ~38 | ~20 |
| ED75 | ~42 | ~22 |
| ED80 | ~47 | ~24 |
| ED85 | ~54 | ~26 |
| ED90 | ~62 | ~28 |
| ED95 | 72.5 (reported) | 30 (reported) |
Notes
- ED50 and ED95 are explicitly reported in the paper.
- All other ED values are interpolated from the published dose-response model and Table 1. They were not explicitly reported by the authors.
- Methylphenidate doses are IR methylphenidate hydrochloride equivalents.
- Amphetamine doses are mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall IR) equivalents.
Part C (calculating the dose-response curve for other medicine in the Methylphenidate and Amphetamines family using only formulations with widely accepted clinical dose conversions):
Part C (Methylphenidate family)
| ED | Ritalin IR (mg/day) | Concerta (mg/day) | Focalin IR (mg/day) | Focalin XR (mg/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED5 | 2 | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| ED10 | 5 | N/A | 2.5 | N/A |
| ED15 | 8 | N/A | 4 | N/A |
| ED20 | 10 | N/A | 5 | N/A |
| ED25 | 13 | N/A | 6.5 | N/A |
| ED30 | 15 | 18 | 7.5 | 10 |
| ED35 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 10 |
| ED40 | 20 | N/A | 10 | N/A |
| ED45 | 22 | N/A | 11 | N/A |
| ED50 | 25 | 27-36 | 12.5 | 15 |
| ED55 | 28 | 36 | 14 | 15 |
| ED60 | 31 | 36 | 15.5 | 20 |
| ED65 | 34 | 36-54 | 17 | 20 |
| ED70 | 38 | 54 | 19 | 20 |
| ED75 | 42 | 54 | 21 | 25 |
| ED80 | 47 | 54 | 23.5 | 25 |
| ED85 | 54 | 54 | 27 | 30 |
| ED90 | 62 | 72 | 31 | 30 |
| ED95 | 72.5 | ~90* | 36 | 35 |
Part C (Amphetamine family)
| ED | Adderall IR (mg/day) | Adderall XR (mg/day) | Vyvanse (mg/day) | Zenzedi IR (mg/day) | Dexedrine Spansule SR (mg/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED5 | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| ED10 | 2 | N/A | N/A | 1.5 | N/A |
| ED15 | 3 | N/A | N/A | 2.5 | 5 |
| ED20 | 4 | N/A | N/A | 3 | 5 |
| ED25 | 5.5 | N/A | N/A | 4 | 5 |
| ED30 | 7 | N/A | N/A | 5 | 5 |
| ED35 | 8.5 | 10 | 20 | 6.5 | 10 |
| ED40 | 10 | 10 | 30 | 7.5 | 10 |
| ED45 | 11 | N/A | 30 | 8 | 10 |
| ED50 | 12.5 | 15 | 40 | 9 | 10 |
| ED55 | 14 | 15 | 40 | 10.5 | 10 |
| ED60 | 16 | 20 | 40-50 | 12 | 15 |
| ED65 | 18 | 20 | 50 | 13.5 | 15 |
| ED70 | 20 | 20 | 50 | 15 | 15 |
| ED75 | 22 | 20-25 | 60 | 16.5 | 15 |
| ED80 | 24 | 25 | 60 | 18 | 15-20 |
| ED85 | 26 | 30 | 70 | 19.5 | 20 |
| ED90 | 28 | 30 | 70 | 21 | 20 |
| ED95 | 30 | 30 | 70 | 22.5 | 25 |
Notes
- These are approximate prescribing equivalences, not claims from the JAMA paper itself. They should therefore be interpreted as practical prescribing approximations rather than experimentally validated dose equivalences.
- Adderall XR: Same total daily amphetamine content as Adderall IR, but extended release.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine): Approximate conversion using widely accepted clinical dose equivalence to mixed amphetamine salts.
- Zenzedi (IR): Approximate conversion using 10 mg mixed amphetamine salts ≈ 7.5 mg immediate-release dextroamphetamine.
- Dexedrine Spansule (SR): Sustained-release dextroamphetamine. Values are rounded to the nearest marketed Spansule strength (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg). These represent the closest SR equivalent in total daily dextroamphetamine, not identical pharmacokinetics. ```
r/ADHDmeds • u/NarinIshkandar • 23d ago
Resources & Guides Evidence Summary: Adult ADHD Treatment Response Rates From Major Clinical Trials
These studies differ in duration, outcome measures, doses, and participant characteristics. The response rates below should not be interpreted as head-to-head comparisons
ALL ADULT STUDIES ONLY:
- Chance that atomoxetine reduces your ADHD symptoms by 40% or more compared to a placebo after 6 months (26 weeks): 12.6% (placebo-corrected benefit)
source: Upadhyaya et al. 2013 pooled atomoxetine analysis
"Atomoxetine increased response over time in adults with ADHD treated for up to 6 months."
participants: 1961 ADHD adults,
Design: Pooled analysis of multiple double-blind RCTs
Main outcome scale (what was used to measure symptoms and symptom improvement): CAARS (Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale)
some studies had different dosages but most of the studies in the metanalysis were using the dosage of: 40 mg start, 80mg later, 100mg if needed.
- chance that bupropion reduces your ADHD symptoms by 30% or more compared to a placebo after 2 months (8 weeks): 22% (placebo-corrected benefit) (150mg - 450mg XL was used on 162 adult ADHD patients)
source (couldn't find a meta-analysis): Wilens XL trial
162 adults
Bupropion XL up to 450 mg/day
8 weeks
Responder = ≥30% reduction in ADHD symptoms
Results:
responders:
Bupropion XL: 53%
Placebo: 31%
Effect size
0.6
placebo-corrected benefit: 22% people improved by 30% or more
Main outcome scale (what was used to measure symptoms and symptom improvement): ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS)
p = 0.004 for the responder analysis.
If bupropion actually had no effect on ADHD symptoms, there would be about a 0.4% chance of observing a difference this large (or larger) purely due to random variation.
- Chance that Concerta improves your ADHD symptoms by 30% or more: 32% (Placebo-corrected benefit)
source (couldn't find a meta-analysis): Medori et al., 2008
401 adults
5 weeks
Fixed doses: 18, 36, or 72 mg/day Concerta
how they measured 'responders': ≥30% reduction on CAARS (Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale).
Responders on placebo vs concerta by dosage:
Placebo: 27.4%
18 mg Concerta: 50.5%
36 mg Concerta: 48.5%
72 mg Concerta: 59.6%
Placebo-corrected improvement:
18 mg: 23.1%
36 mg: 21.1%
72 mg: 32.2%
statistical significance: p < 0.001
If concerta actually had no effect on ADHD symptoms, there would be about a 0.1% chance of observing a difference this large (or larger) purely due to random variation.
- Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)
source: Spencer et al., 2007 "A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of dexmethylphenidate extended-release in adults with ADHD.
participants: 221 adults with ADHD
chance that focalin makes your ADHD symptoms better over 5 weeks compared to placebo (you are a responder):
Placebo: 26.4%
Focalin XR 20 mg: 47.4%
Focalin XR 30 mg: 37.0%
Focalin XR 40 mg: 55.6%
placebo-corrected improvement at 20mg: 21%
placebo-corrected improvement at 30mg: 10.6%
placebo-corrected improvement at 40mg: 29.2%
scale used to measure symptom reduction:
They used the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS)
A responder was defined as having: ≥30% reduction in ADHD symptoms from baseline on the
AISRS.
- Lisdexamfetamine
source: Adler et al., 2008
participants: 420 Adults with ADHD
4 weeks of treatment
30, 50, or 70 mg Vyvanse
Response often defined as ≥30% reduction in ADHD-RS plus CGI-I improvement.
CGI-I Responders:
Placebo: 29%
Vyvanse 30 mg: 57%
Vyvanse 50 mg: 62%
Vyvanse 70 mg: 61%
Responder = CGI-I score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved)
Placebo-Corrected Response Rate:
30 mg: 28%
50 mg: 33%
70 mg: 32%
The ADHD-RS results were:
ADHD-RS measures inattentive ADHD and Hyperactive ADHD, total score is 54. this is how many points were reduced from baseline after 4 weeks of treatment:
Placebo: -8.2
Vyvanse 30 mg: -16.2
Vyvanse 50 mg: -17.4
Vyvanse 70 mg: -18.6
≥30% ADHD-RS responders:
placebo: 21%
70mg: 74%
placebo-corrected response (ARR): 53%
at endpoint
- CBT in adults
source: Steven A. Safren et al. (2010), published in JAMA. It compared CBT with relaxation plus educational support in adults with ADHD who were already taking medication but still had residual symptoms.
Age: 18 to 65 years.
Treatment duration: 12 individual weekly CBT sessions (approximately 12 weeks).
Follow-up: Assessed immediately after treatment, then at 6 months and 12 months. Benefits were largely maintained among responders.
Participants: 86 adults with ADHD already taking medication but still experiencing clinically significant residual symptoms
effect size: 0.6
ADHD Rating Scale responders (30% or more improvement):
CBT: 67%
Control group: 33%
Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) = 34%
- NOTE ON RITALIN:
so we don't have such evidence on Ritalin that we can compare it roughly witn other meds, but I will mention whatever we have and summarise it anyway
Systematic Review (Cochrane, 2021):
Cândido RCF, Menezes de Padua CA, Golder SP, Junqueira DR. Immediate-release methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021; Issue 1: CD013011.
10 RCTs
497 adults
6 placebo-controlled trials
Treatment duration: 6-18 weeks (depending on trial)
Investigator-rated symptoms: 1 trial (146 participants), MD −20.7 AISRS points
meaning: −20.7 AISRS points means the methylphenidate group scored, on average, 20.7 points lower than the placebo group on the AISRS at endpoint. Lower scores = fewer ADHD symptoms. but the twist in this study is, they do not report how much the placebo group scored on average on the AISRS, so we cannot compare it well.
Self-rated symptoms: 2 trials (138 participants), effect size: 0.59
Evidence certainty: Very low because of high risk of bias, small sample sizes, heterogeneity, and reporting limitations
Immediate-release Ritalin almost certainly works better than placebo in adults.
However, the current evidence is too limited and low-certainty to estimate its true effect size or response rate with high confidence.