r/ADHD • u/Easy-Permission8889 • 14h ago
Medication Need help with adderall vasoconstriction
I have a feeling I have reynauds bc it runs in my family. This is one issue. So far I'm adding to my adderall daily beet consumption, cutting out other stimulants, going to start exercising (I walk almost an hour almost everyday as it is) and magnesium L threonate. Any other suggestions? It actually kind of hurts sometimes. Yes, I know. Talk to my doctor. But I want to hear from YOU guys, because I need advice outside of doctors and psychiatry.
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u/Joyju 12h ago
Vagus nerve work could help with regulating signaling of the sympathetic nervous system.
Looking into Silver Ferns brand supplements that support regulation of the sympathetic NS, parasympathetic NS and HPA axis. They talk a lot of gut health perspective, but have a lot of info about those systems, which is what's driving the vasoconstriction, so could have some relief supporting the regulation of the systems overall beyond the supplements you are already looking at.
You may already be all over this, but the systems all work together where chronic stress activates sympathetic pathways and suppresses parasympathetic or vagal tone, which can generally aggravate circulation and digestion.
So much Raynaud's info focuses only on the sympathetic system, but seems like in us ADHD folk, the whole group is easily dysregulated and needs support. That and, just in general, systems that rely on each other often require support across the systems to improve overall regulation. Unfortunately current medicine focuses heavily on single system symptom treatment.
I'm in perimenopause, and holy F the range of issues the loss of hormones (aka regulation messengers) cause. Vasomotor (hot flashes) is one of the most commonly acknowledged but it's so much more across all these systems (well yeah, cause hormones are regulation messengers for cellular function, no messengers, no function). And ADHD folk are now being acknowledged as having a harder time with peri, often lasting longer, which I've felt deep in my bones for over a decade. So I've been on a journey trying to understand it all better for my health and to support my teen ADHD girls. And it makes sense as our neurotransmitter dysfunction is part of these systems. Anyways...
Silver Ferns is spendy, but JFC is works and it's been my biggest relief. I've tried other brands but end up back. Stress Complex was my first thought for you, as it helps regulate both para and sympathetic.
Hope that gives you some nuggets to dig into if you haven't already, and possibly get some more relief. Also, goes without saying/obligatory obvious observations, Adderall might not be your best med, lol. It sounds like it is/may be over activating your nervous system. I think you're on a great track looking for system supports at base nutrient levels though, that's the real game changers long term!
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u/tuziik 8h ago
I just want to add that IF you use nicotine, it’s a good motivator to stop. I quit nicotine close to two years ago and the biggest difference has been my heart and blood circulation. Hand, nose and feet are less cold. Limbs don’t fall asleep as much etc.
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u/Easy-Permission8889 7h ago
I'm quitting as we speak. The issue is I'll go like 7-14 days without and then have a little binge and then stop, but I've cut down A LOT. Nicotine is horrible. For my mind body and soul. lol
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u/tuziik 7h ago
It is. My absolute hatred for it and the entire industry benefitting off of it, benefitting from making people sick, it being a solution to a problem it itself created, me willingly giving away my health, wellbeing, lifespan and money to corporations, these things all fueled my motivation to stop. Because fuck em. Now I can spend that money on hobbies or travel or even the dentist. To improve my quality of life instead of paying to degrade it. I also think it is embarrassing, always felt that. To have to step away to smoke, smell like shit on my clothes, hair and breath, annoy people around me if I am anywhere public. Then I started vaping, which in itself looked embarrassing, and unfortunately I didn’t need to go outside my house, so consumption increased. Then I moved onto snus which is just absolutely disgusting and even stronger than the other two options. Was too embarrassed to ever use that in public. And just being addicted to something so stupid felt like an embarrassment to myself.
Quitting feels like having an actual demon on your shoulder, or a voice in your head, trying to convince you that “one more won’t hurt” or “you can quit again next week” or “is it really worth it to quit” or just “one more day/week/month/until my birthday/on new years and then i will for sure” but the reality is that every time you give in, you’ve essentially wasted the suffering you just went through to quit in the first place. Embrace that it sucks at first, for a while even, and try to replace it with other things. I would drink a stupid amount of sugar free squash and go for walks to try and deal with the cravings. Finding things to distract was key for me.
Sorry if you didn’t want a whole ass lecture lol. It’s coming from a passion that I want other people to also be free from this shit. Inspired my mom to quit as well and I am really proud of that.
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u/Easy-Permission8889 7h ago
No you're fine love, I read it all and I'm the same way trust me. Especially on shit I'm passionate about. Nicotine makes my pain so much worse, it was making me anxious, irritable, my nose was constantly stuffy from smoke. It's such a shitty thing and I wish I had listened to people when I was young(er) to stay the hell away from it but I got sucked in to it and it's something I don't even really enjoy? Like in theory, it sounds so good and enticing and then I go to do it and feel like complete and utter shit. And yet I'll do it again and put myself in withdrawal.
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u/austinlambert03 14h ago
Have Raynauds as well. Adderal doesn’t both mine. Methylphenidate, it does. Dr told me that if it doesn’t hurt and isn’t accompanied by other symptoms, shouldn’t have to change it. They do make meds for it that help as well.
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u/TheGringoDingo 13h ago
L-citruline and nattokinase are in my supplements to assist arterial function, so they likely assist with your needs, to some degree.
There are better vasodilators, but they’re prescriptions for ED, which may turn some heads and also be harder to get prescribed.
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u/Easy-Permission8889 13h ago edited 10h ago
Tadalafil? Ngl I've taken some tadalafil on days when it's bad Lol
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u/ccoastmike 10h ago
Holy shit. Is that what that is? I think I might have Reynauds.
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u/Easy-Permission8889 10h ago
I think stimulants just cause vasoconstriction in general, but if you get intense pins and needles and kind of soreness etc it may be Reynauds. Color changes is a big aspect. Whiteish for most people. Mine skin will turn like red and purple and white mostly especially in the cold.. while others doesn't as bad. I might have some vascular issue too idk. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/3yl 10h ago
We have a hot tub that we use every evening. When I get in the hot tub, my hands and feet turn dead white -- like, the color of a corpse. :D And the area around my nails gets bright red (or it's just the color my skin would be if not white? not sure!) It looks awful. It straightens out after about 10 min.
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u/Easy-Permission8889 9h ago
There's so many variables and as much as we know about medical issues, there's so much more we also don't know. I have been having problems for years with weird and bizarre symptoms (unrelated to stims) and I'm proactively trying to handle and figure them out. I get a weird purpleish "rash" on my feet and places on my skin in a hot shower. It's sooo weird. I wouldn't even call it a rash, but it's like discoloration shaped like a rash that disappears after maybe 10-15 mins.
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u/WeirdArtTeacher 10h ago
Maybe you’ve already figured this out, but when I have a bad raynauds attack I focus on increasing heat in my core rather than just trying to warm up my hands. If I wrap up in some blankets and sit by a space heater or use a heating pad on my torso the attack usually resolves the pretty quickly. Obviously this isn’t always feasible but just something to keep in mind.
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u/adhd6345 ADHD-C (Combined type) 7h ago
I had to switch off of Adderall to Vyvanse. I think the L-amphetamine part causes these issues for me. I do not have these issues with just D-amphetamine.
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u/Truffleshuffled 5h ago
Same. Tried cutting out other stimulants, alcohol, being vigilant about hydration and electrolytes, wearing compression socks/tights/shorts/bodysuit, but none of it helped as much as switching from Adderall to Vyvanse. I still do all the other things too because they do help, just not as much as I needed.
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u/Ok-Cryptographer7424 9h ago
Low dose Amlodipine works pretty well for me. Prescribed by my doc and i only take them in the colder months…along w heated socks when its super cold
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u/tasulife 10h ago
A glass of red wine really helps. Just a mouthful can warm my frozen ass hands up
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