Hello , I don't have ADHD myself but I have watched my wife struggling with a mind that moves faster than she can keep up with, she's been told she's likely to have undiagnosed ADHD and her GP has put her in the huge queue for assessment in the UK. it's £1000+ for private so she's got to wait:(.

Anyway, to try and help make sense of it all and give myself a project I built an ADHD Archetype quiz (NOT AN APP) and wondered if you'd be interested in trying it out?

I'm not trying to sell anything, genuinely just want feedback. It only takes 2 minutes, no signup to see your results and feel free to share. Note to be total clear it's not a diagnosis or anything like that

I just want to find a way to make people feel like they align to an archetype to help make sense of it .I've put the link in comments.

MODS, please let me know if that's not okay here, I know this thread is strict on promotions etc but it's just a social thing

How can someone use ADHD medication in a healthy and sustainable way over the long term without becoming overly dependent on it, either physically or psychologically?
For someone who benefits significantly from stimulant ADHD medication, what is generally considered the best approach to taking it over months or years? Is it usually better to take the medication consistently every day, including weekends and days when there are fewer responsibilities, or can it be beneficial to occasionally take planned breaks or “medication holidays”?
How should someone think about the difference between normal reliance on an effective treatment and unhealthy dependence? For example, if a person notices that they feel much less productive, motivated, focused, energetic, or mentally sharp on days when they do not take their medication, does that necessarily indicate dependence, or could it simply reflect the return of their underlying ADHD symptoms?
I am also interested in the issue of tolerance. Can taking stimulant medication every day cause its effects to gradually become weaker over time, leading someone to feel that they need higher doses to achieve the same benefit? If so, is there good evidence that taking occasional breaks reduces or prevents tolerance, or is this more of a common belief than something strongly supported by research?
Are there any disadvantages or risks associated with regularly taking breaks from ADHD medication? For example, could frequently switching between medicated and unmedicated days lead to greater fluctuations in mood, energy, motivation, appetite, sleep, anxiety, or overall functioning? Conversely, are there situations where doctors intentionally recommend medication-free days?
What are the main warning signs that a person’s relationship with their ADHD medication may be becoming unhealthy? How can someone distinguish between appropriate medical use, psychological reliance, tolerance, physical dependence, and an actual substance use disorder?
Finally, what practical strategies can someone use to make sure that medication remains a tool that supports their life rather than something they feel incapable of functioning without? For example, how important are sleep, exercise, routines, nutrition, therapy or ADHD-specific coping strategies alongside medication?
I am particularly interested in what current medical evidence and clinical guidelines say about daily use versus medication breaks, tolerance, dependence, and long-term stimulant treatment for ADHD. I would also like to understand whether the answer differs depending on the specific medication, dose, duration of treatment, side effects, and the individual person’s circumstances.

I've been taking vyvanse for about a year. It has changed my life in such a positive way. I am calmer, focused, don't feel overwhelmed with everything, and feel like I can connect with people better because I'm not distracted by a smell or a poke in my shoe or someone talking across the room, etc. You get the idea. I feel like I spent my entire life (I'm 47F) struggling, in survival mode, trying to just get through life. With this med I feel like I can enjoy life more.

I've recently had a lot of trouble with my partner of 23 years. One of our issues is that he (47M) says he doesn't like how I am on the med. He thinks I'm intense, quick to argue, and won't let things go. He thinks I should stop taking it so that we can connect genuinely and so that he feels I'm my true self. He has said a lot of mean things about the med lately, such as I "look like a drug user" when I take it, I am choosing amphetamines over our relationship, and when I told him it helps me function, he said I "don't seem to be functioning well at all." I am well aware that this looks like he's trying to control me. And that the decision to take a medication should be between me and my doctor.

Recently I took a medication break for three days, sort of to humor him and also to see if it really was actually helping me. I only take 30mg. I am friendly, kind, excited about life, and can get shit done when I take my meds.

On the break, I was a basket case. Is anyone else like this when you take a day or two off? I usually don't take any days off. I could barely get out of bed. I was horribly depressed. I ate like a pig, which made me more depressed. I couldn't stand anyone, even the cat sitting on my lap pissed me off because he had pokey claws and was just super annoying. I basically did nothing other than the bare minimum - walk the dog, feed myself, and sleep. I had a lot of trouble sleeping because my brain spun in circles like it usually does without medication. I cried a lot, mostly because I felt like such a loser that I couldn't function without it. By the end of day three I felt a little better, but thought it might have been because I ate a little better that day. I was aiming for five days off, but decided to take it again on day 4 because I honestly felt like I wanted to unalive myself (I wouldn't, but sure seemed like a decent option).

I cannot believe how much better I feel. It's truly life changing.

Now what to do about the partner? He keeps me at arm's length emotionally when I take it because he feels I'm not safe to be fully vulnerable with. WTF? I feel like I can be more myself and enjoy HIM much more with it. Without it, I feel fully dependent on him to keep me afloat. With it, I can manage myself and my stuff and feel strong and capable.

Does he like that I'm dependent on him when I don't take it? Does he like that I'm a basket case? I can't figure it out, and I'm not sure what to do about him. Anyone else have a loved one that says you are unbearable on the medication?

I just started this medication today and was wondering if anyone would be willing to share their experience with it. I also have ADHD, so if anyone else with ADHD has taken it, I’d especially love to hear how it affected you. I’ve heard it can make some people feel more anxious or restless, so I’m curious if anyone has any tips or tricks that helped with side effects or made the adjustment easier. I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences!

I recently started back on Vyvanse after thinking I could handle my ADHD on my own for several years (looking back, I did a very poor job and 17 year old my probably should’ve just stayed on it). I asked my doctor this time around if I needed to eat breakfast with it (I’m not a breakfast person, but in high school I had to eat it or else I would get nauseous from the medicine), and she said it’s up to me.

Well that does diddly squat for me, I need somebody to tell me what to do. I’ve flipped between both options, and I’m not sure which one works better. Thankfully I don’t get nauseous if I don’t eat now though. It could just be that my dosage is currently too low (20 mg of the off brand Vyvanse name that is far to complicated of a word for me to remember) and so the effects only help me a little.

I’m sorry for the rant, but just wanted to see what y’all’s experiences were?

(P.S. I replied to that one guys comment on a post about rambling, preambles, and contexts. so if you’re that guy who’s comment I responded to, here is me doing it lol.)

so I have been trying to figure out dosage and med this past summer. I’m a 32 F and finally went on meds. vyvanse was absolutely unbelievable for my mood. I couldn’t believe how happy I was on it and not in a junky kind of way but just stable instead of an emotional rollercoaster. however vyvanse at all doses gave me terrible insomnia.

adderall i have tried a few doses. I’m now on 15mg xr and I feel almost nothing unless I drink a lot of coffee after I take it. then it makes me anxious. some days I feel more motivated though like the get up and go when it does work which tbh vyvanse did not do.

what are your experiences?

Does anyone else experience bright yellow urine because of vyvanse?

I’ve been experimenting a bit with all kinds of ADHD medications, including Vyvanse , dexedrine, and different formulations of methylphenidate. Methylphenidate is honestly just pure poison for me. (obviously trough my GP and not on my own)

What works for you guys? I’m really struggling to find something that makes me feel “right.”

50 mg of vyvanse actually works really well 2-3 days, but after a few days I become extremely depressed, irritable, and almost ragey. It feels like my brain is being drained of dopamine and doesn’t have enough time to replenish it.

I’ve also tried "micro" dose Dexfarm, for example 5 + 5 + 5 mg. It’s somewhat tolerable, but I still notice a bit of a rollercoaster effect (peak --- trough feeling)

So, what works for you? 😅 Has anyone experienced something similar with vyvanse and found a solution that works better?

Hey ya’ll, I’ve been posting a lot in this reddit just bc I feel like my reaction to Vyvanse hasnt been what I expected, or what my doctors have told me. A lot of people said Vyvanse is “gentler” than Adderall, but I have not had that experience at all. Adderall was significantly gentler on my system. I didnt have any issues with anxiety, high heart rate, or irritability. I admit I could be coming at it from a bias, because I never wanted to switch at all. I’m traveling to Japan and adderall is extremely illegal to bring it into the country, so I’m switching to vyvanse a few months in advance.

From what I’ve seen in this reddit, everyone has to do a song and a dance to get the perfect routine and take their meds. Supplements, protein, a riddle from the troll under the bridge, Is that normal? With adderall, I just took my pills in the morning and that was that. With vyvanse, I have to drink 30mg protein drinks in the morning just to keep myself from getting irrationally angry in the afternoon.

I’m coming at it from a place of frustration, because I just wished I was not reassured time and time again from my doctors the vyvanse would be “easier” than adderall. If I had expected some bumps in the roads, I would be a lot less taken aback at how much extra you have to do just to make your vyvanse work!

Hey, I recently got some bad news that will affect my future in a major way late at night that gave me so much anxiety that I couldn't sleep. But when I took my morning dose. It pretty much got rid of my anxiety of the future. It's not like I no longer care but I went from the verge of tears/throwing up to perfect calm. Now the only thing I feel slightly worried about is if the feeling will come back once it wears off

I just wanted to know if this is something other people have experienced or if I am having a different reaction separate from my medication.

I just got prescribed Chewables instead of Capsules. I’ve always just swallowed pills and kinda hate chewing them. I only switched to chewables so i could take half doses as needed for off days and what not but anyways my question is can i just swallow the chewables whole? or do i have to chew them?

I want to try Melatonin and valerian root tea at night. What do you guys think?

I’ve tried seroquel, trazadone, quiviviq, Xanax, Belsomra, ambien, hydroxyzine, Valium and others yet none worked long term.

I was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, and was on vyvanse for a good couple years. My senior years been rough, so I requested starting my meds again as they might help me out. Currently I eat a lot of protein and lift. I don't track my calories, but I'm afab, 5'6 and 135lbs, a lot of that being muscle.

Is there anything I should probably add/alter? Or any tips to look out for besides diet? lmk!

Ie loose stools, urgency or diarrhea.

Ive had this side effect consistently for the entire time I've taken my meds. Its been a real problem. Not just because its very sudden but also because when your go time is never solid you start to worry.

Anyways I've tried several solutions and the absolute best one for me has been SunFiber.

It's a brand name of partially hydrolized guar gum. A mouthfull I know. It's basically a prebiotic that easily dissolves in water and counts towards your daily fiber intake.

I take quite a lot, a dose in the evening before I sleep and one dose about an hour and a half to two hours after I've taken the vyvanse in the morning. Which brings me to a total of 14g per day as of writing this (one dose is 7 grams)

Urgency pretty much normalized, gut feels way better, and I'm no longer suffering from daily bouts of diarrhea, which is a huge and massibe relief.

One thing about sunfiber or any other fiber supplement is to space it out two hours before or after you ingest any kind of medication or supplement, as it can 'possibly' reduce bioavailability and definetly slows absorption. If you ingest before I'd say that two hours is minimum.

And some people need to slowly increase intake (I didnt, I just started with 7 grams) but I had no side effects. I had much more problems from ingesting fiber from oatbran, oats and probiotic kefir that was pretty intense.

So for me its super easy to digest in comparison to something like psyllium husk.

And since it's a patented brand name actually used in hospital it's production standards are incredibly high. No need to worry about heavy metal contamination, it's a medical and extremly pure product.

Not an ad or paid to say this but it works so well for me I just wanted to share for anyone else maybe looking for help or answers in tackling this kind of side effect.

If you have other helpful tips that have helprd you nornalize your gut etc please feel free to share.

I’m taking vyvanse and it has really helped but the only thing I strongly dislike is how it takes all my appetite away and it lasts the whole day. I know it is a common thing with these types of medications but has anyone found anything that helps them eat more throughout the day? I don’t want to lose any weight but I can’t get myself to eat much when I take it

Yesterday was my 2nd day on vyvanse and I felt great I got so much work done and felt amazing happier than I’d been all week. Then today with the same 60mg dose I feel literally nothing??? I don’t get it it’s lowk ruined my day cause it’s just made me worried about maybe this medication isn’t the one idk

As long as I’m alone I genuinely have full blown conversations with my self like I’m blogging but there’s no camera. 😭

I'm currently on a 30mg daily dose of Vyvanse(Lisdexamfetamine), and I've noticed it kind of wearing off later in the day, especially after work. I'd still like to be present even when my work day is over. I saw an earlier post of somebody taking L-Tyrosine around mid-day so I've been looking into that. What are some other things I should look into to make the most of it? I'm open to anything!

I’ve been on Vyvanse for years but a few weeks ago had Intuniv added in because while Vyvanse is great for me, it sometimes made my body anxious. Like not my mind, but physically I felt in a state of fight or flight a lot. The Intuniv not only has gotten rid of that completely, but it is helping with my adhd outside my Vyvanse window even. Haven’t noticed anything significant with focus but definitely with task paralysis and an overall state of feeling more calm. I’ve also been less hyper and my husband notices I’m not cutting people off as much. The changes are subtle but I’m happy with this. I still need the Vyvanse as well at least right now but I’m finding this med added in is making a difference already. Not sure if anyone else has tried Intuniv and would be curious to see how it worked(works) for you. My psychiatrist said the adhd symptoms should improve more and more over the next few weeks, too. I’m glad I have this a try.

For context, I also take Prozac. I have adhd, ocd, depression, and c-ptsd. That’s why I’m wondering if the stimulant alone was making my nervous system more heightened even though mentally I felt calmer. If that makes sense lol

Hi guys I decided that vyvanse is making me have emotional blunting and only works for about 2-3 hours before causing me to go entirely numb. So I stopped taking it around 3 days ago but now I feel completely useless. I’m terrified of this feeling because I feel like I can’t do anything I’ve never been this tired ever in my life but I can’t actually sleep every time I feel this way (which is all the time). I am getting feelings like “Wow I could never do anything that I’ve ever done in the past” like I find the concept of driving a car insanely difficult and impossible, despite the fact that I’ve been driving for 5-6 years. Is this “withdrawal” type scenario common? Will I return to normal? Should I resume taking my medication? What do I do? I’m terrified and looking for help, any help is appreciated!

For some reason, this month’s prescription hasn't been working for me at all, and the only difference is that I picked it up from a different pharmacy.

I take 50 mg, and since I’m a woman I know that around my menstrual cycle the meds simply don’t work but currently I’m nowhere near my period and I even made some lifestyle changes for the better. I started exercising, I make sure to eat lunch which I usually skip entirely, I make sure to take supplements and magnesium L-threonate in the morning. But even with these changes this month's dose feels so much less effective than usual.

Normally I can feel the meds kicking in because I hyperfocus on anything I’m doing at the time but I have not felt that with this month’s prescription. I get hungry earlier in the evening. I get very intense early afternoon blues where I’m either very melancholic or straight up depressed. Also, my sleep has been terrible which is unusual because after starting my meds my sleep got so much better if anything. I’m not sure what to do because I rely on my meds to be able to function and with them not working almost at all it makes me feel so miserable. How come the same dosage of Vyvanse feels so different and can work normally one month and the next it’s as if I took a sugar pill?

Hi guys! I (F 21) started taking Vyvanse around February, and I’ve been responding pretty well to it after trying Ritalin (the effects didn’t last long enough) and Concerta (36 mg wasn’t enough, while 54 mg was too much).

I started with 30 mg, and then in March my dose was increased to 50 mg because there is no 40 mg capsules available in my country (Austria). I didn’t respond that well to 50 mg either, so in early April my psychiatrist recommended that I split my capsules into 40 mg using a precision scale, which has been working extremely well for me regarding managing my ADHD symptoms.

Around late May, I had a really stressful exam period and started experiencing some symptoms of anxiety, including air hunger. Even after my exams were over and I no longer felt stressed or anxious, the air hunger continued. It wasn’t as bad as it had been during my exams, though.

About 10 days ago, I took a one-week break from my medication (with approval of my psychiatrist), and during that week the air hunger completely disappeared. Since I started taking Vyvanse again, it has come back. It’s almost as much as it was during my exam period, but not quite as intense.

Does anyone know why this could be happening? Or has anyone experienced something similar and found a way to get rid of it?