Debating ADHD Medication: To Take or Not to Take?

Medication, specifically Adderall has been a lifesaver for me

I have a different perspective, I had been misdiagnosed for years and had been taking mood medication that didnt work for years. I understand how frustrating medication can be, but I am very hopeful for stimulant medications to work for me because it is really all I have left. And I will happily take medication everyday if it means I do not have to live the way that I am living right now. Having ADHD & ASD is so taxing

I got diagnosed at 25 but then didn’t start meds for a little over a test later because of internalized ableism that made me feel like it was wrong. I regret it so much. They don’t take away every hurdle I have with my ADHD but they absolutely help and my life would have been so much easier (and I absolutely would have been able to accomplish more) if I was medicated earlier.

I can definitely sympathize. I am pretty stubbornly opposed to most allopathic medications. I wasn’t always - I used to take a bunch of different prescription medications (benzodiazepines, hypnotics, anti hypertensive drugs, Topamax, birth control for endo, etc.) everyday but my various issues just kept getting worse. I had a terrible reaction to several types of antidepressants, and that *really* turned me off to psych meds (plus I often felt very trapped and gaslit by medical professionals which I cannot stand). I have bad ADHD (on top of OCD, which doctors always want to hurl SSRIs at) and have come to the reluctant realization that my ADHD at least probably warrants medication. I’m not entirely medication-averse, since I take Orilissa and Gabapentin every day. I’m also a daily consumer of medical cannabis. So, I made an appointment to at least talk about ADHD medications with a doctor. I’ve already researched all of them quite extensively, but I want to see which they would even want to consider for a 29 year old recently diagnosed woman with my relatively unique psych history. There’s a definite possibility that I will decline medication, but I want to at least explore the option. Maybe you could benefit from something like that, like just talking about the options?

I was diagnosed at age 8 and have taken many different kinds of ADHD medications over the past 15 years. From my experience they definitely work, but it comes at a price. For some the side effects are mild and the positively outweigh the negatives of the drug. For me, the side effects are severe and would prevent me from living a normal life if taken every day. I still do take stimulant ADHD medication occasionally if I really need it. I would recommend giving it a try and seeing if you like it. It could improve your life a lot, and if you don’t like it you could take it occasionally (for certain kinds) or try something natural

I was recently diagnosed at 27 and have been put on Adderall. It’s helped a lot with my focus and actually being able to get things done.

I wasn't diagnosed until I was 23 and was put on strattera. It works great for me and even helps with my autism associated echocalia. I also smoke weed too though which helps me actually relax