Debating ADHD Medication: To Take or Not to Take?

It depends. Everyone's situation is different. Severity is different. I wasn't diagnosed till recently. I'm 28 now. I struggled all my life not knowing why. When I found out why when I was studying nursing, I struggled to get clinically diagnosed. I was misdiagnosed alot. I was also told I was lazy. I gave up on myself after that. When I decided that I was going to change, I struggled to find a doctor in network who is available that specializes in adhd. So while I searched for that, I started trying everything I could to manage while not on medication. I researched and studied about adhd more than I have studied in general in my life. I ended testing alot of things and some worked and some didn't. It was hard though to keep up with all of it and as much as I wanted to do everything. I couldn't manage it. I ended finding a doctor and a counselor and got diagnosed and medicated. It helped me. Plus it was easier because I had strategies and tools that I used before medication that got easier to do with medication. For me it was a combination of the years of effort and counseling and medication that helped me. Even my doctor told me that it's necessary to have other methods and counseling to manage adhd and sometimes medication is needed as well to help us along but it's not necessary for everyone. For me as a nurse, I prefer to try all other methods possible before going to medication. I don't like relying 100% on medication because that's not how medication works. I could take my adhd meds and lay on my couch. They will still help with symptoms (like internal monologue and fidgeting for me)but some things we need to find ways to manage. I use alot of apps to help my day to day life. Habit tracking, calendars on my phone, smartwatch, Google assistant etc are life savers for me.

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?

First of all, ditch the idea that needing to take meds every day to feel good or "normal" is bad. It's rooted in ableism and not productive. If your doctor thinks you would benefit from it, give it a try. It may not work and you may be better off without meds, but you're never gonna know if you won't try any medication. You need to do what's best for you, and someday that's gonna involve taking medication every single day. When was the last time you saw an old person who wasn't on medication of some sort? Caffeine can help in the meantime but I strongly urge you to reconsider your stance on meds

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