The Long-term Effects of ADHD Medication

[@Randy_Batswinger]

Read in an ADDitude magazine medication guide that vitamin C an hour before and/or an hour after taking ADHD meds can compromise its efficacy. Assume that includes multi vitamins and fruit at breakfast time. I'm avoiding both till later in the day to see if that's better.

[@ollieedward643]

Thanks for sharing! Didn't know that!

[@kristafb1]

I've been on Vyvanse for almost a month after beind diagnosed with ADHD at 57 years of age. Immediately after starting meds I noticed a lot of stiffness in my joints, especially my knees. I do have osteoarthritis in my knees so I'm used to some stiffness but it literally felt like I had been walking for miles the day before. I could barely walk the second day on the meds. Also felt stiffness in my low back/ s.i.joints. This being said I feel so much better over all I'll take the good with the bad at this point. I'm only on 20mg right now. I see the doctor next week & I'm hoping he'll put the dose up becase I'm not finding the 20 is lasting me for the full day, I get really tired in the afternoons. But the clarity I feel in my head & just generally feeling 'normal' is amazing. Its like everything in my life suddenly makes sense.

[@PSG81]

I'm experiencing Low back pain, 2 years on Concerta. Mid 30's

[@seannakelly]

Thank you my 12 year old sons 2nd day today. I have watched your videos and you have helped this momma bear.

[@ollieedward643]

So glad to hear that! Good luck to him

[@daschelroderickson5236]

Thanks so much for this. You're definitely not alone. My doctor told me to measure my expectations in the beginning, but I couldn't help but hope that I could go on and achieve the impossible. I don't think that I could ever go back to the way I was pre-meds, but I've had to come to terms with my limitations. Realising these limitations might make you feel stupid, but it only feels that way in comparison to the boundless possibilities we had in our heads at the beginning. The reality is that we do still have a disability, but you're still achieving so much, which is pretty frick'n awesome. Meds-effectiveness can be hard to gauge. They don't work well when I don't sleep. I've also found that my capacity to focus and complete tasks can often come at the cost of self-care (burn out). All the best mate.

[@ollieedward643]

I think you're spot on! Thanks so much. Take care my friend

[@matthew_asmr1857]

No offense, but nothing helps when you don’t sleep.

[@gSWG3R]

Are you finding yourself tensing or holding more muscle tension when on medication? Higher doses of dexedrine cause me to clench my jaw more, and of course, it feels stiff for a few days after. You may just be holding more muscle tension without being conscious about it. Personally, my back injury has felt better since i started meds... not sure why, might just be a placebo, or coincide with my improved mood. We do know that chronic pain is influenced by our mood. Anyway, glad I found your channel... I'm a 28 year old male psychologist, diagnosed 3 weeks ago. Glad to see other fellas being open about these topics.

[@richardmarshall159]

Thanks

[@beautifulheart3849]

So glad to hear your medication is working overall, and well done on your change of career. Very best wishes for your future.

[@ollieedward643]

That's really kind of you, thank you!

[@lukecurnow8868]

Thanks for your vids man. I recently got diagnosed then went on ritlin. had one week really good. one week really bad. very depressed and didnt' want to live which was not normal for me at all. just starting the same med your on and found your vids helpful. Thank you.

[@mattheweames-br4sl]

love to see you back olly im second year nursing and felt exactly the same on this elvanse journey! good to see others in hospitals with the same feelings

[@ollieedward643]

One more year to go, Matthew! We've got this haha

[@אלדרעמר-צ1ק]

Hey Ollie, thank you for sharing that’s brilliant

[@ollieedward643]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@reeceweinberg-ff6ic]

Thanks for the Video Ollie. I’ve recently started on Vyvanse 30mg, so far enjoying the drug a lot, will likely step up to 50mg in my second month as I’ve noticed the 30mg effect seems to dissipate too early in the evening for me. Did you ever increase from 50mg when you increased your dose 2 years back? Also regarding your anxiety, have you ever considered taking Wellbutrin along with your Vyvanse? Might be something to look into with your psychiatrist. Anyway thanks again for the update 👌🏽

[@ollieedward643]

Hi. I dont remember whether i increased further than 50mg, but i knew when i went above 40mg that the increase was unnecessary. I have considered adding something else in for anxiety buy decided against it, my anxiety is manageable! Cheers!

[@aa-sto]

Thank you for this, really insightful and I totally relate. I have noticed an issue stiffness in my lower back since starting the medication, but not sure if linked. Im still on Elvanse and have the 10mg Amfexa in the afternoon and it really does make a difference. Anxiety still an issue, but I do have GAD. Notice it if I've had a coffee sugary food. I have a prescription for 10mg Propanalol as and when needed, and totally helps tackle that anxiety flutters. Medication benefits are outweighing my negatives now. I can function far better, and it's totally tackled the impulsiveness and binge eating. Lost 16kg since December. Keep going and thanks again 👍🏻

[@ollieedward643]

Thank for sharing, Aaron! Glad to hear you're doing well, keep smashing it!

[@daelynthgames]

Hi. I started Elvanse 30mg today. To help with jitters and anxiety I take l-theanine. For clarity, I was diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depression and take 20mg of Escitalopram prior to my ADHD diagnosis. L-theanine gives a bit of calmness and a gentle focus.

[@ollieedward643]

Glad to hear it!

[@JC-ts5ii]

I get the muscle stiffness on it even before my spinal injury but after it was 10x worse, so probably a mix of both the med and injury in conjunction. (For reference on vyvanse with as needed Dexedrine boosters)

[@kermitt2000]

welcome back dude!

[@ollieedward643]

Thanks!

[@beckytk133]

I find your videos so helpful, I started watching them when I was about to be put on meds back in Feb. I came off of Elvanse 50mg last week and even though I was only on it for 4 months, I’ve felt like a zombie while unmedicated in the last week. I have a really stiff body but especially my back, neck and shoulders (I do have problems there which is why it’s worse) but definitely agree with the stiffness. I found it wasn’t working anymore for me and the cons were outweighing the pros. I had really bad side effects on the Elvanse, tactile hallucinations, feeling like bugs were crawling on me, and then a visual hallucination last Thursday. Came off them straight away and it’s completely stopped since I’ve come off. But what you said about the effects wearing off and anxiety raising when you’re not using them properly like having little sleep probably played a big part with me. I was on little to no sleep and was really stressed at the time but my general mental health was declining fast. It seems so obvious now but you’ve made me realise the way I was living my life on them wasn’t safe. I lost 2 stone went from a size 10 to a 6, didn’t eat or sleep much and drank coffee. I feel really annoyed with myself for doing that but just didn’t realise it at the time. It’s my first day on concerta xl today and it seems much more levelled out and smoother for me than the Elvanse did!

[@ollieedward643]

Thanks Becky, so glad the videos are helpful! Really pleased to hear Concerta seems to be having a better effect for you compared with Elvanse, long may that continue!

[@MegaTripsy]

Yes muscle aches/stiffness, I am female though so, that might always be to do with hormones reduction. Definitely coincides with starting Elvanse though

[@richardlongmore9301]

I have that stiffness in my arms and legs with my adhd it’s got worse over time. I’m 47 now and haven’t ever had any meds So might not be to do with the meds

[@ollieedward643]

Do you notice it being worse any time of day? Does it coincide with an old injury? Or is it quite generalised

[@MegaTripsy]

@@ollieedward643 actually thinking about it, mornings is often worse. It's not correlated to any injury that I know of, just generalized and is joints and muscles. I can't really pinpoint the reason. It's an odd one.

[@ollieedward643]

​@@MegaTripsy Ah, okay!

[@LucyLucy296]

It's so good to see you again😊

[@ollieedward643]

Thanks, Lucy! It's good to be back

[@Ryan-ud9fk]

Hey Ollie! Do you still use the email in the description? I sent you one and just wondering if you got it, thanks!

[@chloegem2734]

Yes one year in and the muscle pain and stiffness got so bad from vyvanse that I had to come off it. I am now on methylphenidate and there is no muscle pain on it, it’s completely gone I’ve also started exercising again which i stopped on vyvanse due to muscle pain

[@ollieedward643]

Thanks, Chloe. Ill keep that in mind, although, i have tried Methylphenidate and it didnt work well for me - perhaps something else will!

[@clearheart2658]

I had the muscle stiffness and found taking magnesium supplements resolved it

[@ollieedward643]

Oh, thats interesting! Thank you

[@zerosilver87]

I get muscle stiffness and aching on Elvanse, worse as the medication is wearing off

[@ollieedward643]

Definitely the same for me! Late afternoon i notice it getting worse. I assumed it was just the day taking its toll

[@Icipher4]

Thanks for the video. How much do you notice the medication affecting your heart rate even without coffee?

[@ollieedward643]

Good question.. maybe slightly? Nothin too drastic in terms of measurable increases, but subjectively it felt like it was stronger/faster

[@richardlongmore9301]

Really interesting listening to you. I’m 47 and just getting diagnosed soon hopefully and will start meds soon. I suddenly shut down. Walked out of my job and haven’t left my room for 18 months. It’s been like life handed me a prison sentence 😢

[@ollieedward643]

Really sorry to hear this, Richard. I wish you all the best for the future and hope the medication can get you back on your feet again.

[@linam.9675]

i have a question., have you looked into autism?

[@ollieedward643]

I have looked into it previously but I've never had a medical professional suggest I fit the criteria.

[@Mr.User_7]

So handsome 😍

[@matthew_asmr1857]

One of the most surprising effects methylphenidate has on me, is that it made pains and stiffnesses that i had for years just vanish within a day. That said it was quite the opposite experience for me. I’m still at the beginning of it all, so we’ll see where it takes me. It’s just frightening to feel how life is for most of the people and how simple most parts of it can really be. I wish that will stay like this for a while. Although it’s kind of boring too. I catch myself sometimes missing the emotional rollercoaster i was used to. However, i think people need to realize that they’re still human, even on medication. You need days off. You need time to enjoy yourself and others. You need weekends. You need proper sleep. You haven’t turned into robocop just because you tool a pill. And you shouldn’t want that. Life is not just working and achieving. Have some lazy fun everyone! EDIT: I’ve tried Elvanse for a few days, too. It made me horribly tense in the neck and shoulders, also my inner monologue just stopped. Had to quit it after 4 days.