Please help, advice needed. Sometimes med works, sometimes not.

[KIM]

Hi all,

Is this “normal”? I was officially diagnosed with ADD 3 months ago and placed on Vyvanse (tried Modafinil in the past, which helped slightly, but then stopped working for focus. Straterra worked for about two days and then quit working). I am now on 40 mg of Vyvanse per day. Sometimes it’s as if the medicine does not work at all, and then other days, like today, it works beautifully and I am able to focus and be my optimum self. I’m a vegetarian that normally lives on carbs. I’ve tried taking the medicine on an empty stomach, and now I think that those are the days that it doesn’t seem work well. Today, I took it after I ate breakfast, and did not even do my usual 2 1/2 mile walk yet. I feel great! I just walked into my messy office and simply made a list of what needed to be sorted, and I’m working on it now, and I feel productive today. I’m a 56 year old female, if that helps you to know. Caffeine intake is the same from day to day.

I was just wondering – do others have similar experiences? I wonder and hope, if the medicine sometimes does not help my focus, that perhaps I don’t have ADD. However, I doubt that’s it, as it was an extensive workup.

Thanks so much.

[Penny Williams]

Keep a journal of your sleep, food, drink and supplements for a week or two and note which days are not as good in your journal as well. Many things can reduce the efficacy of your medication from one day to the next. Citric acid found in citrus and in soda compromise the amphetamines and should not be ingested within at least an hour of taking your medication. A big difference in sleep from one day to the next could be the culprit. You have to put on your detective cap and figure out what’s different about the days it doesn’t work as well.

11 Steps to Prescribing and Using ADHD Medication Effectively

5 Rules for Using ADHD Medications Effectively

Penny
ADDitude Community Moderator, Parenting ADHD Coach & Author, Mom to teen w/ ADHD, LDs, and autism

[KIM]

Thanks, Penny! I started doing that today. I never realized there would be so much variance from day to day.

I also wanted to compliment you on the way you write. It’s very cogent, and I found your posts always easy to follow. 🙂

Thanks!

Kim

[usernon]

I have found a few apps that I love and they help me to get more organized and I find them fun to use, so it literally seems to be helping me to enjoy getting things done and pushing myself a little harder, and they seem to be helping me to clear my head.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.recettetek

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.android.app.notes

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.cleanfox.android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.applay.glabels

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northstar.gratitude

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dissiapps.mylinks.mylinks

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sec.android.app.clockpackage

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wb.receipts

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tasks.android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.buzzfeed.tasty

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.headcode.ourgroceries

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.usefulapp.timelybills

I haven’t yet tried the bills app or the receipt app, but I have all the other apps and they have helped me immensely. As far as the gratitude app, it’s very motivational to watch the good stuff build up, and it makes you want to push a little harder to try and add more to it and it literally changes the way you think. Gratitude lists have helped me immensely with ADD.

[KIM]

Thank you! I love apps and I will try these. I use the Forest app (where you build trees when you work on projects) which is great also. I find that the problem now for me is just my bad habits and fear of failure, so the apps will help, I think.
Thanks again.

[33YrsADHDandCounting]

Hi,

Medication, especially for myself having been medicated since I was 14 years old has been a huge issue. I do believe that these days doctors do like to try slow release medication as i think it is because it is less addictive than dexamphetamine or ritalin. It is really trial and error in the beginning. I do know that Neurofeedback (biofeedback) therapy has been more beneficial in my recovery combined with medication, particularly as at 14 years of age I was considered to be a late stage diagnosis.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes from Sydney, Australia xoxo

[KIM]

Thank you! I’m going to work on the biofeedback. I appreciate your input.

[Author]

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