Hello everyone,
I’ve been taking Elvanse since June 20th, ever since I received my ADHD diagnosis of inattentive type in April 2025. I’m in my mid-40s. I started with 20mg per day, and since July 8th, my doctor has prescribed 30mg per day.
The first two days of taking Elvanse were almost like an epiphany, because I never would have believed that life could be like this. I can’t remember being so balanced. Before, many things around me bothered me: loud noises, conversations, crowds of people, changes in my daily routine. In retrospect, however, I can’t say whether it was perhaps just a kind of honeymoon phase.
After the first two days, I felt that the effects of Elvanse were at least less noticeable. This worsened until I was prescribed a higher dose (30 mg) at my appointment with my doctor on July 8th.
Since then, I haven’t felt the same way I did after the first two doses of Elvanse.
I’ve noticed, however, that statements (e.g., from colleagues) that I know trigger me don’t affect me as much emotionally or even create a negative focus that’s very difficult to break out of.
So far, I’ve been taking Elvanse continuously since June 20th, but I don’t really feel any effect, or I’m not really aware of it.
Before Elvanse, I was constantly tired, and by tired, I mean that I had trouble keeping my eyes open during the day. For a long time, I couldn’t explain it. Neither could the doctors, until at some point, at the suggestion of a friend, I got diagnosed with ADxD. Now I explain it to myself as my coping mechanisms, which constantly drained my energy. This fatigue is far from there anymore.
My doctor has now increased my dosage to 40mg of Elvanse per day. I mean, I have my diagnosis in writing, and it was diagnosed in a proper procedure by a trained professional who also studied psychology. It involved several supervised sessions with questionnaires for me and people around me, several interviews, and an evaluation of my school reports. Nevertheless, I often wonder if I really have ADHD. If a person without ADHD took my Elvanse, they would certainly be like they were on cocaine. I, on the other hand, definitely don’t notice any overwhelming fatigue anymore.
Do people with ADHD often wonder whether they have ADHD or not? Do you sometimes doubt it too?
Edit:Typos
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Much of it sounds the same as me. I’m just 9 months ahead.
The effect of HOW it helps is a bit different for me, though.
I believe that especially initially, it gives a certain euphoria, similar to recreational stims like speed. And many patients feel like that is how it helps only, and that it stops working after a while. But what it is supposed to do, to regulate noradrenaline and dopamine in the prefrontal cortex, keeps working even after years - or so I’ve been told.
I think more focus should be put on how falling asleep was a primary symptom before. I can think of a couple of reasons: Comorbidity with something like narcolepsy, not enough sleep, or actual ADD symptom from sensory overload leading to tiredness or something. It will be hard to figure out whether Elvanse helps by keeping you awake, or if there is more to it. If it’s the former, I believe it’ll slowly fade over the next 6 months like high dose caffeine.
I did have the same problem before, but I realised I need naps. I have to work from home, because without my noon nap, things are bad. Often, I don’t even realise I need a nap; I just get cranky like a baby. My thoughts end up in a bad place, everything sucks and is wrong. It’s really a must for me. And I actually used to fall asleep at meetings or at my desk, no matter how bad it looked.
And I noticed that especially on Elvanse, I can’t trust myself. I lie down and close my eyes when I SHOULD feel tired based on what I did, not when I actually feel tired. Stims make it much harder to feel tiredness, exhaustion or hunger, but it’s super important to act as if I would feel it. This advice (from my doc) that was the biggest extra boost I got after getting the meds.
Oddly enough, I did use Modafinil, which is used against narcolepsy but also happens to work against ADHD, before I could get my hands on the good stuff.
So long story short, not sure if your situation is exactly the same, or very different. Chances are, I didn’t quite figure out mine yet either.
The more I think about it, you might be right.
I think that having difficulty noticing tiredness, exhaustion or hunger is a major symptom of ADHD. Do discuss this with your doctor, your dose might be not yet right.
Already done, and it was found to be a side effect of the medication. Not a problem unmedicated.