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
I just took my first pill and now I’m Superman
I wrote this a while ago for people who are feeling like you. I’ll copy it below so you don’t have to follow the link but it might be worth checking out the discussions in the comments.
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Just a word of warning to everyone just starting their meds. This euphoria you're feeling in your first week or even month isn't going to last. You're high right now because of all the new chemicals that haven't become the norm yet.
This will eventually calm down and that's completely normal, it doesn't mean you need to rush to up your dose or switch meds (I'm not saying don't do these things as recommended by your doc).
Make the most out of this time but don't kick yourself if you're not as productive a month from now when the high is gone and your energy levels get closer to normal.
The more profound effect of the meds will still be there to help you focus and function but feeling the pill kick in like a rocket up your arse won't. The crazy unending motivation to be productive won't either and that's on you to keep up when the high dies down. Use this time to change some of your habits and build a routine that will last.
Another thing to remember as this all normalises in your brain is that you will feel more ADHD than you ever have when you don't take your meds. When you find yourself having forgotten to take your pill or taking a break from it, that isn't how you were before you started your meds, it's all super exaggerated. Brain fog will be 110% cumulonimbus, you'll likely not have the focus to pay attention to a 10 minute youtube video and you may want to eat a planet. Don't start thinking this was how you were before meds and treat the meds like a crutch because that's not what they're there for.
They help with focus and that's all they should do.
If you catch yourself wanting to take more than you should to get that high back then stop and have a long hard think about it before you do because that's a slippery slope to substance abuse.
It honestly winds me up that this sub upvotes all the "I just took my first pill and now I'm superman" posts. That's not how this works and it doesn't last.
Neurotypical people don't leap out of bed every morning thinking they're going to conquer the world in 10 minutes flat. That's just the initial high and we should warn people about it.
Your description sums up my experience quite well. I have been on Concerta for 5 months now 54mg + 18mg at lunch). In the beginning I felt like I could do "Everything, everywhere, all at once".
Now it has mellowed out a lot and I can even say I feel more affected by my AD(H)D on meds. But I know that is because the medication is helping in some aspects and some aspects alone and doesn't fix everything.
I have a greater ability to focus on the things I actually need to focus on (with some deviation of course), and the best part is that it heightens my mood level. Instead of waking up and being at a -5 I feel like i am more baselined with the medication. A baseline that actually makes me want to do things instead of just feeling that everything is an unclimbable mountain.