I’ve always been ADHD (autistic too), and have tried many ways to overcome it. However, solutions like body-doubling aren’t always accessible. I tried atomoxetine recently, and it help immensely for the first 4 days, then somewhat for 2 weeks, but eventually had no noticeable helpful impact. I finally got prescribed methylphenidate a few weeks ago, and picked up the script yesterday. Since I started taking it this morning, I have worked on sooo so many things I have been neglecting and even went to the dog park for fun rather than as a chore. Is this what NTs feel like all the time? Just able to decide what they are going to work on and actually put it into action without needing someone else around or the guilt of letting others down?? No wonder they rule the world! lol
But seriously, for those of you that have tried methylphenidate, what was your experience? Did it continue to help weeks later? Did it work better if you took it routinely or as needed? Any other comments or tips?
For me personally I prefer taking smaller doses of the instant release as needed instead of the slow release capsules, gives me more control of the effect.
I don’t know what dosage you’re on but I’ve tried a wide gamut and one of the things I disliked about being on a higher dose slow release was the heart palpitations it gave me, combined with the very common loss of appetite. Nothing medically serious apparently but it felt uncomfortable.
If you’re prone to hyperfocus uncontrollably (as I am) then be warned that for me at least Methylphenidate can often exaggerate this problem which can be troublesome, so keep an eye on that.
Thanks for the tip! Me too, so I’ll definitely keep an eye out for that. 🧐