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Originally Posted by laurajames22 Hi. I just found this site.

Do you ever have some days where the ADHD medication doesn't work as well as others (include the name of med) ?
Mine seems to work every day, at least the stimulant (Vyvanse).

What other medications have you tried to treat the ADHD, and if so, what works and what doesn't?
Wellbutrin -- quite helpful but didn't get me to where I wanted to be.
Vyvanse -- I added this to the Wellbutrin (decreasing the dose), and this combo works very well for me.

Does the medication for ADHD you take have any noticeable side effects, and how does it feel when it wears off and leaves your system?
Wellbutrin -- at 300 mg/day, I developed a tremor in my hands. Fine motor tasks such as turning the pages of a book could be really hard. Thank goodness I'm not a surgeon. I am now down to 150 mg/day, and the tremor is improved somewhat but is sometimes still problematic. I have not been able to tell if the tremor is worse when my body is low in Wellbutrin (withdrawal?) or when the Wellbutrin is high. I also was very energetic when I first started taking it, but this wore off.
Vyvanse -- no bad side effects whatsoever. Very smooth, no sense of coming on or off of the drug. Is supposed to last up to 14 hours. It is so smooth I find myself unable to time its effects. A great side effect is it keeps me from falling asleep during the day. I had a real problem with that, no matter how early I went to bed, and I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat during the day, and often did. Sometimes I would fall asleep at driving (while at stop lights). I would use the pause in driving to catch some winks. Oddly, I also dream during these brief nod-offs. My PNP says I may have a form of narcolepsy (minus the cataplexy) and stimulants are a treatment for that, so that is great. I found that by accident. I just love being able to get through the whole day without falling asleep. It's a miracle!

How long does the beneficial response to the medication last?
Wellbutrin -- I don't think it really wears off if you take it every day. It becomes stable in your system.
Vyvanse -- It lasts a long time, I'm not sure how long. I don't feel it wearing off. It is supposed to last up to 14 hours, which is significantly longer than Adderall XR. On my prescription plan, it is also a lot cheaper than Adderall XR.

What other treatment strategies (including alternative and psychotherapy) have you tried that works/helps?
I have read some self-help books on strategies for coping, focusing, organizing, etc. I have not tried psychotherapy for ADHD.