I take generic Ritalin on specific days when I really need to focus on a single brain-intensive task, and though the effects are subtle (after the first time, I don’t *feel* anything when I take it) it definitely does help me focus.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
This is a mixed bag going to say this out of the gate, “Speak to your provider about options, there’s no medicine for autism”,
There are meds for depression, adhd, what seems like ocd and also ocd.
Wait what? Well some autistic tendencies aren’t ocd, they are preferences, that yes can look obsessions. Some can suffer from ocd. Again talk to provider. It’s much easier if you can.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Thanks for responding.
I didn't think there were meds specifically for Autism. Your post aligns with this knowledge. I've read, on Mastodon, about people with ADHD finding benefit from meds. But some people are both Autistic and ADHD. I was asking for those who are both, and who take meds for ADHD, what their experience was.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Yes for adhd they help me, and my partner! I don’t want to get into specifics. But I can say my system is so sensative, any my partners is as well. We are even manufacture, specific for what works. Since this is an international forum. Only some medicines manufacturers are available. I’m in the United States. We are both audhd. But many 🧐 caveats to this. 🛑 Many precautions.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Some of these things need to be talked about very personally with them with risks and how a provider and the client, familiarizes themselves with this back and forth. I advise getting a fitness tracker. Check Keep provider up to date etc. these are all very personal choices. Some are habit forming, etc. this is why I stress education and collaboration with physicians!
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
YES. HELL YES. GET YOU SOME MEDS!!!!
Being both vs just ADHD doesn't seem to have any impact on the effectiveness of the drugs. Also, there's a current hypothesis (needs more study) that they're actually just different aspects of the same thing. The fact that the drugs don't have any different effect if you have both seems to support this.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
re taking vyvanse on days you need to focus and the effects being subtle: I can't speak to vyvanse as I take adderall BUT there are 2 things to note
1. adderall has a half-life. it's less effective if you only take it "as needed" you want to build up to whatever your dosage level is and maintain that.
2. what i feel is subtle. What my wife observes is NOT. It does more than you can see from the inside.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
I never got a chance to type the third part: We both take AD,IR, 1/3 dose at 6-7, second about 11:00, and 3:00. Name Brand. Yes I agree about the schedule at least the first 3 months until your system is consistent. If your schedule allows you could do this is as little as a month. My partner tried to do the I’ll take it when I need it. Made symptom’s worse. Plus it’s easier with a baseline.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
This is just our schedule because our dose breaks down easy. If I were on a lesser mg, I would do twice a day. It took them almost 😅 5 months to get a consistency down. They don’t like taking medicine. Keep in mind they are 34, and this is the first time they can think clearly. It sometimes causes drowsiness at first for us, sometimes after the second dose. Try to keep a journal.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Keeping a journal will allow you to look back with confidence. There are method for our madness. Trying to remember if you took your meds. So then you go without kills your schedule. Then you also have hyper focus time travel to where you wolnt be able to tell. So it’s good to have something hard to say, here how I took my meds, here’s how it works.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Keep in mind you have to do what works for you for as well. Typically going to be speaking to your provider. If you’re putting the time into doing this. You may as well make it easier on yourself. Remember to be kind, to yourself. Take breaks when you need them. Remember to eat and drink water. Those are super important. Like a plane taking off without fuel imho.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
@actuallyautistic I was diagnosed with #adhd 6 years before I was diagnosed with #autism so I do take meds. I am very sensitive to stimulants (all kinds, including coffee and tea), so I take a relatively low dose. It does increase my tendency to get overstimulated a bit, but not to the the point that it erases the benefits of being able to function and have a quieter mind while on the meds.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Thank you for sharing. Would you say the "quieter mind" specifically allows/supports focus, or is it more emotional regulation? The reason why I ask is most talk about enhanced focus (coupled with a stimulant effect) but a few people mention achieving more emotional equilibrium from them. It is the second benefit that intrigues me. (I'm inquiring to see if it's worth exploring this with my doctor.)
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
It's a mixed bag for me. The meds mostly provide better focus for boring tasks and "activation energy" (ability to get off the couch to start doing the thing). But they also bring down the number of things running around in my head at one time. That in itself helps to keep overwhelm at bay -- although the effect is slightly dimished by the subtle anxious energy the meds can cause.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
In addition to my stimulant, I also take the non-stimulant clonidine. It's one of those drugs that sometimes works for adhd.. but in far far fewer people than stimulants. For me, it tones down the anxiety (it's actually often given to very hyperactive children for it's calming effect). So adding something like that might? be a good choice for those of us with AuDHD.. although I only have my only annecdata.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Yup, clonidine and guanfacine are both alpha agonists that sometimes can have good effect for ADHD and autism, especially for those with rejection sensitivity which is the reason why I began guanfacine about a year ago.
@actuallyautistic I've had two very different experiences with ADHD meds. Stimulants didn't do anything until I reached the kind of doses that also came with bad side effects, and we ended up dropping them pretty soon. I'm now on atomoxetine (Strattera etc), and while the effects weren't imminent -- it typically takes a few weeks to see results -- and it took me a while to pinpoint the difference, it really has helped me, especially with focus and emotional regulation.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both autistic and ADHD
That said, it's a very individual experience, based on what I've seen. My AuDHD colleague tested a few different meds and none of them had any effect, while my best friend is testing her third stimulant without yet finding one that didn't cause overwhelming side effects. Non-stimulants are also rarely tried before stimulants are out of question. Really, the only way to know is to try it yourself.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both autistic and ADHD
I appreciate you taking the time to provide both of your responses. Hearing success stories, regardless of how long it took to find the right fit, is encouraging to me. Thank you.🙏🏽
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Thanks for sharing. I'm glad it is working well. I appreciate you sharing details. If/When I seek a medical practitioner for this, it helps to have an understanding of the different meds being used and what is helping others, within specific contexts. 🙏🏽
Basically the situation with ADHD is that stimulant meds work the vast vast majority of the time, work immediately, and work dramatically.
And issues or not, try both (there's basically two families of stimulant medications for ADHD). Usually one will work better for someone than the other. And if you have issues with one, the other will probably work just fine.
I'm on Straterra myself because I can't access the stimulant medications at this time. It helps but barely, the only reason I can even really tell is because one area of my job is significantly affected by ADHD and it's slightly better performance when the medication is working (stimulant meds on the other hand I notice the impact in all tasks and am incredible at that part of my job)
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
@actuallyautistic I and my children are all in this boat. I'm taking Intuniv which helps to some degree. At least one of my children is on Concerta which helps quite a bit. The side effects are something to be careful of though. Many can cause depression or anxiety.
Content warning: re: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
If I may ask, how long have you been on the meds journey. And even if you have not found the right one, has there been an overall improvement in the quality of your life?
Content warning: re: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Sure. I've been trying different brands and dosages since the summer. When it works, it's fantastic! I am able to focus, be more present and the days seem longer because my attention is not scattered all over the place.
Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
@actuallyautistic methylphenidate IR every day — if no one needs meetings, i can keep myself in a flow state for several hours pretty reliably can’t look at adderall, it makes my nerves fray
Karawynn Long 🦊✍🏻🏳️🌈😷♿
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
@actuallyautistic
I take generic Ritalin on specific days when I really need to focus on a single brain-intensive task, and though the effects are subtle (after the first time, I don’t *feel* anything when I take it) it definitely does help me focus.
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Karawynn Long 🦊✍🏻🏳️🌈😷♿ • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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Everyday.Human Derek
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
This is a mixed bag going to say this out of the gate,
“Speak to your provider about options, there’s no medicine for autism”,
There are meds for depression, adhd, what seems like ocd and also ocd.
Wait what?
Well some autistic tendencies aren’t ocd, they are preferences, that yes can look obsessions.
Some can suffer from ocd.
Again talk to provider.
It’s much easier if you can.
ActuallyAutistic group reshared this.
MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Everyday.Human Derek • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Thanks for responding.
I didn't think there were meds specifically for Autism. Your post aligns with this knowledge.
I've read, on Mastodon, about people with ADHD finding benefit from meds.
But some people are both Autistic and ADHD. I was asking for those who are both, and who take meds for ADHD, what their experience was.
ActuallyAutistic group reshared this.
Everyday.Human Derek
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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Everyday.Human Derek
in reply to Everyday.Human Derek • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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masukomi
in reply to Karawynn Long 🦊✍🏻🏳️🌈😷♿ • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
YES. HELL YES. GET YOU SOME MEDS!!!!
Being both vs just ADHD doesn't seem to have any impact on the effectiveness of the drugs. Also, there's a current hypothesis (needs more study) that they're actually just different aspects of the same thing. The fact that the drugs don't have any different effect if you have both seems to support this.
1/2
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masukomi
in reply to masukomi • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
re taking vyvanse on days you need to focus and the effects being subtle: I can't speak to vyvanse as I take adderall BUT there are 2 things to note
1. adderall has a half-life. it's less effective if you only take it "as needed" you want to build up to whatever your dosage level is and maintain that.
2. what i feel is subtle. What my wife observes is NOT. It does more than you can see from the inside.
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to masukomi • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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Everyday.Human Derek
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Yes I agree about the schedule at least the first 3 months until your system is consistent. If your schedule allows you could do this is as little as a month. My partner tried to do the I’ll take it when I need it. Made symptom’s worse. Plus it’s easier with a baseline.
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Everyday.Human Derek
in reply to Everyday.Human Derek • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
It sometimes causes drowsiness at first for us, sometimes after the second dose. Try to keep a journal.
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Everyday.Human Derek
in reply to Everyday.Human Derek • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
So it’s good to have something hard to say, here how I took my meds, here’s how it works.
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Everyday.Human Derek
in reply to Everyday.Human Derek • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Everyday.Human Derek • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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Zumbador
in reply to Everyday.Human Derek • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
@EVDHmn
Seconding the journal idea.
Or if it works better for you, a symptom-tracker app like Bearable or Moodly.
It can be surprisingly difficult to remember how you're doing over time.
Try to limit how many things you track (sleep quality? Digestive issues? Mood? etc) otherwise you get more noise than signal.
Pick like, 2 things that seem the most significant.
@actuallyautistic
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🍵 holly
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to 🍵 holly • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
The reason why I ask is most talk about enhanced focus (coupled with a stimulant effect) but a few people mention achieving more emotional equilibrium from them. It is the second benefit that intrigues me.
(I'm inquiring to see if it's worth exploring this with my doctor.)
ActuallyAutistic group reshared this.
🍵 holly
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to 🍵 holly • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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🍵 holly
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to 🍵 holly • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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Izabela, Soon Again A Runner
in reply to 🍵 holly • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Yup, clonidine and guanfacine are both alpha agonists that sometimes can have good effect for ADHD and autism, especially for those with rejection sensitivity which is the reason why I began guanfacine about a year ago.
It's helped me with anxiety as well.
ActuallyAutistic group reshared this.
MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Izabela, Soon Again A Runner • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
Thank you for adding that. I have rejection sensitivity (RS). In fact, I'd say that my internal dialog is almost always related to (RS). 🙏🏽
I wrote the post not expecting much, but thinking, "why not ask?". Now I'm feeling pretty hopeful I might be able to find support from meds.
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Emile Oivanki (they/them)
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •ActuallyAutistic group reshared this.
Emile Oivanki (they/them)
in reply to Emile Oivanki (they/them) • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Emile Oivanki (they/them) • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Emile Oivanki (they/them) • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both autistic and ADHD
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Autistic Innovator :Aro: :ace:
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
@actuallyautistic I take Strattera. It's a non-stimulant ADHD med.
I can't take a stimulant because the stimulant and my other med would cancel each other out, and I don't want that.
Strattera works really well. My brain is super slow without it and it speeds up my brain processing.
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Autistic Innovator :Aro: :ace: • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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Shiri Bailem
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
@MooMoo the Cat @Autistic Innovator :ace: :Aro: If you have the option for stimulant meds: take it.
Basically the situation with ADHD is that stimulant meds work the vast vast majority of the time, work immediately, and work dramatically.
And issues or not, try both (there's basically two families of stimulant medications for ADHD). Usually one will work better for someone than the other. And if you have issues with one, the other will probably work just fine.
I'm on Straterra myself because I can't access the stimulant medications at this time. It helps but barely, the only reason I can even really tell is because one area of my job is significantly affected by ADHD and it's slightly better performance when the medication is working (stimulant meds on the other hand I notice the impact in all tasks and am incredible at that part of my job)
Luna Dragofelis ΘΔ moved to @LunaDragofelis@buff.tomboyfan.club likes this.
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Shiri Bailem • • •Mike is Kinda Tired
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Mike is Kinda Tired • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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Manuel Correia
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: re: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to Manuel Correia • • •Content warning: re: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
If I may ask, how long have you been on the meds journey. And even if you have not found the right one, has there been an overall improvement in the quality of your life?
Thanks in advance for considering my question.
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Manuel Correia
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: re: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
When it works, it's fantastic! I am able to focus, be more present and the days seem longer because my attention is not scattered all over the place.
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MooMoo the Cat
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@jacquiharper
in reply to MooMoo the Cat • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
can’t look at adderall, it makes my nerves fray
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MooMoo the Cat
in reply to @jacquiharper • • •Content warning: Question about meds for people both Autistic and ADHD
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