ADHD in college - Unmedicated for life, do I flip the switch and get an Rx?
For some context I have been diagnosed with ADHD since the age of 8, unmedicated due to both my parents and my own views on medication at an early age.
I’m now 18 and about to enter my freshman year at a semi-target school and I find myself in a situation where I think medication is the right way to finally have a clear mind. What advice do you all have in terms of medication? Should I just take adderall like everyone else or should I opt for something like Vyvanse or Ritalin?
I really struggled with math and science in high school and it took a lot of hard work (and help from friends to cheat)
College isn’t the same, and I refuse to cheat mindlessly and get caught.
Thanks in advance
have you taken any form of ADHD meds before?
I'm heavily biased and think Adderall use is way too prevalent, but can shed some light
I’ve never taken any medication for ADHD, I am also very wary of Adderall. Most doctors I’ve sat down with have pushed it like it’s a miracle, when in fact it’s not. I really just want something that can both accelerate and heighten my studies without severe mood altering effects.
I would get some from a friend and try it out.
if you do get a prescription, start with a low dose... like 10 or 20 mg.
have you tried coffee? it's a low grade stimulant that can get you to push through when you're tired
personally, I'd only use meds when you really need them
depends on the dose and whether you are taking extended release or not, but in the short term addy use makes you not eat (you literally have no motivation to eat) and not sleep (if you take it later in to the day). Can get lots of anxiety on the comedown too. Like 4 hours of productivity then rest of day feel like shit. Long term addy use can make you a zombie, need it to get out of bed, and have general dependence on it.
but that's just my experience, it's worked out for a lot of people. It all varies by person. Start with a low dose and see what works, try not to take it too much
Have you recently gotten diagnosed? Interested to hear the signs when ur an adult vs a kid.
I’ve been diagnosed since I was 8, back then I was much more hyperactive and caused trouble in school. Now it’s primarily inattentive behavior towards particular subjects I find no interest in.
Not sure if this is possible for you but I take it, but in more moderation like 2-3x per week for days where I just absolutely lock in
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i’m in somewhat of a different situation to you. I was diagnosed at 13 and have been medicated ever since.
I think it can be incredibly life changing particularly if your diagnosis is as bad as mine was.
In terms of medications, everyone’s different. I’m on ritalin, which works for me, but i know that’s not the case with everyone.
I previously tried vyvanse (on a trial prescription) which fucked me up (no appetite, overly emotional, can’t mix with alcohol as it makes you so very drunk after 2 beers). however some people i know have been very successful on vyvanse. Haven’t tried adderall as it’s not prescribed in Australia.
i would advise though, contrary to what others on this forum are saying, that you take the meds consistently and in line with the schedule that your physician/doctor gives you. there is going to be no long-term benefit for you if you take the meds as a study booster, and the impacts of being medicated go beyond just focus (less impulsive, generally calmer demeanour etc), which i’ve found really help me in an office environment.
Thanks. How do you feel while on Ritalin compared to when you aren’t? I just would like to gauge the effects if my doctor recommends it as an alternative to adderall. My main priority is that whatever I take helps me to really lock in on my studies, whether I’m interested in it or not, because that’s a major weakness and hindrance at the moment for me. It’s near impossible to focus and sit down and study even if it’s incredibly important like the night before an important midterm exam or paper, unless said exam or paper is interesting to me.
Again - this is a massive problem that needs to be resolved ASAP
it definitely helps with studying for things that you’re disinterested in, and just generally to be more ‘normal’ i guess?
If it’s a massive issue, definitely get it looked at. I think that you should just go with the choice your doctor recommends though. Hyper focusing on finding the perfect medication will paralyse you and cause you to always consider the grass greener with alternative solutions. The thing to remember is you’re not really meant to ‘notice’ it working if that makes sense. Ideally you’ll get habituated to it and you won’t feel a rush, but you will be able to focus and concentrate as well as any other person with your level of competence and intelligence. It certainly isn’t a magic bullet solution to all problems, but it does help immensely.
As someone who also got medicated freshman yr of college, yes absolutely get medicated it is a life changer. personally I'd ask doc to start with a low dose of addy (10mgs) and honestly wouldn't really recommend going up much further than that? but that's obviously btwn you and your doctor.
also, don't like the idea of using it as a "study booster" like others have suggested. if you don't take it on vacation or something, that's one thing, but it's best when used regularly.
As someone who has ADHD it is never a reason to cheat. Anything anyone can do you can do, it just takes a different type and amount of prep. If you want to take meds go for it but I took Ritalin and hated it as I was not even close to my normal self. With that said, if your finding yourself cheating do not blame it on ADHD but YOUR lack of drive to actually want to do well.
I can personally relate, unmedicated till second year of uni when I hopped on Adderall. My adhd is quite bad and within 1.5 months they had me work up to 30mg of Adderall everyday. This honestly change my life for the better and the worst. I excelled in school and my average shot up about 10%. On the other hand, my anxiety went through the roof and my social life suffered. After a year of 30mg, I finally decided to reduce it back to 5mg. I don't think it's as effective but I'm not anxious anymore and my social life is back to normal. I highly recommend taking meds if you ACTUALLY need it, I do agree with others that it's often misdiagnosed. Keep the dose low and don't become too dependent on it.
Been through this and I’ve done extensive research…
Feel free to PM me, happy to help
A student at a semi target with a script here. Recently medicated. Here's my 2 cents.
Stimulants are pretty much a cheat code for locking in and getting work done. The problem is that when you take them everyday, you'll build a heavy dependency and tolerance to them, and will perform worse than baseline when unmedicated. They are also inherently unhealthy for your heart (they put your CNS in overdrive).
I'd suggest taking it on an as needed basis, not everyday. Like studying, an important exam, or a job interview, etc. This will help keep the affect potent.
I've tried all different types of ADHD meds. Here's my opinion:
Ritalin helps you focus the best.
Adderall gives you the most energy.
And Vyvanse is like Adderall but longer lasting and longer to kick in.
All will still help you focus and give you energy, this is just a relative basis.
ADHD meds are a double edged sword. Think of them like coffee/caffeine. Use it everyday and you'll become addicted.
Why don’t you just get a prescription and try school for the first few weeks / months without it. If you need it, then you take it.
That being said, it can take a while to find the right type / dose of medication, so maybe you’d want to trial it first.
Also, what’s your major? I ask because I was unmedicated till my late 20s and never struggled with advanced math or science.
ADHD helps you focus, but if you simply struggle to get concepts and are in a concept-heavy major, it might be better to just change your major. The medication doesn’t help with that
I started at 2.5mg per day, doc just recommended progressing to 2.5mg twice a day, starting below 10mg is viable too. My scrip is for daily use, but I prefer a different system:
high protein, mid carbs, low fat diet (be careful with Postmates). Ashwagandha and D3 in the morning. Cold brew coffee/espressos as needed. Make sure to exercise every day. I used to lift 6x a week but switched to running because I can get the same calming effect with half the time spent. Listening to repetitive music/brown noise helps with staying on task, as does a standing desk.
Absolutely no alcohol, nicotine or marijuana.
Finally, if I'm feeling particularly shit that day, I will use the meds. Usually ends up being 1 or 2 times a week.
It only took me a couple months to figure this out. I highly recommend getting your diet and exercise in check first, that is a non-negotiable. Then, control the substance intake. Finally, experiment with the other stuff.
Managing this is all about creating a system for yourself that you can rely on. Sticking to the regimen may feel like an uphill battle at first, but you will end up loving the structure.
Dx my senior year of HS and started Vyvanse in college after barely getting into my semi-target (for reference, I had a 3.2 GPA and a ~1510). Game-changer academically and helped me bag insane internships / awards. I think I knew I could handle the work, but always procrastinated. As crazy as it sounds, I think getting a script helped me learn how to study and set goals. Also only took it 2-3x a week and never on holidays to let the effect reset.
After bagging an IB offer in the spring, I stopped using the script. Rawdogged my MF internship this summer without anything and did great—I just need constant deadlines to perform. Honestly, my ADHD is a big reason why I wanted to be in IB. I always perform my best at the last-minute and love repetitive work lol
As someone with ADD, I can tell you that if you learn to harness your energy, it can be really powerful. That said, I’ve known several adults that started taking it in college, for one they were working long hours in consulting and taking Adderall during the day and then chasing it with Xanax at night to sleep and relieve anxiety. It’s really not a healthy cycle. Others that I know that still take it, they sort of lose their spark and personality. One thing that works for me, and I would imagine others would agree, is hitting the gym hard or running. If I can wear myself out in the gym it can get some of that excess energy out (I’m a morning gym guy) and I also use that kinetic time to mentally organize my day and my thoughts. Things seem to come easier during the day, plus all the health and good physique benefits.
What’s up man. I’m in the same boat (college student w/ ADHD). I was hesitant to take any medication, but I started taking Vyvanse my sophomore year and it changed my life. It’s not a one size fits all, and different medicines work for different people, but I cannot explain how much it helped me or how much it has changed my life for the better. I get frustrated that I didn’t start taking it earlier. I would highly highly recommend at least trying it out and seeing if it is for you. Hope that helps. Happy to answer any questions if you need.
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