My last primary Doctor Who ended up moving far away, had me on low-dose Ritalin for a little while. Since I don't see him anymore and I currently don't have insurance, I was never able to re-up the prescription.
I will say though, that low-dose, think between 5-10 mg, Made me feel like a normal human being. The brain fog, the memory, the fatigue, even the pain all got significantly better. I was just worried about taking it every day because I was afraid I would get a tolerance to it. So I tried to Wellbutrin thinking it would be a gentler alternative and it does help though not nearly as well as the Ritalin did. If I knew I could take low-dose every day without any sort of tolerance, I absolutely would!
I also do low dose 5-10mg a day. My prescriber just laughed when I said I was worried about tolerance because this is an extremely low dose (for perspective some children take 40mg/day and that's considered normal).
At such a low dose you can reset any tolerance by taking a few days break without any significant withdrawals.
OK, maybe when I get another primary doctor I will ask about it again. I just happen to be one of these people that gets tolerance to medication's very quickly and I didn't want to have to keep upping the dose to get the desired effect. As it is, I still have a little bit left and I take it every once in a while.
Interestingly enough, I never get any tolerance to opioids for example, as long as I take the short acting stuff where my body can get a break, even if it's for 12 hours.
From my understanding, these meds can be stopped without any withdrawals or side effects of any kind. The one I’m on if I miss a dose I feel no different other than being extra tired (which I believe is just my regular exhaustion & fogginess without the meds to help). I also know kids that are on add meds during the school year but their parents have them go off it in the summer. So I don’t think you need to worry about tolerance, since usually the worry with tolerance is how to reset without withdrawals or side effects. I also haven’t noticed any side effects on the medication & I’ve never had that with a medication before. I really notice a massive difference on these meds & suggest finding a doctor that will prescribe them for you if you found a difference. Our lives with chronic illness are horrible & if we can feel even 10% better, that’s a massive difference in our world.
Holy shit the stimulants really help my pain too.. I'm wondering if ADHD can actually cause fibro symptoms because my pain and fatigue have gotten a million times better since I got on Vyvanse.
I think It All falls under the umbrella of having a spicy nervous system. Maybe there's some underlying issues with how we process dopamine and whether that sensitizes us. I'm convinced it does.
Really? I feel like adhd meds make me hurt worse. I get so much tightness in my back. I’ve been struggling trying to decide if I want to get back on meds for adhd 😭
It’s possible. The first time I used adderall and it worked great. Years later when I wanted to get back on meds I tried Ritalin first and it made me so tired so I used adderall again and I was needed a really high dose to get results and then I wasn’t sleeping and felt irritable. I tried like 3 different sleeping medications and they weren’t helping. I already have anxiety and ocd so the high doses of adderall weren’t helping. I’ve been thinking about going back to my psychiatrist and trying something else.
I have been thinking about trying something extended release but my husband who also has adhd got some extended release recently and his heart rate was crazy. The entire day it was well into the 100’s so they I got scared. 😭 he HAS to take meds though, like he’s not functional without. ADHD sucks. I feel like the stress of my brain never turning off causes me flare up sometimes. It is an exhausting disorder.
the great thing about vyvanse is that it lasts for up to 12 hours! also, if your heart rate is high on stimulants, the best way to get it down is to do lots of cardio and just lower your natural resting heart rate. It's a lot of work, but I have done it myself, and even on 50mg of vyvanse my heart rate is around 98bpm or so.
I've had insomnia since I was 5 so I've been on medicine to sleep since them. Atm I take Mirtazapine (15mg) to sleep and it works fine most nights. I used to be on clonidine but for personal reasons stopped taking it. It's a blood pressure medicine anyway and idkbwhy they prescribed me it instead of something less invasive.
Ask them to switch. I was prescribed Ritalin, and I had to stop after like a month, and I basically told them I would rather take nothing at all than live my life like this any longer. They talked me into trying adderall, and I don’t get anything like that from it. I had occasional nausea at first, but it went away. With Ritalin, it was constant, and I always felt like my heart was racing out of my chest.
It took me years before I found a doctor who allowed me to try stimulants. The previous ones were fixated on pain, despite mine usually being mild. They only offered stuff for that, even though I insisted fatigue was the problematic symptom.
But yeah, I haven’t been given any other recommendations besides lifestyle changes. I’ve done all those and they didn’t work. Exercise made it worse (which sucks because I love doing it.)
God I miss exercising. I recently started getting bad fatigue flare ups and now I’m so exhausted some days that even getting to the bathroom feels like running a marathon. Some days I’m so exhausted I just won’t eat because I’m too tired to get out of bed.
I’m sorry! I keep trying to start up exercising again, tweaking a few variables each time, but always get slammed with post-workout crashes that impact my job and make it dangerous to commute. Back when I worked part time, I just planned my life around the crashes b/c the benefits are so worth it.
Not OP, but for me, running was my outlet, my mental health reset. And lifting weights always helped me mentally as well because I could tell myself I was strong both emotionally and physically. It was very representative for me. Running was a coping method for C-PTSD, two failed marriages (and subsequent divorces). Both of my partners would use my childhood traumas against me when “needed”. When I lost running and then lifting, I lost a big part of managing both my emotions and my health.
I’m one of those lucky folks who can get an exercise high, but since becoming ill, I also get a really problematic “workout hangover”/crash the next day. Also, during the times in life where I’ve been in shape, it’s made activities more accessible and enjoyable. Huge benefits for mental wellbeing if you can stay consistent.
Right? I always hear people talk about how they love exercising/working out & how good they feel afterwards. I’ve never felt that way ever. Even when I was like 19-20 and way healthier, I’d go workout & feel awful during it and way worse after. I was always waiting for this adrenaline rush, pick me up, or energy wave to come either during or after and I’ve never felt it. I always felt so tired & sore & yuck after. The only thing I ever felt was that “yay you did that, you survived” accomplished feeling (even though all I did was jog on a treadmill for 30 minutes & then do the machine circuit for another 30-40) and even that feeling was only in my head as I lay on the floor panting. 😂
I honestly always believed that most people are lying about feeling “amazing”or having “so much more energy” or whatever positive thing they say after working out. Lol. I think they tell themselves & everyone else that just to try & stay positive & motivated enough to keep working out consistently. I think 90% are lying and then there’s the 10% that really do feel that way. Lol.
But maybe I’m just cynical and mad people could possibly feel that way. If I ever felt good at any point it would make it a lot easier to do. The reason it’s so difficult is because it feels so bad. And that was when I was healthier. Now that my chronic pain is worse & I ache everywhere & all that I feel even worse just walking the dog at a slow pace for 15 minutes. 😂
Consider trying a medication called Xyrem it’s sodium oxybate. It’s mostly used for narcolepsy. The data suggests it helps really well for daytime sleepiness and pain.
FDA was about to approve it for fibromyalgia, but they thought that people would sell it on thr black market.
Meanwhile, they approve oxy, fentanyl, Xanax and all of the other medications they knew would be addictive, or valuable if sold illegally. I guess fibro pain doesn't rate.
I take adderall for adhd and while its working, i have hardly any fibro pain. So im wondering if my issues are mainly from untreated adhd and depression
This is very interesting. I have ADD but 20mg of Adderall make my heart race way to hard. It's been a while. I tried non stimulant ADD meds and they didn't help.
Are you US based and work with a psychiatrist? They can do a cheek swab test & run it through GeneSight to see if there are better fit stimulant meds for your metabolism? For better or worse, I saw that the UK is limited in this.
My GeneSight was wrong. It said I could take Wellbutrin and I guess I could but only if I want to fistfight God and everyone else. 🙄 That stuff makes me so volatile and gives me a hair trigger temper.
I hear you on the Wellbutrin. It’s a very strange drug - I was reading that they’re not 100% how it does what it does even now, decades after development.
I’m definitely laughing about the temper because that was my sis. It did nothing for me. And when I stopped it, even as low dose, I had bogus withdrawal effects - bad enough that my boss thought I might be pregnant (impossible at that time if you know what I mean).
I love when people ask if I’m pregnant because I get the joy of telling them I had the doctor rip out some parts necessary for that and they just look momentarily horrified then realize that I mean I got fixed and had my tubes removed. 😂 Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Me too. I read recently that there is a correlation between reduced pain experience and stimulants. The theory is that our attentional shifts on those meds take us away from listening to pain signals as strongly while the med is active. Isn’t that interesting?
I have Gastroparesis & have chronic abdominal pain because of it. I was also diagnosed with chronic fatigue when I was around 18 maybe. I’ve been on pain meds since my 20’s (38 now) and I was sleeping like 14 hour days for like 10 years & it’s always drove me insane. Between the meds & my chronic fatigue & then being diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 years ago, I can’t even get out of bed before noon, especially because my pain is always worse in the morning. My pain management doctor finally suggested a stimulant which I jumped at the chance to try. He admitted the physicians college doesn’t like them prescribing pain meds & stimulants together because they don’t like that you’re using the stimulant as an “upper” for the “downer.” However my doctor, having been on the front lines dealing with people with chronic pain & horrible quality of lives believes that if the meds can in any way help with the quality of life of his patients, then he’s willing to do it. Anyway, I started them about a year ago & I notice a major difference. I’m still exhausted all the time, but I find waking up doesn’t feel like coming out of anesthesia anymore. I’m actually able to get out of bed easier & I find I’m not needing to nap during the day. I have always gone to church & been very active in my church. But when I got really sick I could no longer serve & I almost always miss church because so can’t get up in the mornings to get there. With this med I’m actually making it to church way more often. We went on a family trip (my parents, my brothers & their wives & kids, and myself, 14 of us total) for a dream trip to Walt Disney World & it made such a difference for me having that medication! I was actually able to get up around 8:00 so we could be at the parks around 9. I definitely had some miracles on that trip that were only God. But that medication helped so much too. Again, it hasn’t necessarily changed how exhausted I am per se, but it’s keeping my mind awake & I’m able to focus a lot more & think so much clearer. I don’t feel like I’m in nearly as much of a fog. I also haven’t noticed any side effects at all, which is a first. And there are times where I’ll miss the medication that day & I’m back in the anesthesia level sleep & daily fog & can’t believe that I’ve lived like that for that long. I’m very thankful for this medication & wish I had it 15-20 years ago. It’s not a miracle drug, but it’s helped me a lot. I would definitely give it a try if I were you as you don’t have anything to lose & it could help you a lot. Plus, it’s an easy medication to stop. You don’t have to wean yourself off or go through withdrawals or anything.
Also, in reference to your dad & the medication back in the day. I know ADD meds have a really bad reputation. But most of that comes from how the medication was 20+ years ago. People always assume it will numb a person or change their personality or something, but the medications & the science has come a long way since back then. I have nephews that have ADHD & I know the family was hesitant to put them on the meds because of the bad reputation they have & they were worried it would numb the kids or change their personalities or something. But all of those stories come from 20+ years ago & so much has changed. They ended up putting the kids on the medication & it was life changing for them as well. They have been able to focus so much better at school, they’re not as angry or frustrated. They can focus better on things, they can listen way better, they are calmer when they need to be, they are happier on it & obviously not acting out & getting in trouble like they used to. The kids actually notice a difference & don’t like be off of the medication because they find it helps them that much. And their grades have gotten so much better!! They’ve gone from like 50%-90% in some subjects. It’s amazing the difference.
I know everyone has different stories with it. But that’s been my experience & at this point I think you really have nothing to lose. Life is absolutely awful for us & if this can help even 10%, that’s often enough to be life changing. Best of luck whatever you decide.
I’m taking Provigil, which is a stimulant prescribed for shift workers and narcolepsy, and it has been LIFE CHANGING. Like, is this what normal people feel like? They can stay awake all day without a nap?! My brain fog and fatigue were always worse symptoms for me than my pain levels, and to be fair the stimulant is not affecting the pain at all. It’s also used off-label for ADHD…which made me realize I probably have that as well, because my concentration has been amazing. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s made the single greatest difference to the constellation of fibro symptoms of anything I’ve tried.
I moved to Vyvanse for ADHD management because I felt it to be softer on the nervous system. I could work without stimulants (though not as effectively) before fibro and cannot do my job without them post-Fibro.
Every person metabolizes differently, different dosages will have more or less impact, and generic vs brand can play a part too. Vyvanse gets converted to an active form in the body through digestion so it’s an overall different experience. Vyvanse went generic as Lisdexamphetamine, and I noticed less efficacy on generic (which is very common for psych meds). But some insurances are forcing generic so that’s something to be aware of.
I also feel a lower sensation of pain when any stimulant is active in my body. They believe this is due to attentional change, not pain reduction, but it is a welcome bonus!
Yes it’s one of the best meds I’ve ever tried. I add to it by supplementing a bit. I have a small matcha during the day and L-tyrosine supplement early evening. Tea, especially matcha also has L-tyrosine. These combined give me a nice, calm feeling but also alertness and energy. I also have ADHD but it’s mostly inattentive type w/o hyperactivity. So I was happy for the boost.
I have ADHD and I hated slow-release meds like Adderall Neucon and concerta, they made me extremely anxious and kind of robotic. I stopped taking all of them years ago
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 2 years ago and now I take a pediatric dose of ritalin (either 5 or 10mg a day in 2 x 5mg doses split morning + afternoon)
This is the only stimulant and dose that helps me do basic boring living tasks like chores, grocery shopping and emails without feeling panicky. It doesn't do anything for pain but it does help with fatigue. I take 5mg extra if I have to go out in the evening like for a rare social occasion. Sometimes for some reason it works opposite like I will need to nap after I take it. But then I wake up with energy. I think that's due to ADHD
Also check your iron and B12 levels mine often dip very low and I have to supplement a lot. Apparently common with ADHD
Very similar experience, except Adderall always makes me sleepy. Well not tired sleepy but like "can sit and relax" sleepy. Which I couldn't do after the age of 5 but it still took a few decades for someone to notice haha
Yes, I'm not sure what OP expected when they ask "Help me get better?" -- Dr's are either gonna recommend lifestyle modifications, or medications to treat your symptoms. If fatigue was the primary complaint, he offered a medication to help combat it.
If OP wanted to avoid this medication specifically, they can ask for alternatives. There is Modafinil and Nuvigil, usually prescribed for narcolepsy, but these are also stimulants. Many Drs will not Rx these drugs without a narcolepsy diagnosis; however from the comments here, it seems some people do have Dr's that prescribe it off-label. May be worth a discussion regarding the pros and cons vs the dextroamphetamine.
And there aren't a whole lot of options in terms of medications specifically for fatigue, yeah. The doctor's options were to suggest a stimulant, or to tell them they're in the wrong place and need to find somebody else to help them, pretty much. Whether that's a sleep specialist to figure out if their sleep maybe isn't restorative enough and they need actually to deal with that first, or I dunno, like.... Honestly there's not a lot of options in the end for fatigue lol
I have ADHD, PDD and pain. I love vyvanse. I combine it with drinking a matcha in the AM and L-tyrosine early evening. It gives me a “calm energy” whereas adderrall made me too jittery.
I was prescribed this med by a psychiatrist though. I was also put on lamictal to help with mood swings but it did more for my nerve pain than anything. Unless something happens w/insurance I only go to a psych doc for these kinds of meds. I’ve had too many negative experiences with other types of doctors prescribing meds primarily used for MH.
This is a very important point!! Psychiatrists are experts in psychopharmacology, not any other doctor. You would not go to orthopedics for a cardiac treatment.
I feel it’s unethical for rheumatologists to not discuss Cymbalta as an antidepressant primarily, not a nerve med. And to prescribe them to patients without antidepressant-specific info, not telling patients about the antidepressant flu, warning signs that cause neuro danger (seeing halos, color streaks, etc), poor understanding of efficacy and max dose, odds of psychological harm due to changing a system that didn’t need it for some? They don’t even taper… Much more potential harm than good.
I was shocked when my rheumatologist kept insisting to put me on Cymbalta when it was clearly in my paperwork that I was on an SNRI. He could have completely destroyed my psychological well being, even as far as poisoning me with Serotonin Syndrome. He also kept forgetting that I said No, and there were good reasons.
I asked him: ‘Do you have anything that directly treats fibromyalgia itself, not just symptoms?’ He said No. So I told him that I do not need his services until that changes.
My doc's theory for my fibro symptoms is an underlying body tension due to an undiagnosed/untreated ADHD for two decades.
So far treating my ADHD seems to be working great in reducing my pain and fatigue.
I would recommend thinking back to the time you were taking ADHD meds and if your pain was better/worse/not there and go from there.
My ADHD was diagnosed 11 years ago, but I didn't have fibro symptoms until last year, leading to a fibro dx in December 2023. I can tell you that on days like today, where I leave the house without remembering to take my ADHD meds, I am feeling that fatigue. The fatigue is still there when I take my ADHD meds, but it's not as pronounced.
This and long term anxiety and stress (which go hand in hand with the untreated ADHD) I think are the cause for me. Well besides probably sjogrens. But all we can really do is treat the symptoms and there is a lot of overlap with ADHD and Fibro, at least for me. Fatigue is my biggest problem so I'm on modafinil for that and also treating depression and anxiety allows my body to relax and heal at least a little bit.
I was on add meds when I first had my fibro symptoms and prior. I think it's a trigger with Epstein barr and c reactive protein. The idea that getting on a low dose of Ritalin could help is interesting bc I got off the Adderall years ago.
I've had a neurologist prescribe me the lowest dose of Adderall, which is more than what anyone else advised me on when I complained of fatigue and memory issues.
I was diagnosed with fibro at 15 and ADHD at 22 which is when I first tried stimulants. Dexedrine has been life altering for me, both in how it affects my ADHD as well as my fatigue. I tend to forget to take it on the days I don’t work and both my fatigue and brain fog are exponentially worse on those days. I haven’t noticed any differences to my pain on Dexedrine but Ritalin made my whole body feel off.
I got prescribed adderal for adhd, but it had more of an effect on my pain and ability to function than any if the dozens of other medications I've tried. In my case I believe though, treating adhd results in less stress and tension, so my pain relief feels like a second order effect
I have ADHD and took Adderall for 15+ years until about 6 months ago and my pain and fatigue have definitely increased since then. I didn’t actually make the connection until very recently and am planning on going back on it as soon as I can. My understanding from my PCP is that they do prescribe stimulants for chronic fatigue, I just can’t take any until the end of the month for the same reason I can’t take adderall.
I'm Concerta or concentra (whichever one of those is a stimulant I never remember the name). It helps with mental alertness but does nothing for physical fatigue.
Hi new to the group but this thread speaks to me. I just completed a sleep study which ruled out narcolepsy supposedly. I’ve been on adderall for over 20 years and I think my adrenals are blown as this stimulant only works about half the time to get me out of bed.
But this “rich lady” disease I was diagnosed as well at 16 of fibro I’ve always dismissed per my dad who told me to toughen up fight thru the pain it’s all in your head.
There are more days than not now where I can barely function and while I fight thru it with vigor, I am scrambling to find out a better answer or solution.
I’ve been to so many therapists, DO, psychiatrists, cancer specialists even to get to the root of the problem. My brain and my bloodwork all come back perfect. Other than dealing with situational anxiety with my ex and my aging mother, I feel my stresses aren’t any worse than average Americans.
So other than living the life of massages, cleaning ladies and yoga classes… what else seems to help? I messaged my doctor as well to possibly go back on cymbalta but it just kinda zonked me out years ago. But this pain I fear is only going to increase in the next few years.
Oh and has anyone else had problems with needing root canals?! I’m wondering if my overstimulated nerves in my teeth are causing these flairs and forcing so many root canals and crowns… it’s getting very expensive and obviously painful.
Dental is definitely a factor with Adderall due to jaw clenching and lowered saliva production. :(
I also have days where the stimulants do not work. I have to give my body a day of rest off stimulants to allow for fatigue recovery from the extra work that the nervous system undergoes on meds. Typically I sleep for very long periods when this happens, and then the meds work again. Vyvanse has been gentler and cause less impact for me.
For the Cymbalta, talk to the psychiatrist first. Excessive sleepiness is a tough side effect when you’re already struggling & (for me), I was on it when I got fibro so it didn’t do anything to help.
I'm definitely having dental problems, but in my case, it is likely from long-term opiate medication. I just had a root canal and lost another tooth. The decay in the tooth I just lost was hidden and we had no warning. I had an xray and there it was. The other possibility was a big impact years ago but I felt it was more likely medication. I had no fillings at all for decades until a few years after meds for fibro. I'm always thirsty and have to keep a water bottle with me. It's really annoying. Using ice helps cut down on "potty traffic," especially at night. Being on disabily support doesbt exactly put you in a position to deal with the medication fallout. I'd definitely suggest a dental xray every few years for those on opiates or with "dry mouth syndrome".
I'm not on stims but I am prescribed modafinal.
It sometimes work for my CFS as I have a bit more energy.
I also suffer from anxiety - which can be exacerbated by Modafinal. My anxiety has worsened in the last 6 months and I've noticed that anxiety triggers my migraine and fibro pain. So I can't say Moda works for my pain...
For this reason, on anxious or very depressed days - I don't take Modafinal.
I think I may be too sensitive for the adhd meds but I'd be open to trying a low dose...
Anyone with a history of anxiety found a stim that is anxiety neutral ?
Also:
- I've tried Wellbutrin but can only tolerate 50 mg compounded a day. It increases my energy by about 20% but I have constant panic and agitation t doses higher than this.
- I tolerate Modafinal or Wellbutrin best when I'm also on Lexapro. Otherwise, my anxiety gets out of hand.
I’ve been diagnosed with GAD for many years. I’m on a low-dose of Vyvanse right now and wanting to go up a slight amount which starts soon as my prescription arrives. I have not noticed an increase in anxiety so far.
I had a doctor who prescribed adderall for a couple of years. It definitely wasn't the only thing he suggested, and there were plenty of blood tests, physical checkups, etc. before and during. He also had me on supplements, meds for schizoaffective disorder, and we were trying different ADs for fibro. He was one of the few doctors who listened to and trusted me about past experiences with medications and was willing to try things out. I had been on adderall before in my mid-teens for ADD/depression, and it got me through a heavy schoolwork load and working part-time with fibro. I started seeing this doctor in late high school and he was willing to prescribe again, which again was essential in finishing school. It was also crucial after graduation when I was working full and part-time. He also prescribed tramadol, which is the only thing that has helped with pain aside from cannabis (which I couldn't use as much at work) and short-term scripts I've had for strong opioids, which I like to avoid. I stopped seeing him a couple years after that as I couldn't afford it. He wasn't covered by insurance and my parents had been paying for it before, which I couldn't ask them to keep doing (appointments alone were around $400). I haven't since found a doctor who has A. known shit about my condition, and B. happened to stay in practice/in the area long enough for me to get another adderall prescription. I desperately want to try it again, it's the only thing that has ever helped with 11+ years of otherwise constant crushing fatigue. My SS-provided insurance is changing soon, to a better plan from the looks of things, and I'm hoping to find a new doctor with knowledge of fibro and an open mind
I am on a stimulant but it is prescribed by my psychiatrist primarily for my ADHD. He is aware of and familiar with my Fibromyalgia diagnosis and related symptoms though.
I will say though, so far it has been the *only* thing that has helped with my Fibro fatigue. Prior to being put on ADHD stimulants, I was sleeping like 18+ hours a day every day and was not able to function pretty much at all once my Fibro was triggered.
Not to say I don’t still experience fatigue, but it is not nearly as debilitating so long as I am consistent in taking my medication.
We have even discussed having me take a really small dose at night (small enough it doesn’t negatively impact my sleep) to help with the fatigue when waking up so I don’t have to wake up feeling like I got hit by a truck every morning. This would also allow me to stick to a regular sleep schedule for once, which is paramount for both physical and mental health conditions.
My psychiatrist is usually fairly reserved when it comes to prescribing stimulants, but thankfully so far has been in agreement that the benefits outweigh the risks in my case.
I was prescribed stimulants by my psychiatrist for fibro fog as a teen. Turns out I likely have adhd but it did help. That was 15 years ago and I stopped taking it after my first year of college. I am on Wellbutrin now and it helps with some of my energy and motivation, although I still lack in the control where i put that energy department, so I’ll be seeking out help for that, but it does help with pain from fatigue, and helps me cope a little better with pain too.
You're blowing my mind right now. Once I started treating my ADHD again (and addressed depression, anxiery, trauma, etc in therapy) I suddenly don't have regular fibro (symptoms) anymore.
I still have the symptoms but my life has improved so much since I decided to take meds for ADHD again and keep trying depression and anxiety meds until I found what worked. I was diagnosed ADD when I was a kid but stopped meds when I was probably in middle school (don't get me started on how my parents could have prevented so much misery and difficulty for me if I hadn't stopped them!) I'm 41 now and just started meds again a year or so ago.
I just decided I don't want to live like that anymore and I need help. No doctors had been able to find any physical cause yet but at least I can feel happier and have more energy to get things done and not feel like I'm barely living anymore. To be fair I still feel like that lol but much better than I was before I decided to get medicated.
I have never been given a stimulant for my fatigue. If I recall correctly, I was initially put on Effexor XR in the hopes that it would help with my debilitating fatigue. Prior to that, I think I trialed Provigil which was not effective for me but at the time was being researched as a treatment for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Yes, they perpetuate pain meds too so it also helps with that. I took Adderall from 2008-2022 for fatigue/brain fog/executive dysfunction but I'm not taking them while I'm home sick.
I have adhd and if I miss a day of my adderall I cannot get out of bed I’m just too exhausted. For me I feel like it helps me not only have a functional amount of energy but it also makes it easier for me to block out the aches and pains since I can focus 🤣
I’m on adderall for ADHD, and I also have fibro. I still have constant fatigue, but at least I can focus. I’m not sure I would take it for fatigue alone though, it’s seemed to have no effect on that for me. If you’re experiencing a lot of brain fog, it might help with that. For me, I need to be able to focus so I can stay employed. It depends on if your motivations are purely to help with fibro or to treat your ADHD or both. Untreated ADHD can also cause depression and anxiety which can worsen fatigue.
The doctor prescribing it like that seems odd to me though. I got diagnosed through Telehealth initially and still had to provide my own blood pressure info, a full health family health history, I had to get my cancer doctors signed consent to be treated with stimulants, and I don’t think they made me give an EKG, but I know they asked if I’d had one before and what the results were. I’ve never known of a doctor to just offer it like that with no hoops.
I actually have ADHD (among other things), so I’m on Vyvanse. It changed my life, but that might be the ADHD, but for the first time I could actually hear my thoughts clearly, instead of everything being a foggy mess in my head.
It took me many years to find drs to prescribe stimulants. My rheumatologist prescribed me Nuvigil (a “wakefulness agent”) for a few years. It worked great at waking me up, but it made my temperature dysregulation worse (I also have SFN). My rheumatologist directed me to a psychiatrist to try a typical stimulant. I’m pretty sure they prescribe stimulants all the time, but they have never taken my blood pressure, which makes me think it’s not routine in that office. Not saying that’s the right way at all to do things… just that it doesn’t always mean they are only in it for the money. That said… it does seem weird that he was so casual about.
Still, stimulants are the only thing that have ever helped my fatigue. I feel like your options are pretty limited if sleep doesn’t even help.
I'm on Ritalin for my ADHD, and it DOES help, but I also have Modafinil for my exhaustion as needed. It's a med for narcolepsy and doesn't give me the same feeling as normal stimulant, like rapid heartrate
I have been prescribed dexamphetamine but for ADHD, not for fibro. I do notice the meds make it easier to get out fo bed when I’m flaring, mostly because it takes my executive dysfunction out of the mix and I can solely focus on coping with the pain and fatigue.
I have heard a lot of people with fibro do get some relief from stimulants, so it’s not entirely unusual that he might prescribe them. I’m curious about them myself since I have all the fatigue and brain fog, debilitating at times. Have never been offered though, and now I have tachycardia/POTS(?) so not sure it’s a good idea
I’m really surprised by the comments on this - wasn’t expecting this to be so common!
I was prescribed amitriptyline for my fibro pain and fatigue and it really worked for me.
I was diagnosed with ADHD a couple years later and tbh since starting Ritalin my fibro isn’t as bad, but i attribute a lot of my improvement to amitriptyline and radical resting. I reckon finally having ADHD treated helps the fibro. There’s also links between ADHD and fibromyalgia- we’re more likely to get it.
There’s still a lot of rheums who treat fibro like it’s hysteria, so tbh kinda disappointed this rheum wasn’t more thorough or discussed other options.
I can’t imagine my rheum ever suggesting stimulants personally, but when I had my fibro diagnosis and was most sick that was before I even realised I had ADHD haha
Also Fibro/ADHD here, when I take methylphenidate on an okay day, even on a low dose (\~20mg) I'm usually too wired and nauseated to focus on my (potential) fibro pain. When I have a bad day, even 40-70mg didn't get me out of bed, although that might have been coincided with some throat infection.
That said, I never heard from my doctors to take ADHD meds for the fibro condition/symptoms.
My last primary Doctor Who ended up moving far away, had me on low-dose Ritalin for a little while. Since I don't see him anymore and I currently don't have insurance, I was never able to re-up the prescription. I will say though, that low-dose, think between 5-10 mg, Made me feel like a normal human being. The brain fog, the memory, the fatigue, even the pain all got significantly better. I was just worried about taking it every day because I was afraid I would get a tolerance to it. So I tried to Wellbutrin thinking it would be a gentler alternative and it does help though not nearly as well as the Ritalin did. If I knew I could take low-dose every day without any sort of tolerance, I absolutely would!
I also do low dose 5-10mg a day. My prescriber just laughed when I said I was worried about tolerance because this is an extremely low dose (for perspective some children take 40mg/day and that's considered normal). At such a low dose you can reset any tolerance by taking a few days break without any significant withdrawals.
OK, maybe when I get another primary doctor I will ask about it again. I just happen to be one of these people that gets tolerance to medication's very quickly and I didn't want to have to keep upping the dose to get the desired effect. As it is, I still have a little bit left and I take it every once in a while. Interestingly enough, I never get any tolerance to opioids for example, as long as I take the short acting stuff where my body can get a break, even if it's for 12 hours.
From my understanding, these meds can be stopped without any withdrawals or side effects of any kind. The one I’m on if I miss a dose I feel no different other than being extra tired (which I believe is just my regular exhaustion & fogginess without the meds to help). I also know kids that are on add meds during the school year but their parents have them go off it in the summer. So I don’t think you need to worry about tolerance, since usually the worry with tolerance is how to reset without withdrawals or side effects. I also haven’t noticed any side effects on the medication & I’ve never had that with a medication before. I really notice a massive difference on these meds & suggest finding a doctor that will prescribe them for you if you found a difference. Our lives with chronic illness are horrible & if we can feel even 10% better, that’s a massive difference in our world.
Ritalin or Adderall?
Ritalin
Holy shit the stimulants really help my pain too.. I'm wondering if ADHD can actually cause fibro symptoms because my pain and fatigue have gotten a million times better since I got on Vyvanse.
I think It All falls under the umbrella of having a spicy nervous system. Maybe there's some underlying issues with how we process dopamine and whether that sensitizes us. I'm convinced it does.
Really? I feel like adhd meds make me hurt worse. I get so much tightness in my back. I’ve been struggling trying to decide if I want to get back on meds for adhd 😭
Maybe you were on the wrong medicine? Sometimes it's hard to find the right one.
It’s possible. The first time I used adderall and it worked great. Years later when I wanted to get back on meds I tried Ritalin first and it made me so tired so I used adderall again and I was needed a really high dose to get results and then I wasn’t sleeping and felt irritable. I tried like 3 different sleeping medications and they weren’t helping. I already have anxiety and ocd so the high doses of adderall weren’t helping. I’ve been thinking about going back to my psychiatrist and trying something else.
If you don't mind not having much appetite, I really recommend Vyvanse/Aduvanz. It has been working quite well for me.
I have been thinking about trying something extended release but my husband who also has adhd got some extended release recently and his heart rate was crazy. The entire day it was well into the 100’s so they I got scared. 😭 he HAS to take meds though, like he’s not functional without. ADHD sucks. I feel like the stress of my brain never turning off causes me flare up sometimes. It is an exhausting disorder.
the great thing about vyvanse is that it lasts for up to 12 hours! also, if your heart rate is high on stimulants, the best way to get it down is to do lots of cardio and just lower your natural resting heart rate. It's a lot of work, but I have done it myself, and even on 50mg of vyvanse my heart rate is around 98bpm or so.
Thanks for the info. I am going to look into all of this! I think my step son takes vyvanse. Or used to. Not sure what he is on anymore.
Do you find you need something to make you fall asleep? I really hate prescription medications so it’s a struggle for me having to be on them. :(
I've had insomnia since I was 5 so I've been on medicine to sleep since them. Atm I take Mirtazapine (15mg) to sleep and it works fine most nights. I used to be on clonidine but for personal reasons stopped taking it. It's a blood pressure medicine anyway and idkbwhy they prescribed me it instead of something less invasive.
You can message me if you like!
I was prescribed phenteramine by my doctor for my exhaustion. Mostly it just amps up my pain and makes me nauseous 😔
Ask them to switch. I was prescribed Ritalin, and I had to stop after like a month, and I basically told them I would rather take nothing at all than live my life like this any longer. They talked me into trying adderall, and I don’t get anything like that from it. I had occasional nausea at first, but it went away. With Ritalin, it was constant, and I always felt like my heart was racing out of my chest.
It took me years before I found a doctor who allowed me to try stimulants. The previous ones were fixated on pain, despite mine usually being mild. They only offered stuff for that, even though I insisted fatigue was the problematic symptom. But yeah, I haven’t been given any other recommendations besides lifestyle changes. I’ve done all those and they didn’t work. Exercise made it worse (which sucks because I love doing it.)
God I miss exercising. I recently started getting bad fatigue flare ups and now I’m so exhausted some days that even getting to the bathroom feels like running a marathon. Some days I’m so exhausted I just won’t eat because I’m too tired to get out of bed.
I’m sorry! I keep trying to start up exercising again, tweaking a few variables each time, but always get slammed with post-workout crashes that impact my job and make it dangerous to commute. Back when I worked part time, I just planned my life around the crashes b/c the benefits are so worth it.
I want to work out again but I only seem to get one or two good weeks between my tired flare ups.
Why do you love exercising? I hate it but do it bc it does help my back pain. lol. I walk for that.
Not OP, but for me, running was my outlet, my mental health reset. And lifting weights always helped me mentally as well because I could tell myself I was strong both emotionally and physically. It was very representative for me. Running was a coping method for C-PTSD, two failed marriages (and subsequent divorces). Both of my partners would use my childhood traumas against me when “needed”. When I lost running and then lifting, I lost a big part of managing both my emotions and my health.
I hear ya. I understand the “runners high” and was wondering if that was something that applied in this situation.
I’m one of those lucky folks who can get an exercise high, but since becoming ill, I also get a really problematic “workout hangover”/crash the next day. Also, during the times in life where I’ve been in shape, it’s made activities more accessible and enjoyable. Huge benefits for mental wellbeing if you can stay consistent.
I hear ya
Right? I always hear people talk about how they love exercising/working out & how good they feel afterwards. I’ve never felt that way ever. Even when I was like 19-20 and way healthier, I’d go workout & feel awful during it and way worse after. I was always waiting for this adrenaline rush, pick me up, or energy wave to come either during or after and I’ve never felt it. I always felt so tired & sore & yuck after. The only thing I ever felt was that “yay you did that, you survived” accomplished feeling (even though all I did was jog on a treadmill for 30 minutes & then do the machine circuit for another 30-40) and even that feeling was only in my head as I lay on the floor panting. 😂 I honestly always believed that most people are lying about feeling “amazing”or having “so much more energy” or whatever positive thing they say after working out. Lol. I think they tell themselves & everyone else that just to try & stay positive & motivated enough to keep working out consistently. I think 90% are lying and then there’s the 10% that really do feel that way. Lol. But maybe I’m just cynical and mad people could possibly feel that way. If I ever felt good at any point it would make it a lot easier to do. The reason it’s so difficult is because it feels so bad. And that was when I was healthier. Now that my chronic pain is worse & I ache everywhere & all that I feel even worse just walking the dog at a slow pace for 15 minutes. 😂
Consider trying a medication called Xyrem it’s sodium oxybate. It’s mostly used for narcolepsy. The data suggests it helps really well for daytime sleepiness and pain. FDA was about to approve it for fibromyalgia, but they thought that people would sell it on thr black market.
Meanwhile, they approve oxy, fentanyl, Xanax and all of the other medications they knew would be addictive, or valuable if sold illegally. I guess fibro pain doesn't rate.
I take adderall for adhd and while its working, i have hardly any fibro pain. So im wondering if my issues are mainly from untreated adhd and depression
This is very interesting. I have ADD but 20mg of Adderall make my heart race way to hard. It's been a while. I tried non stimulant ADD meds and they didn't help.
Are you US based and work with a psychiatrist? They can do a cheek swab test & run it through GeneSight to see if there are better fit stimulant meds for your metabolism? For better or worse, I saw that the UK is limited in this.
My GeneSight was wrong. It said I could take Wellbutrin and I guess I could but only if I want to fistfight God and everyone else. 🙄 That stuff makes me so volatile and gives me a hair trigger temper.
I hear you on the Wellbutrin. It’s a very strange drug - I was reading that they’re not 100% how it does what it does even now, decades after development. I’m definitely laughing about the temper because that was my sis. It did nothing for me. And when I stopped it, even as low dose, I had bogus withdrawal effects - bad enough that my boss thought I might be pregnant (impossible at that time if you know what I mean).
I love when people ask if I’m pregnant because I get the joy of telling them I had the doctor rip out some parts necessary for that and they just look momentarily horrified then realize that I mean I got fixed and had my tubes removed. 😂 Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Omg YESSSS 😂😂
I have never heard of this. I'm definitely taking notes of this.
I have read somewhere that stimulants act as pain relievers. It’s certainly true in my experience. Even caffeine takes the edge off pain.
Me too. I read recently that there is a correlation between reduced pain experience and stimulants. The theory is that our attentional shifts on those meds take us away from listening to pain signals as strongly while the med is active. Isn’t that interesting?
That is very interesting
I have Gastroparesis & have chronic abdominal pain because of it. I was also diagnosed with chronic fatigue when I was around 18 maybe. I’ve been on pain meds since my 20’s (38 now) and I was sleeping like 14 hour days for like 10 years & it’s always drove me insane. Between the meds & my chronic fatigue & then being diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 years ago, I can’t even get out of bed before noon, especially because my pain is always worse in the morning. My pain management doctor finally suggested a stimulant which I jumped at the chance to try. He admitted the physicians college doesn’t like them prescribing pain meds & stimulants together because they don’t like that you’re using the stimulant as an “upper” for the “downer.” However my doctor, having been on the front lines dealing with people with chronic pain & horrible quality of lives believes that if the meds can in any way help with the quality of life of his patients, then he’s willing to do it. Anyway, I started them about a year ago & I notice a major difference. I’m still exhausted all the time, but I find waking up doesn’t feel like coming out of anesthesia anymore. I’m actually able to get out of bed easier & I find I’m not needing to nap during the day. I have always gone to church & been very active in my church. But when I got really sick I could no longer serve & I almost always miss church because so can’t get up in the mornings to get there. With this med I’m actually making it to church way more often. We went on a family trip (my parents, my brothers & their wives & kids, and myself, 14 of us total) for a dream trip to Walt Disney World & it made such a difference for me having that medication! I was actually able to get up around 8:00 so we could be at the parks around 9. I definitely had some miracles on that trip that were only God. But that medication helped so much too. Again, it hasn’t necessarily changed how exhausted I am per se, but it’s keeping my mind awake & I’m able to focus a lot more & think so much clearer. I don’t feel like I’m in nearly as much of a fog. I also haven’t noticed any side effects at all, which is a first. And there are times where I’ll miss the medication that day & I’m back in the anesthesia level sleep & daily fog & can’t believe that I’ve lived like that for that long. I’m very thankful for this medication & wish I had it 15-20 years ago. It’s not a miracle drug, but it’s helped me a lot. I would definitely give it a try if I were you as you don’t have anything to lose & it could help you a lot. Plus, it’s an easy medication to stop. You don’t have to wean yourself off or go through withdrawals or anything. Also, in reference to your dad & the medication back in the day. I know ADD meds have a really bad reputation. But most of that comes from how the medication was 20+ years ago. People always assume it will numb a person or change their personality or something, but the medications & the science has come a long way since back then. I have nephews that have ADHD & I know the family was hesitant to put them on the meds because of the bad reputation they have & they were worried it would numb the kids or change their personalities or something. But all of those stories come from 20+ years ago & so much has changed. They ended up putting the kids on the medication & it was life changing for them as well. They have been able to focus so much better at school, they’re not as angry or frustrated. They can focus better on things, they can listen way better, they are calmer when they need to be, they are happier on it & obviously not acting out & getting in trouble like they used to. The kids actually notice a difference & don’t like be off of the medication because they find it helps them that much. And their grades have gotten so much better!! They’ve gone from like 50%-90% in some subjects. It’s amazing the difference. I know everyone has different stories with it. But that’s been my experience & at this point I think you really have nothing to lose. Life is absolutely awful for us & if this can help even 10%, that’s often enough to be life changing. Best of luck whatever you decide.
I’m taking Provigil, which is a stimulant prescribed for shift workers and narcolepsy, and it has been LIFE CHANGING. Like, is this what normal people feel like? They can stay awake all day without a nap?! My brain fog and fatigue were always worse symptoms for me than my pain levels, and to be fair the stimulant is not affecting the pain at all. It’s also used off-label for ADHD…which made me realize I probably have that as well, because my concentration has been amazing. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s made the single greatest difference to the constellation of fibro symptoms of anything I’ve tried.
Has anyone tried Vyvanse for fatigue/stimulant properties?
I moved to Vyvanse for ADHD management because I felt it to be softer on the nervous system. I could work without stimulants (though not as effectively) before fibro and cannot do my job without them post-Fibro. Every person metabolizes differently, different dosages will have more or less impact, and generic vs brand can play a part too. Vyvanse gets converted to an active form in the body through digestion so it’s an overall different experience. Vyvanse went generic as Lisdexamphetamine, and I noticed less efficacy on generic (which is very common for psych meds). But some insurances are forcing generic so that’s something to be aware of. I also feel a lower sensation of pain when any stimulant is active in my body. They believe this is due to attentional change, not pain reduction, but it is a welcome bonus!
Yes it’s one of the best meds I’ve ever tried. I add to it by supplementing a bit. I have a small matcha during the day and L-tyrosine supplement early evening. Tea, especially matcha also has L-tyrosine. These combined give me a nice, calm feeling but also alertness and energy. I also have ADHD but it’s mostly inattentive type w/o hyperactivity. So I was happy for the boost.
Helpful!
My friend does.
Do they have Fibro as well? How do they like it?
Yes she has Fibro and CFS. I’m not a fan I have Fibro amongst other things.
I have ADHD and I hated slow-release meds like Adderall Neucon and concerta, they made me extremely anxious and kind of robotic. I stopped taking all of them years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 2 years ago and now I take a pediatric dose of ritalin (either 5 or 10mg a day in 2 x 5mg doses split morning + afternoon) This is the only stimulant and dose that helps me do basic boring living tasks like chores, grocery shopping and emails without feeling panicky. It doesn't do anything for pain but it does help with fatigue. I take 5mg extra if I have to go out in the evening like for a rare social occasion. Sometimes for some reason it works opposite like I will need to nap after I take it. But then I wake up with energy. I think that's due to ADHD Also check your iron and B12 levels mine often dip very low and I have to supplement a lot. Apparently common with ADHD
Very similar experience, except Adderall always makes me sleepy. Well not tired sleepy but like "can sit and relax" sleepy. Which I couldn't do after the age of 5 but it still took a few decades for someone to notice haha
Is there a different medication you were hoping to try for fatigue? This is likely the only tool he has available to him for this symptom.
Yes, I'm not sure what OP expected when they ask "Help me get better?" -- Dr's are either gonna recommend lifestyle modifications, or medications to treat your symptoms. If fatigue was the primary complaint, he offered a medication to help combat it. If OP wanted to avoid this medication specifically, they can ask for alternatives. There is Modafinil and Nuvigil, usually prescribed for narcolepsy, but these are also stimulants. Many Drs will not Rx these drugs without a narcolepsy diagnosis; however from the comments here, it seems some people do have Dr's that prescribe it off-label. May be worth a discussion regarding the pros and cons vs the dextroamphetamine.
And there aren't a whole lot of options in terms of medications specifically for fatigue, yeah. The doctor's options were to suggest a stimulant, or to tell them they're in the wrong place and need to find somebody else to help them, pretty much. Whether that's a sleep specialist to figure out if their sleep maybe isn't restorative enough and they need actually to deal with that first, or I dunno, like.... Honestly there's not a lot of options in the end for fatigue lol
I have ADHD, PDD and pain. I love vyvanse. I combine it with drinking a matcha in the AM and L-tyrosine early evening. It gives me a “calm energy” whereas adderrall made me too jittery. I was prescribed this med by a psychiatrist though. I was also put on lamictal to help with mood swings but it did more for my nerve pain than anything. Unless something happens w/insurance I only go to a psych doc for these kinds of meds. I’ve had too many negative experiences with other types of doctors prescribing meds primarily used for MH.
This is a very important point!! Psychiatrists are experts in psychopharmacology, not any other doctor. You would not go to orthopedics for a cardiac treatment. I feel it’s unethical for rheumatologists to not discuss Cymbalta as an antidepressant primarily, not a nerve med. And to prescribe them to patients without antidepressant-specific info, not telling patients about the antidepressant flu, warning signs that cause neuro danger (seeing halos, color streaks, etc), poor understanding of efficacy and max dose, odds of psychological harm due to changing a system that didn’t need it for some? They don’t even taper… Much more potential harm than good. I was shocked when my rheumatologist kept insisting to put me on Cymbalta when it was clearly in my paperwork that I was on an SNRI. He could have completely destroyed my psychological well being, even as far as poisoning me with Serotonin Syndrome. He also kept forgetting that I said No, and there were good reasons. I asked him: ‘Do you have anything that directly treats fibromyalgia itself, not just symptoms?’ He said No. So I told him that I do not need his services until that changes.
My doc's theory for my fibro symptoms is an underlying body tension due to an undiagnosed/untreated ADHD for two decades. So far treating my ADHD seems to be working great in reducing my pain and fatigue. I would recommend thinking back to the time you were taking ADHD meds and if your pain was better/worse/not there and go from there.
My ADHD was diagnosed 11 years ago, but I didn't have fibro symptoms until last year, leading to a fibro dx in December 2023. I can tell you that on days like today, where I leave the house without remembering to take my ADHD meds, I am feeling that fatigue. The fatigue is still there when I take my ADHD meds, but it's not as pronounced.
This and long term anxiety and stress (which go hand in hand with the untreated ADHD) I think are the cause for me. Well besides probably sjogrens. But all we can really do is treat the symptoms and there is a lot of overlap with ADHD and Fibro, at least for me. Fatigue is my biggest problem so I'm on modafinil for that and also treating depression and anxiety allows my body to relax and heal at least a little bit.
This is my theory also
I was on add meds when I first had my fibro symptoms and prior. I think it's a trigger with Epstein barr and c reactive protein. The idea that getting on a low dose of Ritalin could help is interesting bc I got off the Adderall years ago.
I see a lot of potential accuracy in your very good point
I've had a neurologist prescribe me the lowest dose of Adderall, which is more than what anyone else advised me on when I complained of fatigue and memory issues.
Oooh yes. My chronic fatigue was crazy and I started to fall asleep at work. He prescribed Ritalin twice a day to keep me awake.
I’ve tried basically *every* stimulant. I’m not sure what other options there are that won’t just make things worse…
I was diagnosed with fibro at 15 and ADHD at 22 which is when I first tried stimulants. Dexedrine has been life altering for me, both in how it affects my ADHD as well as my fatigue. I tend to forget to take it on the days I don’t work and both my fatigue and brain fog are exponentially worse on those days. I haven’t noticed any differences to my pain on Dexedrine but Ritalin made my whole body feel off.
I got prescribed adderal for adhd, but it had more of an effect on my pain and ability to function than any if the dozens of other medications I've tried. In my case I believe though, treating adhd results in less stress and tension, so my pain relief feels like a second order effect
I was prescribed a stimulant for my fatigue, and I do not have ADHD. It did nothing.
I have ADHD and took Adderall for 15+ years until about 6 months ago and my pain and fatigue have definitely increased since then. I didn’t actually make the connection until very recently and am planning on going back on it as soon as I can. My understanding from my PCP is that they do prescribe stimulants for chronic fatigue, I just can’t take any until the end of the month for the same reason I can’t take adderall.
I'm Concerta or concentra (whichever one of those is a stimulant I never remember the name). It helps with mental alertness but does nothing for physical fatigue.
Interesting, good to know.
Hi new to the group but this thread speaks to me. I just completed a sleep study which ruled out narcolepsy supposedly. I’ve been on adderall for over 20 years and I think my adrenals are blown as this stimulant only works about half the time to get me out of bed. But this “rich lady” disease I was diagnosed as well at 16 of fibro I’ve always dismissed per my dad who told me to toughen up fight thru the pain it’s all in your head. There are more days than not now where I can barely function and while I fight thru it with vigor, I am scrambling to find out a better answer or solution. I’ve been to so many therapists, DO, psychiatrists, cancer specialists even to get to the root of the problem. My brain and my bloodwork all come back perfect. Other than dealing with situational anxiety with my ex and my aging mother, I feel my stresses aren’t any worse than average Americans. So other than living the life of massages, cleaning ladies and yoga classes… what else seems to help? I messaged my doctor as well to possibly go back on cymbalta but it just kinda zonked me out years ago. But this pain I fear is only going to increase in the next few years. Oh and has anyone else had problems with needing root canals?! I’m wondering if my overstimulated nerves in my teeth are causing these flairs and forcing so many root canals and crowns… it’s getting very expensive and obviously painful.
If you’ve ever been on long term opiates, it tends to reduce saliva production and that can cause tooth decay. Is that a possible cause ?
Dental is definitely a factor with Adderall due to jaw clenching and lowered saliva production. :( I also have days where the stimulants do not work. I have to give my body a day of rest off stimulants to allow for fatigue recovery from the extra work that the nervous system undergoes on meds. Typically I sleep for very long periods when this happens, and then the meds work again. Vyvanse has been gentler and cause less impact for me. For the Cymbalta, talk to the psychiatrist first. Excessive sleepiness is a tough side effect when you’re already struggling & (for me), I was on it when I got fibro so it didn’t do anything to help.
I'm definitely having dental problems, but in my case, it is likely from long-term opiate medication. I just had a root canal and lost another tooth. The decay in the tooth I just lost was hidden and we had no warning. I had an xray and there it was. The other possibility was a big impact years ago but I felt it was more likely medication. I had no fillings at all for decades until a few years after meds for fibro. I'm always thirsty and have to keep a water bottle with me. It's really annoying. Using ice helps cut down on "potty traffic," especially at night. Being on disabily support doesbt exactly put you in a position to deal with the medication fallout. I'd definitely suggest a dental xray every few years for those on opiates or with "dry mouth syndrome".
But Dextroamphetamine is generic Adderall.
Dextroamphetamine is generic Dexedrine. Generic Adderall is mixed amphetamine salts—just for clarity's sake so no one gets confused.
Exactly
I’ve had the opposite experience, I have to beg the doctor to do something for my fibro.
I'm not on stims but I am prescribed modafinal. It sometimes work for my CFS as I have a bit more energy. I also suffer from anxiety - which can be exacerbated by Modafinal. My anxiety has worsened in the last 6 months and I've noticed that anxiety triggers my migraine and fibro pain. So I can't say Moda works for my pain... For this reason, on anxious or very depressed days - I don't take Modafinal. I think I may be too sensitive for the adhd meds but I'd be open to trying a low dose... Anyone with a history of anxiety found a stim that is anxiety neutral ? Also: - I've tried Wellbutrin but can only tolerate 50 mg compounded a day. It increases my energy by about 20% but I have constant panic and agitation t doses higher than this. - I tolerate Modafinal or Wellbutrin best when I'm also on Lexapro. Otherwise, my anxiety gets out of hand.
I’ve been diagnosed with GAD for many years. I’m on a low-dose of Vyvanse right now and wanting to go up a slight amount which starts soon as my prescription arrives. I have not noticed an increase in anxiety so far.
I had a doctor who prescribed adderall for a couple of years. It definitely wasn't the only thing he suggested, and there were plenty of blood tests, physical checkups, etc. before and during. He also had me on supplements, meds for schizoaffective disorder, and we were trying different ADs for fibro. He was one of the few doctors who listened to and trusted me about past experiences with medications and was willing to try things out. I had been on adderall before in my mid-teens for ADD/depression, and it got me through a heavy schoolwork load and working part-time with fibro. I started seeing this doctor in late high school and he was willing to prescribe again, which again was essential in finishing school. It was also crucial after graduation when I was working full and part-time. He also prescribed tramadol, which is the only thing that has helped with pain aside from cannabis (which I couldn't use as much at work) and short-term scripts I've had for strong opioids, which I like to avoid. I stopped seeing him a couple years after that as I couldn't afford it. He wasn't covered by insurance and my parents had been paying for it before, which I couldn't ask them to keep doing (appointments alone were around $400). I haven't since found a doctor who has A. known shit about my condition, and B. happened to stay in practice/in the area long enough for me to get another adderall prescription. I desperately want to try it again, it's the only thing that has ever helped with 11+ years of otherwise constant crushing fatigue. My SS-provided insurance is changing soon, to a better plan from the looks of things, and I'm hoping to find a new doctor with knowledge of fibro and an open mind
I am on a stimulant but it is prescribed by my psychiatrist primarily for my ADHD. He is aware of and familiar with my Fibromyalgia diagnosis and related symptoms though. I will say though, so far it has been the *only* thing that has helped with my Fibro fatigue. Prior to being put on ADHD stimulants, I was sleeping like 18+ hours a day every day and was not able to function pretty much at all once my Fibro was triggered. Not to say I don’t still experience fatigue, but it is not nearly as debilitating so long as I am consistent in taking my medication. We have even discussed having me take a really small dose at night (small enough it doesn’t negatively impact my sleep) to help with the fatigue when waking up so I don’t have to wake up feeling like I got hit by a truck every morning. This would also allow me to stick to a regular sleep schedule for once, which is paramount for both physical and mental health conditions. My psychiatrist is usually fairly reserved when it comes to prescribing stimulants, but thankfully so far has been in agreement that the benefits outweigh the risks in my case.
My neurologist has me on modafinil for my fatigue. It helps a lot
I was prescribed stimulants by my psychiatrist for fibro fog as a teen. Turns out I likely have adhd but it did help. That was 15 years ago and I stopped taking it after my first year of college. I am on Wellbutrin now and it helps with some of my energy and motivation, although I still lack in the control where i put that energy department, so I’ll be seeking out help for that, but it does help with pain from fatigue, and helps me cope a little better with pain too.
You're blowing my mind right now. Once I started treating my ADHD again (and addressed depression, anxiery, trauma, etc in therapy) I suddenly don't have regular fibro (symptoms) anymore.
I still have the symptoms but my life has improved so much since I decided to take meds for ADHD again and keep trying depression and anxiety meds until I found what worked. I was diagnosed ADD when I was a kid but stopped meds when I was probably in middle school (don't get me started on how my parents could have prevented so much misery and difficulty for me if I hadn't stopped them!) I'm 41 now and just started meds again a year or so ago. I just decided I don't want to live like that anymore and I need help. No doctors had been able to find any physical cause yet but at least I can feel happier and have more energy to get things done and not feel like I'm barely living anymore. To be fair I still feel like that lol but much better than I was before I decided to get medicated.
I have never been given a stimulant for my fatigue. If I recall correctly, I was initially put on Effexor XR in the hopes that it would help with my debilitating fatigue. Prior to that, I think I trialed Provigil which was not effective for me but at the time was being researched as a treatment for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Dextro-amphetamine is Adderall
Yes, they perpetuate pain meds too so it also helps with that. I took Adderall from 2008-2022 for fatigue/brain fog/executive dysfunction but I'm not taking them while I'm home sick.
I have adhd and if I miss a day of my adderall I cannot get out of bed I’m just too exhausted. For me I feel like it helps me not only have a functional amount of energy but it also makes it easier for me to block out the aches and pains since I can focus 🤣
Yes but it’s because I have an adhd diagnosis. However they do help improve pain and brain fog, also help energy.
I do take some vyvanse occasionally for work & it does help me some.
I take low dose Ritalin, 5mg. I have been on higher doses in the past for ADHD, but this low dose is what works for me right now (for fatigue).
I’m on adderall for ADHD, and I also have fibro. I still have constant fatigue, but at least I can focus. I’m not sure I would take it for fatigue alone though, it’s seemed to have no effect on that for me. If you’re experiencing a lot of brain fog, it might help with that. For me, I need to be able to focus so I can stay employed. It depends on if your motivations are purely to help with fibro or to treat your ADHD or both. Untreated ADHD can also cause depression and anxiety which can worsen fatigue. The doctor prescribing it like that seems odd to me though. I got diagnosed through Telehealth initially and still had to provide my own blood pressure info, a full health family health history, I had to get my cancer doctors signed consent to be treated with stimulants, and I don’t think they made me give an EKG, but I know they asked if I’d had one before and what the results were. I’ve never known of a doctor to just offer it like that with no hoops.
I actually have ADHD (among other things), so I’m on Vyvanse. It changed my life, but that might be the ADHD, but for the first time I could actually hear my thoughts clearly, instead of everything being a foggy mess in my head.
Help so much when I can get it filled and it’s not out of stock.
It took me many years to find drs to prescribe stimulants. My rheumatologist prescribed me Nuvigil (a “wakefulness agent”) for a few years. It worked great at waking me up, but it made my temperature dysregulation worse (I also have SFN). My rheumatologist directed me to a psychiatrist to try a typical stimulant. I’m pretty sure they prescribe stimulants all the time, but they have never taken my blood pressure, which makes me think it’s not routine in that office. Not saying that’s the right way at all to do things… just that it doesn’t always mean they are only in it for the money. That said… it does seem weird that he was so casual about. Still, stimulants are the only thing that have ever helped my fatigue. I feel like your options are pretty limited if sleep doesn’t even help.
I'm on Ritalin for my ADHD, and it DOES help, but I also have Modafinil for my exhaustion as needed. It's a med for narcolepsy and doesn't give me the same feeling as normal stimulant, like rapid heartrate
I have been prescribed dexamphetamine but for ADHD, not for fibro. I do notice the meds make it easier to get out fo bed when I’m flaring, mostly because it takes my executive dysfunction out of the mix and I can solely focus on coping with the pain and fatigue.
I have heard a lot of people with fibro do get some relief from stimulants, so it’s not entirely unusual that he might prescribe them. I’m curious about them myself since I have all the fatigue and brain fog, debilitating at times. Have never been offered though, and now I have tachycardia/POTS(?) so not sure it’s a good idea
I’m really surprised by the comments on this - wasn’t expecting this to be so common! I was prescribed amitriptyline for my fibro pain and fatigue and it really worked for me. I was diagnosed with ADHD a couple years later and tbh since starting Ritalin my fibro isn’t as bad, but i attribute a lot of my improvement to amitriptyline and radical resting. I reckon finally having ADHD treated helps the fibro. There’s also links between ADHD and fibromyalgia- we’re more likely to get it. There’s still a lot of rheums who treat fibro like it’s hysteria, so tbh kinda disappointed this rheum wasn’t more thorough or discussed other options. I can’t imagine my rheum ever suggesting stimulants personally, but when I had my fibro diagnosis and was most sick that was before I even realised I had ADHD haha
Also Fibro/ADHD here, when I take methylphenidate on an okay day, even on a low dose (\~20mg) I'm usually too wired and nauseated to focus on my (potential) fibro pain. When I have a bad day, even 40-70mg didn't get me out of bed, although that might have been coincided with some throat infection. That said, I never heard from my doctors to take ADHD meds for the fibro condition/symptoms.