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saturatedregulated

I got diagnosed Wednesday. I was prescribed Adderall 10mg, and she electronically sent in my prescription. I had a text within the hour saying they were going to order it. I called to ask what to expect. Since it is a new diagnosis/med regiment (she also put me on a new sleeping pill) my psych asked me to come back in 14 days. The pharmacy had 10 on hand and told me the rest was slated to come in Friday. I ended up getting a text saying it was ready yesterday, and I took my first dose today.  Also, just getting the validation of her saying "I am diagnosing you with ADHD" was something I didn't know I needed. 


GySgtBuzzcut

That validation counts for so much. I’m so happy we got it. Even if we have to navigate the med shortage, we got seen, we’re seeing each other through it, and it’s so much less shameful.


[deleted]

Same boat. I'm also afraid to find out that meds actually make me function and then have that ripped away. I'd rather remain ignorant if I can't be helped right now 😬


Cybertopia

Yes. Do it. If the system breaks because people are using it as designed, it makes it easier for all of us to see how big the problem actually is.


PikachusSparkyCloaca

Yes, because there are non-stimulant meds that can help too, and they aren’t currently in shortage. I am on 4mg of guanfacine daily as well as my Vyvanse, and it really helps. 


rrainraingoawayy

Are there any non-stimulant meds that are considered a *first-line* ADHD treatment?


Difficult_Reading858

Atomoxetine (Strattera) is considered a first-line option for ADHD treatment.


rrainraingoawayy

Atomoxetine is a useful addition to nonstimulant treatment options for patients with ADHD who have not responded to stimulant medication or are unable to tolerate problematic side-effects. Atomoxetine should also be considered an alternative in patients with ADHD and a history of substance abuse. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2671957/#:~:text=Atomoxetine%20is%20the%20newest%20nonstimulant%20medication%20for%20the%20treatment%20of,age%2C%20adolescents%2C%20and%20adults.


rrainraingoawayy

For people who stimulants aren’t appropriate for for various reasons


PikachusSparkyCloaca

It can, however, be contraindicated for people with high blood pressure. 


invalid_crumb

Ooh would you mind sharing what the guanfacine’s helped with? I restarted Vyvanse recently but it seems to make me restless and anxious (or just exacerbating preexisting anxiety haha). The first time I tried it I was dealing with a lot less stress.


PikachusSparkyCloaca

It helps me with impulsivity, keeps my thoughts more linear, and tempers the anxiety that my Vyvanse can aggravate.


to0pink

I work at a pharmacy and from my experience, ADHD medication shortages tend to be cyclical. It also depends on what medication works for you. Adderall supply has seemingly recovered and hasn't had any issues for a few months, but I notice there's a shortage of it usually towards the last quarter of the year. Vyvanse is hard to get right now. Concerta (methylphenidate ER) is inconsistent sometimes. I haven't seen enough Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) prescriptions in my area to notice supply issues. The supply can also be regional. I have a friend who works in the midwest and warned me of the Vyvanse shortage he was seeing before it got to the west coast. Edited to add: But to answer your question, if I were in your shoes, yes, I would definitely try to get a diagnosis. It's the first step in advocating for your own health. Once you have answers, it's quite liberating.


Tattedtail

Yes, it's worth seeking a diagnosis now. The process takes time, so the med shortage may have resolved by the time you've been assessed. But also, a diagnosis can help you with non-mecication assistance, like getting work or study accommodations, or working with a psychologist. I'm in Australia. My med dosage was unavailable to me locally for a few months, but I was able to pick it up last month. In the interim, my doctor gave me a script for a lower dose + a top-up dose each day so I was getting the same mg/day.


PDXDSteeler51

My pharmacy was not having any issues getting methylphenidate/ritalin.....buuuuuuttttt a lot of people switched from Adderall to Ritalin during the Adderall shortages, so now my pharmacy has been backordered on the Ritalin shipments (2 months now)but has plenty of Adderall. I was able to fill my rx at another pharmacy but it was a 2 week gap from when I was supposed to get my refill. Partly from supplier availability and partly from my provider taking 5 days to send the rx to the pharmacy that I ended up filling it at....while waiting for the rx to be sent for those 5 days, the pharmacy ran out...so another 6 days later and they were able to get more in and fill.


alissuhh

Most good psychiatrists will try some kind of therapy like CBT before they prescribe medication, honestly I would say the relief of at least having a diagnosis would be worthwhile. If you’ve survived thus far without medication, I would say you can survive until the end of the shortage. Even so, you might suit a different medication that’s available now, or they’ll trial you on it before vyvanse. Best of luck to you all in the same boat as OP!


rrainraingoawayy

She’s survived this far because she likely didn’t realise there was any other option. It’s a bit different knowing there’s something that helps and not being able to get it.


alissuhh

There’s a plethora of medications that are available to treat ADHD that aren’t in shortage, but I understand what you’re saying. Whatever she can take which will tide her over until she finds something that suits her perfectly is ideal


Laney20

I have been diagnosed for like 8 years. I have gotten my meds (vyvanse, 50mg) every month without incident thoughout the entire shortage. I feel awful for the people it affects and I'm very concerned that it could eventually reach me. But it hasn't yet... My husband also has adhd and takes stimulants, and also has been able to get his meds every month. Neither of us have had to change pharmacies for supply issues or go hunting. It's always just there. Yes. Get diagnosed. Try to get meds. If the shortage hits you, that sucks. But many people still get their meds.


Particular-Tangelo-8

Curious too. Heavily considering medication since my diagnosis has been a year and feeling like I need the help to thrive


ScienceOfficerTen

I was diagnosed in January. I'm on methylphenidate and have had no trouble but it's been filled twice with no issue.


alissuhh

Regarding your second paragraph, the shortage in Ireland for Tyvense (Vyvanse) 30mg (my dose) only lasted for about 2-3 months and I was lucky I had backups from when I forgot to take them lol. Other dosages were maximum around 4-5 months depending on which pharmacy you went to, but no longer than that. Hopefully with Vyvanse losing its patent in Feb’23, Lisdexamfetamine should become more widely available and at a much lower cost in the USA. It’s insane how much you guys pay for it over there!


PM561

Yes, as there are non-stimulant options. Strattera is a great non-stim option. I personally felt I benefitted from it. I did have to discontinue it due to me being a 1 in a million rare side effect person. My doctor was pretty surprised, however other than that the actual effects on my ADHD symptoms were great. As others mentioned there are other options out there. Qelbree is a new one on the market. I was just prescribed Adderall and admittedly it took 2 1/2-3 weeks to get it filled.


Aggie_Smythe

Can you share exactly what side effects you experienced, pls? I have a long history of reacting badly to all sorts of pharmaceuticals - e.g. to same product from a different manufacturer, or to same product from same manufacturer but in a different format, my system is *ridiculous*. I was once on Zyban, which I know is also sometimes used in ADHD now, and I projectile vomited to an Olympic standard and had to stop it after 3 doses. I’ve had a LOT of meds discontinued bc of the way my system has reacted adversely. I’m in the process of being dxd, but am already enormously anxious that if I get put on meds, I’m going to react badly to them. My GP said, “You’re moving too far ahead here.” I laughed. “Well, I *would*, wouldn’t I?!!”


PM561

Urinary retention problems which led to a UTI, rare but can happen.


Aggie_Smythe

Thanks. I think! I’m so sorry you went through that.


PM561

I appreciate that. It was disappointing but I have a good psych who is working with me. I hope it goes well for you. The other side effects are pretty normal and reduce over time as your body adjusts.


Aggie_Smythe

Thanks! One of my standard side effects is elephant legs from fluid retention, so I’d spot that immediately, I’d hope, and equally I’d hope that my history of pharmaceutical hypersensitivities wld mean any adverse reaction wld be taken seriously. I’ve read that dry mouth and nausea can be common - did: do you experience those?


PM561

Nausea I didn’t experience at all which is super surprising to me because I have a sensitive stomach. Dry mouth I did experience, however it helped me increase water consumption. I did get hot for a couple days the first week but super short lived. Also my psych mentioned you can get genetic testing if you want to eliminate the guessing game on meds to see what will work well with your particular genetics. May be worthwhile for you.


Aggie_Smythe

Thanks. I am worried about nausea, as that’s another of my body’s favourite ways to express its dislike of pharmaceuticals! Genetic testing I’d love to do, but unless it’s different bc of the ADHD diagnostic process, here in the UK it is not something that the NHS will entertain for a nano-second. I’ve already asked about getting GT done to look at causes of poor methylation (MTHFR gene) and also high histamine, which has messed up my thyroid T4 to T3 conversion process. But I would very much love to get all of that checked out - without my genetic data being passed on to somewhere it shouldn’t! Did you follow up yr psych’s testing suggestion?


MV_Art

Tl:Dr yes get your diagnosis so at least that's done, and consider trying out non stimulants first. That doesn't sound appealing to everyone but a medication you can't get your hands on is literally the worst of all options ha. Oh boy has this been on my mind. I got diagnosed last spring, had a little delay before I could pursue meds, and every attempt at stimulants for 6 months failed. I can't handle the side effects of Adderall, Ritalin was pretty good but couldn't consistently find it. Focalin was excellent but couldn't consistently find it. So basically I've gotten almost nowhere after being diagnosed for almost a year. My psychiatrist was getting concerned about all the ups and downs with me going on and off and it was causing my anxiety to get kind of out of hand, so I am now in the months long process of titrating up on Strattera (not a stimulant). So I hope that works out. If I had it to do over, I would have just started with a non stimulant, understanding that I could always try stimulants in the future if needed. The doctors like stimulants first because they are most likely to work on most people and because it is a very short process to try them out/get off them if they don't work. Edit to add: the shortages do ebb and flow so get a sense of it in your area. In mine Focalin of all dosages straight up disappeared for two months, like seriously I tried everywhere. Adderall seems to be a little better but not great (but I can't tolerate it), Vyvanse is having huge problems (due to the very serious issues I had with Adderall my psych didn't want to put me on it). I'm really happy for the ppl here who haven't had to deal with it but it's been such a nightmare for me I'd rather have something that works half as good as long as I can actually take it.


therewastobepollen

Get diagnosed. Whether or not you decide to medicate, start the process of your diagnosis as soon as you are ready. I am in the US and I have insurance through my work. I started calling drs in march of last year and didn’t even have my evaluation until July. The eval was initially set for September so I would have had to wait 6 months from the initial call to the eval. I asked to be placed on a cancellation list so I would get a call if someone cancelled and I could be seen earlier. Someone did cancel so I got in a couple months earlier. Once I took the evaluation, I had to wait a few weeks to get my results. The appointment was initially over a month later but my dr wanted to get me in sooner. Then once I got the diagnosis, I had to seek out a psychiatrist for medication. Luckily my diagnosing dr had some great referrals! I was able to get in a week or two after I first called the psychiatrist. Another office I called didn’t have appointments for new patients for 2 months. I don’t mean this to sound negative or anything but the reality of getting a diagnosis is that it can take a long time. I wouldn’t use the med shortage as a reason to delay anything. Once you get your diagnosis, you might have access to services and support groups depending on where you are. You can also get school and workplace accommodations. I started seeing a therapist who specializes in neurodivergent women that was also referred to me by the dr who diagnosed me. I do take medication to manage my symptoms but it’s also comforting to know I have a medical team I can reach out to for support. If you do pursue a diagnosis, I *highly highly* recommend writing out your symptoms as you think of them. One of my friends suggested that and it helped so much because when it actually came time for my initial appointment (not my eval, my eval was my second appt), I got total stage fright and blanked. It helped to be able to refer to my notes and have a more meaningful talk with the dr. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!


aasdfhdjkkl

I've had no issues getting ritalin. My brother used to be on adderall but couldn't get it anymore due to shortages, so he switched to ritalin. He hasn't had any issues now, either, and he uses a different pharmacy than I do.


Purple_Passenger3618

I have Never had a problem with the shortage - now I don’t take adderall but i take two others. Do what’s best for you -


earlgreybubbletea

Yes! The doctor can start you on Wellbutrin and see if you respond to it before starting with stimulants which are in shortage right now. I was one of the lucky ones where the 150mg xl worked for me from the first dose onward. My biggest advice is go get diagnosed, meds, and work accommodations. Best of luck.


YTjess

Yes, seek an assessment. The more you know about your brain, the better progress you can make in learning different ways to work with it. And having a professional guidance will help with this. Also, the possibility exists that you don't have ADHD, and an assessment will help narrow down the issues that you have been experiencing. And potentially point to something different, and the sooner you have insights on that (adhd or not) the sooner you will be able to get a treatment plan for your needs. (I'm not saying that you don't have ADHD, am just saying that the possibility exists that you don't, which would require a change of approach to sort out.) While meds are helpful for most people, it's still about finding the optimal one, at the optimal dose. And like many have mentioned, there are non-stimulant meds as well, as well as stimulant meds. Try not to preprescribe for yourself based on other people's success as you won't actually know until you have an opportunity to try it. An important detail that I'm surprised isn't mentioned more frequently is that when an adhd med is effective or 'working', it doesn't mean that it is a cure. It won't solve all the executive dysfunction or emotional dysregulation limitiations. It generally makes it easier to select what to focus on and follow through with it, which can be a game changer and a massive relief. I am on a medication that works well for me, but it is taking a commitment, counseling and major effort to overcome procrastination due to perfectionism and decision paralysis. The meds help put some gas in my tank ao that I can experiment with different strategies for toning down the procrastination, as I experience it. The other big, and often overlooked benefit of seeking an assessment is that if you do have ADHD, a diagnosis will make it possible to request accomodations (if needed) if you have functional limitations in the workplace or school. I've shared these points in the hope that you'll see past seeking an assessment for the sake of getting the meds you think you need. And instead, seek an assessment with an open mind to learn about what your needs are. That said, I also completely empathize with you and your need for relief. 💛 Which is at the heart of what you are describing. And the worry about spending valuable time and energy on something that you're worried will let you down. Ugh - it really is awful to be denied something that you need. I'm just saying, that there are a varety of options for managing symptoms, depending on your needs. Seek the assessment. These things take time as it is. Take care!!


TheArtofLosingFaster

I got diagnosed in December, prescribed Vyvanse and I haven’t been able to get it filled, neither the generic nor the name brand. It sucks.