Hey everyone wanted to share some good news that hopefully will help anyone currently struggling and feeling hopeless about having to pay for private in Scotland. They do not do share care in Edinburgh and if not mistaken entire Scotland but what some GPs do is they take over the prescription granted you continue to do private 6 month reviews and everything is signed off and overseen by a consultant psychiatrist, unfortunately it is very GP to GP dependent if they do this or not but my gp is west end medical practice if anyone is wondering

They finally accepted it after many months of back and fourth and at times feeling it will be impossible but just got the news recently so wanted to share!

I’ve been taking Elvanse for about 4 months now and have been on 60mg for about 6 weeks with the some breaks. I often take weekends off for different reasons but have noticed that I am incredibly tired on my days off now (I wasn’t this tired before taking Elvanse). I’ve also noticed if I take the weekend off, then I’ll have insomnia when I start taking them again say on the Monday/Tuesday however I’m not sure if this is linked to having later nights on the weekend rather than the effect of restarting the meds after a short break.

Has anyone experienced the same and have any advice? Would it be better to take a lower dose when restarting after the weekend?

I’ve also recently noticed in the afternoon my mouth is extremely dry (I know this is a side effect) but quite often I struggle to get my words out in meetings because of the dryness. I wondered if this is part of the “crash” as it always seems to be in the afternoon?

I'm struggling to get a job and I think it's because I don't have a very good specific skill. I have lots of skills that I can do to a good level but not to a level I think someone is willing to pay me for. I have to be interested in order to pour effort into developing a skill to a job ready level, but my interest never stays long enough to get there. Then once I stopped being interested in a skill, my brain forgets most of what I've learnt.

I see so much ADHD job advice being about think about what you're best at. But what if what you're best at changes often and what is best for you isn't good enough for the job?

guys I finally got my adhd diagnosis i am 16 . I feel so happy it honestly a relief but im on collage and im wonding what support i can get / ask for . Also I did go private but I want meds off NHS does anyone have any tips and are they worth it

Long story short, I have a high pressure career, I'm good at it but always felt something was up with me for years.

Got diagnosed last year (I'm 30F), and have been on Elvanse since. During this time up until August I had a very stressful job where I burnt out completely.

I have a new job now in the same role, a lot more balanced and less pressure. However I am still getting the same cloudy head after work and extreme exhaustion.

I'm sure my Elvanse is the right dose, I've been in Shared Care for a few months now.

I am just wondering how to pinpoint the issue. I think it may be the back to back meetings, paired with getting used to travelling into the office again, but I'm not sure if it's ADHD, me in general, remaining burnout.

My symptoms are:

- cloudy / foggy head feeling after work

- feeling very tired (but end up wired again at bedtime)

- emotions are up and down, but I never feel any sort of crash from my meds

- muscle soreness in my neck and shoulders

I've already agreed a 9 day fortnight with my new employer and I WFH flexibly to help with this, but I am still getting these symptoms.

Any advice would be really appreciated so I can try to feel normal again somehow.

Diagnosed with endometriosis, awaiting an ADHD assessment.

Anyone diagnosed with both?

“Large-scale population studies show that women diagnosed with endometriosis are roughly twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared to those without endometriosis. Conversely, individuals with a prior ADHD diagnosis also show a higher rate of later being diagnosed with endometriosis”- Psychiatry Online

I find this research really interesting and was wondering what life is like for you. I suffer quite bad with endo symptoms, especially chronic fatigue and low mood and was wondering if ADHD could potentially be making my symptoms even worse if it is all hormone related.

So my GP has agreed to refer me via Right to Choose, but really is there any point? It seems Manchester is only funding the most urgent cases, with no clarity on what that means. And no indication that this will change at any point.

I’ve struggled throughout my life but things got unbearable when I went on medication following breast cancer that blocks hormones and essentially mimics menopause. I see a therapist who specialises in working with neurodivergent clients and she was amazed I’d never been assessed. I guess I just assumed that everything I experienced was normal.

Now I’m in a position where I can’t do my job properly anymore because the executive dysfunction is so bad. I’m could just about afford to go private for an assessment but couldn’t really commit to ongoing medication costs. I can’t afford not to work. So my main option seems to be stopping the medication that is protecting me from cancer returning, and even then that will only work until real menopause kicks in, and as I’m 45 that probably won’t be long.

All feels a bit hopeless.

Was previously on 70 elvanse and 10mg dex (2x5)
Got the implant in August, medication has stopped working about 80% of the time. They took the Elvanse off me and just gave me 3x 5 dex.
I think this was a bit unfair as I think the dex was only more effective as it was pushing over a threshold with the 70 Elvanse anyway.

Regardless my house has gone into disrepair.
I’m just in such a depressive state.
I managed to declutter effectively pre-implant.
But been buying so much random shit for any form of dopamine, it’s just all gone tits up.

I just don’t know how I’ve accumulated so much fucking crap. And I’ve only recently bought it so it’s so difficult to get rid.

Don’t have the energy to put it on Facebook marketplace.

I manage the basics, we have food and clean dishes and washes clothes, but anything big that needs taking downstairs or sold or anything heavy that needs moving outside to the store is just too much for me.
I tidy for hours and then ten minutes later it’s a mess again.

It’s not like a horder house, there’s not rubbish all over the floor, but it’s just enough to make me feel disgusting and dirty and hate being here and overstimulated and like the hours I clean doesn’t change a single thing.

I can’t put the fucking clothes away.
I can’t declutter again now.
I can’t sort the store out, and I know that would probably help a lot.

Keep getting mad at my partner, because he doesn’t help with the house, only our son.
And I really really hate him for it right now.
He literally had one job to take the bins out and he forgotten so many times and the rubbish piles up and stresses me tf out and I just take the fucking bins out now.
He’s got an ADHD assessment in a few months and I am literally praying to a god, that I don’t believe in, that medication will help him.

I just feel wronged and stressed and frustrated and angry and let down and taken advantage of and just fucking done.

Have some form of injury or something in my fingers and my elbow and that just tops it off.
Finally booked a doctor’s appointment after months of pain, and I am so terrified that they will say I just have to do less, or hold my son less.
Because I literally have no other choice.

Just feel like I’d take help off anyone right now and I’m so hyper independent it’s just not like me.

I also really want to put my son into nursery.
When the thought before made me want to cry.

Can’t even reply to texts.

So so drained and I just feel like I honestly want to give up.

It’s been 3 week on triation for me. Started on 30mg of Elvanse and I’ve started 50mg this week.

It has not really changed much over these 3 weeks.

I’d like to believe I’m quite self aware of my habits. Especially my ADHD traits. And honestly, not much has changed. I still feel like me, plus the side effects.

Like there’s slight improvements, my ability to converse is a little better. I’m slightly better at focusing.

But even then. My mind is a storm. As if it wasn’t on medication. And some things have gotten worse.

So just some insight to those who’ve had a complete or atleast significant change in their personality.

What does it feel like?

Hi, I hope this is the right place to post this! This is my first time posting on Reddit too.

I have recently been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD (about 10 days ago), I have to have a few medical tests before I can give medication a go, which is the ultimate goal. This is probably going to take a while and so in the meantime I am wondering if anyone has any advice for me.

Although I have pretty much known I had ADHD for the past few years, my mind is still a bit blown after receiving an actual diagnosis after struggling with what I assumed and was told was anxiety, social anxiety and depression for the past 10 years. I am painfully aware that I have become pretty much a shell of who I was and therefore really don't know who I even am as an adult/person in general.

Really, what I am looking for is what to do now with this new information about myself and how to begin unravelling the mess that I am in without deconstructing the life I have built. And to connect with some like-minded people who may also have or are experiencing the same thing.

If you got this far then thanks for reading!!

Wondered what peoples schedules and dosage look like? I assumed the crash was normal I take 15 am and 15 afternoon but I think this causes too much of a crash after the peaks, maybe I need to switch my schedule up, just curious before I speak to my doctor - I only need medication for work, I don’t want it at all but can’t help the cards I was dealt. Thanks

I've been on 70mg for over a year now, and I'm not sure it's helping.

Im due to start Titration shortly, do you incur a prescription charge every time the script changes.

So Concerta 18mg for 2 weeks is £10, then 27mg for 2 weeks is anothee £10. If I continued on 27mg or changed dose or meds another £10.

I’m actually sick of this. I was initially on the nhs waiting list for an adhd assessment for 3 years then I transferred gp’s because I moved away from my home town but little did I know that they had taken me off the waiting list WITHOUT telling me I only had to wait a few weeks before I was at the top of the queue. So when I transferred GP’s I decided to go through rtc with central healthcare London and I’m diagnosed now but have been waiting 14 weeks for titration and I’ve not had a message or anything about forms to fill in regarding titration. I emailed them 2 weeks ago asking if everything was good and how much longer it expected to wait as the website says 12-16 weeks but on adhduk it says 11 weeks and they have still not replied. So I called their “corporate team” up multiple times and no one responded. Tbh living with this is hell and I’m 21 and feel like I cannot do basic living and when I’m living with my 5 friends at uni it lowers my self asteem and has made me depressed and anxious. Why is adhd seen as a quirk and a little personality trait when in fact it’s so debilitating and makes me feel like I can’t stick to anything and achieve anything and when I do achieve something it’s more of a relief than a personal accomplishment. I am writing this because I am mad so I hope you understand my frustration but god damn. Wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Then they have the balls to say it’s over diagnosed when in fact it’s the complete opposite it seems they’re just spewing bs lies to hide their massive underfunding to the nhs.

Well, today was day one for me. I came back last night from abroad, felt asleep at 3 am and woke up at 8.

I took my first 30mg at around 10:30 when I was able to go to the pharmacy.

I always had the idea that the noise in my head will go away straight away but didn't happen.

I tend to spend the day in bed, working as well from there.

Today I was super tired, but didn't go to bed at all.

I did some work, clean the house, went out for shopping, booked attractions for my nephew visiting me.

I had a different idea but I guess I can't complaint at all 😅

I got diagnosed back in 2023 but only started medication just over 2 weeks ago. I started on Xaggitin XL 18mg for a week, and the only thing I noticed was feeling too tired to stay awake at night. My sleep schedule was great but everything else was the same as before. Then my dose went to 36mg and all I noticed was physical symptoms of anxiety, which made my adhd symptoms worse, and my sleep schedule became awful again. I'm now being advised to try atomoxetine by my prescriber. This worries me because I'll have to wait for it to build up. I also tried sertraline in the past when I struggled with anxiety and low mood and that also had no effect on me after waiting weeks. I know that's a completely different medication but I'm just terrified I've waited most my life and no medication will ever help me not struggle. Has anyone struggled with medication for a while before finding one that works? I guess I'm just looking for some hope since I see so many positive experiences and am losing hope.

I started T1 titration with careadhd RTC about 3 weeks ago. The prescriber said they could not see me for a half way meeting, in order to adjust medication - fair enough, I'm happy to stay on 30mg for 4 weeks. Elvanse has worked fairly well for me.

However the prescriber did say I should hear from someone to book in a check in - which hasn't happened. I also haven't heard anything about a next appointment (I think they call this T2).

I complained to CAREADHD (via email) last week and heard nothing back, I sent the prescriber an email and heard nothing (maybe they are away, not their fault as they did say they would be unavailable).

I do feel like I have been abandoned though, and I'm now worried I'm going to run out in the next week - I'm confused, I took this really seriously taking BP readings twice a day, everyday, even wrote down thoughts and feelings, and any side effects. On the other hand it feels like no one else has taken it seriously, and someone has really fucked up.

Any thoughts of what I should do?

I (43f) was diagnosed in August last year with PUK. I spoke to my prescriber yesterday and took my first dose this morning. They're starting me on 18mg of xaggitin xl for the first week. Im not sure how I feel yet but im hopeful this can change how useless ive felt throughout my whole life

My current clinic charges £150 for each medication evaluation appointment which is nothing more than asking me to fill out a short questionnaire and confirming the new dose. I've seen others charge half this but i guess i deserve this for choosing the cheapest diagnosis lol

I'm on my 4th new medication now since January and I'm worried how long this process will take and how costly it will be.

Just joined the Reddit community a few moments ago! Hello all.

I'm so sorry if this is maybe one of the most over-posted questions in the community, but I've started on Elvanse (30mg) today and wanted to check a few things.

I've put the questions first, and then context of my first days experience afterwards (to save you needed to read the boring bit if you don't want to!)

Questions to the group :

- I've been told the medication is supposed to calm you down and help you focus, it feels like the opposite has happened to me. Is this a normal response for day one or was my diagnosis perhaps wrong and I don't have ADHD, and this is how non ADHD people react to the medication?

- Part of me enjoys the feeling from today, part of me really hates it.  I'm scared that if I carry on, the good elements and benefits will reduce over time and I won't feel the same buzz or be as productive, but on the flip side I'm also worried it might stay like this?

- Please tell me I won't need to wee this often forever?! 

- I've been told not to drink alcohol on these, is that true or is it actually fine and everyone does it, just not something the medical professionals advise on?

Overall experience from day one:

- my body has actually got up to do things! An entire wardrobe clear out, gutted the dreaded 'underneath the bed', cleared out old toiletries. Super productive and super active but annoyingly it was all the wrong things and I didn't tick off anything that I actually needed to do on my list today.

- sticking with tasks a lot longer , or at least coming back to them. It felt like as soon as I picked something up I started a new task, and then mid way through that task I started something else and so on. But I had a desire to do things properly rather than the minimal possible effort.

- a little jittery and flittery in my chest 

- My GOD I have never wee'd so many times in my life!!!

- I usually hate noises and distractions but I needed music constantly today to set a rhythm and pace and to keep me going.

- To start with I was waiting for it to kick in so thought I'd take it easy while I assessed how I felt. Before I knew it I'd wasted 3 hours hyper invested in a mobile game and passed about 100 levels, and then realised I needed to do things. I suspect this was some of the extra focus, but unfortunately on something unproductive.

Thanks so much in advanced!

I increased to Elvanse 60mg, currently on my 3rd day and since starting it I’ve not been able to get to sleep easily. I didn’t get to sleep until gone 3am last night and was up this morning at 8am. Right now I’m in bed and have been trying to sleep for over an hour. I feel tired but my mind feels like it’s going a hundred miles an hour. My eyes feel so restless. I took my meds at 8am today hoping it might help. The first two days I took my dose at 9am to follow when I was on 30mg and 50mg and had no problems going to sleep.

Did going up to 60mg have this effect on you? What time do you take your dose?

Unfortunately still no noticeable positives from Elvanse despite the increase 😔

I’m just trying to understand what the timeline for Harrow Health to send comms regarding setting up an appointment for an assessment?

13th Oct saw GP about referral
14th Oct referred by GP to Harrow Health
15th Oct email received from Harrow Health with forms
16th Oct forms were all completed

Since then I’ve heard nothing at all acknowledging the completion of the form or that my info is being assessed….

I’m local to the Harrow Health area so it’s the closest RTC clinic for me.

Any insights is appreciated!

I've just gone past 6 weeks of Titrating on Xaggitin XL with psychiatry UK.

Week one 18mg of XL
Week two 36mg of XL
Week three onwards 54mg of XL

For me, whilst the positive effects were there, I felt them roll off too much over time whilst the side effects haven't seemed to have gotten consistently better enough.

I'm very curious to try Elvanse now. A few friends have said they preferred it. Interested in the communities thoughts for those who have switched or tried both.

Before I started therapy in Dec 2025, I asked therapist in email about their experience of working with ADHD patients and my type of PD and asked them about help with goals setting, to which they responded that question is 'valid and important' and that we will discuss it in person. Later on I asked therapist for guardrails and examples and was ignored.

Therapist added to relational passport [document we worked on during the course of therapy] goals as I described them, I wasn't sure about them and about phrasing. My goals were focused on improvements of my functioning, as I read is recommended in therapy for neurodivergent people and therapist said that my goals 'are fine to them'.

However therapy wasn't much focused on them and it didn't feel as if there is any direction in our work. So I started thinking if it's because of the goals of therapist not understanding how my PD interacts with traumas & ADHD and chronic health challenges. I shared my doubts and we continued work in a similar manner.

I decided to stop therapy at the end of April. In June review with psychiatrist was arranged in which I was asked about my therapy goals again, it was the first thing he asked about. After another 6 weeks I asked therapist for meeting service manager. She arranged meeting with her Clinical Supervisor which turned out to be my discharge meeting.

Despite acknowledging that it was a case of bad modality match in the meeting, my local PDS at first wanted to discharge me based on worsening physical health, which I opposed to immediately via email before they issued formal letter.

Response above follows my second meeting with Therapies Team Manager and Service Manager and I have been sitting on this for almost 2 weeks and still struggle to regulate down enough to reply. As you can see basis of discharge has changed.

Despite acknowledging that it was a case of bad modality match in the meeting, my local PDS at first wanted to discharge me based on worsening physical health, which I opposed to immediately via email before they issued formal letter.

I was offered another meeting and again in email exchange in the run up to that 2nd meeting I was asked about my goals and answered it focusing on current goals.

Response above follows my second meeting with Therapies Team Manager and Service Manager and I have been sitting on this for almost 2 weeks and still struggle to regulate down enough to reply. As you can see basis of discharge has changed.

In the 2nd meeting I was asked about my life goals which is different from therapy goals and I got triggered a bit, because my overall life situation is difficult. In general the more they asked the more I felt as if my previous answers weren't what they expected.

In practice my therapist weren't able adjust MBT modality to my PD, executive functioning challenges with decision making and prioritising and were not able to deal freeze response when I got triggered. Every time I asked about their experience with ADHD and my PD they said they have experienced people in their team.

At some point I think they understood that it's not therapy resistance and started asking and did it multiple times for a list of adjustments I need to which I said that I don't know as I was never offered any being late diagnosed in life. And proposed to bring list of executive functions rated based on level of struggle. This offer was ignored.

None of that was acknowledged neither in person nor in the letter the message above. The closest thing they said and only in person was that they saw my struggle. The whole journey was difficult and very disappointing and to say that I need therapy after therapy is probably correct.

So far people I was dealing turned out to be disinterested in making their services more accommodating to less visible challenges with executive functioning. When I mentioned accommodations they said "they are not specialist unit".

I was hoping that they will allow me to try DBT, but I'm not sure if it's worth fighting for, maybe it is, because this discharge prevents me from accessing any other NHS therapy for 12 months, doesn't guarantee acceptance in future, and mentions community team instead of therapy team.

How do I play this?

I could ask for a meeting with Therapy Team Manager first to try to convince them to offer me DBT or skip this step ask for meeting with Service Manager to present how I was treated and what would be worth improving, before I take it all to the Trust.

I'd like to complain to the Trust but am not sure if I have enough steam in my engine, I have never done that before, so I don't know. Just feel flat and exhausted rn.