How do ADHD pills affect you?

Question

like your mood and health and weight and everything?

Answer 1

They improve my concentration, elevate and balance mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and help to keep me motivated.  They tend to make me more "serious", which isn't a negative when you're a tax-paying 9-5 adult.  You would think the ADD meds would help me lose weight, if I was trying to lose weight, but actually it doesn't supress my appetite as much as Lexapro, which I also take.  I've lost about 20lbs since starting Lexapro 1.5 months ago -- pretty cool eh?  Slight fluctuations in blood pressure, but not enough to be clinically significant.  I have some insomnia that's made a little worse by the medication.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Well I take Adderall--and how it affects me:

1) Somewhat more "serious"--I can sit there and get my work done without "freaking out" on what's going on around me.  I used to get very overwhelmed easily (and still do sometimes, it doesn't completely change your personality)--but now I'm a lot more laid back and don't forget things as often.

2) Health--The only major side effect health wise is that my skin is much oilier.  Be careful with caffeine--too much will make your heart race, but by itself I don't notice a difference with pulse.

3) Weight--After I started taking it, I lost about 10 lbs. right away--now it's leveled off.  It can make you somewhat nauseated if you eat large amounts of food at once, I usually eat small meals throughout the day.  

It's very important you eat when you take this medicine (because sometimes you won't even think about food)--but food will help your medication work more effectively.  

Answer 3

Well, first I would not recommend getting on the medication unless you TRUELY have ADD, and even if you do there are other alternatives to ADHD meds.  THey are over prescribed, and many people that take them don't even truly have ADD.  

I took ADHD medication for 10 years, and I started having heart problems 5 years after starting them.  I had to get several EKGs (which measures the heart), because it was beating irregulary.  I was 18 years old at the time, and my 80 year old grandmother had never even had a EKG!!! THe doctors attributed it to the adhd medication.

They're extremly addictive, but they do help improve attention.  They can make you act nervous and have more anxiety, since stimulants are basically like prescription speed.  Overall, I would use these meds as a last resort,  Try other alternatives like neurofeedback or natural supplements like Attend.  I have severe attention defecit disorder, and that's what I do now.