Introduction
So you or your kids have got a diagnosis and you’re taking the brave step to try medication. There are so many different ways to support people with ADHD and there are a few different medications - I’ve done another video about what they are - click on the pop-out banner if you want to check that one out - but for now I’m going to let you in on what it’s like to take Elvanse as part of my treatment regime.
Quick Fire Facts:
Here are some quick fire facts on what Elvanse actually is and then I’ll talk about how it feels:
- Elvanse and Elvanse Adult are the brand names for a drug called lis-dexamphetamine
- Dexamphetamine belongs to the group of drugs called “stimulants”
- This drug works by stimulating your brain to increase the release of dopamine
- This increases your “tonic dopamine level” and
- Helps reduce the need for ADHDers to seek external stimuli
- The “Lis” prefix to dexamphetamine means that Elvanse metabolises in your liver and not your stomach
- This reduces abuse potential
- Elvanse and Elvanse Adult are the same drug - the “adult” version is to satisfy medical insurance companies’ criteria for claims.
Elvanse and Your Body
First of all let’s look at what it feels like from a physical point of view - how does your body feel?
- Takes between an hour and 2 hours to come on
- You will feel a physical effect if your dose is high enough
- Elevates your heart rate
- Hands and feet can go clammy and cold
- Simultaneously - your body temperature may increase
- Appetite is lowered - but if you can eat if you try
- Elvanse is quite gentle with these effects - they should be subtle
- If you feel that it is too strong - your dose is too high
These physical effects can make you feel anxious if you’re not used to using these types of drugs. It’s important to say that this anxiety is often your emotional reaction to physical changes in your body.
It is rarely Elvanse inducing your anxiety, but it can happen. If you feel worried about anything at all with your medication, speak to your doctor as soon as you can about your options - it’s usually a case of lowering or splitting your dose.
It’s not all bad though guys - there is an incredible emotional benefit to using Elvanse and a lot of us seem worried about potentially pedalling drug abuse, and bangin’ on about the good stuff…but we take it for the good stuff - why would anyone take stuff on a regular basis that makes them feel worse?!
Elvanse and Emotions
- Focus is improved like crazy
- It was shocking to me how much more productive I could be when I first started using Elvanse. Shocking.
- Having a to do list that actually got crossed off in full was a major emotional boost for me
- It increased my confidence about having a lot of work on
- It decreased my feelings of being overwhelmed
- It calmed the chaos
- Self-esteem
- Massive improvements because of motivation and productivity - suddenly I saw myself catching up to the rest of the world
- I had control over my eating and my weight - which isn’t an issue for everyone but it was for me. Losing weight was a big turning point for my mental health and happiness
- Enjoying the little things
- Come to think of it - enjoying anything
- For ADHDers, “joy” is elusive
- To be able to enjoy little things like putting a wash on or the flavour of a banana - dude! Shit.
On the whole though my Elvanse experience is split into immediate physical sensations on one side and sustainable emotional improvements on the other.
What about kids?
Elvanse is routinely prescribed for children with ADHD and if you are making the decision to put your kid on medication I would just encourage you to be mindful of their experience.
This isn’t a magic eraser, they will still have ADHD and they will still display traits and symptoms. The key difference is that they may not have the language to describe how they are feeling when using the medication.
Because your heart rate does increase and because there are physical sensations they might feel anxious about this.
Talk to them, help them understand what’s happening and keep an eye on their experience - if they really feel awful then talk to your doctor as soon as you possibly can.
Now, I can already tell - you’re a great parent, you’re here educating yourself for the good of your children and your household, I commend you.
Bottom line - from the many many studies that have been carried out - Elvanse is shown to help many millions of people who suffer from ADHD.
No drug is “safe”, but under correct supervision from clinicians and great parents like you, Elvanse can provide some helpful support to your kids who, quite frankly, are struggling more than anyone else will ever know - even if they don’t seem to be.
Controversy and Myths:
- Elvanse is not quite “amphetamine"
- The Dexamphetamine or (dextroamphetmine in the US) molecule is a mirror image of amphetamine
- If you image your left hand is dexamphetamine and your right hand is amphetamine. When you put them together they mirror each other. They'er both hands, and they perform similar functions, in slightly different ways.
- Amphetamine is not speed
- The street drug “speed” is part of the amphetamine group, but when you take Elvanse you are NOT taking speed!
- Speed can be a combination of all sorts of nasty gubbins thrown together by very clever, but unlicensed, unregulated home chemists.
- Elvanse is a medicine that has been through rigorous testing and clinical trials. It is created by licensed and regulated pharmacologists.
- Is Elvanse addictive?
- Any amphetamine or derivative has abuse potential and can be addictive
- Taking your meds exactly as prescribed massively reduces the risk of addiction
- Elvanse’s structure reduces the potential for abuse by being metabolised in the liver
- Addiction is dangerous but can happen to anyone with anything
- Try not to judge yourself and seek help
- Recovery is absolutely possible
- Can you develop a tolerance to it?
- Yes
- You absolutely can develop a tolerance to it. I have developed one recently and I’m going to speak to my doctor about it and see what my options are. If you feel the same is happening to you - talk to your doctor
- It’s so important that you stick to your prescription, even if you feel you’re becoming tolerant to it. There may be something else going on and straying from your dose could cause harm and addiction
- It’s so simple man, talk to your doctor. And I totally get it, tolerance is a horrible feeling when you’ve found such great support from your dose, but it’s just not worth the risk to dick around with your dosage unsupervised
- You or your kids will turn into a zombie
- Look, no drug is safe - but that goes for the likes of Elvanse as much as it does for paracetamol
- If you are feeling like a zombie or you notice your kids looking a bit zombified then you need to talk to your doctor as soon as you can
- The effects of Elvanse should be quite subtle and if they’re not - it’s likely the dose is wrong or the drug is not working for you or your kids properly
If you’re trying Elvanse for the first time I’d love to hear about your experience and you might be sharing something helpful to your neurodivergent tribe too.
Conclusion
Elvanse can be a powerful tool in managing ADHD, offering benefits like improved focus, productivity, and emotional stability. However, like any medication, it’s important to approach it with awareness and caution. The physical effects can be subtle but may trigger anxiety if you’re not familiar with them, and it’s essential to communicate openly with your doctor about any concerns, from side effects to developing tolerance.
For parents, keeping an eye on your child’s experience with Elvanse is crucial. Remember, this medication is there to help them manage symptoms, not erase their ADHD. Monitoring, support, and open dialogue can ensure that the treatment is effective without overwhelming them.
Above all, be patient with the process. Medication is one part of a broader ADHD management strategy, and it takes time to find the right balance. By working closely with your healthcare provider, sticking to prescribed doses, and paying attention to how you or your child respond, you can harness the benefits of Elvanse while minimizing potential risks.
Remember, ADHD is a lifelong journey, and medication like Elvanse is just one of the many ways to help navigate it. Stay informed, stay connected, and continue exploring what works best for you or your loved ones.
