M.E and ADHD

[Tell Cabrera]

Hi, I am writing this on behalf of my Son Troy as he can’t manage to reply himself on here.
Has anyone got any advice that they can share. Many thanks for any help.

“I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD and have been prescribed low dose Ritalin. Before I even consider taking the medication I wanted to ask for advice from the m.e community, how does ritalin affect m.e patients, especially severely affected people. Does it worsen any m.e symptoms and what side effects have people experienced.
Does it negatively affect sleep? As insomnia is a massive struggle with my severe M.E.
As much as I want to try medication to help with my ADHD, it is not worth it if it is likely to make my m.e symptoms, and managing them worse.
I would really appreciate any advice and shared experiences. I have been diagnosed with M.E for over 25yrs.
Thank you.”

 

[andyguitar]

That type of drug can help according to this research........

 

[Springbok1988]

Patients with ME/CFS have to be very careful with stimulants because they can easily cause post exertional malaise. I have ADHD and can only tolerate small doses of stimulants.
Ritalin and vyvanse both made my already bad insomnia much worse. I didn’t like how Adderall felt at the end of the day. It made me really irritable and it also worsened my sleep. The worse of all of them for me was modafinil. Evekeo has the fewest side effects for me and it doesn’t ruin my sleep if I only take it in the morning. It can still cause PEM, though.
There are other ADHD medications that are non-stimulant like guanfacine and strattera. Guanfacine will make you really sleepy until you adjust to it and strattera is known to cause nausea. I didn’t have luck with either of them.
My advice would be to start at a low dose, maybe even splitting pills (as long as it is the instant release version) until you know how the medication makes you feel. You probably wont have the same reactions that I did so you’ll just have to find the best one for you. Just be careful to not over do it and trigger PEM. Too high of a dose will trigger PEM even if you don’t over do it.
I hope this helps!

 

[Rufous McKinney]

very careful with stimulants because they can easily cause post exertional malaise. I have ADHD and can only tolerate small doses of stimulants.

I tried the Modafinil twice. (50mg half dose)
First time: PEM crash (I mopped the kitchen floor, unrestrained)
The second time, it was pouring rain, so I did virtually nothing, just my normal sit in my chair type stuff.
PEM crash.
I have a bottle's worth, and never have any desire to take that.

 

[Tell Cabrera]

That type of drug can help according to this research........View attachment 55292

Thanks for your reply

 

[Tell Cabrera]

Patients with ME/CFS have to be very careful with stimulants because they can easily cause post exertional malaise. I have ADHD and can only tolerate small doses of stimulants.
Ritalin and vyvanse both made my already bad insomnia much worse. I didn’t like how Adderall felt at the end of the day. It made me really irritable and it also worsened my sleep. The worse of all of them for me was modafinil. Evekeo has the fewest side effects for me and it doesn’t ruin my sleep if I only take it in the morning. It can still cause PEM, though.
There are other ADHD medications that are non-stimulant like guanfacine and strattera. Guanfacine will make you really sleepy until you adjust to it and strattera is known to cause nausea. I didn’t have luck with either of them.
My advice would be to start at a low dose, maybe even splitting pills (as long as it is the instant release version) until you know how the medication makes you feel. You probably wont have the same reactions that I did so you’ll just have to find the best one for you. Just be careful to not over do it and trigger PEM. Too high of a dose will trigger PEM even if you don’t over do it.
I hope this helps!

Thanks that’s really helpful to know your experience

 

[Tell Cabrera]

I tried the Modafinil twice. (50mg half dose)
First time: PEM crash (I mopped the kitchen floor, unrestrained)
The second time, it was pouring rain, so I did virtually nothing, just my normal sit in my chair type stuff.
PEM crash.
I have a bottle's worth, and never have any desire to take that.

Again thanks so good to know these things first

 

[Wayne]

I would really appreciate any advice and shared experiences. I have been diagnosed with M.E for over 25yrs.

Hi @Tell Cabrera -- I'm a pretty much drugs as a last resort kind of guy. This recent post of mine briefly describes some of the things that have helped me so much. Perhaps you or Troy will find it helpful. -- Take care...

 

[Tell Cabrera]

Hi @Tell Cabrera -- I'm a pretty much drugs as a last resort kind of guy. This recent post of mine briefly describes some of the things that have helped me so much. Perhaps you or Troy will find it helpful. -- Take care...

Thanks very much,that’s very interesting

 

[Wayne]

Thanks very much,that’s very interesting

Hi again @Tell Cabrera -- Since you found my post on mHBOT interesting, you may want to check out the following very informative (and fascinating in my mind) 8-minute video:

The Synergistic Power of Methylene Blue, Red Light Therapy, and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy​

I firmly believe there are a wide variety of potential solutions to our complex health issues outside the realm of mainstream medicine and mainstream medical thought.

Here's another important nutritional element to consider: