ADHD

Hi @dehlya,

This is such an important question—thank you for bringing it up! ADHD and narcolepsy often intersect in interesting ways, especially when it comes to treatment. While I don’t have narcolepsy myself, I’ve done a lot of research and spoken to others in similar situations. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Shared Treatments
It’s not uncommon for stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin to be prescribed for both ADHD and narcolepsy. These medications target similar brain functions—improving focus and reducing excessive daytime sleepiness—so they can benefit both conditions. However, the dosage or timing might need adjusting depending on how each condition presents for you.

2. Finding the Right Fit
Some people, like @lycoriscyl mentioned, find that non-stimulant options such as Modafinil or Wakix (Pitolisant) work better for managing narcolepsy symptoms without some of the drawbacks of traditional stimulants. If you’re struggling to find a balance between managing ADHD and narcolepsy, it might be worth discussing these options with your doctor. Services like Attention to Health specialise in ADHD assessment and treatment and might be able to offer insight into how your treatment plan could be optimised.

3. Holistic Management
Managing both conditions often requires a bit of finesse. Sleep hygiene is crucial, as it helps your body and medication work more effectively. For ADHD, strategies like using timers, breaking tasks into smaller steps, or even pairing focus-heavy tasks with movement can be helpful. For narcolepsy, prioritising rest periods and planning your day around your energy levels can make a huge difference.

4. Monitoring Side Effects
You mentioned wondering if the same stimulants could work for both conditions. While they can, it’s important to monitor for side effects like anxiety, heart palpitations, or mood changes. Open communication with your doctor is key to tweaking your treatment plan as needed.

If you’re looking to explore further, Attention to Health offers consultations that could help you navigate ADHD treatment while considering its interaction with narcolepsy management.

It’s amazing to hear about everyone’s unique journeys in this thread—it’s such a reminder that no one-size-fits-all approach works for conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy. Keep advocating for yourself and exploring options that help you thrive.

Warmly,
Claire

Yeah, I take Adderall. 30 mg twice a day

It took me years and years to be properly diagnosed. When I was being treated under diagnoses that included ADHD and Bipolar Depression with psychotic features my regimen always included a stimulant of some sort. I always told providers that they seemed to treat the "depression" more than mood stabilizers, the antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics that we tried. They seemed to "correct" some function in my brain. They managed my narcolepsy enough that I was functioning in society, but they still had many drawbacks and were not the best regimen for me at the end of the day.


I struggled both as a teenager and as an adult with occasional (both prescribed and illicit) stimulant abuse. Because of this, it was hard and frustrating for me to get physicians to understand that chronic fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness had been struggles for me since early adolescence. I told them that it did not matter if I slept two hours or twenty- I did not feel rested with any level of sleep ever and if left to my own devices I could sleep in perpetuity.


The clinician that finally recognized my condition as narcolepsy expressed that it's not uncommon for narcoleptics to seek stimulants to correct "wiring" problems enough to be functional, and that depressive symptoms with narcolepsy are sometimes secondary to the chronic fatigue which is why the stimulants seemed to help more with the "depression" than other classes of medications.


I am presently on Modafanil and it has been life-changing in terms of becoming a high-functioning adult who takes care of themselves. I feel it manages my narcolepsy better than traditional stimulants. That said, no drug is perfect and my biggest complaint about the medication is that it was sold to me as being much less addictive but I am very self-conscious and self-aware that I get anxious when my script is running low that I might not have medication on hand. Because I rotate shifts it was also considered a good choice for me under the impression that it would be safe enough if I had to take it at different times of the day now and then or not take it at all if it weren't necessary (like the first day after working three 12 hour shifts when I typically just want to rest). Unfortunately I find if I go without taking the medication for more than one day I experience significant and distressing mood lability with lots of tearfulness, hypersomnia to the point that I cannot drive even for a few minutes due to the danger of falling asleep, and binge eating behaviors.

Yes and kind of. We're still trying to find a good dosage and timing to be effective for both. It's important to mention I also have PoTS so stimulant use for me is tricky, so it takes a lot more finessing than the people who can just take 72 mg of ER adderall.