Managing ADHD can be a bit of a juggling act, and while some people swear by behavioral habits like exercise, routines, and meditation, they might not be the magic bullet for everyone. These habits take a lot of discipline, and while they're great in the long run, they might not be enough to tackle ADHD symptoms right off the bat.
This is where many people turn to pharmaceuticals like Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin. These drugs have been shown to boost focus for just about anyone, but especially for those with ADHD. The catch? The long-term side effects can be a bit of a buzzkill, including cardiovascular issues, appetite suppression, sleep disturbances, emotional and psychological problems, physical side effects, growth issues in kids, personality changes, and dependency.
Now, I'm not completely against these medications, but as someone who was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid and has limited experience with them, I can tell you that there are some effective alternatives out there. We all want tools that help us breeze through our daily tasks with ease and motivation, and in this blog, we'll explore some supplements that can promote calm, sustainable focus without the weird side effects.
What Are ADHD Medications And How Do They Work?
Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse are commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. While all three are stimulant medications, they differ in their active ingredients, mechanisms of action, duration of effect, and how they are metabolized by the body. Here’s a breakdown of how each works:
- Adderall (Amphetamine Salts)
- Active Ingredients: Adderall contains a mixture of amphetamine salts, including dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine.
- Mechanism of Action: Adderall works by increasing the levels of two neurotransmitters in the brain: dopamine and norepinephrine. It does this by blocking the reuptake of these neurotransmitters into the presynaptic neuron and promoting the release of dopamine and norepinephrine into the synaptic cleft. This increase in neurotransmitter activity helps improve attention, focus, and impulse control in individuals with ADHD.
- Duration: Adderall is available in both immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (XR) formulations. The immediate-release version typically lasts 4-6 hours, while the extended-release version can last 10-12 hours.
- Metabolism: Adderall is metabolized primarily in the liver and excreted in the urine.
- Ritalin (Methylphenidate)
- Active Ingredient: Ritalin’s active ingredient is methylphenidate.
- Mechanism of Action: Like Adderall, Ritalin works by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. However, it primarily does this by blocking the reuptake of these neurotransmitters into neurons rather than promoting their release. This mechanism helps enhance focus, attention, and control of impulsive behavior in people with ADHD.
- Duration: Ritalin is available in immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (XR or LA) forms. The immediate-release version lasts about 3-4 hours, while extended-release versions can last 8-12 hours.
- Metabolism: Ritalin is metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine. It has a relatively short half-life, which means it exits the body more quickly than Adderall.
- Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine)
- Active Ingredient: Vyvanse contains lisdexamfetamine, which is a prodrug of dextroamphetamine.
- Mechanism of Action: Vyvanse is unique because it is a prodrug, meaning it is inactive until it is metabolized in the body. After ingestion, lisdexamfetamine is converted into dextroamphetamine in the bloodstream. Once converted, it increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain by promoting their release and blocking their reuptake, like Adderall. This leads to improved attention, focus, and impulse control.
- Duration: Vyvanse is designed to be a long-acting medication. It typically lasts around 10-14 hours, providing all-day symptom control with a smoother onset and offset compared to other stimulants.
- Metabolism: Vyvanse is metabolized primarily in the blood, rather than the liver, which may reduce the variability in how different people metabolize the drug. It is excreted in the urine.
ADHD Medication Summary
Onset of Action:
- Adderall: Begins to work within 30-60 minutes.
- Ritalin: Also begins to work within 30-60 minutes.
- Vyvanse: Takes slightly longer to start working, usually about 1-2 hours after ingestion.
Duration:
- Adderall XR: Lasts 10-12 hours.
- Ritalin LA: Lasts 8-12 hours.
- Vyvanse: Lasts 10-14 hours.
Mechanism:
- Adderall and Vyvanse promote the release of neurotransmitters in addition to blocking their reuptake.
- Ritalin primarily blocks the reuptake of neurotransmitters without promoting their release.
Metabolism:
- Adderall: Metabolized in the liver.
- Ritalin: Metabolized in the liver, with a shorter half-life.
- Vyvanse: Metabolized in the blood, providing a more consistent release and reduced potential for abuse.
The Side Effects Of ADHD Medication
Adderall (Amphetamine Salts)
Common Side Effects:
- Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Appetite Suppression: Reduced appetite, which can lead to weight loss, particularly in children.
- Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Can be a concern, especially in individuals with preexisting heart conditions.
- Dry Mouth: A frequent sensation of dryness in the mouth.
- Anxiety: Increased feelings of anxiety or nervousness.
- Irritability: Mood swings or increased irritability, especially as the medication wears off (rebound effect).
- Headaches: May occur, particularly when starting the medication or adjusting the dose.
- Ritalin (Methylphenidate)
Common Side Effects:
- Insomnia: Trouble sleeping, especially if taken later in the day.
- Appetite Suppression: Can lead to weight loss or difficulty gaining weight in children.
- Stomachaches: Gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea and stomach pain.
- Headaches: Often reported as a side effect, particularly during the initial phase of treatment.
- Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Like Adderall, Ritalin can cause cardiovascular side effects.
- Anxiety and Nervousness: Feelings of jitteriness or increased anxiety.
- Irritability: Can occur, particularly when the effects of the medication start to wear off.
- Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine)
Common Side Effects:
- Insomnia: Difficulty sleeping, which can be mitigated by taking medication earlier in the day.
- Decreased Appetite: Leading to potential weight loss, particularly in children and adolescents.
- Dry Mouth: A common side effect, like other stimulant medications.
- Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Cardiovascular effects, which need monitoring, especially in those with heart conditions.
- Anxiety: Some users may experience increased anxiety or feelings of restlessness.
- Irritability: Mood swings or irritability, particularly as the medication wears off.
- Dizziness: Some individuals may experience dizziness, especially when first starting the medication.
Nootropics And ADHD
If you've been keeping up with our blog, you know we've been raving about nootropics, but let's take a quick refresher. Nootropics, aka 'smart drugs' or cognitive enhancers, are like the superheroes of brain boosters. They can supercharge your memory, creativity, focus, and overall brain function. These bad boys come in all shapes and sizes, from natural supplements like herbs and vitamins to synthetic compounds that give your brain a high-five. Whether you're aiming to boost productivity, laser-focus like a boss, or just keep your noggin sharp as a tack, nootropics might just be your new best friend in the world of wellness.
Nootropics are emerging as a possible game-changer for managing ADHD symptoms, offering a potentially more natural alternative to traditional stimulant meds. While the usual suspects can be effective, they often come with side-effect baggage that some might prefer to skip. Nootropics, on the other hand, aim to boost focus, attention, and overall brain power without the harsh pharmaceutical punch. Some of these brain boosters, like L-theanine, Rhodiola Rosea, and those good ol' Omega-3 fatty acids, have been shown to chill out the mind, cut down on anxiety, and sharpen mental clarity—all pretty handy for those with ADHD. Plus, certain nootropics play with neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, which are like the dynamic duo for keeping ADHD symptoms in check. Some of our favorites may be obvious to you, but nonetheless, lets dive in and explore them and why they are great for ADHD.
Nootropics For ADHD
L-Theanine
It's an amino acid found in tea leaves, especially green tea, that can help you relax and focus without making you drowsy. It's like a mini vacation for your mind, helping to reduce stress and anxiety while boosting cognitive function. Think of it like this: L-theanine is the DJ at a party in your brain, playing a soothing mix of serotonin and dopamine to get everyone dancing in harmony. It helps to increase alpha brain waves, which are associated with a state of wakeful relaxation. It's like a mental massage, soothing your frazzled nerves and helping you to concentrate on the task at hand. In addition to its calming effects, L-theanine may also improve sleep quality and duration, and it has even been studied for its potential neuroprotective benefits. More on that shortly. So, if you're feeling stressed or struggling to focus, L-theanine might just be the answer to your prayers. Just remember to consult with your doctor before adding any new supplements to your routine.
Often the issue with staying on task and ADHD has to do with a couple of things, a lack of motivation, and an abundance of stress and distractions. In this case, theanine gives you a bump in dopamine (the motivation neurotransmitter), while calming the brain down and putting you into an alpha brain state. In this state, your mind is calm and focused, but not stressed or overly excited. It's like that perfect balance between being awake and alert, but without the mental chatter and anxiety. This is the sweet spot for creativity, problem-solving, and learning.
More on this, sleep problems are a common comorbidity associated with ADHD, and because poor sleep could be linked etiologically to ADHD, it may be an effective tool for improving sleep and therefore ADHD. L-theanine, especially when paired with magnesium l-threonate, can significantly improve sleep by relieving anxiety.
Theanine and Caffeine:
Now we already know what theanine alone could be doing in the fight against ADHD, but the addition of caffeine can really kick things up a notch. Now, before we go into the why, let me first say that caffeine is great, but can negatively impact sleep, which can screw everything up. Use your best judgement when timing your caffeine intake! As someone that has had issues with sleep and was diagnosed with ADHD, I try to cut off caffeine by around noon, but use your best judgement.
Anyways, while caffeine and theanine might just look like “baby’s first nootropic stack” the effects are quite noticeable. In fact in this study, it was found that the combination of L-theanine and caffeine might just be the secret sauce for kids with ADHD. This study suggests that they can boost sustained attention and overall brain power, by keeping those wandering thoughts at bay during tasks that require focus.
While L-theanine or caffeine alone might make kids a bit more impulsive, this power couple combo seems to have the opposite effect, helping to keep those impulsive behaviors in check. This could make them a potential game-changer for managing ADHD symptoms in kids, either as a standalone treatment or to reduce the need for other medications.
Alpha-GPC:
ADHD medications primarily increase both dopamine and norepinephrine, and while this may work for some, recent research suggests that there may be a link between ADHD and poor acetylcholine production. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter critical for motor control, attention, learning and memory, and individuals with poor acetylcholine status tend to be at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s, addiction, schizophrenia, and well…ADHD. The choline transporter CHT is key to proper acetylcholine production, especially for tasks requiring focus. In a study from 2009, it was found that children with ADHD, especially the combined subtype, were more likely to have the val89 variant of the CHT gene. The val89 gene variant reduces the efficiency of choline transport into neurons, which in turn decreases the production of acetylcholine. Because choline is a critical precursor to acetylcholine, but transport is less efficient with the val89 variant, there is less choline available to turn into acetylcholine.
How might we fix this? By taking supplements that act as precursors to acetylcholine, like CDP-choline and our favorite, Alpha-GPC. Alpha-GPC is a choline compound which can cross into the blood brain barrier and serves as a potent precursor for acetylcholine.
Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane)
This little nootropic mushroom has become incredibly popular in the last decade, and while lion’s mane is generally not something that is going to be “felt” so to speak, it protects and enhances our nervous system which can lead to better overall cognitive health.
So what exactly is it doing?
Neurogenesis. Lion’s mane has been shown to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), which is a protein that promotes the growth, maintenance, and survival of neurons. This is likely the main factor here, and some of the downstream of a well-functioning nervous system include. A reduction in anxiety and depression, improved focus and attention, and enhanced neuroplasticity. Effectively, if our nervous system is functioning properly, is well maintained, and less inflamed, we are less likely to experience cognitive disorders, like ADHD.
Managing ADHD can be a complex journey, with various strategies and treatments available. While behavioral habits like exercise, routines, and meditation can be effective, they may not be the complete solution for everyone. Pharmaceutical options like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse are commonly prescribed, but they come with potential long-term side effects that may not be ideal.
As an alternative, nootropics have emerged as a promising natural option for managing ADHD symptoms. Supplements like L-theanine, caffeine, Alpha-GPC, and Lion's Mane offer potential benefits for focus, attention, and overall cognitive function, without the harsh side effects associated with traditional ADHD medications.