Medication can help you manage attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Finding the right medication and dose can take some trial and error. You can work with a professional, like a psychiatric nurse practitioner at ReKlame Health, to find what might work for you.

A treatment provider can:

• Assess your symptoms and experiences
• Talk through whether you may have ADHD or another condition
• Discuss inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined presentations of ADHD
• Share treatment options, such as stimulant or nonstimulant medication

If you have ADHD and you decide to take medication, that may be only the first step of your journey. Keep an eye out for ADHD medication side effects to discuss with your provider.

Talk to your provider about side effects

If you work with a virtual provider from ReKlame, you'll have some unique advantages in treatment. These include frequent check-ins and continuous support. If you're concerned about side effects, you can always reach out to your psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Speak with your provider if you are:

• Losing your appetite or forgetting to eat

Some ADHD medications can suppress your appetite. They can also allow you to stay so absorbed in whatever you are doing that you skip a mealtime. This side effect should be managed, even though being engrossed in work, learning or a good book might feel wonderful after struggling with ADHD symptoms. Talk to your prescriber if you're missing meals or losing your appetite.

• Having trouble falling or staying asleep

These medications can help you focus on what you need to do during the day, but how do you feel when bedtime rolls around? Are you still awake, focused and ready for anything but sleep? If your medication might be keeping you up at night, talk to your provider. Let them know if you're having trouble sleeping through the night, too.

• Noticing a fast heartbeat or palpitations

If you're taking a stimulant like methylphenidate (Ritalin) or amphetamine salts (Adderall), it doesn't just affect your focus — it affects your central nervous system. This system consists of your brain and spinal cord, and it controls bodily functions. Medication may make your heart beat quickly or cause palpitations (pounding or fluttering feelings). Make sure to tell your prescriber if you experience this.

• Having tics or involuntary movements

Tics are abrupt, unintentional motions that may be repetitive. Less commonly, tics can be vocalizations. You may know of them as symptoms of Tourette syndrome, but they don't only occur in that condition. Professionals are studying whether stimulants can cause a person to develop new tics or only exacerbate existing tics. If you notice new or worsening tics on stimulants, talk to your prescriber.

• Experiencing anxiety, irritability or other mood changes

Sometimes, medication can affect your mood. You might feel like you're on edge. You might be aggravated by things that didn't bother you before, or annoying things that used to be easier to ignore. If you notice something different about your mood while on medication, it's worth discussing with your provider.

This is important if you have a personal or family history of hypomania, mania, or bipolar I or II disorder. You may need a different approach to ADHD treatment to reduce the risk of a hypomanic or manic episode.

1. Experiencing hallucinations or perceived disturbances

Sometimes, when taking too high of a dosage, even without a history of psychosis, or if a patient has an underlying psychotic disorder, stimulants can worsen symptoms of psychosis.

Hallucinations are perceptions that aren't based in reality, such as sights and sounds that aren't present.

ADHD medication can interact with other medication, drugs, food and alcohol

If you're experiencing uncomfortable side effects, they may stem from or be exacerbated by something else in your system. If you are taking a stimulant like methylphenidate, talk with your provider about:

• Antidepressants including:
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram or sertraline
  • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like duloxetine or venlafaxine
  • The norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) bupropion
  • Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline or doxepin
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like isocarboxazid or phenelzine
• Cocaine, methamphetamine
• Grapefruit and pomelo fruit and juice
• Caffeinated drinks
• Alcohol
• Vitamin C

Some of these interactions could be severe. Using MAOIs and stimulants together is dangerous and must be avoided. Your provider might have advice about taking ADHD medication without giving up another medication or something you enjoy, like coffee. Maybe you just need a smaller cup of cold brew or a little less espresso in an Americano.

Connect with a provider at ReKlame 

If you have concerns about ADHD medication side effects, connect with one of our professionals virtually. Give our care team a call today for more information, check your eligibility for free online or book an initial appointment online.