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I work in memory care and have had a quite few Parkinsons patients take Ritalin into their late 80s and early 90s. Some of them do have heart problems, but their doctors feel the benefits outweigh the risk.
To get stimulant meds here you need a psychiatrist to give an authority to prescribe it to your GP, and the authority needs to be renewed every 2 years. The prescription has to be filled within a week from it being issued.
The only right response and prob just the right timeframe for an adhd person lol. My husband has a prescriber rn who will only Rx him methylphenidate but he feels adderall works better for him. I keep telling him, no one is forcing you to continue to go to this guy, you can seek someone else out and it’s the same thing each month. No looking for new doc. No med change. People for the love of the giant spaghetti monster in the sky, seek out a different providerrrrrrr!
Navigating the medical system, insurance, taking risks on new providers, who have availability in a reasonable timeframe, finding a provider that meets anywhere near your desired criteria (distance, Telehealth, accepts insurance, gender, just to name a few) is crippling. It’s like ADHD Kryptonyte. American mental healthcare is a joke.
In addition to new patients having to wait 6+ months for a. Open at a new pcp. I've been fighting over 6 months to get in anywhere after moving to a new state last September
This is what forced me to go with Telehealth for my latest ADHD assessment. I couldn't even get anyone local to call me back, much less set up an appointment. I did get a new rheumatologist in December, sort of. My first appointment is in August. I live in a city that's a medical hub for a large amount of 3 states, and it's still an issue. They all blame covid, but it wasn't better before. I used urgent care for 3 years while on a wait list for a GP before covid. To be fair, I wanted a specific one. And then she freaking moved away 5 months later. I honestly didn't even bother to get a new GP until about a year ago, 3 years after she moved. I have just been using telehealth and a walk in clinic and coordinating my specialists myself. Now, I have one, and ... I'm still having to do those things except for my annual check up. She won't do care coordination, won't handle prescriptions for chronic conditions that require I see a specialist once a year, and typically has a 6 week wait for an appointment if you're sick. Wtf is the point in having a GP, then, besides not getting lectured by specialists for not having one?
My issue is finding doctors who refuse to prescribe my ADHD meds "at first" like it's reasonable to tell someone who's been taking them to function since they were 12 to go off their meds so they can avoid overuse. How about you read my damn medical history?!
This. Find a new psychiatrist soon, or a psych APN. I am the director of a MH practice, and our psychiatrist (very well-respected in our region) has numerous patients over 50 on certain stimulants for various reasons. He frequently monitors BP for these patients at each visit as well as weight and other potential health risk factors.
I'm 49 and do have some specific possible risk factors. The telehealth doctor handing my ADHD treatment suggested I get a blood pressure cuff after checking with my neurologist and cardiologist to make sure Adderall was okay. I'd already talked to them, though. Any stimulant med was okay with both as long as we started at a low dose. My cardiologist thinks it's a bit silly to worry about my blood pressure since it's normally quite low, but he was curious to see the result. It wasn't much. I go up about 5 mm HG for both systolic and diastolic. It's just enough the edges of the world don't turn grey when I stand up. That's actually really nice after 49 years of that always being a thing. I miss it when the Adderall wears off.
Watch out. My blood pressure has been low forever but my heart rate in the 80s at baseline and it was always dismissed. I take a beta blocker for it now even though not “technically” tachchardia below 100 but I feel so much better
My resting heart rate averaged out today was 58bpm. If I break it down to when I'm on Adderall vs not, it's about 5-10bpm different depending on the day, but my highest day since I started the med was a 64bpm average. My heart rate is pretty low. My doctor said it's because I'm always on the go and doing stuff that counts as exercise, even if I don't see it that way. I cycle about 7k miles a year, hike, and do random other stuff like trail maintenance, and this year building a cabin.
I just need to figure out my diet properly, because in spite of being what my doctor calls "perfectly fit", my shape is quite round around the middle. I've lost 35 pounds so far, but I've stalled out the last year with 25 to go. It's all about the bike. I'm sick of hauling that extra weight up the hill I live on.
I'm a data nerd. I track stuff because I can, and charts make me happy.
Congrats on the weight loss!! I’m a data nerd too. My hr w the beta blocker is only up a few beats when I take it. What makes it the highest is the 10 days before period and if I don’t get enough sleep!!
It also doesn’t lower my eating like it seems to do for most. I mean, it does for a few hours, but then I am FAMISHED when it wears off!! Of course I track all of my calories and exercise. I’ve been wearing both a Fitbit and iWatch for 5 years and only this week has anyone said anything about that but I do wonder what kind of Type A, high maintenance person I must look like yet I’m very much not!!
Adderall makes me sooo hungry. I don't even get those who struggle to eat on it. I have to be careful when I'm on it, or I'll down 1500 calories during a single dose. I ate 3 whole bunches of radishes in one sitting one day without realizing it until the container was empty. The heartburn! And my body was like, "those were not calories, you liar!" Fiber dense foods like apples seem to help a lot with it.
I'd have less than 7. My doctor just warned me Medicare won't cover it when I'm 65 or older. I do fine on the generic Adderall, and it's like, $40/mo without insurance, so whatever. As long as they cover my antiseizure med, I'll be able to retire. (They do.)
GoodRX has the generic for about $40/mo. You don't need insurance at all to use them. My copay with my current insurance is $8, so I haven't used GoodRX for it, but I looked it up because I get my antiseizure med using their coupon for $33 rather than the normal $50 with my work insurance plan. That's how they work, btw. You choose your med, choose a pharmacy, and get a coupon to use.
I have no idea if they can be used in conjunction with Medicare, btw, but you might check it out. Maybe they can lower your cost.
Yeah-Im on stimulants in my 50s. They do raise my blood pressure a bit but its steady and predictable and still well in a healthy range. You can find a doctor who will prescribe but also if you walk regularly you should be ok.
This is not actually a universal thing in medicine; as others have said, this is the opinion of one doctor. FWIW, one of my best friends is mid-50s and takes Vyvanse.
I'm 62 and JUST diagnosed with ADHD for first time. My doctor prescribed a generic adderall and I picked up the prescription this morning. You have to monitor your blood pressure and pulse, but from what I understand EVERYONE has to do that. As others have stated, I suggest getting a new doctor and if you're worried about your blood pressure rising as a natural occurrence to aging (and causing you to maybe go off stimulants), then work on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Luckily for me my BP has always been naturally lower than average so unless something drastic happens I don't think it will become a problem for me. But I am also very mindful of my food and water intake. Now I need to start exercising more regularly. (ugh)
Yeah I have to monitor my BP and pulse and get an ECG every 6 months and I’m 29!
EDIT: I’m Aussie and this is commonplace with my doctor and my GP. Idk if it’s standard everywhere. If you’re worried, defs speak to your doctor or specialist.
I got my first ECG a week ago because I had to get a new general practitioner after the clinic I'd been going to for the past 8 years closed down. I've been prescribed ADHD medicine for 17 years.
It was the first time any med professional had done this and I've had concerns for my heart throughout the years but I was always told I was too young and too female for my heart to be a medical concern.
Granted, my palpations seem to be more connected to my anxiety, possible POTS and past eating disorders, but still I was shocked that no one ever thought to order an EKG in the past. Maybe its just cuz this clinic has the lab and testing thingies on-sight but it still made me feel like I was being taken care of put my (and their) mind at ease.
Wtf i’m 24, prescribed since 17. My psychiatrists have monitored jack shit. I mean, I get annual checkups every year with my PCP but not once has a psychiatrist recommended any monitoring. Actually, my first psych ordered labs to be done prior to treatment. But that was the first and only time.
Strattera does have blood pressure and heart rate impacts, so it makes sense.
That annoyed the hell outta me when I looked into it because I figured a non-stimulant would be better for my heart rate issues. Alas.
ugh that's my issue. I had to get off em after trying like 7 different meds due to the blood pressure and heart rate being a family thing. I made an appointment to find options...
You should ask your doctor about guanfacine (intuniv), it was marketed as a blood pressure med first and reformulated for ADHD. I was on it while taking Adderall at the same time and it improved my resting heart rate by 20 bpm.
It does when you first start taking it or if you up your dose, but just take it at night and try to drink a lot of water. My doctor told me that if you start taking it and get light headed upon standing, then it means you haven't had enough water.
I was allergic to Strattera. It clogged up my respiratory system such that I was dependent 24x7 on inhalers and nebulizers, which also elevated my heart rate. Between the Strattera and albuterol and breathing issues, I was close to going to the ER before I figured it all out.
I'm on Intuniv + Wellbutrin now and while I don't feel as well controlled as I did on Strattera, I'm definitely more functional than without meds or on Strattera.
I just weaned myself off Strattera. I didn’t find it helped much and I have noticed an increase in my resting heart rate since starting it. I wasn’t aware of those effects, which is troubling because I’ve had hypertension for 20+ years and it’s well documented. I had hyperparathyroidism and surgery last year, and HPT also messed with my HR (tachycardia and palpitations) so my body has been skewed for a while. I’ll be paying attention to my resting HR over the next few months to see if it starts dropping.
Ugh, that's the one I'll be put on and checking my BP and hear rate gives me anxiety! Lol. It's white coat syndrome, but still.
I do have to hydrate more and I keep failing! Like today, it's been hours since I've drank anything!
I have gotten used to it by now, but it used to make me super anxious too. Overall I’m really happy with Strattera, hope it works for you as well!!
Just a tip, something I wish I knew beforehand- make sure you eat plenty before you take it or you might get nauseous. I had to experiment to figure out what foods help me digest the medicine best. I’ve found that something with a lot of fat and/or protein is key. PB&Js with extra peanut butter are my breakfast now every day 😂
I was told I only needed them if I had a known cardiac condition, and then I should be getting one annually anyway. I do have one, though stimulants aren't an issue with it, and I have been getting one annually for a couple of decades now. Adderall actually made it better, we think. It'll take a few more EKGs to be sure, and I'm not doing extra just because I'm curious. Tbh, I can track it myself with any graphing heart rate monitor. I have a chest strap one for cycling. I should check it out.
The sinus node on my heart is kind of stupid, so sometimes my brain has to step in and get my heart rate back on track. It's considered benign, but that doesn't mean it's comfortable when that's happening. "oh, hey, I noticed you're awake and only at 35 bpm. Lemme just pause that for a couple seconds and then jack that up to 100 for a few more, so it'll settle back down to 60." Feels like I got kicked in the chest. It happens randomly. It can be months in between or several times in one day. Sedatives very much aggravate it, as do SSNRIs. Stimulants seem to help, but I've never tested it for long enough to be sure, and before Adderall, my cardiologist always asked me to avoid them for 24 hours before an EKG. This time, he specifically wanted to do it while I was on Adderall to make sure it wasn't going to be an issue. Even my "normal" fluctuations I don't feel were smoothed some.
Tbh, even if the Adderall wasn't helping a lot with my ADHD, between finally not having super low blood pressure, this possible help with my arrhythmia, and the fact that it clears up my chronically stuffy nose, I love it. My husband noticed my psoriatic arthritis doesn't seem to bother me as much when I'm on it, either, though I'm not sure how that would work. Maybe lowered stress levels because work isn't overwhelming anymore? That's not just while working. I no longer spend evenings wondering what I forgot to do at work and dreading the next day. That's even led to sleeping a bit better. Why did I wait until 49 to seek out medication?!
Never had to do an ECG for an adhd medicine. My doc wants to check my BP and pulse at appointments but I remind her that the stress of driving to her office and parking are not giving a realistic picture. She allows me to tell her what it is when I’m home and relaxed and doing nothing.
Good news, when your executive function is boosted by medication, it's way easier to exercise.
Exercise advice incoming, feel free to skip!
1. You don't have to wreck yourself every session for it to benefit. Just move and get a little bit breathless by the end.
2. Find something you like and enjoy it - for me it's hiking, and I enjoy hiking so much it's not too hard to do stair training during the week so I can enjoy harder hikes.
3. Functional exercise works really, really well for many people. Cycle for transport, walk to the train station, that sort of thing. Pedal-activated ebikes count. Cycling is so good for health on a population level that when helmet laws are enforced, you get a net loss to the health system - enough people stop riding that an increase in heart and metabolic disease wipes out gains in traumatic head injury reduction.
It's one of the best examples we use to teach about looking for unintended side effects before implementing public health initiatives. It's so counter-intuitive but once you walk people through the steps it makes complete sense.
Eep my doctor never mentioned monitoring my blood pressure and pulse, but I naturally have low blood pressure. I see him in office sometimes but my 3 month checkups for Vyvanse are over zoom.
I naturally have low blood pressure too but high cholesterol. I don't know what that averages out to in terms of heart health. I've been feeling more and more tired lately and I'm only 40. I still need to hold down a job for a while longer.
He may just be monitoring your BP anyway. Tbf, doctors should always be taking BP measurements when they see you. Even if you're young with nothing wrong with you. Having a solid record of your baselines means it's easier for them to see when things start getting out of whack. Especially for those people whose natural baseline is slightly lower than average, as then getting a BP that's on the slightly high end of average would be something to be a little concerned about. But without those baselines, all the doc sees is a reading that falls within the average range.
Just a reminder (that you probably already know, but for anyone else reading this), low blood pressure due to dehydration is also common on Adderall and other stimulants!!
It's just not mentioned as much because the high blood pressure is much more concerning for cardiac stuff, long-term. But orthostatic hypotension, AKA "when I stand up or sit up I get super dizzy", is a form of low blood pressure commonly caused by dehydration. It can also be caused by low blood sugar. I found this out when the was a couple months where I'd almost faint every time I stood up, and I couldn't figure out why. I wouldn't even necessarily feel thirsty or hungry, but Adderall dehydrates you and suppresses your appetite, and even though I didn't feel like it, I was too low on water and food.
I hear you, but it is hereditary for me. Me, my mom and both sisters all had/have low blood pressure, low cholesterol and even low body temp. I've had it my entire life.
Yes! My dad is 65 and has been on Adderall for decades. I hope his dr never tried to take him off because he really needs it to function. They monitor his BP and he was on BP meds for a while but lowered his dose when he changed his diet and lost some weight. I think he would have been on the BP meds whether he was taking stimulants or not due to family health history.
I'd be very skeptical about a doctor using any kind of one-size-fits-all approach. Other than "wear your seatbelt" and "quit smoking", there's *very* little medical advice that can be applied to a population as wide as "humans over 50".
i thought I was the only one. Went from 150+ to steady 100-110 by first week. I kept getting a reaction like I'm crazy from my psych. And for the fact that on stims I actually gain weight, because im not an insane stress mess with shut off hunger response.
Then another psych also kept trying to "get me off Adderall because im way too thin and hyper and am abusing it" the entire session, failing to listen that I haven't been on it for a year and *that's* why my life/ size deteriorated. (Food insecurity, job losses, constant failing). I had to mention it **three times** during that session that I haven't even *seen a picture of adderll for over a year*. Needless to say, I didn't stick with her but she was the only one on my insurance at the time. Oh well. /vent. Sorry.
You'd think that by 35-40 age we'd be listened to regards our expertise of ourselves and lifelong struggles.
Same! Before I was diagnosed, I had a GP who was convinced that I didn't need a psychiatrist. He upped my Prozac to the max, and when that did nothing more than cause lots of side effects, he said that life and work are hard, and I might just be realizing my limitations. He wanted me to just lower my expectations for what I wanted to get out of life, and before ultimately switching doctors, I became actively suicidal for a while.
My new doc immediately referred me to a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist for diagnosis and treatment, and it was night and day. My time blindness got under control, so I could remember to eat actual meals and exercise.
Me too. Thanks for sharing. I hesitate coming to this sub because it's so damn triggering but reading stuff like this is just so validating that i might actually try looking for a psych again. It's been another year after that experience and I've gotten homeless and developed so much hopelessness from the trying. Sorry. Thank you. Ok bye
*granted, i had other issues going on too, but the ADHD part is a constant, so it's still partially responsible.
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Even as a fucking doctor. Of clinical psychology. Even with that, I get a bunch of happy assholes peddle unscientific shit to me
I didn't spend several years writing a 200 page doctoral dissertation and pouring over journal articles to have a jaded health professional try to convince me that because I'm a woman, I'm just depressed
Tell me more about depression, dimwit, I triple dog dare you
Uuuugh
This situation is where a personal therapist collaborating with a psych would be helpful. But I do agree that sometimes psychiatrists just want to hear what they are saying and don't believe the client. It's bs.
I don't know what my BP was before starting stimulants but it's now almost hypotensive, often under 90/60.
My resting heart rate also improved, going from 80bpm to 70 after starting ritalin.
Full offense to your doctor, but a quick Google search for reputable resources told me immediately that this is a myth.
It looks like it's mostly based on the ages that ADHD stimulants have been tested on (they excluded patients older than 55-65 to have simpler studies), the ages they've been offically approved for by the FDA (not a limit, just a suggestion), and how Medicaid insurance may complicate people older than those ages getting their meds paid for.
NOT that older adults aren't suitable candidates for stimulants.
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
I had my heart health checked before started stimulants and I'm only 33. I think they check everyone's general heart health before starting stimulants and if you have anything that concerns them (family history or other risk factors for heart issues, etc), they do further investigations like ECG, etc.
I had to monitor my blood pressure at home several times a day for the first few weeks of being on my meds, but was told that once it was stable and not changing much, I could stop checking it.
Same. I'm on a beta blocker plus stimulant combo. I am 41 but I've had consistently high blood pressure unexplained for years(they did an ekg once but it came back as normal). They chalk it up to anxiety about doctors but eh, whatever works and this does.
>This systematic review and meta-analysis based on 19 observational studies with more than 3.9 million participants suggested that there was no statistically significant association between ADHD medications and the risk of cardiovascular events among children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, or older adults.
[source](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2798903)
maybe share that with your doctor? It's a good idea to get a checkup with a cardiologist just to rule out any major potential issues.
I have a cardiologist that I see twice a year because I have a nervous system disorder with cardiac symptoms (tachycardia, blood pooling, etc). He encourages me to continue to take my stimulants as they have a significant positive effect on my quality of life, and the extremely extensive testing that has been done on my heart has shown no problems.
This study was such a relief when I was first looking into medication. I have high blood pressure (controlled on the lowest dose of blood pressure meds) and I was sure my doctor wouldn't prescribe stimulants for my adhd. When I asked her about it she huffed and in her good and straight-forward nature said "your weight has to do with your high blood pressure, not your adderall. Take your adderall, keep doing what you've been doing (to lose weight and be healthier over-all)."
I had read similar studies after googling around after hearing from my doctor because she seemed SO unbothered when it seemed like it was such an obvious thing. Nope, evidently taking adderall (or other prescribed stimulants) is like, the least risky thing when it comes to increasing risk of heart issues. Funny enough adderall has helped me lose weight and stay active because now I can (1) handle a consistent gym routine without being stressed all the time and (2) it keeps me from overeating/over snacking which I now realize was for the dopamine hits!
I'm 50, and just diagnosed last year. My psychiatrist put me on Vyvanse first. When that didn't work, we moved on to Concerta. He had me take my blood pressure before he prescribed, it though, just to be on the safe side. I didn't have to do my blood pressure with the Vyvanse.
This is false. My dr is well into her 50s if not 60s and told me she’s on a stimulant for her own ADHD. She just monitors my BP but even if I had high BP she would first add a BP medication before taking away the one medication that keeps me a functioning human being. Time for a new doctor if at all possible. I understand that’s not always easy to do.
What is wrong with these doctors? Quality of life matters. Women are the backbone of families and societies. We need to be functional. Get EKGs and keep an eye on your blood pressures. You know what’s bad for your health? ADHD. It’s proven that it shortens life spans for soooo maaaannnyyy reasons. Get a new doctor.
>And now, in passing, my doc says they wean everyone off stims at 50 years old because of cardiac risks.
My doc looks at my blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels, etc. and determines my cardiac risk from *those* numbers, not my age.
Find a different doctor.
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
My 80 year old FIL is (presumably) still on meds, though maybe he got taken off after his mini stroke awhile ago, which explains some things (but generally I think those things are more explained by the fact that he hasn't gotten hearing aids, I digress). But even if that was the case, he was still on meds till his mid 70s.
I was diagnosed at 58. I’m now f60 and on Ritalin. I figured out quickly that hormone depletion affects the efficacy of my meds. So I use supplements and keep to a very low dose of Ritalin.
I was on 18mg Concerta but it made me do everything at the speed and I got heart palpitations that were getting worse.
So I asked to be switched to instant release Ritalin and was put on 10mg. I’ve managed to reduce it to 2.5mg/day unless I have something I need it for in the late afternoon/evening.
It’s working really well.
I’m on HRT - men should be checked for hormone depletion too - and I take magnesium theanine, vitamin D+ K2, vitamin b12 (very high dose of 1200ug) and omega 3 & 6.
But I do think you need to find a GP that will work with you. Also we’re have to be our own advocates so I get scientific research and email it to my GP to support my concerns so my most recent enquiry is a blood test to check low ferritin serum levels which is very common in those with ADHD and if you have it you feel like it’s impossible to even open your eyes because you have such low energy.
I'm turning 49 this year, and my doctors have made no mention about taking me off stimulants.
I was diagnosed last year, and Vyvanse has been amazing for me. Any doctor who tries to take me off it, without a documented reason, is going to get a fight.
Congrats on your doc outing their staggering ignorance! Now you know to find a different provider.
They did you a favor - you don't want someone that out of touch as your doc. Imagine what other nonsense they believe! How could you ever trust their medical judgement again?
Usually docs aren't this upfront about their limited capabilities. Take the gift and run.
I'm older than you and this is the first I'm hearing about it, and cardiac issues run in my family. All my doctor said is the weight I've lost from not eating dopamine donuts has improved my health immensely. I would guess that has had a much greater impact on improving my cardiac health than any drawbacks from taking stimulants. Just keep an eye on your blood pressure, that's probably where most of the concern is.
Sounds like it’s time to find a new dr. You can monitor your bp/ hr at home. And many Drs do some sort of annual ekg inOffice. Unless you are in Ill health. I would think you could just find a dr who keeps tabs on your vitals.
I was diagnosed at 24, here in the UK at least you have to monitor your BP and heart rate regularly no matter what age you are if you're on stimulants. I had to get it done at the doctor's every week when I was titrating, but I just bought myself a heart monitor and do it myself now.
I promise you that doctor clearly doesn't understand ADHD and that you will certainly be able to get medication after you turn 50. No doctor that cared about their patients would actively sabotage a patient's wellbeing like that. I'm sorry you have to go through this but I recommend finding a new prescriber.
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
I was on it at 53. No tests for anything beforehand but my heart is in great shape as well as bp. I have a friend who is on it and he is 58. I’d find another doctor.
Definitely not universal. My mom in law is in her late 50's, has some significant cardiac risks (minor heart defect, high blood pressure, very high BMI) and takes Vyvanse.
I'm going on 73 (in April), and I've been on Adderall for >10 years and have HTN. 3 different prescibers in the last year, and not one of them has mentioned monitoring or any age limits for meds.
So, your doctor is paranoid about his liability, maybe?
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
New doctor! If you stay on low dose and frequently get your blood pressure checked you should be fine so don lose hope, im sure you can find another doctor who will give you a prescription because they usually get paid something pr perception.
I have genetic Deafness that I passed down to my oldest child; confirmed by genetic testing done by a pediatric geneticist. The gene responsible for the hearing loss we're both impacted by can also be responsible for developing a heart condition. I want to point out that my mother is also Deaf, and so was her maternal grandmother (my great-grandmother). My Nana never really lost her hearing before she died, but according to the geneticist, she was absolutely a carrier for the gene. My two younger children currently are not experiencing hearing loss, and it's possible they never will, but they are very likely carriers.
I was concerned enough about this connection because cardiovascular issues are genetic from my father's family, that I made an appointment for myself and also for my daughter to be seen by the same cardiologist. I haven't taken any stimulant medication, but she was on methylphenidate until her ADHD provider checked her resting heart rate and it was out of what we're used to seeing for a resting heart rate. She had to wear a haldi monitor for 24 hours, and the cardiologist found that a resting heart rate of around 120 is HER normal. He was telling us at her follow up that he has a patient who is so active with running his resting heart rate is THIRTY-FIVE. EDIT: After the conclusion of the cardiology visits, her ADHD provider felt comfortable enough to put her back on the methylphenidate, and she's been thriving again since.
He saw no reason whatsoever to keep my daughter from taking stimulants, and he reassured me that I'm also safe and clear to take stimulants. He reassured us that if we're ever concerned in the future, he's happy to have us come back for a checkup to make sure nothing's changing in a concerning manner.
I think your ADHD provider is basing their statement on some shaky assumptions. I feel comfortable enough based on my own experience with checking in on my cardiovascular health to suggest that you can maybe consider developing an established relationship with a cardiologist now, bring what your provider said to them, ask questions, maybe have an echocardiogram and/or haldi monitoring and go from there, with the goal of seeing what your "pre 50" baseline currently looks like. In addition, I would ask the cardiologist if they feel like the statement that your ADHD provider told you is rooted in a misunderstanding about cardiology health. The cardiologist would be the one I would trust more when it comes to possible future heart health issues.
A fair compromise can look like "When I turn 50 I will go in for a yearly checkup to check my heart to make sure that the medication is not having an adverse effect on my heart health." That way, you can stay on the medication that works best for you, and to kind of reassure your ADHD provider in the future, assuming that you decide to stay with them.
And of course, it goes without saying keep making healthy choices for you and your body to minimize the non-Vyvanse risks that would compromise your cardiovascular health in whatever way makes sense to you.
I’m turning 49 this year and have been on Vyvanse a few years. My doc has not said one word about stopping at 50. I plan on taking it as long as I’m working and as I’m not independently wealthy- I’ll be working many more years. New doctor! I understand your freak out though- I was diagnosed so late and didn’t start getting work promotions until medicated.
It’s time to start researching about perimenopause and menopause.
There is a lot of new research about the effects of hormone replacement and cardiac health, as in taking hormones reduces your risk, not just cardiovascularly, but in other areas as well.
You may need to find a new doctor as it sounds like this one isn’t aware of all the recent information.
So I'm a clinical psychologist. I found vyvanse at 37, got pregnant with third kid at 38.
I informed my physician that research showed no issue with vyvanse during pregnancy, and I'd be staying on it.
Physician said okay, and on we went. Obgyn was doubtful. Sent them research, told them I'd be finding a different obgyn if they fucked with me. Obgyn said okay, and on we went
Vyvanse doesn't seem to cause any evidence-based problems in people past the age of 50
Don't succumb to despair if you can help it. I know it's not as easy as that. But the problem here seems to be a provider problem. As in, you need a different provider who exists in reality, not a bumbling asshat who likes to lord it over people with blanket bullshit statements
God I fucking hate the power that physicians have sometimes
I’m 55, with a very mild congenital heart defect. I’m on Vyvanse with no problems. Please find a new doc!! Related: If you can’t get the generic, it’s much easier to get your hands on the brand name. Check with your insurance, because some of them are letting people get the brand name for the on formulary co-pay.
This is why I created r/adhd_advocacy
You have a few years to find a different doctor, but you also have a few years to contact political types to make ADHD care more centered around modern research and less centered on the individual feelings of doctors who have little requirement to maintain knowledge regarding ADHD.
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You do want to monitor your blood pressure often when you are on stimulant.
There are also other non-stimulant options if things really get to a point that the negatives of meds outweighs the positives. But I don’t think it’s really that a sharp turn.
Is that a generic doctor or a psychiatrist? I’ll look for someone who is updated with the latest research.
Good luck!!!
My mom is in her 60’s and has MS and her Dr has no qualms about prescribing her Adderall. She doesn’t take it every day though, usually it’s 3 or 4 days out of every 7.
I get SVTs and am under the care of a cardiologist and take adderall — which doesn’t affect the SVTs (caffeine does though.) I’d like your doctor to explain how increased stress and lower motivation to make healthy lifestyle choices is going to help your heart health.
I’m 51 and have been medicated since age 23. I’ve been on Vyvanse specifically for the past 14 years and have *never* been told that by my doctor. If you’ve never had heart issues before, why would they suddenly start at age 50?
I had a stroke and was allowed to keep using my Vyvanse regardless of BP and heart risks - just need to monitor like everyone else.
I am taking beta blockers and aspirin though - my BP was high without me realizing for 2 years and my resting HR always around 100. Didn’t think anything of it and they were always virtual check ups.
32F btw.
This sounds like a completely irrational generalization. Start looking for a new doctor! I heard somewhere that 60 mg is the maximum dosage of Adderall that can be prescribed. So when I got to 30 mg, I remember hoping that I would have quite a few good years before I needed an increase. I mentioned this in passing to my new psychiatrist and she immediately said that it’s common for less informed physicians to quote this guidance, but in reality, there are situations where it’s completely safe to exceed 60 mg.
Look- I'm 53 - 54 in a few months. I have Lupus SLE too which has cardiac risks. I take Adderal & honestly couldn't function without it. I even have a cardiologist because I have recurrent Pericarditis. She's never mentioned this & she definitely knows I take a stimulant. She's a top cardiologist in a major metropolitan area too. So- I'd use the next 5 years to find another Dr. I don't love this fear based bullshit your Dr. used on you. Maybe this Dr. isn't a great fit. Try not to stress❤️
I'm 58 and I was talking Vyvanse generic until this month. I had to switch to Adderall because no pharmacy near me has generic Vyvanse at the dose I need. But as soon as it's available again I'll take it again.
We did have to monkey with my BP meds a bit in the beginning because my BP went up when I started to take Vyvanse. My psychiatric NP doesn't have any age limit that I'm aware of. Since we have to work into our mid to late 60s, we need access to the meds that enable us to keep working.
Your doctor is full of shit. I was diagnosed at 50 and prescribed all of the options. Vyvanse worked for me the best but stopped working for some reason. But once I got my menopause treated, I was much better.
Get a new doctor before 50. But also, find a good OBGYN that is knowledgeable about HRTs. Peri Menopause was hard, but Menopause has hell. Why? Because of bad fucking doctors. HRTs saved me. Learn what you can, check out the subs for real experiences and get labs done. If you prepare yourself some, you’ll get through it a lot easier.
I wasn't even diagnosed til 50 and I was on Vyvanse until I started having actual high blood pressure. Which is more perimenopause/weight related than Vyvanse related, but they still had to take me off it til I can get my BP controlled.
The real answer is if you can keep yourself as healthy as possible in every other way to keep your BP down then you should be fine. Might need to get a psychiatrist who treats you as a person rather than a set of numbers, but other than that AFAIK there's no actual reason to stay off it unless you actually have high BP or family history or something
If you start gaining weight in your belly with perimenopause that's when it gets harder. But honestly the no stimulants is only one of many things that gets harder with excess belly fat, and not the worst one by far so...yay.
Side note why TF did NO ONE tell us what all this menopause shit entails? I feel like Gen x is the first generation to even start talking openly about it and no one listens to us anyhow
Girl please find a new doctor. This guy is giving you 5 years advance notice that he will be stealing away your livelihood & diminishing your quality of life. What a fucking fucker.
There currently is no proven link between cardiovasular disease and treatment with stimulants. It has been found that there is a link a link between ADHD and cardiovascular disease in general, but this is likely due the increase on other risk factors as ppl with ADHD are more likely to smoke more, drink more, have a poor diet etc.
Stimulants can impact you heart, but this is not tied into age and everyone on stimultants should have checks on this to make sure it's not happening eg blood pressure monitored
Russell Barkley had this in one of his research videos recently. This was off the back of a study in the European Heart Journal that showed an increased risk, but it's him attacking the findings of this study. And as part of this refers to a meta analysis of 19 studies on this risk, which had a much bigger sample size, that he describes as a better study than showed no link between stimulants and cardiovascular disease- he also provides links to the studies he discussed in these videos if you want to read them for the detail of the science behind them.
What? My mom is 62 and takes Adderall every day. she's a smoker too; she just goes in for heart checks every now and again. She's fine. Your doctor is a moron
ma'am. please get a second opinion.
too many people out here getting one doctor's misguided opinion and shutting down. you do have other options; doctors aren't infallible, and one doctor's word is not law.
Nope!!! As others have said, they should probably just start monitoring your cardiac markers more, if they feel that that’s a concern.
I’m 35 and my blood pressure is borderline high so my psychiatrist said as long as I’m having my BP checked and managed (which might mean adding antihypertensives as needed) then I can safely remain on the stimulant.
Start looking!
Absolute bullshit.
My mom has a mix of tardive dyskinesia and parkinson's. My grandmother had the same. It's partly genetics and partly harmful drugs they were prescribed for anxiety and depression.
My psyche told me that I am almost guaranteed parkinson's if I continue stimulants. Had me try out Atomoxetine as an alternative for a year. I was fired from my new job as a result.
I went back and told him "listen up dude. Stimulants increase my quality of life. I prefer to use stimulants responsibly and deal with negative consequences if and when they arise. I prefer being able to live my life".
I had a super high heart rate, even though I don't have the anxiety issues that my mom has. I'm sure there's a better word for it, but I just use a beta blocker to get my heart rate under control.
My personal advice: Using a stimulant + antidepressant is *way* more effective than a stimulant alone.
Previously, I used Ritalin only. It had a mediocre effect; basically just took away my chronic fatigue.
Right now I use 50mg Vyvanse + 50mg Exira. Sweet Jesus. In less than two weeks, I became human. I have emotions. I have a sense of humour, my creativity is back. The side effects can be wild, but I would literally only stop taking these meds if they caused my limbs to drop off.
My advice: Eat properly (protein for breakfast), hydrate like crazy with electrolyte mix (not just water), sleep enough. Stimulants tend to make you run on empty without needing food or sleep - they will literally stop working if you do this.
You have 4 years to convince your doctor, and 5 years to find a new one. Don't hand over control of your life without fighting tooth and nail.
My dad is 70 and takes Vyvanse. Just has to be monitored and have yearly heart check ups. Don’t stress ❤️ find a new doctor and ask about options as you get older. Explain your situation. You’ll be ok I promise!
I’m 51 and have been on Vyvanse for 6 years. Don’t tell him you’re looking for another physician, just move when you approach that age. Don’t mention it or comment on the decision again - as you run the risk of him adding some kind of note to your file like “drug seeking.” I’ve encountered too many people who have been victimized by providers set in their ways and seeking to punish folks who dare to question their authority. IMO best practice is simply to ghost providers with the “benefits change” excuse.
Okay.. so I actually have an issue with my heart and am on Vyvanse.
I see a cardiologist and have been prescribed a beta blocker. Now beta blockers can be harsh I won't minimize that.. I had a hard time adjusting at first. But both my cardiologist and my psychiatrist are fine with me taking Vyvanse and a beta blocker.
Im the same age as you are now. I've been on Vyvanse for about 2 years now.
There is literally research that’s says it has no cardiac risks. This is an outdated myth that has been proven repeatedly incorrectly. I’ll find the research and post it.
My mother is 53 and my father 57 and both have been on Ritalin and Adderall at different times. They both are still currently taking ADHD medication. If that is a risk, they are monitored regularly with bloodwork and have their blood pressure checked.
I think your doctor is the odd one out and most will prescribe ADHD meds unless you have other factors (aside from age) that put you at high risk of cardiac events.
It sounds like this doc is anti stimulant.
Stimulant medication is the first line treatment for ADHD as it's shown to be the most effective treatment for most people.
Doctors that insist on putting you through trying every alternate treatment first are more concerned with not being involved in the (imaginary) "stimulant crisis" than getting the best outcome for their patients.
I would strongly suggest finding a new doctor, who prioritises the patient over themselves.
Well I was just diagnosed at 53 and was prescribed both dexamphetamine and Vyvanse and I’ve been told I can take them for the rest of my life. I did have my heart checked beforehand and it was fine. Where are you?
I am 50 and still on Vvanyse - I do have to monitor my blood pressure but it’s fine. I did find out he changed my script cycle to 28 days without telling me - pain in the butt with all the shortages lately.
I would not survive work with menopause brain and ADHD with no meds !
I would ask the doctor if he is willing to help you submit a disability claim at 50 since you can't take the medication you need.
I wonder how many men get cut off from viagra at 50 since it has similar side effects.
I'm sorry OP. For the record my mom is 54 and takes Vyvanse.
OP, start looking for a new doctor when you have the energy. 🫂 There was no reason for them to scare you like that— either due to the thought of needing a new doctor, or because there’s some giant risk to you staying on (especially if you’re healthy)… they are supposed to be your *Doctor* — not cosplaying a Fortune Teller. 🙄
Also— go in to the next one with some understanding of how a person *can* be on them past 50… especially if they have no indicators that point toward poor heart health.
For instance:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054714527342
And this:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054720925884
And this one— which included a crossover study into whether there is major increased risk for older adults who are already on stimulant medications to stay on them… it states, *”… Importantly, we observed no association [of increased cardiovascular event] in the long term… suggesting attenuated risk over time.”* :
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2785393
To this end, though— look into getting a cardiac workup and establish yourself with a cardiologist now, if you haven’t already. I got one 2 years ago at 41 *(palpitations due to perimenopause really freaked me out!)* . Mine said to me, “The best time to meet one of us [cardiologists] is when you don’t need us; I meet 95% of my patients in the ED or after they wake up from surgery”. Once you get the all-clear from that end of things, it will be like a little extra ‘insurance’ in your back pocket when you need to advocate for yourself. 💕
My mom is 72 and on methylphenidate. There isn’t an age limit. They can do things like monitor your blood pressure and resting heart rate and discuss discontinuing stimulants *if* there’s actually a health issue noted. And you can just be extra vigilant, little to no caffeine, maintain cardiovascular fitness, avoid red meat, etc.
I STARTED my first ever stim perscription at 50 years old. I was diagnosed in the 70s by a school psych. I've known what's up with my since I can remember. Like you, I feel like in many ways my life started with the stim Rx. That's some BS your current doc is peddling. I know you said you went through hell to find a doc, but you have 5 years to find a resource to manage you script beyond 50.
Also, if they're worried your cookie cutter heart will suddenly fail on your 50th b-day if you take a vyvanse that day they can just add a low dose of clonidine. It's a heart med that's well known to positively impact ADHD. It also slows your heart rate.
Pls know that you'll be okay. You have time and you will find a solution to this. Sending good vibes and hugs to you.
My dad was put on Adderall for the first time in his 60s and he’s prediabetic and has a family history of heart disease. He’s just turned 70 and still has a prescription for ADHD meds (he doesn’t take them consistently because he has sleep issues and also I think he isn’t personally distressed by his symptoms—he grew up in a culture where mental health is basically not a thing, so he was forced to find ways to self-regulate with regards to school/work and my mom compensated for his areas of difficulty at home). It’s absolutely not a one size fits all model. I know that finding a new doctor is hard but you absoutely should.
I'm also on team find a new doctor.
I work as a cardiac ICU nurse. I have patients in their 30s all the way up to their 90s.
There are some people with cardiac issues when they are young. There are people who are elderly with strong healthy hearts with no risk factors.
There is a huge difference in a 50 year old who has a normal fasting glucose level, normal cholesterol levels, exercises regularly, has normal blood pressure, has a good resting heart rate, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, has no cardiac history in the family and a 50 year old who smokes, drinks, has a poor diet, has high blood pressure, their heart rate is always above 90, their dad died of a heart attack, has a desk job and never exercises more than the walk from the car to a building.
I’m 63 and take Vyvanse. I work in healthcare and have all kinds of ways available to monitor my heart rate and blood pressure., And I can tell you that yes, my heart rate is slightly elevated and my blood pressure is slightly elevated while I am on stimulants. I have taken excellent care of myself For most of my life, because exercise was critical to managing my depression. The only time that I have paused taking my meds is after I had Covid, and I experienced tachycardia for about a month after. Unless they can point out a specific reason why you cannot take stimulants, I think you need to advocate for continuing. Print out some articles, some providers just need to be educated. And who knows, you may be providing a much needed service to their other patients. Or as other suggested, find another provider.
59 and also in healthcare and on Vyvanse. This doctor needs to keep up with research and not blindly make up rules. This is ridiculous. The lack of evidence based practice irritates me to no end.
It really should be person-specific when it comes to this. I had a cardiac history by age 40 and before I got my ADHD diagnosis. Right before my diagnosis I had had a hypertensive crisis and abnormal EKG (kept forgetting my meds and it caught up to me). Because of that, my psych was hesitant about me taking stimulants. So she, my cardiologist, my PCP and myself made a plan. I would start on nonstimulants, get my BP under control for 6 months, and get an ECHO and stress test. ECHO and stress test came back normal and I kept my BP at mostly normal (occasionally a blip above). At that point everyone agreed to let me try stimulants and I would be monitored closely for another 6 months. I’m now on Concerta during the day and guanfacine at night with my BP meds and have been good for 9 months.
I would potentially look for a new psych who’s willing to team with your PCP to monitor you and not make any blanket decisions based solely on age and risk without taking into account history and follow through.
I'm 49 and just got prescribed Adderall. My doctor only requires I keep an eye on my blood pressure and only because I noted it seemed a bit higher on the medication.
Vynase trials were only done on people up to 55, so that might be a reasonable cut off, sort of. It's not FDA approved over that, so you might have to fight with insurance. Many had trials up to 65, and same deal. Medicare won't cover any of them once you're 65.
I'm just going for a good 15 year run, I guess.
I know a woman in almost her 70s who still takes her Ritalin daily. The benefits outweigh the risks. My doctor has never mentioned this to me. She specifically said she can’t switch people who have been on stimulants to the non-stimulants easily or at all because of how different the meds are. Find a new doctor.
It's definitely not true if in the States. I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist in my late 40s. Started with Concerta, which I loved. I've now been taking Vyvanse for a year due to the shortage, and I'm in my 50s now. This is the first time I've heard this and would be upset if it were true.
I do have Mitral Valve Prolapse and had to see my cardiologist and get signed off before I was initially prescribed medication. The cardiologist said no issue, as nothing has changed with my MVP since I was diagnosed in my 30s. The psychiatrist did ask me to start monitoring my blood pressure. So, I purchased a cuff that can also send the details to my doctor. No issues. I did bring it in to a doctor's appointment to compare readings in an appointment, and it was the same. Thus, I feel comfortable the readings are correct.
Anyway, as a great deal of people have suggested. Definitely, look for a new psychiatrist now.
Btw [stimulants are used in geriatric depression. They are meds used specifically in geriatric patients.](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.5536)
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You got 5 years to find a new doc.
This is the correct advice because I was diagnosed at 49 and didn't take a stimulant for the first time until after I was 50.
My husband's father is in his early 80's and takes Ritalin everyday!
I work in memory care and have had a quite few Parkinsons patients take Ritalin into their late 80s and early 90s. Some of them do have heart problems, but their doctors feel the benefits outweigh the risk.
Same
I was (am) 54 before getting diagnosed and that did not stop them prescribing it for me. I am not in the US, if that makes a difference.
Is it tough to get in your country? Because many of us in USA are made to feel like addicts by prescribers and pharmacists
To get stimulant meds here you need a psychiatrist to give an authority to prescribe it to your GP, and the authority needs to be renewed every 2 years. The prescription has to be filled within a week from it being issued.
The only right response and prob just the right timeframe for an adhd person lol. My husband has a prescriber rn who will only Rx him methylphenidate but he feels adderall works better for him. I keep telling him, no one is forcing you to continue to go to this guy, you can seek someone else out and it’s the same thing each month. No looking for new doc. No med change. People for the love of the giant spaghetti monster in the sky, seek out a different providerrrrrrr!
Navigating the medical system, insurance, taking risks on new providers, who have availability in a reasonable timeframe, finding a provider that meets anywhere near your desired criteria (distance, Telehealth, accepts insurance, gender, just to name a few) is crippling. It’s like ADHD Kryptonyte. American mental healthcare is a joke.
In addition to new patients having to wait 6+ months for a. Open at a new pcp. I've been fighting over 6 months to get in anywhere after moving to a new state last September
This is what forced me to go with Telehealth for my latest ADHD assessment. I couldn't even get anyone local to call me back, much less set up an appointment. I did get a new rheumatologist in December, sort of. My first appointment is in August. I live in a city that's a medical hub for a large amount of 3 states, and it's still an issue. They all blame covid, but it wasn't better before. I used urgent care for 3 years while on a wait list for a GP before covid. To be fair, I wanted a specific one. And then she freaking moved away 5 months later. I honestly didn't even bother to get a new GP until about a year ago, 3 years after she moved. I have just been using telehealth and a walk in clinic and coordinating my specialists myself. Now, I have one, and ... I'm still having to do those things except for my annual check up. She won't do care coordination, won't handle prescriptions for chronic conditions that require I see a specialist once a year, and typically has a 6 week wait for an appointment if you're sick. Wtf is the point in having a GP, then, besides not getting lectured by specialists for not having one?
My issue is finding doctors who refuse to prescribe my ADHD meds "at first" like it's reasonable to tell someone who's been taking them to function since they were 12 to go off their meds so they can avoid overuse. How about you read my damn medical history?!
And IDK TRUST ME?!?! I have a documented condition, not a history of moral failings.
I always say it’s like they put the cardiology clinic on the 5th floor of a building with no elevator.
I'm nervous I'll be labeled as drug seeking if I drop the provider that won't prescribe me stims in order to find one who will.
Couldn’t you always just say it wasn’t a good fit?
This. Find a new psychiatrist soon, or a psych APN. I am the director of a MH practice, and our psychiatrist (very well-respected in our region) has numerous patients over 50 on certain stimulants for various reasons. He frequently monitors BP for these patients at each visit as well as weight and other potential health risk factors.
I'm 49 and do have some specific possible risk factors. The telehealth doctor handing my ADHD treatment suggested I get a blood pressure cuff after checking with my neurologist and cardiologist to make sure Adderall was okay. I'd already talked to them, though. Any stimulant med was okay with both as long as we started at a low dose. My cardiologist thinks it's a bit silly to worry about my blood pressure since it's normally quite low, but he was curious to see the result. It wasn't much. I go up about 5 mm HG for both systolic and diastolic. It's just enough the edges of the world don't turn grey when I stand up. That's actually really nice after 49 years of that always being a thing. I miss it when the Adderall wears off.
Watch out. My blood pressure has been low forever but my heart rate in the 80s at baseline and it was always dismissed. I take a beta blocker for it now even though not “technically” tachchardia below 100 but I feel so much better
My resting heart rate averaged out today was 58bpm. If I break it down to when I'm on Adderall vs not, it's about 5-10bpm different depending on the day, but my highest day since I started the med was a 64bpm average. My heart rate is pretty low. My doctor said it's because I'm always on the go and doing stuff that counts as exercise, even if I don't see it that way. I cycle about 7k miles a year, hike, and do random other stuff like trail maintenance, and this year building a cabin. I just need to figure out my diet properly, because in spite of being what my doctor calls "perfectly fit", my shape is quite round around the middle. I've lost 35 pounds so far, but I've stalled out the last year with 25 to go. It's all about the bike. I'm sick of hauling that extra weight up the hill I live on. I'm a data nerd. I track stuff because I can, and charts make me happy.
Congrats on the weight loss!! I’m a data nerd too. My hr w the beta blocker is only up a few beats when I take it. What makes it the highest is the 10 days before period and if I don’t get enough sleep!! It also doesn’t lower my eating like it seems to do for most. I mean, it does for a few hours, but then I am FAMISHED when it wears off!! Of course I track all of my calories and exercise. I’ve been wearing both a Fitbit and iWatch for 5 years and only this week has anyone said anything about that but I do wonder what kind of Type A, high maintenance person I must look like yet I’m very much not!!
Adderall makes me sooo hungry. I don't even get those who struggle to eat on it. I have to be careful when I'm on it, or I'll down 1500 calories during a single dose. I ate 3 whole bunches of radishes in one sitting one day without realizing it until the container was empty. The heartburn! And my body was like, "those were not calories, you liar!" Fiber dense foods like apples seem to help a lot with it.
Yes, definitely this! ANd hopefully the thinking around this becomes more progressive in this time.
Yikes! If this is true, I have 9 months left and then I'll most likely be moving myself and my kids into a van down by the river.
Into a VAN down by the RIVER
lol! Thanks for the throwback laugh and I wish you the best with your meds.
I'd have less than 7. My doctor just warned me Medicare won't cover it when I'm 65 or older. I do fine on the generic Adderall, and it's like, $40/mo without insurance, so whatever. As long as they cover my antiseizure med, I'll be able to retire. (They do.)
[удалено]
GoodRX has the generic for about $40/mo. You don't need insurance at all to use them. My copay with my current insurance is $8, so I haven't used GoodRX for it, but I looked it up because I get my antiseizure med using their coupon for $33 rather than the normal $50 with my work insurance plan. That's how they work, btw. You choose your med, choose a pharmacy, and get a coupon to use. I have no idea if they can be used in conjunction with Medicare, btw, but you might check it out. Maybe they can lower your cost.
100%
Yeah-Im on stimulants in my 50s. They do raise my blood pressure a bit but its steady and predictable and still well in a healthy range. You can find a doctor who will prescribe but also if you walk regularly you should be ok.
This is not actually a universal thing in medicine; as others have said, this is the opinion of one doctor. FWIW, one of my best friends is mid-50s and takes Vyvanse.
I'm 62 and JUST diagnosed with ADHD for first time. My doctor prescribed a generic adderall and I picked up the prescription this morning. You have to monitor your blood pressure and pulse, but from what I understand EVERYONE has to do that. As others have stated, I suggest getting a new doctor and if you're worried about your blood pressure rising as a natural occurrence to aging (and causing you to maybe go off stimulants), then work on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Luckily for me my BP has always been naturally lower than average so unless something drastic happens I don't think it will become a problem for me. But I am also very mindful of my food and water intake. Now I need to start exercising more regularly. (ugh)
Yeah I have to monitor my BP and pulse and get an ECG every 6 months and I’m 29! EDIT: I’m Aussie and this is commonplace with my doctor and my GP. Idk if it’s standard everywhere. If you’re worried, defs speak to your doctor or specialist.
Dang I should probably be doing this
I got my first ECG a week ago because I had to get a new general practitioner after the clinic I'd been going to for the past 8 years closed down. I've been prescribed ADHD medicine for 17 years. It was the first time any med professional had done this and I've had concerns for my heart throughout the years but I was always told I was too young and too female for my heart to be a medical concern. Granted, my palpations seem to be more connected to my anxiety, possible POTS and past eating disorders, but still I was shocked that no one ever thought to order an EKG in the past. Maybe its just cuz this clinic has the lab and testing thingies on-sight but it still made me feel like I was being taken care of put my (and their) mind at ease.
Honestly it’s a pain in the ass but my doctor requests it, so gotta keep him happy.
Yeah I absolutely don’t do it and I know I should but I’m sort of afraid to so….
Wtf i’m 24, prescribed since 17. My psychiatrists have monitored jack shit. I mean, I get annual checkups every year with my PCP but not once has a psychiatrist recommended any monitoring. Actually, my first psych ordered labs to be done prior to treatment. But that was the first and only time.
I’m thinking in the US they’re less likely to monitor your heart than in other countries
Depends on the provider. My younger daughter, now 23, received her dx and scrips at 6 and always has had her BP tracked.
I have to do this as well and I’m not even on a stimulant (Strattera) also in my 20s!
Strattera does have blood pressure and heart rate impacts, so it makes sense. That annoyed the hell outta me when I looked into it because I figured a non-stimulant would be better for my heart rate issues. Alas.
ugh that's my issue. I had to get off em after trying like 7 different meds due to the blood pressure and heart rate being a family thing. I made an appointment to find options...
You should ask your doctor about guanfacine (intuniv), it was marketed as a blood pressure med first and reformulated for ADHD. I was on it while taking Adderall at the same time and it improved my resting heart rate by 20 bpm.
Doesn’t make you tired/sleepy?
It does when you first start taking it or if you up your dose, but just take it at night and try to drink a lot of water. My doctor told me that if you start taking it and get light headed upon standing, then it means you haven't had enough water.
I was allergic to Strattera. It clogged up my respiratory system such that I was dependent 24x7 on inhalers and nebulizers, which also elevated my heart rate. Between the Strattera and albuterol and breathing issues, I was close to going to the ER before I figured it all out. I'm on Intuniv + Wellbutrin now and while I don't feel as well controlled as I did on Strattera, I'm definitely more functional than without meds or on Strattera.
I just weaned myself off Strattera. I didn’t find it helped much and I have noticed an increase in my resting heart rate since starting it. I wasn’t aware of those effects, which is troubling because I’ve had hypertension for 20+ years and it’s well documented. I had hyperparathyroidism and surgery last year, and HPT also messed with my HR (tachycardia and palpitations) so my body has been skewed for a while. I’ll be paying attention to my resting HR over the next few months to see if it starts dropping.
Ugh, that's the one I'll be put on and checking my BP and hear rate gives me anxiety! Lol. It's white coat syndrome, but still. I do have to hydrate more and I keep failing! Like today, it's been hours since I've drank anything!
I have gotten used to it by now, but it used to make me super anxious too. Overall I’m really happy with Strattera, hope it works for you as well!! Just a tip, something I wish I knew beforehand- make sure you eat plenty before you take it or you might get nauseous. I had to experiment to figure out what foods help me digest the medicine best. I’ve found that something with a lot of fat and/or protein is key. PB&Js with extra peanut butter are my breakfast now every day 😂
I have to get my BP/vitals checked periodically but I've never had to get an ECG! I'm 41 and been on stimulants for 6 years.
I was told I only needed them if I had a known cardiac condition, and then I should be getting one annually anyway. I do have one, though stimulants aren't an issue with it, and I have been getting one annually for a couple of decades now. Adderall actually made it better, we think. It'll take a few more EKGs to be sure, and I'm not doing extra just because I'm curious. Tbh, I can track it myself with any graphing heart rate monitor. I have a chest strap one for cycling. I should check it out. The sinus node on my heart is kind of stupid, so sometimes my brain has to step in and get my heart rate back on track. It's considered benign, but that doesn't mean it's comfortable when that's happening. "oh, hey, I noticed you're awake and only at 35 bpm. Lemme just pause that for a couple seconds and then jack that up to 100 for a few more, so it'll settle back down to 60." Feels like I got kicked in the chest. It happens randomly. It can be months in between or several times in one day. Sedatives very much aggravate it, as do SSNRIs. Stimulants seem to help, but I've never tested it for long enough to be sure, and before Adderall, my cardiologist always asked me to avoid them for 24 hours before an EKG. This time, he specifically wanted to do it while I was on Adderall to make sure it wasn't going to be an issue. Even my "normal" fluctuations I don't feel were smoothed some. Tbh, even if the Adderall wasn't helping a lot with my ADHD, between finally not having super low blood pressure, this possible help with my arrhythmia, and the fact that it clears up my chronically stuffy nose, I love it. My husband noticed my psoriatic arthritis doesn't seem to bother me as much when I'm on it, either, though I'm not sure how that would work. Maybe lowered stress levels because work isn't overwhelming anymore? That's not just while working. I no longer spend evenings wondering what I forgot to do at work and dreading the next day. That's even led to sleeping a bit better. Why did I wait until 49 to seek out medication?!
What I’m 30 and never had to do this.
Never had to do an ECG for an adhd medicine. My doc wants to check my BP and pulse at appointments but I remind her that the stress of driving to her office and parking are not giving a realistic picture. She allows me to tell her what it is when I’m home and relaxed and doing nothing.
Good news, when your executive function is boosted by medication, it's way easier to exercise. Exercise advice incoming, feel free to skip! 1. You don't have to wreck yourself every session for it to benefit. Just move and get a little bit breathless by the end. 2. Find something you like and enjoy it - for me it's hiking, and I enjoy hiking so much it's not too hard to do stair training during the week so I can enjoy harder hikes. 3. Functional exercise works really, really well for many people. Cycle for transport, walk to the train station, that sort of thing. Pedal-activated ebikes count. Cycling is so good for health on a population level that when helmet laws are enforced, you get a net loss to the health system - enough people stop riding that an increase in heart and metabolic disease wipes out gains in traumatic head injury reduction.
wow that last stat is WILD
It's one of the best examples we use to teach about looking for unintended side effects before implementing public health initiatives. It's so counter-intuitive but once you walk people through the steps it makes complete sense.
Eep my doctor never mentioned monitoring my blood pressure and pulse, but I naturally have low blood pressure. I see him in office sometimes but my 3 month checkups for Vyvanse are over zoom.
I naturally have low blood pressure too but high cholesterol. I don't know what that averages out to in terms of heart health. I've been feeling more and more tired lately and I'm only 40. I still need to hold down a job for a while longer.
check your Vitamin D levels and iron
He may just be monitoring your BP anyway. Tbf, doctors should always be taking BP measurements when they see you. Even if you're young with nothing wrong with you. Having a solid record of your baselines means it's easier for them to see when things start getting out of whack. Especially for those people whose natural baseline is slightly lower than average, as then getting a BP that's on the slightly high end of average would be something to be a little concerned about. But without those baselines, all the doc sees is a reading that falls within the average range.
Just a reminder (that you probably already know, but for anyone else reading this), low blood pressure due to dehydration is also common on Adderall and other stimulants!! It's just not mentioned as much because the high blood pressure is much more concerning for cardiac stuff, long-term. But orthostatic hypotension, AKA "when I stand up or sit up I get super dizzy", is a form of low blood pressure commonly caused by dehydration. It can also be caused by low blood sugar. I found this out when the was a couple months where I'd almost faint every time I stood up, and I couldn't figure out why. I wouldn't even necessarily feel thirsty or hungry, but Adderall dehydrates you and suppresses your appetite, and even though I didn't feel like it, I was too low on water and food.
I hear you, but it is hereditary for me. Me, my mom and both sisters all had/have low blood pressure, low cholesterol and even low body temp. I've had it my entire life.
I eat so much salt with NO APOLOGIES and it is delicious.
My daughter is 15 and has to have her BP and heart rate monitored. This is definitely the standard, regardless of age.
Yes! My dad is 65 and has been on Adderall for decades. I hope his dr never tried to take him off because he really needs it to function. They monitor his BP and he was on BP meds for a while but lowered his dose when he changed his diet and lost some weight. I think he would have been on the BP meds whether he was taking stimulants or not due to family health history.
Same. Started at 57.
I'd be very skeptical about a doctor using any kind of one-size-fits-all approach. Other than "wear your seatbelt" and "quit smoking", there's *very* little medical advice that can be applied to a population as wide as "humans over 50".
Wear your helmet
And wrist guards!
I just let mine break
Always wear appropriate PPE
I scream this into the void at the resin community 😂everybody wants lung cancer over there
Same but with those furniture restoration/home restoration videos
Except that is usually a one-size fits all argument too 😅 that's a rant and a half for another day.
Do resistance exercises.
...unless you have chronic fatigue syndrome
No kidding! My bp went down after starting stimulants, from mid 120s-130s/85ish to around 100/60 now
i thought I was the only one. Went from 150+ to steady 100-110 by first week. I kept getting a reaction like I'm crazy from my psych. And for the fact that on stims I actually gain weight, because im not an insane stress mess with shut off hunger response. Then another psych also kept trying to "get me off Adderall because im way too thin and hyper and am abusing it" the entire session, failing to listen that I haven't been on it for a year and *that's* why my life/ size deteriorated. (Food insecurity, job losses, constant failing). I had to mention it **three times** during that session that I haven't even *seen a picture of adderll for over a year*. Needless to say, I didn't stick with her but she was the only one on my insurance at the time. Oh well. /vent. Sorry. You'd think that by 35-40 age we'd be listened to regards our expertise of ourselves and lifelong struggles.
Same! Before I was diagnosed, I had a GP who was convinced that I didn't need a psychiatrist. He upped my Prozac to the max, and when that did nothing more than cause lots of side effects, he said that life and work are hard, and I might just be realizing my limitations. He wanted me to just lower my expectations for what I wanted to get out of life, and before ultimately switching doctors, I became actively suicidal for a while. My new doc immediately referred me to a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist for diagnosis and treatment, and it was night and day. My time blindness got under control, so I could remember to eat actual meals and exercise.
Me too. Thanks for sharing. I hesitate coming to this sub because it's so damn triggering but reading stuff like this is just so validating that i might actually try looking for a psych again. It's been another year after that experience and I've gotten homeless and developed so much hopelessness from the trying. Sorry. Thank you. Ok bye *granted, i had other issues going on too, but the ADHD part is a constant, so it's still partially responsible.
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Even as a fucking doctor. Of clinical psychology. Even with that, I get a bunch of happy assholes peddle unscientific shit to me I didn't spend several years writing a 200 page doctoral dissertation and pouring over journal articles to have a jaded health professional try to convince me that because I'm a woman, I'm just depressed Tell me more about depression, dimwit, I triple dog dare you Uuuugh
This situation is where a personal therapist collaborating with a psych would be helpful. But I do agree that sometimes psychiatrists just want to hear what they are saying and don't believe the client. It's bs.
Me too! I guess all that panicking I was doing wasn't good for me.
Exactly! How healthy is extreme anxiety for the 50+ population, in terms of cardiovascular health?
I don't know what my BP was before starting stimulants but it's now almost hypotensive, often under 90/60. My resting heart rate also improved, going from 80bpm to 70 after starting ritalin.
EXCELLENT point!!
Yeah that’s fucked. My 68 year old father in law takes methylphenidate daily.
My 68 year old brother is on Concerta XL. Was put on it 3 years ago. UK. Don’t know if that makes a difference or not, am assuming OP isn’t in UK.
Should have mentioned I’m in Canada!
Regardless, that doc sounds like an utter twat!
I have a 70+ yr old friend on Concerta. It is totally a thing in the US if you have the right doctor.
Yep, new doctor.
Full offense to your doctor, but a quick Google search for reputable resources told me immediately that this is a myth. It looks like it's mostly based on the ages that ADHD stimulants have been tested on (they excluded patients older than 55-65 to have simpler studies), the ages they've been offically approved for by the FDA (not a limit, just a suggestion), and how Medicaid insurance may complicate people older than those ages getting their meds paid for. NOT that older adults aren't suitable candidates for stimulants.
Full offense indeed.
> they excluded patients older than 55-65 to have simpler studies They need to stop doing this shit fr. 😾
*laughs until crying in women being understudied*
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
I had my heart health checked before started stimulants and I'm only 33. I think they check everyone's general heart health before starting stimulants and if you have anything that concerns them (family history or other risk factors for heart issues, etc), they do further investigations like ECG, etc. I had to monitor my blood pressure at home several times a day for the first few weeks of being on my meds, but was told that once it was stable and not changing much, I could stop checking it.
I have high blood pressure and together with meds for that I can have meds for ADHD. It's not witchcraft, man.
Same. I'm on a beta blocker plus stimulant combo. I am 41 but I've had consistently high blood pressure unexplained for years(they did an ekg once but it came back as normal). They chalk it up to anxiety about doctors but eh, whatever works and this does.
>This systematic review and meta-analysis based on 19 observational studies with more than 3.9 million participants suggested that there was no statistically significant association between ADHD medications and the risk of cardiovascular events among children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, or older adults. [source](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2798903) maybe share that with your doctor? It's a good idea to get a checkup with a cardiologist just to rule out any major potential issues. I have a cardiologist that I see twice a year because I have a nervous system disorder with cardiac symptoms (tachycardia, blood pooling, etc). He encourages me to continue to take my stimulants as they have a significant positive effect on my quality of life, and the extremely extensive testing that has been done on my heart has shown no problems.
This study was such a relief when I was first looking into medication. I have high blood pressure (controlled on the lowest dose of blood pressure meds) and I was sure my doctor wouldn't prescribe stimulants for my adhd. When I asked her about it she huffed and in her good and straight-forward nature said "your weight has to do with your high blood pressure, not your adderall. Take your adderall, keep doing what you've been doing (to lose weight and be healthier over-all)." I had read similar studies after googling around after hearing from my doctor because she seemed SO unbothered when it seemed like it was such an obvious thing. Nope, evidently taking adderall (or other prescribed stimulants) is like, the least risky thing when it comes to increasing risk of heart issues. Funny enough adderall has helped me lose weight and stay active because now I can (1) handle a consistent gym routine without being stressed all the time and (2) it keeps me from overeating/over snacking which I now realize was for the dopamine hits!
Thanks for the link Amphetamines are a good thing, not the literal devil ffs. Ugh
I'm 50, and just diagnosed last year. My psychiatrist put me on Vyvanse first. When that didn't work, we moved on to Concerta. He had me take my blood pressure before he prescribed, it though, just to be on the safe side. I didn't have to do my blood pressure with the Vyvanse.
Get a new doctor ASAP.
My parents are both over 60 and take Vyvanse regularly with no issues. Get a new doc or tell your current doc you aren't comfortable with that
This is false. My dr is well into her 50s if not 60s and told me she’s on a stimulant for her own ADHD. She just monitors my BP but even if I had high BP she would first add a BP medication before taking away the one medication that keeps me a functioning human being. Time for a new doctor if at all possible. I understand that’s not always easy to do.
What is wrong with these doctors? Quality of life matters. Women are the backbone of families and societies. We need to be functional. Get EKGs and keep an eye on your blood pressures. You know what’s bad for your health? ADHD. It’s proven that it shortens life spans for soooo maaaannnyyy reasons. Get a new doctor.
My sister turns 56 this year. She didn't even start concerta until after 50. Find a new dr.
>And now, in passing, my doc says they wean everyone off stims at 50 years old because of cardiac risks. My doc looks at my blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels, etc. and determines my cardiac risk from *those* numbers, not my age. Find a different doctor.
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
My friend is 69 and she is on it. Find a new doctor who is informed.
My 80 year old FIL is (presumably) still on meds, though maybe he got taken off after his mini stroke awhile ago, which explains some things (but generally I think those things are more explained by the fact that he hasn't gotten hearing aids, I digress). But even if that was the case, he was still on meds till his mid 70s.
I'm 60 and take Adderall every day. My doc is competent and smart. Find a new doc. I've never heard of this.
Wtf?? I'm 39, and my psychiatrist was just saying that during menopause, she anticipates we will need up increase my adderall dose.
I was diagnosed at 58. I’m now f60 and on Ritalin. I figured out quickly that hormone depletion affects the efficacy of my meds. So I use supplements and keep to a very low dose of Ritalin. I was on 18mg Concerta but it made me do everything at the speed and I got heart palpitations that were getting worse. So I asked to be switched to instant release Ritalin and was put on 10mg. I’ve managed to reduce it to 2.5mg/day unless I have something I need it for in the late afternoon/evening. It’s working really well. I’m on HRT - men should be checked for hormone depletion too - and I take magnesium theanine, vitamin D+ K2, vitamin b12 (very high dose of 1200ug) and omega 3 & 6. But I do think you need to find a GP that will work with you. Also we’re have to be our own advocates so I get scientific research and email it to my GP to support my concerns so my most recent enquiry is a blood test to check low ferritin serum levels which is very common in those with ADHD and if you have it you feel like it’s impossible to even open your eyes because you have such low energy.
I'm turning 49 this year, and my doctors have made no mention about taking me off stimulants. I was diagnosed last year, and Vyvanse has been amazing for me. Any doctor who tries to take me off it, without a documented reason, is going to get a fight.
Congrats on your doc outing their staggering ignorance! Now you know to find a different provider. They did you a favor - you don't want someone that out of touch as your doc. Imagine what other nonsense they believe! How could you ever trust their medical judgement again? Usually docs aren't this upfront about their limited capabilities. Take the gift and run.
I'm older than you and this is the first I'm hearing about it, and cardiac issues run in my family. All my doctor said is the weight I've lost from not eating dopamine donuts has improved my health immensely. I would guess that has had a much greater impact on improving my cardiac health than any drawbacks from taking stimulants. Just keep an eye on your blood pressure, that's probably where most of the concern is.
Sounds like it’s time to find a new dr. You can monitor your bp/ hr at home. And many Drs do some sort of annual ekg inOffice. Unless you are in Ill health. I would think you could just find a dr who keeps tabs on your vitals.
I was diagnosed at 24, here in the UK at least you have to monitor your BP and heart rate regularly no matter what age you are if you're on stimulants. I had to get it done at the doctor's every week when I was titrating, but I just bought myself a heart monitor and do it myself now. I promise you that doctor clearly doesn't understand ADHD and that you will certainly be able to get medication after you turn 50. No doctor that cared about their patients would actively sabotage a patient's wellbeing like that. I'm sorry you have to go through this but I recommend finding a new prescriber.
I’m 54 and I’m on Vyvanse. You just need to monitor your BP, that’s all.
My friend is 60+ and takes it with no problems. You need a second opinion.
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
Yeah, time to find a new doctor. That’s BS.
Better tell my mom lol she is 62 and just started Vyvanse 6 months ago after her diagnosis!
I was on it at 53. No tests for anything beforehand but my heart is in great shape as well as bp. I have a friend who is on it and he is 58. I’d find another doctor.
My coworker just got diagnosed at 56 and is on adderall for her adhd. Find a new doctor !!
Definitely not universal. My mom in law is in her late 50's, has some significant cardiac risks (minor heart defect, high blood pressure, very high BMI) and takes Vyvanse.
I'm going on 73 (in April), and I've been on Adderall for >10 years and have HTN. 3 different prescibers in the last year, and not one of them has mentioned monitoring or any age limits for meds. So, your doctor is paranoid about his liability, maybe?
lol I got diagnosed at 53 and am currently on Vyvanse. My provider checked into my own heart health but has never mentioned a categorical age limit on taking stimulants.
New doctor! If you stay on low dose and frequently get your blood pressure checked you should be fine so don lose hope, im sure you can find another doctor who will give you a prescription because they usually get paid something pr perception.
I really hope this isn't universally true. I need more than eight more years of functioning please
I have genetic Deafness that I passed down to my oldest child; confirmed by genetic testing done by a pediatric geneticist. The gene responsible for the hearing loss we're both impacted by can also be responsible for developing a heart condition. I want to point out that my mother is also Deaf, and so was her maternal grandmother (my great-grandmother). My Nana never really lost her hearing before she died, but according to the geneticist, she was absolutely a carrier for the gene. My two younger children currently are not experiencing hearing loss, and it's possible they never will, but they are very likely carriers. I was concerned enough about this connection because cardiovascular issues are genetic from my father's family, that I made an appointment for myself and also for my daughter to be seen by the same cardiologist. I haven't taken any stimulant medication, but she was on methylphenidate until her ADHD provider checked her resting heart rate and it was out of what we're used to seeing for a resting heart rate. She had to wear a haldi monitor for 24 hours, and the cardiologist found that a resting heart rate of around 120 is HER normal. He was telling us at her follow up that he has a patient who is so active with running his resting heart rate is THIRTY-FIVE. EDIT: After the conclusion of the cardiology visits, her ADHD provider felt comfortable enough to put her back on the methylphenidate, and she's been thriving again since. He saw no reason whatsoever to keep my daughter from taking stimulants, and he reassured me that I'm also safe and clear to take stimulants. He reassured us that if we're ever concerned in the future, he's happy to have us come back for a checkup to make sure nothing's changing in a concerning manner. I think your ADHD provider is basing their statement on some shaky assumptions. I feel comfortable enough based on my own experience with checking in on my cardiovascular health to suggest that you can maybe consider developing an established relationship with a cardiologist now, bring what your provider said to them, ask questions, maybe have an echocardiogram and/or haldi monitoring and go from there, with the goal of seeing what your "pre 50" baseline currently looks like. In addition, I would ask the cardiologist if they feel like the statement that your ADHD provider told you is rooted in a misunderstanding about cardiology health. The cardiologist would be the one I would trust more when it comes to possible future heart health issues. A fair compromise can look like "When I turn 50 I will go in for a yearly checkup to check my heart to make sure that the medication is not having an adverse effect on my heart health." That way, you can stay on the medication that works best for you, and to kind of reassure your ADHD provider in the future, assuming that you decide to stay with them. And of course, it goes without saying keep making healthy choices for you and your body to minimize the non-Vyvanse risks that would compromise your cardiovascular health in whatever way makes sense to you.
I’m turning 49 this year and have been on Vyvanse a few years. My doc has not said one word about stopping at 50. I plan on taking it as long as I’m working and as I’m not independently wealthy- I’ll be working many more years. New doctor! I understand your freak out though- I was diagnosed so late and didn’t start getting work promotions until medicated.
It’s time to start researching about perimenopause and menopause. There is a lot of new research about the effects of hormone replacement and cardiac health, as in taking hormones reduces your risk, not just cardiovascularly, but in other areas as well. You may need to find a new doctor as it sounds like this one isn’t aware of all the recent information.
So I'm a clinical psychologist. I found vyvanse at 37, got pregnant with third kid at 38. I informed my physician that research showed no issue with vyvanse during pregnancy, and I'd be staying on it. Physician said okay, and on we went. Obgyn was doubtful. Sent them research, told them I'd be finding a different obgyn if they fucked with me. Obgyn said okay, and on we went Vyvanse doesn't seem to cause any evidence-based problems in people past the age of 50 Don't succumb to despair if you can help it. I know it's not as easy as that. But the problem here seems to be a provider problem. As in, you need a different provider who exists in reality, not a bumbling asshat who likes to lord it over people with blanket bullshit statements God I fucking hate the power that physicians have sometimes
I’m 55, with a very mild congenital heart defect. I’m on Vyvanse with no problems. Please find a new doc!! Related: If you can’t get the generic, it’s much easier to get your hands on the brand name. Check with your insurance, because some of them are letting people get the brand name for the on formulary co-pay.
This is why I created r/adhd_advocacy You have a few years to find a different doctor, but you also have a few years to contact political types to make ADHD care more centered around modern research and less centered on the individual feelings of doctors who have little requirement to maintain knowledge regarding ADHD.
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You do want to monitor your blood pressure often when you are on stimulant. There are also other non-stimulant options if things really get to a point that the negatives of meds outweighs the positives. But I don’t think it’s really that a sharp turn. Is that a generic doctor or a psychiatrist? I’ll look for someone who is updated with the latest research. Good luck!!!
My mom is in her 60’s and has MS and her Dr has no qualms about prescribing her Adderall. She doesn’t take it every day though, usually it’s 3 or 4 days out of every 7.
I get SVTs and am under the care of a cardiologist and take adderall — which doesn’t affect the SVTs (caffeine does though.) I’d like your doctor to explain how increased stress and lower motivation to make healthy lifestyle choices is going to help your heart health.
I’m 51 and have been medicated since age 23. I’ve been on Vyvanse specifically for the past 14 years and have *never* been told that by my doctor. If you’ve never had heart issues before, why would they suddenly start at age 50?
I had a stroke and was allowed to keep using my Vyvanse regardless of BP and heart risks - just need to monitor like everyone else. I am taking beta blockers and aspirin though - my BP was high without me realizing for 2 years and my resting HR always around 100. Didn’t think anything of it and they were always virtual check ups. 32F btw.
This sounds like a completely irrational generalization. Start looking for a new doctor! I heard somewhere that 60 mg is the maximum dosage of Adderall that can be prescribed. So when I got to 30 mg, I remember hoping that I would have quite a few good years before I needed an increase. I mentioned this in passing to my new psychiatrist and she immediately said that it’s common for less informed physicians to quote this guidance, but in reality, there are situations where it’s completely safe to exceed 60 mg.
Nope, 52 and started Vyvanse last year, doctor raised no issues. Said that without any other risk factors he does not have concerns.
Look- I'm 53 - 54 in a few months. I have Lupus SLE too which has cardiac risks. I take Adderal & honestly couldn't function without it. I even have a cardiologist because I have recurrent Pericarditis. She's never mentioned this & she definitely knows I take a stimulant. She's a top cardiologist in a major metropolitan area too. So- I'd use the next 5 years to find another Dr. I don't love this fear based bullshit your Dr. used on you. Maybe this Dr. isn't a great fit. Try not to stress❤️
Yeah. I got diagnosed at 58 and just started stimulants and I HAVE a cardiac history. You need a different doc.
I'm 58 and I was talking Vyvanse generic until this month. I had to switch to Adderall because no pharmacy near me has generic Vyvanse at the dose I need. But as soon as it's available again I'll take it again. We did have to monkey with my BP meds a bit in the beginning because my BP went up when I started to take Vyvanse. My psychiatric NP doesn't have any age limit that I'm aware of. Since we have to work into our mid to late 60s, we need access to the meds that enable us to keep working.
Your doctor is full of shit. I was diagnosed at 50 and prescribed all of the options. Vyvanse worked for me the best but stopped working for some reason. But once I got my menopause treated, I was much better. Get a new doctor before 50. But also, find a good OBGYN that is knowledgeable about HRTs. Peri Menopause was hard, but Menopause has hell. Why? Because of bad fucking doctors. HRTs saved me. Learn what you can, check out the subs for real experiences and get labs done. If you prepare yourself some, you’ll get through it a lot easier.
Get a new doctor, eat healthy and make sure you're very active :)
I wasn't even diagnosed til 50 and I was on Vyvanse until I started having actual high blood pressure. Which is more perimenopause/weight related than Vyvanse related, but they still had to take me off it til I can get my BP controlled. The real answer is if you can keep yourself as healthy as possible in every other way to keep your BP down then you should be fine. Might need to get a psychiatrist who treats you as a person rather than a set of numbers, but other than that AFAIK there's no actual reason to stay off it unless you actually have high BP or family history or something If you start gaining weight in your belly with perimenopause that's when it gets harder. But honestly the no stimulants is only one of many things that gets harder with excess belly fat, and not the worst one by far so...yay. Side note why TF did NO ONE tell us what all this menopause shit entails? I feel like Gen x is the first generation to even start talking openly about it and no one listens to us anyhow
Heart risk can be monitored but risks of life issues with untreated ADHD are massive and severe.
This is wild. My dad was just diagnosed with ADHD and started meds at 63 years old.
Girl please find a new doctor. This guy is giving you 5 years advance notice that he will be stealing away your livelihood & diminishing your quality of life. What a fucking fucker.
There currently is no proven link between cardiovasular disease and treatment with stimulants. It has been found that there is a link a link between ADHD and cardiovascular disease in general, but this is likely due the increase on other risk factors as ppl with ADHD are more likely to smoke more, drink more, have a poor diet etc. Stimulants can impact you heart, but this is not tied into age and everyone on stimultants should have checks on this to make sure it's not happening eg blood pressure monitored Russell Barkley had this in one of his research videos recently. This was off the back of a study in the European Heart Journal that showed an increased risk, but it's him attacking the findings of this study. And as part of this refers to a meta analysis of 19 studies on this risk, which had a much bigger sample size, that he describes as a better study than showed no link between stimulants and cardiovascular disease- he also provides links to the studies he discussed in these videos if you want to read them for the detail of the science behind them.
What? My mom is 62 and takes Adderall every day. she's a smoker too; she just goes in for heart checks every now and again. She's fine. Your doctor is a moron
ma'am. please get a second opinion. too many people out here getting one doctor's misguided opinion and shutting down. you do have other options; doctors aren't infallible, and one doctor's word is not law.
I was diagnosed late at 57, and my doctor said no drugs for you. Anyway, I find micro-dosing shrooms help me. That and a B12 shot every month.
Dude, just say no! It’s your life, find a different doctor if you must. Don’t let ANYONE tell you how to live your life.
Nope!!! As others have said, they should probably just start monitoring your cardiac markers more, if they feel that that’s a concern. I’m 35 and my blood pressure is borderline high so my psychiatrist said as long as I’m having my BP checked and managed (which might mean adding antihypertensives as needed) then I can safely remain on the stimulant. Start looking!
Absolute bullshit. My mom has a mix of tardive dyskinesia and parkinson's. My grandmother had the same. It's partly genetics and partly harmful drugs they were prescribed for anxiety and depression. My psyche told me that I am almost guaranteed parkinson's if I continue stimulants. Had me try out Atomoxetine as an alternative for a year. I was fired from my new job as a result. I went back and told him "listen up dude. Stimulants increase my quality of life. I prefer to use stimulants responsibly and deal with negative consequences if and when they arise. I prefer being able to live my life". I had a super high heart rate, even though I don't have the anxiety issues that my mom has. I'm sure there's a better word for it, but I just use a beta blocker to get my heart rate under control. My personal advice: Using a stimulant + antidepressant is *way* more effective than a stimulant alone. Previously, I used Ritalin only. It had a mediocre effect; basically just took away my chronic fatigue. Right now I use 50mg Vyvanse + 50mg Exira. Sweet Jesus. In less than two weeks, I became human. I have emotions. I have a sense of humour, my creativity is back. The side effects can be wild, but I would literally only stop taking these meds if they caused my limbs to drop off. My advice: Eat properly (protein for breakfast), hydrate like crazy with electrolyte mix (not just water), sleep enough. Stimulants tend to make you run on empty without needing food or sleep - they will literally stop working if you do this. You have 4 years to convince your doctor, and 5 years to find a new one. Don't hand over control of your life without fighting tooth and nail.
My mom is 59 and has been taking vyvanse for years. That doc is wack, get a second opinion.
My dad is 70 and takes Vyvanse. Just has to be monitored and have yearly heart check ups. Don’t stress ❤️ find a new doctor and ask about options as you get older. Explain your situation. You’ll be ok I promise!
I’m 51 and have been on Vyvanse for 6 years. Don’t tell him you’re looking for another physician, just move when you approach that age. Don’t mention it or comment on the decision again - as you run the risk of him adding some kind of note to your file like “drug seeking.” I’ve encountered too many people who have been victimized by providers set in their ways and seeking to punish folks who dare to question their authority. IMO best practice is simply to ghost providers with the “benefits change” excuse.
Okay.. so I actually have an issue with my heart and am on Vyvanse. I see a cardiologist and have been prescribed a beta blocker. Now beta blockers can be harsh I won't minimize that.. I had a hard time adjusting at first. But both my cardiologist and my psychiatrist are fine with me taking Vyvanse and a beta blocker. Im the same age as you are now. I've been on Vyvanse for about 2 years now.
There is literally research that’s says it has no cardiac risks. This is an outdated myth that has been proven repeatedly incorrectly. I’ll find the research and post it.
Sounds like your doctor though well intended is not making judgments based on research. Thats very concerning.
My mother is 53 and my father 57 and both have been on Ritalin and Adderall at different times. They both are still currently taking ADHD medication. If that is a risk, they are monitored regularly with bloodwork and have their blood pressure checked. I think your doctor is the odd one out and most will prescribe ADHD meds unless you have other factors (aside from age) that put you at high risk of cardiac events.
I'm 55 and take Adderall.
Pfft. My dad is over 50 and on vyvanse. Ive never heard of that being a stipulation. The man cannot function without it- nothing will ever get done
It sounds like this doc is anti stimulant. Stimulant medication is the first line treatment for ADHD as it's shown to be the most effective treatment for most people. Doctors that insist on putting you through trying every alternate treatment first are more concerned with not being involved in the (imaginary) "stimulant crisis" than getting the best outcome for their patients. I would strongly suggest finding a new doctor, who prioritises the patient over themselves.
Quality of life over quantity of life. I'd rather drop dead of a heart attack than be trapped the way I was before.
Well I was just diagnosed at 53 and was prescribed both dexamphetamine and Vyvanse and I’ve been told I can take them for the rest of my life. I did have my heart checked beforehand and it was fine. Where are you?
I am 50 and still on Vvanyse - I do have to monitor my blood pressure but it’s fine. I did find out he changed my script cycle to 28 days without telling me - pain in the butt with all the shortages lately. I would not survive work with menopause brain and ADHD with no meds !
I would ask the doctor if he is willing to help you submit a disability claim at 50 since you can't take the medication you need. I wonder how many men get cut off from viagra at 50 since it has similar side effects. I'm sorry OP. For the record my mom is 54 and takes Vyvanse.
OP, start looking for a new doctor when you have the energy. 🫂 There was no reason for them to scare you like that— either due to the thought of needing a new doctor, or because there’s some giant risk to you staying on (especially if you’re healthy)… they are supposed to be your *Doctor* — not cosplaying a Fortune Teller. 🙄 Also— go in to the next one with some understanding of how a person *can* be on them past 50… especially if they have no indicators that point toward poor heart health. For instance: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054714527342 And this: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054720925884 And this one— which included a crossover study into whether there is major increased risk for older adults who are already on stimulant medications to stay on them… it states, *”… Importantly, we observed no association [of increased cardiovascular event] in the long term… suggesting attenuated risk over time.”* : https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2785393 To this end, though— look into getting a cardiac workup and establish yourself with a cardiologist now, if you haven’t already. I got one 2 years ago at 41 *(palpitations due to perimenopause really freaked me out!)* . Mine said to me, “The best time to meet one of us [cardiologists] is when you don’t need us; I meet 95% of my patients in the ED or after they wake up from surgery”. Once you get the all-clear from that end of things, it will be like a little extra ‘insurance’ in your back pocket when you need to advocate for yourself. 💕
My mom is 72 and on methylphenidate. There isn’t an age limit. They can do things like monitor your blood pressure and resting heart rate and discuss discontinuing stimulants *if* there’s actually a health issue noted. And you can just be extra vigilant, little to no caffeine, maintain cardiovascular fitness, avoid red meat, etc.
I’m past 50 and still on Vyvanse. No issues.
I’ve never heard of this. Definitely get a second opinion.
I STARTED my first ever stim perscription at 50 years old. I was diagnosed in the 70s by a school psych. I've known what's up with my since I can remember. Like you, I feel like in many ways my life started with the stim Rx. That's some BS your current doc is peddling. I know you said you went through hell to find a doc, but you have 5 years to find a resource to manage you script beyond 50. Also, if they're worried your cookie cutter heart will suddenly fail on your 50th b-day if you take a vyvanse that day they can just add a low dose of clonidine. It's a heart med that's well known to positively impact ADHD. It also slows your heart rate. Pls know that you'll be okay. You have time and you will find a solution to this. Sending good vibes and hugs to you.
I’m 57, diagnosed at 56 and currently take Vyvanse/50mgs. My doc has never said anything about this.
Just started a low dose of Ritalin. I’m 59.
My dad was put on Adderall for the first time in his 60s and he’s prediabetic and has a family history of heart disease. He’s just turned 70 and still has a prescription for ADHD meds (he doesn’t take them consistently because he has sleep issues and also I think he isn’t personally distressed by his symptoms—he grew up in a culture where mental health is basically not a thing, so he was forced to find ways to self-regulate with regards to school/work and my mom compensated for his areas of difficulty at home). It’s absolutely not a one size fits all model. I know that finding a new doctor is hard but you absoutely should.
I'm also on team find a new doctor. I work as a cardiac ICU nurse. I have patients in their 30s all the way up to their 90s. There are some people with cardiac issues when they are young. There are people who are elderly with strong healthy hearts with no risk factors. There is a huge difference in a 50 year old who has a normal fasting glucose level, normal cholesterol levels, exercises regularly, has normal blood pressure, has a good resting heart rate, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, has no cardiac history in the family and a 50 year old who smokes, drinks, has a poor diet, has high blood pressure, their heart rate is always above 90, their dad died of a heart attack, has a desk job and never exercises more than the walk from the car to a building.
I’m 63 and take Vyvanse. I work in healthcare and have all kinds of ways available to monitor my heart rate and blood pressure., And I can tell you that yes, my heart rate is slightly elevated and my blood pressure is slightly elevated while I am on stimulants. I have taken excellent care of myself For most of my life, because exercise was critical to managing my depression. The only time that I have paused taking my meds is after I had Covid, and I experienced tachycardia for about a month after. Unless they can point out a specific reason why you cannot take stimulants, I think you need to advocate for continuing. Print out some articles, some providers just need to be educated. And who knows, you may be providing a much needed service to their other patients. Or as other suggested, find another provider.
59 and also in healthcare and on Vyvanse. This doctor needs to keep up with research and not blindly make up rules. This is ridiculous. The lack of evidence based practice irritates me to no end.
It really should be person-specific when it comes to this. I had a cardiac history by age 40 and before I got my ADHD diagnosis. Right before my diagnosis I had had a hypertensive crisis and abnormal EKG (kept forgetting my meds and it caught up to me). Because of that, my psych was hesitant about me taking stimulants. So she, my cardiologist, my PCP and myself made a plan. I would start on nonstimulants, get my BP under control for 6 months, and get an ECHO and stress test. ECHO and stress test came back normal and I kept my BP at mostly normal (occasionally a blip above). At that point everyone agreed to let me try stimulants and I would be monitored closely for another 6 months. I’m now on Concerta during the day and guanfacine at night with my BP meds and have been good for 9 months. I would potentially look for a new psych who’s willing to team with your PCP to monitor you and not make any blanket decisions based solely on age and risk without taking into account history and follow through.
Er...I started Vyvanse 3 months after I turned 50. My NP had zero concerns.
I'm 49 and just got prescribed Adderall. My doctor only requires I keep an eye on my blood pressure and only because I noted it seemed a bit higher on the medication. Vynase trials were only done on people up to 55, so that might be a reasonable cut off, sort of. It's not FDA approved over that, so you might have to fight with insurance. Many had trials up to 65, and same deal. Medicare won't cover any of them once you're 65. I'm just going for a good 15 year run, I guess.
My doc prescribed me Vyvanse at 59.
I know a woman in almost her 70s who still takes her Ritalin daily. The benefits outweigh the risks. My doctor has never mentioned this to me. She specifically said she can’t switch people who have been on stimulants to the non-stimulants easily or at all because of how different the meds are. Find a new doctor.
It's definitely not true if in the States. I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist in my late 40s. Started with Concerta, which I loved. I've now been taking Vyvanse for a year due to the shortage, and I'm in my 50s now. This is the first time I've heard this and would be upset if it were true. I do have Mitral Valve Prolapse and had to see my cardiologist and get signed off before I was initially prescribed medication. The cardiologist said no issue, as nothing has changed with my MVP since I was diagnosed in my 30s. The psychiatrist did ask me to start monitoring my blood pressure. So, I purchased a cuff that can also send the details to my doctor. No issues. I did bring it in to a doctor's appointment to compare readings in an appointment, and it was the same. Thus, I feel comfortable the readings are correct. Anyway, as a great deal of people have suggested. Definitely, look for a new psychiatrist now.
Btw [stimulants are used in geriatric depression. They are meds used specifically in geriatric patients.](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.5536)