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Are there any Autistic people who also have ADHD here?

Pootalfun

Hi everyone,  I was diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD and would like to connect with similar people for advice please. In particular I would like to hear of experiences from people who take ADHD medication. I have started Elvanse for my ADHD, only three days in now. I wonder if anyone else takes an ADHD stimulant and whether it affects their autistic traits in any way? I appreciate that this is a very personal ask and maybe people won’t want to disclose this and that’s absolutely fine isn’t it? Otherwise, just chatting with others about how it feels to have both autism and ADHD will be so helpful for me, I don’t know any people with both. Thank you 

  • I am autistic but with some of the traits associated with ADHD too, but not enough to qualify with an ADHD diagnosis

    It actually helps me in a lot of my work when I have to analise a problem as I find the slighlty chaotic approach helps me look at many things at the same time while my more autistic traits file that info away for analysis.

    For this reason I am reluctant to take any medications that will impact my processing abilities.

  • I do, but I choose not to take ADHD medication. Because I also have another underlying mental health condition and I am worried that might make it worse.

  • in reply to McFrost

      I totally understand what you have said, see my reply back to  too. I feel more autistic but I think the ADHD causes my anxiety, my noisy brain and some of my less desirable traits! I think Elvanse and Vyvanse are the same medication - I think Vyvanse is the American name and I’m in the UK so I take Elvanse. As you’ve said, it is early days for me being that I’ve only taken it three times but I do feel calmer and my brain is less busy and chaotic - this could be placebo because I’m so relieved to feel cared for, believed and taken seriously at last in receiving my two diagnoses. I am happy to update you as I go along

  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum

       this is very interesting because I feel very similar to you in that the two conditions compete with each other - may be why my husband comments that I am a walking contradiction?! I genuinely get so confused about myself. I am on my titration trial so I am observing for any side effects, not sure if I’d feel them this soon? Only three days in. Do you manage your work ok? 

  • I am in the process of getting an autism diagnosis and also believe I have ADHD. I also get the same feeling of the two things competing against each other that Expecto_Patronum described and, although I feel that autism is the main thing that shapes me, I think the ADHD element may be more destructive to me.

    This is a very well timed thread for me and I will be reading with interest, as I have recently been reading about Elvanse and Vyvanse and, from what people who take either of them say about what it does for them, I feel it could potentially be very helpful for me.

    How have you found it so far pootalfun? Early days of course but it seems like everyone has a slightly different reaction to it.

  • I have both. I don't take medication though, I did try but I had side effects that made it not worth it. I have heard many people comment that the autistic traits can become more obvious when on ADHD meds though.

    I feel like my autism and ADHD are always competing. One wants one thing and one wants another. One usually wins. In work the autistic traits are far more obvious but at home I'd say the ADHD ones are. They mask each other in a way. 

    It's a difficult combination of conditions.