Wellbutrin: felt easier to start tasks without waiting for motivation to hit, gave me headaches

Atomoxetine (Strattera): after a month felt a little less distracted, affected my mood and killed the sex drive, I was too irritable and had problems with relationships.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin): helped me stay awake and a bit less distracted, gave me a rash so I couldn’t take it longer or higher doses to see if taking more would make any difference

Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse): improved focus, kept me awake for 16 hours at a time, kills appetite, dries the throat, causes sweating, makes me want to go to the bathroom more often, makes me feel stressed a bit, tenses muscles in the head a bit too. The least worst out of them all so far, I’m trying to channel how I feel while on it to act more focused on the days when I’m not taking it, and it seems to help a bit.

Most difference for all of them I’ve noticed after I’ve stopped taking them, suddenly realizing that though while taking them it felt like they only helped a tiny bit, it was actually noticeably harder to do things without them.

Still, Lisdexamfetamine was the only one immediately noticeable, just need to watch myself and make sure to get more showers, remember to hydrate and to eat properly, to take it early in the morning and to force myself to sleep on time (didn’t learn how to do that yet though)

I've been on Vyvanse, Adderal, and Strattera.

Vyvanse was helpful. I was able to hold the same job for four years, where before my focus was so poor I would rarely last a year. I'm trying to get my psychiatrist to prescribe it again. There were no noticeable side effects.

Adderal didn't have any noticeable side effects, but it wasn't as effective as Vyvanse.

Strattera gave me no benefit, but caused the worst constipation I've ever experienced. Even now, more than a decade later, I still say I'm "all Stratterad up" when I can't poop.

Commenting to pin so I can reply more fully when less sleepy

I'm on methyl whatever and I too don't find it to be terribly useful. I don't even find it makes masking any easier.

I'm on combo thing of Vyvanse and Adderall and everyday is just a gamble if I will feel exhausted all day or overwhelmed with anxiety... Or both.

Wellbutrin. I'm level. Just seems... Normal

Methylphenidate is awesome for me, but I need two ER pills to cover the whole day. It helps me remember enough small things to complete things and doesn't have side effects like the other meds I tried first.

It has been long enough I don't remember which other ones I tried, but they affected my mood and this one doesn't.

I benefit most from the amphetamine/dextroamphetamine ones, which give me an energy boost (e.g. vyvanse, mixed salts). Methylphenidate ones (e.g. focalin, concerta) give me only focus and it feels like everything else slows down, making for some long and tired days. I can’t speak for the strattera/guanfacine/Qelbree type stuff. But essentially if one particular category of the three types works, that’s your lane.