Reduced Efficacy of ADHD Medications
Users on Reddit have reported experiencing a reduced efficacy of their ADHD medications while taking GLP-1 medications. This is often attributed to the delayed gastric emptying caused by GLP-1s, which can affect the absorption of other oral medications.
Experiences with Reduced Efficacy:
The delayed absorption is a common theme. A user on tirzepatide injections noted, "I find my adhd meds aren't as effective now that I'm on tirzepatide injections. Tried Concerta and Vyvanse. She explained it was probably due to delayed gastric emptying. "[3] Similarly, someone on Ozempic shared, "Sadly it also makes my Adderall absorb more slowly, so for me the net effect on my ADHD management has been negative. "[4]
This issue can affect various ADHD medications. One user mentioned, "it's great for food noise but I notice my strattera isn't as effective and I think it's because it's not being absorbed by my body like it's supposed to because of the gastric slowness. "[5] Another on tirzepatide said, "my lisdexamfetamine is much less effective. "[6]
Some users notice the ADHD medication taking longer to kick in or wearing off differently. A user on Ozempic stated, "I'm on Ozempic and it's even a problem with the IR. It hits more slowly when I need it but then sticks around well into the night. "[7] Another said, "Meds take HOURS to kick in. "[8] One user on Zepbound experienced their Vyvanse taking "close to 20 hours to wear off and was absolutely ruining my sleep. "[9]
The impact can be significant enough for users to consider stopping GLP-1s. A user who took Wegovy for 6 months said, "my ADHD got so much worse. It was like Vyvanse completely stopped working. I was exhausted all the time and felt like a dead battery. "[10]
Another user also noted, "Also I notice my Elvanse works for much less time, maybe 4 hours, then I just feel an intense come down, and mood dysregulation. "[11]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
Adjusting Timing of ADHD Medication: A user on Zepbound advised, "I do have to take my meds earlier in the day so it has more time to kick in before work. "[13]
Switching to a Different GLP-1: One user discussed switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro, hoping for fewer side effects, which could implicitly include better ADHD medication efficacy, though not directly stated as a remedy for ADHD med interaction. "I've discusssed it with my endo and may try switching to Mounjaro to see if that works with fewer side effects. "[14]
Adjusting ADHD Medication Dosage or Type: A user whose Vyvanse was lasting too long on Zepbound mentioned, "I just started a low dose of IR Ritalin today hopefully this goes better! "[9] Another user mentioned that they "had to increase my other medications as weeks went by. "[15]
Stopping GLP-1 Medication: For some, the negative impact on ADHD medication was too severe, leading them to discontinue the GLP-1. "I got a bad stomach flu and had to go off the drugs for a couple weeks and all of sudden started feeling better. So I never went back on them. "[10]
It's important to note that not all users experience this interaction. One user on Victoza said, "it doesn't seem to interfere with my adhd meds. "[16] Another on a microdose of tirzepatide felt their "Concerta works better.
Experiences with Reduced Efficacy:
- Several users explicitly state that their ADHD stimulants seem less effective.
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
- Switching ADHD Medication Formulation: One user found a solution by changing the delivery method of their ADHD medication: "I encountered the med efficacy problem too but I added Xelstrym (dextroamphetamine patch) & it helped a ton.
It's important to note that not all users experience this interaction. One user on Victoza said, "it doesn't seem to interfere with my adhd meds. "[16] Another on a microdose of tirzepatide felt their "Concerta works better.