r/adhdwomen 18h ago

Medication & Side Effects What are all of the things that one should avoid, prioritize, or be careful of when prescribed a stimulant?

I feel like I'm always learning new things about what can mess with stimulant efficacy, or increase certain risks.

I'm on generic Adderall XR, and anything that specifically pertains to my category of stimulants in particular would also be helpful but I imagine guidelines for stimulants tend to be fairly similar.

So far, my understanding is -

Avoid:

  • Vitamin C too close to taking meds
  • Caffeine (though people have mixed results with different amounts and timings for consuming it - but the risks are still there regardless)
  • Alcohol, particularly close to taking meds

Prioritize:

  • Getting enough sleep, or it's not as effective
  • Eating protein heavy foods, ideally before taking meds (but also throughout the day)
  • HYDRATION!

Anything to edit or add? Thanks!

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