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I was previously on Guanfacine in combination with Adderall for my blood pressure so I don't have experience taking it solely. I did learn I cannot take stimula

I was previously on Guanfacine in combination with Adderall for my blood pressure so I don't have experience taking it solely. I did learn I cannot take stimulants at all, it takes my anxiety to 1000 and makes me a complete a-hole around my house which helps nobody. Can you elaborate which ADHD symptoms it has helped the most? I'm currently not taking any meds but I can't focus or concentrate to save my life which makes a demanding IT job difficult at times.

ryanklee 3y ago
Symptoms alleviated considerably: task avoidance, distractibility, hyper-fixation, reactivity, perseveration. I had already achieved quite a lot in the way of symptom management through cognitive behavioral tools and physical exercise, but consistent application of tools and discipline broadly are exactly what ADHDrs often struggle with. Clearly, it's problematic to rely on a treatment for unreliability which is itself unreliable. So good results, but inconsistent. The guanfacine has been much more stably effective at reducing the general baseline tendencies. For me, like I said, it was a miracle, since like you, but for a different reason, I can't take simulants.
- hirvi74 3y ago
  Are you able to hyper-fixate on things you need to get completed? I rely on that heavily in my life. Without, I am as good as useless. I've noticed that stimulants can make me hyper-fixate, which often times, can be very beneficial. I relied on hyperfocus prior to being medicated, and it seems like medication is just a on switch for hyperfocusing. At least, some of the time...
  - qingcharles 3y ago
    Hyper-fixation is good only when you fixate on something that is necessary. My hyper-fixation is always on some side project.
vogon_laureate 3y ago
How effective was it on your blood pressure? I'm currently on Modafinil and it's been a life-changer but it doesn't help with some of the killer symptoms of ADHD that still plague me (like task avoidance, distractibility, task completion, time management, planning, consistency, etc.). But I was recently diagnosed with hypertension so need to deal with that. I'm worried the GP will say that I need to discontinue the Modafinil as it's not recommended for people with cardiovascular issues. But maybe with guanfacine it might balance out?
- beardedmoose 3y ago
  It seemed effective in my case and brought my blood pressure down to the normal 120/80 range from my default of ~140/95.
  - vogon_laureate 3y ago
    Did you have any weight gain or sleepiness/fatigue issues?

ryanklee 3y ago

Symptoms alleviated considerably: task avoidance, distractibility, hyper-fixation, reactivity, perseveration. I had already achieved quite a lot in the way of symptom management through cognitive behavioral tools and physical exercise, but consistent application of tools and discipline broadly are exactly what ADHDrs often struggle with. Clearly, it's problematic to rely on a treatment for unreliability which is itself unreliable. So good results, but inconsistent. The guanfacine has been much more stably effective at reducing the general baseline tendencies. For me, like I said, it was a miracle, since like you, but for a different reason, I can't take simulants.

hirvi74 3y ago
Are you able to hyper-fixate on things you need to get completed? I rely on that heavily in my life. Without, I am as good as useless. I've noticed that stimulants can make me hyper-fixate, which often times, can be very beneficial. I relied on hyperfocus prior to being medicated, and it seems like medication is just a on switch for hyperfocusing. At least, some of the time...
- qingcharles 3y ago
  Hyper-fixation is good only when you fixate on something that is necessary. My hyper-fixation is always on some side project.

vogon_laureate 3y ago

How effective was it on your blood pressure? I'm currently on Modafinil and it's been a life-changer but it doesn't help with some of the killer symptoms of ADHD that still plague me (like task avoidance, distractibility, task completion, time management, planning, consistency, etc.). But I was recently diagnosed with hypertension so need to deal with that. I'm worried the GP will say that I need to discontinue the Modafinil as it's not recommended for people with cardiovascular issues. But maybe with guanfacine it might balance out?

beardedmoose 3y ago
It seemed effective in my case and brought my blood pressure down to the normal 120/80 range from my default of ~140/95.
- vogon_laureate 3y ago
  Did you have any weight gain or sleepiness/fatigue issues?