r/ADHDIreland

Hi all, I feel a bit daft asking this, but it's something I can't really come to a decision with.

I've been off work since October with burnout, and had my ADHD diagnosis in December. However, I'm drawing towards the possibility of having autism also (I have a cousin that is AuDHD). With paying what little money I had getting a ADHD diagnosis and not working, I can't afford to go out and get a private diagnosis.

Would setting up a go fund me page to facilitate funding for possible diagnosis be feasible? I'm not sure how it works?

Galway based, I sent a message to Neuromed Galway this morning at 5am since I couldn’t sleep.

Very nervous. Just want to get an answer. Will probably cancel 🙃 hopefully not!

Anyone use these in galway yet? I know it’s a new place. Thank you.

I can’t tell if I’m on the right dose or not

I’ve been taking vyvanse/elvanse for about 9 months now, and the clinic that diagnosed me and originally prescribed me the medication dropped off the face of the earth. The issue with my clinic is a long story, so I won’t get too side tracked, but essentially my GP agreed to prescribe me my medication after my psychiatrist went MIA.

My family doctor has been very helpful, but he’s a general doctor and not specialised in ADHD medication. He can essentially prescribe me medication, but I never went through a traditional titration.

In terms of dosage, I’ve moved up twice (20m to 30mg, then 30mg to 40mg). Because I never had a titration, I’ve just taken a dose for a few months until I think I thought it stopped working, and asked my doctor to up my dose. I upped my dose every 1 or 2 months in the beginning, but I’ve been on 40mg for around 5 months and felt pretty good on it.

Lately though, I’ve been having some issues and I can’t tell if I need to move up, or not. Because I don’t have enough guidance, it can be stressful trying to work this out myself. I’ll try explain what’s going on:

\* I’ve been in a rut, lately and my body is feeling stressed. Tasks are feeling overwhelming, and I feel symptoms of AUDHD more than ADHD.

\* I’ve been struggling with doomscrolling, and cheap dopamine sources

\* In the past I have noticed that my meds work better when I am less stressed and organised (sleep, diet exercise, etc). I had a meltdown a few weeks ago, and I have been in a heightened state since. I’m sure that stress is a factor in this. I also haven’t been exercising as much in the past few months.

\* Feeling more reliant on caffeine, which is odd because normally I can’t stomach more than one coffee on meds.

Essentially, I’m really confused because I can’t tell if my meds aren’t working as well because of stress, and being in a rut.. or if I’m in a rut and feel stressed because my meds aren’t working?

At times I feel wired and question if I’m overstimulated, but I’m struggling with the executive function to look after myself which feels like it could be from being under stimulated either. Am I going towards cheap dopamine because my meds aren’t giving me enough, or is the cheap dopamine having an effect on my meds?

Diagnosed last week, returning to work today and feeling close to tears already. My employer provides short term counseling services but when I contacted them they directed me to ADHD Ireland website and to the HSE. I'm feeling lost and anxious and very afraid and I feel like I'm left to figure everything out myself. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I honestly just need to vent and also see if anyone else has had this experience because I’m feeling really frustrated and kind of exhausted by it all.

I was diagnosed with ADHD recently through Newcastle Medical Centre and the diagnosis process itself was actually really quick and straightforward. I got seen quickly, the assessment was fine and I was started on Tyvense 30mg.

But the aftercare/titration process has been honestly so frustrating. I’m now about 2 months in and I’m still on my starting dose with no real progression or clear plan for what’s happening next.

I’ve had to constantly chase them by phone and email just to get any updates, and most of the time I’m told someone will call me back… and then they just don’t.

I sent in my ECG for a dose increase about 3 weeks ago and I’m still waiting on proper follow-up. I’ve followed up multiple times myself and I’m just getting really tired of feeling like I’m managing everything myself when this is supposed to be a medical treatment service.

What’s making it worse is they advertise things like ongoing ADHD monitoring, prescription management, and clinical support, but I really haven’t felt any of that in practice. They are all very nice when you get through to them but sooo disorganised.

My dad got diagnosed through a different ADHD clinic about a month before me and even though it was more expensive and had longer waiting times, their titration process was actually way smoother, more structured, and they had regular follow-ups and dose adjustments. So I know this can be done better.

I don’t know if this is just what private ADHD treatment is like or if I’ve been unlucky, but I’m starting to feel really stuck and a bit let down by the whole process.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did you switch clinics mid-titration or just push through it?

Hi All,

First time making a thread on here.

I have known I had ADHD from a young age as my parents were told I should be tested when I was a child by a industry professional. Last year I got tested properly as i wanted to access to the medicine.

I went on a methylphenidate and found I suffered with a lot of anxiety so have been off the drugs now since June 2025. I'm happy to manage without the pills.

Now to the meat and potatos of the my post:

I have a job since June of last year were I'm doing shift work this has included night shift since January. I find my brain fog is quite bad with shift work and want to get off it. I know I'm protected by law for reasonable requests but I'm not sure that this will leave my work environment in a good way. I don't expect hostility but would worry there will be a lack of trust and a belief I shouldn't advance any further due to the ADHD. Over all I would worry this might limit my importance.

The irony in this is my ADHD traits are what make me good at my job.

This isn't a nice office job and the characters in play wouldn't be overly concerned about keeping up to date with neuro diversity. It is a big company though.

So what would you do? What have you done in your own case?

Hi all posted here before when I was on 20mg, I can’t honestly remember how I felt, I’ve been on 30mg now for a month and have a review coming up tomorrow.

Racing thoughts and anxiety have been a lot better, clear head, sleep is ok. The crash is getting to the point where I can’t get off the couch and I’m staring into space and that obviously affects my job when I’m in office. It’s usually ok till I get home, and then it’s pretty bad. It evens out around 8pm.

I take them with a protein shake in the morning and try to eat a wrap for lunch, homemade dinners every day then.

Trying to stay hydrated. Started smoking cigarettes again for some reason to try to self regulate or ease the come up / crash.

Don’t remember what 20 was like, not sure if 50 will be better / worse. I’m quite angry on the come up, all I can do is focus on work, executive function is not better at all it’s still hard to do chores. I feel a bit emotionally flat on them not really laughing or emotionally regulated, not super flat just not sort of tuned in…

Has anyone had this experience? I’m sort of at a crossroads now and not sure whether to continue, if it’ll get better on 50, or if it’s gonna get worse. I feel overstimulated, not sure if it’s under or over dosing, I know on 20 the crash was also really bad, and I wasn’t getting a whole lot of benefits aside from a cleared head which is a win either way because racing thoughts constantly overthinking and not being able to go to sleep is soemthing I’ve battled my entire life.

I’m staying away from alcohol, would really appreciate if anyone could let me know their experiences.

Thanks so much.

If you're diagnosed privately by any of the main providers eg. Adhddoc, Mindpath, Health Hero etc, will the HSE recognise this diagnosis if the patient ever gets approved for ADHD treatment by the HSE or will they just assess anew?

I think I read somewhere that Dr. Alan Murtagh is HSE approved, but I could be misremembering? Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?

Thanks 🙏🏼

I'm newly diagnosed ADHD 41F, and currently researching about medications. I'm keen to give them a go as I really want my quality of life to improve. But I already struggle with sleep, and I'm afraid the medication might make my sleep worse.

I have a history of not tolerating medication very well. I have experienced sertogeneric reactions when taking an anti depressant before, which was very unpleasant.

ADHD medication does not seem straightforward, but at the same time if is likely to help me I would be foolish not to consider it. Would love to know other people's experience, particularly women who were late diagnosed like me

Just very tired overall but that's not a new feeling, just more tired than usual. I was prescribed 20mg x 14 days followed by 30mg x 14 days.

I'm 21M and I was diagnosed with dyspraxia when I was a child.

My entire life I always got good grades in school without doing a lick of work. I'd never study, and if I did do my homework I'd do it the night before, or sometimes the day it was due in. As school went on I stopped doing homework all together. I didn't do any study whatsoever for the leaving cert and got 463 points.

This terrible habit has followed me through to college. I manage to coast through by leaving everything to the last minute. I pass my classes but I don't get amazing grades. I literally handed in an assignment due in at 17:00 on a Friday in at 16:59 for reference.

My time management skills are awful, I barely go into lectures.

Last year's exams I literally started studying at midnight for an exam at 9am. I drank a 4-pack of monster and was puffing on my vape every three seconds. I went to bed at 4am and barely passed the exam. I have since quit the vaping and smoking habit, but am unable to quit the energy drinks.

For example, if I sit down and try and do a bit of study in a timely fashion, not the day before the exam, my mind will start wandering, and I'll start reading the wikipedia page for fruit bats, or I'll decide now is the perfect time to start cleaning my room.

I find myself often staring off into space thinking about a million different things at once. It physically hurts to try and do tasks, even hobbies that I'm interested in. I have a habit of finding a new interesting hobby and dropping it after 5 minutes. One time, I tried to pick up crocheting, bought a bunch of crochet hooks and yarn and gave up after 5 minutes because I wasn't immediately good at it. I did the same thing with soapmaking and the ukulele.

Often times I find that I've completely zoned out of a conversation or and had to ask the person to repeat themselves. It's like it goes in one ear and out the other. And other times when engaged in conversation, whatever the other person is talking about will spark 15 different tangents in my head and I have to restrain the urge to interject and interrupt them.

I find driving very difficult. One time my instructor told me to take the third exit on a roundabout, and I completely zoned out and turned off at the second. Another time I drove straight through a zebra crossing where two people were waiting to cross.

I often find myself making stupid mistakes and feeling like a fool for making them.

My inner monologue runs at a 100 miles a minute and I'll often times have a perfectly coherent, and articulated thought in my head, and when I go to speak it aloud I'll mispronounce a word or say two words out of order.

Even one of my favourite hobbies, reading, I can only do in short bursts as I haven't the attention span for it. I read a page and then put the book down. It took me literally a year to finish reading Crime & Punishment, it wasn't a particularly difficult book, and I actually really enjoyed it, but I just didn't have the attention span to read more than a page or two at a time. It's an achievement if I can sit and read a whole chapter of a book in one sitting.

Even when I play video games, I have to put a movie or a youtube video up on a second screen as it isn't stimulating enough for me to just play a video game. It's always been this way for me. The only time I watch a movie all the way through, distraction free is if I see it in the cinema.

Things I want to do like learn to play the ukulele, I have to painstakingly force myself to attempt. Or if I know I need to do laundry I'll let my dirty laundry pile grow and grow until I literally have nothing clean left to wear in order to force myself to do laundry.

I also can't just sit still, I'm always bouncing my leg up and down, or cracking my fingers, or playing with my ear piercings. When I was vaping I literally would sit and puff puff puff on it all day as a way of fidgeting.

What's weird is that if I have a few drinks all of a sudden I feel like I can do the things I need to do and am able to focus on them easily. However, I rarely drink.

I'm decently sociable now, but it wasn't always this way. I had to painstakingly teach myself social skills and force eye contact. It's only when I turned 17-18 that I even began to do a good impression of a decently sociable human. I'm actually amazed that I have a girlfriend.

I did go to the college counselor last year wondering if I had autism, and she thought it sounded more like I had ADHD.

I hate that I'm like this, that I can't bring myself to do the things I want to or need to do.

Sorry for the long wall of text.

I'm not asking anyone on here to diagnose me with ADHD, but would it be a good idea to seek a private diagnosis?

I'm taking Tyvense 30mg for the last 2 months. I'm taking it on days only that I need it, mostly Monday - Friday. I take it at 7:30am when I wake up, but I struggle getting to sleep. I have been taking melatonin 5mg to help me get to sleep on days that I take Tyvense.

The tiredness on weekends is killing me. I go to sleep at a reasonable hour (10:30/11:00pm) and wake up around 9. Then I'm going back for naps during the day on Saturday.

Is anyone else in this situation? What has helped you?

Sincerely, a really tired girl.

Hi all - long time lurker, first time poster.
29F, was referred by my GP to a HSE ADHD team for assessment before Christmas. After completing some preliminary questionnaires/online assessments, I was initially declined for an in person assessment as my symptoms didn’t fit their criteria for “moderate to severe” ADHD. At the encouragement of my GP (who herself wrote a letter disputing this decision), I wrote a letter outlining why I felt an assessment was not only warranted but needed in my case, as my symptoms are significantly impacting my mental and physical health and wellbeing. I was granted an in person assessment which is in a week’s time.

Has anyone here gone through the assessment process via the HSE? How does it work and should I prepare in any way beforehand? I’m bringing a close friend as my support person (you’re allowed to bring one, per the appointment letter), but not really sure what to expect from the assessment.

Any insight/information would be greatly appreciated - thank you 🙏

Hi everyone! I was wondering what would be the quickest options for an assessment from your experience? From what I’ve gathered adhd doc seems to be the gold standard, but the wait times in Dublin are very long. Their Limerick location seems to have much better availability, but is that just for the first consultation? Would I need to wait a long time for the second? And how is it with other providers? I know wait times are bad everywhere. I don’t mind the location, I’ll find a way to get there if I need to. Thank you!

I spoke with the psychiatrist about past and present experiences and he then told me the news. It's a relief honestly as it explains my lifetime of struggles and shines a light on a path forward.

Now I'm waiting on a consent form to sign and return and a prescription for Tyvense will be sent to my pharmacy. Nervous but excited to see how things will go over the next few days and weeks.

Sharing because there may be people wondering if they're ADHD - it's worth finding out - things can only improve :)

Hello, first time posting. Male, 41.

Not really sure where to start but I think it’s finally time to ask for help.

I genuinely think I might have ADHD. I know that’s a common thing to say these days, but the more I’ve read into it the more it feels like it explains a lot of my life. I recently completed a Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale assessment and scored extremely high across the board, particularly on inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, which has pushed me to take this seriously.

My head just never switches off. I can barely finish a sentence without losing the thread. I actually changed apps halfway through writing this. I struggle badly with motivation for basic tasks at work and at home. I start things and don’t finish them. I avoid small jobs until they become massive ones. I spend way too much time scrolling or looking for an escape in TV, movies, gaming.

At the same time I can hyperfocus hard on things I’m genuinely interested in or under real pressure with. That’s part of what’s made this so confusing for so long. On paper I probably look high functioning. I’ve been in sales for years, never lost a job, and I know I have potential. But lately it feels like I’m fighting my own brain every day just to get through the basics.

Simple things like sending two follow-up emails can feel impossible, while bigger or more complex problems get all my attention. My performance at work has dropped off recently and it’s starting to get noticed. That’s honestly what finally pushed me to post this. I really like my job and I know I could be a top performer if I could stop losing so much energy to distraction every day.

I’ve also been in therapy for nearly 10 years, originally around a pattern of failed relationships when I was younger. I’m happily settled now, partner of 11 years and two kids. Both my therapist and my partner think ADHD is a real possibility too, and looking back a lot of things in my life would make more sense if that’s what’s been going on all along.

Two things I’m hoping to get some help with:

1.	Has anyone had a similar experience as an adult, high functioning on the surface but really struggling underneath, and actually got help and seen real improvement?
2.	Can anyone recommend a good ADHD clinic, public or private, preferably on the south side of Dublin?

Thanks for reading. Even writing this feels a bit strange but I think I needed to say it out loud.

Hello,

I'm looking for recommendations for an in person adhd assessment clinic/psychiatrist, possibly with a combined autism ADHD assessment. I'm based in Galway but I can travel around the country. All answers greatly appreciated

Do they stilll prescribe this in Ireland ? Ritalin IR doesn’t agree with me and tyvense just lasts way long . If anyone’s prescribed it I’d love to know the differences you noticed between the two apart from how long the effect is