Okay you know how Adderall/Vyvanse is supposed to suppress your appetite (I like that because I loose a lot of weight on Vyvanse)? Well I take Vyvanse for ADHD, it does work fine until its near my period. Even while I am on Vyvanse and its in my system I eat every thing in sight. I also loose my ability to focus around that time of month. Its like the medicine doesn't work during PMS. Why is this happening? does anyone else notice this when its close to their period?

It happens with me too. I'm on Adderall and it's very profound when it's "that time". I don't know if it's the hormones being out of whack or what, but I think it's pretty common. Do a search for "PMS" or something and see what comes up. It's been mentioned before.

I have this same problem with Adderall IR not working well - my doctor now lets me go from 30 mg to 60 mg a day during the several days before my cycle. I was actually okay on the appetite end - it didn't increase TOO much, only a little - but my focus was just completely gone.

I'm at home so I don't have the link (it's on my work computer) but I found an interesting research article awhile back about a study with rats that showed that they self-administer more cocaine when given certain female hormones (in a way that, I believe, came close to the difference in our hormone levels during PMS). It's an unfortunate thing, but maybe your doctor can up your dosage?

I'm learning to work with my cycle now - besides increasing the dosage beforehand, I've found that the best time to try to take a drug holiday is during the fourth to eighth or ninth day of my cycle (with the first day of bleeding being day one). I only take a couple of days, and preferably on days when I don't have much to do, but during that timeframe I notice the lack of pills a lot less.

Taken from the ADDvance (http://www.addvance.com/help/women/hormones.html) website: Low levels of estrogen in women are associated with PMS, postnatal depression and post-menopausal depression. It has been proposed that whenever brain estrogen falls below the "minimum brain estrogen" requirement, for whatever reason and at whatever age, brain dysfunction may result. I have found this to be a very critical, but often overlooked area in treating women with ADD (ADHD). I often hear from women who report that as they enter perimenopause and the "flashes" begin, they have more problems with their ADD (ADHD) symptoms or that their stimulant medication does not seem to be working as well as it did previously.I've noticed the same thing with regard to my Concerta. Rather than upping my stimulants, I've started taking the Pill to try and stabilise my hormone levels.

Wow, I can't believe I just stumbled on this thread. I am 46 and perimenopausal. I changed ADD doctors because my Concerta (72)/Wellbutrin (15)/Lexapro (10) combo just wasn't working anymore and I felt my doctor wasn't "in the know" any longer. The depression got terribly bad (increased stress had a lot to do with it). And my ADD was full blown... like I wasn't taking anything. This went on for the majority of 2008.

I'm now on 300mg. of Wellbutrin and I feel so much better from a depression perspective which I'm very grateful. As far as the ADD, my doctor switched me to Vyvanse (70mg) and I don't think it's working. I've been on medication for 15 years now, so I know when something works or doesn't.

I also take 5,000mg of vitamin D - recommended by my doctor for SADD (it's dreary in NH this time of year) - Centrum Performance (which I swear by), 500mg of B12, 100mg of B6 and six Omegabright capsules - (if you don't know about this, visit www.omegabright.com (http://www.omegabright.com), it's a pharmaceutical grade Omega-3 supplement. recommended by my doctor. Not only does it work for mood, heart and joint health, my hairdresser can't believe the condition of my hair!!). It's expensive but it's worth it.

I digress.... so I'm wondering if the perimenopausal stage of life has an affect on ADD treatment. I'd love to hear from other women on this issue... thanks for any input!!

I've noticed the same thing with ADHD symptoms getting much more severe with PMS, even on medication (adderall). I've been considering the Pill as well, because my life is too busy to accomodate my becoming nigh useless every month.