At 16 stone I was the 'fat mum'...
until I took miracle ADHD drugs and lost two stone By Anonymous Published: 21:10 EDT, 16 June 2024 | Updated: 21:10 EDT, 16 June 2024 e-mail View comments Realising that you might have a condition such as ADHD can feel overwhelming, and six months ago, while waiting for a diagnosis, I spent a lot of time on online forums learning about it. One subject that came up time and again was the fact that a side-effect of many ADHD drugs is loss of appetite — and weight loss. Many of the drugs, such as Vyvanse and Amfexa, are stimulants containing amphetamines (or pro-amphetamines) and are historically the sort of ‘mother’s little helpers’ that you’d associate with 1950s housewives on diets.
At 16st, I’ve struggled with binge eating for as long as I can remember. I now understand that this can be part of the condition: it’s a way of getting the dopamine that your brain is missing. I have to admit that when I was given my official diagnosis, I couldn’t wait to try the drugs.
I even knew the one I wanted. I hoped I would finally get my eating under control, and lose weight , like the women I’d read about in the chatrooms. The anonymous author says she was thrilled to be put on a drug called Vyvanse, which works by increasing the body’s dopamine levels so you don’t seek to boost them via food ADHD has blighted my life for years, but the strangest thing is that, until this year, I had no idea.
I’m 38, with two kids, aged six and t.
