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Seventy-five percent of adults with ADHD have problems with sleep. The most common issues are getting to sleep, staying asleep, and waking up.
Another sleep problem for some ADHDers is falling asleep during the daytime at unusual times.
For example, in class, in meetings, or while driving. The people who experience this often have inattentive ADHD.
If you had a disrupted night’s sleep or jet lag, that could explain daytime sleepiness.
But this group of people experiences daytime sleepiness even after getting ample sleep at night.
Daytime sleepiness is interesting because it gets triggered by the environment.
If the environment is mentally stimulating and interesting, paying attention and staying awake is not a problem.
However, if the setting is dull, staying alert becomes impossible, and you fall asleep. It doesn’t matter how important the event is.
VIPs could be at the meeting, or the class could be vital to getting a good grade, but if the content is boring, sleep takes over.
Yet, if something exciting happens or it’s possible to get up and move, the sleepiness goes away.
Because physical movement stops sleepiness, some people look hyperactive, but it is a behavioral strategy they developed to prevent themselves from falling asleep.
An extreme form of struggling to stay alert is narcolepsy.
It is possible to have ADHD and narcolepsy. However, the type of daytime sleepiness that these ADHDers have isn’t as severe as narcolepsy.
Over the years, you might have found coping strategies, perhaps putting a push pin in your shoe and press the sharp point into your foot to give yourself a discrete jolt in meetings. Or pinch your inner arm where the skin is sensitive until the sleepiness fades.
These creative techniques might work in the short term, but rather than inflict pain on yourself, it can be helpful to address the root cause.
If you have an ongoing problem staying awake during your day-to-day activities, here are nine suggestions!
Rule out other options
1. Get checked out for sleep disorders, including Sleep Apnea and Restless Leg Syndrome and Narcolepsy.
2. Get assessed for depression.
3. Check your Vitamin D and Iron levels; deficiency in either can cause fatigue.
Treat your ADHD
4. Adults with ADHD and daytime sleepiness find ADHD meds very helpful. Work closely with your prescribing doctor and find the therapeutic dose for you.
5. If you are taking ADHD meds, be sure they are in full effect when driving in your car.
Make your environment stimulating
Here are a few examples
6. If you are doing a dull task, use your timer to keep you moving as much as possible to create a sense of urgency
7. You might not be able to get out of a boring meeting, but you can liven it up for yourself by offering to take notes on the whiteboard for everyone or be one of the presenters.
8. Change activities frequently.
Notice themes
9 . Notice which situations cause daytime sleepness and look for common themes. Do you fall asleep in rooms with strip lighting? No windows? Some meetings but not others?
Get curious and figure out what the influencing factors are. Some people with daytime sleepiness feel powerless and that sleep could sweep over them anytime. Noticing themes help you to feel more in control
I am a child and I also experience this often whenever I am in class I doze alot I used to think that this was because of not sleeping enough but even after sleeping early for an entire week I still had the problem. It lead to teachers backbiting me for it saying that I intentionally would doze in class. Teachers would call me alot of names and my friends would identify me for that I really didn\’t know what to do because no one would believe that it was not my fault I am so grateful for finding this website I know people will still not believe me and say that I am a liar at least I can stay true to myself and know that it\’s not my fault
I have been experiencing this for my entire life. As a child, a teenager, a young adult and still now as an adult.
I have never found anything about it until THIS ARTICLE. No doctor has ever taken me seriously but I have met two other people throughout my life that experience exactly what this article explains.
Basically, I fall asleep anytime I am sitting and not talking or physically doing something. Classes in grade school, every class in college, in the middle of conversations where people are telling stories, business meetings and education classes where I’m only listening and not interacting… Sometimes I even think I’m awake when I fall asleep due to lack of stimulation. REM sleep happens almost instantly and I have “long”, vivid dreams even though I have only “snap napped”. I absolutely cannot ever drive on the highway for more than 5-10 minutes because it’s dangerous, I WILL fall asleep.
This sleep is always absolutely, 1000% completely beyond my control and has cost me new friendships and the respect of some employers and educators.
I just read the article, and feel the same way as you do! I’m a 39 year old who is worried that this is going to cost me my job, and literally ruin my life. It’s typically afternoon, and that’s when we have meetings most often at work. It’s torture. If I’m not involved for 10 minutes or more, I’m GOING to drift off, and it doesn’t matter at all how well I slept the night before. Physical activity stops it immediately, but that isn’t always possible.
I understand …so, I picked a career that allows me to be constantly mobile for almost all the day and then I commute home via ferry. But….we do have meetings in a closed room without much air and the noise and chaos is right outside the door in the hospital…as a Physiotherapist, I would get the agenda of the meeting ahead of time and read up on the subjects so, I can voice my opinion as to how to serve my patients and not the corporate structure ( lol). In other words, be active in the meeting, ask questions and get the others stimulated who are just drifting by in life. It works every time or else I would go to sleep unless moving…
This is the article I was searching for
I feel you! Ive googled it before and couldnt find much…was diagnosed with adhd 2 mos ago…this time i searched adhd and falling asleep at daytime and poof. Wtf? Ive attempted college twice and accounting school 3 times in a row in a 1 year period. Dosing off…mind driftimg…full on snoring in my seat while sitting upright.
Every cubicle job ive had…any time i read a book and its not keeping my attention. I read thousands of small articles and dream of getting through an entire nivel some day but i cant. Hoping my concerta helps. So far I think it may be a weak dose and will be asking to step up to try a higher dose. Just wanted to say to you that my entire life has been ruled by this. All of my aspirations cut down even after multiple very confident and strong-willed attempts. I also do not like board games. I do…but they go on for waaay too long. Couldnt stand shopping with my parents after 10 or 20 mins.god no wonder im a loser still at age 44. Well…i have a few decades left to try to fix this after sleep apnea treatment and antidepressants did nothing for this perticular problem…good luck to you!
Im currently stopping to take my medication because I am soon to be moving on my own, and need to out grow my medication. My vyvanse (adhd meds) kept me awake and moving, now that im off I’m more tired then normal even though I’m sleeping very well.
I had every symptom of Narcolepsy all my life. Sleep attacks, hallucinations when falling asleep and waking, sleep paralysis, automatic behavior like continue to write or speak after I fell asleep, even muscle loss with emotion.
Two sleep studies later both negative for any sleep disorder.
BUT I had been diagnosed with ADHD innatentive in 2001. So started researching adhd and narcolepsy symptoms and sleep disorders.
Well first I found that there was a lot of overlap people with sleep disorders are misdiagnosed with adhd a lot. Then I found a study that was done where people with adhd have the same sleep test results as me.
Then I researched it more I found studies show some people with adhd have excess theta waves. My sleep study showed I had slow wave theta waves while awake. Which aren’t normally seen past the age of 12. So I know I have theta waves when they shouldn’t be there.
Looked into theta waves and adhd.
Found an article where the term “EEG negative narcolepsy” was used to explain a subset of people with adhd who had sleep attacks do to theta waves while awake.
Found that in the meditation world a state of theta waves was encouraged for the e
Vivid imagery and Hallucinations.
Found a study that showed they waves are associated with feeling drowsy.
So I theta waves, which some people with adhd have and I showed to have when they shouldn’t be explained my sleepiness, sleep attacks and hallucinations.
Well if that wasn’t convincing enough I found a study that was done that found hypersynchronous theta waves (same waves as in my sleep study) where involved with cataplexy attacks. Cataplexy is having muscle loss with emotion.
So yup linked every single narcolepsy symptom back to theta waves which some people with adhd are known to have excess of.
Studies with test results that match mine. I have an epworth scale number of 15 and my sleep latency was 13.5 and 14 minutes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16854470?dopt=AbstractPlus
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054714529456
Study showing links of adhd and sleeping disorders.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2603539/
Additide article referencing sleeping issues and “EEG negative narcolepsy”
https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-sleep-disturbances-symptoms/
The study I found on adults and excess theta waves with adhd. There are a few I found referencing kids, but didn’t bookmark.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12429359/
Study showing hypersynchronous theta waves found in cataplexy attacks.
https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/136/5/1592/286512
This also is a study on isolated cataplexy showing it isn’t specific to narcolepsy.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crinm/2012/757586/
Here is one I just found that mentions the vivid imagery and Hallucination type state.
http://controlmind.info/brainwave/theta-brainwave
Wow! How amazing to even get access to these sleep studies!
Wow. I’ve never gone to the doctor for this because I figured they would just say I need more sleep or is my medications. Before I read your statements, I was convinced I was just exhausted. But I’m pretty sure every American adult and teenager are exhausted and sleep deprived and they don’t all do this, now do they? Thank you all and God for posting this. I don’t really know where to go from here yet but I’m so relieved that there are others like me (but sorry for you guys).
Oh plus I’ve already been on the ridalin for my ADD some years ago and I would still fall asleep on it. And currently I take the same type of medication (Phentermine) to lose weight, drink Rockstars and coffee to try to stay awake. But it does not help if I’m staying still, driving or reading especially.
First time to google the problem l, and many family members, have had all our lives. Symptoms exactly the same. I struggled through my degree falling asleep in lectures but got thru but have been too despondent to attempt post graduate studies for this reason.
I was diagnosed as an adult with ADHD. But the daytime sleepiness has been strong with me my whole life. I suffered juvenile epilepsy and never knew I had ADHD as a child even though I had every symptom. The daytime theta waves sleep with vivid dreams/ hallucinations have been a part of my life for years never knew this was why. I could dream for what seemed like hours in a minute of closing my eyes while I fought to stay awake under threat of being fired from my job. I was called lazy, told I stayed up too late, must party to much. None of this was true. I was tested for narcolepsy I was negative. But I was diagnosed with hypersomnia. I can reach REM sleep in less than half the time of a normal person. This was after a full night’s sleep also. Listening to others descriptions of snap one minute hallucinations.. dreams… Vivid full dreams that seem to be longer than the amount of time your actually sleep or out. Makes me feel so much better about what I have been experiencing all my life. Thank you for the knowledge.
Wow, thanks so much for all the info!
I have had ADHD my entire life and after having 3 children couldn’t figure out why I found myself falling asleep early to mid-afternoon everyday. As a former hard-core athlete it’s frustrating because if I work out it makes the sleepiness even worse, so I stopped working out.
I have had 3 over night sleep studies and 4 daytime sleep studies performed in the last 10 years and I don’t have apnea, but my sleep doc tried Nuvigil to see if it would help and it did for a while, but then my body became tolerant of it, so we switched to Provigil and the same thing happened.
He told me he wasn’t comfortable prescribing Adderall, so he sent me back to my primary care physician that did prescribe it for me (especially since he could see my ADHD diagnosis that my sleep doc couldn’t).
When I first started Adderall I felt like myself, awake, able to concentrate, I felt normal, but within a couple months that feeling started waning, so my doc upped my dose. I am currently on 30mg Adderall XR and upto 20mg Adderall Salts a day, but I am again hitting a wall around noon, so I am assuming my body has developed a tolerance for the Adderall. My doc says I am at the maximum dose he feels “comfortable” prescribing & maybe we could switch to Ritalin (I have an upcoming appointment). Everything I have read about Ritalin says fatigue is a common side effect, so how in the world is that gonna help me.
Any guidance you could give on alternative meds to try so I can stay awake throughout the day? Great article, gonna print it for my doc!!
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 11. My brother and I went to a pyc. regularly my brother was give meds. but they thought that my case was to minor to require meds, I was not really hyperactive. during school I had to be constantly taking notes in order to stay awake. I would never use these notes, but they served there purpose. to take tests my mom was able to get an IEP for me because of my ADHD so I took my tests in a solitude environment. I don’t think that it helped the way they thought, I couldn’t stay awake, but at least there was a printer in the room that always seamed to be printing something, this would jolt me every time it went off. and also I was not timed and I did not feel like I was holding up the class because I was being slow/distracted. through college I even more strongly noticed this problem, I would be constantly be spacing out or falling asleep. and I have spaced a few times while driving, Now I make sure that I am keeping my brain busy by singing to the radio or talking to myself, or even doing math tables or problems in my head. the thing is to keep my brain synapses firing. oh another thing that I do is I learned a bit of sign language so while I am doing something part of my brain is thinking about translating into sign, this helps when I am somewhere I want to be quiet.
I had every symptom of Narcolepsy all my life. Sleep attacks, hallucinations when falling asleep and waking, sleep paralysis, automatic behavior like continue to write or speak after I fell asleep, even muscle loss with emotion.
Two sleep studies later both negative for any sleep disorder.
BUT I had been diagnosed with add in 2001. So started researching adhd and narcolepsy symptoms and sleep disorders.
Well first I found that there was a lot of overlap people with sleep disorders are misdiagnosed with adhd a lot. Then I found a study that was done where people with adhd have the same sleep test results as me.
Then I researched it more I found studies show some people with adhd have excess theta waves. My sleep study showed I had slow wave theta waves while awake. Which aren’t normally seen past the age of 12. So I know I have theta waves when they shouldn’t be there.
Looked into theta waves and adhd.
Found an article where the term “EEG negative narcolepsy” was used to explain a subset of people with adhd who had sleep attacks do to theta waves while awake.
Found that in the meditation world a state of theta waves was encouraged for the e
Vivid imagery and Hallucinations.
Found a study that showed they waves are associated with feeling drowsy.
So I theta waves, which some people with adhd have and I showed to have when they shouldn’t be explained my sleepiness, sleep attacks and hallucinations.
Well if that wasn’t convincing enough I found a study that was done that found hypersynchronous theta waves (same waves as in my sleep study) where involved with cataplexy attacks. Cataplexy is having muscle loss with emotion.
So yup linked every single narcolepsy symptom back to theta waves which some people with adhd are known to have excess of.
Studies with test results that match mine. I have an epworth scale number of 15 and my sleep latency was 13.5 and 14 minutes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16854470?dopt=AbstractPlus
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054714529456
Study showing links of adhd and sleeping disorders.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2603539/
Additide article referencing sleeping issues and “EEG negative narcolepsy”
https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-sleep-disturbances-symptoms/
The study I found on adults and excess theta waves with adhd. There are a few I found referencing kids, but didn’t bookmark.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12429359/
Study showing hypersynchronous theta waves found in cataplexy attacks.
https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/136/5/1592/286512
This also is a study on isolated cataplexy showing it isn’t specific to narcolepsy.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crinm/2012/757586/
Here is one I just found that mentions the vivid imargry and Hallucination type state.
http://controlmind.info/brainwave/theta-brainwave
I was diagnosed in 2001 with ADHD at the age of 24. In September 2017 I realized I had all the symptoms of narcolepsy my entire life. Sleep attacks going back to daycare when I was 3-4 years old. Hallucinations when falling asleep and waking my entire life (don’t remember a time I didn’t have them). Not as often but sleep paralysis. I have noticed I even have muscle loss with emotion albeit mild. I drop things when I get a build up of anger. I have fumbled things with laughter, I didn’t notice my husband did. My knee gave out when I got embarrassed
So off to the sleep specialist. Well 2 actually. Two PSG’s and MLST’s later, both came out negative for Narcolepsy. No rem, and sleep latency’s were 13.5 on the first and 14 on the second. Sleep apnea, RLS & other movement disorders, and circadian rhythm disorders were ruled out. IE all other sleep disorders. All the PSG showed was 1) I don’t sleep well at all in the lab. only 55-65% sleep efficiency. 2) I wake up and jump from deep to light sleep ALOT, so fragmented sleep. 3) I had hypersynchronous theta waves during stage 1 (not normally seen past the age of 13). The actigraphy shows that I have fairly decent sleep habits I go to bed between 9-11 every night and wake up 5-7am every morning including on weekends. The MLST 1)I have a normal sleep latency 2) I don’t go into rem 3) I have hypersynchronous theta waves during stage 1 and stage 2 (again not normally seen). 4) Despite not going into rem, I dreamed AND had hallucinations(ie heard sounds that couldn’t have happened). I don’t have my followup on my mlst with the 2nd sleep specialist until next week April 13th, but since the mlst was in February I got the results earlier. My diagnosis after my first visit with her was hypersomnia unspecified.
So that led me on a journey of what and the heck was causing all the narcolepsy symptoms all my life if I didn’t have narcolepsy. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2009 after a really shitty year, and I was actually depressed in 2012. But my symptoms started as far back as 1980-1981 at least. Not to mention my sister & brother both have all the symptoms and both diagnosed with ADHD. My parents both have some symptoms of narcolepsy as did my grandparents, great grandparents on both sides. AND my son has had hallucinations when wakeing and falling asleep since before a year old, and now at 3 has started have intermittent sleep attacks. SO CLEARLY, there is something physiological wrong that runs in my family.
Well my research all leads back to my ADHD. It runs rampant in my family several nephews have been officially diagnosed, my parents show all the signs but never diagnosed. And it is well known ADHD runs in families. So I started there. Tons of articles indicate that people with adhd have sleep disturbances, including parasomnias and fragmented sleep. There is an additude article where a psychologist termed “eeg negative narcolepsy”. She believed that some people with ADHD would suddenly fall asleep during the day because their brain would give off theta wave intrusions. Theta waves… wait a minute I had hypersychronous theta waves in my psg and mlst during a time they aren’t normally seen. Huh, so I investigated theta waves. Turns out there was a study done on adhd children and it was found that there is a subset of people with ADHD that have extra theta waves. Looked into them further, they are often seen in children who are drowsy…. so they are associated with drowsiness, and per the psychologist sleep attacks. That explains my sleep attacks and constant sleepiness. Looked into it further. Theta waves in the meditation world is known to trigger VIVID hallucinations/imagery. Oh and hypersynchronous theta waves are saw in REM, and spikes are seen when waking (ie when I have hallucinations) Huh, well if that is the case it explains my hallucinations and dreams even without rem sleep happening. So that explains almost everything, BUT the muscle loss with emotion. Well until I found a study that showed that theta wave intrusions occurred during cataplexy in children. WELL, so back to theta waves, which I know I have in times usually only seen in children….. SO. Well and I have run into a few ADHDers online who where diagnosed with Narcolepsy but had mlst results the same as mine.
So my theory, that there is a subset of people with ADHD who have these extra Theta waves that cause Narcolepsy or as the psychologist stated “eeg negative narcolepsy”
My daytime fatigue began when I hit puberty and my daughter experienced the same problem at the same point in her life. Has anyone had a similar experience or is it just a coincidence? Back then I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD so I didn’t think of it. I just thought it was some kind of hormone problem.
I have just recently hit puberty after being diagnosed with ADHD at about 5 years. My ADHD meds had different affects, such as Intuniv making faint randomly without warning. It’s also been making me fall asleep in the middle of class. So it might not be coincidence.
Hello Jacqueline,
About 15 years ago I was diagnosed with Hypersomnolence. It’s a sleeping disorder like narcolepsy with no known cause. The treatment is usualy in the form of a stimulant or narcolepsy meds. Nothing seemed to work for me. When I was diagnosed with ADHD last year my sleep specialist wasn’t surprised. He said that over 30% of his patients have it. He was surprised that the stimulants didn’t help my ADHD though. He’s still helping me with that.
Regards
Richard
AKA That Guy with ADHD
If you are having problems with the drugs, or which to use, it might be a good idea to see a neuropsychopharmacologist instead of another type of doctor. The drug end of the business is their specialty, and they already know about the ADD/ADHD so it’s a win-win. To tweak your drugs and make them work for you, try this suggestion. Not all MD’s are good at this. Ditto for psychiatrists.
Thanks for the advice Alison!
I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was 42 but have always had more daytime sleepiness than others. When I was 30 after I had my son the sleepiness got really bad and after doing a sleep study I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy. I took Provigil for 4 years and it helped immensely. I had surgery where I was on clear liquids for a week. Didn’t take the Provigil because wanted to make sure I rested enough to recover well. Couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t sleepy. When I added milk products back to my diet the next week the sleepiness got worse again. I cut all dairy out of my diet and it was almost gone. I also get sleepy when I eat some other foods too. Certain carbs can definitely put me in a “food coma.” I think a little sleepiness during the day occasionally can be attributed to lack of ability to shut our ADHD minds off at night sometimes to get proper sleep. When it does happen now it is when I am doing something I don’t like or that is boring. Saw another sleep Dr recently and he said Narcolepsy does not go away so that I must have never really had it. I do best now when I get 9 hrs sleep. My secret weapon at work is my sit/stand desk. Whenever I get sleepy I just set my desk to the standing position and that helps me stay awake.
My husband and daughter have ADHD and I’ve been playing with the idea of getting myself checked out but I keep stopping short because their symptoms are so bad, I keep thinking I’m overthinking it. I was a daydreamer in school. All my early report cards had teachers saying I just needed to stop. Teachers offering to tutor me at lunch or being put in a special maths class but being told I was bright. I have moments of clarity where I organise the house or my life and then I drop the ball again. Anyway there is hardly a day where I don’t take a daytime nap, especially if it involves reading something that I have to read that I don’t necessarily want to read or write. Add this information to the list of reasons I think I have it!
You might consider getting tested for Sleep Apnea. Before I did, I struggled greatly to stay awake all day at work; I took naps at lunch to try to help things. I’m doing better since I started using the CPAP, but still start dosing off during what my brain considers boring, monotone meetings where there’s a speaker, and all the rest are listening or rarely having input. Ugh. It really messes with employment.
Thanks for your article. I am 44 years old and I’ve had depression and anxiety most of my life. I was diagnosed about 8 years ago with inattentive ADHD and haven’t really found the right medication for me. Then about 6 years ago I was finally officially diagnosed with narcolepsy without cataplexy. There was about a week when I started a new medication for narcolepsy that not only kept me awake, but stopped the constant “channel-flipping” array of thoughts that consistently flow through my mind and cleared the foggy brain. I’ve never ever had that kind of mental clarity. It was amazing; unfortunately it only lasted about a week, then that effect faded. I still that that medicine and they’ve increased the dosage, but I’ve never been able to get that clarity back again. Due to this experience along with ADHD and narcolepsy both having similar symptoms, I’ve been trying to find a doctor that can treat both disorders. I don’t know who that would be…a neuropsychiatrist or something? My psychiatrist and psychologist that treated my ADHD said that my narcolepsy could actually be because of the inadequately treated ADHD, but then my sleep doctor (neurologist) said that my ADHD symptoms could actually be because of my inadequately treated narcolepsy. It’s like the “Which came first? The chicken or the egg?” scenario. Any thoughts or advise on how to find help for someone with both disorders when none of the medications that I’ve used or am currently using work completely?
any time you start a new medicine your going to have a this is the best thing ever day, and then it is going to never be quiet at that level, Its called beginners high, a few people will try to keep taking more thinking that there is something wrong but there isn’t really, I don’t know if this helps
Thank you for writing about this, Jacqui! I had no idea daytime sleepiness was tied to ADHD. Ditto on 99% of these comments! No I know I don’t have another underlying problem…. !
Can you develope ADHD later in life? I’m 55. I think my incessant sleepiness started about 15 years ago. If I have to drive for more than 20 minutes or I’m reading for any length of time, my eyes get so heavy & I simply can’t stay awake. I once had a boss tell me that I don’t “actively ” listen. I’m just fighting so hard to stay engaged & not drift off.
Thank you all for posting. I really think this is it.
I’ve never heard of developing it later in life; maybe you’ve had it all along and it just wasn’t that bad when you were younger…. or better yet, it could just be from getting older and you don’t have it at all. I take it you have checked out all the most common ADHD traits… disorganization, poor memory, procrastination, no motivation, inattentive most of the time…. if you don’t have any of these traits you are soooooo lucky!! 🙂
I was diagnosed when I was already retired from work! The diagnosis, and subsequent research, helped me deal with some situations in a different way. When I realised my tendency to drift off at lectures, no matter how interesting was adhd related and therefore quite normal in some ways, I started drinking a strong coffee about an hour or less beforehand. It has made a huge difference. Now I sometimes just lose attention, but I don’t fall asleep any more!
Starting on Adderall for my ADHD was one of the best things I did in my life. I still remember the first time I took it as soon as I filled my prescription. But the time I got home, I felt “normal” and was able to truly enjoy playing with my two little (at the time) kids without having to take a break as soon as they started squabbling! After being on it for about 10 years, I’m trying to wean myself off, but I feel sleepy and lethargic if I don’t take it.
I’ve been diagnosed with adhd since I was seven, so 21 years ago. I’m on adderall 30mg 2x a day, wellbutrin 300mg at night (it makes me more sleepier during the day) and 200MG of trazadone. My sleep still sucks, waking up constantly, adderall doesn’t seem to help me function at all, because I’m so tired (my Dr said it wouldn’t work right if I’m really tired before taking it) don’t see a difference with wellbutrin. I hate being so sleepy during the day. ITs the worst.
I am surprised that you take 300mg of welbutrin at night. Wellbutrin has a stimulating effect. I took 150mg in the morning. If I took it too late, it kept me up. I only take 20mg of adderal now. I take a chewable sleep tablet that has melatonin, 5HTP and Suntheanine in it to sleep. This is the best combination for my body so far. If I were you, I would get a second opinion on your welbutrin dose. I admitedly know nothing about trazadone, but it sounds like your doctor has you on a lot of stuff. I see a naturopath that prescribes mine with supplements. I highly recommend that route.
I use to take Wellbutrin at night as it made me so sleepy. It was not helping depression or irritablity so finally started Adderall. It helps with mood and daytime sleepiness which probably causes depression and irritability to be worse as they are better now. I do not sleep well never have and sleep meds don’t help and even make things worse. My daughter and I are both set up to see sleep medication specialist due to not sleeping at night and having terrible daytime sleepiness and difficultly concentrating and feeling irritable.
I am visiting my primary tomorrow to talk to him about testing me for ADHD. I have had all of the symptoms since childhood. He recently diagnosed me with type A diabetes so I have cut out most of my sugars and have been watching what I eat. However, I have been having extreme sleepiness issues particularly in meetings and pre-job briefing. Even though the big bosses are there I find it nearly impossible to stay awake. I have heard it is nearly impossible to get diagnosed with ADD at my age which is 42
Its never too late to get tested for ADHD David!
I was diagnosed at 45, David. The biggest problem I encountered was memory issues when talking to a doctor/therapist. I’d lived with inattentive ADHD for so long, I’d stopped thinking about many of the problems I suffered. I simply dealt with them, and moved on. Definitely bring a list with you for memory prompts if you are like me.
I was diagnosed last year at 53. I’ve learned so much since then and feel better about my condition even though I have had no success at finding a medication that works for me.
I was over 60 when I was diagnosed, and it was well worth it even at this point. I can’t take the medications for health reasons, but I took up TM which helps calm me. I also got personal coaching which I found invaluable. I still try to do far too much, have a very untidy house, and talk all the time, but the coaching has helped with time management (and many other things), and I have learned to accept myself as being a different sort of normal. I took meds for a year, and tried to learn as much as I could during that time. Diagnosis has made sense of my past that no therapy ever did.
Loved this article! I was just kicked out of a provider’s office of 2 yrs now and told to find a new one, because I told him when I am inattentive, I get tired and sometimes fall asleep. He told me that that nowhere in the DSM5 does sleepiness or tiredness defined in ADHD or in any research. He told me it was some kind of sleep issue. I responded that I had 2 medical clinics diagnosed me within 6 years with the same diagnosis and 2 sleep studies with same conclusion-no sleep disorders. The 2 clinics also concluded that it was inattentiveness causing it since that is when sleepiness occurs. So my current provider dr will not access records to verify. So this article helped me to not feel like I am the only one that goes thru this.
Hi FM!
Were you diagnosed with ADD in the end? Because I find myself in the same situation! A few months ago I was oriented by a stress management coach to consult a counselor because she suspected that I had ADD. Unfortunately, after answering the questionaires, as I was not affected as a child, the diagnosis was inconclusive. I was then redirected to a psychiatrist who said I was suffering from anxiety and depression and wanted to put me on ADs, but I have the strong feeling that it’s not that (I’ve got some depressive episodes in the past and I can tell that, right now, this is not the issue). The more I read about ADD, the more I recognize myself, but this particular article struck me: THE major problem I have had for now 15 years has been sleepiness when I am on the computer or at a boring class or working over either something that requires mental effort or some “troubleshooting” (eg: not finding the appropriate formula in excel). While writing my PhD thesis 2 years ago this was particularly painful as it therefore happened every single day and I ended up getting a sleep study: no disorder identified. I am highly doubtful that I’ve been depressed for 15 years, cause this happened independently of my mood and I do not have insomnia problems. With this in hand and having also read Jaquie’s article about waking up (which is also totally me since my teens), I think I’m also going to hand this article to my providers!
I’ve just been tested for narcolepsy, it’s came back it’s poor sleep and I’ve been diagnosed with adhd due to all my other issues. Modafinil has changed my life and most narcolepsy meds are adhd meds also .
Modafinil made it impossible for me to focus on anything. While I wasn’t as tired all I could do was sit at my desk and stare at the screen. 🙁
My husband just landed a great job. During his first day at new hire orientation he had to have a 1 on 1 with the HR director about his benefits (401K). He literally fell asleep right in her face in a 1 on 1 conversation! My poor 17-year-old son suffers from ADD (inattentive) as well. Falls asleep in class all the time. He just started taking adderall his senior year in HS and his grades went up from Ds and Fs to As and Bs. He still falls asleep on adderall, but much less frequently. I wish more people really understood this is physiological! They mean no disrespect and are both awesome, super-intelligent people! If 10 percent of all people suffer from ADD, shouldn’t it be mandatory to learn about this in school or something? And it is not a disorder or a disability; it is a different way of thinking. A beautiful, productive, creative way of thinking (with some major drawbacks!) I think I need to become an advocate. I have it bad myself!!
Hello,
I sought counselor therapy after a coach in stress management suspected I have ADD. However no diagnosis could be done because the symptoms were absent during my childhood (they only appeared around age 14) and I lack the hyperactive part. After a couple of months of therapy, I was redirected to a psychiatrist who diagnosed depression, which I strongly disagree with as I feel it’s not a cause but a result of many years of frustration and low self esteem. I am now reading more on ADD and I recognize myself so much. Especially after reading this article, this kind of day time sleepiness has been THE major problem for 16 years, since high school and regardless of my mood status or the length of night sleep. Three years ago I even got a sleep monitoring (negative) because it was a HUGE burden while writing my PhD thesis. Do you think I can stress that to my doctor to reconsider putting me on ADD meds rather than on ADs?
I caused a car accident today crossing a double yellow. I fell asleep at the wheel with both my kids and my dog in the car driving home from the vet. There were 3 people in the other car. Everyone was fine. The other car was heavily damaged, mine was less so. I’m still really shaken.
I sleep really well. I am not under-slept. I’m fit. I eat well. I drink water. No drugs or alcohol. I exercise. And if I drive between 1 and 4 pm and it’s tedious, I can get attacked by this awful sedation. It’s only in a car or if I’m bored. I’ve always pushed through it. Today I drifted from my lane.
I don’t wake up well. Since January I’ve been taking cold showers, which have been amazingly good for me and make me wake up. My blood pressure has always been on the low end of normal, and the cold helps that.
I’ve always spurned the notion of stimulant medication for myself. I cannot even drink caffeine. My sister takes them for ADD. I can’t believe today happens as it did. It feels awful, and I’m the flukiest bugger alive. I’ll have to se my Dr.
Thank you for this. I think this is me.
R
Thank you so much for this article. Having ADHD causes a lot of small problems for me, but those small problems add up to me feeling like I’m not good enough or that I’m a lazy person. My doctor just prescribed me Ritalin, so I’m hoping that will help, but it’s nice to find answers that disprove my negative assumptions about myself.
You aren’t alone. I relate completely.
directed=distracted
I just got out of a work meeting with one of our biggest customers. Both CEO’s were there, all the regional VP’s and everyone important. I found myself fighting to stay awake after specifically going to bed early and took two OTC sleep aids and two 3mg melatonin pills to make sure I slept well! My sleep app even rated my sleep at 86% and showed most of my sleep to be deep sleep. The first 90 minutes of the meeting was a struggle but as soon as they got to discussing something that concerned my department and personal work the sleepiness went away completely. Now that I’m back at my desk I feel it again but since I’m at least actively working I’m able to stage it off… but I do get directed a lot pretty easily as well. Not sure if that’s directly related or if it’s a behavior to try and keep myself interested in things and to stage off sleep. I will definitely be talking to a doctor about this. Thanks so much for the info!!
Remember that the otc sleep meds and most certainly melatonin can give you bad tired hangovers. I cut my sugar intake significantly and that in and of itself has worked great for better sleep and more energy the next day.
I don’t think my last message went through…but remembering that the otc sleep meds and also the melatonin can cause pretty ugly tired hangovers that can last all day. I don’t use them anymore….but I have cut my sugar intake significantly which has resulted in much better sleep and a lot more energy during the day. Late night carbs should be avoided at all costs along with nighttime caffeine and alcohol consumption. Dehydration is another totally common cause of daytime sleepiness and fatigue so drink plenty of water even if it makes you have to go more….it’s worth it. One last thing, a protein drink and a 20-30 min power nap (even to just close your eyes) instead of a sit down lunch gives me energy all day and well into the evening. Good luck.
Ppl who have ADHD aren’t affected by caffeine like other ppl. It does the opposite. Just fyi 🙂
to what Melinda said WOW I always thought I was weird because of my aversion to coffee, one day my friends got me to drink a cup and i almost collapsed, my friend had to drive me home, I couldn’t even keep my eyes open, haven’t drunk coffee since,
Maybe sleep apnea…..I had myself tested in a sleep lab and I was diagnosed. It runs in our genes. My daughter has it and she is healthy weight and 11.
Thank you so much for writing about this! I’ve struggled with this my entire life and was a hurdle during school because it prevented me from applying myself 100%. The same idea could be applied to my work environment especially during webinars or lectures. I can drink 3 cups of coffee and if I’m not stimulated then lights out for me.
Thanks again,
Elaine
Hello Jacqueline,
I want to thank you so much for all the work you put into your blog and the services that you offer.
I just read your piece about daytime sleepiness in folks with ADHD. I wanted to share that I find that the lighting I’m exposed to greatly affects my sleepiness level. Was in college when I figured it out.
I had a very small class – THREE students and the instructor, so we sat at one table – where I’d be wide awake before the class and wide awake after the class. But I’d fall asleep during the class. It was not boring at all. It was the fluorescent lights in the classroom.
Over the years I noticed it happening in places of work. Luckily now most places where I have to spend time have a lot of natural light.
Thanks again for the articles and the blog.
Such an interesting article. Just like Kyra describes it my brain shuts down like a computer going in to sleeping mode whenever I’m under stimulated. Sitting still on lectures and in meetings makes me completely shut down. And I find it hard to get active again if, for example, the activity changes and we have to go in to a group discussion or similar.
I never knew this could be related to adhd.
Yes thank you so much for this article! I was diagnosed with adult ADHD 4-5yrs ago and prescribed adderall which had been a lifesaver for both my inattention, lack of concentration, etc as well as EDS. I told my drs and nurses about my sleep issues but none of them seemed to want any details and I figured that my medication was prob what people were prescribed for EDS, so I didn’t see any reason in pushing the issue. Lately ive been struggling because I lost my Dr and my anxiety has prevented me from seeking help like I need. I did however see a psychiatrist for the first time yest after waiting almost 2mts on the appt. I was late but was relieved she still agreed to see me. She asked lots of questions and there wasn’t time for me to get in depth about what has really been going on with me. She also did not refill my medication. I fell asleep in the parking lot after my appt! I don’t go back for 5wks and I am not prepared to continue going on living like this! All three of my conditions, ADHD,EDS, and anxiety all work together keeping from being able to be productive, and that goes for not being productive as far as doing what I have to do to find a Dr who will take me seriously and realize I truly need my medication! Its so sad that it’s got to be a medication that people fake symptoms to get because I realize with a new Dr they don’t know me and can easily think I’m just some drug seeker!
This article is great! I am 31 with inattentive ADHD and I have been off of stimulants for about a year. I was doing well in my career as a multifamily residential property manager (very busy, high energy) but last August I made a change to marketing at a non profit (quiet, very dark – they actually don’t turn the fluorescents on, repetitive) . Well, I now spend most of my day falling asleep for 5-45 minutes at a time. I never feel it coming on and I never feel sleepy. It’s like my brain just powers down all of a sudden. When I wake up, I just start where I left off. It’s embarrassing but I’m hoping that after reading this I can better explain what’s been going on to my psychologist. Thank you for this, at least I know I’m not just lazy, lol!
Oh my gosh, this is so me! I have ADHD and depression (begun by delayed post-partum and exacerbated by stress and family deaths). I was on Concerta, which helped somewhat (increased the time I could pay attention without fighting sleep in seminars from about 2-5 minutes to 5-15 minutes). My doctor took me off the Concerta when I started on depression meds (Zoloft and Wellbutrin). Now I’m falling asleep multiple times at my desk at work, and fighting to stay awake when driving by myself (I carpool, so luckily that isn’t too often). I suffered from this in University too, fighting sleep during lectures, and I always fall asleep in movie theatres.
THANK YOU so much for writing this article – it helps me to see that I’m not the only one suffering like this.
My pleasure Karen!! so happy it was helpful!
Great article Jacqui! I didn’t realise sleep patterns were connected to ADD. I find that reading books makes me fall asleep, it is as though my inner voice is reading me a bedtime story!
ps it is 3.15am in the UK and I couldn’t get to sleep so got up to read your article 🙂
x x x
Val
Hi Val
yes, sleeping can be a huge problem when you have ADHD. I always read before I go to sleep too. I had to laugh when you said you couldn’t sleep so you got up to read the article 🙂
hugs
J