For what it's worth, my psychiatrist friend who has ADHD and specializes in ADHD practice swears by non-stimulant medications for long-term treatment.
His personal preference is Intuniv (Guanfacine). He says the only reason it's not more popular is that the start-up side effects can be unpleasant for a while and proper dose titration takes more work on the provider's side to get it right.
Stimulants don't necessarily lead to dependence, but I have seen enough adults become dependent on stimulant medication or even fall into the trap of doubling up doses or seeking extra sources that it's wise to approach it with caution. Most patients seem to use as directed, but the people who go down the path of addiction and dose escalation aren't necessarily the ones you'd expect.
I've used Guanfacine. It gave me heart palpitations and high blood pressure without helping my ADHD at all.
Non-stimulant medications can be good, but none of them worked for me. ADHD too broad a category to have a good idea of which medications will work for one individual or another.
The only ADHD medication that's worked for me is Adderal (and XR which I'm currently on). Otherwise the only other medication that's helped me was memantine (an Alzheimer's drug) that helped with sensory processing disorder.
Not the person you're replying to but Vyvanse gave me excruciating neck cramps, brain zaps and really cold fingers. My doctor said that I had a bit of an outlier reaction to it so YMMV but if you decide to go that route at least ask about the cramps lol.
Adderall isn't a wonder drug for me but it tips the scale in my favor. I just take the standard release pills 'as needed' in the morning. It does tend to mess with my sleep a bit if I take any after 10am and definitely curbs my appetite (+/-). I'm 47 and recently have been paying closer attention to heart health, it definitely increases heart rate and blood pressure. Not alarmingly so, but if you're in any way marginal for either it's something to consider.
I was prescribed Adderall XR which did wonders for my symptoms but eventually I stopped taking it as my heart would race after doing any strenuous exercise. I wish that wasn't the case, as it did help.
I've been on and off Vyvanse and Ritalin for a decade. Work with your doctor on side effects, I found Concerta to have the least side effects for me (long-lasting, tapers slowly at end of day, and fewer anxious feelings for me than Vyvanse.) I've also taken breaks from the medication for a year or more. It takes somewhere between 3 days and 3 weeks to feel like I'm not missing something when I stop the medication, but overall it's not that bothersome or unpleasant unless work/life is very busy at that time. Quitting coffee cold-turkey feels much worse, for comparison.
I had horrible physicals side effects with Adderall, I was switch to Desoxyn and I get no physical side effects from it. I just get clear headed with no speedy feel in the body or cramps. Adderall always made me clear headed, but also jittery in the body and gave me the worst cramps but the biggest one that I was not going to put up with is Adderall killed the marital bed performance, but funny enough not the desire, that was a deal breaker for me.
The doctor recommended that I tried Strattera first and see if worked before trying stimulants. Atomoxetine is one pill per day and works 24 hours. But doesn’t work for everybody and some people have some undesired side-effects.
I had some of the “undesired side-effects” in the beginning but they went away after a few days.
Also, in my case, it took 20 days until I felt that it was working. I noticed it started working one day after a looked back at one situation where I would normally get stuck and dread and it had gone as without any issue.
I’m trying to triangulate a course for myself and still can’t pull the trigger on any of these for fear of side-effects or dependence.