To Medicate or Not to Medicate? ADHD Business Leaders Share What Works for Them
Share
When you’re a business owner with ADHD, you’re used to making tough calls. Launch the new product? Hire the new person? Change your systems? But one of the most personal decisions you’ll ever make is this: Do I want to take ADHD medication? If so, which one?
There’s no one right answer. There’s just what’s right for you, and finding the right fit can be a process. For a detailed breakdown of different ADHD medications, supplements, and alternative strategies, you can read our in-depth guide here. And believe me, you’re not the only one thinking about it.
At Flanagan Leadership Group, I coach ADHD entrepreneurs and executives every day who are wrestling with this same choice. Some end up loving medication. Some decide it’s not for them. Some dance between both worlds depending on the season they’re in.
What My Clients Have to Say
"Taking ADHD meds gave me my mornings back," one of my clients, a tech CEO running a fast-growing company, told me. "Before meds, I was stuck in molasses every morning. It felt like I didn’t even exist until lunch. Now I wake up, take my fast-acting meds, and I’m clear. I still have an ADHD brain, but it’s like getting traction on an icy road."
Meanwhile, another client, a brilliant creative agency founder, chose a different path: "I tried meds, but it felt like they sanded down my edges," she said. "My business thrives because of the wild ideas my ADHD brain gives me. For me, what worked better was building rituals, not changing my chemistry. I needed support systems, not suppression."
My Personal Take: A Fan of Fast-Acting Ritalin
And me? I’m a fan of fast-acting Ritalin. Why? Because I know exactly when I’m “on” and when I’m “off.” It ramps me up, helps me dial in my focus, and when it wears off, it’s my cue to rest, eat, and pet my cats and bunny. The meds help me stay tuned into my body’s needs instead of getting hyper-focused and forgetting self-care altogether. And when I’m fed, rested, and grounded, I’m a better leader, a better coach, and a better version of myself.
The Final Word on Medication
The real bottom line? Medication is just a tool. It’s not a fix. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s not mandatory. It’s just one of many tools you can choose to use, or not, depending on what you need right now. Whatever you decide, you deserve support, grace, and strategies that work with your brain, not against it. If you struggle with the guilt of feeling unproductive, our article on "The Myth of Laziness" can help you reframe your mindset.
Ready to Find What Works for You?
If you’re trying to figure out your next best step, that’s exactly what I help ADHD entrepreneurs and executives do every day. You don't have to sort it out alone.
Ready to build a business (and a life) that fits your brain? Schedule a free consultation and let’s talk about where you are, where you’re headed, and how to make your ADHD your biggest asset, not your biggest struggle.