Congrats! Assuming you mean some kind of stimulant based medication like methylphenidate or dexamphetamine. Been off and on them for 28 years at this point, so here's some stuff I wish people told me:

The first few weeks are going to be the most productive of your life, but this will fade, because you will build up a resistance to the meds. Your best bet is to use the first weeks to put systems in to place that will help you on the days that it's not so effective. Also take tolerance breaks. Look into how stoners do it, they have the T break down to an art.

Be aware of what you're doing when your meds kick in. They can sometimes cause you to hyperfocus on the wrong thing. Best to be staring blankly at what you actually want to be doing rather than "I'll just check Fedi while I wait" unless you want to be arguing on the internet for the rest of the day.

If you're struggling to sleep, you can take vitamin C at the end of the day, as well as some L-Theanine, which I found helpful.

Anxiety! Methylphenidate caused some really unpleasant side effects as an adult for me, and is more likely to cause side effects in adults generally. If that happens talk to your doctor about trying dex. I've found it better. It also just feels less "speedy" overall.

Also be aware of alcohol! I swear it's different on days I take my meds, but that's pretty anecdotal. Possibly just a me thing, but if I end up having a long night, it's almost always after taking meds.

The meds aren't a magic bullet but, my god, life is better with them! If I think of anything else I'll add it

Started at 45. My Kiddo crying, food burning on the stove and Mrs Rachel on tv caused me to be immediately angry. Add rage is a thing apparently.

Since Anger is out of character for me, I went and got on meds. Life is much better now.

Congratulations op!

It was a game-changer for me in the corporate world when, at age 44, my job became too complex for me to manage well. Bravo! Hit me up if you ever want to chat about it.

Yo good luck! Don't forget to pull back some on the caffeine (if you were using that to self medicate, as so many of us do) when you start. Helps you get a clearer understanding of what dose of your meds works best for you.

Woot! I hope it works out well for you!

I was diagnosed at age 30. I still remember my first ritalin - music stuck in my head stopped, I was able to read less-pleasant nonfiction that normally I struggled with, able to overcome executive disfunction and get up and do stuff.

Alas, poverty meant I soon couldn't afford to keep getting meds. And at 45 I got a rediagnosis, but alas I've had seven heart attacks and so cannot have any meds. meh.

I was diagnosed at 35 and started meds at 37. None of the non stimulants worked for me, but they do work for others. For stimulants I’ve only been on lisdexamfetamine (vyvanse), but it’s worked great for me. I was at 60mg but am trying out 50 mg right now since my bp was a bit higher than ideal. I did switch to decaffeinated coffee since by I like the taste but don’t really need the caffeine I had euphoria for a day, maybe a bit on the second day, and then it became so normal I wasn’t sure it was working… until I missed some doses. When off of my dose I get more anxious and more easily overwhelmed, and I wasn’t used to it because I had been on the medication and doing better, but that wasn’t my normal state anymore when medicated!

Congrats, and here's to a new you.

Congratulations! May it work wonderfully for you with no side effects!

I still have hope to get a diagnosis and see if I have something. congrats. Im almost in the same position. can't say executive but have done decently until now and a bit over 50.

Good on you, just be careful.

Interesting – I kind of assumed I’d have to come off them around that age but won’t pretend to know what the meds I’ve taken over the years have actually done to my heart.

Did that come up in discussions with your doctor or were you steered to a low/less stim option?

Hope they work out for you.