Yorkshire man says he ‘flatlined’ after severe reaction to ADHD medication
A man says he nearly died after he had an allergic reaction to his ADHD medication which caused his stomach lining to rupture.
Ryan Swain, 34, from Malton,was diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) 16 years ago.
After turning to medication to manage his symptoms, he claims he experienced two serious reactions - including his stomach rupturing and loosing consciousness - while taking ADHD medication, one involving Concerta, which contains methylphenidate, and another involving atomoxetine.
After this experience, Ryan turned to alternative methods for managing his ADHD, while adding that he is not “anti-medication”.
Ryan told Talk to the Press: "I didn't really know how my anatomy was going to react to this medication, and within the first few months on the Concerta I just became an absolute zombie, a complete shell of myself.
“They then put me on atomoxetine, which at first worked very well because it did not take too much of my personality away but I did not realise how much of an impact it was having on my vital organs.”
Ryan suffered from forgetfulness and impulsive financial decisions as a result of his
Ryan said: "I did get into debt, and money management has always been something I have struggled with.
"ADHD doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be bad with money, but some of the traits associated with it can make managing finances harder.
"Impulsivity, difficulty planning ahead, seeking an immediate reward, executive-function challenges and not always fully processing the future consequences of a decision have all affected me at different points in my life.
"I’ve avoided looking at bills because dealing with them felt overwhelming. Small decisions became bigger problems, and eventually I ended up in an IVA.
"I’m not ashamed to say that because it’s part of my story, and I learned from it.
"I wish I’d understood at 16 what I understand now.
"Emotionally I can also be intense and reactive. I have spoken before thinking and sent messages in the heat of the moment."
Ryan was diagnosed in 2010 after a nine-month wait and three specialist sessions.
The diagnosis helped him feel understood, but he still found he struggled to keep jobs and maintain friendships.
Ryan had a severe reaction to atomoxetine on New Year's Eve 2010.
He said: “I collapsed at home and when I woke up I was in an operating theatre in the hospital.
“I'd been blue-lighted to hospital, my dad beside me, and basically flatlined for a few seconds, because I'd had a violent allergic reaction. The doctor said he's never ever seen anything like it in his life."
Ryan claims doctors told him the medication was the reason for his reaction.
According to the UK government website, a recent review of clinical trial data in children and adults with ADHD showed mean increases in blood pressure and heart rate with atomoxetine to be as previously estimated.
“Not only did I flat line and nearly fall into a coma but when I was resuscitated, I was projectile vomiting for hours and hours and hours to a point where I was actually rupturing my stomach lining and throwing up blood.
“I just stopped taking meds but at first it had a massive impact on my life. My mum and dad were absolutely distraught. I didn't have a lot of confidence then. I felt like all my self-esteem had gone, I didn't have a lot of faith in the system.
“I felt like I had been led down a garden path to take this medication which had nearly killed me.
"I have since struggled with taking general medication after my reaction. It created a real anxiety and lack of trust around taking anything without first understanding why I need it."
Ryan manages his ADHD through skateboarding, music and creativity. He also uses a lot of alarms and calendars to help him stay organised.
Now Ryan works with young people and their families through his free business You, Me & ADHD to help show there are alternatives to medication for managing ADHD.
He said: “It is an incredibly difficult path, there are traps everywhere with glamorisation in the media of celebrities having ADHD.
"I still have good days, bad days and absolutely terrible days. ADHD has not disappeared from my life. I have just stopped spending my life trying to make my brain behave like everybody else's."