🌿 Non-Stimulant ADHD Therapy Onset Delay Simulator

Starting a Non-Stimulant — No Same-Day Surge

Unlike stimulants, effect builds slowly, not instantly.

• ~2%: Symptom improvement (placeholder value)
• 0–95%: Stimulant comparison (same-day, placeholder)
• ~58%: Quit risk (unmanaged) (placeholder value)
• NRI / alpha-2A: Mechanism class (placeholder label)

Why nothing happens on day one

Placeholder: gradual receptor mechanism, not acute release.

Early Adaptation — Subtle, Gradual Signal

Receptor and network changes begin quietly here.

• ~12%: Symptom improvement (placeholder value)
• flat ~95%: Stimulant comparison (placeholder value)
• ~49%: Quit risk (unmanaged) (placeholder value)
• "not working": Common patient worry (placeholder quote)

What patients notice (and don't)

Placeholder: minor sleep or mood shifts, core symptoms still flat.

Building Effect — The Curve Steepens

Symptom control becomes clearly noticeable now.

• ~50%: Symptom improvement (placeholder value)
• flat ~95%: Stimulant comparison (placeholder value)
• ~37%: Quit risk (unmanaged) (placeholder value)
• declining: Risk trend (placeholder label)

Why the midpoint matters clinically

Placeholder: this is when most early quitters would have benefited from waiting.

Full Therapeutic Effect Reached

Plateau: benefit now matches stimulant-level control.

• ~95%: Symptom improvement (placeholder value)
• parity reached: Stimulant comparison (placeholder value)
• ~13%: Quit risk (unmanaged) (placeholder value)
• 6–8: Typical plateau week (placeholder label)

What full adaptation looks like

Placeholder: stable receptor/network changes sustain the effect.

Counsel Patients to Continue Through the Gap

Education closes the early quit-risk window.

• high early: Quit risk, unmanaged (placeholder value)
• ~65% lower: Quit risk, managed (placeholder value)
• "give it weeks": Key message (placeholder quote)
• early stop: Common failure mode (placeholder label)

Expectation-setting reduces early discontinuation

Placeholder: proactive counseling on delayed onset lowers dropout.

Placeholder: patients told to expect a multi-week delay are far less likely to quit early.