> what would you recommend if one is against the idea of medication in general for neurological issues that aren't deterental to ones life?

Given that ADHD people tend to commit suicide 2x-4x times more often than general population [0] keep in mind that it's not detrimental until it suddenly is.

Also it gets worse with age, so it's better to get under doctor's control sooner than later.

[0]: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5371172/

Not the person you asked but:

ADHD is a debilitating neurological disorder, not a mild inconvenience.

Believe me, I wish that just drinking coffee and "trying harder" was a solution. I started medication because I spent two decades actively trying every other possible solution.

> what would you recommend if one is against the idea of medication in general for neurological issues that aren't deterental to ones life?

If your neurological issues aren't impacting your life negatively, they aren't neurological issues. I don't know what else to say to this. Of course you shouldn't treat non-disorders with medication.

> do you feel the difference between being medicated and (strong?) coffee?

These do not exist in the same universe. It's not remotely comparable.

> have you felt the effects weaken over time?

Only initially, after the first few days. It stabilizes pretty well after that.

> if you did drink coffee, have you noticed a difference between the medication effects weakening on the same scale as caffeine?

Again, not even in the same universe. Also, each medication has different effects in terms of how it wears off at the end of the day. For some it's a pretty sudden crash, for others it tapers, and some are mostly designed to keep you at a long term level above baseline (lower peaks, but higher valleys).

> is making life easier with medication worth the cost over just dealing with it by naturally by adapting to it over time (if even possible in your case)?

If I could have solved the biological issue "naturally" I would have. ADHD comes with really pernicious effects that makes adaptation very challenging.

I take ritalin as needed, 20-30mg a day. A black coffee will usually make me just a little sleepier, if anything at all. a couple more will do the same. Ritalin can make me sleepy if I'm already deeply tired, but after ~30min will actually allow me to partially focus on off days, and be able to get more work done on normal days. I may not need it every day.

> is making life easier with medication worth the cost over just dealing with it by naturally by adapting to it over time (if even possible in your case)?

I am now 20, admittedly "early" in my career. Through high school and the first 2 years of university I have banged my head against ADHD and tried to just "power through it" or adapt. Medication isn't a magic bullet, but it is clear to me at least now that I am at least able to rely on it as a crutch in order to improve myself and my lifestyle to deal with what is at least for me, truly a disability. Maybe one day I won't need it, but in the mean time I see no reason why attempt #3289 will work for real this time to turn around my life.

Medicated, diagnosed ADHD-haver speaking.

Unmanaged ADHD is dangerous, and incredibly detrimental to people's lives, but the level of such may not be entirely apparent to somebody until after they receive treatment. I think the attitude of being against medication for neurological issues where that is recommended by medical professionals (including where that for something perceived to not be detrimental enough) is, to say the least, risky.

I would perhaps encourage you to do some reading into the real-world ways ADHD affects people's lives beyond just what medical websites say.

To answer your questions, though:

* Medication vs coffee: yes, I don't notice any effect from caffeine

* Meds weakening over time: nope

* Medication cost: so worth it (£45/mo for the drugs alone in the UK) because I was increasingly not able to adapt or cope and continuing to try to do so may well have destroyed me