This is my first post on adhdnews.com...
First of all, I'm a seventeen-year-old high school senior. I moved nearly cross country the summer before my junior year. When I moved I signed up for the same classes that I would have normally, which may have been a mistake. I never have gotten awesome grades, mostly B's and a few C's. But, last year my grades dropped significantly. My parents were notably distressed, and even considered having the grades of certain classes taken off my transcript, so as not to interfere with college applications.
Over the summer I admitted to my parents that all was not well psychologically. I had never admitted before, but I never had been able to pay attention well enough, or finish my homework without becoming extremely frustrated, and eventually given up. I had difficulty shifting my attention from one task to another, often times wishing to stay at one task for superfluous amounts of time, so much so that it hindered my ability to multi-task. I would often become so frustrated during or after school that I would either become detached and secluded, or weepy and inconsolable (which is definately not normal for me, I am a very bubbly and outgoing person). My parents admitted that they had noticed this in me, and had begun to search for help. They made me take the ADHD test on webmd.com, on which I scored almost perfect, meaning I showed no signs of ADHD. But, I had lied. They made me take it again, and instead of saying what I knew they wanted, I said what was true. I fell, unlike before, into the zone of "extreme chance of ADHD."
My parents then proceeded to take me to my pediatrician, who immediately put my on adderral XR 10 mg daily. Ever since then I was moved up 10 mg of XR of my daily dose every two weeks. It continued this way until we reached the time to take 40 mg XR, and I refused. I have been on 30 mg for several weeks now. I know that its helping, not only with my grades, but with my ability to interact with my peers, and my self esteem. But, there have been some side effects that don't translate well to those listed on webmd.com, or any other website with ADHD information.
Here goes:
1) I take my medication at 7:30, right when I leave for school. I don't notice when it starts to work (probably because I'm actually paying attention to my teachers), but I definately notice when it wares off. Right around 1:30, my focus takes a nose dive. Unfortunately, this is also when I have Calculus. I don't know if its just the difficult class that makes this happen, or if the XR is wearing off. I have a friend who's on the same XR dosage as I am, but also takes another 20 mg of non-XR at lunch. Is this the only option? Or is my apparent struggle linked to something else?
2) My appetite is fine, it has been lessened, but it still exists. The dry-mouth is annoying, but that is solved by a water bottle. But, right around 4:00 PM (it happens at nearly the same time everyday). I become extremely frustrated. So much so that I avoid contact with my family, and find attempts to do homework futile, and ultimately infuriating. This feeling last right until dinner time, when my appetite returns to normal, and I eat the amount I usually would. Question 1: Is the anxiety caused by the XR wearing off, or the XR itself? and Question 2: Is it the full stomach that lifts the frustration, or has the XR completely left my system by then?
3) I haven't noticed any euphoria, or anything of that sort, which is one of the reasons I refused to move up to 40 mg. One thing that worries me is: I'm beginning to enjoy being on adderall. Its not as if I look forward to taking it (I don't, I loathe swallowing pills), but I feel as though I'm becoming too dependant. I forgot to take it one day, and that day wasn't horrible, but the next day I thought how glad I was that I had it, because it is so much easier when I do. Is it supposed to make me feel this way? Or, am I taking too much? Or, do I not need it at all? My insurance has repeatedly denied my neuro-psychiatric evaluation, because they claim I must see a psychiatrist first, but my pediatrician says this isn't so. Could it be possible that I'm not ADD, and I'm just slowly becoming an adderall junkie?
4) Do I have to take it on the weekends, especially if I have nothing important to do? Does this mess up your dose? I've heard that non-XR adderall exits the body through your urine. Is this also true of XR? Or do I have to be more careful with being consistent. I know that some psychiatric drugs linger in your fat or muscle tissue for days, even weeks at a time, is it the same with XR?
Please, if any of you could help it would be much appreciated.
Oh yes, just a note: My older sister was diagnosed with ADD about two years ago, which fueled my parents decision to help me seek treatment. We are the same height and weight (although with adderal that doesn't matter) and we seem to react similarly to the drug. She is currently taking 30 mg XR in the mornings, and another 30 mg of non-XR at lunch.
mullaru38615.7674884259