it's possible you could use an increase. Even if you do - the caffeine tends to make the experience better. My dose of dexedrine is almost perfect - but a nice hot strong coffee during my breaks tends to give me a zip to my steps and make me feel that much better. Besides - it's one of the safest things I can take - can't take antihistamines for my allergies or when I have a cold.
Ask your prescriber - they can up you a small degree and just you make sure to check in before more than a week passes so they can keep an eye on you!
[QUOTE=Professor]
Hi everyone! I need feed back on how late we can take our stimulants and still prentend to sleep. I am currently taking 40 mgs of Adderall XR when I wake up and towards the evening my symptoms really start back up. I know we have some ideas.
[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't quite put it that way, but I take 40 mg RitLA at first wakening. I'll take 20 mg RitLA at second wakening, a/b an hour later. That's when I take my Provigil. If I stay awake after my first waking, I'll take the Provigil then. Sometimes I have to take all of it at once. I have some Rit Tabs that I keep for days during moments I need a little boost in concentration.
My doc definitely wanted me on meds when I got home, b/c that's where the warfare and firefights took place. So I stay up until 00:00 usually, until I found this board, which I'm addicted to and stay up much later than I should.
I do take my anti-D's at night, along with a beta blocker and ambien. It's a knock out combo, but leaves me with a hangover. Doc said Cymbalta should be taken in the morning, but it puts me to sleep. Contraresponsive are meds in me. Head meds.
Good luck,
D
[QUOTE=Professor]Hi everyone! I need feed back on how late we can take our stimulants and still prentend to sleep. I am currently taking 40 mgs of Adderall XR when I wake up and towards the evening my symptoms really start back up. I know we have some ideas.
[/QUOTE]
Good question! I do shift work - and I have been tweaking my dexedrine spansules to get the best results for a days' work and still get the ZZZs.
I find that my dose lasts from 6 hours to 9 hours full blast. It peters off pretty quick after. So - if I'm just working 8 hours and I know for sure - then I take it an hour before work when I wake and by work's end I have no problem. I don't tend to get symptoms these days - but I don't go off the meds except for scheduled down weeks and it tends to build in my system so I can coast when the pill has worn off.
Now - if I'm doing overtime or need the extra attention after work - then I take the second dose 6 hours in - 3 hours before work ends. That gives me a real jolt and full attention right until bedtime usually. I don't get the insomnia often - it cycles every now and then when I switch to day shift and I'm still synced up to my last afternoon shift. Takes a few days for my brain to engage - I'm a slow adapter.
The website for adderal XR says 10 to 12 hours - but my dexedrine's website says 9 so I'd probably guess full strength wanes at about 9 for you. So maybe take a single dose daily later - just before work and you'll coast a couple hours. Or if you need more after work attention maybe take one dose an hour before and the second an hour after. I'm assuming you take yours an hour before work - that's typical for me. Since your meds are longer lasting - I wouldn't risk any later since you might get 6 hours unmedicated at best.
OR.. I was thinking maybe get your MD to prescribe a smaller script for plain adderal short release - for the times you need a short-term extension. Since you are doing well on adderal I can't see where there would be an objection!
I like my dexedrine because it hits road speed a half hour after taking it - and after 9 hours it leaves me still focused but getting tired again. And - those days I feel masochistic and sign up for longer work days I can still work out to get the extra mileage without staying up for days. It's a house of cards I'll admit but so far I've never knocked it over so I'm happy LOL.
I still get insomnia so I feel your pain bro! The first few months on meds though it was so surreal - I was a human clock - went to bed and slept instantly - and never set my alarm once in over 3 months! It never happened before and went away as quickly. But most nights my hard work day leaves me tired enough to sleep soundly and wake up fine.
Sadly - my normally sane Canadian government has decided that melatonin - because it's not classed a medicine but claims to help sleep - must be banned here until they decide what the blazes it is. So - unless I want to feel totally daft and sneak over and smuggle natural sleep aids (man if I got caught I'd feel stupid), I must deal with either living as balanced as I can or get illegal. I just can't do that.
Sometimes, like tonight coincidentally, I must stay up through the next work day to reset my body clock. My day shift started monday and I haven't been able to adjust this week. So - sometimes I must redeye one day in the week so my body learns not to mess with me. Sounds dumb but it is the only way I can hack it when it gets this far.
good luck - if you find a non-melatonin remedy for this (no milk either - it clogs my sinuses LOL) then let me and the rest know ok?
- Glen
GlenW38630.0147800926
I suggest you consult your DR is the best way, I started out on 27mg of Concerta for a month and within 3 weeks it was great (12 hour release on schedule), but then my body adjusted to it, and instead of giving me the effects I needed for my 8 hour work day, it wore off in 4 so my Doc upped the med, and its been another month and its working great (54mg)..If your taking ANY stimulant they tend to get you a little energetic (IF they work properly, and they are the right meds for your diagnosis) so I wouldn't suggest taking them before sleep, gof forbid if I took my Concerta later than normal, I'd probably never get to sleep, but I've had NO problems sleeping off it since I got on it 2 months ago.
You really need to consult your doc though, people tend to react to meds in different way, I've heard a lot of people feeling sleepy off of Concerta (What I take) and I feel the complete opposite, and also ask about suggestions as to if you were to take it towards bedtime what would be the effects. I take Melatonex prior to bedtime (30 mins before) and it works great (Been taking it for years) and my Doc tells me not only is it permissable but Melatonin is extremely healthy to take with awesome benefits to your health..your Doc would be the best person to ask.
sd1975.....is melatonex over th counter or a prescription med?Hi everyone! I need feed back on how late we can take our stimulants and still prentend to sleep. I am currently taking 40 mgs of Adderall XR when I wake up and towards the evening my symptoms really start back up. I know we have some ideas.
you are having the same problems we did with our 6 year old and had to switch him off of xr so it lasted a little longer....this may mean taking multiple pills, but will help you focus...just an idea....i dont know how late you would have to cunsult your dr on that unless someone else on here has an idea...good luck
Thanks for the responses, folks! Would any of you say I would need a higher dose if I need large doses of caffeine every 4 hours to get my energy up to where it feels normal? I love the newly acquired focus, but man I want some of my hyper kinetic self back. Has anyone solved this??
Strattera can be done at night and still be effective in day. If people are using this and 1 other med is this med really useful at all. I see here it seems increases are all that occur. Hyper kinetic means a handson person learner. Montessorie is wonderful for a learner like this. Wife did and was sucessful. She knows this cause she is this way.