I don't know if Adderall and Dexedrine are processed the same way or not, Glen. But I do know my ADHD. I would need a quiet room on a deserted island if I had to take a real med vacation.
I get over stimulated really easily when not on meds. My attention doesn't just wander aimlessly, it shatters into countless fragments. Combine that with the fact that I have to make 5 trips back into the house for something I forgot - blaaahh!
I always call my doc for a short script if I am running out before my appointment day. I don't even feel very safe driving when I am not on meds. I do skip them on weekends or holidays occasionally, but it is painful for me to try to adjust to full strength ADHD.
I am taking the best med vacation ever! I feel like the crawling exercises help me so much more than meds ever did. I think because meds are so on and off again. I fee so even keeled now. It is great! I haven't taken meds since I started crawling and it is wonderful for me.
If anyone wants to try it, just let me know and I can give you the information. It is definitely worth the .00 the book costs and the time and effort it takes to do them. There is no other cost. You can pm me or go to the "crawlers unite" thread on the alternative board.
christi - I take med vacations from it all the time. It takes 24 to 48 hours to flush from your system so you'll still have the effects for day 1 and maybe day2. And even then you'll just feel a bit more tired and maybe a bit foggy. Not bad though.
Just don't dwell on it - it coasts along for quite some time so no worries.
Just a little question, I am going to ru nourof my med. Adderall, on Sunday, and i dont have a doc appt until Tuesday, so, i cant get my refill until then, do any of you think i will have any withdrawal or bad symptoms? Should i clal the doc and tell him so he wil give me a prescript for just a few days until he sees me? i am so scared of mnot taking my meds, will i even notice it since its only for a couple days? i take 20 mg twice a day
christi
It is working great - I actually am cheerful in the afternoons now. I wondered what had happened to my sense of humor recently. Now I realize it had been mangled by my struggle to pay attention while my XR slowly petered out.
I had to restrain myself from isle dancing at the grocery store earlier. Wow! I have enough attention to be my dorky self again! *grin
Great Reisa! I'm so happy for you!
You'll find that when you find the right dose and get the med holidays down where you are most comfortable that your sense of humor comes back great. I laugh more this year than every year before combined. Life is funny - and it feels so good to laugh! I remember the first couple weeks on 20mg dosages I thought I may have TMJ because my jaw muscles hurt - turned out I had been so out of shape in regards to smiling that it was worn out! LOL!! Now I can smile all day pain free.
I'm so happy you are finding the right mix now. Keep us posted.
Reisa
How did the additional 30 IR help you? Better? Worse? No different? Just curious.
Reisa -
Just a thought but maybe it's the weekends without that cause your ups and downs? Many people don't tolerate the days off like that. It can cause an imbalance in your levels of the meds which cause a rollercoaster effect. Just a thought anyway.
30mg is nowhere near the max dosage. The MD can adjust with some discretion and I've seen 50 and even 60mg a lot with adderall. So no worries there.
You may want to try when he gets back a change to dexedrine spansules. I find they work fantastic (as I go on and on about LOL) and they are very similar to adderall. Many find side effects that they don't with adderall but I can say after over a year (it's now almost 15 months!) that there's no tolerance, no addiction at all. I get dragged out during my holiday but I know that though I'd hate it I could go without forever if need be. Not gonna but I could.
Just some ponderings. I'd like you to get the most out of life like me!
I have been getting really cranky by 6pm everyday lately. I am like, "What?! Holding my attention on you while you are talking is like trying to herd cats! Is it that important?!"
I saw my doc today - he decided to add a 30mg ir afternoon dose to the 30mg Adderall xr, to improve my afternoons. Not sure if he did that because he doesn't want me to be changing meds while he will be gone until late April, or if it will actually help - gonna try it tomorrow and see. He said he has been amazed that I didn't need the afternoon dose for this long. He also said that tolerance to Adderall is fairly uncommon in his experience. *shrug I don't want to be changing meds till he gets back either.
I tried ritalin - but i only got about 2 hours of reliable concentration from it.
I am glad he didn't say med vacation - even with meds at the max dosage I have borderline on "get-it-togetherness." I do leave out meds on most weekends for the rest and relaxation - as long as I don't have to leave my house.
Aside from the fact that they stink.
I have developed tolerance for my Adderall. I have an appointment tomorrow to talk to my doctor about it. I am getting on my own nerves already just from the tolerance that decreases the effect of my meds. The thought of trying to function off medication makes me want to hide under the couch with my cat.
Other posts refer to physical and psychological addiction issues. I have come to the conclusion that I am addicted to being able to think straight. I spent today at work literally running around in circles and correcting my own careless errors. I am getting on my own nerves. For the sake of my sanity and the patience of those who have to deal with me, please tell me there is a better option than med vacation!
Do you take med vacations? How do you cope. If not, do you switch meds? Can I switch to another med until tolerance happens again and then go back to Adderall?
Reisa - I know it's scary the thought of going back the way you used to be pre-med. I too had that worry but it's not so bad!
I'm on dexedrine (brother to adderall) and take med vacations every 2 months or so. Sometimes I only get 3 days and other times 7 but every day more I take off helps me stay at my dose that much longer and more dependable.
I find that for about 3 days you coast along while the body purges the med - then after that you feel tired and dragged out. By day 5 you feel foggy and out of focus. By day 7 you are very cranky and nobody sane comes around to visit.
So I warn my family and friends about my holiday off meds. They typically give me space and I use it to sleep and rest my body and mind. It truly helps a great deal. After a while you look forward to it - and work your vacation time to match the med vacation. I also use long weekends to have mini-holidays.
You could also switch to Ritalin in the meanwhile. It helps many and be sure to check with your doctor before doing anything serious.