I took my first 15 mg of Adderall on Tuesday. I felt great. A little speedy - but otherwise great. I was reading and paying attention at work and wished I had done this years ago. Yesterday - I felt nothing from the medicine - but I thought maybe it was because I took the adderall on Tuesday without food and yesterday with food. So today - I took the medicine on an empty stomach. I "feel" the medicine more, i.e., the slight speedy, loss of appetite, feeling. But I do not feel that it is helping my concentration at all anymore. Maybe I’m focusing a little better - but I feel like I can’t focus in on words on a page very well. Does any of this make sense??? Anyway - just wondering what you guys that have been through so many different medicines and dosages think. I plan to take the medicine again tomorrow on an empty stomach and if I feel the same I plan to call the Dr. and see what he thinks. Or is it that I am just being impatient and should give a little longer than 3 days?? Like I said - this is my first time being medicated. I was just so thrilled on Tuesday and now I’m feeling a bit bummed.
Thanks for reading!
First, starting medication it is a big relief to pay attention - a novelty for most of us. The speedy feeling is mixed with a whole bunch of "Wow! You mean most people don't struggle through sand and fog all day in order to accomplish things?"
You should stop feeling "speedy" after the first day or two - it is not supposed to be noticeable if you are on the right medications at the right dosage. For many people, they feel antsy because the dose is too low. My doctor kept upping my dose until I felt relaxed and calm. I can actually take the best naps while the meds are in my system.
The bottom line is: You should be able to focus on what you chose to focus on - and remain on task for a reasonable amount of time. If you aren't able to - tell your doctor and find something that works for you.
jkm -
Don't take your meds without food! Adderall to begin with will suppress your appetite to at least some extent. You'll have to remember to take food regularly of you'll get very ill eventually.
It takes a couple weeks for adderall to build up in your system so that your brain is getting the full benefit. Be patient and watch carefully as it can start very subtle. Don't rely on the "rush" you get as it goes away and many falsely believe that means it is no longer working. It works best once it gets evened out and you only know that you feel more normal and the ADHD is under your control.
If in about a month you find that the memory is hashed and the urges to slack and go back to the old you comes back - then you may get upped a 10 mg or so and then see what happens. Almost everyone eventually needs to up the med to where it works every month. Ask about taking med holidays too - that's where you'll go 2 months or so with every day taking adderall then you'll schedule a down time without for about a week. It helps me where it's been almost a year since I've had to raise the level and it's such a nice feeling. Cheaper too.