jerbear - here's my best advice.
The next opportunity to take 3 or more days from any needed focus - take a med holiday. Warn loved ones and coworkers (if needing to work) and go cold turkey. No meds at all (no coffee if you can do it too) for 3 days - 7 if you can do it. When you come back on your normal dose it should be much more manageable for at least 2 months.
Nobody wants to take the holiday - even I hate it. But it gives you 2 months - that's 8 plus weeks of focus and stability. It honestly works - very well for me!!
I just joined today after having read some of the other posts and cant keep my mouth shut when it comes to some of the thigns people are saying here.
Ok sorry, that was unrelated to your post. To answer your question about not seeing your doc until april 12th and your insurance wont pay for a new Rx, well I don't know if you have an HMO or a PPO, but I'm on a PPO and if the Rx is for a different strength they WILL fill it because it is "new" rx. You might get some dirty looks @ the pharmacy (I also take xanax and they looks @ me like a pill head) but to hell with the pharmacy techs.
I think its kinda cool hearing about how some doctors are. Your's told you not to skip a dose, mine told me if there were days I didn't feel like taking it, I didn't have to. Also have you asked your psych for the adderall card? LOL I know it sounds weird, but its like a credit card looking thing, you call the number to activate the card, when asked if you have ever taken adderall xr say NO, take your Rx and the card to the pharmacy and you get 30 free. My doc gives me them for every script cause I'm a college student and even with insurance copay is alot to a college kid like me, because 25 bucks can buy alot of mcdonalds and tv dinners. hahaha hope I kinda helped.
What about switching to Ritalin for a while - adderall and ritalin are totally differnt meds? Sort of an adderall holdiay on Ritalin? Any ideas?A med holiday is for that reason - to remove ALL amphetamines from the system. To switch to Ritalin may work for some - but don't call it a holiday. Many people alternate or try together.
Holiday gives the body a chance to rest and recharge - get back to a normal rythym for a few days. Same reason we take a real holiday - gives us a chance to stop and rest before getting busy again.
Always check with MD/psych of course when changing dose/med
i'm on adderall xr 20 mgs and i have grown a tolerance, i take it at 8:45 in the morning and i start feeling drowsy at 1:30pm. last time i saw my psych. on march 8th he gave me a prescription for 20's on that day gave me another prescription dated for april 5th for the same amount, which means i'll be on 20's till may3rd! i'm sure my tolerance will be way higher by then! i won't see my doctor till april 12th and my health insurance won't pay for a new prescription till at least four weeks goes by after filling a new prescription. should i skip a few days even though my psych. stressed the fact that i should'nt? somebody help!