New to Adderall - Advice for proper dosag

[QUOTE=bigdaddy]
Here's my question: I'm having a terrible time trying to figure out the right dosage for me. I usually take a morning dose at 7, then another at 11, then a last one at 3-4pm. When I take 30mg in the morning, it's fantastic, but wears off about 3.5 hours later. The next dosage of 30mg is good, but seems less “potent” than the morning dose. Then, if I take another dosage of 30mg in the afternoon, say around 3-4 pm, I not only get little effect, but it feels like the XR all over again - I feel irritable, anxious, and it produces very little, if any, positive effects like my earlier dosages. I also invariably get a feeling of low blood sugar, although I’ve never had a consistent problem with low blood sugar. There's a sense of "hunger" and whatever that feeling of low blood sugar is, but it's hard for me to describe.

Any advice is appreciated.
[/QUOTE]

It is normal off meds for us to start to fizzle out towards the end of the day - compare to how you used to be before meds. Is this completely unnatural feelings you are experiencing.

My only advice would be to fiddle with your meds till you find the right combo. Maybe 45mg in the morning and the same at lunch. Or something similar. But check with your doctor first.

While I realize you directed your question to a specific member. I thought I’d throw in a few tricks I’ve learned in regard to “diet”.

~Selenium, Copper, Magnesium, Vitamin A, Zinc, and vitamin B complex are all great supplements for your brain, and overall health.

Start with 15MG in the am. adderall is absorbed from the urinary tract, so be sure to take it with water on an empty stomach. If you drink coffee you should wait till you pee that out. Orange juice, sprite, (anything with citric acid) will greatly diminish the effects of the drug. Since you only have 15 MG you can take the other 15 when you need. You can get PH strips from any drugstore and check your PH levels. Adderall is more powerful if your urine is alkaline, less powerful if it is acidic.

The effects you describe I sometimes feel as well, usually when I'm too tired or I take too much adderall. Adderall can't overcome normal weariness.

I'm big on drug holidays, 4 months is more then enough time to get tolerance. I sometimes use Ritalin on my off days.

Adderall is a diuretic, it will dehydrate you, this would cause some of the symptoms you describe. Also, ampethimines drain your body of vitamins. At night take Vitamin B, Magnesium and zinc, and might as well get some vitamin C at this time. Remember that your body is moving very fast, this means it's burning everything faster, food, water, nutrients, etc.

Don't expect your doctor to know these tips, doctors think in black and white, this is the result of users research.

I wanted to let you know that the Rx drug ADDERALL, is not dosed by body weight. None of the stimulants' doses are related to body weight, whatsoever. The only ADHD Rx medication that IS dosed according to body weight is Strattera; and it is a reuptake inhibitor, not a stimulant. Don’t mean to cut this short, but I’ve got to get some shut-eye. I have a ton more ACCURATE and CURRENT medical information re: ADHD meds. And exactly how they work in your brain, if you are interested… just e-mail me:

& shinsetu hito: you confuse me re: "take adderall on empty stomache"? I'm interested, and wonder if you'd be willing to e-mail more info, and also share your resources/ sources for info.?- thanks bfly2B

Wow, it's crazy how different people's doses are. I am a 30 year old male, 165 lbs. I have never taken more than 15mg at a time and it works great for me. I think it's good to experiment with your dose and work out what feels best for you. I'm sorry that it's not really working for you and I hope that you can sort it out.

Advice that you do not need: diet is important and you may never sort out the way the drug makes you feel if you do not have a consistent intake. I would strongly suggest commiting yourself to a diet plan before you try to re-work your meication.

1) …the way you are “dragging” in spite of regularly taken doses throughout that day—

--this sounds like it could be a result of too much Adderall (some people get incredibly sleepy when too much hits their system at once). BUT I think you need to adjust your dose and times:

--Adderall is not based on body weight (no stimulants are—Strattera is the only ADHD med that is based on body weight, & it is not a stimulant.

--I am a 32 year old female, 5’5” & 135lbs… I take 30mg 4 x daily of regular Adderall. I break it down like this: 1^st-- 7 or 8am, 2^nd-- 11am or noon, 3^rd--3 or 4pm, and 4^th-- 7 or 8 pm. (this last evening dose, I sometimes take only 20mg., and then take the last 10mg. around 9 or 10pm. Depending on my agenda… pay bills, go through teachers’ papers, etc. vs. off to bed, or watch tv, etc)

--It’s possible that you need to take your Adderall every 3 hrs. and no further apart than that—it is supposed to be allowed to build up in your system just a little with each dose in the day. You need to take it close enough together that you are not aware of the medicine leaving your system (otherwise it’s like starting all over w/ your morning dose).

2) You describe feeling almost restless/ agitated at other times. You are on Lexapro. Sometimes if your Seratonin levels are too high, you can feel this way. Ask your doc. about that.

Also, you don’t want to experience that “euphoric” feeling on a day-to-day basis. Don’t think the Adderall isn’t working, simply b/c you can’t feel that sensation. The point is for you to feel a normal capacity to function, not a “high”.

If you do not have any luck staying on adderall, consider Strattera, supplemented w/ an evening dose of Ritalin. My husband is on this treatment plan, after describing many of the same things you described online.

I think there are a variety of potential "problems." One thing that crosses my mind is the question of a correct diagnosis. When did you start taking Lexapro? Was it at the same time as the Adderall? It is very possible that you do not need to be taking the Adderall, as much as you may not want to hear it. It's seems as if it is possible that the mild depression could be causing the ADD symptoms; which could be made worse by "bad" exercise and eating habits. So, I would definitely talk to your doctor about the diagnosis, or possibly see a different doctor for a different opinion. However, it is possible that the same diagnosis will be made. In any case, your current medication is not working.

First off, a side effect of adderall is irritability!!! Both if you're taking too much of the medication, and when you're coming down. It is an amphetamine....think of it as "cocaine" when you think of drug addicts, they are very irritable when coming down and just want more. It's what the drug does to you mentally. You have "no control over it." Also, the dose of medication doesn't have to do with the size you are. It has to do with your brain's metabolism of the drug. This has nothing to do with the metabolic rate that your body digests food, or your size. It is possible for a man your size, with a correct diagnosis to be on 5 mg and have it work very well.

I noticed that you repeatedly said how great you felt on the Adderall at times. I would be weary of this. You say you've never done drugs, etc. which is very good! However, adderall does have that effect on people, which explains it's high potential for abuse.

In regards to your eating habits; it is very hard for the body to function with low food-intake!!! In order for the synapse of a nerve to "fire", it needs sodium and potassium (THIS IS A FACT!!) With a deficiency, you will find it very hard to think, concentrate, etc.

Basically, I would definitely talk to your doctor, and if possible, a different doctor as well. I think that a better exercise and eating plan would be extremely beneficial and you may find that your problems are almost non-existent afterwards. In any case, what you're doing right now needs to end. It seems as though it's making both you and your family unhappy; and there is a better solution.

as for the person who said that weight is not a factor regarding these drugs: yeah, I get it; I just included the info to stick with what was a theme in this post. If am talking to bigdaddy and he said his weight he may like to know mine. That is all.

Bigdaddy: I do not think that I can give any advice because I do not know you. However, I am a person who has seen some people do great on Adkins so I know the all protein/no carb can work but I do not think it is for everyone. My only advice would be: get as much protein as you can and keep all of your carbohydrates as complex as you can (the browner the better when it comes to grains is a decent rule of thumb). One thing that adderall does to me is makes me NOT hungry and I have addressed this by taking protein shakes. Lately I've been on GNC Pro Performance whey protein but I've used other. The best mixes are solubilized (quick-dissolving) because it's less of an impediment to be able to just shake the thing up and drink it. You should be able to get about 25 g from a shake and can easily get another 25 from a can of tuna (I just open the can, drain it, and eat it). Tuna is also an excellent source of omega3. I am different form a lot of people in that I am really a food-bore and can eat the same boring thing every day. Mostly because it's the only way I can remember to get all the groceries I need ( I just get the same thing all the time).

As for water. You choke it down? What's up with that? You don't like it? Maybe you need a different cup. Ha ha. Seriously, a few years ago someone told me that your urine should always be clear so I started drinking a quart an hour. It took a while but I got to where I could drink the quart at one time. Just stand up and drink. You need to be where you can pee all the time but this was not a problem where I was working.

In conclusion: I have always been a really inconsistent and undedicated person. I was diagnosed with this ADD as an adult and I take my medication every day because I feel so much better on it. I also eat right every day because I feel so much better when I eat right. I have found that what I eat has almost immediate effects on my mood, cognitive performance, and general "good-body-feeling." If I go to the movies and my wife gets popcorn and a big ole Coke I get really tempted. But I usually overcome and just watch the movie. If I give in, as I do sometimes, by the time the movie is over my brain is a train wreck. If I am tired and need to go to class I never drink caffeine bc I know that within an hour I will not be able to read the board bc I can't keep my eyes focused. It's wierd, but that's me. I am obsessive over food and I know it and the people around me know it but I just know that I have to do certain things and I do them as consistently as I can whenever I can.




	New to Adderall - Advice for proper dosag I am a 38 yr old male, 6'9", 240lbs. I’m a generally happy, laid back, somewhat outgoing person. I am financially stable, have a good marriage, and enjoy my 3 daughters. There is some general stress in my life, but it’s manageable. I take Lexapro 10mg to treat mild depression. My depressive symptoms are usually irritability and decreased motivation. Nothing more serious than that, thankfully. I've been taking Adderall at varying dosages for the past 4 months. I tried XR for awhile, but I seemed to get extremely irritable in the evenings, so I figured this was a side effect of the XR and changed to the regular Adderall (since the non-XR never caused those effects). The XR was good during the day but the evenings sucked and I was not my “normal” self. I was irritable to my wife and kids, etc. I like the non-XR Adderall much better because I feel like I have more “control” with it in terms of duration of effects, etc. I have taken non-XR Adderall at 7.5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg dosages. I’ve experimented on my own by breaking the tablets in half or quarters to get the right dose. At the lower dosages, I don't get much effect. At 20mg I get a mild to moderate effect, and at 30mg, I get a very significant effect - increased ability to focus, energy, internal calmness, etc. I love it and can't believe what a difference it makes for me. I used to get quite a euphoric effect, which I couldn’t really articulate at the time because I was so new to the drug, but that has essentially worn off. I understand this is common – too bad! Actually, it was a bit weird being in SUCH a great mood. I’ve never taken illicit drugs or drank alcohol. So it was my first experience with any drug no less an amphetamine. Here's my question: I'm having a terrible time trying to figure out the right dosage for me. I usually take a morning dose at 7, then another at 11, then a last one at 3-4pm. When I take 30mg in the morning, it's fantastic, but wears off about 3.5 hours later. The next dosage of 30mg is good, but seems less “potent” than the morning dose. Then, if I take another dosage of 30mg in the afternoon, say around 3-4 pm, I not only get little effect, but it feels like the XR all over again - I feel irritable, anxious, and it produces very little, if any, positive effects like my earlier dosages. I also invariably get a feeling of low blood sugar, although I’ve never had a consistent problem with low blood sugar. There's a sense of "hunger" and whatever that feeling of low blood sugar is, but it's hard for me to describe. Am I taking too much? My doctor says that because I'm such a big guy, 30mg 3/day would probably be okay. Do I take less mg. at my 2nd and 3rd times during the day? Is this some kind of rebound that I'm getting from too much? I’ve never personally known what a “come down” from a drug high is, but this is what I imagine it must be like, at least in a small degree. Also, I hate to admit it, but my work involves sitting all day, I don't exercise, and I don't eat that well. My eating isn't horrible, but not that great. I wonder if I need to change my diet, eat more of something particular during the day, exercise, etc. I am not a big eater anyways, so it’s totally normal for me to eat breakfast, get busy with work, and not eat much again until dinner. Maybe a snack here and there. Any advice is appreciated. [QUOTE=bigdaddy] Here's my question: I'm having a terrible time trying to figure out the right dosage for me. I usually take a morning dose at 7, then another at 11, then a last one at 3-4pm. When I take 30mg in the morning, it's fantastic, but wears off about 3.5 hours later. The next dosage of 30mg is good, but seems less “potent” than the morning dose. Then, if I take another dosage of 30mg in the afternoon, say around 3-4 pm, I not only get little effect, but it feels like the XR all over again - I feel irritable, anxious, and it produces very little, if any, positive effects like my earlier dosages. I also invariably get a feeling of low blood sugar, although I’ve never had a consistent problem with low blood sugar. There's a sense of "hunger" and whatever that feeling of low blood sugar is, but it's hard for me to describe. Any advice is appreciated. [/QUOTE] It is normal off meds for us to start to fizzle out towards the end of the day - compare to how you used to be before meds. Is this completely unnatural feelings you are experiencing. My only advice would be to fiddle with your meds till you find the right combo. Maybe 45mg in the morning and the same at lunch. Or something similar. But check with your doctor first. No, it's not normal for me to feel this way. I'm convinced it's the adderall. I'm not sure what side effects are when someone is taking too much adderall and wonder if this is it. Thanks.Thats highly accurate bfly as dosing for stimulant medications is very individualistic and with the exception of Straterra is not determined by height, weight or age. Also while trying to determine the right medication and right dose, this should always be done under the supervision of a doctor who is specializes in the field of treating these disorders. Determination of the most beneficial dose is done by a trial of medication. The trial usaully begins with a low dose that is gradually increased at 3-7 day intervals until clinical benefits are acheived. It is also common for dosage to be raised several times during the trial.pbrstrtgang, The advice I don't need is certainly applicable! In fact, since I wrote the original post I've been exercising and have cut out most sugar. It's made a very noticable difference for me. I try to gag down water, but that's just it, I'm gagging it down. I recognize I'm dehydrated, but I almost can't get it down the pipe. Do you recommend any particular eating habits/exercise? I'm not big on diets and don't really need to lose weight. I just want to eat healthy and feel good. bigdaddy~ While I realize you directed your question to a specific member. I thought I’d throw in a few tricks I’ve learned in regard to “diet”. ~ Omega 3(evening primrose oil) capsules, and Omega 6(fish oil) capsules are great “moisturizers” for your body, b/c they work from the inside out. You can take up to 4 pairs a day (a pair being one 500mg Omega 3, and one 500mg Omega 6). Also,Omegas are great for your brain b/c they are fatty acids. ~Selenium, Copper, Magnesium, Vitamin A, Zinc, and vitamin B complex are all great supplements for your brain, and overall health. ~bfly2B bfly2B38283.5504282407I've never been a fan of flavored waters or sport drinks. I like gatorade ok, but if I remember correctly, it has a lot of citric acid in it?? which from what I understand is something to avoid when taking adderall...bigdaddy, how do flavoured waters go down the pipe for ya. I find them a bit easier to swallow myself. Rae7038283.7441782407 Start with 15MG in the am. adderall is absorbed from the urinary tract, so be sure to take it with water on an empty stomach. If you drink coffee you should wait till you pee that out. Orange juice, sprite, (anything with citric acid) will greatly diminish the effects of the drug. Since you only have 15 MG you can take the other 15 when you need. You can get PH strips from any drugstore and check your PH levels. Adderall is more powerful if your urine is alkaline, less powerful if it is acidic. The effects you describe I sometimes feel as well, usually when I'm too tired or I take too much adderall. Adderall can't overcome normal weariness. I'm big on drug holidays, 4 months is more then enough time to get tolerance. I sometimes use Ritalin on my off days. Adderall is a diuretic, it will dehydrate you, this would cause some of the symptoms you describe. Also, ampethimines drain your body of vitamins. At night take Vitamin B, Magnesium and zinc, and might as well get some vitamin C at this time. Remember that your body is moving very fast, this means it's burning everything faster, food, water, nutrients, etc. Don't expect your doctor to know these tips, doctors think in black and white, this is the result of users research. dear pbrstrtgang , I wanted to let you know that the Rx drug ADDERALL, is not dosed by body weight. None of the stimulants' doses are related to body weight, whatsoever. The only ADHD Rx medication that IS dosed according to body weight is Strattera; and it is a reuptake inhibitor, not a stimulant. Don’t mean to cut this short, but I’ve got to get some shut-eye. I have a ton more ACCURATE and CURRENT medical information re: ADHD meds. And exactly how they work in your brain, if you are interested… just e-mail me: & shinsetu hito: you confuse me re: "take adderall on empty stomache"? I'm interested, and wonder if you'd be willing to e-mail more info, and also share your resources/ sources for info.?- thanks bfly2B bfly2B38283.0046527778 Wow, it's crazy how different people's doses are. I am a 30 year old male, 165 lbs. I have never taken more than 15mg at a time and it works great for me. I think it's good to experiment with your dose and work out what feels best for you. I'm sorry that it's not really working for you and I hope that you can sort it out. Advice that you do not need: diet is important and you may never sort out the way the drug makes you feel if you do not have a consistent intake. I would strongly suggest commiting yourself to a diet plan before you try to re-work your meication. I hear you describing two main feelings/ responses to Adderall: 1) …the way you are “dragging” in spite of regularly taken doses throughout that day— --this sounds like it could be a result of too much Adderall (some people get incredibly sleepy when too much hits their system at once). BUT I think you need to adjust your dose and times: --Adderall is not based on body weight (no stimulants are—Strattera is the only ADHD med that is based on body weight, & it is not a stimulant. --I am a 32 year old female, 5’5” & 135lbs… I take 30mg 4 x daily of regular Adderall. I break it down like this: 1^st-- 7 or 8am, 2^nd-- 11am or noon, 3^rd--3 or 4pm, and 4^th-- 7 or 8 pm. (this last evening dose, I sometimes take only 20mg., and then take the last 10mg. around 9 or 10pm. Depending on my agenda… pay bills, go through teachers’ papers, etc. vs. off to bed, or watch tv, etc) --It’s possible that you need to take your Adderall every 3 hrs. and no further apart than that—it is supposed to be allowed to build up in your system just a little with each dose in the day. You need to take it close enough together that you are not aware of the medicine leaving your system (otherwise it’s like starting all over w/ your morning dose). 2) You describe feeling almost restless/ agitated at other times. You are on Lexapro. Sometimes if your Seratonin levels are too high, you can feel this way. Ask your doc. about that. Also, you don’t want to experience that “euphoric” feeling on a day-to-day basis. Don’t think the Adderall isn’t working, simply b/c you can’t feel that sensation. The point is for you to feel a normal capacity to function, not a “high”. If you do not have any luck staying on adderall, consider Strattera, supplemented w/ an evening dose of Ritalin. My husband is on this treatment plan, after describing many of the same things you described online. Good luck to you! bfly2B38256.2149305556 I think there are a variety of potential "problems." One thing that crosses my mind is the question of a correct diagnosis. When did you start taking Lexapro? Was it at the same time as the Adderall? It is very possible that you do not need to be taking the Adderall, as much as you may not want to hear it. It's seems as if it is possible that the mild depression could be causing the ADD symptoms; which could be made worse by "bad" exercise and eating habits. So, I would definitely talk to your doctor about the diagnosis, or possibly see a different doctor for a different opinion. However, it is possible that the same diagnosis will be made. In any case, your current medication is not working. First off, a side effect of adderall is irritability!!! Both if you're taking too much of the medication, and when you're coming down. It is an amphetamine....think of it as "cocaine" when you think of drug addicts, they are very irritable when coming down and just want more. It's what the drug does to you mentally. You have "no control over it." Also, the dose of medication doesn't have to do with the size you are. It has to do with your brain's metabolism of the drug. This has nothing to do with the metabolic rate that your body digests food, or your size. It is possible for a man your size, with a correct diagnosis to be on 5 mg and have it work very well. I noticed that you repeatedly said how great you felt on the Adderall at times. I would be weary of this. You say you've never done drugs, etc. which is very good! However, adderall does have that effect on people, which explains it's high potential for abuse. In regards to your eating habits; it is very hard for the body to function with low food-intake!!! In order for the synapse of a nerve to "fire", it needs sodium and potassium (THIS IS A FACT!!) With a deficiency, you will find it very hard to think, concentrate, etc. Basically, I would definitely talk to your doctor, and if possible, a different doctor as well. I think that a better exercise and eating plan would be extremely beneficial and you may find that your problems are almost non-existent afterwards. In any case, what you're doing right now needs to end. It seems as though it's making both you and your family unhappy; and there is a better solution. Good luck and keep us posted! Yeah Citric Acid wipes out like 90% of the adderall. I know I used to love orange juice know that I'm on Adderall I can only really enjoy it at night when meds wear off.what about a natural cordial added to your water, perhaps a non citric flavour - raspberry? as for the person who said that weight is not a factor regarding these drugs: yeah, I get it; I just included the info to stick with what was a theme in this post. If am talking to bigdaddy and he said his weight he may like to know mine. That is all. Bigdaddy: I do not think that I can give any advice because I do not know you. However, I am a person who has seen some people do great on Adkins so I know the all protein/no carb can work but I do not think it is for everyone. My only advice would be: get as much protein as you can and keep all of your carbohydrates as complex as you can (the browner the better when it comes to grains is a decent rule of thumb). One thing that adderall does to me is makes me NOT hungry and I have addressed this by taking protein shakes. Lately I've been on GNC Pro Performance whey protein but I've used other. The best mixes are solubilized (quick-dissolving) because it's less of an impediment to be able to just shake the thing up and drink it. You should be able to get about 25 g from a shake and can easily get another 25 from a can of tuna (I just open the can, drain it, and eat it). Tuna is also an excellent source of omega3. I am different form a lot of people in that I am really a food-bore and can eat the same boring thing every day. Mostly because it's the only way I can remember to get all the groceries I need ( I just get the same thing all the time). As for water. You choke it down? What's up with that? You don't like it? Maybe you need a different cup. Ha ha. Seriously, a few years ago someone told me that your urine should always be clear so I started drinking a quart an hour. It took a while but I got to where I could drink the quart at one time. Just stand up and drink. You need to be where you can pee all the time but this was not a problem where I was working. In conclusion: I have always been a really inconsistent and undedicated person. I was diagnosed with this ADD as an adult and I take my medication every day because I feel so much better on it. I also eat right every day because I feel so much better when I eat right. I have found that what I eat has almost immediate effects on my mood, cognitive performance, and general "good-body-feeling." If I go to the movies and my wife gets popcorn and a big ole Coke I get really tempted. But I usually overcome and just watch the movie. If I give in, as I do sometimes, by the time the movie is over my brain is a train wreck. If I am tired and need to go to class I never drink caffeine bc I know that within an hour I will not be able to read the board bc I can't keep my eyes focused. It's wierd, but that's me. I am obsessive over food and I know it and the people around me know it but I just know that I have to do certain things and I do them as consistently as I can whenever I can.	Enter Your Email below to claim your Free Book