Starting meds, Adderall or Adderall XR? | ADHD Information
About to start medication for the first time, I am 27 years old and have never taken anything before; which should I start with?
What's this, your doctor is giving you a choice what to start with?! Well, the Aderall is cheaper than the XR version, if cost is an issue. I started on the Adderall (IR). Once I had a sense of what level worked best for me, we switched to XR. IR's effect only lasted 4 hours for me. XR's effect lasts 6 hours (not the 8-12 hours advertized). I guess I'd recommend starting like I did with IR as I think it will be easier to get a sense of what strength will work best for you.
I would read this and talk to your doctor, I do not think you can go "wrong" either way.
The time released XR simply releases half of the dose immediatley to be metabolised and within about 4 hours the rest is released. So a 20mgXR is like taking 10mg in the morning and 10mg ~4hrs later. You may find less of a "crash" on the XR (I do/did). Now if your comparing 20mg regular adderall to 20mgXR, your basically taking all 20mg at once. Be sure to start at the absolute lowest effective therapeutic dose possible (ie dont let your Dr. start you on something like 30mg)
See how that works, it may last too long it may not. I am 26 and 180lbs and I have never had to take more than 20mg once a day of XR, however I know some people who started on 30mgXR and it didnt effect them that much. Depends on the person and there rate of metabolising the drug.
I also found it helpful to only take the drug when needed (ie not on weekends) despite my Dr. telling me to take it everyday. I beleive this is in part why I have managed to stay on such a dose for 5+ years without increasing it. I may not be a Dr, but I am a chemist and I am amazed on how little some doctors know about certain medications.
[QUOTE=tim_chase01] About to start medication for the first time, I am 27 years old and have never taken anything before; which should I start with?<!--
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[/QUOTE] biochemistrykj39093.7746527778 [QUOTE=John D]
What's this, your doctor is giving you a choice what to start with?! Well, the Aderall is cheaper than the XR version, if cost is an issue. I started on the Adderall (IR). Once I had a sense of what level worked best for me, we switched to XR. IR's effect only lasted 4 hours for me. XR's effect lasts 6 hours (not the 8-12 hours advertized). I guess I'd recommend starting like I did with IR as I think it will be easier to get a sense of what strength will work best for you.
[/QUOTE]
WHen I started taking time-released amphetamines they certainly did last 8-12 hours at least....however many years later there duration has lessened. Assuming this person has never been on such a medication there is no reason to doubt they wont last 8-12 hours as advertised. BUT, as my post above stats it really just depends on the person and there ability to metabolize the respective chemical compound.biochemistrykj39093.777349537