Don't feel bad. I went to my psychiatrist the other day for a follow up appointment. I too was taking Adderall for ADHD. I walked into the office, and my doctor asked how I was feeling, and I told him that I was pretty tired. I told him that I just switched from day shift to night shift. I'm a registered nurse in the ICU, so I work LONG hours. It ends up being 13 hours (after reports given). I worked from 6:30pm that night before until 7:30am morning the day of my appointment. I had to hang out in the area until my 10:30am appointment, which I thought was at 10:00am. Anyhow, he asked how I felt, and I told him that I was tired from not sleeping (of course I just worked all night). He asked me how it was going, and I told him that it's been a little rough trying to adjust to my new schedule sleeping during the day. So, he then says that he wants to try me on a new medication called PROVIGIL which is a medication for Narcolepsy (people that are always tired and falling asleep), and it's a new medication for a new diagnosis of "work-related-shift related sleep disorder." Some new disorder that has just came out I guess. Anyhow, I went home, and I researched the new medication since I have never heard of it, and I didn't find anything that related to ADHD. I have been looking all over message boards, and I have yet to find anyone who has taken the medicine.
Today was my first day taking it. I have felt sleepy all day long, and I have not been paying attention. I have had to ask 3 friends today to repeat things because I was not paying attention to what they were telling me. I have procrastinated ALL DAY LONG, and I have not gotten a darn thing done. I am so sleepy. I am very frustrated, and I too wondered if it was a possible placebo drug, but then it is not a stimulant like Adderall. So, maybe my body is just tired because it's so used to Adderall. I am not sure. I am not going to give up. I'm still going to take it to see if it works. He said that it has less side effects, and he said that he is trying to get more people off of Adderall and trying PROVIGIL MORE. He said that his patient's that have switched like it. I guess, we'll see. I couldn't help to wonder why he changed the medicine. I passed my board exam (NCLEX - nursing board exam), and I've been doing better at work, and it makes me kind of sad to switch meds since I've been doing so much better once on Adderall. I'm a totally different person. I concentrate, I don't procrastinate, I focus more, I'm not as impulsive. It's been like a miracle drug. I've never been like this before. I'm more organized. My thoughts are more clear. I stay on one task at a time instead of being a little tornado doing a million things at once then forgetting what I'm supposed to do. IT'S SOOOOOO DEPRESSING TO FIND A DRUG THAT WORKS AND FOR THE DOCTOR TO SWITCH IT. I don't know why he did. All I said was that I was sleepy from being on nights and trying to adjust... SO THEN I GET PRESCRIBED PROVIGIL FOR NARCOLEPSY... WE WILL SEE IF IT WORKS. I'm going to try it and see and not give up. Have you heard of anyone who is taking that med? Let me know if yours works please.
I am having a similar experience with Ritalin. I have been on it for the past 2 months or so and lately it seems like I am taking NOTHING. I'm tired, hungry, and unable to concentrate! Hmm... I also notive that there is a difference for me in whether or not I get the generic brand or the brand name... also WHICH generic brand makes a difference too. I don't know I'm frustrated and I can't stop eating! So weird on Ritalin... any input? [QUOTE=shannon2050]
Don't feel bad. I went to my psychiatrist the other day for a follow up appointment. I too was taking Adderall for ADHD. I walked into the office, and my doctor asked how I was feeling, and I told him that I was pretty tired. I told him that I just switched from day shift to night shift. I'm a registered nurse in the ICU, so I work LONG hours. It ends up being 13 hours (after reports given). I worked from 6:30pm that night before until 7:30am morning the day of my appointment. I had to hang out in the area until my 10:30am appointment, which I thought was at 10:00am. Anyhow, he asked how I felt, and I told him that I was tired from not sleeping (of course I just worked all night). He asked me how it was going, and I told him that it's been a little rough trying to adjust to my new schedule sleeping during the day. So, he then says that he wants to try me on a new medication called PROVIGIL which is a medication for Narcolepsy (people that are always tired and falling asleep), and it's a new medication for a new diagnosis of "work-related-shift related sleep disorder." Some new disorder that has just came out I guess. Anyhow, I went home, and I researched the new medication since I have never heard of it, and I didn't find anything that related to ADHD. I have been looking all over message boards, and I have yet to find anyone who has taken the medicine.
Today was my first day taking it. I have felt sleepy all day long, and I have not been paying attention. I have had to ask 3 friends today to repeat things because I was not paying attention to what they were telling me. I have procrastinated ALL DAY LONG, and I have not gotten a darn thing done. I am so sleepy. I am very frustrated, and I too wondered if it was a possible placebo drug, but then it is not a stimulant like Adderall. So, maybe my body is just tired because it's so used to Adderall. I am not sure. I am not going to give up. I'm still going to take it to see if it works. He said that it has less side effects, and he said that he is trying to get more people off of Adderall and trying PROVIGIL MORE. He said that his patient's that have switched like it. I guess, we'll see. I couldn't help to wonder why he changed the medicine. I passed my board exam (NCLEX - nursing board exam), and I've been doing better at work, and it makes me kind of sad to switch meds since I've been doing so much better once on Adderall. I'm a totally different person. I concentrate, I don't procrastinate, I focus more, I'm not as impulsive. It's been like a miracle drug. I've never been like this before. I'm more organized. My thoughts are more clear. I stay on one task at a time instead of being a little tornado doing a million things at once then forgetting what I'm supposed to do. IT'S SOOOOOO DEPRESSING TO FIND A DRUG THAT WORKS AND FOR THE DOCTOR TO SWITCH IT. I don't know why he did. All I said was that I was sleepy from being on nights and trying to adjust... SO THEN I GET PRESCRIBED PROVIGIL FOR NARCOLEPSY... WE WILL SEE IF IT WORKS. I'm going to try it and see and not give up. Have you heard of anyone who is taking that med? Let me know if yours works please.
[/QUOTE] shannon, i may be completely wrong in saying this but i'm speaking from past experiences.....since i'm adhd i speak very fast and ppl always misenterpret me and only hear half of what i'm saying. not to mention i go into detail and i lose ppl. i wonder if the psychiatrist only heard bits and pieces of what u were saying and analyzed it as if u were saying adderall is making u tired. i would definately bring this up and if the provigil didnt help u then i would request to be put back on adderall. if he wont, then tell him you will switch drs. i really dont understand his logic cuz the adderall worked well for u, why switch?!???My doc had recommended this at one point, but then I found out it can decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. I told him there was no way I was going to chance a 3rd kid- I've got my hands full with the first two!Concerta and Adderall are very different medications. 18 mg is the smallest dose of Concerta, you may just need a higher dose.No the Dr did not prescribe a placebo. If it says Concerta on the rx bottle then that is what it is. 2-3 in a 2 day period is too much, take as directed for ADHD.i just got a prescription of concerta for a.d.d. and have taken two to three 18 mg pills the past two days feeling no effects..i have taken adderall and i am aware of the effects and concerta has done nothing for me..do you think it is possible that the doctor prescribed me a placebo maybe due to suspicions possible or for any other reason?
The doc is just doing the med titration as he/she is supposed to. Start low and increase to the effective dose. This is to allow your body to adjust to the med and reduce or eliminate the side effects and find the dose that is right for you. We saw very little effect (which was gone by the 3rd day on 18mg) for my youngest, and my oldest felt no effect until 36mg.
Just trying to help you see that this is normal. It is hard to be patient through this process, but it is important. Let the doc know that you have no effects (positive or side effects) and see if you can go to the next planned dose. You are part of this treatment team with the doc. Take only as instructed by your doc. Anything else is drug abuse. You need to show the doc that you can be trusted to follow directions. With time you will be given more control within guidelines set by the doc.
vickie39261.5287962963