Hi Skippy,
Did you titrate up to the 20mg and what time are you taking the med? This info would help people give input.
If the med is lasting long enough to interfere with sleep, you may do better with a short acting form or a lower dose.
today is my third day on 20m xr adderall. i feel that i am alert, but at times can feel a bit shaky. my big problem is that i am only getting about 2 hours of sleep.(this sucks) i am not sure is this normal in the begining or is it just me?Starting at a higher level can result in a increase in side effects until the body adjusts. The point of starting low and titrating up is to reduce side effects and let the body adjust at each dose before moving to the next. For adults, this is sometimes skipped because they can better report side effects than children can.
It may take a week or 2 for you to adjust to the dose. You may need to go to a lower dose if the side effects do not settle down. For now, try taking melatonin (1-3mg, lower is better but sometimes hard to split the 3mg pills) about 1 hour before your bedtime. Let the doc know the side effects you are having and ask how long before reporting back and if there are things to watch for that you should report immediately. You might also keep a diary of when you take the meds and the effects through the day. That will make tayloring treatment for your specific needs a little easier (memory just is not enough sometimes).
This is my first time as a adult taking meds for my adhd. so yes, I am starting at 20m. I have been taking some- time between 6 & 10 am.Sleep disturbances are a common side effect, lost of appetite is another common complaint. The melatonin is wonderful to aid with sleeplessness. Before they give you anything to help with the sleeping problem, they will try some behavior modification. Develop a routine to help you unwind and relax. Watch what you eat and drink in the evening. Develop a regular bedtime. And, maybe for the time being you might have to try power naps during the day.
Do keep a journal of how the med is working for your doctor. Keep a sleep journal, list your activties and emotion state in the evenings. You will be able to spot trends and don't rely on your memory. Hell, I can't remember what I had for dinner half of the time.
Also try to take your meds at a regular time, say 7:00 am. It doesn't seem like much but it can make a big difference. Earlier might be better for you if the Adderal XR is keeping you up. I give my son his meds at 7:00 am, then let him go back to sleep. He is up within an hour, but it is a gentler experience because he is waking himself up.
Be sure and eat at regular intervals even it is just small healthy snacks, the lost appetite can wreck havoc on your blood sugar.