I was diagnosed with ADHD when i was 25, I have been on Adderal for 1 year now and it has done wonders, I would suggest this medication

Adderall has changed my life, too!

How long did it take to titrate to the optimal dosage for near perfect results? 

I just started Adderall (not XR) a few months ago, started at 10mg, bumped to 15mg a month later and now on 20mg. 

Still feel like it's not quite right as I'm still having trouble with focus and talking all night at work.  I noticed once I hit 20mg, I no longer talked so loudly and it calmed my bouncing feet while sitting at my desk yet still can't properly focus on my work, which I actually find interesting. 

I'm kind of afraid to get back into school for Spring without proper dosage. 

I took a 2nd dosage one night at work, hesitantly, but to make it through the night and pretty sure it was too soon after 1st dosage because I was flipping out of palpitations and anxiety.  Haven't taken a 2nd dose since out of fear.

HI to Hwatson and anyone else interested...hopefully this will help a bit.

 I read your post and will try to help--- can only speak from my own experience, diagonosis, and treatment program in the hopes it will help you/or others!

1. You mention your job "at night" ??  Does this mean you work graveyard shift or evening hours ending late?  Does your  medication overlap enough with what you must take care of duing the day?

When do you take your Adderall? For how long does it work? Does it throughly cover your work hours?  By this, maybe your dose is close to running out if you are not on XR? Your personal and employment schedule might create a unique situation that may still need some fine-tuning to avoid the continued challenges you are facing.

   I do take XR (which, sorry if you already know this stands for "eXtended Release") which means it covers about 12 hours straight.  Maybe XR would be a better choice based on your experience so far and your schedule?

 2. Or. maybe it's time to try another med---with your doctor's supervision, of course! --and--- beginning at an equivalent "high" dose of different med?

It's possible that Adderall is simply not the right medicine for you?? Have you had the opportunity to discuss with your doctor? There might be a different medication that will work better with your brain??  You mentioned you have been on Adderall for several months, with increasing higher doses..yet still having trouble focusing.

Below I am posing some other questions---maybe they will help?

3.  Is it possible that you are inadvertently interfering with the effects of Adderall by drinking coffee or energy drinks or eating chocolate? These can REALLY mess with the results of ADHD meds.

4. Do you treat your ADHD with a TOTAL program?? A good comparision is to Diabetes---because SO MUCH can affect  the MANAGEMENT of ADHD just as so many factors affect the MANAGEMENT of Diabetes.

---Are you getting a full 8 hours or more of sleep in a continual block at a regular, consistent time?    

Are you exercising?     Are you relieving stress & excessive energy by exercise, yoga, or other means?

 Are you following a high protein diet as much as possible? Carbs & sugar are KILLERS!

Also, I have had GREAT results with chiropractic adjustment with a chiropractor who has a background in Neurosurgery and Neuroscience. He is fascinated with ADHD and Learning Disabilities. The blood flow to the body and brain AND the overall result of having my body ADJUSTED to OPTIMAL posture had done WONDERS for me! Just a recommendation for anyone who has never heard of this---it truly helps to balance right and left brain AND to increase ability to focus.  Check into it if you can.

**I truly hope that you find much more success and peace of mind SOON!!    Please talk with your doctor about alternatives and don't give up! It sounds like you just haven't hit upon the "best" treatment YET---      I am so glad you came onto the boards--please let me & others know what happens so we can learn more, be supportive of you, and you can encourage others! 

HI to Hwatson and anyone else interested...hopefully this will help a bit.

 I read your post and will try to help--- can only speak from my own experience, diagonosis, and treatment program in the hopes it will help you/or others!

1. You mention your job "at night" ??  Does this mean you work graveyard shift or evening hours ending late?  Does your  medication overlap enough with what you must take care of duing the day?  I work 8pm-6am.

When do you take your Adderall? For how long does it work? Does it throughly cover your work hours?  By this, maybe your dose is close to running out if you are not on XR? Your personal and employment schedule might create a unique situation that may still need some fine-tuning to avoid the continued challenges you are facing.  It honestly has varied.  I have decided the best time to take it is after I've hooked up patients, so around 11pm.  Have to take a half of 1 midway through then another half around 3:30am to get through the rest of the night.  (I'm a sleep lab tech just for further clarification on what on earth this woman does lol)

   I do take XR (which, sorry if you already know this stands for "eXtended Release") which means it covers about 12 hours straight.  Maybe XR would be a better choice based on your experience so far and your schedule?  I considered XR but then decided against it once I learned my health insurance doesn't cover adult adhd.

 2. Or. maybe it's time to try another med---with your doctor's supervision, of course! --and--- beginning at an equivalent "high" dose of different med?  Considered this as well and I'm doing my best to avoid this scenerio just because bouncing from 1 speed type medication to another just really sounds unappealing and unhealthy to me. 

It's possible that Adderall is simply not the right medicine for you?? Have you had the opportunity to discuss with your doctor? There might be a different medication that will work better with your brain??  You mentioned you have been on Adderall for several months, with increasing higher doses..yet still having trouble focusing.   I have few options for generics but I will certainly take it into consideration because that may be correct.  I have done price comparisons and considering the cost of everything being out of pocket, perhaps the best thing to do is to ask for a prescription of something else generic and if it doesn't seem to help as much or at all, call the doctor to see if they can call Adderall in until my next appointment.  Not entirely sure how well that would go over but it's worth discussing.  I'm just afraid of any progress already made and money spent would be down the tubes.  I'm kind of in denial simply because I have had so many negative experiences with physicians.  Most of them are terrible at taking care of people and should have their licenses revoked! 

Below I am posing some other questions---maybe they will help?

3.  Is it possible that you are inadvertently interfering with the effects of Adderall by drinking coffee or energy drinks or eating chocolate? These can REALLY mess with the results of ADHD meds. Rarely the coffee thing, but neither of the others.

4. Do you treat your ADHD with a TOTAL program?? A good comparision is to Diabetes---because SO MUCH can affect  the MANAGEMENT of ADHD just as so many factors affect the MANAGEMENT of Diabetes.  My psychiatrist suggested it and I have only been doing the medication treatment for about 3 months. 

---Are you getting a full 8 hours or more of sleep in a continual block at a regular, consistent time?     Psych gave me Restoril to take to knock me out.  Being a sleep lab tech, I know what meds do to your sleep architecture but it does make a huge difference.  I normally wake every hour or two and check the clock to see if I'm late for work.  Don't remember waking at all when I take Restoril and feel much more rested at 8hrs than without.

Are you exercising?     Are you relieving stress & excessive energy by exercise, yoga, or other means?  I occasionally walk but I've never been one to exercise more than my usual bouncing off the walls from hyperactivity.  That wears me out plenty!

 Are you following a high protein diet as much as possible? Carbs & sugar are KILLERS!  I actually just eat veggies, a little meat or protein substitute like beans/nuts, and fruit.  High protein may be good for ADHD or the associated meds, but really hard on your liver and kidneys.

Also, I have had GREAT results with chiropractic adjustment with a chiropractor who has a background in Neurosurgery and Neuroscience. He is fascinated with ADHD and Learning Disabilities. The blood flow to the body and brain AND the overall result of having my body ADJUSTED to OPTIMAL posture had done WONDERS for me! Just a recommendation for anyone who has never heard of this---it truly helps to balance right and left brain AND to increase ability to focus.  Check into it if you can. Funny you mention this, my husband gave me a back massage before I came to work tonight and I do feel it less tense, which helps me focus some.

**I truly hope that you find much more success and peace of mind SOON!!    Please talk with your doctor about alternatives and don't give up! It sounds like you just haven't hit upon the "best" treatment YET---      I am so glad you came onto the boards--please let me & others know what happens so we can learn more, be supportive of you, and you can encourage others!  Thank you for responding to my post!  I've enjoyed reading and actually posting myself.  I usually avoid pointing out flaws altogether for the simple reason of social anxiety and such.  Bad habit!  I am trying to learn to own my defects and malfunctions and hopefully laugh about them.  :)