maybe adderall xr is not working???

Jamie,

I think you may be a victim of having too high expectation.  DONT UP THE DOSE...I only take 5mg of adderal a few times a day and that's enough.  I'm a 190lb guy. 

Medication isn't a fix all, it's a tool.  Tools without the carpenter and his plans are useless.  I had the same experience as you when i first started taking meds, and then I quit and went into denial about my ADD for a few more months.  When I came back to the issue my expectations were lower. 

I would suggest you do some reading on ADD, and behavior modifications.  Depression is also a big part of this thing....allow the Lex time to kick in.  It can take a few months.  Impatience or instant gratification is common with ADD. 

I would suggest any of Dr. Daniel Amen's books.  He integrates medication, nutrition and behavioral modification.  We just can't sit in our houses and take a pill and wait to be cured.

This isn't easy and it's not a quick fix, its a commitment to learning about who we are, and how to put what we learn into action.  Again, medication is very important in most cases, but its just a tool.

well i have been on first 10 mgs of adderall  xr for about a week now and then went up to 15 mgs for the last two days.

i feel basically nothing yet but am in a better spirit though.  still not motivated or focusing or concentrating or nuttin yet.

does this i do not have true ADD?  i am 47 female and newly diagnosed too so maybe miss diagnosed?  how do i know for sure if it is the meds not working for me or if it is just me?

i guess i have been more willing to help my dh with some basement cleaning and i feel a tiny bit more assertive too, but i surely need a swift kick to get me motivated and going!!!

i am working up to 20 mgs very slowly to avoid side effects and tolerance and am also on 5 mgs of lexapro for dysthymis and anxiety stuff.

Hi Jamieileana. As you know,everyone is different. Each person responds differently to different medications. None of us can tell you how much medication is right for you. I will say however, that if I took the same amount of adderall that you do, it would do nothing. I take 3 20-mg XR's per day, and despite the fact it helps, it is not excessive, and the degree in which I feel its benefits varies greatly.

I agree that the meds alone cannot solve all of one's issues stemming from the ADD. A lot of our behaviors are such ingrained habits that it often takes a while to change them. At least though, it seems easier for me to identify what those issues are, specifically, and therefore I am able to slowly start changing them. :))