Something doesn’t make sense... | ADHD Information
I know...I don't like reading long ones either...my deepest apologies
Ok so I was just prescribed, a week ago, 20mg of Adderall XR a day, and if ineffective to up my dose to 40mg. I'm 19 and attend a university.
The first day, I took 20mg and it was Ok but the feeling just seemed a little too subtle...so on day two I took 40mg (in the morning, at 8:00.)
I felt as if I put on a pair of glasses...but for my brain. Before that, I really never even noticed just how chaotic my brain functioned - random, drifting thoughts..constant fidgeting and pacing..compulsive procrastination..the inability to use my brain to its full potential. I skipped class so much for two years I didn't even bother buying a parking pass. Class was just unbearable. Homework was worse.
I felt uncomfortable taking 40mg right off the bat because I really don't want to build up a tolerance as I've been reading is possible. But I tried taking just 20mg on two different days and it doesn't do a thing. I also noticed that it takes about 2 hours for the medication to be effective (so i set my alarm at 8am, take two 20mgs, and go back to sleep for another 1.5 hours until my class at 10.)
And now...day 6...I notice a few things. First, during the day I am much more sedated..but in a good way. It's like an active-sedated state. Second, now the 40mg feels like I was just taking 20mg...and not only that, it always wears off at hour 7 (most definitely not 12.) It gets me through my classes, which are not only bearable now, but I daresay they are very enjoyable... but I also have to race the clock and get all of my work done in between classes because I know that it will be exponentially harder at night without the medication. It's easy to tell when the Adderall wears off because now that I know what it feels like to be "normal," I can recognize the symptoms when they come back. And now that I know what it feels like to be without them, I loathe them even more deeply than I did before.
And now to where I am starting to worry...It doesn't make sense that I built up a tolerancy in just 5 days. Yesterday, the effects were much more mild, too. (i'm not talking about the euhporic feeling that I've only experienced on day 2.) During class today I noticed that my knee bouncing came back and it was much more difficult to get things done as opposed to my previous days. I barely felt any effects of the medication today and it is really disheartening.
I'm going to give 40mg/day another week or so...but if it still remains ineffective...I'm going to try 60mg in the morning, which I am so skeptical about I'm not even going to try it yet. As for side effects, I've monitored my heart rate several times a day and there is nothing unusual. I sleep about 2-3 hours less a night but I still feel as if I were sleeping as normal. I literally have no apetite for anything though...but I force myself to eat because I can't afford to get any skinnier.
Any opinions would be appreciated.
socrates38490.6386342593
Dear Socrates
I had recently noticed that my son's 20mgs of XR was not quite cutting it anymore, so I have been giving him a 5mgs of regular adderall with his 20mgs and have seem a big improvement. Not only does it sustain him longer, I have noticed that he does not have the bad "coming down" period that he usually goes through around 3:30 in the afternoon. I have in the past given him the regular adderall after school, which also works well. My son also seems to have more of an appetite with the regular adderall. Maybe it is something that you can try. (By the way, the regular adderall is in a generic form). Don't give up--you will find something out there to help.
Yea I think an evening supplement would be a good idea.
...but I just read that Acidity can reduce the effectiveness of Adderall.
Consequently..I also have acid reflux disease.
The irony is almost funny..Could this be the problem?
socrates38490.7496527778
Acidic foods or beverages does effect the overall performance of the drug---I
used to give my son orange juice in the mornings, but not now after I recently
learned this bit of info. I would talk to your doctor for sure to get his/her
opinion. I have just recently started giving my son the reg. adderall in addition
to his usual dose of 20mgs. XR and it has made a big difference. I think that the
regular is actually a
better drug, but the XR has gained popularity because (in theory) it
only has to be taken once a day. Think about drinking ice tea (or hot) through-
out the day to give your meds a boost with the caffeine. And if you can make it
green tea all the better. Hope some of this helps.