Adderall XR dosing question | ADHD Information
Terrie, I don't want to give the XR a bad name, just because it didn't work well for me, but a friend of mine has had great success on it. Maybe a higher dosage might work for you, even twice a day. Check with your doctor first though. The pharmacies are very strict about giving you the medication once every 30 days. So the chances are you won't be able to get the medication 30 days from your last subscription, the date should be on your bottle. Your doctor will know what you mean by Adderall short release. The only problem I have with it is, it works out after 4hrs, and when I take it twice a day, I feel paranoid/irritated. I was on an anti-depressant for awhile for anxiety (Effexor XR), and it worked well with the Adderall, in other words I didn't experience the paranoia as badly or at all. However, I can't deal with the side effects of Effexor anymore, feeling drowsy and lazy all the time. Adderall is great medication, you just have to find the right dosage. I'm going to try Wellbutrin next week, they say it helps for ADD as well.
[QUOTE=Johnnyboi]The pharmacies are very strict about giving you the medication once every 30 days. So the chances are you won't be able to get the medication 30 days from your last subscription, the date should be on your bottle. [/QUOTE]
That's a false statement....regular Adderall would be a new rx from terrie's current XR script. My doc added regular Adderall when I was about 2 weeks into my XR script. Pharmacy filled it with no problems.
A few times, I have been to the pharmacy a few days before my 30 days were up. I only got asked once and I said the doc was still trying to find the correct dose and some days I took and extra dose later that day. Which was a true statement and again no problem getting my rx filled.
Actuarybrad38589.8054050926Just wanted to comment that no one person can really say a drug "sucks" or doesn't work as one man's trash is another's treasure...especially with meds. I think Adderall works for many people and they don't have breakouts. I can see a drug losing its potency for someone over time and that is another issue. Thanks you guys--my Psych basically told me that "technically Adderall XR & Strattera are the only FDA-approved drugs for treating Adult ADHD" so apprently my chances of getting on the regular stuff are unlikely. He also told me that "2O mg of Adderall XR is the appropriate dose for (that brand)" . . . Anyway, I doubt he'll up me or add to my Rx & as it stands right now, he says I'm totally hyperactive/hyperfocus, but very low on the inattentiveness scale so I'm trying to prove disabilities to him both at work and at home.
20mg XR made me slow and tired by noon, don't see how you can take that stuff. Matter of fact, it made me rationalize every word someone was saying to me, and then I would have no idea what they just told me. It actually made it more difficult getting through the day, because it just made me feel paranoid the whole time. It also made me breakout, it's poison i tell you!
Johnnyboi38585.8723032407Hi All - Currently taking 20mg of XR in the morning and feel like by noon I am tired & lost all focus. Been taking this amt for about 1.5 yrs. I know 20mg is fairly common dose but wearing off quicker then it used to. Do people recommend taking a break (which I would rather not do if I dont have to) or asking doctor to add another 5/10mg of regular adderall that I can take in early afternoon?
My doc is on vacation until end of this mth so I am interested in getting feedback from anyone who has had any experience with XR and regular Adderall.
Thanks, hbone
GOTCHA--THAT SEEMS FAR MORE REASONABLE--CHEAPER THAN MINE.Terrie, my co-pays are cheap, .00/ visit. That was the amount my insurance company was billed. Psych bills at 110/hr, and has a set flat fee for the testing.Corky--who'd have thunk it/learn something new yada yada yada. You're right. Thanks for the validatiion on the Adderall absorption thingy, too.
Yes, health insurance is way cool, but I hafta say yours doesn't seem like it covers very much--where do you live? My psych visits are only - per & the first was only -. What kind of insurance are you on?
I just took my first Adderall, 10 mg. about an hour ago. I can tell its not having the same effect as back in Feb. Since then I have taken Dexedrine as a sub since it was banned. I'm thinking maybe the months of taking Dex have lessened the impact of the Adderall? When I first took it it was the first drug of its kind I had ever taken, I was only on Wellbutrin. If this stays the same for another half an hour I am considering taking another 10mg though my doc would not approve. I have two days to do two months worth of work! I do feel it, just not as much as I remember.My brain is not traveling the world at this moment though which is a nice change! I've been trying to get it to stay at home but its an adventurerer and wants to be everywhere thinking of everything! It especially likes time travelling into the past and the future, the past to play all the bad stuff like a broken record and the future to have anxiety attacks over what is coming up. I still feel nervous about work this week, the whole house of cards may come tumbling down. I was hoping the Adderall would make that go away and I could stay in the present, for the most part! I think that it is probably true. I know that I was warned by my F.P. and the pharmacist not to have citric acid products, large amounts of sugar, and caffeine. that they could effect the absorbtion of the Adderall (both types). From experience, I know the citric acid part is true. For me it nullifies the effect, truely defeating the purpose (check that panel information on what you eat and drink) . I have been off caffeine for 5 months. I stopped the intake a month before getting the diagnosis and medication, that was truely a rough period at work. Three new desk phones, a new very large dry erase board (its true purpose is to cover up), taking too much work home and ignoring my family.
Probably the wrong place to post this part of the message, but I am thankful for the coverage of my health insurance. It seems to be very expensive to be diagnosed. 00 for counseling and testing(psych), per med review visit(F.P.). (Never though i was this way, just thought I was quirky, in a ecentric sort of way)
I am not sure what is preferred and by whom, I am just trying to find a dosage / combination that works for me. Currently 10mg 3X/ day of reg Adderall. this is just not quite cutting it. I am not sure if this is the SR everyone is talking about. I was previously on 20mg of Adderall XR, which worked well for 2-3 hrs. Work is a min 9hrs. Works great for my son though. My F.P. will not move me any farther without a consult with the diagnosing Psych. Also he does 30 day trials. My sons phychiatrist does 1 or 2 week trials for med levels. So I am in the same boat.
I do know that I like the calmness that I feel on Adderall (either type). I get less agitated at work, I can sleep at night. I don't have the crashes on weekends after pumping myself up on caffeine and nicotine all week. My wife calls me "progressively" productive. I don't have the hyper-focus situations on the meds. (mine seem to be different than others. I would be oblivious to any outside stimuli, and I would have what i describe as a euphoric feeling. I could do most of my days work in 30 mins. But when a coworker came into my office and touched me to get my attention, I would have a violent startling, and have bloodied a nose or two.) I just want the calmness to last most of the work day.
Yeah, I hear ya'. I definitely don't get the calming effect but whatever I do get "keeps me going"--not fast enough for my liking mind you, but I get more done at a steadier pace. I seem to stay "on task" whereas before I would stray rather easily. I guess it takes "super-hyperfocus" for me to be at my most productive.
What's your opinion on Caffeine consumption blocking the body's ability to "absorb" the Adderall XR ? I've heard more than once that you are defeating your purpose if you drink regular coffee after taking your stim med.
Thx for the response, Corky. It seems the SR is preferred to the XR, but perhaps there is concern with abuse because of what I assume is a more immediate effect.SO BETWEEN THE XR AND THE REGULAR
KIND WHAT ONES DID YOU LIKE BETTER? AND WHY ?
[QUOTE=terrie]Nice to know--apparently my Psych is on the exceptionally conservative side of the dose.[/QUOTE]
I agree with Sabina, we are all different in the way meds metabolize and work with out bodys and brains. Seems like alot of people are being prescribed different meds, and or combination, to achieve desired result. I think that to some extent we are all guinea pigs when finding some help in getting the desired result.
I'm also sitting with a load of Adderall XR that I paid over a 0 for. It's very frustrating, but the stuff is just extremely weak in my opinion. Maybe 20mg might do it for you, I don't know, check with your doctor first. I just couldn't stand the breakouts I got, and the poor effectiveness of the medicine, so I went back to SR which actually seems to wake me up. I can see how the XR is useful in hyperactive children, because it slowed me down, but I don't have a hyperactive problem, I have a focus problem.Dude--so you're saying I just paid 4- after insurance for a triplicate Rx of Adderall XR & it's not a stim ?! What the heck--is this just your reaction to the weakness of XR ? I admit I no longer get the up feeling I got the first day & only the first day--15mg 1x. I am tempted to increase myself! And yes--Adderall comes out my skin & breaks me out like I may as well be on street meth! Well, pretty close . . .Personally, you cannot compare SR to XR, as the XR is a bloody sugar pill compared to SR. I highly doubt Shire actually makes the XR brand, because it obviously doesn't contain amphetamine from the way it works.
I've been on adderall and adderall xr for a few years now with much success. If you find that the xr is wearing off earlier than it used to, there are a number of options.
You could try taking a med vacation...or just lowering your dose on the weekends or for a period of time so that your body adjusts to lower amounts of the drug and then try going back to your regular dose.
One could also try upping the dose of adderall xr by 5-10mg. Often times if it is upped slightly, the meds work a little longer.
Another option would be to add a small quick-release dose in the afternoon/evening to help get through the rest of the day. Some people find that this upsets their sleeping pattern though.
Still, others choose to switch to another med altogether because their body has adjusted so much to what they are taking.
I, personally, take a hefty dose of "xr" in the AM and a "quick release" in the afternoon/evening because my brain metabolizes the drugs very quickly. I would raise your concern at your next dr. visit and see what your dr. recommends.
Best of luck and keep us posted!
[QUOTE=Johnnyboi]I'm also sitting with a load of Adderall XR that I paid over a 0 for. It's very frustrating, but the stuff is just extremely weak in my opinion. Maybe 20mg might do it for you, I don't know, check with your doctor first. I just couldn't stand the breakouts I got, and the poor effectiveness of the medicine, so I went back to SR which actually seems to wake me up. I can see how the XR is useful in hyperactive children, because it slowed me down, but I don't have a hyperactive problem, I have a focus problem.[/QUOTE]
Good to know--next time I'm asking for the Adderall SR (short-release--is that what it stands for?). I find I'm doubling in the afternoon without permission & I have to admit I never really feel awake--just focused, on the XR.
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Slow and steady, I gotcha... I too have to remind myself that I can't get everything I want right when I want it. Doesn't that just suck? I would suspect that even if you don't have your dose right where you'd like it to be, your probably still much happier and productive pre-adderall. Yes? I know I am. I'm gonna get off this damn thing now and write my paper... my dead rat brains long to be scrutinized. 
I imagine I'll probably communicate via this forum sometime soon! 
[/QUOTE]
You better--you've now got me hooked on your Knowledgable Rat Brains! I have to jam, too--it's six-o'clock & the alarm in the law firm will go off if I'm not out of here. Good luck on your paper (you won't need it) & thx for all your time today! Ciao for now . . .
Yes--much happier (& thinner) pre-Adderall/XR.[QUOTE=hbone]Hi All - Currently taking 20mg of XR in the morning and feel like by noon I am tired & lost all focus. Been taking this amt for about 1.5 yrs. I know 20mg is fairly common dose but wearing off quicker then it used to. Do people recommend taking a break (which I would rather not do if I dont have to) or asking doctor to add another 5/10mg of regular adderall that I can take in early afternoon?
My doc is on vacation until end of this mth so I am interested in getting feedback from anyone who has had any experience with XR and regular Adderall.
Thanks, hbone
[/QUOTE][QUOTE=shakespeare]...not a newbie anymore!!...much more addictive than my coffee... [/QUOTE]
No question! How do you switch colors for your copy?! I'm dye-ing to know . . . I have to write with different color Calligraphy pens @ work just so I don't get bored . . . not that I'm bored on this board, but why not be colorful & complex, if you can . . . ?
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Are you kidding? I love being harassed!!! It makes me feel loved...
Yeah, me too. I leave our front door open to encourage intruders. Now all I need is a stalker--any takers? what is it they say? A little trouble makes life interesting . . .
Hi there
I was diagnosed with adult ADD about 2 yrs ago, and was first put on Straterra, it was horrible, made me so sick, then Ritalin which made me sleep all day, I gave up on trying anything else then I was prescribed Adderal XR 25 mg once a day, and wow! I was cleaned my whole house the first day, I felt like I was on speed, no appetite at all, I lost about 7 pounds the first week, I even felt a bit paranoid, but slowly over the next few weeks the speedy affect lessened, and my mind has never been so clear, and get things done so much easier, I love this stuff,, but Im noticing over time its not working as well so I will skip days here and there to keep it working, let me know if anyone has had similar effects like this.
I have so much fun playing with the colors!!
It's the kind of reddish looking A on the top right of the reply box, right next to the underline icon. At least that's where it is on mine. I assume it's the same for everyone.
According to the medical community, stimulant meds don't cause tolerance at the prescribed doses.
In real life, it's not uncommon for the therapeutic effects of the drugs to diminish somewhat over time.
BUT that shouldn't be the case after a couple of weeks. We're talking at least months, sometimes years, before therapeutic effects diminish. My guess (and it's only a guess, since everyone responds a little differently) is that your body is adjusting to the presence of the drug. The recommended starting dose is 10mg, upped after a week until you find the dose that works best. 25mg is a high starting dose, so it's not surprising that you felt like you were "on speed" at first. It is an amphetamine, so in a manner of speaking, you were! But it's not prescribed to give you energy and make you race. It's prescribed to improve your focus. I'm guessing that your body has adapted to the stimulant properties of the med over your weeks of exposure, so its natural that you aren't feeling the effects as profoundly as you were at first. It should, however, still be improving your focus, which is what its designed to do. In other words, it sounds to me like you're just "settling in" and getting comfortable with the med. Sorry for the long reply to a short question... I do tend to do that.... rambling, I mean.... I just can't.... what was I saying?...
[QUOTE=terrie]
A little trouble makes life interesting . . .[/QUOTE]
I love trouble! Provided, of course, that it's happening to someone other than me. Watching the masses wriggle around in ceaseless turmoil... now there's entertainment! Just kidding (kind of, maybe, but not really...) 
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Just out of curiosity, why did your doc drop your dose so much? You said you started on 15mg XR, and I seem to recall you saying that at one time you were on 20mg (although I could be mistaken). 5mg twice a day would be a 10mg XR cap. Why the sudden drop?[/QUOTE]
Okay--here's what: I started on 15mg of Adderall XR 1x a day, because that was prescribed my GP, who basically "did what I guessed at" (& I was trying to be "conservative" so I didn't get shut down on my request to start medicating again). Anyway, after telling my (new) Psych that some times I was taking a 2nd dose of the 15mg XR, he suggested I try Regular (Non-XR) Adderall @ 5mg a pop every five hours, 3x a day. Then he said I could try in every four hours, but at every four hours, I'm still needing a 4th dose (which he said was okay--I guess he assumed this would be better than me taking the 15mg 2x a day), which equals 2Omg. So, even now (I liked the XR 15mg better, but that was 2x a day), I'm getting nothing from the 5mg @ a time, so I just start with 2 - 5mg tabs & then take two more mid-day, before the initial first dose wears off. I hate waiting to find out that it already has--I lose too much momentum. But that still leaves SOL for the evening, so I guess it's pretty clear I prefer 3Omg all day (1Omg AM, 1O mg @ Noon, & 1Omg Evening). But what doesn't seem clear is this post--does this even come close to answering your question?
[QUOTE=terrie]What's the B-(capital?)-arr Generic? Is that a specific "brand" of generic? I'm foggy on this, please indulge me.
[/QUOTE]
Yes, Barr (capital B) is company that makes the generic Adderall. Other companies make it too, but I haven't tried any of them. Most of the mainstream pharmacies use Barr (Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart, Kroger). The tablets are the same color as the branded ones, but they are oval shaped.
And yes, your last post was clear...relatively speaking. So I have an idea that may or may not work. My doc caps me off at 40mg/day. That started as IR Adderall 20mg twice daily (before XR was available). When the XR came out I took 40mg in the morning (two 20's, they don't make 40). But since I lost the flexibility to take my second dose later and I wasn't getting through my studying at night, I suggested decreasing to 30mg XR in the morning with a 10mg booster of IR in the evening. That pretty much covers my day. It sounds like your doc is at least willing to go to 20mg. So my question is this: how did you fare on the 15mg XR caps? If that worked OK for you, might you take 15mg XR in the morning with a 5mg dose of IR in the evening to finish out your day? It would be the same total dose, so he should be OK with that. Maybe he'd even go up to 10mg in the evening if you ask nicely. 5 extra mg isn't that much, after all... What do you think?
Right arm!
huh?
[/QUOTE]
Si! I'm decompensating . . .
[/QUOTE] Maybe I'm reaching here, but if he's willing to go to 30mg (the max recommended dose) you could do XR 20mg in the AM followed by IR 10mg in the evening. That would be the same as taking 10mg three times a day. Any thoughts?
[QUOTE=terrie][QUOTE=shakespeare][QUOTE=terrie]
Right arm! huh?
[/QUOTE]
Si! I'm decompensating . . .
[/QUOTE] [/QUOTE]
Decompensating? Or decomposing? Ah, such a dilema...
A decomposing right arm would be a problem indeed!
[QUOTE=shakespeare]I have so much fun playing with the colors!! It's the kind of reddish looking A on the top right of the reply box, right next to the underline icon. At least that's where it is on mine. I assume it's the same for everyone.[/QUOTE]
Grazie mille, bello!
If I had time, i'd make every letter a different color but I'm knee-deep in payroll that was due at 2pm today!
Your posts are just too enticing & informative!
[QUOTE=shakespeare]...take 15mg XR in the morning with a 5mg dose of IR in the evening to finish out your day? It would be the same total dose, so he should be OK with that. Maybe he'd even go up to 10mg in the evening if you ask nicely. 5 extra mg isn't that much, after all... What do you think?[/QUOTE]
I think 5mg doesn't do jack for me, so I guess I'll have to try my 1O mg 2x a day & just find some time when I can lay low . . . Thx for the Barr info--I'll try it next time to see if it's the same.
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Maybe I'm reaching here, but if he's willing to go to 30mg (the max recommended dose) you could do XR 20mg in the AM followed by IR 10mg in the evening. That would be the same as taking 10mg three times a day. Any thoughts? [/QUOTE]
That, of course, would be ideal, but I definitely don't get the impression he wants me max'ed out yet. Ideally, I'd probably still do the 1Omg am, noon & eve.
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Maybe I'm reaching here, but if he's willing to go to 30mg (the max recommended dose) [/QUOTE]
The max recommended dose?? Where are you getting that info? The PI sheet for XR says for childern 30 is max, but certainly not for adults. I am on 60mg/day and will bump it up to 80mg soon. I think the PDR for regular adderall says 60.
For info on the problems with Barr generic adderall that some expereicne, see this lenghty thread from another ADD board:
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16264
Slow and steady, I gotcha... I too have to remind myself that I can't get everything I want right when I want it. Doesn't that just suck? I would suspect that even if you don't have your dose right where you'd like it to be, your probably still much happier and productive pre-adderall. Yes? I know I am. I'm gonna get off this damn thing now and write my paper... my dead rat brains long to be scrutinized. I imagine I'll probably communicate via this forum sometime soon!
Actuarybrad,
Actually the PI sheet, updated as of the last edition of the PDR, lists 30mg as the max recommended dose for both adult and pediatric patients. With the immediate release it was 40mg. When they released the XR they bumped it down to 30mg. In 1998 when the immediate release formulation was approved for narcolepsy (an indication which the XR has not persued) it was approved for doses up to 60mg in adult patients, but that's not for adult ADHD. Immediate release Adderall was never approved for adult ADHD. Adderall XR, as you know, has received approval for use in adults, and the recommended max is 30mg. The cap dose of 30mg is based on evidence that adults actually metabolize amphetamine more slowly than children. In other words, even though adults have greater mass, we become less efficient so the mg/kg required to produce a therapeutic response is lower. In the end, the dose requirements seem to be about equal for adults and children. Don't get me wrong, a lot of people take higher doses, and I support that! I wish fewer doctors got caught up in the "schedule II" substance nonsense and were more willing to escalate the dose a little higher. Kudos to you and your doc! I'm just telling you what the official FDA approved doses are.
shakespeare38621.8040972222And really even 30mg is more than they recommend. The recommended adult dose is 20mg, and the PDR clearly states (if I recall the wording correctly, and I do) that "there is insufficient evidence that doses greater than 20mg confer any additional benefit" (blah, blah, blah). In reality of course many people seem to require higher doses. Again, just giving you the official word. shakespeare38621.833912037[QUOTE=shakespeare]Oh, BTW, in my humble opinion the barr generic is just as good as the brand name Adderall. I've taken both with no noticeable difference. But that's just me...[/QUOTE]
What's the B-(capital?)-arr Generic? Is that a specific "brand" of generic? I'm foggy on this, please indulge me.
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Actually the PI sheet, updated as of the last edition of the PDR, lists 30mg as the max recommended dose for both adult and pediatric patients. With the immediate release it was 40mg. When they released the XR they bumped it down to 30mg. Now when the immediate release formulation was approved for narcolepsy (an indication which the XR has not persued) it was approved for doses up to 60mg in adult patients, but that's not for adult ADHD. Immediate release Adderall was never approved for adult ADHD. Adderall XR, as you know, has received approval for use in adults, and the recommended max is 30mg. The cap dose of 30mg is based on evidence that adults actually metabolize amphetamine more slowly than children. In other words, as we get older and our weight increases, we become less efficient so the mg/kg required to produce a therapeutic response is lower. In the end, the dose requirements seem to be about equal for adults and children. Don't get me wrong, a lot of people take higher doses, and I support that! I wish fewer doctors got caught up in the "schedule II" substance nonsense and were more willing to escalate the dose a little higher. Kudos to you and your doc! I'm just telling you what the official FDA approved doses are. [/QUOTE]
Actuary Bread: shakespeare is correct as far as my Psych is concerned--that's defintiely the one he's reading from @ my appointments! Thx shakespeare, once again, for being totally right & comprehensively up-to-date & gratifying my tendencies!Are you studying Molecular Biology?
terrie38642.4697916667[QUOTE=shakespeare]And really even 30mg is more than they recommend. The recommended adult dose is 20mg, and "there is no evidence that doses greater than 20mg confer any additional benefit" (blah, blah, blah). In reality of course many people seem to require higher doses. Again, just giving you the official word.[/QUOTE]
Ditto my above posted reply! Sooper-Kudos!
Actuary Bread: shock! is correct as far as my Psych is concerned--that's defintiely the one he's reading from @ my appointments! Thx shock!, once again, for being totally right & comprhensively up-to-date & gratifying my tendencies!Are you studying Molecular Biology?
[/QUOTE]
Terrie, I'm assuming you're talking about me, but that's the second time you've called me shock!. This is shakespeare. And I live to gratify your tendencies! Actually I'm a second year med student studying psychiatry. Assuming, that is, that I finish this damn paper!
And yuck! Why would anyone want to study molecular biology?
[QUOTE=shakespeare] Terrie, if your doc is reluctant to up your dose, you could take an antacid in the morning with your adderall xr. Any alkalizing agent (tums, ranitidine, etc.) will increase concentrations of the ionized amphetamine and raise the blood serum concentrations, whereas (as someone already mentioned) acidifying agents like ascorbic acid will decrease concentrations. Adding an antacid is an easy way to up your dose without taking a higher strength capsule. Good luck![/QUOTE]
Thx for the tip! I'm not noticing any help at all taking 5mg of the regular (non-XR) every four hours--& Psych had me starting on 5mg every five hours. So I've decided to take two @ a time & that is much better, however I have to "choose" which times of the day I want the benefits & of course that's ALL day. I will definitely have to try the antacid trick--I assume it wears off more quickly, yes?
[QUOTE=shock]I'm on 30mgs a day and it works wonders. [/QUOTE]
Yeah, 3Omg is my ideal/favorite dosage, too--but it's still 1O mg higher than what I'm allowed--will have to "work up" to it.
P.S. I had one HECK of a time trying to locate Adderall Brand Name (SR/IR--not XR)--I tried nine different locations in person & I was already out. Does anyone know why this is? I was informed by the pharmacists that no one uses Adderall Brand Name--just the generic & my Psych was concerned about potency . . . is this due to Insurance payments or what? Does anyone here notice a difference between generic & Brand Adderall (non-XR) ?
Thx in advance!
[QUOTE=sabina]
Thank God Terrie on the Adderall I don't have the constant negative thinking, probably a habit by now though so I'm doing a "catch myself" when I can and I'm trying to replace with a positve but have to work on that..using humour in the meantime as a segue
[/QUOTE]
This is SO petty I know, but I just love anyone that can spell 'segue' correctly! Kudos!
Very ecstatic to hear you're combatting the negative trolls of thought--don't you dare let them creep in--kick their as*es to the curb when they even start to approach your door!
[QUOTE=shock]I'm on 30mgs a day and it works
wonders. [/QUOTE]
<FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>Yeah,
3Omg is my ideal/favorite dosage, too--but it's still 1O mg higher than
what I'm allowed--will have to "work up" to it.
P.S. I had one HECK of a time trying to locate Adderall Brand
Name (SR/IR--not XR)--I tried nine different locations in person & I was
already out. Does anyone know why this is? I was informed by the
pharmacists that no one uses Adderall Brand Name--just the generic &
my Psych was concerned about potency . . . is this due to Insurance
payments or what? Does anyone here notice a difference between
generic & Brand Adderall (non-XR) ?
Thx in advance!
First off, XR is a billion times better then regular Adderall. As for generics,
I'd stay away from them if you think they don't work as good. Insurance
doesn't want to pay for the brand named Adderall, however, if your
doctor request brand name Adderall for you then they need to obligate
that. Cheap arse insurance companies.
Push for the XR, it's the best.
[QUOTE=I never set much stock by the rules...I would recommend something like ranitidine or even alka-seltzer. Tums is relatively weak.[/QUOTE]
Good for you--if you had put stock in the rules we would not have this vastly helpful information/knowledge.
Where would one locate Ranitidine?
Do you drink the Alka-Seltzer first, or with your Adderall?
You've probably given the answer already, & I just didn't have the patience to read through--what a surprise . . .
[QUOTE=sabina] ...unless fatal or vanity related who cares!!!!! Thanks so much Shakespeare! [/QUOTE]
Girl after my own heart! LOL!
[QUOTE=shakespeare] . . . I would reverse the order...vanity related then fatal. Priorities, I guess![/QUOTE]
Ha! "Priorities", for certain!
[QUOTE=sabina] . . . moisturizer before food...someone thinks my vanity isn't quite as full blown as it could be!!!
[/QUOTE]
The aforementioned are both FACTS!!! Especially the former!
[QUOTE=sabina]...PTB... [/QUOTE]
Does this stand for "Praise The Board" ?
[QUOTE=shock] [QUOTE=terrie][QUOTE=shock]I'm on 30mgs a day and it works wonders. [/QUOTE] <FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size = 3 . Yeah, 3Omg is my ideal/favorite dosage, too--but it's still 1O mg higher than what I'm allowed--will have to "work up" to it. P.S. I had one HECK of a time trying to locate Adderall Brand Name (SR/IR--not XR)--I tried nine different locations in person & I was already out. Does anyone know why this is? I was informed by the pharmacists that no one uses Adderall Brand Name--just the generic & my Psych was concerned about potency . . . is this due to Insurance payments or what? Does anyone here notice a difference between generic & Brand Adderall (non-XR) ?Thx in advance![/QUOTE] First off, XR is a billion times better then regular Adderall. As for generics, I'd stay away from them if you think they don't work as good. Insurance doesn't want to pay for the brand named Adderall, however, if your doctor request brand name Adderall for you then they need to obligate
that. Cheap arse insurance companies. Push for the XR, it's the best.[/QUOTE]
I was not concerned with the potency diff btwn generic & Brand until Psych said it could be a concern since we were lowering my dosage to 5mg tabs. I was hoping for a user's opinion that's been on both generic & Brand Adderall. My insurance ponied up some for the Brand, but it seemed like I had to start my deductible amount all over again or something . . . What I am concerned with now is the diff in opinions--you say XR is best & davidOrnado&johnnyboi said IR/SR rules. I realize everyone is different, thus the varying opine-ing, but, just for the sake of argument, do they even have 5mg XR (or is that too low of a dose to be extended?) ? I assumed 15mg was the lowest form of XR (because that's what I was endowed with initially) . . . ?
I will definitely have to try the antacid trick--I assume it wears off more quickly, yes?[/QUOTE]
Actually it should last a little longer. It isn't that it makes you absorb it faster, thus wearing off sooner. It just allows you to absorb it better rather than sending it off to be excreted in your urine. So a 20mg dose would really be like taking a 25 or 30mg dose (actually I think the stats say that alkalyzing agents can potentiate the effect of amphetamines up to two fold, but I don't want to get your hopes up!) And any time you take a larger dose, the effects should last a little bit longer.
Ranitidine is the generic name for Zantac, available over the counter. The reason I suggested it first is that it is a little more potent and it also lasts a little longer than alka-selzer and the like. It might therefore still be active when the second "pulse" is released from the capsule potentiating it as well.
Regardless of which one you choose, take it 30min or so before the adderall so it has time to create a basic environment before the adderall comes in contact with your stomach. Hope that helps! Just a little trick that I use occasionally that works wonders...
I can't explain why people seem to be having varying reactions between the XR and the IR. Like I wrote somewhere else, the release mechanism for the XR (a double pulsed bead system) releases identically to the IR twice daily four hours apart. So a 10mg cap of XR will release 5mg immediately and 5mg four hours later, just like taking 5mg tablets of IR twice a day. The blood level graphs of the XR show it to be almost identical. You can look it up on adderall.com under prescribing information. So technically the xr should be more convenient but not any different in terms of efficacy. I switched to the XR and didn't notice any difference.
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Actually it should last a little longer. It isn't that it makes you absorb it faster, thus wearing off sooner. It just allows you to absorb it better rather than sending it off to be excreted in your urine. So a 20mg dose would really be like taking a 25 or 30mg dose (actually I think the stats say that alkalyzing agents can potentiate the effect of amphetamines up to two fold, but I don't want to get your hopes up!) And any time you take a larger dose, the effects should last a little bit longer. Ranitidine is the generic name for Zantac...the second "pulse" is released from the capsule potentiating it as well...Regardless of which one you choose, take it 30min or so before the adderall so it has time to create a basic environment before the adderall comes in contact with your stomach. Hope that helps! Just a little trick that I use occasionally that works wonders... [/QUOTE]
You ROCK my world, Bard! Uno mas iota, though . . . RE: the second "pulse" is released from the capsule--you're talking about XR, here--right? The 2nd "pulse", I assume, is the extensioned release of an XR capsule, yes? Will the IR/SR be thusly effected by the Zantac, as well?
[QUOTE=terrie]do they even have 5mg XR (or is that too low of a dose to be extended?) ? I assumed 15mg was the lowest form of XR (because that's what I was endowed with initially) . . . ?
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, they do make XR in 5 mg, but that would release as 2.5mg immediately and 2.5mg 4 hours later. So 5mg IR twice daily would be equivilant to 10mg XR capsule.
You ROCK my world, Bard! Uno mas iota, though . . . RE: the second "pulse" is released from the capsule--you're talking about XR, here--right? The 2nd "pulse", I assume, is the extensioned release of an XR capsule, yes? Will the IR/SR be thusly effected by the Zantac, as well?
[/QUOTE]
Muchas gracias! (sorry I can't put the little upside down exclamation in front...I'm sure it can be done, but I don't know how!).
Yeah, I thought you said you were on the XR. Sorry about that. Yes, it will still be just as effective, although if you take the second dose much more than 4-5 hours later, you might need to take another antiacid to maintain the effect. Ranitidine has a half life of about 3 hours, so it should still be working if you take the second dose of adderall 4-5 hours after the first.
PS- If you choose something like alka-selzer instead, you would probably want to take it before each dose because it doesn't actually suppress stomach acid, it just soaks it up, so your stomach will be slightly acid again before the second dose of adderall. But its impossible to overdose on alka-selzer, so nothing to worry about! Zantac still works better, though...Yea, I've graduated!! 
I'm not a newbie anymore!! I think that means I've spent too much time on this site. This is much more addictive than my coffee... [QUOTE=shock]Push for the XR, it's the best.[/QUOTE]
Do you say this due to convenience--it seems you just mentioned in the most recent post that the two should not be different, except in terms of release. Is your ptreference due to noy having to "re-up" with the XR--why specifically do you prefer it?
I promise I'll try to quit harassing you after this post . . .
[QUOTE=shock]Push for the XR, it's the best.[/QUOTE]
<FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3>Do you say
this due to convenience--it seems you just mentioned in the most recent
post that the two should not be different, except in terms of release. Is
your ptreference due to noy having to "re-up" with the XR--why
specifically do you prefer it?
I promise I'll try to quit harassing you after this post . . . [/
FONT]
Terrie, you dirty...son..of..a...
HA HA! I kid, I kid!
I don't know, the XR formula just seems to work better for me and others
that I know who are on it.
Are you kidding? I love being harassed!!! It makes me feel loved...
I personally take 30mg XR in the morning and 10mg IR around 5:00 to get me through evening studying. If that's not an option for you, then they both have their advantages. With the XR you don't have to take a second dose, which makes it more convenient. But with the IR, you have more flexibility with your dosing. Like if you had a busy night planned, you could take your morning dose like usual and then just wait to take the second dose until early evening. Of course then you won't really be covered during the afternoon, but you have the luxury of choosing to take the med at the times when you need it most. So it depends, I suppose, on the consistency of your schedule and whether you'd rather have eight hours straight or four hours each dose at separate times during the day.
Just out of curiosity, why did your doc drop your dose so much? You said you started on 15mg XR, and I seem to recall you saying that at one time you were on 20mg (although I could be mistaken). 5mg twice a day would be a 10mg XR cap. Why the sudden drop?
Oh, BTW, in my humble opinion the barr generic is just as good as the brand name Adderall. I've taken both with no noticeable difference. But that's just me...[QUOTE=shakespeare]Muchas gracias! (sorry I can't put the little upside down exclamation in front...I'm sure it can be done, but I don't know how!). Neither do I!Yeah, I thought you said you were on the XR. I was, initially (XR 15mg 1x), but I thought IR/SR would work better because I was having to take another 15mg XR in the PM, so I thought the IR/SR would work better/longer/faster--but @ 5mg even every four hours it sucks. So, anyway, it sounds like the thing to do is Zantac w/XR, 2x a day, max. Sorry about that. Yes, it will still be just as effective, although if you take the second dose much more than 4-5 hours later, you might need to take another antiacid to maintain the effect. Ranitidine has a half life of about 3 hours, What's a half life? Lika shelf life, or it lasts for 6 hours, total?so it should still be working if you take the second dose of adderall 4-5 hours after the first. [/QUOTE]
I'm mucking this up very well . . .
[QUOTE=shakespeare]Yea, I've graduated!! I'm not a newbie anymore!! I think that means I've spent too much time on this site. This is much more addictive than my coffee... [/QUOTE]
Right arm!Yea!You certainly deserve it!Welcome to the Dungeon . . .
I had to remind my doc that it's not the total daily dose that matters, it's the amount available in the bloodstream at any given time. So if you're taking 5mg three times a day, yes it's still 15mg, but only 5mg at a time. 15mg XR would be the same as 7.5mg at a time but over a shorter duration. So you may be stretching out the effects by doing 5 three times daily, but it doesn't really matter if it means you are never reaching therapeutic blood concentrations. Unfortunately since these are controlled drugs docs seem to set their minds on the total dose rather than the blood plasma concentrations.
A half life just refers to the time it takes before half the dose is gone. So if you take 60mg, in 3 hours you have about 30mg remaining. Three hours after that you have 15mg ramaining, then 7.5, and so on (actually the tabs are 75mg, but I really didn't want to do the math to divide that ). So you should have therapeutic concentrations for 5-6 hours, after which you will still have some of the drug in your body, but probably not enough to do much good.
Right arm!Yea!You certainly deserve it!Welcome to the Dungeon . . .
[/QUOTE]
Thank you, thank you, thank you one and all...
Right arm! huh?
[/QUOTE]
really, taking an antacid will increase potency? I'm taking 20mg a day now but I took a 15mg I had yesterday at 5:00 and had a nice long evening...hmmm, interesting, will have to look that up, thanks
Thank God Terrie on the Adderall I don't have the constant negative thinking, probably a habit by now though so I'm doing a "catch myself" when I can and I'm trying to replace with a positve but have to work on that..using humour in the meantime as a segue
Yes, antacids will substantially increase the potency. It's in the PDR info, and that is why the directions say NOT to take antacids with it. I never set much stock by the rules...
I would recommend something like ranitidine or even alka-seltzer. Tums is relatively weak.
Try to take it 30 min. or so before your meds. That will give it time to create a basic environment in your stomach.I should have known...I feel the same way..if PTB say don't then they are hiding something..will try it, just wonder about any side effects but can figure that out...unless fatal or vanity related who cares!!!!! Thanks so much Shakespeare!
There shouldn't be any side effects except those that would accompany any dose increase of the Adderall. And I agree, but I would reverse the order...vanity related then fatal. Priorities, I guess!
you made my day Shakespeare lololol..
having
just come home from an hour bike ride then almost 2 hours at gym and
now will wash hair, get clothes ready for packing up in morning and do
nails I most certainly have my priorities straight, moisturizer before
food,.....but my logic is....if I'm dead then vanity goes by the wayside so gotta stay alive
I love the idea that someone thinks my vanity isn't quite as full blown as it could be!!!
Powers that Be PTB.... [QUOTE=terrie]
Please forgive me for calling you shock--I was on too many boards at once--you'd think I'd be able to read by now . . .
[/QUOTE]
All is forgiven. You know, sometimes I'm not sure who I am either...
Hi,
I am feeling the same thing, but I'm on 15mg/XR & mine wears off by 3 or 4 also. I am going to see my dr on Thurs. I'm thinking I need a higher dose. I tried the SR & dislike it. So, I dont think taking a SR around that time would help me since the SR (short acting) increases my anxiety more than the long acting.
Just a thought and maybe the doctor wouldn't want to do it, but what about trying to take 10mg in morning and 10mg in afternoon of the regular adderal? I haven't had much experience with Adderal, my 21 year old daughter was just put on 10mg of Adderal XR two weeks ago in morning so I guess it is new to me. I hope it works cause she has tried four others that didn't. Good luck. I am a recently diagnosed W/ ADD. I am trying to find the right
balance of medication also. My med management is by my F.P.
who is very cautious. Worked up to 20mg XR slowly from 10mg (30
days/med change). The 20mg XR worked but it wore off too quickly
(2-2-1/2 hrs). What I notice is a sense of calmness. I did
not notice a pancea for focus, but rather a lack of distractablity, I
think the focus is up to myself? The psychologist who diagnosed
me, suggested reg Adderall 3X/day, it worked for her husband who
experienced the same effect with XR. Dr. wrote 10mg Adderall 3X
daily, no effect. When filling my son's XR (his works all school
day), I asked the pharmacist for the appropriate adult dosage of
regular Adderall. She looked it up on her palm pilot, and told me
40-60 mg daily total. So now i have some information to work with
my F.P. for correct dose.
Nice to know--apparently my Psych is on the exceptionally conservative side of the dose.Not to be contradictory, but there is technically no difference between taking the XR version once a day and the IR (immediate release) twice a day four hours apart. The way Adderall XR is formulated uses a design they call Microtrol. In a 20mg capsule, half the beads dissolve immediately, giving you 10mg of amphetamine salts. Four hours later, the other half dissolve giving you the rest of the dose. The result is identical to taking 10mg bid. They are considered to be bioequivilant, and the blood concentrations are the same. The only real benefit the IR has is greater flexibility in dosing, ie you can postpone the second dose until later in the evening if you have things to do, but of course then you have a valley in therapeutic effectiveness in the afternoon. I personally take 30mg of the XR in the morning and 10mg IR in the late afternoon. Terrie, if your doc is reluctant to up your dose, you could take an antacid in the morning with your adderall xr. Any alkalizing agent (tums, ranitidine, etc.) will increase concentrations of the ionized amphetamine and raise the blood serum concentrations, whereas (as someone already mentioned) acidifying agents like ascorbic acid will decrease concentrations. Adding an antacid is an easy way to up your dose without taking a higher strength capsule. Good luck!I'm on 30mgs a day and it works wonders.
[QUOTE=shakespeare][QUOTE=terrie] Actuary Bread: shakespeare is correct as far as my Psych is concerned--that's defintiely the one he's reading from @ my appointments! Thx shakespeare, once again, for being totally right & comprhensively up-to-date & gratifying my tendencies!Are you studying Molecular Biology?[/QUOTE] Terrie, I'm assuming you're talking about me, but that's the second time you've called me shock!. This is shakespeare. And I live to gratify your tendencies! Actually I'm a second year med student studying psychiatry. Assuming, that is, that I finish this damn paper! And yuck! Why would anyone want to study molecular biology?[/QUOTE]
You're absolutely right--why would anyone want to study that stuff? Please forgive me for calling you shock--I was on too many boards at once--you'd think I'd be able to read by now . . . so I took a 3OOmg Ratidine or what ever it's called from my husband's prescription this morning, but he's sick so we got in a fight & it's difficult to tell how it feels for sure, but i think it's working. Thx!
terrie38622.3853587963bump upYeah--come on, auntie, give . . .
Hey, auntie, what's up? Great to see you . . . what does "bump up" mean?I have been wondering the same thing... I keep seeing "bump" on posts recently, and I'm not sure exactly what that is supposed to mean. Any insight, anyone?"Bumping up" an old thread? That's what it looks like to me, but that's just a guess...