Ohhh noooo!! I am nervous I will have to stop taking Adderall. :(

I am on day five of 20mg of Adderall XR-- and LOVING IT!! I ease off of it at night- no crash, no side effects, it is helping me SOO MUCH in SOOO MANY ways!! It even has cleared up my daily headaches-- I feel 100% headache/migraine free!! I am really, really happy with the Adderall. :D :D :D

Now-- I am realizing that I am experiencing a shortness of breath that is getting more pronounced each day I take the Adderall. (CRAP!) I keep finding myself taking these deep, deep breaths, but when I do, it does not feel like my lungs fill up all the way (I guess that is the definition of shortness of breath, LOL!). It is getting more annoying and aggravating (and distracting!).

I am bummed b/c this is what I used to feel like when I took Benydrl (used to work well when I was pregnant and nursing, combined with Tylenol and Vivarin for migraines). The docs told me to stop taking it b.c it sounded like an allergic reaction (the same used to happen years ago with Dramamine).

Anyone else have shortness of breath on Adderall or other stimulants? :confused:

Thanks!
~~Rachael

Yes, I get this on dexidrine. My aerobic fitness has absolutely PLUMMETED since I started dexidrine, and I get very short of breath even eating.

So far i've only noticed this on strattera and dexidrine, but I'm guessing adderall's going to be even worse =/

Thanks, Toby, for sharing that!!!

Doc just called. She thinks that 20mg might be too high a dose for me (I am learning I am VERY sensitive to meds, drugs, stuff. Even on the 20mg I have FREAKED about people who have told me they are on 85mg! I could NOT even imagine!!!).

She asked about my pulse, and I guess it is a slight bit higher for me (it is always 70-100 anyway). I also told her that a few times since starting Adderall I have been sitting perfectly still (right here on my fat a**, of course ;-) and I could feel my heart just *speeding up*. Not in a scary way-- but very noticeable-- like, "Hey, heart! I didn't move here. Why you speeding up??" She said, yeah, probably the 20 mg is too high for me, causing my heart rate to increase, and causing the shortness of breath. She said to call on Monday and get a script for 10mg.

I am FOR SURE gonna try!!! Even for the headache relief ALONE-- I would like to stay on for awhile!! Not to mention all of the incredible changes in my thinking and feeling!!!!

Ps---------- This new understanding of me being really, very sensitive to drugs, etc, gives me even more incentive to try the Feingold Diet for me and the kids-- if I really all that sensitive to stuff, maybe all the chemicals in food, etc, are effecting me and my kids in adverse ways???

~~Rachael

Adderall will cause a slight increase in heart rate, but this side effect does wane somewhat in most people. I'd bet on the dehydration effect of Adderall for the "shortness of breath" - which really doesn't sound like classic shortness of breath to me - it sounds like you feel as if your deep breaths aren't as deep as they have been before, is that about right? Does this go away when you're not taking the Adderall - like first thing in the morning? Do you feel conjested at all? What is "keeping you" from taking a deep breath? What's the limiting factor? Adderall may give you "dry mouth" and this dryness of the mucus membranes can have an effect on breathing (pain, or a "dry cough"??) so make sure you are drinking enough water. It would be unusual for someone to be allergic to Adderall - I can't say I've ever heard of it.
Regards,
Greg