I know there have been other threads on this, which I've read, but I thought I would post this in case anyone has any fresh wisdom.

I've been on Adderall about five weeks now. Because I seem to be very drug sensitive (I had really bad side effects on 10 mg of Strattera), my doctor started me out on 7.5 mg instant release Adderall. (And some days, if I woke up late, I only managed 5 mg). A few side effects - dry mouth, some dizziness and increased heartbeat -- but once the dizziness and increased heartbeat subsided, I switched to 10 mg XR. And it was working wonderfully. I was getting more organized and motivated, getting more done (starting to see the floor in my living space, which previously was occupied with piles of junk that I didn't have the energy to organize and/or throw out) and I found it to be the most incredible antidepressant I had ever taken. Also, most of my adult life, no matter how much sleep I have gotten, I would make up tired, and wouldn't start to feel okay until a few hours into the day. On Adderall, that went away and it was a marvelous feeling to wake up and feel good right away.

Well, the problem is that in the last few days, I have begun to feel that the Adderall is starting to poop out. I'm starting to feel tired again when I wake up, and my motivation level and organizing skills are returning to baseline.

I know that 10 mg XR is a pretty low dose from what other people here are taking, so perhaps there is room for a dosage increase, but I am concerned that Adderall seems to be pooping out so dramatically after only 5 weeks, when previously it was working so well that I thought it was a miracle drug.

Thanks to anyone who has any wisdom to impart.

Would you thank those who have no wisdom? :) I can share with you the consensus of many on this board: most people need a boost from the dose that works for them initially. Don't freak out & stuff. Not time for that yet.

I agree with Chadwick. Talk with your Doc, try upping your meds.

I'll "third" the motion that a slight upping of the meds would be in order. I had this happen too - but after the initial "bump" I have not had to increase the dosage further - so don't worry that you will have to keep increasing the doseage - you won't, in all likelyhood.

I just started taking Adderall XR 10 mg two times daily about two and a half weeks ago...and amen. I tried tablet form before and had INCREDIBLE results.
I have noticed at very most MARGINAL improvement on XR 10mg...nowhere near as much as tablet form--even though I was only taking the 10mg tablet two times a day as well.

I don't know if the dose isn't strong enough, or MAYBE XR just doesn't work as well for some people...But I know for sure that I get distracted almost as easily on 10 mg XR as I do on no medication at all.

Took me two to three months to titrate up to the working dose on Ritalin. When I switched to Adderall, titration went much quicker cause I knew what to look for: Effortless tidiness seems a passing side effect like the slight euphoria.

As for the lift in the morning, I require a cup of espresso. Adderall doesn't get me started by itself -- Ritalin seemed more energizing.

The tablet form - are you talking about Adderal IR (immediate release), onemoreyear?

I believe the difference is - hopefully others can agree or disagree - is that the 10 XR will slowly release throughout a period of time (isn't it something like 5 mgs at first, and then later on 5 more mgs??), where the 10 IR is all of the 10 IR - immediately. So, that would make a difference, getting 10mgs all at once or throughout a period of time.

If anyone corrects me, I will be happily wrong!! I've never been on XR, only read about it :)

Thanks to all who replied. OneMoreYear, I don't think the poop out factor had anything to do with IR versus XR. I started on IR and then switched to XR, and had just as good, if not better, results on the XR.

I saw my doctor today, and he suggested a couple of options: increasing from once a day 10 mg XR to once a day 15 mg XR; dosing at 10 mg XR twice a day; and/or boosting the Adderall with 250 mg. of tyrosine twice a day.

He also said that Wellbutrin + Adderall or deprenyl + Adderall are possible options.

But, he does believe that since I had such a positive initial response to Adderall that I am a "responder" and that I will continue to respond, but just with a little tweaking.

My inclination is to give the tyrosine a whirl, and if that doesn't do it, try 15 mg XR.

I went up to 40mg within the first month, I increased on my own, been on 40mg for close to a year now, works the same everyday, I don't feel anything, but I do finish stuff, but on days I'm in a bad mood, nothing gets done no matter what I"m on.

T-Bass

I honestly think I experienced the difference because, like livinginchaos said, the entire 10mg is released at once. What I experienced with IR was about 2 hours of awesome productivity and what I experience with XR is about 6 hours of medial productivity and some headaches and dry mouth.

I think ultimately it came down to the fact that I am not getting a high enough dose because when I take all 10 mg at once, I have no deficit but when I only get 5 mg at a time, the deficit is much more apparent.