This post is long, so skim if you need, I just need some advice!

Okay, so I just got done reading about 40 posts that relate to problems with Adderall dose and tolerance, and I was unable to come accross anything real concrete regarding my issue. So here goes...

Basically, I started Adderall XR 20mg 5 days ago, switched from Ritalin LA, because I've had alot problems. First day I took it before work, and it was very nice. I felt no different at all, unlike with Ritalin it really changes how you think. I was very well focused and organized, with improved memory, and felt very calm and relaxed. I felt pretty quiet, unlike ritalin which improved my sociability, but being quiet is my nature, so I also liked that. I'm a waiter, and I felt as though, despite a normal table load, I wasn't stretched thin and frantic as I can normally get. Also, I had very little urge to smoke. Dry mouth was my only side effect. Great.

Day two, I took it in the morning, as it was my day off. I was extremely productive that day. I did a bunch of little annoying errands that I had been putting off for forever, and did them at a nice relaxed pace. I had time to do some recreational stuff and really enjoy my day. Also, I had very little urge to smoke cigarettes once again. Only side effect, dry mouth. Great.:cool:

Day three, work again. I took the Adderall at work, and noticed a mild effect that lasted maybe 2-3 hours, and a very lame effect for the next 4 hours. After 5 hours the dose really wore thin, and I found myself irritable distracted, and my memory suffered. I felt the urge to smoke more as I normally do (which is alot). I also could "feel" the meds more, both cognitively and in the sense of side effects. I thought it might be a fluke since I ate a fatty meal about 10 minutes after I took my dose.

Day 4, work again. I took the Adderall just before work. This time it was better than day 3, but I still "noticed" the med, and it did not work nearly as well. I felt anxious socially, and the effects wore thin around 5 hours later, just as before!:mad:

Day 5, same deal.

I'm not sure what the heck is going on here but this won't fly! With ritalin, the effects definately dampened over time, but over a much longer time, and never to this degree. I didn't much like Ritalin, especially because I had to take it 5-6 times a day, or 3 times a day with the LA, so I would forget alot, and it was a pain!

The posts I read in the archives, were really kind of discouraging. People increasing the dose of Adderall and getting tolerance quickly. I know that I will not reach the level of the first few days, but I expected this. It was the same with Ritalin, and this is much different. The effects are just barely there, almost like I'm taking a different drug than I was the first few days!:eyebrow:

If I could even gain half the efficacy of the first days, sustained over time, I would be thrilled. I try to be pragmatic and take things with a grain of salt, but this is very worrying :(

I've thought of adding strattera, and starting at square one titrating with immediate release or dexedrine. Any thoughts or comments here?

My meds have long since worn off, and I know this post is long and doesn't say much, but do your best. Thanks so much

-Brian

Im not exactly sure, but ir may take a week or two to get the full effects.
Did your doctor tell you to take it everyday?

I am 43 and finally got "officially" diagnosed with adhd in March 2005. My 12 year old adhd son has been medicated since he was 3 so I have had alot of experience with difference adhd medications and symptoms. My husband add husband finally got medicated in June 2005. My husband and I both take Adderall XR and my son takes Metadate.

Anyway, my initial prescription was to take one 10 mg Adderall XR when I woke up in the morning. She said that if one 10 mg didn't do it, take two the next day. And up to three the next morning if needed. Not to exceed 30 mg (3 at 10 mgs) . I was to go back to the doctor in 15 days.

So I took one 10 mg Adderall XR the first day. I felt great throughout the day. Less moody. I was on vacation the week I started meds and I got tons of stuff done around the house and all my errands flew by. I was very alert and aware of my surroundings, especially when driving. Around 5pm I became tired and crabby. I had major dry mouth all day.

On day two I took 2 10 mg Adderall XR and felt great. Again, around 5pm I became tired and crabby.

I didn't want to increase my dose to 3 so instead I took a 200 mg vivarin caffine pill around 3pm and this got me through to the end of my day, which is around 10pm. (I took vivarin for years.)

I had read several posts about people who take Adderall XR plus Adderall instant release later in the day so when I went to my doctor I told her about me crashing late afternoon.

I also told her that I thought that 20 mg of Adderall XR was all I needed and that I had not tried 30 mg.

She wrote me a prescription for 20 mg Adderall XR to be taken in the morning and a prescription for 10 mg instant release to be taken at 3pm. This way it would be out of my system by nighttime.

On the first week I started Adderall, I didn't realize it but it was actually my pms week. I always get tired, stressed out, crabby and moody. I wasn't as stressed as usual since I started on Adderall though.

I used to take clorazeptate (tranzene) aka "horse tranquilizer" as my new doctor calls it during my pms time. On my third doctor visit, I told her that I still get pms even when on Adderall XR and Adderall Instant release. She gave me a prescription for generic prozac. I have only had to take maybe 3 since I got the script. Prior to Adderall, I would cut my clorazeptate in half and take it throughout my pms week so I am definitely feeling better.

Hope this helps. Hang in there.

I started Adderall XR 30mg bid just over 3 weeks ago.I switched from Ritalin LA, which had stopped working at some point after only a few months (It's more complicated than that, but this is just the highlights).

This past Tues. I had to go home at lunch because I was so dizzy and lightheaded that I was dropping things. When I spoke to the doc oncall the following day (how's that for service? ) he explained how Adderall XR didn't "peak" like reg Adderall. He described it instead as "cascading" throughout the day. What he recommended was what I had already done on my own, was to take my second med earlier and eat something with it.

When I see my reg doc in Sept. I'm going to ask for reg Adderall to be added somewhere.I have always gotten sleepy between 1-3pm my whole life and that continues,even with meds.

It doesn't help me to be alert after I've come home and ready to crash during my busiest part of the day.When you work with kids, afterschool is "primetime."

Adderall XR is helping me but I need it to work very well in the morning and after lunch, as opposed to gradually "kicking in" at different parts throughout the day.

My doctor really doesn't give me much in the way of specific instructions. My routine with Ritalin LA was to take it 5-6 days a week, because I enjoy the breaks. As long as I don't have something to do that is :).

What worries me so far is not so much the duration of action, which I can work on with dosage adjustments and timing, but the actual efficacy of the meds. Even though 20mg of XR may suck, I think I'll stick with it for a week or so to get a feel for how this med behaves. When your body gets used to stimulants they seem to have lasting effects that are more predictable. We'll see.

I know people have had alot of problems like this, so I'll make sure to keep you all updated on my progress. I think eventually adding strattera may even things out, or so I'm hoping. If you have any additional advice, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
-Brian

HM...I dunno, I experienced the opposite with Adderall. At first, I was on XR 20mg (didn't do anything except make me jittery and gave me TERRIBLE headaches!) then went onto XR 30mg (didn't do anything except make it impossible for me to sleep, plus the jitters and even WORSE headaches!!!) Then my doc put me on Adderall IR 7.5mg two times a day (total of 15 mg in one day) and it's been AWESOME...great concentration, no headaches or insomnia...

I dunno--it definitely depends on your body chemistry, and remember...it takes your body about two weeks to adjust to a new dosing, so after 5 days you will probably not feel so good on it...Call your doctor back up and explain what's been going on!

I find that if I skip a day once in a while, Adderall works much better when I start it again.