Ive been on adderall for about two months.Its been great exept i have had it upped twice.Now i take two 20ml.two times a day.At first,like the first couple of days its great!I feel like the war in my head is finally quiet!After a few days or a week it starts to decline again.Im still ten thousand times better than i was but i can feel it creeping back in.:mad: its so frusterating!!!!i know how it can make me feel and its so dissapointing when its not working at its fullest.my doctor said not to worry that it tends to do that and we would find a milagram that will be steady.How much higher can i go?:confused: :) :D

you are already 40 mg over the max limit, with adderall, less is better, & there will be days where you will not be focus at all, it's life, no one is perfect. at that high mg, you are going to need more & more, what is your doctor thinking?

T-Bass

I made a boo-boo.I meant I take 2 20ml.a day,sorry.

I was on Adderall 5mg twice a day for the first month after my ADD diagnosis. I felt that it was not enough and the DR upped it to 10mg twice per day. I've been on that for about 6 weeks. I have another DR appt in a week or so, and will not ask for it to be upped. I'm just fine on this dose.

jim-

I have noticed that more doesn't mean better. I have been up to 40mg a day and it felt the same as 30mg, so I went back down to 30mg. I don't want to burn out on it.

Now i take two 20ml.two times a day.

Regular Adderall or extended release????? Regular adderall effects only last me 5 hours.

The initial physical effectsand noticed mental changes may wear off after your body adjust to the chemical changes. However adjusting is NOT the same as not effective, just not as physically noticible!!!!!!

So as long as you are experiencing improved mental clarity, improved control over distractibility less short term memory loss, ect then the medications is working.

Remember that medication is not the total answer to ADD, we have to educate our selves. We have to do modify our behavior, change habbits. Medication can do wonders for mental clarity however we must direct our clarity toward presonal improvement.

besides

there will be days where you will not be focus at all, it's life, no one is perfect.

as stated above it is prefectly normal for all human kind to experience "bad brain days"

Its xr.extended release.Ive had it upped from 20ml.to 40ml.What I wondered about was in the first week or so after having it upped I felt great.I could acomplish things that are easy daily rituals for some and impossible for me.I had a one track mind set.Acomplish,focus and drive.THen just like last time it starts to fade.I get confused and unfocused again.Dont get me wrong,Im still much better than I ever was in my life but after feeling that way I dont want to go back!I dont want to get lost again.Do any of you think Its the initial affect of the higher dosage kicking in that gives me such incredible focus and its really unobtainable to keep?

Its xr.extended release.Ive had it upped from 20ml.to 40ml.

I have never been able to use an extended release any thing. The results of Extended release are very unpredicitable for me. My doctr says it has to do with my matobilism so I have to take the regular Adderall.

It can be a pain because I have to take the stupid pills every 4.5 hours.


Also with Adderall you should NOT take with citrius fruits or juices, (orange juice, grapefruit ect...) the citric acid in these things counter or dimish the effects of the medication.


Do any of you think Its the initial affect of the higher dosage kicking in that gives me such incredible focus and its really unobtainable to keep?



Some times even with medication I have to "make" myself focus. You maybe right about the higher doses kicking in and wahla you have this incredible focus the newness of the medication but after a week or so the "newness" wears.

Medications don't give the focus they allow me to choose to focus on task. I still have the "I don't want to" especially when it comes to boreing chores. I have had to adjust some of my stratgies in life to accomodate my personal style. I use self behavior modifications like following a boring sit down task with things that require physical activity. Use of timers to keep me on task instead of looking at clock constantly to see if "forever" is over yet. I'll set it for fifteen minutes and see how much I can accomplish in that time. Use things like getting on-line as a reward for completeing things I really hate like the dishes, cat box, bill fileing.

I do. Today is the second day on the new(est) dose.Wednesday's are 12 hr days for me and I'd have to say this wasn't too bad.

I wish you much luck.

30 mg adderal extended release here taken at 5 am and seems to last the whole day.It really is a blessing

Do any of you think Its the initial affect of the higher dosage kicking in that gives me such incredible focus and its really unobtainable to keep?
When I first started taking Adderall at the beginning of the year I thought it was a godsend. Unfortunetly those initial effects do wear off and I also tried upping the dosages. ADD is something that is not totally controllable by medication alone. Also, I had gone up to around 40mg a day but after a while I dropped it all the way down to 2.5 to 5 mg a day. I found this to be much better in controlling the tolerance and the effects were not that much better than the 40mg. Unfortunetly that alone didn't do that job for me so I now supplement the Adderall with Strattera and I am finding this to be a pretty good combo (i take around 5 mg of Adderall a day and 80mg of Strattera).

I started at 10 mg BID and now most days I take 30 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the afternoon. Combined with 36 mg Concerta, it works well for me.

I do find that if I occasionally skip a day of Adderall, it works much better for me when I start taking it again.

I go to the doc on friday,thank God!!!!Im miserable!!!!I cant wait to get some relief!!!!

Let us know how it goes!

I was pretty luckly, I've only had to up my adderall once since I've been on it, and I've been on it for exactly one year. I went from 20xr once a day to 30xr. This will be my second day on the 30xr and I hope to be able to tell a difference soon. I really want to try the regular adderall but my doc said that first we'll try on 30xr a day and if that doesn't do the trick then we'll try 10mg of the regular 3 times a day. I really hate xr!!:mad:

Upped mine (by the doc) from 20 mg/day to 25 mg/day about a year ago.

Some days, 25 mg isn't enough. The doc said I could take 30 mg if I felt I needed it.

I've been on 15 mg XR for a few months and it has gradually become less effective. Last Sunday, I dug out some old 10 mg XR (which I used before I upped to 15 mg) and I took two 10 mg pills at once (for a total of 20 mg). It was definitely more effective than 15 mg.

On Monday (Labor Day), I needed to work all day, but didn't have any more 10 mg XR pills. So I dug up some old 10 mg IR pills. In the morning, I took a 15 mg XR, plus 1/2 of the 10 mg IR. In the afternoon, I took another 5 mg IR. So for the day, I had a total of 25 mg. Well, I felt a bit jittery and drugged, but I was able to work all day and got stuff accomplished that I had needed to do for months. And on Labor Day. If it weren't for the boost in drug dosage, I'm sure I would have said, screw it, it's a holiday, I'll do it tomorrow. (And, of course, tomorrow there is a new crisis and you never get to it). For me, the most amazing thing about Adderall when it's working at optimal level is that it helps you overcome the "I'll do it tomorrow syndrome" and do what you have to do, however unpleasant it is, such as, for example, working on a holiday.

I guess I need to see my doctor, because 15 mg just isn't cutting it anymore.

Got mine upped to two 30ml. xr a day and Im way,way better now.Hopefully it dosnt do the same thing again!!!

Upped to 30ml.xr two times a day and I am so much better.Im a complete spaz and totally out of control without my meds working properly.Ive been reading my old threads and I can totally see when my decline started.It was so obvious.I cant believe my panic attacks and my fear of public or leaving the house circles around my ADD.

BOY!!!!! Can you tell Im sleepy?LOL!!!!!

I've been taking the XR for several months now. It's really helped my focus and orgainzation. I was on 20mg 1 x daily and it made me realize that I really have been unfocused and distracted all my life... not just a "creative type". BUT, I just recently relocated back to Austin and got a management position. After talking to my Dr., he agreed that the initial "benefit" was past and that 30mg 1 x daily would help me with the transition and the increased responsibilities of being a manager. It has worked for me. But, I'm not looking to keep increasing to up performance. I hope this is it.
BTW, I do "vacation" on the weekend... I take no adderall. It seems to help it's effectiveness during the week, but I do the forgetful, space cadet thing by Sunday. Just FYI.... you might want to ask your Dr. about that.

Its been a little over a week and Im still doing great!!The last two times I was heading back to square one by now.I too hope this is it,I am having side effects though.I barely ever got pimples through my teens and now I have a acne type thing goin' on!!! I hate it!!!Absolutely no sex drive,which really stinks for my hubby.Me too,but if thats the only gripes I have then Ill just buy some make-up and try to watch HBO on thursday nights with my husband!LOL!!!!!!!

LOL Brandilyn

Today is the start of my new regimen. Hopefully, it will help. So far this morning the addition of regualr Adderall with the XR is working.

The problem was compounded by the fact that it took 36 days!!! to get the medication worked out.

However, that was then, this is now kinda thing.

Good luck to all of you.

Im still doing great!!!!Around 5pm. or so,I get tired and disconnected but about 6 or so I pop right back.

Hey Brandi- At what times of the day do you take your XRs... if you don't mind me askin' :)

I take a two thirtys around nine in the morning.It will be a month in a couple of days.I am starting to feel simular(but no where as bad) as before.
Focus slipping a tad.Having to push a little harder this week.Not too bad though.

The way I can tell when Im getting use to the dosage(before it stops working again,or being as effective) is I startle easy and panic.
Ill begin to feel overwhelmed again and then its a merry go round effect.I think Im really making progress and getting at a good level though.
Plus the cost of it is outragious!213 bucks a month!Imagine if I went up!

I see him on thursday,Ill be open and leave it up to him.
Thats why Ive been trying so hard to gain some weight back,I know in order for him to take care of my med needs,I need to pull my weight....LOL!!!!That was not intended to be funny but it was!
Matt goes back on wednesday to get his stint out and Ill be sooooooo busy!I hope it dosnt affect my comunication skills the next day at the docs.....

Just saw my pdoc today and he ended up bumping me to 30mg 2x a day. I've had such a weird reaction to adderall that sometimes I wonder if there will ever be a dose that will work. The first two weeks that I took it, 10mg 2x a day seemed to last all day just fine, but after that, even after continuous increases in dosage I just didn't have the same reaction.

I've been told that I metabolize medicine much more quickly than normal, so that's why the keep increasing my dose. I'm worried though, if I have to flood my body with a high dose to balance my metabolism, won't it catch up to me in the end? I guess I'm just worried I'm doing more damage to my body than it's worth. =/

Im going to my doc for the 1 month checkup on my increased dose.
The bad news,its started to slack again.....

The good news,its way better than before.Its not so bad this time.It was perfct up to a couple of days ago.
Thank God it happened before my next appointment!
Even if he dosnt increase my dosage at least Im way more functionable than before!
This proves to me were making progress!He told me we will get closere and closer to the right dosage and it would become more stable and evident until we have it.

So,gonna go.Tell him how Im doing and feeling and leave it up to him.Im starting to loose focus again.Loosing track of time and things again.
But,no panic attacks or anxiety so I cant complain.Besides life isnt perfect all the time.

Ill just have to see what he says.The only side effect I have is weight loss.

Well,it has gotten a little worse today.Just like the past couple of times.Im just glad I dont have to wait 2 weeks before seeing my doc!
Im beginning to feel like Im disconnecting from everything and being confused.

I hate this.I mean I hate that I keep having to go up!Its so frusterating!Surely this will be as high as I go.Maybe I shouldnt focus on the dosage amount and just focus on being at a comfortable level again.
Its amazing how it downslides so fast.It starts slow and then one day,BOOM.It dosnt work anymore.So weird......

I feel very lucky and blessed that it fell before my appointment instead of 4 days after the fact!

Ill post tommorow and tell what the conclusion is.Maybe this thread can help others who experience the same relate and feel like they are not the only ones....

Okie Dokie!Went today.Told him what was going on again and left the ball in his court.We discussed it for a very long time and he got out his meds book and we went over dosages and everything in between.

We came to the conclusion of three Adderall(regular instead of xr).So, three 30ml. a day.He told me to take them as I please.Whatever works best for me.
Not only were they much cheaper,I can control it.If I dont think I need that one in the afternoon I dont have to take it.If I need two in the morning so be it.

The only real diffrence so far-burst into my system alot stronger,weird taste in my mouth and when I was adjusting my girls lamp I practically saw spots for a few moments.Maybe a full minute.Also,my nose felt really weird.Like I had taken 20 benadryl or something.It was like a bird could have flown up my nose!My passages seemed really clear!LOL!!!!!

Im better now.Cant wait for tommorow and guess what?IM SLEEPY!!!!!!
Thats a first.It has worn off and I could get some real shut eye.I like it.

First day though(half day really).Ill write more tomm.

We came to the conclusion of three Adderall(regular instead of xr).So, three 30ml. a day.He told me to take them as I please.Whatever works best for me.
Not only were they much cheaper,I can control it.If I dont think I need that one in the afternoon I dont have to take it.If I need two in the morning so be it.
That's what I did when I used to take it, once your body gets used to it you can time the dose, but even the generic Adderall is outrageously priced if you pay cash. They are making a mint from the Extended Release (http://www.adhdhelp.net), but it lasts all day without having to take 2-3 pills if that's what one is looking for.

My insurance actually paid 40 dollars on it!!!!For 90 generic 30ml.it was 90 bucks!!!Cant beat that!I was paying 214 for my Adderal xrtwo 30ml. a day!
I feel more in control of how much I need at the time.
Today,so far so good.A little diffrent kind of feeling.Dry mouth,nasty taste.

But,I like the over all effect.

Let us know how you are doing Brandilyn. Sounds like it started out well for you.

UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!! I feel terrible!!Im nervous and angry!I can still clean but I am so unhappy I cant even enjoy my clean house and organized bills!
Plus,I dont want to play with my kids.Im loosing temper and cant stand for them to touch me!
Im hiding it well though.I keep thinking of their precious,little puffy hands loving on me and how I feel I dont deserve it!How in the world could I not want to be touched by my babies!

Whats gonna happen?I cant pay for 30ml 3 times daily adderallxr!I dont really even feel any relief from the regulars!Cant even tell Im taking them.At least when I got my xr dosage in the morning I felt relief.Not with the regular!!!!!

I dont know what mw doc will do,but Im in no shape to think for myself right now.
God help me make it through this!

Hey,I missed u princess!!!!!

Better now,got new script from doc and its totally diffrent!It was the generic that was the problem.It was almost dirty feeling,I have sores on my chest and was a basketcase!Violent and just crazy.......
I wont ever do that again.Im flushing the generic down the toilet!!!!!!
Thank God it wasnt just me!It was so unlike me and I knew that something terrible was wrong.
Im okay now.

HELP! I am taking 20mg genertic adderall in the morning and 10mg in the afternoon. I am still having trouble getting focused and my organization sucks.Any ideas?

Brandilyn, i am with you, i am on 15 mg., bid and hardly feel a thing, that war you spoke of that goes on inside your head is the same with me!!! I have 2 small children and the effort it takes me to get the day going is unbelievable!! I "try" to make myself a list of "small" to-do's and sometimes even set a timer on my microwave so i can move on to the next thing, but stuff is still left unfinished and i feel like crap about that!

does anyone know what the max dose you can take bid and will it be effective for a long time? i certainly dont want to build up a tolerance or anything but the odds against me dont look great....

I have some advice....DONT TAKE GENERIC!!!!!LOL!!!!!!
Ill just say,it didnt work out for me.I dont want to offend.It may for some,it just didnt for me.

Everyone is diffrent,I think it depends on the level of severity of ADD one has.

I have severe combined ADD,it hinders my everyday living tasks!If you start to "build a tolerance"call your doc.After experimenting with doses and maybe diffrent meds you may find one to "level out"you know,stay consistent without any side effects.

Good luck!!

Brandilyn-

Im in the same boat................

ive been building such a quick tolerance to the Adderall as well myself. (Im on Adderall XR btw) It only works maybe a week at the most............and then, gone!! I am let down too and im becoming rather un-optimistic and hopeless with Adderall as a whole as a med for me and wondering if i'll just keep experiencing dissappointment even if my doc ups it anymore.

I hear ya there on that one, loud and clear. I can relate. Good luck to you-- Katie

I'm starting to worry that I am getting "immune" or "dependent" or "addicted" to the Adderall now... 20mg at a time just isn't cutting it. I need to take a 20mg XR plus a 10mg shortly after in order to feel the effect again. If I don't take adderall, I sleep ALL DAY LONG.... I mean ALLLL DAY... not even kidding. I hate this. Am I addicted???

Are you standing in the bathroom with the door locked clutching your precious?????LOL!!!

No,I dont believe you are Little one....
Ive been going through this tolerance problem for the entire time Ive been diagnosed.
There are other meds and we shouldnt give up.
Right now,Im a mess.Im actually worried about myself.The AdderalIR is killing me!Im nervous,sad,confused and very weak.Thats why I havnt been on the puter.
Typing is all I can do right now.
Im so weak and depressed.My body feels tired and yet jumpy at the same time.Its totally diffrent from the XR which I built tolerance too also.
Now,I dont even know when I take it.It does nothing for me at all now.

I go back on the 5th I believe to the doc.Im gonna do some research on diffrent meds out there.
Adderal is great for some and it was for me at the beginning but not the long haul.....

I just decided to read over this thread. I'm having the same problem with Adderall XR. Right now I'm on 20mg. Last time I saw my pdoc he was supposed to switch me to IR, and we would raise the dose some, but he must have forgotten, because when I went to pick up the script the next week, he wrote it out for the XR. I've been taking two, so a total of 40mg, but it doesn't usually last all day. 8 hours at the VERY most, if that.

I had this problem with Ritalin LA...first it would start to not last as long, and then would just stop having an effect whatsoever. It's very frustrating. Just like brandilyn said, I love the effects in the beginning and I don't want to go back to how I was before medication.

I've been taking the same dosage for almost 4 out of 6 years now... 60mg a day

Hi all.Im back.
Its been hell,I must say.I went to the doc today and got back the XR.My doc was shocked to see me!I look really bad.I have sores and I look like skeletor!!!!

My hubby went with to make sure I got everything panned out.He was really worried.

Doc put me back on two 30ml. a day.I got it filled and the pharmacist told me to take it now,it would bring me out of the depressed and somewhat psychotic mood I have been experiencing this past month.
I took it 30 min. ago or so......Im so physically and emotionally drained I just dont know how I feel.
Im sure Ill go right back to normal.I hope......
But,besides my life not being my own for a month...Im fine.

T-Bass wrote:

...you are already 40 mg over the max limit, with adderall, less is better, & there will be days where you will not be focus at all, it's life, no one is perfect. at that high mg, you are going to need more & more...

I've been on adderall for several years, and done a lot of reading on ADD + meds. I've Never, Never heard 'less is better' for this drug. Isn't it a stimulant just like all the other stims.
:eyebrow:

Hi all.Im back.
Its been hell,I must say.I went to the doc today and got back the XR.My doc was shocked to see me!I look really bad.I have sores and I look like skeletor!!!!

My hubby went with to make sure I got everything panned out.He was really worried.

Doc put me back on two 30ml. a day.I got it filled and the pharmacist told me to take it now,it would bring me out of the depressed and somewhat psychotic mood I have been experiencing this past month.
I took it 30 min. ago or so......Im so physically and emotionally drained I just dont know how I feel.
Im sure Ill go right back to normal.I hope......
But,besides my life not being my own for a month...Im fine.
Yeeeeeaaaa!!!! Brandilyn I'm so happy to hear you are doing better! :)

Hi,Little one!
I feel definetly worn and I know that the experience changed me.It was a defining moment of sorts.
I realized that its not always perfect and that ADD meds are a guide of sorts to help point you in the right direction.
They are something to be really thought over and studied before bouncing around them.
I actually thought I was loosing my mind at one point.I didnt have the energy to even type what was happening,let alone be a decent mom.
I know that It effected my 4 year old.Matt said that she asked several times,"why is mommy so grumpy all the time?Shes always yelling at me."
As you all know my girls are my life and my focus and that thought is unbearable to me.
If I build a tolerance,Ill just take some days off!

I was finally diagnosed Jan 2004 at 29 years old. I was smart so basically just got through most things and other people didnt know any better. But had 'classic' behaviors. Couldnt clean up my house to save my life- wanted to, but just was overwhelmed with taking the first step. Procrastinate everything. I'm back in school and working full time. I get A's on tests, but can't finish homework...etc, etc. Because of my elevated BP, i started on Strattera- Oh was I a moody, tired, ineffective, witch. So switched to Adderall XR 30mg in february. i think i went up to 40 mg in may. It changed my life. I could clean house-i think i got religious about it. I could focus on school, work, health, etc. Starting this summer, I got switched to an afternoon shift at work and don't get home until 9pm. Its always been hard to get stuff done in the morning and it seems that all the ADDXR is out of my system b y 9pm so homework and other stuff at night started suffering. Now, I almost feel like I'm back at square one. It has happend gradually over the past 2 months. I start projects that I don't finish. I can't seem to get the dishes started. Getting behind in school. Are there many people out there that are helped by dosages over 40mg? Have you gone down to a lower dose for awhile and then back up? What time frame did this take? I'm running on empty and still have a month left until finals this semester. I'm not set to go back to the dr until Jan but will make an earlier appt if I get enough feedback on what I might ask to try.

Thanks in advance for any input.
~Alissa

I have had the Xr back for a couple of days and its really a struggle still.
I guess its because the instant really,truly about killed me!
My system is so screwed up right now that I have to really pace myself.
Tommorow I will not take it and might not the next.Its trial and error and you have to use great caution with these meds.
I believe a med holiday will be a welcome feeling!!Maybe I can fatten up and get strong again,then it will be fine again.

I know its so hard but all you can do is live.The world isnt gonna stop turning and the house isnt gonna fall to pieces and I wont loose my mind.
I want nothing but the best for all of you and sometimes I will offer up myself and my crazy stories and experiences for help and insight.
I know this.......Nothing is ever perfect,I sure try though.I accept the fact that the meds wont cure all.
I need to start enjoying life and my mistakes!I know that sounds crazy but I could really give a damn if there is laundry on the floor or dishes in the sink because its beautiful outside and my babies are healthy and I am very lucky.
My meds will GUIDE me.....Not rule me.

Im going to take med holidays regularly now,who needs to be perfect all the time?I need to lay around and slob out just like everyone else.
Ill just make sure not to pick up the T.V. remote!!LOL!!!!!!As we all know,Ill loose it and find it in the dryer in a couple of days!!!LOL!!!!!

My doctor mentioned at my last appointment that people who abuse amphetamines (who do not have ADD) will build up a tolerance, but they find that people who are ADD will NOT. I am not sure that I fully understand him, though, because he did say that most of his patients eventually have to up their dose to 30 mg. Sounds like tolerance to me. Maybe if you don't have to go beyond that...

WILLIAM TELL, where did you get your first quote on your sig?? My husband is a stunt guy, it totally made me think of him :)

JC

LafnGirl:
I know what you mean about always being able to coast through everything so no one knew there was a problem. As for the meds go: I try to take as many med holidays as I can. I try to only take it when I need it (school and studying days). This seems to help me. I've also noticed that the Adderall "hits" me harder if I take it on an empty stomach...
I've also decided that I'm going to keep my dose low to try to avoid any tolerance. I was taking 20mg XR per day (with an occasional 10mg IR). My doc wanted to move me to 15mg XR two times per day. Well I decided to fill the script so I'm gonna go get it tomorrow. I'm going to try it but if I feel too stimulated, I'm coming off it immediately or just moving to one 15mg XR/day. Wow, even better!!! :)

My doctor mentioned at my last appointment that people who abuse amphetamines (who do not have ADD) will build up a tolerance, but they find that people who are ADD will NOT. I am not sure that I fully understand him, though, because he did say that most of his patients eventually have to up their dose to 30 mg. Sounds like tolerance to me. Maybe if you don't have to go beyond that...
I'm not sure if I'd agree with you there; any human body adjusts to foreign chemicals. Everyone goes through tolerance, as far as I understand at least. I'm thinking that your doctor might have been referring to the people that abuse amphetamines use it for the sole purpose of the "rush/high" feeling, which goes away fast as tolerance is built. Therefore they feel like it isn't working simply because they aren't experiencing the same feeling that they did before.<o ="">

</o>People that have ADD that use it to help them focus and be less scatter-brained also initially feel something similar to the high feeling that non-ADD people feel, but after their bodies adjust, they are still able to focus and the work; meaning that it is working like it should.


Metabolism is also of great concern. If someone has an extensive metabolism they need more of a certain drug than the rest of the population that takes it. Therefore, just because they need higher doses each visit doesn't mean that tolerance is being built; it means that they still haven't found a dose that works well under their particular metabolism.

Perfectly said bluemagic!!!!