Hi all. I have been taking Adderall for a week and a half now. I am doing well during the day and I am getting a lot done (although my attention is focused on cleaning more than getting work done), however, at night I get so agitated, tense, angry, etc...almost like I can't stand to be inside my skin. I am taking 10 mg Adderall XR once per day (in the morning) ... What should I ask the doctor to prescribe to me instead? I don't want to change to Concerta (which the dr. says lasts 12 hours) because I think Adderall is good for me. Can you take an Adderall XR in the morning and another in the afternoon?

Please help asap since this is driving me nutty at night!
Thank you!!!

Rachel

Check the Adderall forum (http://www.addforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=29)

for a bunch of posts about this subject. Like this one. (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20049)

thanks!:rolleyes:

Any time. And Welcome to the board!!

Good luck w/ the Adderall. I love it now that I've gotten through the side effects.

Thanks Cactus. I looked through the thread that you pointed out and I had already read that one (humourous because I feel the same way) and most of the other threads I've already read. I just can't decipher whether they are talking about xr or not sometimes...so I posted again under the Adderall category.

Thanks for your help...I'm glad that Adderall works well for you!

Rachel

Hi all. I have been taking Adderall for a week and a half now. I am doing well during the day and I am getting a lot done (although my attention is focused on cleaning more than getting work done), however, at night I get so agitated, tense, angry, etc...almost like I can't stand to be inside my skin. I am taking 10 mg Adderall XR once per day (in the morning) ... What should I ask the doctor to prescribe to me instead? I don't want to change to Concerta (which the dr. says lasts 12 hours) because I think Adderall is good for me. Can you take an Adderall XR in the morning and another in the afternoon?
Please discuss this with your doctor. They should accept phone calls for prescription questions.

I was taking 20mg in the AM and another 10mg in the afternoon (12pm - 1pm) of Adderall XR.

You might already know this, but when you take 10mg of Adderall XR you get the instant release of 5mg and the other 5mg about 4 - 6 hours later. This is really a low dose, so you shouldn't be afraid. Doctors usually start with the low dose and work up from there until you notice some side effects. Then they back off the dosage. You will probably notice your heart rate increase and you'll want to drink more water, as you increase the dose. Let your body adjust for about 1 week. I remember my blood pressure was 145 over 100 when I first started taking Adderall XR. Now it's around 120 over 80.

Congratulations on finding a med that works for you. Keep us updated.

Thanks Tim - I will discuss it with him. :-)

I too have been on Adderall XR 10 mg in the morning for ten days with the same problem of irritability, agitation, and uneven temper in the evenings. I was fine (in fact much improved) during the day but then had problems in the evening.

In response to my complaint, starting today my doctor has me taking an additional dose of 10 mg Adderall (regular not the XR) at 4pm. This is designed to boost the levels at the point where the XR dose may be tapering off. I still take the 10 mg XR in the morning

I could really tell the difference today, much better and more consistent after 5pm with the good results during the day.

Perhaps this will be encouraging to you and offer something to talk with your doctor about.

Good Luck.

Yup, same problem here only add in some depression. When that first happened, I was on 10mgs of adderal xr. My dr. added a second dose (10 xr)l ater in the day. This only made it harded to sleep at night, and I was already a night owl! My dr then changed the Adderall XR to IR, (10mgs 2x a day). This was fine and dandy but the irritability, anger and depression were back, and occured more often because the adderal wore off in about 3-4 hours. To help with these side effects, she prescribed Welbutrin 2x. This was wonderful! It made me more relaxed and calm, when I remember to take it at the right time, the goal is to overlap the gaps because the welbutrin last about 5-6 hours.
Deezin, I love your analogy of "not being able to be in my own skin"! That is a perfect way to describe the rebound!!!!

Thanks for your email...Thank you for telling me what worked for you...that is definitely great to know. I actually haven't gone to the doctors yet because he said that I need to wait 4 weeks in between prescriptions of Adderall. I have had a LOT of depression since getting on Adderall and I really don't feel the effects of Adderall at all anymore. I don't want to talk to people or be social and I don't even like when my husband hugs me (very out of character for me - I usually like hugging). :eek: I am thinking of having him bump me up to Adderall XR 20mg in the morning plus another Adderall XR (10 or 20) in the afternoon. Plus having him put me back on Lexapro 10 mg to deal with the depression or do you think Welbutrin works better for this? What do you think about the dosage of Adderall I am going to ask for? I am very much a nightowl too because I run a charity and a business and with 3 young kids, nighttime is really when I get most of my work done. I stay up until 3 am (alhtough this schedule will need to change to more like 1 am when school starts next week). So I have a long day and the Adderall doesn't work 1/2 as long as I need it to.

Thank you for your input.
Rachel

<<Yup, same problem here only add in some depression. When that first happened, I was on 10mgs of adderal xr. My dr. added a second dose (10 xr)l ater in the day. This only made it harded to sleep at night, and I was already a night owl! My dr then changed the Adderall XR to IR, (10mgs 2x a day). This was fine and dandy but the irritability, anger and depression were back, and occured more often because the adderal wore off in about 3-4 hours. To help with these side effects, she prescribed Welbutrin 2x. This was wonderful! It made me more relaxed and calm, when I remember to take it at the right time, the goal is to overlap the gaps because the welbutrin last about 5-6 hours.
Deezin, I love your analogy of "not being able to be in my own skin"! That is a perfect way to describe the rebound!!!!>>

To be honest, this is all my own personal opinion. I have never been on Lexapro so I couldn't honestly tell you that it works better than Welbutrin. I'm still experimenting with this stuff myself. I liked how Welbutrin relaxed me, I'm not as tense as usual and stupid things don't upset me like they normally would without it. I'm not even sure which med does what anymore, I just know that they work well together, for me.
Like you, I have found that I can't stand being hugged or even touched by my boyfriend. He can only get so close to me before I get highly agitated. I beleive this is when either the adderal or welbutrin wears off ( I think the welbutrin). Once I take another pill, within an hour I feel better and he can return. I normally love to be around him and I was never that bad befor the wellbutrin was perscribed.
As for the Adderal you'd like to ask for, I don't think that that would be a huge difference, but then again, you may respond differently to it. I've found that the IR version worked better for me than the XR. Yes, I take it twice a day, sometimes 3 times, but what's the difference if you want to take the XR twice? It can't hurt to try and you could go back to XR. It's just something to suggest to your dr and discuss together. What works for one person may not work for another! I mainly wanted the welbutrin to help with the adderal gaps or rebound if you will. I never really realized how agitated and cranky I was without it... it really seems to make a difference!
I hope these suggestions are somewhat helpful for you. Let me know what happens!
:)

:-) I don't know where you live but it is 2:20 in the morning here - you weren't kidding when you said that you were a nightowl too. :-) Thank you for your tips...it is so strange that you have been having the same issues with hugging. I really thought that I was the only one - because I read on the boards that other people get frisky on Adderall - I get anti-frisky. I hope you feel better and that all of the bad symptoms go away. Thanks for helping me.

Rachel

When it kicks in it is great .. when it wears off it is HELL ON EARTH for me ............. rebound my *** ...... speed wearing off pure and simple .. if it works for you great but it is hell for some of us ..... such a tease when it starts working and you get that good feeling :cool:

I have had mine increased to two 20ml.xr a day and its doing the same as before.It is fine for a week or two and then its gone!Its so frustrating!!!!!

When it kicks in it is great .. when it wears off it is HELL ON EARTH for me ............. rebound my *** ...... speed wearing off pure and simple .. if it works for you great but it is hell for some of us ..... such a tease when it starts working and you get that good feeling :cool:
Yes, I know what you are talking about! That is where the Wellbutrin takes over. I was having such a hard time with the "speed wearing off" that I was constantly getting into arguments, cranky, depressed, irritated, etc. The welbutrin lasts an hr or so more for me that it helps with the gaps. I never remember to take the adderal at the right time. But like you said, it works for some of us...;)

:-) I don't know where you live but it is 2:20 in the morning here - you weren't kidding when you said that you were a nightowl too. :-) Thank you for your tips...it is so strange that you have been having the same issues with hugging. I really thought that I was the only one - because I read on the boards that other people get frisky on Adderall - I get anti-frisky. I hope you feel better and that all of the bad symptoms go away. Thanks for helping me.

Rachel
Well, I am a few hours north of you in RI. I've still got a few more good hours to go before I even go to bed.... Unfortunately I have to work at 9 am tomorrow! Good thing this morning thing is only a one time deal.
Everyone responds differently to any drug, but this this "anti'frisky" stuff is so annoying! I really hate the feeling! Glad I'm not alone on this one (not glad that you have to experience it to though). I hope everything works out for you as well, and your welcome!:D

Back from the dead... I recently had to quit taking Adderall because I was getting extremely angry and irritable at night. I've been off for a couple days so far and I'm back to my old self. I didn't start getting angry until I quit taking my Lexapro and was just taking Adderall alone. The good news is that my concentration has gotten better since quitting the Lexapro so hopefully I can make it without meds for now. If not I guess I'll be back at the doctor trying something else.

Huh,

Let me tell you what happened to me when I quit Lexapro...and clonazemam. I slowly decreased my dosage over three months and quit smoking at the same time (using nicotine replacement). I had responded so well to adderall and concerta that I decided all my problems were caused by ADHD, so I decided to only keep taking stimulants.

When I had been completely off nicotine, clonazepam and nicotine for a couple of weeks, I became very irritable and anxious - I was gasping for air every day, all day. I purchased a flow meter and my measurements were fine - no asthma. I gradually decreased coffee and the problem continued. I gradually decreased stimulants and stopped taking them a couple of times, and the problem still continued - I ruled those two out as the problem.

I went to my doc and told him what I had done and how. He told me that the last time he saw me he actually had asked me to INCREASE lexapro - I guess I had an add moment...

I'm back on nicotine (didn't smoke for three months), clonazepam, lexapro and I never discontinued the stimulants. It took me over a month to get back to "normal." Lately I am beginning to feel relaxed when the stimulant kicks, as when I first started taking them.

My doc also gave me propranolol prn. I have used it three times and I think it is probably more effective for me than clonazepam.

To conclude, I have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and some social phobias, in addition to ADHD. These are very common comorbidities in ADHD people. The "honeymoon" period with stimulants is over.

Huh,

Let me tell you what happened to me when I quit Lexapro...and clonazemam. I slowly decreased my dosage over three months and quit smoking at the same time (using nicotine replacement). I had responded so well to adderall and concerta that I decided all my problems were caused by ADHD, so I decided to only keep taking stimulants.

When I had been completely off nicotine, clonazepam and nicotine for a couple of weeks, I became very irritable and anxious - I was gasping for air every day, all day. I purchased a flow meter and my measurements were fine - no asthma. I gradually decreased coffee and the problem continued. I gradually decreased stimulants and stopped taking them a couple of times, and the problem still continued - I ruled those two out as the problem.

I went to my doc and told him what I had done and how. He told me that the last time he saw me he actually had asked me to INCREASE lexapro - I guess I had an add moment...

I'm back on nicotine (didn't smoke for three months), clonazepam, lexapro and I never discontinued the stimulants. It took me over a month to get back to "normal." Lately I am beginning to feel relaxed when the stimulant kicks, as when I first started taking them.

My doc also gave me propranolol prn. I have used it three times and I think it is probably more effective for me than clonazepam.

To conclude, I have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and some social phobias, in addition to ADHD. These are very common comorbidities in ADHD people. The "honeymoon" period with stimulants is over.
Thanks for the reply! I'm back and in the same boat as you. Your experiences sound very similar to mine.

Quitting the Adderall didn't help my irritability or anxiety. Today I started both Adderall and Lexapro again after I lost my cool at work while working on a stressful project and I'm already feeling better. My fiance' has been complaining about my temper since I quit the Lexapro and my memory since I quit the Adderall. I know I definately have both GAD and ADHD and need to stay on medication for both. Sometimes it's hard to deal with taking meds but life just sucks without them!

As for having issues
when the adderall wears off at night. I was diagnosed with ADD as a child. After college I stoped my Ritalin XR because I thought ADD affected only children and teenagers. A year or so after stoping ADD meds I saw a different doctor. I was diagnosed with GAD and ADD. I refuse to take any sort of anti-depressant or any drug that has a duration of more than 12 hours.

I've tried everything, and a great doctor and I just now found the perfect combonation. I was prescribed Adderall. My doctor told me about the symptomatic differences between childhood ADD and adult ADD. As an adult, the Adderall worked wonders for me. I finally kept a job and advanced within, I think about thinks before I speak (I used to call this diahrea of the mouth), I remember appointments, when I start something I finish it, I started catching up on debts I used to ignore, I arrive for work on time, and don't feel the need to take a stroll whenever possibe. I can go on and on ... ALTHOUGH, I had major underlying anxiety (GAD) symptoms. After speaking at lengths with my Dr. we discussed my GAD med past. I had been on Klonopin (did not like it, i was tired and out of it), and Xanax, which had no negative side effects at all, other than the fact that all of Adderalls benefits were there, but none of the GAD symptoms, which were slightly exaggerated by the adderall. I take 15mg Adderall in the AM with .5mg Xanax, 7.5 mg in the afternoon, and 7.5mg around 6pm. I take .5mg Xanax between the evening doses. i work 3-11:30 and goto school before that. When 10pm rolls around I take one last .5mg Xanax, which is working while the adderall is wearing off. I head home, relax for a bit, and sleep well. I find that 30mg Adderall (doses as I described), and the 1.5mg Xanax taken at these times is my miracle cocktail. I feel like myself. All of the adult ADD symptoms that have been holding me back are gone. Also, the constant anxiety and difficulty going to sleep are gone. I finally feel like myself. Great in social situations, as well as professional situations.

Has anyone else tried this combo? My doctor as well as the pharmacist tell me these two medications are completely safe together, and it is the only combonation that has made me symptom free from both the ADD and/or GAD.