Okay so you might have read a previous thread about my new problems with Adderall. Basically, I used to take up to 40 mg Adderall daily (20 mg XR plus 20 mg IR) and did fine. Kinda went off and on the med and still don't take it regularly like I should.

Recently I started having lots of headaches when I took Adderall. One even turned into a debilitating migraine. Most of the time this happened after I took my afternoon IR dose (only 10 mg now). I take 20 mg XR most mornings and have no problems with it.

Most days have been hell when trying that second dose. I feel the crash from the XR in the afternoon and know I need an IR dose but then wind up with a headache. Horrible.

Today was one of the better days in a long time! Took 20 mg XR at about 7:30AM and then took a 10 mg IR at about 4:30 PM. I also ate a little something after I took both doses. That may have helped. No headaches and excellent concentration today. I studied more today than I have in the past 4 weeks combined.

Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with Adderall like this? I'm not sure why I was getting headaches/dizziness before, when today was so great... :confused:

Do you take your meds on a empty stomach or with meals? Are you eating a balanced diet? Blood sugar probs, maybe? Those all interact with Adderall.

Sometimes eating several small meals a day helps with Adderall.

Are you taking a multi-vitamin?

I try to take Adderall with food. That is how my original doctor prescribed the XR. Every morning WITH FOOD.

Blood sugar is okay. No multivitamin but actually I don't eat too much junk. I drink maybe one pop per day at most so that's the worst of it. Not too much candy or cookies.

Are you eating throughout the day? I only experience the headaches/mood swings associated with adderall when I've failed to eat during the day. Honestly, this is probably how you'd feel anyway, though you'd also experience an extreme hunger. The adderall, however, seems to supress the hunger yet is unable to prevent the symptoms that result from it.

I just got mine upped to two 30ml. a day and WHEW!!!!!!!!Much better.I have lost a large amount of wieght though,real fast.My doctor said I have to make a effort to eat and if I got below 120 he would take me off.I understand his point completely.Tuna is great protien and it doesnt overfill your stomach.Just make sure that everything you put in is beneficial for you.

You both are right. I probably should be eating more consistently thoughout the day. I feel like I do but maybe.... I'm missing a meal somewhere. lol.

Everyone needs to eat food when your on the drug, going through out the day without food while on the drug is not something you want to do. of course your going to get headaches, your not feeding your body the energy it needs(Adderall does not give you the nutritional energy you need), therefore your body reacts in a negative way......the body likes food!!!! I hate to be an ******* but people who dont eat when there on Adderall and then complain about side effects....EAT!! :) the docter says EATT - my doc couldnt stress to me enuff about how important it is to eat..i mean your body will literally eat away at itself if you dont! Bcareful

I found that Adderal helps you not notice or ignore that your sleepy or hungry.Its like your brain says everythings fine but your muscles and stomach say something totally diffrent.Today,I had a tortillia and some cheese(so far)later Ill have some tuna or soup.Plus,Im gonna start some vitamins.

I hate to be an ******* but people who dont eat when there on Adderall and then complain about side effects....
Okay yes, thank you Dank, I'm fully aware that I need to EAT.

ANYWAYS.... I do eat at each dose I was just trying to figure out why I'm still getting headaches. Obviously you haven't been reading my other posts since you are new to this forum and not to mention new to Adderall. I'm not simply complaining about these side effects as you said in your post. I have been off and on this drug for a year and a half now and since I take two doses I'm trying to figure out a happy medium here so I can feel good ALL DAY and not just in the mornings. Maybe I need a dosage change again or maybe I need a different schedule. Who knows? I'm just letting people throw out ideas to me so I can figure this thing out..... Just like you did in your thread. Which I replied to by the way.

:D

Hi Little P.

I don't get headaches, but I do notice that adderall builds up in my system throughout the day. I suspect at my afternoon crash, I still have high (for me) absolute blood levels of amphetamine, but I feel the crash and take a smaller dose.

The crash is due to declining blood levels relative to the afternoon high levels. And sometimes the small dose pushes me over the edge and I hyperfocus, get nasty neck tension, and other unpleasent effects.

Sometimes a small dose of Ritalin in the afternoon, seems to be better than amphetamine.

In any case, I seem to be a poor metabalizer of amphetamine which make dosing problematic. I need to wash it out of my system periodically to keep it good.

Good luck.

Interesting perspective Stanzen, thank you. My morning dose of XR is always very good. I feel clear-headed and focused thoughtout the morning and early afternoon. I feel a small crash between about 2 and 4pm so I take that extra 10mg. The way I *THOUGHT* the Adderall XR was working is releasing 10mg dose upon taking it and releasing the 10mg dose a few hours later. Very cut and dry:
8am-11am: 10mg Adderall in system (Taken as 20mg XR)
11am-2pm: 10mg Adderall in system (Taken as 20mg XR)
2pm-evening: 10 mg Adderall in system (Taken as a 10 mg IR tablet)

But this is not necessarily the case, nor is it this simple. My blood concentrations are probably still high at about 2pm EVEN THOUGH I feel as though I'm crashing or needing more Adderall. When I take the 10mg IR then, my blood has an even higher concentration then it did in the morning... My body does not like it and therefore gives me a headache!

Makes sense to me. Anyone else?? Comments, suggestions, experiences?? (Gregster comes to mind here:D )

My morning doses always worked better, too. Regardless of how much Adderall is in the blood maybe this has to do with the mechanism of how it affects dopamine and norephinephrine in the brain. There have been a couple studies that have hypothesized that sleeping 'regenerates' neurotransmitter levels. I have always found Adderall effective after a good night's sleep as opposed to when I don't get much sleep. I actually got my psychiatrists to give me some Ambien because of this (due to the fact that I suffer from minor insomnia and I don't always get a good night's sleep).

Interesting. Of course sleep is good for you and we are always refreshed and our brain is sharper after a good night's rest. Memory is better, it is easier to grasp concepts, etc. etc. Therefore it is CRUTIAL that ADDers get a good night's sleep every night. ADDERALL (or any other drug) IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SLEEP!!!! Interesting though on the neurotransmitter levels. This could explain my morning dose effects.
The afternoon dose is a double edged sword though. I take it and feel more alert but I get dizzy w/ headache. If I don't take it, I might as well be asleep.

sorry little princess! my parents are always on my case about eating, they think i dont eat, ah i eat 3 meals a day atleast, sorry if ya mad!

Adderall caused me have no appetite in the beginning. Now I eat like I always did.

well i took 20 mg XR this morning at 8:00am and had a HUGE plateful of spaghetti at 4:30pm. Should have had that afternoon dose.... maybe I wouldn't have pigged out like I did. HAHAH

Hi Little P.

I don't get headaches, but I do notice that adderall builds up in my system throughout the day. I suspect at my afternoon crash, I still have high (for me) absolute blood levels of amphetamine, but I feel the crash and take a smaller dose.

The crash is due to declining blood levels relative to the afternoon high levels. And sometimes the small dose pushes me over the edge and I hyperfocus, get nasty neck tension, and other unpleasent effects.

Sometimes a small dose of Ritalin in the afternoon, seems to be better than amphetamine.

In any case, I seem to be a poor metabalizer of amphetamine which make dosing problematic. I need to wash it out of my system periodically to keep it good.

Good luck.
Has anyone here ever tried or is currently on Adderall AND Ritalin? It sounds logical that taking both would be beneficial for someone like me. If I have TOO much Adderall in my blood (i.e. if I take my afternoon dose), I'll get dizzy/headache but if I don't have enough (i.e. if I don't take my afternoon dose), I'm pretty much worthless. I'll nap all afternoon!!

I'm just not sure if my doc will go for it... Well I would never bring it up anyway. I think it would be kind of fishy if I asked my psychiatrist if I could have some Ritalin, when I already have Adderall. Especially when he gives me 90 pills for each prescription. I know I'm a little paranoid, but it just looks fishy...

I take both of my 30ml. in the morning.The doc said I could take them however I wanted,whatever worked best.I use to take one in the morn. and then another around two.I have found with ME,I have much better results taking them both in the morning.Also,my appetite is coming back somewhat,Im making a huge effort to eat and eat healthy and alot of protein.I definetely dont want to be taken off so Ill make the extra effort to take care of myself sinc alot of ADD people have self "issues".Im being good to myself for once.

the amphetamines in the adderall increase your heart-rate which increases your pulse. Does anyone else experience feeling...warmer? Do you also seem to be burning more energy on the med than without doing the exact same thing.

I noticed this b/c I have been using the restroom more often than I was before i was on the medicine.

I noticed the increased heart-rate at school. My hands were usually ice-cold, now they seem to have life again. I can also notice my heart beating in my chest now, even when I'm sitting.

I take the one-a-day pill. The equivalent of 20 mg in the morning and 20 in the afternoon.

I would suggest that you find some kind of everyday thing. I experienced mood swings and stuff when I was bouncing between doses,(i mean missing doses and switching the amount I take per dose) and not getting enough sleep. Just FYI