I was prescribed 20 mg XR daily which I took for almost 2 months with mixed results. The doctor said most adults need 30 mg eventually. I personally feel like the prescription is already too much for me. My already low enough weight dropped 10 lbs despite eating as much as I could. I also could not get over the sleeping issues. Have to take Ambien every night. And I felt short-tempered with my kids. So I took a two week break and I feel so much better physically but disorganized/unfocused again. I don't go back to the doctor until January. Of course I figure he'll make some suggestions but I was wondering if anyone takes a lower dose than 20 mg XR and finds it effective?

An effective dose for you may not be effective for someone else. It's entirely possible that your optimal dose of Adderall is lower than 20mgs.

The only way you'll find out is if you try it.

Totally agree w/LIChaos. I'm on 20mg right now and think it's pretty good. 15mg was a tiny bit too low, but everyone's different. Most people only need 20mg of Prozac to keep depression at bay, but I need 30mg. I take less of other meds, like tetracycline (for rosacea) and pseudophedrine (OTC when I have sinus problems.

Everyone's different.

I dumped part of my 20 mg pill out to make a 15 (approximately) and it seemed a lot better. I still had trouble sleeping, though. It's not the most accurate dosing method, but maybe I could try that until I go to the doctor again.

Ask your doctor to give you 10 mg adderall xr tablets and take one at 3-4 hrs after the other like i do you can eat at the lower dose point without going nuts
and still sleep

I take 15 mg xr. 20 was too much.

I'm on 20 mg xr and it "seems" okay. What's wierd is that it has improved my sleep. I take it in the AM and by PM I'm exhausted.

Marlene -

Another option is to switch to Adderall IR.
I find it's easier to control the doseage, plus IR doesn't last as long (approx 4 hours), therefore could make it easier for you to sleep.

I take 5mg xr and that was a bit much at first. So everyone is different.

[B]My 17 1/2 yo son is on 20 mg of Adderall XR. So far it seems to be doing ok. He only lost just under 2 lbs during his first 30 days. Went in for his one month check, he is staying on this dose for now since it seems to be ok. I guess everyone is so different on what they can and cannot take.

I just started taking 50mg of the XR in the mornings. I was taking 40 mg but I still felt like I needed more. It seems like everyone is taking such a low dosage and I hear that there are negative long term effects from taking a lot. Does anyone know anything about this? I feel that 50 is working, but I don't want to take it at the expense of my long term physical health.

Everyone is a little bit different in their requirements to reach optimum functioning. If you're feeling okay and your doctor approved the increase, I wouldn't worry too much about what other people are taking. But do discuss your concerns about long term use at the dose with your doctor, if it concerns you.

Scattered

My psy told me 40 mg of adderall XR is the maximum dose someone can take. I am now on 20 mg XR but feel I need an increase dose. The one who only need to take 20 mg or even 15 mg, your guys are lucky, if only I need that but it seem I need more. My tolerance seem to built up very fast. I try to deal with this issue by taking a day or two off adderall but it's sure a pain to go a day without it. I am at my best when I take it, I have a little more energy, I am more motivate and can focus but when I don't take it I feel tired, I have low energy, I feel foggy and it's hard for me to even function!

If 30 mg is what and adult mostly need I will try to ask my psy for an increase dose of 10 mg with my 20 mg but I don't think she will give to me, well not for now. I had wait for ever for only an increase dose of 5 mg on my daily dose of 15 mg, I guess I will need to wait again for an increase dose of 10 mg! I was thinking to ask her to add adderall IR 10 mg to my daily dose of 20 mg XR. Maybe it will be a good combination for me? But I'm not to hopefull to have it, I'm lucky to only have 20 mg! It suck to wait so long to find out what will be the right dose and combination!!!
Take care!
Sun

Part of it I think also depends on weight/age, etc. My son is just 17 and only weighs 145 lbs. He is 5'11 almost, so fairly thin. He has lost just under 2 lbs in the first 4 weeks of it, so keeping an eye on that. He cannot afford to lose weight.

My psy told me 40 mg of adderall XR is the maximum dose someone can take.
This is not exactly correct.

Individual response varies GREATLY. What's good for one isn't good for all.

The maximum recommended dose for children is 30mg/day because more has not been studied.

There is no maximum recommendation for adolescents and adults other than the lowest theraputic amount. It's recommended that dosage be tailored to the response of the individual. Even clinical trials consisted of conditions w/adult dosages of 60mg/day, showing "linear pharmacokentics" (increased benefits with increased dose) as far up as 60mg/day.