Hello all :)

Today was my first day doing cardio on Adderall XR, 20mg. I normally do 30 minutes on the incline treadmill and 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer. My heart rate is normally in the 145-160 range and I push fairly hard, usually burning 500 or so calories a session. Today I could not push myself or my heart rate would start to creep into the 160s. I ended up burning half the calories. I really want to keep my heart in shape. Should I just do more exercise or am I still getting the same effect from the low intensity workout plus adderall? Any comments are appreciated.

My pulse rate did go up some with stim medication. Yours might adjust some back down as your body adjusts to Adderall, since you just started it. You might want to run your question by your doctor -- he's more familiar with your overall health and physiology.

Scattered

Did better today. I was able to push a litter harder without my heart rate getting too high. Kept it in the 150-160 range working at about 75-85% intensity of what I normally do.

Blood pressure has also dropped a little. When I first started taking it it shot up to 140/100 and higher at times. Today it was 125/78, pulse rate 105 (after walking pretty fast to get in the gym).

This is exactly why I won't take medication. My BP went from 118/60 to 140/80-and that was with Strattera!!!!!!! A 'non-stimulant'!!!!!!


Forget it. My physical health and living longer are WAY more important than some ADD inconvenience. I've dealt with it for 48 years and, without meducation, perhaps I can deal with it for 48 more!!!!:D

My heart rate definately goes up if I try to do anything aerobic + medication. It's actually kinda scary so I'm not gonna attempt it again. Lifting seems alright cuz it is such short bursts.

I think it gets better over time. Blood pressure was 128/88 last time I checked, which isn't much higher than what it was before I started. Today I did my normal cardio routine and didn't have to back off much at all (worked out at maybe 95%) to keep my heart rate down.

That's good new, Huh. I'm going to start back to exercising and keep track of my signs -- which is something I haven't done since starting meds.

Scattered

My son is 19 and very frustrated as since being on Adderall he can't seem to do any aerobic without feeling that his heart rate is way too high. This is a kid who was in peak shape (ie could play 90min of soccer w/o being winded or fatigued). He also is having trouble maintaining his weight lifting maxes (sp?), in fact has regressed which I guess is really depressing to all you exercise addicts. He's been on meds since Oct. so I would think he would be adjusted by now?

What is he taking and how much?
Cheers!

Straterra put me in the ER for 5hrs due to my BP going thru the roof (even with a BP med).

We chalked it up to an allergic reaction.

Either way, I can't take it.

Having said that, I continue to take Adderall XR + regular (brand name only) + Wellbutrin and nortriptyline HS.

My BP med (Monopril) was increased when I went on Adderall.

To be perfectly honest, without my meds working, I'd be looking at an early retirement.

At the very least, I'd be going to part time only.

My health has bounced up and down but right now I'm doing well.

I still workout w/free weights, however, I don't go heavy anymore.

I also try to do Nordic track at home.

I get my BP checked by the nurses at work and i'ts usually okay.

I can tell though when the stress mounts ,as I get dizzy, etc.

I do get really good accomodations at work ,including lots of help with organization from my totally non ADHD wife, who also works here.

One of the best things she does in helping me organize my disaster of an office, is that she no longer asks me questions like" Why did you put this here?"

The answer is of course, " WTF, because it was lost." :)

One of the best things she does in helping me organize my disaster of an office, is that she no longer asks me questions like" Why did you put this here?"

The answer is of course, " WTF, because it was lost." :)
You got a laugh out loud from me on this one R. :D

he's taking 20mg Adderall (regular) 2-4 times /day

I'm not a doctor and have no experience with Adderall.

Is the medication addressing the issues it was prescribed to help? Have you tried lower doses? I've found that my doctor is completely comfortable with me experimenting with lower doses. :D

I played around a lot until I found a dose that was best for me. Low doses are good for me. I take dextroamphetamine.
Keep us posted with what you learn please.

Yes, the Adderall certainly helped the focusing issue. He wasn't diagnosed until 1st semester of college and he said he couldn't believe he could now read one page and move on to the next. (Of course he had never mentioned this problem--thought everyone was this way). I'm encouraging him to try dropping to 10mg/dose, even if he repeats more often. (not to go over the 80/day of course). I'll see if he follows my advice--but he does see Dr. soon too.

Today I went to the gym after a couple months off.. trying to get back into a running routine. Walked briskly on the treadmill for 5 minutes, then starting to work in some jogging. After a minute of jogging (5-6mph) my heart rate was at 175 or so. I slowed it down to 4mph and my heart rate dropped to 155. A minute and a half later, started jogging again with the same results, heart rate at 178 after only a minute. I don't know what to do... I might stop taking the adderall for a while until I get myself back into shape. :(

Today I went to the gym after a couple months off.. trying to get back into a running routine. Walked briskly on the treadmill for 5 minutes, then starting to work in some jogging. After a minute of jogging (5-6mph) my heart rate was at 175 or so. I slowed it down to 4mph and my heart rate dropped to 155. A minute and a half later, started jogging again with the same results, heart rate at 178 after only a minute. I don't know what to do... I might stop taking the adderall for a while until I get myself back into shape. :(
Don't forget to enjoy yourself! :)

Irrespective of whether I'm taking stimulants or not, my resting pulse is my indicator of how hard my next work out should be.

Recovery is key to taking advantage of my work out. If I can't recover well from the effort I'm putting out, then I'm slowing my advancement up by not taking time to recover.

My resting pulse is lowest late at night just before I nod off. Some folks find it lower just after they wake up. In the beginning I took my pulse daily until I knew what my normal lowest resting pulse was.

On a day were I've run hard, like today, I'd expect my pulse to be elevated. If it's up more than five beats per minute before my next work out I'll skip a day and recover more.

If I find my pulse has dropped below my normal resting rate by five beats per minute I know I can easily suck up an intense workout. I usually went way too hard and long, too often to make much headway. I see a lot of people making the same mistake.

Heart rate training (www.duathlon.com/articles/1460) is mostly dead easy.
Cheers!