Hey, all,


Just found this forum... looks like it will be good.

Anyway, I have a burning -- pun intended -- question: I recently started taking Adderall XR; and while I love the way it works, it is giving me rather nasty stomachaches.

Does anyone know of anything I can do or take that would help with this? Taking it with meals only seems to work partly, I guess because it's extended release...

Thanks in advance,

sywi

NOTE: This article does NOT necessarily reflect my opinions!

Adderall Side Effects

Adderall is a fairly new drug in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder.

Adderall, a “cocktail” mixture of four different amphetamine salts, was first developed about 20 years ago and marketed under the name Obetrol for weight loss and diet control. In 1996 the FDA approved Adderall for unrestricted use for treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder and Adderall is quickly becoming a physician favorite for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder in children.

If parents must choice a prescription ADHD medication, Adderall and Adderall XR is generally a better choice for many reasons.

Adderall last about six hours per dose and remains active in the body longer than a dose of Ritalin. This longer acting dose alleviates the need for school day dosing but will interfere with sleep if taking the Adderall medication in the afternoon or evening hours.

Adderall side effects are also often less harsh than Ritalin’s. Many patients report less “peaks and valleys” than Ritalin and less of a drop off (withdrawal) than Ritalin. Ritalin also tends to cause more stomach discomfort and tends to produce more moodiness than Adderall.

But, all Attention Deficit Disorder medication - Adderall included - has potentially harmful side effects. Adderall is an amphetamine that works on children in the same way amphetamines work on adults. Children are subject to the same adverse Adderall side effects as adults using amphetamines, with the most common amphetamine and Adderall side effects being loss of appetite, weight loss and insomnia.

In most cases, the Adderall side effects are mild but some Adderall side effects, though rare, are life threatening. Parents need to be clear about the benefits of Adderall medication as well as the potential Adderall side effects of using these drugs before choosing to place their child on prescription ADHD medication.

Adderall medication can be helpful in the short term in controlling Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms but many doctors feel the potential Adderall side effects should be carefully weighed before prescribing drugs like Adderall medication.

Common Adderall side effects include:

- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- insomnia
- headache
- dizziness

Other Adderall side effects include:

- nervousness
- irritability
- over stimulation
- restlessness
- unpleasant taste
- dry mouth
- nausea
- stomach pain
- diarrhea or constipation
- euphoria
- feelings of suspicion and paranoia
- addiction
- tolerance (constant need to raise the dose)

The following, though rare, have also been reported as Adderall side effects:

- Phonetic tics
- high blood pressure
- rapid pulse rate, elevated blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- hallucinations
- Tourette's syndrome
- cardiomyopathy
- if similarities to Ritalin hold, Adderall abuse can result in death

No one experiences Adderall side effects in exactly the same way. Parents should immediately alert their child’s doctor to any Adderall side effects experienced.

Fruit juices can lower absorption of Adderall. Alkalinizing agents such as Diamox heighten the absorption of Adderall medication. Thorazine, lithium, and Haldol can decrease the effects of Adderall medication. Tricyclic antidepressants may increase their levels when taken with Adderall medication.

Parents should note that serious, even fatal, Adderall medication interactions can occur if Adderall is taken with MAO Inhibitors.

Amphetamines like Adderall can impair judgment and the ability to engage in potentially hazardous activities like operating machinery, vehicles and sports participation.

Adderall medication has a high potential for Adderall abuse as well as addiction.

Amphetamines like Adderall should be administered at the lowest effective dosage and dosage should be individually adjusted to avoid Adderall abuse and harmful Adderall side effects.

When possible, Adderall medication should be stopped occasionally to determine if there is sufficient need for continued Adderall medication therapy.

It should also be noted that Adderall medication is not recommended for children under 5 years of age since safety and effectiveness has not been established in this age group.

ADDERALL ABUSE

Adderall is a reformulated version and close cousin of the ADHD medication Dexedrine. Dextroamphetamine (Adderall, Dexedrine) is classified as Schedule II controlled substance, a classification given to medical drugs with the highest abuse potential and dependence profile.

Drug Enforcement Agency data on methylphenidate (Ritalin, Conceta) and amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall) shows that both have high abuse liabilities. These substances are powerful stimulants and Adderall abuse, along with Ritalin abuse, is extensive.

Adderall abuse can lead to marked tolerance, escalation in Adderall dosages and addiction. Although the majority of Adderall abuse cases cited pertain to adults, case studies also profile adolescents who abuse their Adderall medication.

Other Adderall abuse reports students selling their Adderall medication to friends and schoolmates. Because Dextroamphetamine (street name “dexies”) can have a retail value in the high school parking lot, doctors often avoid prescribing Adderall medication to teenagers.

Individuals respond differently to Adderall medication levels and dosages. While toxic overdose symptoms are rare with doses of less than 15 mg, toxic Adderall xr symptoms occasionally occur at Adderall medication doses as low as 5 mg.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall) abuse produce behavioral and psychological effects similar to cocaine. The Adderall side effects of Adderall abuse include marked aggression and irritability, hyperactivity, and personality changes.

Abruptly stopping Adderall after prolonged high dosage Adderall abuse results in extreme fatigue and mental depression. The most severe, though rare, Adderall side effects of Adderall abuse is psychosis. This Adderall abuse side effect is often clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia.

Long-term methylphenidate and amphetamine use has also been linked to abnormalities in brain development, similar to those found with long-term cocaine use. Changes on the sleep EEG are also noted with Adderall abuse.

It is natural for parents to question whether taking a powerful stimulant like Adderall medication is in their child's best interests. Amphetamine stimulants like Adderall are worrisome for many reasons – predominately because of the potential for harmful Adderall side effects and high potential for Adderall abuse.

Source:
Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center (http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com/adderall_side_effects.htm)

except for dry mouth I take 240 mg of adderall a day and do fine on it. the xr i did not like. so i stuck to regular adderall.

oh yeah i forgot citric acid makes it not work well so does vitamin c fruit juices etc.

240mg?!?! Isn't that like... a HUGE dose?

I too get stomach upsets, I feel nausea and get sick a lot from adderall xr...I thought it was just me! Have you found any ways to cope with this?

You must be either mistaken on your dosage, or are overdosing on a daily basis. I take a larger amount of AdderallXR per day (25mg 2x daily) and I know that that is a very high dosage. Any more than that, I become jumpy, sweaty, my heart starts racing, pounding headaches, my face and ears flush bright red, and I get dizzy. While doeses in excess of 250mg are not necessarily fatal in most cases, I question the "Doctor" who is perscribing you that kind of dosage for attention defecit dissorder.

Furthermore, after a certain amount of the substance, your deplete the stored up dopamine in your system, so there is technically no benefit to taking a higher dosage.

oh i know the psycho doctor did have me on 240 and There were some problems
but i have switched doctors and am on 120 mg of regular adderall

I get severe stomach pains occasionally with my morning dose. My wife gives me my first dose when she gets up for work. I have her do this to get a head start on my incredibly long wake up routine.

The stomach pain doesn't happen everyday, seems like once or twice a week.

Anyway I never get it with later doses, so I'm positive it's simply an issue on an empty stomach. Try taking it with food. That should help.

I'm taking 10 mg Adderall XR twice a day, and other than elevating my blood pressure a bit, I haven't noticed other side effects. Without it, I'm in an Inattentive muddled fog. With it, I'm more awake, alert, and present. I've grown kinda fond of the stuff, myself.

Wait a minute, I did have headaches at first, but that stopped in a week or two.

Margreet.

Prettyperfect: 120mg per day of regular adderall is 3 times the highest dose prescribed daily for ADD. The max dose is 40mg daily and doctors RARELY prescribe more than that. (Unless it is Adderall XR) They might prescribe 10mg more than 40 and the MOST would be 60mg, and that would be 20mg over suggested daily allowence. Are you sure youre taking adderall??

yes im positively sure . I was on a much higher dose before . I have extremely severe ADHD .

60 mg is the reccomended daily dose by the fda by the way

Oh ya, then how come the book says 40.

P.S. The dose you need to take does not really depend on how severe your ADHD is. If it was that severe they would have you on more than one med instead of just giving you an unimaginable high dose of a stim. So..... I dont know what to say to you.. either you have a bad doctor or......................nm

I said the top recomended dose for ADD is 40mg. Just as stated in my earlier post doctors will sometimes take the dose up to 60mg, but that is still higher than the recomended daily amount of adderall for ADD. And that exactly what I said earlier.

The top recomended dose for NARCOLEPSY is 60mg! Do you have narcolepsy P?? We are talking ADHD here, not sleep disorders.

I think its important to note that FDA guidelines are just that, guidelines. ADD is very much an individual "experience". Each person has their own levels of ADD symptoms and "severity". Each person also has different brain chemistry and construction.

What does all this amount to? For each person, different meds and dosages will be necesary to acheive an "optimum level of performance". That can vary dramatically.

I know this post is pretty old but, I gotta say...I doesn't look like anyone mentioned that with decreased appetite, just eating a little something may take care of your stomachache.

Eating always works for me. Take it with breakfast.

yep , That's what I did when I started Adderall Xr , I always made sure I had a bananna , yogart , apple , anything small that I could eat ..
My pain came from empty stomach with lots of air inside ..

I've noticed that if I take my Adderall with food, it doesn't work... and I'm making sure to stay away from citric acid. Does anyone know why this happens? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Julie

I take 10mg of XR and they are blue capsules now. I thought they were green, maybe a higher dose. Will have to ask my Dr. I thought I could go without but it definately makes a difference.

I just wanted to thank everyone here for all the wonderfull information you give!! My seven year old son was recently diagnosed and put on 10 mg of Adderall XR daily and I was told by the doctor NOT to tell his teacher that he was being medicated, he wanted an unbiased meter of whether or not this was working. So far, her entries in his journal have been a bit more positive, although not a miracle cure, he is doing better in class. The only side effect I notice is that he seems very emotional, yesterday his teacher noted that he was "weepy and teary", has anyone else experienced this with Adderall XR? He also had a terrible headache last night, the water hitting his head in the shower was almost intolerable! I do appreciate any response.

I just wanted to thank everyone here for all the wonderfull information you give!! My seven year old son was recently diagnosed and put on 10 mg of Adderall XR daily and I was told by the doctor NOT to tell his teacher that he was being medicated, he wanted an unbiased meter of whether or not this was working. So far, her entries in his journal have been a bit more positive, although not a miracle cure, he is doing better in class. The only side effect I notice is that he seems very emotional, yesterday his teacher noted that he was "weepy and teary", has anyone else experienced this with Adderall XR? He also had a terrible headache last night, the water hitting his head in the shower was almost intolerable! I do appreciate any response.My sson who is 14 just had his adderal xr increased from 15mg to 20mg and the difference is well not good. He is very sullen, distant, almost depressed on it. His Dr. said this probably is not the medicine doing this as he is in a very moody age. I did an experiment with him and gave him the 15's again for 2 days and he was better. So.....I think it is the adderal at the higher dose. Anyone else?
Momofadder

I've been on adderall for 7 years now and i'm only 20. i do not recommend taking adderall AT ALL. stop your children from taking it now. it's biologically incredibly bad for you, not to mention the fact that dependence and abuse is inevitable. doctors say that if adderall is taken properly it's effects are minimal. come on now, i don't know anyone who takes it properly. the most common drug adderall is related to is cocaine...how does that make you feel about what you're doing to your brain? also, don't you think the irony here about addiction and adderall's cousin, cocaine, is undeniable? my advice for you mothers is to keep your children away from this substance until their brains have had a chance to develop properly. at the young age of 10, or even 15, the brain is still very much developing and it is common for children, especially males, to exhibit "ADHD/ADD-like" behavior. come on yall, that's what little boys are like. also, changing brain chemical levels at these young ages has significant implications on one's further neurological development. this is a proven fact. since this is a fairly new drug, the long term effects of it aren't documented. however, a raised blood pressure and increased heart is a huge deal. i can't believe i've done this to my body for so long. now if i don't take it i feel terrible and can barely get out of bed. it's so unhealthy to rely on a stimulant this powerful for everyday functioning. i regret ever taking adderall.

your children will become dependent on this drug and that is something you really don't want them to have to deal with. i understand that your doctor prescribed him the drug but you should really consider the serious issues that taking this drug implies. i find it interesting that it has come off the market in canada....don't you? i wonder how long it will take for america to take it off as well.

I am on 80 mg a day of regular adderall. Does that make me a freak?:p

re: #24

These are not research-based claims. (I studied Neuroscience at University with a top dopamine researcher's team.)

In fact --
Children who do not take ADHD meds during Childhood (like me) have a higher risk of becoming addicted to substances as Adults.

--> Nicotine abstinence is still a constant and daily struggle for me.

I wish I'd been diagnosed & on MEDS as a kid. :) I might have done better academically and socially. Maybe my future would not look so bleak, career-wise.

I think it is quite arrogant and dangerous of you to generalize that b/c Adderall was wrong for you, ERGO it must be wrong for everyone.

That is not logical.

--------------------------
I am sorry to hear about your heart and BP problems and withdrawal depression.

This situation must be so very hard for you. And i appreciate your attempt to warn other people about Adderall causing cardiomegaly and hypertension. [eg higher doses when combined with other risk factor can do this, IIRC] They are valid concerns.

Doctors prescribing Adderall are supposed to monitor Blood Pressure and do EKGs for monitoring the heart's status.

If your Doctor did not do this, it is not fair to deny the rest of us our medication. I think people need to understand that NOT TAKING MEDICATION can threaten our lives, too.

-------------------------------

Something to think about:

We can be injured in car accidents, slip and fall (done that), burn ourselves, lose our ID (done that), lose our jobs (done that), and fail in school (done that), due to this 'disorder'. Those situations threaten my ability to support myself, house myself, earn a living and basically function in life, which threatens my ability to survive, too.

My own Doctor seems to check my BP at every other app't, and I have had 2 EKGs at the lab/hospital, so far along.

I sincerely hope you get your situation figured out.

I've been on adderall for 7 years now and i'm only 20. i do not recommend taking adderall AT ALL. stop your children from taking it now. it's biologically incredibly bad for you, not to mention the fact that dependence and abuse is inevitable. doctors say that if adderall is taken properly it's effects are minimal. come on now, i don't know anyone who takes it properly. the most common drug adderall is related to is cocaine...how does that make you feel about what you're doing to your brain? also, don't you think the irony here about addiction and adderall's cousin, cocaine, is undeniable? my advice for you mothers is to keep your children away from this substance until their brains have had a chance to develop properly. at the young age of 10, or even 15, the brain is still very much developing and it is common for children, especially males, to exhibit "ADHD/ADD-like" behavior. come on yall, that's what little boys are like. also, changing brain chemical levels at these young ages has significant implications on one's further neurological development. this is a proven fact. since this is a fairly new drug, the long term effects of it aren't documented. however, a raised blood pressure and increased heart is a huge deal. i can't believe i've done this to my body for so long. now if i don't take it i feel terrible and can barely get out of bed. it's so unhealthy to rely on a stimulant this powerful for everyday functioning. i regret ever taking adderall.

your children will become dependent on this drug and that is something you really don't want them to have to deal with. i understand that your doctor prescribed him the drug but you should really consider the serious issues that taking this drug implies. i find it interesting that it has come off the market in canada....don't you? i wonder how long it will take for america to take it off as well.please get your facts straight.

firstly, it has been put back on the market in canada.

second, it's not a cousin of cocaine, you're thinking of ritalin.

also, i can name one person that takes their dose how they're supposed to, and then some. i've even lowered my dose and i've been on the same exact dose for 2 years now, after about a year of messing with it trying to figure out what was good for me.

sure, i have raised bp because of it, but it's not anything incredibly serious and nothing to fret about at the moment. i'd rather have raised bp than live my life how i used to before adderall.

again, please get your facts straight and stop quoting from books and magazine articles that you've read that seem like they're funded directly by the church of scientology.

if you're going to criticize it, at least do your homework and get up-to-date and correct data.

Upped his dosage to 15 mg daily, 10 seemed to "lose effect" (?) but 15, omg, that was bad........I am glad to hear that Adderall XR is helping others, but for my kid it was not good at all! Currently trying another route, behavioral therapy and DHA and while not drastic and immediate results, at least he isn't sullen and moody and he is eating again! The Adderall gave him bad headaches and pain in various parts of his body, just too many negatives. I pray we all find the help we all need, for us the Adderall just didn't do it.

60 mg is usually the highest amount insurance will cover. I have known people who were prescribed a very large dosage, like 200 and up, even a girl who was put on 80mg as her initial dose. So yes, many people take insanely high dosages. Adderall works different for different people. And while its disgusting on the doctors part (especially if the dosage has been upped to that due to the patient building a high tolerance) it is not unheard of, so chill out.

60 mg is usually the highest amount insurance will cover.Don't think that is the case everywhere? I think that is a broad statement?


I have known people who were prescribed a very large dosage, like 200 and up, even a girl who was put on 80mg as her initial dose. So yes, many people take insanely high dosages.
I haven't heard of anyone putting someone on 80mg right from the start, or anyone on 200mg? You have some statistics to back these very broad statments up? or was this one random incident that you are aware of?

We like to use them for reference we can review for ourselves?

Adderall works different for different people.Yes I agree.



And while its disgusting on the doctors part (especially if the dosage has been upped to that due to the patient building a high tolerance) it is not unheard of,
Is there something to reference this info so we can all review it?


so chill out.And the reason ADDF is here, is to "support" people and offer our experiences to help them with thiers. Who you are telling to chill out?

In the early stages of diagnoses, of ourselves or family members while, a relief to some degree, its still very difficult, going through the normal search for medications and treatments, that are a good balance if often, long , tedious, and frustrating. ADDF was designed for all of us to offer support, and get support.

Hibby , there are many meds out there. Adderall XR works great for me, But Concerta didn't, Focalin didn't ? But I never gave up. It takes time and is frustrating, but you will find something that works for your son. :)

60 mg is usually the highest amount insurance will cover.
Insurance companies do vary but I believe it is more often the case that the quantity per timeframe is considered over the dosage mg. It's an expense decision not a medical one. I've taken 75mg for some time now and it has been paid without question by 2 different insurance companies over the last 3-4 years.

75mg can be:
25mg X 3 per day for 30days at price bracket A. 90*A =$
15mg X 5 per day for 30days at price bracket B. 150*B =$$


And while its disgusting on the doctors part (especially if the dosage has been upped to that due to the patient building a high tolerance) it is not unheard of, so chill out.
If you are suggesting it is disgusting that doctors simply cash their patients check and prescribe whatever dosage they are asked for then I agree with you.. Otherwise, people need help, if a person's body chemistry and metabolism warrant a higher dose and the doctor is actually monitoring their status and activity then that's what they're there for...



:D
--MikeB

oh no not everywhere, I'm sorry I meant to say that. The people that I am speaking of are people i know personal, so I dont have any evidence of this. I was responding to a post made by a women whom said she takes 120 mg, and the response posts by people insinuating she didnt know what she talking about and that doctors wouldnt prescribe that much (with no data backing it up). I was just saying that a high mg is prescribed. I have no evidence of the doctor prescribing 80 mg the first visit, besides seeing the written rx in person. But I will look for some kind of data on the topic.

No, I mean its disgusting of doctors on the money issue, and also not maybe trying to figure out an alternative, a different medication of something. I mean, how long can you just keep getting your mg upped? You can hurt your body, and if a doctor just ups it and kicks you out like an assembly line, they are not helping you they are just giving you a quick and easy solution.

That is very true.. at some point an alternative needs to be tried rather than just upping and upping the dosage..


The people commenting on the >200mg would have to be taking over 6 capsules per day and getting 180 per month. I would want to switch to something else just for that reason alone..

please get your facts straight.

firstly, it has been put back on the market in canada.

second, it's not a cousin of cocaine, you're thinking of ritalin.

also, i can name one person that takes their dose how they're supposed to, and then some. i've even lowered my dose and i've been on the same exact dose for 2 years now, after about a year of messing with it trying to figure out what was good for me.

sure, i have raised bp because of it, but it's not anything incredibly serious and nothing to fret about at the moment. i'd rather have raised bp than live my life how i used to before adderall.

again, please get your facts straight and stop quoting from books and magazine articles that you've read that seem like they're funded directly by the church of scientology.

if you're going to criticize it, at least do your homework and get up-to-date and correct data.
i have stopped taking this med for two weeks before and never had a twinge so u madame are wrong.:soapbox:

You know, anecdotal references are never enough to prove anything. If every drug that caused a couple of people some problems or didn't work the way they were supposed to were taken off the market, we wouldn't even have painkillers. Aspirin, Tylenol, NSAIDs, have all been abused, have all had consequences for small numbers of people, and have all caused death or organ failure. My mother is permanently disabled because of a cholesterol-lowering drug that has been a lifesaver for my best friend's husband. Because of this, she's taking, without consequence, a painkiller that is very difficult to obtain because so many people brought suit against the manufacturer because it caused heart attacks. Go figure. The individual stories could be used either to take either of these medications off the market OR encourage their further use.

The reason there are so many different medications to treat the same conditions is that we all have individual genetic and chemical makeups that affect how we respond to the medications. If a medication has been shown to help a majority of people with side-effects within a safe range, it means that lots of people can use it safely to treat the condition it was designed to treat. If one or two people get no effect or bad side effects, it doesn't mean that the drug is a bad one that shouldn't be prescribed, it means that those one or two people should be using something different, not that it should be universally villified and taken off the market.

60 mg is usually the highest amount insurance will cover. I have known people who were prescribed a very large dosage, like 200 and up, even a girl who was put on 80mg as her initial dose. So yes, many people take insanely high dosages. Adderall works different for different people. And while its disgusting on the doctors part (especially if the dosage has been upped to that due to the patient building a high tolerance) it is not unheard of, so chill out.
my doctor prescribed me to 90mg XR a day and my insurance covers it. co-pay on 3 a day. pretty awesome.

except for dry mouth I take 240 mg of adderall a day and do fine on it. the xr i did not like. so i stuck to regular adderall.



Oh thank god... i have been desperately trying too find someone else whos taking 240 mg or more of adderall a day. Everywhere i go on the net i see people saying "90 mg a day? thats ALOT too be taking!". I can finally stop bein scurred. :D

The tolerence builds up fast..........when i started on 5 mg of aderall xr daily 2 years ago, i was in heaven, my lifetime depresiion finally broke and could think clearly and look at my old textbooks from school and thought " how could i have not understood this?

2 years later my prescribed dose of 80mg does not do a thing.....and would call myself close to addiction, ive taken as much as 600 mg in a day just to get that blissful clear state again............wish i never started.

I don't why doctors who keep prescribing higher dosage don't look for ways to fix it. Taking 240mg isn't severe ADD it means the medication is not working. For the most part you build up tolerance fast and have to take more to get the same effect. I can tell when my tolerance is building up, and the only way to fix that is taking drug holiday. I slowing take myself off Adderall each day then I do 2 weeks without taking my daily 30mg of Adderall. Or sometimes I stop taking it on the weekend. Afterwards when I start taking it again. I can feel the effects better, allot more stronger.

I'm pretty sure that the maxium dose of Adderall XR is 40 mgs. a day. I have just been put on this drug...so I've been doing the research. By giving you 120 or 240 mgs. could cost that Doctor his licence.
The Pharmacist could be in some trouble also.

I was on Dexedrine and so far I prefer it over the Adderall XR. I find there to be less side effects with Adderall

If you are getting negative side effects from your current dosage take less and maybe the stomach aches will go away.

over 150, you def' need to try something else.

taking your adderall with orange juice or drinking caffiene with it can give you stomach aches. and not to be gross but it's a known fact that "uppers" make you feel like you have to go number 2 (just giving you all aspects)

and i am a pharmacy tech., for recommended dosing it depends on the severity and the patient's health history. doctors actually try to stay with the lowest dose possible.

240 MG- the doctor should have his DEA license taken away. and most insurance companies would not accept that.

120 MG- i'm guessing 2 60MG tablets (B.I.D)- that's possible but rare

I so disagree with that earlier post about it being bad for you. If i had this given to me in high school and junior high i probaly wouldnt have graduated with barely a C average. I would have had A and Bs. I agree with all that you are saying here. I probaly wouldnt have become a crack addict if I had been on my adhd meds. I am clearer now than I have ever been in my life.

These are not research-based claims. (I studied Neuroscience at University with a top dopamine researcher's team.)

In fact --
Children who do not take ADHD meds during Childhood (like me) have a higher risk of becoming addicted to substances as Adults.

--> Nicotine abstinence is still a constant and daily struggle for me.

I wish I'd been diagnosed & on MEDS as a kid. :) I might have done better academically and socially. Maybe my future would not look so bleak, career-wise.

I think it is quite arrogant and dangerous of you to generalize that b/c Adderall was wrong for you, ERGO it must be wrong for everyone.

That is not logical.

--------------------------
I am sorry to hear about your heart and BP problems and withdrawal depression.

This situation must be so very hard for you. And i appreciate your attempt to warn other people about Adderall causing cardiomegaly and hypertension. [eg higher doses when combined with other risk factor can do this, IIRC] They are valid concerns.

Doctors prescribing Adderall are supposed to monitor Blood Pressure and do EKGs for monitoring the heart's status.

If your Doctor did not do this, it is not fair to deny the rest of us our medication. I think people need to understand that NOT TAKING MEDICATION can threaten our lives, too.

-------------------------------

Something to think about:

We can be injured in car accidents, slip and fall (done that), burn ourselves, lose our ID (done that), lose our jobs (done that), and fail in school (done that), due to this 'disorder'. Those situations threaten my ability to support myself, house myself, earn a living and basically function in life, which threatens my ability to survive, too.

My own Doctor seems to check my BP at every other app't, and I have had 2 EKGs at the lab/hospital, so far along.

I sincerely hope you get your situation figured out.[/quote]

Does anyon'es heart flutter on 15 mg of adderall? This is just day 4 for me and this is the day the fluttering started. I take regular formula adderal. I do not take any other medication and am really concerned. Also I do not have a pre-existing heart condition and my blood pressure was measured today because I was so worried and it was 100/70. Any help understanding this would e very much appreciated.

Thank you.

It can't raise yoru stress levels some, I have felt like my heart is fluttering but I have been studied (including an EKG) and it came back normal. It maybe your dosage is too high (mine was at that point).

Fast heart beat is listed right in the medication guide that comes with it. It occurs in about 6% of patients who take it, remember it is stimulant. It can be a real issues if you have any congenital heart issues so make sure you tell your doc.

PEPTO BISMO! Champion of all anti-acids! I keep my cabinets stocked just for the that purpose. Plus, it rids of the nausea too!

I take 50mg vyvanse for adhd. Was on 30mg addy xr but that wasn't cutting it. I think its time to up my dose again. Just not workin like it used to maybe 60 or 70 next or I might see if dr will put me back on xr twice a day

My Psychiatrist has me on 150mgs Adderall IR. It is spread through out the day. I usually take 60mg in the morning which last anywhere from 3-4 hours and and then I spread the dose out to get me through the day. My Psychiatrist is well recommended in my area and those studies of max dosage were tested on children. I know doctors who prescribe up to 200mgs. It all depends on the person and the situation. Remember that the Adderall IR works only for 3-4 hours before it wears off. You can't believe everything you read on the intenet. You must trust your doctor.
Sincerely,
Jenn

I've been on generic 20 mg for a couple months now. I'm having a weird side effect I haven't seen discussed. I take the pill one morning and by night by feet are killing me so bad I can't walk. I'll lay off med the next day and by that night feet are finally getting better. So third morning I take it again, by night my feet, etc, etc. It didn't do it the first month or so, but now it's like clock work. I have some of the listed side effects to a minor degree, dry mouth, decreased appetite, but the good is really good. I can stay awake and focused; keep on going like the energizer bunny. Then I have to stop taking it the next day, because I can't walk from the pain in my feet. The good is good, but the bad is bad. Anybody else?

do they have a live chat on this forum? or is this it?

i personally will snack on something every 30 or so minutes.. what i found to work best for calming/preventing the aches is either a box of raisins or something similar to a nutri-grain bar..

I think that it's important to understand that IR and XR are two different types of Adderall (i.e.: dosing differs and they affect individuals differently). Some people have abnormally fast metabolisms and the IR hits its half life very quickly for them. In addition, people build tolerances according to their own individual physiology. While 100+ mgs might seem like a ridiculous dosage to you, in reality, it might provide an individual with the same effects that your smaller dosage does for you. In general, it's important to approach the subject of drugs with the understanding that they affect each individual differently, even if the difference is incredibly small, or even unnoticeable.

This is why guidelines exist as guidelines and not rules. They are based on the majority of a sample (or samples), and their applicability does not absolutely extend to the entire population of a drug's users. That is, they are there to guide prescription/usage rather than dictate it. Just as abuse doesn't necessarily mean the guidelines are being violated, as Adderall isn't prescribed exclusively for ADD/ADHD, violation of the guidelines does not equal abuse.

As for the OP, as previously stated, it may be due to lack of eating, or possibly due to malnutrition. You should maintain a regular and healthy diet supplemented with physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle. While antacids may relieve stomach discomfort, they also increase the bio-availability of the drug, especially if you're following the guidelines and avoiding acidic foods/vitamin c. This is potentially dangerous. The regular use of antacids can also lead to gastrointestinal problems down the road, so it's important to take preventative measures for these side effects rather than treating them after they occur. If you are just starting the drug, it's possible that these side effects are temporary and will fade as your body adjusts to the drug.

It's also possible that this isn't the drug for you, and they make a variety of different drugs to treat ADD/ADHD; perhaps you should speak with your doctor about trying a new medication if these symptoms persist.

I've been on generic 20 mg for a couple months now. I'm having a weird side effect I haven't seen discussed. I take the pill one morning and by night by feet are killing me so bad I can't walk. I'll lay off med the next day and by that night feet are finally getting better. So third morning I take it again, by night my feet, etc, etc. It didn't do it the first month or so, but now it's like clock work. I have some of the listed side effects to a minor degree, dry mouth, decreased appetite, but the good is really good. I can stay awake and focused; keep on going like the energizer bunny. Then I have to stop taking it the next day, because I can't walk from the pain in my feet. The good is good, but the bad is bad. Anybody else?

What are you doing that you need to stay awake and energized? While Adderall will keep you awake and focused, it's not creating energy -- that's impossible; it's telling your brain that it's not tired and it's causing certain chemicals to be released (e.g.: dopamine and serotonin). Your supply of these chemicals will eventually deplete, especially if you aren't eating properly or sleeping, and you will need to recover (i.e.: get a proficient amount of sleep, make up for missed sleep, and metabolize necessary nutrients). Running low on these chemicals can cause your body to feel all sorts of bad.

You need to get your energy from food, and preferably healthy foods. While junk foods might provide you with a buzz or what seems like a good source of energy, they're really just making things worse when you crash (and you will). Caffeine and other stimulants will also cause you to crash, as well as develop dependencies. If you drink coffee or soda/pop in the mornings and afternoons and you are staying up throughout the night, then you're going to experience withdrawal, which happens to suck with caffeine (the effects of withdrawal from caffeine include depression).

If you are staying up, and not in good physical health, this could cause the pains. It could be your body's way of telling you that you aren't healthy enough to stay up for this long, however, this could still be true even if you are in good physical condition.

If you're physically active while on Adderall, and not otherwise, then you could be experiencing soreness. If you've ever worked at a job where you need to stand/run around without sitting down for an extended period of time, then this should be familiar, or if you've ever lifted weights (properly) with the intent to build muscle.

Side effects of Adderall can include muscle soreness. If you're using it to stay up, you're probably using the medicine other than the way you were directed (e.g.: taking more than your prescribed dosage, at different times than you're prescribed, etc), and therefore side effects can be increased. Otherwise, you should talk to your doctor because even if something provides you with beneficial effects, it doesn't mean that it's healthy/right for your body/etc. Meth, heroin, and PCP provide users with plenty of beneficial effects, and obviously these aren't healthy and are certainly detrimental to one's health.

My advice would be not to use Adderall to pull all-nighters or as an energy pill (didn't your doctor go over how it isn't an energy pill and should not be used as one?). If it was healthy to do so, then they would sell Adderall at 7-11s and drug stores with all of the other energy pills, and plenty of people would use it constantly (pharmaceuticals = corporate business, and by law, corporations maximize profit, so if it was healthy to do so, then it would be done), however, Adderall is a controlled substance with potentially serious side effects for both regular use and misuse. Also, is it in your prescription details to irregularly discontinue use for days?

Use your medication as directed, and if you experience negative effects, then you should discontinue use and contact your doctor; your doctor should have informed you that potentially serious consequences can occur, especially from misuse (did your doctor warn you that, although it is a minuscule chance, you can die from even regular use of the drug?). If you are using your medicine as directed, or only in the morning, you might be experiencing a short term withdrawal from the drug if you are staying awake without having taken any for a particularly long time, and perhaps you need to adjust your dosage details, but that is for your doctor to decide, and not you or me (or anyone else here for that matter).

You'll notice that I'm telling you to be healthy and use your medicine as directed by a professional. Even if I said I was a doctor or a pharmacist, you would have no way of knowing if it were true, and the same goes for anyone else on this forum. Take everything you read here with a grain of salt, and seek all medical advice that necessarily needs to be correct from a doctor, not an anonymous group of strangers on the internet. That's not to say this isn't an amazing resource, rather I'm stressing the importance of integrity of information, and if it pertains to your health then you should seek information from a validated and creditable source, just as you can't quote wikipedia pages in a research paper (most of the time, anyway).

Why the lecture? You're saying that you're experiencing an irregular side effect that is serious enough to warrant stopping your medication. You obviously, at least to some degree, know that this isn't right to be experiencing this, so you should seek your answers from a source that is not only creditable, but from one that is familiar with your background and medical history (i.e.: someone who's qualified to answer your specific question that pertains specifically to your own health.).

Lack of sleep can also cause muscle soreness and pain. So if you are stringing all-nighters or getting very little sleep, this could be a potential source, especially when combined with Adderall.

adderall side effects includes increased heart rate.

I was on 10 mg adderall generic IR by barr/teva and felt this way.

now I am on 20 mg generic adderall by sandoz with no chest or heart problems.

also, you might consider switching to dexedrine also as it does not raise heart rate as much as adderall.

PEPTO BISMO! Champion of all anti-acids! I keep my cabinets stocked just for the that purpose. Plus, it rids of the nausea too!

Try to avoid

" Alkalinizing agents (eg, daily antacids, sodium bicarbonate, acetazolamide), furazolidone, MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, desipramine, protriptyline) because side effects such as increased blood pressure, headache, fever, and irregular heartbeat may occur"

and it also mentioned

"Do not take an antacid within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take Adderall ."

Just a friendly FYI

Im taking the Generic Amp mix salts ER, Adderall 30mg X BID (2 a day) it only last 4 hrs. I might have to take tablets to fill in the rest of the day (driving back home, make dinner and paybills). I've tried Vyvanse 70mg X 3 a day and this didn't last in my system. I have a very fast metabolizime and what my little brain got was just enough for me to be calm but I couldn't focus on projects or do any solving work that required attention. just felt like I was dreaming wait I do that anyways Space out! but more than ussuall. Tried Ritalin HATE IT! bad side affect almost like if I was taking some type of street drug..... yuk! and it last only less than 2 HOURS!! 10tabs a day SUCKED!!
I have a habit in taking naps on my lunch break, which It linkes to my ADD behavior (sleepy head). I noticed that taking Adderall works pretty well for me. I could focus on projects and I feel calm in stressfull times. I could even remember the last time I put my pen down. I could multitask with out missing a pace, I have a customer on the phone and by typing up a repair order for my tech to start his job, all at once!
I work at a very highly pace, stressfull, stimulating and noise job (service writer at a Harley-dealer) 5 years this month.
It seems that my RX is wearing off quickly and my doses get a bit, higher every time i see my Doc., but reading everyones elses dose..... I dont feel as bad now.
Sorry my stories are jumping on different subjects. Still working on that area.....