Hi everyone! I found out about this forum and have been lurking for a week or so. I'm praying some of You will educate me. I was previously on Ritalin 10mg twice a day. Three days ago I was put on Adderall 10mg Tablets SHI. I take one in the AM. The first day I fell back to sleep & didn't wake 'til noon. 2nd day layed around til 1pm. Today up earlier and trying, but no energy. Not sure if I feel any "clarity or hope". Anyone have this happen to them and then the meds started to help? I'm hoping it's just a matter of dosage or type of Adderall? What does the SHI stand for?
I read here on the forum that not all Adderall was created equal. Some people felt that generic wasn't as effective. I'm sure mine is generic. Like many of you, my life has been severely affected by my ADD (non-attention type w/ inner hyper-activity. My mind is like a slide show for those of you that are old enough to remember when slides were shown in school); & I'm really hoping with all my heart that this med will help me rescue myself from the caos & pain of having ADD & Depression. I will say that there may be slight improvement only because I am finally writing to you after promising myself to do it for 3 days. You guy's are so great to be here for others.
Knowing I can reach you through this forum is what has kept me going this past week! My Thank's To Those who Reply. Sincerely; Addeline

Hi there,

You mentioned that you were waking up for the last couple of days between noon and 1pm. Is that normal for you?

I'm not sure what the SHI stands for. You should ask your pharmacist, they should be able to tell you whether or not you're on a generic. It's possible if you're on the instant release Adderall it may not be a strong enough dose for you. I'd suggest talking to your doctor about it.

Best of luck. :)

Litarati...Thanks for the advice. Getting to sleep at night is hard for me, however once I'm awake in the AM I stay that way 80% of the time. I try to get up early everyday. I didn't know if it was common to sleep right after taking Adderall in the AM, or if my dose was inadequate. Addeline

Getting to sleep at night is hard for me
That's the story of my life! I can never fall to sleep until my brain is completely out of steam!

I didn't know if it was common to sleep right after taking Adderall in the AM, or if my dose was inadequate.
I also tend to fall asleep after taking my Adderal! Seems like I sleep better when I am dosed. Maybe it's because I can focus on sleeping deeper or something! Or maybe it's because I can focus on my dreams better, I really can't say, but I always awake feeling great.

It could be that you aren't adequately dosed, but that is something only you and your doctor can determine! Call your doctor and find out! 10 mg of Adderal doesn’t seem like much to me! I take 30 mg of Adderal XR, and 30 mg of IR once in the A.M., so 60 mgs total! But I'm a male, and not particularly small either! Not Fat, just bulky! LOL :D I can't believe I'm describing myself as bulky! LMAO :D I’ll put it to you this way, I weigh nearly 200 LBS.

Probably an average dose for a female weighing 130 LBS is probably anywhere from 20 mg to 40 mg. But, everyone is different; some need even more than I the 60 mgs, (Like I take) while others can hardly stand 10 mgs!

Your metabolism, weight, severity of ADD, and drug tolerance (or sensitivity) all play a part in what the best dose for you is! As I said earlier, you should just call your doctor and discuss it. The goal is to only take enough to make it therapeutic for your ADD but not feel speedy!

Good Luck! :)
*~ §EEK ~*

Hi everyone! I found out about this forum and have been lurking for a week or so. I'm praying some of You will educate me. I was previously on Ritalin 10mg twice a day. Three days ago I was put on Adderall 10mg Tablets SHI. I take one in the AM. The first day I fell back to sleep & didn't wake 'til noon. 2nd day layed around til 1pm. Today up earlier and trying, but no energy. Not sure if I feel any "clarity or hope". Anyone have this happen to them and then the meds started to help? I'm hoping it's just a matter of dosage or type of Adderall?
ADDELINE - Take in mind that I am a newbie to Adderall, and my only other med experience is with ADD treatment is caffeine, nicotene, and Wellbutrin. If more experienced ADDer's contradict my statements, I would give their comments more weight.

First of all, I do not take Adderall in the early AM. I THINK it may cause the same effect that you experienced. I have no experience with the other stims, but here is what I have noticed with Adderall. I am perfectly capable of sleeping (very soundly and wake early feeling truly rested) after taking Adderall evene as late as 9:00 PM (although you will find that late night doses are not usually advised. As opposed to caffeine and Wellbutrin effects, Adderall does not "compel" me into action... it only allows me to be deliberate with actions that I decide to take.

Caffeine and Wellbutrin were good at compelling me to "do something," but did not affect my main ADD symptoms. I was active and chaotic... not entirely a bad thing, but did not address the true nature of my ADD. I have to remember, when taking Adderall, to give myself tasks to manage. I am very open to engaging (and completing!) a task, but if I don't tell myself to be proactive, I am fine just relaxing and enjoying linear thinking. My wife (or any third party) is very nice to have around to offer a schedule or tasks for the day.

What does the SHI stand for? I read here on the forum that not all Adderall was created equal. Some people felt that generic wasn't as effective. I'm sure mine is generic. Like many of you, my life has been severely affected by my ADD (non-attention type w/ inner hyper-activity. My mind is like a slide show for those of you that are old enough to remember when slides were shown in school); & I'm really hoping with all my heart that this med will help me rescue myself from the caos & pain of having ADD & Depression. I will say that there may be slight improvement only because I am finally writing to you after promising myself to do it for 3 days. You guy's are so great to be here for others.
My presriptions have a letter code after a "TAB" label that indicates the manufacturer. Mine says "BARR" (which some have the least effect with), and I have never had any others. I assume the fillers or incative ingredients may play a role in delivery and effect, but like I said, I am a newbie and probably can't offer any useful advice. "SHI" seems to indicate Shire, but like the previous poster said, the pharmacists are most knowedgable on these matters, so that should be your true source for information.

As a word of encouragement, dosages, times of adminsitration, and just "certain days" in general seem to effect the level required for therapeutic effects for me. What works as a therapeutic effect one time may seem too little, little too much, or almost counterproductive at other times. Some days, I don't think any dose will really do the trick... might as well be unmedicated on those days.

Keep in mind that meds will usually only be a tool in your toolbox. I use bi-weekly therapy and feedback from my family to try to help plan and manage my times when I am both medicated and unmedicated.

Knowing I can reach you through this forum is what has kept me going this past week! My Thank's To Those who Reply. Sincerely; Addeline
Ditto! I was pretty much as dispairing lurker on this board before I found a therapeutic med. Now I am participating more both on and off meds. I don't get so lost in this overwheming mass of resources, and when I am on meds, I don't tend to skim posts looking for "key words" or skipping long paragraphs altogether. There are many generously informative posters out there (thank you guys!) that can help if you have the ability to use this forum as a tool. Best of luck, and thanks for sharing!

ChaoticOrder

Thank's to 'Seek' & 'Chaotic' for all the great information. I will follow your advice when I see my MD and let you know the result. As the days have progressed I feel I must need a higher dose as I feel like I could sleep all day, if I didn't drag myself through my work day! However, as night falls my mind starts going and sleep is impossible w/o meds. My body is not hyper however. Like alot of members, I'd love something that would 'wake me up & get me showered & dressed' in the AM; but that's not gonna happen!

You guy's are great to take time to help me!
Thank You; Addeline

I'd love something that would 'wake me up & get me showered & dressed' in the AM!Yeah! :) And fix my breakfast, fix my lunch, fix my dinner, go to the grocery store, make sure I go visit my parents more regularly, drive me to work every day, pick me up, better yet just go to work for me and bring home the money, mow the lawn, paint the house, trim the hedges, change my oil, check my tires, record all my favorite television shows, keep my car filled with gas, check my teeth for cavities, do my taxes, pay my bills, remind me to take my meds, remind me to go to bed, make sure I get out of bed, fix my coffee, wash the dishes, do the laundry, iron the clothes...

But most off all, be 100% FREE, dont' cause any side effects or hang-overs, and taste just like the finest chocolate!! :D :) :cool:

Yeah, that's what I want!!

Hehehe....:)



Peace Sweet Addeline,*~ §EEK ~*

Dear 'Seek';

Finally soneone who understands me! I want all of that too!

Addeline

I find it pretty useless to take my first dose until I'm up and moving. Also, I have to eat before take my first dose or I won't do it later and I'll end up tired and tummy achy. But no, it doesn't kick start me in the morning either. I get ready for my day then take the Adderall when I'm ready to start doing stuff.
I find that sometimes it makes me yawn a lot and I'll feel a bit tired but as long as I stay active I'm ok. Then again, I'm usually tired anyway. :P

And when y'all find that magic chocolatey life pill, I WANT SOME!!! ;)

OK; no 'Get Up & GO' feelings in the AM w/ Adderall. The Mornings are the very worst part of my day. (I also have Depression Issues which might contribute to the inability to function in the AM). Is there an ADD med that will 'Crowbar' me out of bed and help me function and perhaps give me enough energy to get going in the Morning? I really need help starting the day. Thanks! Addeline

Addeline,
Are you taking any medications for depression and/or anxiety??
Also, did your doctor increase your dosage of Adderall??

Regards,
*~ §EEK ~*

Addeline,
Are you taking any medications for depression and/or anxiety??
Also, did your doctor increase your dosage of Adderall??



Regards,*~ §EEK ~*


Hello Seek...Sorry to take so long to reply. I'm on Lexapro & Wellbutrin for my depression. It's not a cure and truthfully I don't feel any better, except that I don't cry at the drop of a hat anymore, so I suffer less embarassment I guess! Will see my shrink soon! Still hoping for a burst of energy in the AM!
Addeline

I'm on Lexapro & Wellbutrin for my depression. It's not a cure and truthfully I don't feel any better, except that I don't cry at the drop of a hat anymore, so I suffer less embarassment I guess! Will see my shrink soon! Still hoping for a burst of energy in the AM!
AddelineJust wanted to chime in here (I think I forgot to welcome you) and say WELCOME ADDELINE!

And being the me that I am? I am gonna say more :D....

I have taken many antidepressents (I also tote the depression gene along with the ADD gene) and honestly? I would have to agree with you. Many of the symptoms that were ascribed to depression did not respond at all to the meds and in fact, I kinda think some of them got worse :eek: ! If those antidepressent were supposed to relieve my irritability and improve my short-term memory? They have failed utterly!

Here's the thing: It is possible to have both depression and ADD and different meds could easily be needed to treat both conditions in that case. Right now I can happily report that the Cymbalta I am currently taking does help the depression symptoms that belong to the depression. The Concerta I take helps the ADD symptoms that properly belong to the ADD. Many diagnoses share commonalities and it can be rough to get everything diagnosed and treated correctly.

Hang in there! I hope your psydoc is a good one and between the two of you you find what works for you :).

For the record my meds don't kick me in the rump in the AM either. I just accept that I am gonna be a bit sluggish and try not to put too much on myself during the period until my meds kick in. There is a lot I am able to get set up the night before to plan for that period of time when I am know I will be walking around going "Wha? Huh?" and waiting for my meds to gradually take effect.

Hey maybe we could hire people to physically kick us in the morning! I am sure somebody out there needs a few bucks and would be glad to kick a person :p...J/K, and take care.

Crazy :)

Hey there....and welcome. Hope things have gotten better for you. When I was given my prescription I was told to take between 5mg and 20mg 3X daily..starting low and working my way up and figuring out what dosage works best for me. I hope you are able to do the same. I also deal with depression periodically as well as with anxiety. Apparently it's all interconnected. I take my anti-depressant at night and my other meds during the day. Could they be counteracting each other? I don't know if someone already mentioned that...but it might be something to ask about. Looking forward to hearing your success story. :)

Thanks for the Valuable input from you both. I am taking notes from the posts to bring w/ me to my MD appt so that I can hopefully espress myself half as eloquently as you both, and also be understood.

Everytime I am at my psychdoc I feel like I am unable to get my med issues out. In the past I've stared at his pen or tie, and Bam!!!, the appt is over. Or I worry about the cost and feel so defeated. However...this time I will pretend that you are all there with me and I will be assertive, informed, and to the point, instead of blaming everything on myself and secretly hating the inept person I am, all thewhile thanking the MD and staff for taking my $$$ and sending me off with the same old inneffective Rx for the third year in a row. Thank's for cheering me on. I will post after my appt to let you know how 'WE' did!

Sincerely; Addeline

Will be looking to see how "we" do :) and best wishes!

Crazy

Crazy Feet...Please keep me informed re/ your progress. I am interested in trying Cymbalta since you have had such good results. I am worried that it may make me tired all of the time, however. Do you or did you have that problem? What time of day do you take it? It would be lovely to have something I could really depend on for Depression.
As you know, Depression is serious business. I think of it as Cancer of the soul. Depression is so insidious because it is not terminal & does not end you life...It makes you do that yourself.

A

Addeline,
I'm actually quite irratated right now because I typed a semi-long explanation (and offered humorous examples) about a book I read, that I really think is the most helpful thing I ever ran across for depression and anxiety! However, a slip of the finger and *~POOF~*, everything I typed to you was gone in an instant! So, now I'm in a bad mood and I'm not feeling particularly humorous! Therefore you are getting the short, non-humorous, to the point version of my previous post I typed and accidently deleted!

I was diagnosed with dyslexia in 1975!
Since 1975 I have seen a rediculous amount of professional medical people with various letters behind their names for a variety of emotional issues! Among them, depression and anxiety!
In 1995 after I had battled severe anxiety and depression for nearly 8 of the last 32 years of my adult life, I finally found out I had ADD! Also around this time I started seeing a clinical social worker for marital councelling! The clinical social worker couldn't save my marriage but she did suggest that I check out a $5 book called "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns!

I stumbled upon the book later in a book store while I was looking for books on ADD! So, I glanced at the book and ended up buying it immediately! To my suprise, I got more out of the "Feeling Good" book than I ever got out of the 30 years of psychotherapy. The book offers you tools to "Think about your Thinking" and these tools "Help you Help Yourself" with depression and anxiety issues!

Obviously after 30 years of psychotherapy, I'm probably the most skeptical person you will ever meet when it comes to shrinks, and/or, self-help books that promise to cure you of depression and anxiety! None-the-less, I bought the book, and quite frankly, I was blown away!!!!!!

Within the pages of the "Feeling Good" book I found all the answers I was searching for over the years, and I haven't needed to see a psychotherapist since! I imagine there are some people that find "Talking" to a professional very theraputic and find it very helpful to "Talk" to someone about their problems! However, for me I'd rather "Talk" to a good friend, or to my own mother, rather than some stranger! So having 10 years of cognative therapy crammed into a $5 book was exactly "what I needed"! (I was going to write, exactly "what the doctor ordered", but unfortunately that just isn't and was never the case!) :)

I'm simply too impatient to sit thru 1 hour sessions with some doctor once a week to get the tools I need to feel better! Besides, most of the time we would spend 30 minutes of the 1 hour session talking about the medications that weren't working! It simply isn't an efficiant use of time! Usually, I got the most help the very last session before my health insurance completely ran out! LOL :D Boy that's helpful! :)

So.....do I still take antidepressants??? Absolutely YES!!! Occasionally, I find that I need a antidepressant, but most of the time, the ADD medications are enough! When the ADD medications are NOT enough, then I pull out the "Feeling Good" book and start "Thinking about my Thinking"! When that doesn't work anymore I then will go to my general practitioner and seek out antidepressants and/or anti-anxiety medications. If that doesn't work, then I will go to an ADD Doctor! But, I've had only one incident where I needed to go to the ADD Doctor in 11 years, and a simple change in ADD medications did the trick! Which by the way, I also got more help out of the ADD books I have read, than from any ADD Doctor I've seen!

Sorry I wasn't my usual upbeat self in this post! But, you know why! :)

Anyway, perhaps you might find the "Feeling Good" book as helpful as I did! It's worth a try isn't it? Oh and by the way, I work in Radiology and have no association with Dr. Burns and his book what-so-ever! Except for buying and reading it! Oh yes, and giving away every single copy I have ever owned! LOL :D

It seems like now days you can't spit without knocking down a depressed person everywhere you go! LOL :D Which is why I always end up giving the stupid book away! I can't stand the thought of someone else suffering endlessly with anxiety and depression for as long as I once did! :)

Anyway, take care,
Good luck,
and....

Peace,
*~ §EEK ~*

Hello dear Addeline,
I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago and started on Strattera. I took it for almost 3 weeks, but the side effects were terrible (spacey, dopey, etc). My husband liked the fact that I was easier to get along with: not as snappy and impatient. Strattera didn't really help my focus any. My doc and I changed me to Concerta. Concerta is working well for me for focus (still tweaking the dosage), but Strattera had one effect that I didn't notice until I stopped taking it: I woke up fresh and ready to go each morning! I am NOT a morning person. I have to set my alarm for at least an hour before I actually have to be up, and then I run on autopilot for another hour or so. With Strattera, I woke up (as in WIDE awake) on the first buzz of the alarm. Waking up like that was really annoying and weird at first, but now that I am back to the old way, I realize that I really liked being functional right away. It didn't "crowbar" me out of bed, but it did make it much easier to face the morning.

BTW, the first day or two that I took the Concerta, I got sleepy too (couldn't figure out why I was drowsy on a stim). One of the first few days, I got a headache too and took excedrin....and promptly slept for 3 hours....on a stim and caffeine! Go figure!

I think I'm going to talk to the doc about a very low Strattera dose along with the Concerta to see if I can get the "best of both worlds".

I hope you get your meds worked out...it is incredibly frustrating!!!! Hang in there....you're not alone!

Well...Here is an update as promised:

Adderall at 15mg IR twice per day. I notice slightly improved concentration...however I'm still mentally scattered, apathtic, and have little to no motivation.

That said...Believe it or not, I'm actually truly hopeful that I may be on the correct path to gaining a bit of light at the end of my personal tunnel of despair!

Why??? B/C today I increased my dosage (on my own) to 20mg and 2 to 3 hours later I can report for sure that I feel a positive 'difference' in my over-all well being for the first time since starting Adderall. It is just a slight difference, mind you... (Sadly; as I'm typing this I am just now feeling 'it' disapate...and that sucks, & is depressing. Perhaps Adderall *'wears off' fast on me;(*for want of the correct technical term!)?
Anyone else have the same reaction? Would think to try the ER (or is it XR) version however that's not an option on my ADD afflicted budget.

Still I remain cautiously optimistic despite my:
'Falling Hair'?, 'Extreme Sleepiness' & 'Increased Appitite/Weight Gain'!
YIKES!!! (The Dreaded 'Triple Wammy' of Negative Side Effects!!!)
Why??? BECAUSE...my concentration has improved. Yeah!

I will report again after my next appt. (I'll have to go back to taking the lower dose 'til then as I won't have enough meds to last if I take the (only slightly effective yet oh so promising) higher 20mg dose).

My thanks to all who have helped me thus far. My fondest Hopes are to be able (and qualified) to return the favor in some small way to all who reached out to me; and Secondly; To "PASS ON" to other members in need the Hope, Patience and Knowledge this Forum has, and continues to share with me.

"Pass It On" everbody...My New Mantra! Yeah!

Sincerely; Addeline



Hoping To See The Light; Addeline

Hello dear Addeline,
I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago and started on Strattera. I took it for almost 3 weeks, but the side effects were terrible (spacey, dopey, etc). My husband liked the fact that I was easier to get along with: not as snappy and impatient. Strattera didn't really help my focus any. My doc and I changed me to Concerta. Concerta is working well for me for focus (still tweaking the dosage), but Strattera had one effect that I didn't notice until I stopped taking it: I woke up fresh and ready to go each morning! I am NOT a morning person. I have to set my alarm for at least an hour before I actually have to be up, and then I run on autopilot for another hour or so. With Strattera, I woke up (as in WIDE awake) on the first buzz of the alarm. Waking up like that was really annoying and weird at first, but now that I am back to the old way, I realize that I really liked being functional right away. It didn't "crowbar" me out of bed, but it did make it much easier to face the morning.

BTW, the first day or two that I took the Concerta, I got sleepy too (couldn't figure out why I was drowsy on a stim). One of the first few days, I got a headache too and took excedrin....and promptly slept for 3 hours....on a stim and caffeine! Go figure!

I think I'm going to talk to the doc about a very low Strattera dose along with the Concerta to see if I can get the "best of both worlds".

I hope you get your meds worked out...it is incredibly frustrating!!!! Hang in there....you're not alone!Thanks for mentioning the "Wide-awake" effect from strattera bbduck1! I have also noticed a significant change in how I feel when I first wake up while on strattera! It's almost as if I sleep-walked into the kitchen and fixed myself a couple of cups of coffee, then went back to bed and awoke wide awake! I have never been a morning person, but this strattera may just turn me into one! LOL :)
I never had this effect happen when taking any antidepressants or stimulants! The strattera might be something to keep in mind Addeline, if your still have trouble getting out of bed! :) However, I haven't been on strattera long enough to know whether it will work well for me with the focusing and motivation yet.

Peace,
*~ §EEK ~*

The Book sounds great 'Crazy Toes'! And only $ 5.00...Wow...It's on my list.


Pduckie & Seek...

Strattera is sounding so perfect for Morning alertness! I'm so happy that you guys posted this b/c I was under the impression Strattera made most everyone sleepy/tired & kinda down. How great that it's worked for you both in the same way!
I will fly this by my Doc at my next appt for sure! Thank's to you guys for sharing this news with me!

Addeline

The Book sounds great 'Crazy Toes'! And only $ 5.00...Wow...It's on my list.
:D LMAO at "Crazy Toes"!!! hehe :D Perhaps you meant "Crazy Feet"?? LOL :D
You always make me giggle Addeline!!! That must be what I like about you!!! :) That, and all your positive comments in your posts! :)

Well, I didn't see a $5 book mentioned by anyone else but me, so I guess you meant the book that I mentioned!

What a humorous nickname "Crazy Toes" is! For some reason that just cracks me up today! LOL :D

Thanks for the chuckle Addeline! I needed a good laugh today! Isn't ADD funny sometimes?? :)

Peace,
*~ §EEK ~*

Pduckie & Seek...Pduckie also made me laugh Addeline! Could Pduckie be a Pdiddy relative perhaps?? LOL :D (BTW, Pdiddy = "Puff daddy" = Sean "Puffy" Combs, who happens to be musician Addeline)

I'm not making fun of you Addeline!! :)
Don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances to point out my silly errors too! :)

We need to get you properly medicated girl! :)

Take care sweetheart!

And again, thanks for both chuckles today! :D (Also see post above!)

Peace,
*~ §EEK ~*

Aaahhhhhh...Seek...

Many people in my life have wanted to see me get 'Properly medicated'!

However, you are the first that has my best interest in mind! Sorry about the book reference!

Re/ my 'nicknames', they are just my little way of amusing myself to bring some smiles to my often dreary/sad day! So *~SEEK~*, I thought and thought for a 'nickname' for you but guess what???? Your ADD name is already so cool...and it makes me smile so
my work here is done!

Addeline

Re/ my 'nicknames', they are just my little way of amusing myself to bring some smiles to my often dreary/sad day! So *~SEEK~*, I thought and thought for a 'nickname' for you but guess what???? Your ADD name is already so cool...and it makes me smile so my work here is done!

AddelineThanks for the compliment! :)