Or, perhaps I'm expecting too much. I understand that no medication is a magic pill and will not "magicall" make the symptoms of ADD disappear. However, I would expect that after uping my dosage to 30mg XR I would certainly feel something.

I am a 35 year old recently diagnosed with innatentive type add. I am constantly tired, and other things have been ruled out. I find that my biggest problem is too much or more often too little mental energy. I get plenty of sleep, but even after 8 hours of sleep I wake up equal to if not more tired than when I went to bed. In fact most nights I have to force myself to go to bed at 11:00 when I'm on my computer, working on school projects, or doing something productive. Yet, if I set down to watch a great show, or an exciting book at say 8:00 I will fall asleep within 10 minutes.

Most often I struggle to focus on what I am doing and end up starting a million little projects before ever starting one. I find it easier to get things accomplished when I am around people, but then my mind usually races in a million different directions on what to talk about. I also work much better under time constraints, procrastinating until the very last minute. In fact my college professors often commented on my work when I would wait until the last minute to finish the papers, rather than when I spent time working on them. I often fail to see, act on, or work through the details and end up only working on the finished product. Though other times I focus sooooo much on a minute detail that I can't leave it alone long enough to get the product finished.

Because of these things I have been fired from a previous job, and have never had a lasting relationship, prior to meeting my current wife. I have also found a great job that I like tremendously. I was becoming very fearful of life because just when things begin to look like they are good, something always happens and my life gets turned back upside down. For awhile I never minded this occuring because it was in those times that I felt I had the most energy. When things were new, and I was looking for the next thing in my life. However, with these things I knew I had a good thing and didn't want to lose them.

I began to struggle with exactly what was/is wrong with me and started on a serious exercise program, tried nutritional advise, and even tried religion for awhile all of which did very litte for me over all. I found a couple of books Driven to Distraction, and So you Mean I'm not lazy... These books and the stories within them fit me to a T! I was happy that I had FINALLY figured out what was "wrong" (or right depending on how and when you look at it) with me for so long. I went to a psychiatrist who after learning that I had recently finished my Master's in Special Education stated..."Well you know more about ADD than I do...What can I do for you?" After a short discussion we decided to try medication, and ended up trying Adderall.

After a month and a half, and slowly increasing my dosage to the now 30mg of XR there has been very little if no change due to medication. I am more aware and understanding of what is happening which has helped, but the medication I feel nothing. I have also been put on Wellbuterin which has helped tremendously with my depression. I am not nearly as concerned with the things that I can't control, and don't fret over little things I knew once bothered me. It's not that they CANT bother me, but unless I'm really thinking about how things are...I typically just don't feel depressed anymore if ever.

I was hoping the Adderall would have a similar effect. In which my mental energy would even out and become more regulated. This would help with so many of the symptoms I have thanks to ADD.

COuld the fact that the 30mg are not doing much if anything mean I don't have ADD? Has anyone else had similiar reactions to Adderall, or other meds? Did anyone actually read this far! I'm not sure how this post became so long, but that's probably a pretty good example of how ADD works!

It's possible that 30mgs is too small of a dose for you or Adderall isn't a good match for your ADHD.

LOL - I just skimmed (your post). My Adderall (IR) wore off hours ago and I can't read anything too long.

COuld the fact that the 30mg are not doing much if anything mean I don't have ADD?
Nah. There are so many factors to consider, who can say "it should be working" or "it shouldn't be working?" In any case, just because the 3/4" wrench doesn't fit, doesn't mean you don't have a few nuts and bolts loose :P

wow, reading the description of your symptoms, it's me almost exactly (though i definitely don't have the discipline to go to school, much less get a Masters degree). I'm 36 and just took the test a few days ago which indicated a 99.99% chance of a serious problem. If I'd just come to this forum a long time ago and read some posts, I'd have realized what it was long before now. I'd say I was glad not to be alone, but I'd rather none of us was saddled with this problem....

Anyway, no help here, I'm just learning a bit, but "glad" to learn from your experiences. I've been taking Provigil for the past 3 days, but feel nothing from it, except perhaps a slight pressure in my head. My dad (a psychiatrist who has suffered attention and memory problems since a nasty concussion years ago) swears by it, says it's really improved his life, helps him focus without the paranoia he had with Adderall, but mild and non-invasive. So far I'm not getting that, hope it starts to work, because I'm not too inspired by a lot of the negatives I'm reading here about the commonly prescribed drugs....

good luck!

Well it might not be a high enough dose for you.Also it could be what you eat in the mornings that cancels the medication out.
Orange Juice will make it Break down faster or ineffective. (vitamin C)
If you take Vitamins, take them at night instead.
Anything with Ascorbic acid, or folic acid can break the medicine down faster as well. Check the labels on foods before you eat them in the morning. That might be the problem. Also, you might need more medication to feel an effect. You shouldn't feel high or anything but more focused. You might want to get an ADD workbook so you can change your habits as well. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will help with that. Don't give up just yet. There are so many other things you can try. :) Good luck!

I think your in the same boat as a lot of us are. There are so many factors, and it seems to me that most of us have other symptoms then just the "generic ADD". Whether it's the untreated ADD for a long period of time that causes the other symptoms, or whether it's actually different things going on at the same time is sometimes hard to tell.

I have the same exact symptoms as you. My main complaint over all these years has been a feeling of chronic fatigue. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what will work for me, or at least what can I do to function at my best. Here's a breakdown of my story and Diagnosis with Approximate age timeline.

Doctors have diagnosed me with a few things.
1. Minor Depression
2. Clinical Depression
3. Depression w/ Bi-polar Disorder
4. Depression w/medically induced Bi-polar
5. Clinical Depression w/ Anxiety Disorder
6. Sleep Apnea
7. Adult ADD w/ possible Depression and/or Anxiety Disorder
8. Adult Add w/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Depression and/or Anxiety Disorder
...

And I always feel that I am close to figuring out what is going on with me, but never fully. I don't know whether to take comfort in the fact that things are a lot better for me, or should I keep pursuing other answers, medications, treatments etc...

At age 18-21
Originally I was diagnosed with Depression both at age 17 and then again at 21. I was treated with Tofranil for my first mild depression, and then later at 21 I was hit with severe deperession. So bad that I barely get up in the morning, and I found it hard to stay awake at all. It was as if my entire body ached, and I was in a Flu-like fog without the fever. At that time I was prescribed Zoloft, which turned my world around the first day I took it. (Now of course I had other symptoms thoughout my childhood and early adulthood that went unnoticed, but I'll get to that). So here I was on Zoloft, feeling better than I had in years. Unfortunately the depression returned six months later and I felt that the Zoloft wasn't really working anymore. At this point I was released from the military and began the journey of trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I forget now which med I was on next, but all I know is that it caused me to have intense highs and crashing lows.

At Age 22-25
At this point I was diagnosed as being Bi-polar, which I never actually agreed with, but I was trusting the professionals. I spent a few years in counseling at which point I had switched meds numerous times and eventually wound up on Paxil. Paxil opened up my world again very similar to the way in which Zoloft had done years ago. I was told that bi-polar was a misdiagnosis and my highs were actually medication induced. So I was agian being treated for Clinical Depression, although I believe I was taking Paxil and a mood stabilizer (i believe it was topamax?) at a low dosage.

After a few more years of cognitive therapy and medication, my "severe" depression was held at bay. But I still never felt 100%. I felt fatigued regularly, and began to feel more and more unfocused and a bit daydreamy. Like I was in a fog going through the routines of each day, but not really experiencing them. I sorta of felt neither real joy, nor real lows. Just kind of blah. At the time I had returned to part-time College and was working 2 part-time jobs. Throughout college, although I was capable and taking a computer Science curriculum, I dropped classes numerous times because of the overwhelming anxiety and my seemingly constant fatigue.

I had blood drawn numerous times to check for infections or Epstein Barr? with all test coming back negative. I eventually landed a job in Computer Information Systems, and decided to put college on hold. I am still currently working at that job today. At times I have taken classes here and there, sometimes self study; and although I have accomplished a lot, I have always felt that I was an under-achiever. I was still nagged by bouts of depression (although not as severe as when I was 21) and I felt both spiritually empty and my energy was again affecting my life. Although I was working, I came home many days at 4:30pm and fell asleep till the next morning only to still feel tired.

At Age 26
I eventually went back for more counseling and at a certain time I decided to take a sleep study. From the study I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I was given a C-Pap machine and It did actually help a little bit with my chronic fatigue. But I can't say that I ever felt a vigor for life. I was still just going through the motions.

At Age 27
At around the age of 27 a girlfriend I was living with and who was a counselor noticed a lot of sympotms that I had. Especially my poor orginaztion skills, and my lack of attention in areas that I did not find exciting. I went to a Psychiatrist who specialized in Adult ADD, and after three extensive appointments including interviews, tests, etc I was diagnosed as having Adult ADD.

At this time I tried two non stimulant ADD meds Straterra and another common one each for two months with no positive results. Then I was prescribed Adderall 20mg XR which again opened the world to me just like Zoloft and Paxil had in the past. I had my life back and again felt better than I could ever remember. I felt like I thought I should feel. That went on for about 8 months, and I don't know whether I screwed up at that point or whether the medication just wasn't working any longer. But the window that had opened seemed to close quickly. I wound up breaking up with my Fiancee and headed into a depression again. I began to self medicate with alcohol. And that surely wasn't making me feel any better (especially the next day). I continued like this for six months when I finally was arrested for a DWI. That was my low point, my rock-bottom so to speak.

At age 28-30
The next day I enrolled myself in an outpatient Psych treatment center to handle both my counseling and medication. I was agian Diagnosed with Clinicla depression (not bi-polar) with an Anziety disorder. I was put back on Paxil and they added Clonazepam (Klonopin) and took me off the Adderall. Things seemed to be going better, but again although I wasn't depressed I was slowly feelin the chronic fatigue build up. I was eating better, began the South Beach Diet, lossed some excess weight (30. lbs) was back on track in every other aspect, but yet I again didn't really have a zest for life. Mornings were ridiculous, and if left to my own I could literally sleep all day. Some days were better than others, but I was always feeling the walls closing in on me. Because of my procrastination and lack of attention, my finances were in complete shambles, I had a box of un-opened mail, I was constantly trying to cover my *** at work, and all of this led to complete exhaustion.

I finally had to delcare bankruptsy, when I got into a solo accident with my car (non-alcohol related) and I had not paid my insurance. I was over $40,000 ($20,000 being the uninsured car loan) in debt at that point with a horrible credit score, interest rates that would make anyone sick, and practiacally nothing to show for it. After the bankrupsty I vowed to get myself straightened out. I felt a trmenodus weight lifted off my shoulders. I bought a car for $2,000.00 (I still drive it today) and got myself back on track. I finally decided to leave the outpatient services and got involved with a new doctor, who re-diagnosed me with Adult Add. Although, we are still not sure exaclty what else is or may be going on with me.

Currently At Age 31
Six weeks ago I started back on Adderall 20mg XR. In the beginning I felt the Euphoric feeling. And I can't deny that although I knew it wouldn't last, that I welcomed it, just enough to get myself off the floor and get serious about my life. Right now, the Euphoric feeling as faded away (at about the 2 week mark), and I am feeling the signs of being somewhat tired, but I am pressing on. I don't feel 100%, but I feel better than I have in a long time. I honestly don't know if the Adderall will continue to work, or whether it's exactly right for me. The only thing I know is that it helps, and for the rest I do push myelf (like I know many of us have and do). I try not to wait till I am motivated anymore. Feeling Motivated is an emotion, and It's an emotion that I have in some sense allowed to control what I do and/or don't do. I don't wait for motivation anymore. I don't wait to feel like it, or feel good anymore. I just do what needs to be done, and sometimes after beginning something the motivation kicks in. I think that the Adderall (rather than making me feel good all the time) gives me the tools I need to concnetrate. The rest right now is up to me. I still have points of feeling tired, I still am frustrated at times with a overwhelming feeling to procrastinate, but I find that these feelings are at least lessened with the Adderall.


Conclusion
I know that this is a long story. I hope it helps someone. To wrap it up, I'm not sure if Adderall is the best option for me. I don't know exactly what else may or may not contribute to my symptoms. But for right now, they aren't life debilitating. I have enough of a window open to lead a productive, successful, happy life. I still feel things inside me are not exactl right. I still have to fight (although sometimes I am tired of fighting) to get things done, and there are plenty of times I do it while feeling tired and/or irritable. Although I'm not at 100%, I feel I have to make things happen with what I have. I know from experience that things can be worse. I am going to give Adderall at the current dosage more time to set in. I'm going to give my diet, and exercise program more time to effect my body chemistry.

I wish all of you the best. I thank all of you for being here and sharing your experiences. It really helps to not feel so alone in this. Please, don't take my post to mean that you can "will yourself" out of your symptoms. I've been told that many times, and I know how devistating it can be. I only think that one's will and minsight is a component in getting the most out of treatment. It's hard, because so many of us feel like we have been fighting for so long. I know I have. So just try to keep yourself going positive "along" with the medical treatment. Don't let Adderall be your magic pill. Because I think that's the mistake I made the first time. I felt it work, and from that point it was a relief, and I felt great that I didn't have to figth to do normal every day things. The day I thought/felt it wasn't working, I had all of my eggs - so to speak - in the Adderall basket, and It was a sever crash and burn when I felt it slip away. Now I allow it to help me but I don't allow myself to just depend on it working. On days/weeks where it feels like it's not working I just keep pressing on, fighthing a bit harder. I am starting to find that Adderall has ebbs and flows like the tide. Somedays I feel like it's not doing anything other days (after a time of struggling) I feel it helping me again.

Wow, great post...sorry I don't have much time to write a reflective thought, but it did help me think about things differently.