Bipolarruledout
11-22-06, 07:34 AM
I'm new to the forum... I posted some of my history and my first post here in the adderall forum:
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=358966#post358966
Anyway I have had adderall in the past (not perscribed) and was very happy with it. I recently changed scripts from methylphenidate (on it for 2 months) to dex. I started on 5mg dex 3 times per day for the first week and moved up to 10mg by week 2. It's the barr brand so this is the only brand I'm speaking of in this post. 180 5mg tabs. I'm really not comparing either the dex or adderall to metheyphenidate because I don't intend on going back to the methel nor is it amphetamine based.
1. Cost
This is costing me more than I would like to pay as I am uninsured. The best price I can find is around $70 per month but I'm told they can get the mall. brand for around the same price... maybe. Would it pay to go up to 10mg tabs even though many are saying they don't seem to work the same? Assuming I stay with the barr has anyone tried the barr 10mg tabs vs. 2 of the 5mg to save money? Is it reasonable to be able to get generic addeall for less than $70.00 per month? (like 90 10mg tabs) Is anyone spliting tabs to save money? What does your doctor think about this?
2. Effectiveness
It seems much less "speedy" than adderall IR (brand or generic) and this can be good or bad depending. The dex does NOT do a good job waking me up nor do I find it euphoric as it's reputation suggests. (Do ADD people really get any euphoria from any stims?) It seems to make me tired at times. I don't like that at all. If I wanted to sleep I would try Stratera (Stigmata?). It generaly does the job but I don't get that feeling of awakeness that adderall provides..... It also doesn't last as long. But then short acting can be helpfull at times. I have gotten a FEW more fleeting moments of intense motivation that many get on dex but it could just be placabo effect. I'm NEVER going to clean the house or even one room top to bottum on any amount of "speed".... or maybe I have just never taken enough? (cleaning, organization and motivation is something I really need to work on. Big time.) I do like that I get less physical effects like my heart racing when coming down off even small amounts (under 15mg). Also less insomnia if I take it later. In fact I seem to sleep GREAT on the dex. Thats good.... unless I don't give myself at LEAST 8 hours then it's really bad. The come down is also differant. I get a weird head tingling that I didn't with adderall. Suplamenting 500mg DLPA and B complex however seems to remove this side effect but I can't take it with food or with the dex (the B complex also has some C and acids are a no no with amphetamine stims) and I have to take it twice per day. On a side note I recommend that everyone look into taking DLPA and/or some good antioxydants if you have not already.... but then again I'm not your doctor....
But lets say that you were mine..... What do you think I should do? I'm due for a refill in 2 weeks but I don't have an appointment untill the end of december. I could fax a request for adderall or try a differant dex brand. How often do most of you find yourself uping the your dose... at least initialy? Do you find it ackward to ask for a dose increase? I should mention that I have never taken more than 15mg of adderall at one dose and very very rarely have taken more than 30mg per day. I can't image taking more than 15mg of adderall at one dose just becuase of the physical effects but with the dex I don't think it would be much of an issue for some reason. I know some people take pretty high doses..... but then everyone if differant. Does anyone take multiple stims? Like adderall in the morning and dex in the evening?
It also feels weird talking to my phych about meds. I know it shouldn't be but I spend a conciderable amount of time reading about these things and I don't want to come off as arrogant or worse labeled with "drug seeking behavior." The last thing I would want to do is make my doctor feel stupid or disrespected. My first dex script said take "1 or 2 tablets". I walked out thinking "what if I take 2?, will I look like an addict?" It's not like I'm losing sleep over it but I'm new at this whole phych thing and feeling like I'm being judged even through I know I'm not. Thanks for everyones input.
/This is me with no meds... they wore off hours ago.
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=358966#post358966
Anyway I have had adderall in the past (not perscribed) and was very happy with it. I recently changed scripts from methylphenidate (on it for 2 months) to dex. I started on 5mg dex 3 times per day for the first week and moved up to 10mg by week 2. It's the barr brand so this is the only brand I'm speaking of in this post. 180 5mg tabs. I'm really not comparing either the dex or adderall to metheyphenidate because I don't intend on going back to the methel nor is it amphetamine based.
1. Cost
This is costing me more than I would like to pay as I am uninsured. The best price I can find is around $70 per month but I'm told they can get the mall. brand for around the same price... maybe. Would it pay to go up to 10mg tabs even though many are saying they don't seem to work the same? Assuming I stay with the barr has anyone tried the barr 10mg tabs vs. 2 of the 5mg to save money? Is it reasonable to be able to get generic addeall for less than $70.00 per month? (like 90 10mg tabs) Is anyone spliting tabs to save money? What does your doctor think about this?
2. Effectiveness
It seems much less "speedy" than adderall IR (brand or generic) and this can be good or bad depending. The dex does NOT do a good job waking me up nor do I find it euphoric as it's reputation suggests. (Do ADD people really get any euphoria from any stims?) It seems to make me tired at times. I don't like that at all. If I wanted to sleep I would try Stratera (Stigmata?). It generaly does the job but I don't get that feeling of awakeness that adderall provides..... It also doesn't last as long. But then short acting can be helpfull at times. I have gotten a FEW more fleeting moments of intense motivation that many get on dex but it could just be placabo effect. I'm NEVER going to clean the house or even one room top to bottum on any amount of "speed".... or maybe I have just never taken enough? (cleaning, organization and motivation is something I really need to work on. Big time.) I do like that I get less physical effects like my heart racing when coming down off even small amounts (under 15mg). Also less insomnia if I take it later. In fact I seem to sleep GREAT on the dex. Thats good.... unless I don't give myself at LEAST 8 hours then it's really bad. The come down is also differant. I get a weird head tingling that I didn't with adderall. Suplamenting 500mg DLPA and B complex however seems to remove this side effect but I can't take it with food or with the dex (the B complex also has some C and acids are a no no with amphetamine stims) and I have to take it twice per day. On a side note I recommend that everyone look into taking DLPA and/or some good antioxydants if you have not already.... but then again I'm not your doctor....
But lets say that you were mine..... What do you think I should do? I'm due for a refill in 2 weeks but I don't have an appointment untill the end of december. I could fax a request for adderall or try a differant dex brand. How often do most of you find yourself uping the your dose... at least initialy? Do you find it ackward to ask for a dose increase? I should mention that I have never taken more than 15mg of adderall at one dose and very very rarely have taken more than 30mg per day. I can't image taking more than 15mg of adderall at one dose just becuase of the physical effects but with the dex I don't think it would be much of an issue for some reason. I know some people take pretty high doses..... but then everyone if differant. Does anyone take multiple stims? Like adderall in the morning and dex in the evening?
It also feels weird talking to my phych about meds. I know it shouldn't be but I spend a conciderable amount of time reading about these things and I don't want to come off as arrogant or worse labeled with "drug seeking behavior." The last thing I would want to do is make my doctor feel stupid or disrespected. My first dex script said take "1 or 2 tablets". I walked out thinking "what if I take 2?, will I look like an addict?" It's not like I'm losing sleep over it but I'm new at this whole phych thing and feeling like I'm being judged even through I know I'm not. Thanks for everyones input.
/This is me with no meds... they wore off hours ago.