I just started taking Adderall XR two days ago (10mg). I think I expected that since it was a stimulant that i'd be bouncing off the walls and hyper-focused (like if you take excessive amounts of ephedrine, which i've done in the past). I'm actually having the exact opposite reaction. I feel like everything has slowed down. I'm definately able to focus more, but do feel as if a bit of my "sharpness" has gone away.

Has anyone else had these similar results?

Yes, the first thing I felt was one of relaxation. I started breathing more deeply and slowly. Instead of doing everything quickly as I used to (I used to feel as I I was in a constant rush) I sarted taking my time and focusing more on what I was doing. As a result I started doing things better. With time this acted as a positive reinforcement as I started to build a little self confidance.

How long have you been taking Adderall?

Adderall and other stimulants at therapuetic doses are meant to "speed up" sluggish areas of the brain only. WHile there may be an initial speeding-up of the body in the form of gritting teeth, etc. this always passes if the dosage is not too high. If these symptoms were to continue for weeks on end then it may safely be assumed that a) the dose is too hish or b) the category of stimulant is incompatible with the patient's body chemistry.

To feel "slowed down' is therefore perfectly normal, especially in the combined or hyperactive types :).

How long have you been taking Adderall?
5 months

YES - my thoughts exactly. slower and slightly stupider?

I agree Melv. I too feel slightly stupider. This is just very strange to me. I've never been hyperactive and if anything have innatentive ADD so I just assumed these meds would give me a "pick-up" and ability to focus. I definately have a greater ability to focus but do feel stupider.

It's 1:30 and I took my meds at 7am so now i'm starting to feel tired and sluggish. Do all of these symptoms go away with time, or is it something to continuely deal with? Does the lack of sharpness or stupider feeling go away?

I honestly cannot say that I feel any 'stupider' on Adderall. I am giving up Adderall XR to go back to Concerta for reasons other than that. I can report that eating on Adderall, for me, results in extreme tiredness and lethargy (I feel like I will fall asleep no matter how hard I fight against it), drinking anything other than water nullifies the good effects of the drug to the point that I might as well not even have taken it, and it point-blank takes too long to take effect and does not last long enough for my personal lifestyle.

2 more days, Concerta, here I come! I have missed you, old friend...:cool:

I havent tried adderall but when i was taking Ritalin.. I felt MUCH slower and MUCH, MUCH, more stupid then normal.

And I made numerous simple yet stupid mistakes that I shouldnt have.. and my friends were like.... "hey, whats up with you today?"

I hated it, so I switched to Dex.

Now I just feel super clumsy and stupid... as it is wearing off...oh and tired.:p

Stupider around other people or stupider when you're alone? Everything has slowed down because you've been sped up by the medications effects.

It's kind of hard to describe the stupider component. I've always been able to very witty and sharp with comebacks or jokes etc.. Now that i'm taking Adderall I feel like i'm just not as quick.

The nice thing though is the fact that i've been able to concentrate and read and get work done. Ever since I was a kid i've ALWAYS had to have music going on in the background if I was going to do any work. Just seemed normal to me. Today was the first day in my life that I sat down to do work and actually didn't want any music on so I could concentrate.

I guess that is how normal non ADD people do things. I'm 34 and have never been able to do that, so I guess i'm just trying to figure out if these strange feelings are just normal and the meds are helping me get that way or if I feel to slow or drugged. Just kind of confusing right now.

Like I said earlier I'm still amazed at how i've reacted to the medication. I've always been tired and have drank a lot of caffeine to wake me up and today I didn't want to have any caffeine and don't really feel tired, just kind of light headed and sedated. I'm hoping that feeling goes away when I get used to the medication.

jkron,
yes Adderall will make you feel indicisive; I prefer my thinking time to be off Adderall so my brain is in free thinking mode. In other words, Adderall makes us s2 (slow & stupid) like the rest of the world. lol I just *love* being ADHD, just wish the rest of the world could take something to speed up & become smarter! I know, Nirvana! lol

so true!!!!

*coughcough* WE need NTs to file paperwork and do our taxes, and other boring, rote tasks *coughcough*