Inattentive Adult ADD. First treated with Ritalin 5 months ago.
NOW: Medication: On Dex 15mg 3 x daily (been on it for 3 months)


Going to see my psychiatrist soon... and I know I need to be honest with him.. but at the same time I dont want him to think I am an "abuse" risk.

I think that the Dex has stopped working for me. I remember when I first started it, everything was perfect. I wasnt as tired as I normally am... I was picking up after myself (usually there would be a mess all around me wherever I sat for longer then 5 mins) I was thinking clearer.. the fog had lifted... I was able to grasp mathematical calculations and technical problems easier.. it was great.
Lately.. however, not so much. I did as my Dr. told me and continued to take them throughout the holidays. I didnt realize there was much of a problem... untill now.
Now, I am back in school and fighting already. I am behind with assignments, my motivation level is non existant.. Im actually worried by how not interested I am in doing homework.. or even going to school!
Then I get upset because I dont do what I know I should be doing.... its an endless cycle.


So, yesterday I decided to take 20mg of DEX, just to see if there was an improvement in my motivation level.. because I really need to start this homework!
And there was... I am about 35-40% more motivated while on 20mg of DEX to do my work... but I can tell its not enough.. I am still fighting it. I really.. really.. really dont want to do my homework. I am frustrated and exhausted just thinking about trying to sit down and get started on it.
I will be seeing my Dr. soon, and , I am worried that I have to tell him 15 is just NOT ENOUGH.. but at the same time.. I only recently was prescribed 15mg...so if I tell him it that ALREADY I need my dose higher again.. he is not gonna like it.

So.. what should I do? I just want my motivation back. I want to get "living!" and I have always struggled to do this.

I know medication isnt some miracle.... I understand that I have to help myself too... but my motivation is worse now then BEFORE I was taking my medication.
Before medication... I would get bursts of hyperfocused motivation. It was always intense and unrealistic.. but it made me feel like I was living at least... and that I was attempting to do SOMETHING with my life!


Now.. I dont have motivation.. or hyperfocus.. nothing... no unrealistic yet ambitious goals... no nothing.





Do I need a dose adjustment?
Am I on the Wrong medication?
Should I ask for something different?
And if so.. what medication??
ANY and ALL comments... suggestions.. replies are welcome and appreciated!

-V

hey V...that post is a tad long for me :-(

how's things? and hugs..I hope you sort it soon..(it seems I always say that to you ..sorry..)

ps 20 gram dex makes me really really fidgety....and flighty...weird..but 10 ml dex and 10 ml ritalin makes me calm and robotic nearly,,,

Thank you for the response.

I know it was a bit long. I guess I just needed to vent a little.

I tried 20mg of Dex.. and it makes me relaxed and give me back my attention span. I feel calm.. not at all fidgety?

wow, sounds like me.

Im on Adderall, but i dont think its working,i.e. feel the same as i did before i started it(30mg xr/day)

I really want to try dexedrine, so ill be watching this thread.

A little update.

I discovered that the DEX is what is killing all my motivation. I havent done a single thing for school and I am way behind. I have zero motivation to do any work or go to school. It bad right now.

Thankfully my Dr. wrote me a prescription for Adderall.. so I am hoping all is not lost yet.

Hello Veighen,

I had the same reaction to Dex.

It really helped my energy and emotional state intially, but it didn't really help my on-task ability. I felt peaceful, but was really not motivated to do anything really productive.

I'm back on adderall, and it seems to work better for activation and concentration, although I'm struggling with the question of titrating up again after only a month and a half on the current dose :(.

Ah... when will the search for a steady state end???

Maybe its just a dream for me.

Sorry...I guess that's not too positive.

I have read many posts of others who have found that steady state for years on the same dose. I'm just a little frustrated at this point. Maybe I'm expecting too much.

Good Luck!

Lunar....

I've been on Dex for a year now (30mg twice a day) and it's not working as well as it used to. Should I ask my doctor to increase the dose? What is the maximum doseage?

I find it only lasts 5 hours - not the 8 hours my doctor told me. I am concerned about raising both of these issues as my doctor may feel that I am developing an addition.

Any thoughts?

Don't worry. I don't think it's an addiction. You may very well be building a tolerance though, but I may be wrong. The only way to help tolerance is either increasing the dosage or stopping the medication. That choice though is up to you and your doctor.

thx...l

I will talk to my Dr. and see if he will increase doseage. do you know what max dose is?

I had the same reaction to Dex.
Did you try the brand name, or a generic? If it was a generic, did you only try one type of generic? I have found much variation in the way each of them work.


Ah... when will the search for a steady state end???
Good question. I can empathize with that question very well. I started my search in 1992. There have been periods where I was content to stay on one drug for several years, and then other times where I felt the urge to try other options. It's a tedious search, and it can seem like a waste of time sometimes due to the quality of some generics, but it can potentially be a very worthwhile search.