I was diagnosed about a week and a half ago and was prescribed 15mg IR three times a day. I usually take 15mg as soon as I wake up at 5:30, another 15mg at 10:30 and half a pill (7.5mg) at 3:30. I feel my best in the morning between 7:00-9:00 (slightly euphoric, energetic and extremely focused), okay during the mid-day hours but extremely fatigued (to the point of sleepiness, as if I've been sedated) during the mid-to-late afternoon. Not only do I feel extremely fatigued - my brain also starts feeling jumbled and I find myself, once again, staring at the piles of paper around me, not knowing where to start, unable to force myself to focus in the way I need to.

I've lost about five pounds since starting the medication and haven't been eating as regularly as I should but I'm going to attempt to change that this week by setting recurring reminders on my Outlook Calendar. I'm hoping the food deprivation is what's causing my afternoon fatigue. I'm also going to increase my 3:30 dose to a full 15mg. At first, I was afraid taking a whole pill in the afternoon would keep me up at night but I've been sleeping fairly well - even deeply at times (not like me). I have high, high hopes for this medication. It's changed my life in small ways, already, but I worry about the afternoon fatigue. It seems to be coming from nowhere.

The one other side effect I've experienced is irritability. I find myself becoming quite cranky and impatient when the drug starts wearing off. Has anyone else experienced this?

I should also mention that I'm taking the generic version (I have no idea which one - I didn't even realize there was more than one generic until I started reading this board). I go back to my psychiatrist this week for a follow-up and I'm going to ask him for a new prescription so I can try the actual brand this time (even though it will cost me five times as much as the generic). I think I will also discuss the possibility of a second drug to counteract the irritability (I've taken Prozac and Zoloft in the past and don't like either). I took Wellbutrin and loved it but eventually stopped taking it because it made me feel angry.

Any thoughts on the fatigue and crankiness and antidepressant options other than Prozac, Zoloft and Wellbutrin are much appreciated!

How much sleep are you getting?

No less than I had before, really. My habit is to sleep anywhere from 5-7 hours/night during the week and catch up on weekends. The last two weekends, though, I have been running around quite a bit so I haven't had as much time for sleeping in, catnaps, etc. I really think it's the medication that's causing the sensation of fatigue. Even though I haven't been taking it for long, I only feel great in the mornings after I've added an Iced Tall Americano (two shots of espresso) to my pill.

I'm on the same rx and dose you are on. I take mine a 1/2 hour earlier than you do.

I noticed an extreme irritability when the meds start to wear off, and for me I also get slightly depressed again, negative thoughts etc. This is usually my reminder to say "hey, time for another dose".

Prozac caused too many side effects for me which is why I stopped years back, same with Zoloft. I can't give you any advice or experience with them since it's been so long, years infact.

As for fatigue, im not sure if 5 hours is enough for you, I get around 7, rarely ever 8. Last night actually I decided to take my entire last dose at around 5pm, I have generally been just taking it twice a day. I had no problems falling asleep.

Have you thought about incorporating a multi vitamin and/or b12 supplement etc to your diet? That could also help with your fatigue.

I've always been a lot more irritable with less sleep. I have strange sleeping cycles - I'll go from having 9 hours a night for weeks on end to having 4-5 hours for months. The times where I'm getting a good night's sleep is where my ADD isn't so bad.

This is important cause I believe ADDers need more sleep than NTers - I've seen this in my son as well. His ADD is a lot worse with less sleep - he argues and fights a lot more.

I've always been a lot more irritable with less sleep. I have strange sleeping cycles - I'll go from having 9 hours a night for weeks on end to having 4-5 hours for months. The times where I'm getting a good night's sleep is where my ADD isn't so bad.

This is important cause I believe ADDers need more sleep than NTers - I've seen this in my son as well. His ADD is a lot worse with less sleep - he argues and fights a lot more.+1

For me, with less sleep, I ALWAYS notice the 'crash'. But if I get a lot of sleep (like 8+ hours) sometimes I may not even notice that I'm on Adderall. Sleep can really affect how the drugs work on your body.

I noticed an extreme irritability when the meds start to wear off, and for me I also get slightly depressed again, negative thoughts etc. This is usually my reminder to say "hey, time for another dose".

Hmm... sounds like we experience very similar "crashes." Did you start out on 15mg or work up to it? My body seems to have adjusted very, very quickly. For example: my first day on Adderall was positively euphoric (yet oddly calm) and one long focus session; after that, I experienced euphoria and the ability to focus intensely only for briefer and briefer periods of time in the morning - especially when adding espresso. This morning - no euphoria, even a bit of lingering tiredness and depression after Adderall AND espresso. Between my second and third dose, I felt the recurring "sleepiness" kick in - along the lines of what I imagine a narcoleptic might experience. I felt as if I could literally lay down in an empty office and fall into a very deep sleep. I don't feel as if I've been deprived of much sleep since starting Adderall - and what's odd is how DEEPLY I've been sleeping - I'm usually a pretty light sleeper who will climb in and out of bed two to three times a night for various reasons.

Is it possible that the IR is not actually lasting me five hours like it's supposed to? (It feels more like three to four.) Would XR be a solution or possibly Dexedrine?

As I'm sure you've probably already read here, the euphoric feeling you get when you first start taking these meds, while great when it happens, is just a side effect. It will go away with time, and it going away is not an indication that your meds are working any less to control your ADD. In fact, for me, the less euphoria I got in the morning, the less 'crash' (loss of focus, irritability, fatigue) I would get in the afternoon/evening. Where there's an up, theres a corresponding down coming sometime.. It is common, though, when first taking these meds to associate the euphoric feeling with the ability to focus.

Now, I don't get the euphoric feeling in the slightest bit. Its been a year and a half on meds now. I also used to get the crash when only on Adderall XR, and it was bad. I'd come home from work all cranky as heck, not wanting to be touched, stiff neck, back and shoulders, and just generally feeling like poo. Working with my doc, we reduced dosages and changed meds (to Dex) and I don't experience those bad side effects at all anymore. I'm back on Adderall now (AM), and Dex in the afternoon. Still doing OK with side effects.

Another thing to note, for some, consuming caffeine while on meds can exacerbate the fatigue from the meds. You might try a break from caffeine too.

Good luck!