I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 18 and was prescribed Ritalin and then later Adderall for a period of about 10 months. It worked wonders at first, and eventually I found myself chasing the high and taking more than the prescribed amount, and eventually forced myself to stop the medication. After a lengthy and painful withdrawal, I joined the military and took no medication besides Ambien for sleep problems for 4 years. I recently seperated and went back to school, and found that after a few months I was still having severe problems with my ability to concentrate on tasks that I found uninteresting and start tasks that I didn't want to do. This was causing me a lot of anxiety, so I started seeing a therapist again. I did not mention that I was previously diagnosed with ADD and actually went to see the therapist for my anxiety problems, and after talking for a couple of sessions she suggested that I consider seeing a doctor about a possible diagnosis of ADD. At my doctor visit, I explained the situation and told him about my previous ADD experience...I did not mention the abuse. I was prescribed 10mg Adderall XR and 30mg Adderall IR to use at my discretion through the day. I was initially very concerned about my ability to discipline myself in my use of Adderall, but after about a week I realized that I'm in a totally different place in my life (25, married, full time school, part time work) than I was when I was 18 (part time work, full time party). I haven't had any problem with wanting to take more medication because I'm no longer looking for the euphoria that I was before, since I've already been through the up/down cycle and realized how futile it is to try to keep that buzz going. However, I'm having severe problems in the evenings as the medication is wearing off. I take my last dose, 15mg at about 3 PM, and by 5PM or so I fall into a bout of depression/anxiety that lasts until 7-8 PM. The depression wears off, but the anxiety lasts until bedtime...I'm sleeping okay, but it takes me awhile to fall into a deep sleep. I'm considering talking to my doctor about an anti-depressant like Wellbutrin to take in the evenings, but I'm concerned that maybe since the effects of the adderall are wearing off in the evening I'm just looking for another "buzz" to takeover until I fall asleep. I'm very wary of any medication that gives me any sense of euphoria, so I'm just curious about the wellbutrin, since I see a lot of the posters here take it along with their ADD medication. Does it make you feel good, in a way that could be addictive, or does it just simply counteract the negative effects of the adderall? I'm walking a thin rope with my previous experience of abuse, and I don't want to make it any more difficult to have the self-discipline required to use the medication in the way it is intended. By keeping the adderall doses low, I've avoided the feelings of euphoria that hooked me before, and I feel confident that I can continue (although it's going to be difficult trying to decide if I need an increase in dosage in the future), but I don't want to get stuck on a cycle of upper in the morning downer in the evening. Anyone with a similar experience of worries here care to offer any insight?

I have been on Adderall for the past month and my experience has been very similar to yours. I love how I feel on the drug to the point where I could see how abusing it would be very tempting. When I come down off of the Adderall I enter into a bad state of depression and anxiety.

My doctor actually feels that I need to try a new drug altogether as the Adderall didn't seem to have much of a lasting effect, wasn't doing much other than helping my overall mood, and was causing me depression when I came down from it. I'm kind of relieved that we're moving on to something else but I think I'll miss that high.

I just sent you a personal message. I started a post for all to see but it was too long so i copied and pasted to your personal message box.

As I mentioned to Bethany in another thread, ask about Dexedrine. It does not have the depressive/moody wear off of Adderall. It is much more subtle and smooth.

PS It won't be effective to medicate the daily side effect of Adderall wearoff depression with an antidepressant like Wellbutrin. Too much polypharmacy. "take a pill for this and a pill for that".

it's like taking LSD and then taking an AntiPsychotic.

Amphetamines are antidepressants. Your Adderall 'wear off' depresssion feelings are really a form of "drug withdrawal".

The only REAL help is to get off the thing that 's making you Moody, which is Shire's formulation of Amphetamine (Adderall). For some reason, people have a lot of problems with this Adderall drug (and their new one, Vyanase).

I'd recommend a milder form of Amphetamine formulation like Dexedrine. Dexedrine (SKF) has been used for over 70 years (pre WW2). It's just not under patent or marketed anymore, so Docs forget about it.

NB I got euphoria from Adderall (1st dose), but never ever from Dexedrine.

I am right with you ladies. I take adderrol and am prescribe 60 mg per day but take more as I assocaite the rush with it working. I need a new plan of action

Some people take up to 150 mg per day, it depends on the doctor and the person's metabolism but asking for an increase may inhibit this 'abuse'.

I agree about the Dexedrine. It is smoother, has less rebound, no euphoria, etc.
I am very prone to anxiety and have had none associated with dex (and plenty with Adderall). I also have not had any dex induced evening depression and much less moodiness.

It is funny because I have heard some docs have a stigma about dex and think it has a higher potential for abuse but honestly, compared to Adderall, I see almost no potential for abuse, myself. *shrug*

What side effect one has with which drug is an individual thing - I have never felt a euphoria or a depression with Adderall.

You could have an underlying anxiety issue - a secondary condition in itself that is not being addressed. Just a thought.

I am right with you ladies. I take adderrol and am prescribe 60 mg per day but take more as I assocaite the rush with it working. I need a new plan of action


If you take the medications long enough you will become used to them. I have been on Adderall for almost ten years and I no longer "feel" the effects. I haven't in years. . . because I am used to the changes they make in my chemistry. . . .


Just because you no longer feel the medications does NOT mean they are no longer working. Do not go on feelings go on your ability to function. . . .

Analogy

A man who has always kept a bread will notice the change in the feeling of his face when he first begin shaving it . He will notice the feeling in his face because it is different than it was when he had a beard, However if he continues to shave every day he will remain clean shaven. Just because he becomes used to the feeling of being clean shaven doesn't mean his razor has quit working. . . .the same principle applies to ADD medication. . .




Function is the way to go and function comes with effort only. . . . you must make an effort to function because frankly every one that does function makes a decision followed by effort.

My medications do not get me out of bed nor do they get my happy hinny to work. I do that however on medications I am better able to manage my time, I am aware of it's passing. My big problem use to be distractions while getting ready. I can think about doing some thing like loading the dish washer and realize I do not have the time and simply make a choice not to because I remember my main goal is getting ready for work. I have to make myself get out of bed however I can decide to stay out of bed and begin my day even on those days I do not want to. These are the things life consist of for most every one even those who have never been ADD.

The plan of action will need a thread of it's own becuase I do not want to drive this one off topic.

Woah! That is shocking I did not know Dexadrine does not give a euphoric effect that is wonderful sounds safer. Do you feel you focus better?

OIve had social anxiety all my life but their are times when I take a bit too much of Aderrol and the anxiety is overpowerng and uncontrollable. Its lile a Super chanrged aniety attack.

Woah! That is shocking I did not know Dexadrine does not give a euphoric effect that is wonderful sounds safer. Do you feel you focus better?
Actually Dexedrine is capable of providing more of a euphoric effect than Adderall for most people when dosed equally. For example, 10mg of Dexedrine would most likely be more euphoric for most people than 10mg of Adderall.

The reason for this is due to the fact that the dextro isomer (dextroamphetamine) is more active in the CNS (central nervous system). CNS stimulation typically equates to things like euphoria, increased attention span, increased focus, mental alertness, etc. However, the levo isomer (levoamphetamine) found in Adderall is more active in the PNS (peripheral nervous system). PNS stimulation typically equates to things like increased heart rate, sweating, twitching/feeling jittery, increased blood pressure, etc.

Have you always had issues with anxiety and/or depression? I take Lexapro and it is great for depression and anxiety. It doesn't work immediately the way adderall does but because it needs a few weeks to build up in your system but after two weeks of taking it I felt like a new person and my anxiety attacks vanished.

Also, antidepressants like Lexapro or Wellbutrin are not addictive (at least as far as I know) so you don't have to worry about "craving" them.

Persephone

Also, antidepressants like Lexapro or Wellbutrin are not addictive (at least as far as I know) so you don't have to worry about "craving" them.

Persephone

I don't think bupropion poses any risk of abuse potential when it's taken as prescribed, however we each can and do respond differently to these things.

I do remember reading about bupropion after it was initially approved by the FDA concerning how it was the only antidepressant to ever show an amphetamine like abuse potential after it was observed during preclinical trials that animals would substitute bupropion for amphetamine in a drug-discrimination task, and in another study in which it was self-administered by monkeys intravenously.

Granted those were not human subjects abusing bupropion, but from what I have learned those studies were actually a good indicator of what was to come in certain human circles, as can be read about in the link below.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/169596584.html