Hi there.

My husband was recently prescribed Strattera for his ADHD. We have a friend with ADD who takes Adderall XR and IR only as needed, and in very small doses and they do the trick for her. However, when my husband brought this up as an option to his neurologist, neuro said Adderall is only effective when taken daily. My husband is already having bad reactions to the Strattera and doesn't like the idea of being on a daily drug anyway.

I'm wondering if anyone has been successful just taking Adderall either XR or IR as needed? Obviously your ADD doesn't come and go, but - my husband is wondering if maybe he can try and line up his week so he knows he can take meds maybe 3 days and get a lot accomplished in those couple of days.

Thanks all!

Hi...the difference between Straterra and the normal stimulants such as Adderall, is that it's a blood level medication (meaning it must have a constant level to work properly. Much like anti-depressants etc.
Where stimulants work as soon as you take them.

So with that being said, in earlier days of dx, I took it as prescribed, no breaks. My son had to take it as prescribed to function properly. He was severe and just had too many behavioral issues to be off even for the weekends. It also had no affect on his growing. His doctor recommeded he NOT take off on weekend or have " holidays" off. Where as in he has said it's okay for me to as an adult. I take it for work, I function fine at home without it, or rather if i don't have a large amount to do, I don't want to, I don't have to take it to function at home. Another side to that which doesn't have much to do with your husbands situtation but goes to the point of it not being a blood level med, is that I am also Bipolar and I often come off it if I am hitting an upswing or hypomanic cycle.

I have been taking Adderall XR for years. I have taken Ritalin, Concerta and Focalin , until I found one that worked for me. I have never taken Strattera I have heard mixed reviews on it, But I am not one to judge, what works for one doesn't work for others. Another side to that which doesn't have much to do with your husbands situtation but goes to the point of it not being a blood level med, is that I am also Bipolar and I often come off it if I am hitting an upswing or hypomanic cycle.

I hope that helps some?

I take Adderall XR during the week, while at work, but on weekends I usually don't take it. I see no reason to take it if my plan is to veg all day.

Probably the doctor would want him to take it daily because it generally helps in daily life and there for works better because it helps control symptoms everyday and not just some days.

I've decided (just recently) to take my focalin as needed. If there is a day I don't need (hanging out with friends, weekends generally, etc.) I don't want to deal with the 6pm crash or the jaw clenching or the dry mouth :-)

I would think, correct me if I'm wrong here, that taking it as needed would help with tolerance building . .. Thats just an opinion from some research.

Your husbands neuro makes no sense. Adderall is not a drug that has to "build up" in your system. You can take it when you like. I take mine as needed on the weekends.

I'm confused. I wouldn't think Strattera would need to build up in the system, either; it's a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, like Adderall, Dex and Ritalin (except these drugs are also dopamine ruptake inhibitors aswell).

Still, it appears you're correct, according to wikipedia. I wonder why that is.

Does that mean that the norepinephrine reuptake of Adderall for example only kicks in after a few days of sustained use?

Yup. When I first started on Adderall, I was taking Adderall XR 20mg... then I would take a 20mg Addy IR booster only as needed. Seemed to work out just fine.

Also, like others have stated, I take drug holidays where I don't take any med at all (such as weekends).