A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with ADHD and started taking 5mg of Adderall 3x a day. 2 weeks later my doctor bumped me up to 10mg 3 times a day.

When I first started taking it, I felt like I could completely zone in on my work or my tedious schoolwork, and even felt a calming effect while I was on it. I noticed things like not being annoyed at drivers while in my car, not speeding, etc...but now I find that the medication is not working as well as it was. I sometimes notice myself doing things I would if I wasn't on the medication, and feel like I can't focus as well as I could when I first started taking it. The medication seems to wear off after 3 or 4 hours and I feel tired and slow as I'm coming down.

Is this normal? Are other medications better? Should my doseage be bumped up?

It's probably psychological tolerance rather than physical tolerance.

That is: your mind is getting used to the affects of taking stimulant medications. Don't worry about it. Stims can't remove ADHD, they just help a bit. Trying to seek the feelings you felt when you first took the meds is like a cocaine user continually doing cocaine in search of that first, perfect high they had.

You may not be able to focus as well as when you first took it, but it still helps you focus a lot right more than normal, right?

Is this normal?

A few weeks to a month is certainly enough time for the full tolerance to a stimulant to be noticed.

You are on a pretty standard dosage of Adderall IR. Physical side effects and noticability will go away. If you start to lose the mental benefit then the dosage needs to go up. Probably the next step would be 12.5mg (3) times per day then to 15mg (3) times per day and so on.

**Most** adults typically settle in the 40-60mg per day range.
Some do fine on low doses, some need 120+mg a day doses.

If you're dose is too high you will feel excessively 'speedy' or 'stoned'. If the dose is too low you will get very limited, if any mental benefit. When dosed just right you should have the mental benefit of being 'normal' while having zero or few side effects.

J