So you just started taking Adderall XR and your looking all over the internet like a crazy person trying to find out some honest answers as to, what can i expect? Well, there are so many stories out there and most of them are complete crap and some of them do hold some water. I want to first debunk those that are crap.
Most of the stories you read are posted by people who probably do have some form of ADHD, but they also have an addictive personality especially to speed. So when they're Dr. starts them on a low dose of Adderall they take double the dose. They suddenly find that their heart is racing, they can't get out of the house, can't stop sweating, their stomach hurts, and they're mouth is dry and jaw is clenched. Obvious signs that they just overdosed on prescription speed. Of course they are going to feel all these symptoms. Its your bodies normal response to that much speed.
So hopefully you have a Dr. that starts you out on a small dosage of Adderall XR and YES 10mg is a great dose to start at. Forget about all these people saying that they can't even feel the 10mg. Those are the same people that just overdosed and are complaining about all the side effects.
Your not exactly supposed to feel all that much. Just maybe a slight increase in energy, and for the first week of taking it your head will feel a little bit fuzzy. I wouldn't recommend taking it when you first wake up, rather waiting until you've been awake for at least 3 hours and eaten breakfast and allowed it to digest. Continue to take it even on your days off work for the first week. As the week goes on you'll notice the fuzziness in head will dissappear and you'll start to feel like you can manage the introduction of this form of speed into your system. Your brain becomes aware that its there and the dopamine levels will adjust. After the first week your concentration will increase and you'll thoughts will be more organized. Your friends might notice that your not the same outgoing, crazy, distracted person you were and they might not be used to it but they'll adjust as well.
Just stick to your 10 mg until you feel comfortable enough to possibly try 20mg. Before you do make SURE you are able to fall asleep at night on the 10mg and that your eating habits are still healthy and you havn't lost more then 5 lbs. If you have lost weight and arn't sleeping well after the first week on 10mg I would recommend that you stop taking this medicine NOW.
So you've now increased your dosage to 20 mg (where it should stay, at least for a a good 4-5 months), and you should be feeling like you can finally accomplish things.
Don't let those stupid people who misuse their medicine discourage you. If you do have trouble sleeping your first week on Adderall Xr take some benadryl. It will help you sleep. I recommend that you let your friends know that you just started taking a new medicine so they will know whats going on when your trying to get used to it. There might some minor personality changes but you'll be back to your old self once your body gets used to it (probably after a week). Good luck Hope this helps

Thank you Firewater 18:

This is VERY helpful and had made me feel relieved.

I just started (my Dr. put me on 20mg XR) and I have noticed many positive effects but also a little restlessness and feeling out of my body. It hasn't quite been a week. I think that this is almost a miracle drug for me.

I did get really scared about taking it, though. I'm 36 and I hear so many horror stories about all these "unknowns" about long-term stimulant use. They say it makes you really depressed over the long haul, gives you heart problems, makes your dopamine system stop working altogether (messes up the receptors), stops working, gets you hooked, etc. I was FREAKED OUT about all that because I don't take any other meds and would just like a simple life with good food, exercise, and, yes, Adderall for my ADHD (or whatever works best). I need it.

Why do people spread/enforce so many horror stories and use scare tactics and misinformation? I would love to hear about people who have had success with stimulants for 5+ years. I don't need to hear any more scary stories...life is scary enough :)

egg

UM, no!

What do you mean? No to what?

Yes, I must agree with the other posters -- thanks for starting this thread!

I've been on Adderall XR for just shy of a week now, having bumped up from 10mg to 20mg yesterday. To date, I have noticed no effects, aside from feeling slightly jittery every now and then, but not in a particularly troubling way.

Is it normal? A lot of what I'd read said that the effects were dramatic and immediate, "night and day." So I'm a bit discouraged--I'd really hoped this would be what I needed to recover, but so far, it hasn't done a single thing. I'm certainly going to stick with it, at least until meeting with my doctor in three weeks, but is a week taking stimulants (10mg, now 20mg, of Adderall XR daily in the morning) and seeing no change, not even feeling any more energized, normal?

Thanks, I just started XR. On my Third day. It's just like you say. First day almost a little high, colors a little brighter. Not much change. had a hard time getting to sleep. Second day had to drive 5 hrs round trip. I ally have to pull off and take a short nap. did'nt this day though. I was yawning but not sleepy even sat in meetings and made eye contact with the person speeking and heard their entire comment. Usually I'm wondering all over the place. Got home usually take a nap before yoga didn't to night though. Took a couple of Aleive before bed and slept great. Third day feel great. Came into work and actually got quite a bit done on my list. Started early in the morning not fast but consistantly working. It actually seems like there's no noise today.

I'd like some more information about diets etc and Adderall. I've been taking my Adderall XR for about two months now and I notice that some days I don't feel entirely great - mainly tired, lack of motivation and poor concentration. Also the Adderall certainly does not last more than 8 hours. I think there is a correlation between diet. I've found that since taking Effexor XR my appetite has decreased significantly and as a result I don't feel the Adderall working as well as it has in the past.