I've been taking adderall for a couple of weeks now and just started on 20 mg XR on Wednesday to replace two doses of 10 mg IR. My husband commented today that I've been "mean" and bossy the last couple of days. On the IR I felt more patient and laid back (and had more "happy feelings").

I'm trying to figure out if it is the Adderall all together OR the switch from IR to XR that may have caused this.....or maybe it's just PMS. :o

Anyone have any insight? Is it possible that the XR affects my moods differently than the IR?

It's a common side effect to feel grouchy or irritable while on Adderall. The only thing I can say is to try eating like you normally would. Meaning, get a decent breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Someone on here had mentioned eating had made the irritability go away.

I had "Adderall Rage" from the XR version of the drug. I don't know what it is. I was fine on the immediate release Adderall.

i haven't gotten grouchy, or mean, or impatient with the Adderall XR. It really helps to calm and quiet me. Puts me in a good mood.

Everybody is different.

I've been taking adderall for a couple of weeks now and just started on 20 mg XR on Wednesday to replace two doses of 10 mg IR. My husband commented today that I've been "mean" and bossy the last couple of days. On the IR I felt more patient and laid back (and had more "happy feelings").

I'm trying to figure out if it is the Adderall all together OR the switch from IR to XR that may have caused this.....or maybe it's just PMS. :o

Anyone have any insight? Is it possible that the XR affects my moods differently than the IR?

I seem to neglect food without realizing it when I'm on Adderall IR. Same thing happened with XR when I was on it. When I start getting annoyed quickly, I usually realize that it's been a while since I've had something to eat.

You definitely want to try sticking with your daily eating routine. At least that's the issue which was affecting me.

Best of luck:)

I had "Adderall Rage" from the XR version of the drug. I don't know what it is. I was fine on the immediate release Adderall.

Matt - Yeah, logically it doesn't make sense that the XR would affect someone differently than the IR, but I think I do notice a difference, too. When I was taking the IR I would just be calm and glad to be "in the moment". I don't get that with XR. I wonder why. . . should be the same drug - just time released.

I agree with the others, though - it could be partially because I'm not eating regularly. When the IR would wear off I would be hungry and eat between doses, but with XR I don't get that. I'll try to eat three squares a day and see if that helps.

Since it's only been a few days I'll keep taking it and see if I notice the anger or if I can counteract it by eating. . . .thanks to all. I'll post here in a few days to let you know if I have any more insights. In the meantime anyone who has had a similar experience with XR vs. IR please let me know.

The opposite for me, the IR put me from completely happy to mean and edgy. The XR makes me feel at ease and then just tired when it's done.

Oh do I miss the anger and irritability that Adderall brought for me...Unmedicated: I feel weak, cannot be bold or daring, and pretty much taken advantage of.

With the anger and irritability it brought, I just fueled that side effect fully into my life's goals. Pushing any opposition out of the way and let me make my own path, my way. The thing is, I kept it to a minimum because the second I went off the meds, I know I would not be able to sustain my medicated pride and boldness( is this a word?) due to the fact that I would not be able to everything to its fullest potential unmedicated. Thank god I kept my irribility and anger to myself though, because of all the ways I could have started dozens of fights.

P.S. Do you feel less regretful when you are medicated? Because regret completely vanished from within me when I was taking it.

It might not be making you mean exactly but it is probably making you more annoyed. This is a common side effect from the adderall.

Oh do I miss the anger and irritability that Adderall brought for me...Unmedicated: I feel weak, cannot be bold or daring, and pretty much taken advantage of.

P.S. Do you feel less regretful when you are medicated? Because regret completely vanished from within me when I was taking it.

I can totally appreciate this and see how some folks might survive in a "dog eat dog" world better with the "agression" that the adderall can give. I'm glad that you are able to turn this effect around to your advantage and control the anger. It shows great restraint on your part.

In my case - as a stay-at-home mother of three young boys and wife/homemaker it is not a benefitial trait. :o I don't want to yell at my kids and husband all day. Anyway, I've never had a problems with telling anyone like it really is - ha ha.

And, yes, Shakepurmake, I do feel less regretful on adderall - that is a nice plus. I have no time to sit and worry about things I could/should have done because I'm busy doing them. That's why I want to keep taking it and work through this problem.

Anyway, thanks for your post - it will help me view this a different way.

It might not be making you mean exactly but it is probably making you more annoyed. This is a common side effect from the adderall.

YES - you are right - it is more being annoyed with folks. . . . mostly my family for not being more helpful around the house and not doing what I ask them to do and helping me. It is as if all the sudden I can see how to get things done around here and WANT to do it but they are keeping me from being as productive as I could. Since my boys are 10,7,and 2 it's not really fair to get annoyed with them - now my husband is another story.. . . ha ha.

I'll continue to monitor this . . . .I'm going to check in with my doc tomorrow to discuss how the XR has worked for me this week. Maybe she'll have some insight and advice.