I'm almost too scared to post this question as I know it is a very sensitive subject. And with good reason. But, I can't figure out how everyone doesn't end up in the situation I'm in. The meds make us more focused, we feel better, more things get done, why isn't everyone having a hard time just taking their prescribed dose? I sit here working and as the effects of my meds wear off and I look at the time and see it is way too soon for my next dose, I struggle. Doesn't anyone else find this hard? I no longer get that euphoric feeling so I'm not talking about using meds to feel high. I'm talking about how one is supposed to feel on meds- focused, attentive, etc.

You're absolutely not alone, but bear in mind that the "half-life" is just that, and it won't actually help you, it'll just wire you and prevent you from sleeping. I made the mistake of taking a dose at midnight once (figuring that it was the next day, so "ok") and it bumped me completely off of a sleep schedule. It didn't matter in the end. I was already well up on the edge of a hypomanic phase and terrified by my one law partner's threats, so I wouldn't have slept anyway (plus my dose was still incredibly low compared to even what my friend's 7 y.o. son takes), so I wasn't going to be able to do what I was desperately trying to do anyway (finish a brief), but taking the meds at midnight that one night didn't help.

I now find that I actually feel better without the meds. The meds helped me to focus for a while, but when the effect started to "wear off" with a little tolerance (I never got higher than 20 mg Adderall XR, though) as you describe, it was habit changes and exercise that have really made me feel capable of focusing. Now I suspect that I'll only take any of them (and I'll take a VERY low dose, as in 2.5 mg Adderall IR, for example) for certain types of tasks where I have a hard time avoiding distractions. So, for example, when I'm trying to read stuff, I'll take a very low dose to help avoid distractions. But otherwise, exercise does it for me much better than the meds.

I see that you're also posting in the bipolar threads, so bear in mind that you can really jack yourself up into a manic phase if you go too high with the dose, just fyi. If you're at all prone to manicky periods, I'd consider whether you're sleeping well enough, and if not, I'd try going DOWN on the med doses, not UP. That's just my two cents...

Thanks Sandy. And yes I will be attentive to manic episodes and meds- haven't had any so far.

You got it, Jackers.

And just to be clear: I wasn't judging you in the slightest, just speaking from my experience with the midnight med. dose thing. It didn't go well for me, though I'm sure that it wouldn't have made a difference. I'd so screwed up my sleep schedule by then (not with meds, but with failing to force myself to go to bed, which is just something that I have to do, I realize) that I'd have stayed up either way, but it didn't help.

LOL! I'd have been better off if I'd just dozed off in my dam*ed chair!!!

Oh, no fear, Sandy. I didn't feel judged at all. On the contrary, it felt like you cared so thanks for that!

I sit here working and as the effects of my meds wear off and I look at the time and see it is way too soon for my next dose, I struggle. Doesn't anyone else find this hard?

I don't have bipolar so I can tolerate more ADD medications without the worry of mania - if you are bipolar then perhaps your mood stabilizers need adjusting or like Sandy said sleep patterns got screwed up - for just plain ole ADD folks I would say the feeling you describe above means your medication doses are spread to far apart.

I take Adderall IR - and I take it per hour I am awake - not having insurance to worry with I can take the medications in the way that works for me as opposed to what some insurance or government agency thinks I should be taking - paying for it out of pocket is sort of a *****.

Thanks Mead. I am bipolar so maybe my meds do need adjusting. They typically do with each change of season. Also, I think you are right, my doses are spread too far apart. I will try dividing my dose to take my meds at shorter intervals. It was helpful to read you are taking yours every hour. Thanks for sharing.

You are definitely not alone on this one Jackers. Talk to your doc...you should not have to spend a lot of time waiting to take your next dose, feeling like your first dose has worn off. That's like being on a roller coaster...you take your first dose and your medicated and up then you go all the way down as your first dose wears off...wait...take your next does and your up again, etc. It should be more even like take your first dose then take your second dose before the first dose has completely worn off so it's a steady stream. Does that make sense? Hope so. I, like mead, take my meds closer apart not every hour but every three. It works for me but everyone is different. That's why docs can and do prescribe twice a day, three times a day, or more dose intervals. Hang in there and remember your doc works for you...if they don't prescribe it the way you need it to work for you, find another doc who will.