I've been taking adderall for almost half of a year now, and about 2 weeks ago my dosage was upped from 20mg to 25mg. At first I had no issues, but as of 3-4 days ago I've been experiencing some really strange--and honestly, scary side effects. I'm not 100% sure it's the medication or something interacting with the medication itself, but it seems like it would be the most likely conclusion.

Nothing has really changed, but I figured that I would list what happens in a typical day as of late. Hopefully someone will be able to help me out. :)

8:00- Get up, shower, etc...
8:30- Take my medication, multi-vitamin, and eat breakfast*.
9:30- I get to class around this time. Roughly during this period, the symptoms** start.
Slowly they taper off, and I feel fine during the rest of the day. Until...
~9:00pm (roughly 12 hours after my first dose) I experience the same symptoms, but with more intensity.

* Breakfast usually consists of cereal. Typically cheerios if it matters. Sometimes I have a can of coke or about 1/3rd or 1/4th of an energy drink.

** Basically I have difficulty getting a full or "satisfying" breath. I'm almost forced to breathe through my mouth, which dries it out pretty quickly. Unfortunately, when I drink water the side effect becomes worse.:confused: I find that my heart rate quickens a bit (most likely due to me worrying about breathing). If it's really bad I might start to feel disoriented. At no point has it felt life-threatening, but it certainly feels scary... Not something I want to feel.

Please help me... I'd really like to continue taking my medication if at all possible, which is why I'm asking here before calling my doctor.

My apologies. In my haste, I seem to have posted this in the wrong forum. Is there a way I could delete this?

if you're having a hard time breathing you need to get to the doc. That's much more important than posting here.


PS. there are numerous ADHD meds to try, so it's ok if Adderall doesn't work for you.

PPS. moved it to the Adderall forum

i think it may have to do with anxiety...i get it all the time when i drink too much caffeine.

what has helped indefinitely: Valarian Root from the grocery store. 3 capsules before bed...helps me sleep and helps take care of breathing problem. takes a couple consecutive days to start working though.

If ya can't breath I vote the doctor or ER - It is better to go and check it out and not need to than to need to and not check it out {IMHO}

This is classic anxiety. You are hyperventilating... stop thinking about breathing, and your body will take over again. You dont need to breath that much, come one. A satisfying breath? what the hell is that?

I got the same thing, its a phobia and its all in your head. Try it.

Best thing is go to a doctor to figure it out, this isn't an issue you would want to rely on someone's lay opinion on this forum.

If the doctor just says its anxiety than you can breathe a sigh of relief but don't want to take the chance that it could be something more serious and jeopardize your life.

It could be acid reflux or stomach cramps... it constricts the area.

Its actually related to the bronchial dilation in the lungs. The airway restriction happens when your coming down from the drug, its a rebound effect. Same thing with nasal constrictors, you get rebound congestion.

I've got asthma as well so I have an albuterol inhaler, and it helps tremendously. But know that your not going to die as a result of it, your still taking in oxygen. If you were not, you would pass out. Just understand that the problem becomes worse because you think about it. The rebound effect from amphetamine just gives the feeling of congestion in your lungs, and it can be partly influenced by irritants entering into the lungs (tobacco smoke, etc). It becomes better when you take your Adderall because it will re-dilate your bronchial tubes, but when your panic, your body will constrict these tubes further.

Just don't think about it, distract yourself, breath normally, your going to be fine.

Might want to consider buying a portable blood-pressure cuff to use at home. Or use one of the free ones often near a Pharmacy (more accurate there too).

I noticed my usual 120/80 went up to being borderline hypertensive (140/90) when I tried 30 mg, so I don't go that high anymore.