I keep reading negative stories about this drug, but I'm in my second or 3rd month on Adderall and I have to say that its been nothing short of a life-saver for me.
I've struggled with a wicked case of ADHD as a child (Although only diagnosed by those around me, my mother told everyone I was normal and that I would grow out of it). Well the only thing I really grew out of was the hyperactive aspect of ADD. I happened to be blessed with a higher than average IQ, however the blessing was also my curse because it masked the symptoms of ADD through most of my school years. Although, I too had the standard ADD report cards "She's not living up to her full potential, she needs to be organized more" year after year. Scoring some of the highest standardized tests in my school solidified my own intelligence in my own mind and I was able to coast by easily without doing much work.
By high school, however, my lack of studying and lack of interest in school caught up to me and I dropped out by the 11th grade. I felt like a total failure, and idiot. And these feelings followed me thru on to adult hood.
In my early 20's, during a brief hospital stay, a nurse told me that I'd been misdiagnosed with depression (which was TRUE) and that I sounded like a textbook case of ADD. At the time, I brushed it off, not really understanding the true implications of it.
Now I am 26 and I've lived a muttled, chaotic, exciting, thought-provoking, albeit underachieving life. My disorganization and anxiety from the disorder has paralysed me at times, weakened my spirit and left me constantly searching for answers on why I was different, what was wrong with me, why my hard work didn't pay off like it did for everyone else. Why couldn't I keep a job? Why couldn't I stay focused? Why did the details escape me?
Then ADD resurfaced in my head and it was like the answer I'd been looking for for years. And with that answer came education and also Adderall, and thus came my life change.
From the beginning, it was like the sweetest CLARITY and focus that I'd ever known. Yes, on Adderall I would still get distracted, but like a rubberband, I could easily regain my original focus. The initial side effects have all worn off and now I just feel NORMAL on it. I feel like the me I was always meant to be but never could attain on my own.
I've just completed my 3rd week of Culinary school (My clarity lead me to re-enroll and follow my dream) and I've also started a new job.
My social anxiety has also cleared up EXTREMELY. I used to FREEZE at the thought of making a phone call to a business or a doctor; now it's like nothing. I can hold my head up high in a crowd. I can listen for hours in class and retain a HUGE amount of information. I REMEMBER TO PUT MY KEYS IN THE RIGHT PLACE!
Don't get me wrong, Adderall is NOT a miracle. There is a still a LOT of work that I'm putting in, behavioral modifications, relearning new habits, but now I have an answer, I have solutions.

If you haven't read it already, an EXCELLENT book is:
Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life

by Sari Solden (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Sari%20Solden)
http://www.amazon.com/Women-Attention-Deficit-Disorder-Differences/dp/1887424970

I bought it for about $5 total off of Amazon used and it was like READING THE BIBLE OF MY LIFE! It's a great book.
So that's my story. :) I'm glad I could share it and if you made it this far, I'm shocked!!! lol

Katy

hey

glad to hear its helped u so much, my story pretty similar to yours except ive just been diagnosed now at 35!

did you try anything before adderal? Im ritalin but thinking of changing cos it is making me a bit weepy & only lasts 2-3 hrs per dose...

I didn't try anything before Adderall, but I did try a week on Vyvanse and I HATED it. It made me feel a bit out of control and manic, which is not like me. Vyvanse floated me away, Adderall snapped my brain into submission. I love it.

what is your dosage?

Thank you for posting, that's very encouraging to read.

and anxiety from the disorder has paralysed me at times

I find it interesting that you responded well to adderall, and have anxiety issues. I tend to have anxiety issues, and so far I've gotten a better response from adderall than focalin or dex. I'm not sure if anxiety is just as important as ADHD for me.

Do you feel like the effects of adderall are undesirable sometimes?

I was beginning to feel worthless due to my poor performance in just about everything. Found out about ADD, went to the doc, started taking adderall. It's only been about a month but it's great. I'm doing what I need to do now and I feel soooo much better. :D

my life is changed as well. im happier than ever and am enjoying life for once. i gusse im not the only one ^_^

I didn't try anything before Adderall, but I did try a week on Vyvanse and I HATED it. It made me feel a bit out of control and manic, which is not like me. Vyvanse floated me away, Adderall snapped my brain into submission. I love it.

That's funny, because Adderall can make me feel crazy and emotional like that. I don't generally have social anxiety but ADHD drugs can give it to me!

I was curious- how long have you been on treatment, and how long have you been taking Adderall?

I'm glad you're having such good luck with it!

Let me clarify... TOO MUCH ADDERALL makes me feel ANXIOUS. I've played around slightly with my doses and I feel like I've found my sweet spot. I was originally prescribed with 20mg/day. 20 mg at a time, most of the time, is just TOO MUCH FOR ME, in one shot. It makes me feel anxious, aggresive, just TOO MUCH. But less, more often, that is my magic.

Currently I take 10 mg, generally every 4 hours,sometimes every 2.5-3 hours if I'm doing something especially mentally taxing. I RARELY exceed 50mg in a day, but it's happened, and conversely, I rarely take less than 10 mg a day. I'm thinking about talking to my Dr about XR, although I do like the control I have. For example, I might have a lighter day, but I attend class in the evening, and I might need an extra shot of concentration for the hours I'm at school, I like that Adderall IR is in an out in the time that I need it most, not just for hours and hours on end. A combo of both might be ideal... XR for most days, IR for the days extra is needed.

All I can say is that 10 little mg of Adderall has DRASTICALLY changed my quality of life. 10 years ago I flunked out of high school, since I've started Adderall, I entered school and as of right now, I'm maintaning at 96% average, AND I've got a 2 year old AND I work from home. Before Adderall, just getting to the bank and getting a shower in one day WAS A LOT one some days.

I'm now the me I was always meant to be, I'm just NORMAL!!!!!!! I can go to the grocery and remember what I was supposed to pick up and not get 50 other things not on the list (and I remember to REFER to the list!). I can sit down for 3-4 hours and study for school, no problem. Before Adderall, IMPOSSIBLE. I really can't say enough about it. It hurts me greatly that there is a such a stigma associated with ADD, and that most people think it's something made up, or that EVERYONE has it. As someone that lived, untreated for 26 years, it's MOST CERTAINLY NOT made up.

SIDE NOTE: I have also found that taking a B-50 complex vitamins, and also caffiene has also improved my clarity and over all mood. I also take omega fatty acids as well. Yeah, it's quite a cocktail, but it works for me. I've also heard that Zinc facilitates absorbtion of Adderall, so I'm thinking of adding that to my daily mix. If I leave any one of these things out, I really notice a difference. I hope it helps. Feel free to email me or IM me... Katesfarscape on AIM!

KAty :)

"I was curious- how long have you been on treatment, and how long have you been taking Adderall?"


I've been on Adderall.. let's see.. I'm gonna say 2-3 months now. That's how long I've been in treatment. Oh, I was first given Ritalin, I forgot to mention. It was REALLY bad. I got so sleepy on it, I felt dead. And it made me neauseious. I took it a total of 3 times and then called my dr and asked to try something else and that's when he gave me Adderall.

ladykatyjs, thanks so much for your response. I'm really glad Adderal worked out in your case! In my case, 5mg of the generic stuff can leave me a mess. I've heard things about the B vitamins too.

Isn't it great to just feel functional?

MIRACULOUS! I honestly never knew it would be this good. I'm not saying my life is perfect now and peaches and roses, it's just that the little things are LESS annoying now and I can manage my day much better.

When I read your OP I thought for a second that I had written it and forgotten about it. I had planned to write something like this but haven't done it yet, and the first part of your post sounds eerily like me. I too dropped out in 11th grade but wasn't diagnosed until this year (I'm 31). I managed to make it through college on a good memory and good ability, but way underperformed. I finally sought treatment from a psychatrist after the school psych. (I'm in grad school) said I did not have ADD because I never flunked out of school (despite bring him stacks of report cards showing the comments you mentioned and mediocre and inconsistent grades along with standardized test score results in the 99th percentile). A local doc believed my story and prescribed Adderall and honestly, it has totally changed everything. I can't believe I waited so long to seek treatment, but I'm so thankful now. Anyway, thanks for your post!

Yes I can relate. It makes me happy to hear how much of an improvement a diagnosis and medication can help a person. I'm such an adhd advocate to people who I think might have undiagnosed adhd. I know the behaviors and symptoms. I've actually helped two friends in the past 2 years to pursue seeking help and an evaluation. Both have been diagnosed. One is about to start adderall.....I hope it changes his life like it did for mine, and yours!!!! :)