Hi, im a pretty new adderall user, im prescribed by my doctor, but i dont want to get addicted so i dont take it everyday, only when i need it (i.e. big tests/ papers etc.) However, normally when i take, nothing happens at all. like... nothing, its like a took a sugar pill. I take 30mg XR by the way. Is adderall something that only works if it builds up in your system, or is it a drug that is possible to take only when you need it.

please help! thanks alot

Hi AP86,

Based on your regimine I can see you are responsible and not looking for euphoria. That said - if you are looking for a feel - in my opinion you are going about it wrong. You should step and ask yourself, can I focus better? Am I more organized? Am I less hyper? (the last refering to H in ADHD). Improvements in these areas is the primary reason one should take an ADHD med. The results should be immediate, and with Adderall there is no need to build up the drug in your brain before it is effective. If Adderall isn't cutting it for you discuss with your Dr., perhaps Concerta would be better for you.

Before taking the adderall, have you gotten enough sleep? When I was in law school and wasn't getting the proper amount of sleep, taking it would be pretty much nothing for me.

The Adderall should work right away. There's no build up time like with antidepressants and such. Sometimes the effects are more subtle or you might just have poor self-perception, which is really common in us ADDers. It's best if you can ask someone close to you (parents, boy/girlfriend, close friend etc.) to monitor you and see if they notice any changes.

For me, I didn't really know the meds were working until my husband started pointing out little things. The Adderall didn't work quite as I expected it to, so I was looking for something else. It wasn't a WOW difference, but it's definitely been a positive change.