i am just wondering what is your optimal daily Adderall dosage?

I don't take Adderall, and I'm sure you already know this...but, since every person is different, they will all have different optimal dosage levels.

Obviously not enough!

I take an average of 80mg daily. My adderall is perscribed on hours awake ( that would be physicialy awake) I take 20mg every 4.5 to 5 hours. My ceiling is 100mg daily. I rarely reach my ceiling though. There are times I take less like days off when I am doing creative stuff like making jewlery, wood burning, writting ect.. I take only 10mg. The adderall helps prevent mind wandering.. necessary in creativity. Mind present and accounted for necessary at work then I take the full 20mg. The 10mg is enough adderalll to keep me on track( I only drag one project out at a time and remember what I'm working on after the bathroom break) but not enough to prevent the wandering mind thing. I average 80mg daily. :D

Tammy

20mg a day for me. Works well enough for me.

for me it's 30Mg Adderal XR (time release) - 15Mg ( not time release ). I take the
15 around 4:00 in the afternoon when the "down" starts - If I take the 15 Mg after
6:00 or so I have problems sleeping. Generally I can sleep otherwise. I am continually concerned about blood pressure and am working with a doctor about this.

I may take it on the weekends to reduce the every present anxiety and just
try to relax......

Doctor precribed is 25 mg a day but I rarely actually take over 15, more like 10 a day. Probably why I have 3 months of it stockpiled- Hey, you never know.

Man I must be really wacked or hyper or just "hard headed". I didn't think I took that much more Adderall than other folks until I read this forum. I'm not large by most standards: 5ft-6in weigh 120 lbs and I'm female. I have been on this dosage(80mg-100mg daily) for a long time with out any problems so I guess I won't worry. I just didn't realise everyone else was on such a low dose, no wounder it took years to get my meds right. 20-30 mg of Adderall daily :eek: I would focus for about four hours a day. I take 20mg a dose!!

Hi there all,
I take 90+mg per day and have for the last year and find it very effective. I am certain that everyone is different and require different doesages. I was on 60mg per day and it just didn't seem to be helping so my Dr. increased the dose and voila it did the trick. I don't have any problems sleeping at night as I thought I might as long as I take my last does around or before 5pm.

I take my last dose about 4-5 hrs before retiring. I have problems sleeping but it seems to have nothing to do with my medication more to do with the monthly moon movements as I can take a dosage and fall asleep 30 minutes later, like I did this afternoon. I have more problems falling to sleep when I allow the Adderall to wear off. I have rebound from H@#ll.

When I have my monthly bouts of insomnia nothing causes drowsiness, I can take 1mg of Xanax and still be up playing on the computer, watching meanless stuff on TV, getting back to that jewlery making project I meant to last year..on occasion melatonin helps if I catch it before the Adderall wears off, but even the melatonin's effectiveness is marginal. Usualy I just stay awake that night and the next day, eventually I will sleep as no one has ever died from insomnia that I know of. Any way glad I am not the only one who takes a whopping dose of medication.

My doctor says my dosage has more to do with the severity of chemical imbalance than with weight. He says he has 220lb men on 20mg daily with good results, while others, like me, are smaller ,120lbs, and take larger dosages to achieve equal response.

Thanks for responding it is bad when you fell like an odd ball on a forum for ADD.

Tammy

I'm on 60mg/day (I take 20mg, 3x daily). My sleeping pattern is the same; I have always been very much a "night person" and usually do not fall asleep until 3-4am. I can take Adderall and fall asleep soon after, so it doesn't appear to affect my sleep. I have Ambien to take to fall asleep at a "decent" hour (haha, what my doctor says) but I usually don't take it, because I like being up at night when it's quiet and calm.

I just started taking 40 mg Addderal XR but am having problems focusing

You make me feel "normal" there wasted. I rarely take my prescribed Xanax either. I am kind of a night person myself. When I do have trouble sleeping as I discribed above and can't sleep I often just stay up and go to work the next morning . In the afternoon I get clumsly at times but can usually manage. I figure it like this: insomnia is a self-limiting syndrom as no one has ever ever died of lack of sleeping. When I get tired enough I'll sleep. I use any insomnia I have to get to do things I don't usually get to do like relax with out some one needing some thing, some one wanting to tell me some thing and during times when no one tries to sell me some thing ( internet is an exception)

Dixiepeep it has been my experience that doctors start out with the lowest dose they think will help and gradually move up the dosage depending on patient responses. I kept a log on small spiral notebook that fit in pocket so I could give times with one word records of when meds worked (I remember I had a note pad and needed to write on it, plus knew time and date) and times medications wore off ( times when I forgot to write in note pad and I wasn't sleeping)

You make me feel "normal" there wasted. I rarely take my prescribed Xanax either. I am kind of a night person myself. When I do have trouble sleeping as I discribed above and can't sleep I often just stay up and go to work the next morning . In the afternoon I get clumsly at times but can usually manage. I figure it like this: insomnia is a self-limiting syndrom as no one has ever ever died of lack of sleeping. When I get tired enough I'll sleep. I use any insomnia I have to get to do things I don't usually get to do like relax with out some one needing some thing, some one wanting to tell me some thing and during times when no one tries to sell me some thing ( internet is an exception) i think we are the "normal" ones, and everyone who likes to go to bed early and wake up early are "abnormal" ;)

it's exactly how you described it for me, i am not bothered at night!! if i'm trying to work i need silence and that never happens during the day. i can literally go batty when trying to work and not being able to get silence; i end up way more stressed out and irritable than before even starting so it's almost pointless. i have tried ear plugs with headphones worn OVER and it's still not good enough. "white noise" doesn't seem to work for me either, it's too distracting :( how is a person supposed to get total silence?!

Good idea about the keeping a log. I will do that. Adderall seems to make me less irritable than Ritalin and I like that part of it. I guess I need to get the doc to work on the doseage.

Ritalin had steeper "hills and valleys" than Adderall. The Adderall has a smoother onset and wears off more gradually which means less head aches for me.
Comminucation with doctor greatly improves out come. If I couldn't talk to my doctor than he wouldn't be my doctor. I respect physicians for their education and experience. Thier education, training and experience is why I hire a doctor to help me with every thing from my ADD ( I have a great ADD doctor) to my "female problems" (he is a nice guy too). The rare occasions I run into an attitude problem amoung my health care professionals I treat them with the same professional courtsy as I would any employee ;however, just like other employees I hire I can and will fire some one who is an uncoopertive jerk.

I understand MOST health care professional's positions as I was a health care professional for twenty years. I worked for my patients and did my best to serve them. When emergencies, unexpected stuff interfiered with my abilities I was open and honest with them( without breaking privicy of other patients). I talked to my patients like the adults most were and I expect to be treated in like manner when I am the patient

I used to think my daily dosage was 15mg, but it didnt seem too effective. I couldnt increase because it would give me bad anxiety. I started taking anti-anxiety meds(lexapro) and i feel like a new person. I take 5mg(at the momment) of lexapro and 30 mg of adderall a day. Works wonderfully.

My dr and i spent a yr trying to find the right meds

Mine seems to wear off about 5 pm. I take 20 mgs. xr. I have talked to the doctor about that and he just upped my dosage from 10 to 20 mgs. How many of you have caffiene while taking your adderall? I am addicted to caffiene and take vivaren 3 times a day for the last 20 years. Some one help...I can't stand to go through the withdrawals of caffiene. I had a sinus surgery a couple of years ago where you can't eat anything after 12. I didn't take my vivaren and had terrible headaches (this was before I was taking adderall). They gave me morphine to help with the headache in my IV. Anyone else have this problem? Maybe this is all my add problems!!!

Mine seems to wear off about 5 pm. I take 20 mgs. xr. I have talked to the doctor about that and he just upped my dosage from 10 to 20 mgs. How many of you have caffiene while taking your adderall? I am addicted to caffiene and take vivaren 3 times a day for the last 20 years. Some one help...I can't stand to go through the withdrawals of caffiene. I had a sinus surgery a couple of years ago where you can't eat anything after 12. I didn't take my vivaren and had terrible headaches (this was before I was taking adderall). They gave me morphine to help with the headache in my IV. Anyone else have this problem? Maybe this is all my add problems!!! I haven't ever heard of Vivaren but I'm guessing it's some kind of caffeine pill like No Doz? Well anyway, if it's caffeine that you don't want to withdraw from, I agree it really sucks. I had to go from drinking 8-12 diet cokes a day to NO CAFFEINE! I was in the hospital and couldn't get any caffeine. Yeah it sucked, but it is not that bad if you do it gradually. Just cut it down 1 cup a day, or 1/2 a pill, or whatever increment makes sense to you. In addition, Excedrine has caffeine and when you are at the point where you are off caffeine and still having headaches, take Excedrine for a few days. It worked for me. I regret that I went back to drinking caffeine :o But I am able to get by with just one (*BIG*) espresso a day now which is an improvement.

I agree with Wasted gradual with draw off the pills (with out increasing cafine beverages intake) would probably work best. I took in a lot of stimulents caffine to name one until I got on meds. Now that I am on medications I don't take caffine pills and I try to watch my coffee and soda intake. Thank God for the herbal teas thay have out now. Being sensitive to citric acid decraeses my drink chioces to mostly stuff with caffine or herbal tea. I like green tea ho in winter cold in summer. Perpment is good also.

Hi all, my dosage, is high, and not high enough!, Well, my doctor has me on Adderall 30mg, 2x daily. As i stated 100 times before, it only gives a total of about 10 hrs. 5+5, so i take 3 doses of 30mg. Now my doctor doesnt know this , but my appt is wed, so i will tell him in a way that i have to take an extra dose, which is not working to par, because im running out. Im already out , 5 days before. I slept for 2 days already, but luckily I make sure i have about 10 ritalin on hand. I can tell the difference, big time, Ritalin is not as potent, nor has the add effects as adderall. No wonder why its perscribed more for kids! ., no, well im not sure, but in my opinon, 2 ritalin 30mg are like 30mg of adderall, yet 2 Ritalins, dont give you "more better effect" just more jittery. But
anyway, Im on the Dexedrine train hopefully and have been doing my homework.
I have found out basically the D-isomer , dextroamphetamine, is the best isomer out of the others. By Far, for mental clarity, focus and motivation. So, i just can imagine having a full D- isomer, esp when it will help more for social interaction, motivation, due to the dopamine release.
My top dosage is 90mg of adderall. I did take 45mg one or 2x just to see if it made a difference, and it really didnt. I dont want to even try 60mg at once, due to if the effects are too overpowering or "good", ill end up abusing it. So 30mg, every 5-6 hrs, totaling 16hrs. is perfect.
If i was able to get Adderall XR, I would be able to manage this problem more. I just read from the adderall XR medication form, Adderall XR peak levels are 4 hrs more than adderall . So basically, it said 7 hrs, is the peak blood level for xr, and minus 4 is, 3hrs. Makes sence, bencaue, after 3hrs, its does start to fade, by hrs 6 It 1/2 gone it feels. So , in reality, I would have my doc, Write me 30mg of xr, wich would give me say 10hrs total , plus another 15mg of XR, or 20-30mg regualr, to finish off the day.

Dexedrine spanuals, which basically lasts about 11 hrs, is great. Then, adding another dose of the regular dexedrine, say 10-20mg , which would last 4-6 hrs, gives me 16 hrs, which i need, and this is actually minimim, because in my crazy life, i dont go to bed at the same time every night, some nights up up 18-20 hrs some times, 12. So, i fall into the 16-18 hrs bracket. Though ultimately, if he would perscribe me 2 doses of the dexedrine spanuals, say 20mg at waking, then 8 hrs later take the other 20mg would be great. So i would be actually still going up to 20 hrs, which really would not interfere with my sleep, because dexedrine, is less stimulating anxiety and periferal terms, and also, im perscribed klonopin to sleep. Adderall, i feel asleep alot while on it. So, im not worried about sleep. Nor anxiety. Just the blood levels, saying up all day.

Lastly, On my Ritalin. THis drug is very unpredictable. I would take a dose of 20mg LA, and would sometimes, give me energy, but then i would crash fast, and become depressed and crave, irritable. I dont like it, but its better than nothing. Now i will not have to resort to this , if i can get a good dosing schedule from my doc, and i will talk to him and even if so, bring him some literature on this.

The only other alternative ,if he says no, would be, ok doc, can you at least perseribe me another medication which has dopamine properties, and most of the time, welbutrin would be perscribed. I dont think he would persribe bromocriptine or some antiparkinson drug. But heck, you can get them online, legally from nootropic sites. Some of these smart drugs sound pretty good.

MRsr

I voted 20 mg because my dosage was just raised from 10mg daily to 20mg daily as of. October 1. Since I started taking Adderall in June, although it has helped with my ADD and worked wonders for me, I can not longer take it. It started with a single panic attack about a month and a half ago (never had such a massive one, went to the hospital thinking I was going to die and all that). Then time passed and recently I've had 3. 2 before my dosage was raised, and one just yesterday morning. My doctor thinks it due to being under an unusual amount of stress lately, that the medication is not the cause and perscribed Valium to take as needed.

But my heart rate continues to be elevated although I have not taken any since yesterday morning (and even then I only took 5 mg b/c I was scared from the attack I had on Saturday, did not take any at all Sunday). I know that it is also stress related, but I also know if I take an Adderall at this time the slight change in heart rate/blood pressure will cause an attack and so I am just not going to take it. Just spoke with the doctor's nurse, told her I can't take it, that I need it but I simplely can't take something that gives me panic attacks so I need to be on a non-stimulant version.

Also, I read in some other forum (before selecting this one to join) that others have had similar expierences, and takeing Adderall gave them an anxiety disorder (which they had not previously had) and although they are no longer on the medication, still suffer from attacks that was brought about my taking Adderall. Although I am anxious my nature, anxiety/panic attacks were not a problem before Adderall treatment. Some people I see also take Adderall with a combination on anti-anxiety medication. But I don't want to be on uppers and downers and why I am afraid to take another Adderall pill today, I can feel it will cause one and although I know I can take 10mg of Valium to calm it, the Valuim makes me tired and I just generally feel like poo.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Adderall really helped me and I was so happy to have found a medication that made me feel normal and helped me function so much better but I just can't take it with the side effects I am now expierenceing. I know that I need to be on something to control my ADD but I need to try a non-stimulant version due to my newly developed sensativity. (NoDoz also caused me to have a panic attack once as well....)

Has anyone had a similar expierence, what did you do? What treatment/medications did you try instread?

Thank you!

I take adderall and I have an anxiety disorder, but it's not from the adderall. But, I also take clonidine for high blood pressure, but it also helps the anxiety and attention problem. The adderall doesn't work as well without the clonidine for me. My doctor said that they work on two different areas of the brain that are affected by ADD. Recently I read somewhere that clonidine is also used in the treatment for post traumatic stress disorder.

That is interesting. I had not heard of this combination of treatment before. I don't have high blood pressure so I doubt they will choose that as my combination. But it's interesting that the doc said it affects parts of the brian that the adderall does not.

Doctor still hasn't called me back.... anxiety is better, but my attention and "being all over the place".... is terrible, I am considering taking an adderall.... I haven't even started my work today..... But I just drank a 20 oz diet pepsi.... and my heart rate is still wacky (so maybe the anxiety is not better, I am just more use to it) so I am too afraid to take one although I feel like I desprately need it.

Meh.


I take adderall and I have an anxiety disorder, but it's not from the adderall. But, I also take clonidine for high blood pressure, but it also helps the anxiety and attention problem. The adderall doesn't work as well without the clonidine for me. My doctor said that they work on two different areas of the brain that are affected by ADD. Recently I read somewhere that clonidine is also used in the treatment for post traumatic stress disorder.

Anti-depressants like zoloft are good for anxiety too. I also have klonopine wafers for panic attacks. They act quickly and I only take them when I'm about to have a panic attack. This is something interesting I read about panic attacks. They have the same effects on your body as if you are being suffocated. The difference is, that you don't know the cause of it, so you don't know what to do to stop it. Apparently, memories are not stored in the usual manner during a panic attack. So if you're having one, it could be becuase the situation reminds you of something terrible in your subconscious that you can't recall. I read that in "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" by Robert Sapolsky. It's a book about stress and the effects it has on your brain, chemicals and hormones, your body and what diseases and health conditions it can contribute to. It's a good book.
But, sometimes if you have a panic attack and then associate it with something that may not be the cause of it, you may have another one the next time simply because you believe it is the cause.
Once when I told my doctor that I was having more trouble with anxiety, he increased my adderall dose. He said that one of the reasons I was so anxious was because I couldn't organize my thoughts and that once my thoughts were organized it would calm my mind. And he was right. But I wouldn't have believed it until he told me that. The next time I was upset about something I checked my blood pressure before and after I took the adderall, and it had gone down after I took the adderall.

:confused: I am on 40 mg a day, for the last 3 years (with a few 3 month breaks--no health ins.)and for the last like 6 months I have noticed that this dose does not seem to be working the way it used to. i told my doc and he blew me off, what to i do.

Anti-depressants like zoloft are good for anxiety too. I also have klonopine wafers for panic attacks. They act quickly and I only take them when I'm about to have a panic attack. This is something interesting I read about panic attacks. They have the same effects on your body as if you are being suffocated. The difference is, that you don't know the cause of it, so you don't know what to do to stop it. Apparently, memories are not stored in the usual manner during a panic attack. So if you're having one, it could be becuase the situation reminds you of something terrible in your subconscious that you can't recall. I read that in "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" by Robert Sapolsky. It's a book about stress and the effects it has on your brain, chemicals and hormones, your body and what diseases and health conditions it can contribute to. It's a good book.
But, sometimes if you have a panic attack and then associate it with something that may not be the cause of it, you may have another one the next time simply because you believe it is the cause.
Once when I told my doctor that I was having more trouble with anxiety, he increased my adderall dose. He said that one of the reasons I was so anxious was because I couldn't organize my thoughts and that once my thoughts were organized it would calm my mind. And he was right. But I wouldn't have believed it until he told me that. The next time I was upset about something I checked my blood pressure before and after I took the adderall, and it had gone down after I took the adderall.
That makes sense. Adderall never gave me panic attacks, then when I started getting them (and never got them before) I just assumed it was the adderall. So everytime I took one, my mind would race and tell my body I was going to get one.... Damn... I don't know if I can get over that though.... Also, I started taking Strattera and started to get a panic attack as well (read the side effect to watch blood pressure and pulse rate...) so in my mind I am worried it will cause one.... and I was able to calm myself down and get out of it. But yay, I suck. I am having a hard time getting out of that panic anxious feeling.

I am taking Buspirone (???) it's to treat anxiety. I still feel anxious though....

"i think we are the "normal" ones, and everyone who likes to go to bed early and wake up early are "abnormal" "


I like that perspective. I am the type that need silence to work on certain things especially writting, or trying to read for memory. Noise isn't the only thing I find distracting PEOPLE can be down right disruptive...intrupt me for a second and it takes me tweny minute to get back on track unless I get angry because I seem to be intrupted every twenty five minutes, which only gives me five minutes before the next scheduled people pause. After two maybe three rounds of this cycle I get p*ssed and can't get "back in my creative mood"

What really URKS me is when I am NOT trying to accomplish some master minded creative work NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW I EXISISTAHHhhh!!

Like your perspective Wasted!! We are the normamal ones. I do best at night for people reasons as well as the noise level reasons. At night most telemarketers, door to door sales men, and family member are SLEEPING. I find sleeping people to be less intruptuive.

hey bunny..i think you're talking about wellbutrin...buproprion hydrochloride.

i take 20mgs of the lovely adderall daily. i'm considering tinkering w/ my meds.
i may opt of an additional 5 mg of immediate release for the afternoons when i crash like a train wreck
or just get off it alltogether. either way i can always change right?
wellbutrin really is a miracle for me.

:confused: I am on 40 mg a day, for the last 3 years (with a few 3 month breaks--no health ins.)and for the last like 6 months I have noticed that this dose does not seem to be working the way it used to. i told my doc and he blew me off, what to i do.
Unfortunately it seems you should be looking for another doctor.
If you have a concern about your medication the doctor should take that seriously as the doc is one that should be keeping an eye on how you're responding and what might need to be adjusted...

I started on 20mg XR last Friday, but my blood pressure went up to 159/117. ICK! I'm going to pick up a script for a lower dose today.

I got alot done tho, even tho I was afraid my poor little heart was going to explode ;)

Hey Kelly, it goes up, but then it comes back down as you adapt.

What if you blood pressure is already high to begin with -- 140/95. Should you avoid Adderall?

I believe those with high blood pressure should avoid stimulants, yes. If you insist on adderall, perhaps try the 5mg XR tablet, and check your BP regularly.

Just started Adderall 11/9 @ 10mg bip (2x / day). Wasn't enough. Doctor doubled it 11/19. Much better but still 'buzzing' up there like a frayed wire. Thanks for the heads up on dosage-to-chemical. I was worried that it just wasn't going to be effective. I'll ask about going up to 30 bip 12/14.

Anybody notice difference Adderall XR vs Adderall twice a day?

I just started Adderal today.. so I am looking forward to the new improvements.. I take a 10 mgm in the mornign for the first week and the two in the morning the second week..

I am new to the forums as I am new to Adderall. I tried Concerta first but it made me so jittery that I couldn't sit still at all! It did work for the first couple of hours, but after that it was a nightmare. So my doctor switched me to Adderall and today is day 2. I have 10mg pills and yesterday I took two. Today I am going to take three. The directions say to take it every 4-6 hours, but I find that it wears off after 2 or 3 hours. So I have been waiting until 3.5 hours after a dose to take another dose.

I am really glad I have found a place to talk to other people about my ADD. It is such a relief to be able to get answers from people who have lived with this problem. I am in graduate school and only just discovered that I need medication. I had developed amazing coping skills, as I am sure most of you did as well. (Caffiene was my best friend!) I actually hope to only take Adderall for my time in graduate school, and even then only when I truly need to be able to focus. I don't want to become completely dependent on it for the rest of my life. Anyway, I'm glad I found you all!

Hi my dose is 30mg regual release 3x daily, preferably every 5-6 hrs. Somedays i may pop a caffiene pill or 2. But, I love 3x daily because at 2x, it only gives me 10 hrs, where 3x gives me 16 hrs, and i have no problem sleeping. A few times i took 4 but thats pushing it, or if i stayed out all night once in a while. The funny thing is, i can feel the adderall wearing off about hr 7. By hr 8, im not in too great of a mood or im tired. Which is a bit scarey, because it shows dependency , but on the other side, it shows how bad my add can be and when the drug wears off, my screwed up neurochemistry comes back into play., along with some withdrawl.

Man I must be really wacked or hyper or just "hard headed". I didn't think I took that much more Adderall than other folks until I read this forum. I'm not large by most standards: 5ft-6in weigh 120 lbs and I'm female. I have been on this dosage(80mg-100mg daily) for a long time with out any problems so I guess I won't worry. I just didn't realise everyone else was on such a low dose, no wounder it took years to get my meds right. 20-30 mg of Adderall daily :eek: I would focus for about four hours a day. I take 20mg a dose!!

I too am a fairly small female (5'7", 118 lbs), and am on 80 mgs a day. My dad, who is SEVERLY ADHD, takes a small dose (i think like 15 mg) of Ritalin a day. I consider him a bit "crazier" than myself, but Ritalin, or even low doses of adderall don't work at all for me. I wonder if it has something to do with ADD vs. ADHD (i'm the former...)?

I take a 30 mg XR twice daily. I work a crazy schedule... up at 2:30am... I take one then and one at noon right before I take a 2 hour nap. When my nap is over, the second dose is kicking in and I jump up ready to do whatever it is I have to do. Keeps me going until I go to bed sometime after Letterman's monologue (10:45pm ish) Anyone else here work an idiotic schedule like this? How do you deal with it?

i was prescribed 20mg of adderall xr a day just to try it out. considering im getting slight rashes i might get taken off it, but im actually hoping the doctor will boost it up 5mg.

hey guys any of you experience heart palpitations when first starting adderall?? i am on 20 mg adderall xr and the dr. is upping the dose to 30 mg this week.do the palpitations go away??

YIKES!!! I would notify doctor before taking another dose. I have done drugs in an abusive manner and had brief palpatations (lasting only 30 minutes) I haven't had palpatations when taking adderall in "proper" doses. Read the side effects sheet that comes with your medications which will list common side effect and serious side effects.

i am new to adderall xr. i have a wonderful doctor who told me from the very beginning my dosage would have to be adjusted up/down until i found what worked best. i am now on 60 mg xr in the am, and 30 mg xr around 1-2 pm. i didn't think this was a lot, but now i'm wondering if it may be. any thoughts would be appreciated.

i am new to adderall xr. i have a wonderful doctor who told me from the very beginning my dosage would have to be adjusted up/down until i found what worked best. i am now on 60 mg xr in the am, and 30 mg xr around 1-2 pm. i didn't think this was a lot, but now i'm wondering if it may be. any thoughts would be appreciated.

Usually doctors start off really low and keep raising until the right dose is found. If you are getting results and not having side effects then I wouldn't worry about your dose being too high.

I only take 5mg! but Ive only been on it 2 weeks, I might double it, but Im doing great so far!

i look at folks who are taking 5mgs and think....man, how lucky! on the other hand, i still feel extremely fortunate that i have found the med that works. i am constantly thinking about all the poor adults out there who could be helped if they only had an inkling as to what their problem could be.

I take an average of 80mg daily. My adderall is perscribed on hours awake ( that would be physicialy awake) I take 20mg every 4.5 to 5 hours. My ceiling is 100mg daily. I rarely reach my ceiling though. There are times I take less like days off when I am doing creative stuff like making jewlery, wood burning, writting ect.. I take only 10mg. The adderall helps prevent mind wandering.. necessary in creativity. Mind present and accounted for necessary at work then I take the full 20mg. The 10mg is enough adderalll to keep me on track( I only drag one project out at a time and remember what I'm working on after the bathroom break) but not enough to prevent the wandering mind thing. I average 80mg daily. :D

TammyI've heard the max adult dosage of adderall is 40mg a day. Is this true?

Okay, I've been on Adderall XL for about a week now, and it isn't giving me near all the results I want, but it's helping a little. Here's my question-

How do I approach my psych and ask her to up my dose without feeling like a druggy trying to get a fix? I know this is different, it's a med, but it's a controlled substance with the possibility for abuse so I'm feeling unsure about how to approach her. Please! Give me advice. I want to call her and ask her if I can double my dose (I'm on 30mg in the morning and that's it). Will docs approve an increase over the phone like that?
I just need the right words to say to her, and I'll repeat them verbatim, so I don't worry about what she thinks of me.
Can you all help?
Actually, since 30mgs only helps a little and wears off after about 3 or 4 hours, what kind of increase should i ask for? 60 mgs in the morn and 60mgs at noon and 60 mgs at 3pm? That's a crazy amount isn't it?? Please...any advice would be so valuable to me.

I take the regular Adderall (not the XR), and I'm prescribed at 90mg daily (30mg at five hour intervals) , but I can choose to cut back, depending on if I will be 'lounging around' without the need for extra needed focus help/ or going out/socializing, or studying/attending classes.
Nova

30mg XR
usually take about 2/3 of it on wake, or lunch, and the other 1/3 about 4 hours later.
i open the capsule and dump it in my hand. then close the capsule and keep it on me, and take the rest when i feel like it, if at all.

10mg regular
we just threw this in the mix, my insurance would not allow me to go to 40, they say their max is one pill per day, regardless of mg. the largest capsulw is 30mg. so doc prescribed regular, as that is technically different. i had inquired about people using the two together, and we tried it.

so far, i usually have taken just half, 5 mg. it seems to make me a bit edgy, which XR has never done. maybe i can find the best way to do it. i assume it'd br xr in days beginning, and regular in evening. ill have to work on the fine tuning. otherwise i may drop the regular. it definitely is different!

Okay, I've been on Adderall XL for about a week now, and it isn't giving me near all the results I want, but it's helping a little. Here's my question-

How do I approach my psych and ask her to up my dose without feeling like a druggy trying to get a fix? I know this is different, it's a med, but it's a controlled substance with the possibility for abuse so I'm feeling unsure about how to approach her. Please! Give me advice. I want to call her and ask her if I can double my dose (I'm on 30mg in the morning and that's it). Will docs approve an increase over the phone like that?
I just need the right words to say to her, and I'll repeat them verbatim, so I don't worry about what she thinks of me.
Can you all help?
Actually, since 30mgs only helps a little and wears off after about 3 or 4 hours, what kind of increase should i ask for? 60 mgs in the morn and 60mgs at noon and 60 mgs at 3pm? That's a crazy amount isn't it?? Please...any advice would be so valuable to me.
yea, to me, 60x3 =180 mg a day is a lot. but depend n weight, etc.
what is your height/ weight if u dont mind me asking?

im no pro or doctor, but i would give it a month before asking to up a dose.
and no they cannot do anything over the phone with adderall.
you must always get a piece of paper in person, every month, every time.

give it a month so you have that feed back of whats goin on. it can take time for the body to adjust fully, and find the flow of working with the med.

i am 150 lbs, and 30 mg a day sure does work. but some days more would help, but i get by fine. many days i take less, then have more for other days.

a lot of trial and error involed.

Thanks, Peachy!
I thought I was a 'freako' for a little while for being on the same dosage.
Nova

Mine come and go,but they're not as bad as when I first started taking it again. I had a hell of a time remembering that I wasn't having an anxiety attack, and it was the palps from that med, though.
Nova

I was just "upped" to 20 mg 2x/day yesterday. I was doing 10-15 2x/day and it helped a lot, but it seemed to have really just brought me from "severe" symptoms (I'm inattentive type but with a high IQ, hence the late dx) to "moderate" symptoms. We'll see what the higher dose does.

Recent book Adult ADD Brain Mechanisms and Life outcomes states briefly some research indicates Adderall should be taken 24 hours a day. My dose is 150 mg per day. I am much safer from impulse control and accomplish a great deal more on 180. My psychiatriast is a Stanford expert on ADD and has patients as high as 230 mg. My other psychiatrist will not go above the clinical testing done ata maximum of 120. Since it is a street drug for decades amounts of much larger proportion have been used for years. The test is to go to point of hypertension and back off, this is the most successsful serum level with the greatest frontal lobe activity. I only get eight good hours of productivity from 150 mg, and my psychiatrist and myself have to live in constant fear of the triplicate Bureu of Narcotics Enforcement of the California Attorney Generals Office.

domcarlo,

this is ir not xr, correct?....can't be xr i wouldn't think but i just popped into this thread by accident and found your info a bit intriguing. what research are you citing here?

I've heard the max adult dosage of adderall is 40mg a day. Is this true?


My intial response would be NO. I have been on this dosage for years now with out problems. The doctor who treats my ADHD says the "correct dosage" is the one that has the most benefit with the least side effect. He said he has had small people like me(120 lbs) take 80mg-100;on the other hand he has patients who were twice my size (200lbs) do well with only 20mg daily. The amount of medication required to be effective depends on the amount of "imbalance" in the individual's nero chemistry. :D

I just started taking Adderall XR 20mg yesterday. I have great focus and am able to concentrate now... I'd be interested in emailing someone who has taken Adderall or XR for a while as I have questions about what I'm experiencing... basically now and then some tingling around the ears - not distrurbing or distracting... I'm kind of sad that I will be 34 on Feb 23rd and I was misdiagnosed for over 15 years as having cyclothymia. In reality, my depression and mood swings were manifested by my ADD and the frustration at doing poorly in a lot of my classes and not being efficient at work. Throw in low self esteem, as well. I like it here a lot, I hope to gain and share a lot... Thanks! anderson_jw@comcast.net