So tolerance finally happened. Advice please.

[den4]

I know this has been asked many times, but everyone is different. Here's my situation.

After a year in a half, I have definitely gained a tolerance to Adderall. I used to take 10mgs. That won't last in my system very long. Maybe 1 hour, 2 max. By the time I'm ready to study...it's not working. So, I've gone up to 20mgs and nothing. My heart will just race but my mind is still foggy. Then on a occasional day it will work just fine.

I tried to change things up by eating breakfast in the morning...it's hard to find anything to eat without Vitamin C or Citric Acid. I try eating bread. Sometimes, eating first helps. Sometimes it doesn't. I found to find more success when I don't eat, but now my stomach is used to eating in the morning!

I might have screwed things up when I started drinking Caffeine with it. A natural energy drink that contains Vitamin C and other vitamins. Once I felt the Adderall wearing off, I'd drink it. I have lots of energy to do things but could not focus on school work. I stopped the caffeine but nothing has changed. Perhaps I need to try a month without Caffeine? The longest I've gone is a week.

I also went a 2 week period without Adderall, and when I got back on it was great for about a week, and then it happened all over again. The focus is not back and I still cannot study.

I also try not to take any sleep meds at night so it will not affect me but then I won't be able to sleep if I don't....and then we all know...no sleep....Adderall will NOT work.

So, I keep trying these different things and nothing works. I spoke to my doctor about switching. Vyanese sounds like it will last too long for me. Ritalin, I had a bad experience. So....give it up and just go without it? Do a body cleanse? I just want to study and have another successful year...so far nothing works. It's incredibly frustrating.

[den4]

I also don't take Multivitamins anymore or any fish oils. Maybe, I should start?

[425runner]

Yes, @den4 - you need to start taking Mg Citrate 400-600mg/day, multi-vitamin will be OK but you need additional magnesium. CDP Choline helps to increase the density of dopamine receptors, if you can afford it...if not, start taking 2-6 grams of fish oil/day. Also l-tyrosine is an amino acid, pre-cursor to NE/DA take 500mg-1 gram on an empty stomach. It's replenish the neurotransmitters.

What you've described happened to me on Dexedrine I need to lay off the coffee as well.

[sarahsweets]

It could be just a dose issue, 10mg is sort of a childs dose so it might not be an issue of tolerance.

[den4]

Originally Posted by 425runner

Yes, @den4 - you need to start taking Mg Citrate 400-600mg/day, multi-vitamin will be OK but you need additional magnesium. CDP Choline helps to increase the density of dopamine receptors, if you can afford it...if not, start taking 2-6 grams of fish oil/day. Also l-tyrosine is an amino acid, pre-cursor to NE/DA take 500mg-1 gram on an empty stomach. It's replenish the neurotransmitters.

What you've described happened to me on Dexedrine I need to lay off the coffee as well.

Thank you so much for your response! I will do just that! =]

[Content ID]

Also please be aware if you do a vitamin regimine daily, keep "Vitamin C" out of it. Vitamin C decreases the absorption of Amphetamines into the bloodstream thus causing Adderall not to work effectively. Magnesium does help a bit though.

And just off the record 10-20MG is kind of a low end dose. Also what kind of Adderall are you taking The Tablets (Adderall IR) or The pills/Capsules (Adderall XR) If you are using Adderall IR that can explain the medication working for only 1-2 hours. I was that way with IR it would be out of my system by the time I need to do heavy mental work. Maybe you should try Adderall XR if you haven't already it lasts much longer.

[den4]

Originally Posted by Content ID

Also please be aware if you do a vitamin regimine daily, keep "Vitamin C" out of it. Vitamin C decreases the absorption of Amphetamines into the bloodstream thus causing Adderall not to work effectively. Magnesium does help a bit though.

And just off the record 10-20MG is kind of a low end dose. Also what kind of Adderall are you taking The Tablets (Adderall IR) or The pills/Capsules (Adderall XR) If you are using Adderall IR that can explain the medication working for only 1-2 hours. I was that way with IR it would be out of my system by the time I need to do heavy mental work. Maybe you should try Adderall XR if you haven't already it lasts much longer.

I'm glad you mentioned the Vitamin C. That is something I had left out. For a bit now, I have been taking Vitamin C at various times. Usually at night to get the Adderall out of my system. Is this a mistake that is affecting me long term now?

I take Adderall IR. I cannot take more than 12mgs max. (I have broken them into pieces if needed) I break a 20 into a 10mg and my doctor said it wasn't a problem...Anyway I cannot have more than 10mgs at once or go up to 20mgs too soon. I end up with a racing heart and feeling sick. It doesn't help my concentration. I'm still unfocused. So I think 10mg is fine. I'm also low on the weight scale. Always have been.

As for Adderall XR. That really did not work on me. I took 20mg XR a while back and it wore off within an hour or two and when it did I was falling asleep. That has never happened with IR. Afterwards, I made the mistake of assuming XR was safer (I do not remember why) and I took another 20mg. I felt my heart beat out of my chest. Worst, scariest, experience ever.

Suggestions are welcomed.

[den4]

I am also curious what everyone else uses to sleep? Any natural stuff? I took the fish oil yesterday and it perked me up for a bit. I'm assuming I have to take it for at least a month to see results? I am going to start the magnesium Citrate tonight, 500mg.

[425runner]

I'm prescribed 1mg Klonopin to use as needed and usually take 0.5mg to sleep, otherwise I'm in bed tossing & turning, can't shut off my mind. I also take 200mg l-theanine and 500mg lemon balm, they're supposedly calming but lately they make me more alert and hyper so gonna stop those herbs.

Also, I take 30mg opti-zinc and 400 mg Mg Citrate to wind down. Sometimes I pop 5-HTP 50mg if I'm super stressed or had too much coffee that day.

[kiosk]

Originally Posted by den4

I am also curious what everyone else uses to sleep? Any natural stuff? I took the fish oil yesterday and it perked me up for a bit. I'm assuming I have to take it for at least a month to see results? I am going to start the magnesium Citrate tonight, 500mg.

just so you know, a lot of people magnesium and other "adderall tolerance" supps dont do jack for.....am one of those.....dont set yourself up for high expectations and then be dissapointed later......

[den4]

Originally Posted by 425runner

I'm prescribed 1mg Klonopin to use as needed and usually take 0.5mg to sleep, otherwise I'm in bed tossing & turning, can't shut off my mind. I also take 200mg l-theanine and 500mg lemon balm, they're supposedly calming but lately they make me more alert and hyper so gonna stop those herbs.

Also, I take 30mg opti-zinc and 400 mg Mg Citrate to wind down. Sometimes I pop 5-HTP 50mg if I'm super stressed or had too much coffee that day.

How many hours after your last Adderall dose do you take the 400 MG Citrate?

[Mozart]

Make sure you are resting well. I take Melatonin daily (nightly) and have not experienced tolerance much within the past year.

Melotonin will not help you fall asleep, but to rest better/get more REM stage sleep.

[Cytosol]

10mg is a very low dose for an adult. You might want to speak with your doctor about moving to 20mg.

There are things you can try to increase effectiveness. First of all, if you take any drugs in excess (alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, caffeine) then cut down as much as you can. Regular cardiovascular exercise every other day helped me out significantly as well, and it seemed to double the effect of the medication. Also it goes without saying, clean up your diet too. You don't need to go crazy and cut out all gluten or carbohydrates or fats. Just eat sensibly and opt to make more healthy choices.

One other thing I found made a huge difference is sleep. Everyone has a different amount of required sleep, usually between 6 to 9 hours. I personally need 8 or 9 hours a night to feel normal. If I get 6 hours (which I often do on weekdays) the day after when I take adderall, I feel extremely fatigued, dizzy, headachey and I barely feel any positive effect from the medication. After a good 9-hour sleep, I feel fantastic and Adderall works that much better. Exercise (both cardio and weightlifting) helps out immensely with sleep. Work out hard for an hour after work and just try to not fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow!

Fish oils (omega 3/6) are great, but you need to take them consistently for months before you start to feel effects. They are believed to help encourage brain development and overall functioning. It won't 'perk' you up like Adderall, but it will probably make a positive difference over time.

Good luck!

[425runner]

@den4 When I was on Adderall, I took 10mg IR twice a day. If you only take 10mg/day that's a very small dose....so first thing, as others have said, you need to up to at least 20mg/day. I'd take 5mg every 4 hours to make sure the effects lasted all day because I had to be functional at 4 am. I'm currently on Dexedrine ER but will go back to Adderall cause the Dex just puts me to sleep.

Anyway, I'd take 400mg Magnesium Citrate with dinner around 5 pm, along with other supplements and vit.C The Magnesium is calming so I don't take it during the day. Also, dont bother with the 5-HTP that stuff is crap!! Just flushed it down the toilet ...made me sleep for 16 hrs and felt really drugged all day

[NolaGirlyGurl]

I switched to Vyvanse & love this so much more that adderall and all the others! I have taken every single add adhd medication out there. I too, took "child doses". It might have somethin to do with the vitamin c u r taking or ingesting. My doctor has told me drinking or taking vitamins with vitamin C can metabolize and make ADD medication less if not completely ineffective.