New diagnosis...started on Adderall XR

[CJC1531]

Finally officially diagnosed with adhd.

I was prescribed adderall xr 20mg...i have been taking it for three days and I can say its been an amazing change..ive noticed improvements across the board.

Should I know anything special about taking it? Anything you have experienced about it? Any warnings?

Thanks

[sarahsweets]

Well...sometimes the dose needs to be adjusted...20mg is on the lower end but if it works for you thats great!

[CJC1531]

Its working for now...i know tolerance becomes an issue.

[sprite4]

Glad to hear you're doing better! Did you have any related anxiety with your ADD that the Adderall helped with?

[CJC1531]

Yea it relieved a tonnnnn of anxiety that I fought with everyday. Now I approach problems head on.

[starrykitten]

Originally Posted by CJC1531

Yea it relieved a tonnnnn of anxiety that I fought with everyday. Now I approach problems head on.

It also helped my anxiety! My prescriber acted like that was impossible, but it was a huge help.

Are you getting a crash or anything when it wears off?

Yes, be prepared for more tinkering with your dosage, even if it's ok for now. Fingers crossed you can just stay where you are, doing as well as you are.

[sprite4]

So was the anxiety a result of your ADD? I currently suffer from blushing and sweating when in social situations, but I'm not shy or anything of that nature. I think it's just the constant and repetitive thought process or lack there of in my head that comes from ADD which ends up causing the anxiety. I'm not currently diagnosed with it, as I am with mild social anxiety. I'm going to my doctor again to see if I have ADD though. In any event, what anxiety symptoms did you experience?

[CJC1531]

Antisocial...was anxious about any social situations involving a stranger or someone new because I couldnt really focus and contribute to conversation... Now I have no problem with that. I used to be anxious about events in future even if they were small id think about it all week with dread... Thats 100% gone also..now my attitude is whatever ill handle it. Im so much more open than before meds.

[sprite4]

That's exactly how I feel when in social situations..I get nervous for the sheer fact that I have all these random thoughts bouncing around in my head. I'll constantly rehearse in my head what I'm going to say, only to forget or not know where to carry the conversation on to next. The fact that all these thoughts are bouncing around as I'm trying to focus on the other person talking is extremely irritating. In turn, anxiety symptoms start to kick in such as sweating and blushing. Then it's game over cause I just gave myself another reason not to focus haha. If only everything would just slow down in my head and I could be calm in social situations...

[relxdd]

When I was on 30-40mg of Vyvanse (100% dextroamphetamine), I would always get anxious. Sweaty arm pits, tapping foot, etc. When I read that Adderall is even worse for anxiety because it has PNS stimulation (4 amph salts), I held off on it as long as possible.

Few weeks ago I decided that just for kicks I should try Adderall. Since starting IR 5mg (Sandoz) + 10mg (Actavis) XR (10mg supposedly 30mg equivalent of Vyvanse), I have no anxiety and can be more productive. Like others said, socializing has also become easier. I should note though that Vyvanse had WAY more stimulating effects. Adderall I can't even tell I'm on it. I think I should try increasing my dosage though because I can often get tired on it and have difficulty focusing.

As an ADD-PI who's always had anxiety issues, my experience was surprising. However, I have only ever taken Sandoz as it is supposedly the smoothest and consistent IR on the market.

[sprite4]

So did the adderall help with the sweating and the tapping of the foot? I to have that problem as well..cant stop moving due to the nervous energy I have haha. Also when you say Vyvanse had more stimulating effects...are you saying in terms of being able to focus more clearly?

[relxdd]

Originally Posted by sprite4

So did the adderall help with the sweating and the tapping of the foot? I to have that problem as well..cant stop moving due to the nervous energy I have haha. Also when you say Vyvanse had more stimulating effects...are you saying in terms of being able to focus more clearly?

Adderall doesn't make me sweat or tap. No side effects at all. When I take my Sandoz booster in the PM though, I can get really bad headaches. Not sure if it's the XR or IR. Could be blood sugar related, but I never had that issue with Vyvanse.

When I say Vyvanse is more stimulating, I can feel it kick in WAY MORE. I haven't been on Adderall long enough to compare the focusing abilities, but on Vyvanse I know I'm on it. Adderall is much more transparent, but that's speaking for Actavis XR and Sandoz IR. I hear Barr/Teva can be more speedy.

[sprite4]

Hmm very interesting...so in essence, both provided a calming effect to you? If in fact I am diagnosed with ADD, I'm hoping to be able to take one pill in the morning that can last me throughout the day. Obviously I'll go with what the doctor recommends, but that's what I would like. I assume that's what the XR does? Also when you first started taking the medicine, when did it kick in or when did you feel the positive effects of it? I'm currently taking an SSRI, and it took forever to kick (the very little that it's done for me) and I never really knew when it was "doing its job"....

[relxdd]

No, Vyvanse can make me anxious/sweaty/foot tapping. Adderall provided none of the those side effects, though it could only be due to a small dose. I could feel Vyvanse kick in within 20 minutes after taking. I highly recommend Vyvanse if you've never tried it before.

[sprite4]

But did you continue to experience the anxious, sweating, and foot tapping after your body adjust to it as well? Is that why you decided to switch to adderall? Or did those side affects gradually disappear. Again, I know it's different for everyone, just curious.