Just started Adderall

[InattentiveType]

I just received a script for Adderall 10mg (I got the generic) and took my first dose.

Concerta was the first medication I tried (see http://www.addforums.com/forums/show...&threadid=1557 , this is the second attempt.

Hopefully it works out better. I'll post an update in a week or so.

[smooch]

That's how I started with Adderall, and it worked quite dandy, except that I got tired of having to carry the pills to work, and even then I would forget to take the pill. Guess I could've set an alarm for myself or something, but that didn't occur to me. And then AdderallXR came out, which is what I take now. The short-acting did seem to make my heartbeat speed up a lot--hmm, a stimulant...go figure, T!--but I got used to it.

Hope this one works for you in exactly the way you're needing!

[tiggwin]

I'll be real interested to hear how you do on Adderall. Strattera has worked well for me in minimzining the day dreaming and keeping me focused, but I still have trouble with short term memory and handling a lot input at the same time. I'm thinking stimulants (boosting dopamine) might do be the answer.

[InattentiveType]

So far Adderall 10mg is giving me the energy and alertness I need. And I’m not having the side effects I had with Concerta 36mg.

However, it doesn’t seem to be helping with the day dreaming very much. And it’s not stopping my Obsessive thoughts. i.e. I still get stuck thinking about whimsical interests instead of the more important things in life.

I’m going to self-medicate and up my dose to 20mg for a few days. I want to see if the side effects come back, and if not, I just want to see if the higher dose improves anything.

If the higher dose doesn’t help (which I kind of doubt it will) I’m planning on trying Wellbutrin, first by itself, then with Adderall 10mg. I’ll most likely be contacting my doctor later this week or next to give that a shot.

[lilthingsADDup]

Originally posted by InattentiveType


I’m going to self-medicate and up my dose to 20mg for a few days. I want to see if the side effects come back, and if not, I just want to see if the higher dose improves anything.

Woah! Try upping it to 15mg first. If you go straight from 10 to 20mg, i'm sure you'll have some side effects. Even upping it w/ 5mg, I think you should discuss this w/ your doctor first.

[smooch]

I agree with lilthingsADDup. Discuss this with your doctor first! He may have you take a second 5mg dose in the middle of the day, or who knows. It's just really important to keep in touch with your doc as the two of you tweak things to find the right dosage, and he should be willing to discuss this with you over the phone.

[InattentiveType]

Well, my doctor originally wanted to give me a higher dose anyway. I suggested the lower dose because I was afraid of similar side effects.

I tried 20mg for both my doses yesterday. No side effects. I felt a little more alert, but other than that I don't think theres any real benefit.

I'll probably stick with the 10mg and hopefully add Wellbutrin to it.

[tiggwin]

InattentiveType -
I'd love to hear about how you have been doing on Adderall. I'm also inattentive type. Adderall XR at 20mg is good for me but not great. i think i'm going to suggest to my doc that we up it to 25 or 30mg. It gives me excellent clarity, focus and lots of energy, but my verbal impulsiveness needs work. I'm 39, and someone asked me my age in front of a bunch of people, and I blurted out "40" for some reason! It doesn't do much for my poor organizantional skills either.

Also, in a big meeting at work, while trying to make a point, my brain completely dried up and went blank. i could almost feel the dopamine evaporating. Very embarrassing!

Anyway, it would be great to hear how Adderall has worked for you now that some real time has passed.

[InattentiveType]

Thanks for the reminder to update this thread. I usually only check new posts on the board so this one kind of slipped away from me.

I went to the Dr. a few weeks ago. He upped me to 20mg/dose 3 times a day.

It definitely works better than the 10mg doses. Still not all I had hoped for though. While I'm much more alert and I don't feel like doing absolutely nothing all the time I still have trouble wasting time on unimportant things.

Also having to go get a written script every time I run out is a PITA.

So I'm thinking I'd like to give something else a try. If all else fails I can always come back to Adderall. Better than nothing.

Since Concerta/Adderall mostly affects dopamine, I'm thinking I'd like to try something that affects nor-epinephrine to see if my problem stems more from that neurotransmitter.

I'm thinking about trying Provigil first since it's a nor-epinephrine agonist it's effect is supposed to be fast acting. That way I should be able to tell if it helps at all within a fairly short period of time.

If Provigil doesn't work then I'll try Strattera (which the Dr. has been pushing this whole time) since it takes over a month to determine if it's working or not.

If Strattera doesn't do it then I guess I'll be back to Adderall and maybe try adding Wellbutrin.

That being said, I need to make a Dr.s appt. I've been out of Adderall for a few days and therefore back to full ADD mode.

[tiggwin]

i know what you mean about checking posts. i do the same thing.

Well, good luck. I hope Provigil works for you if you go that route. i know norepinephrine, at least Strattera, made me feel "adrenalin pumped" all the time. That's great if you in a car sliding sideways down the highway, but NOT if you're trying to relax or sleep. As we like to say, that means little to you since meds affect us all differently.

I'm glad I tried Strattera, though, since it showed me that I seem lack dopamine, not norepinephrine.

This was interesting: i never considered myself depressed, but after switching form Wellbutrin to Strattera, I felt sad at times -- nothing serious or debilitating. Of course, my brain was relying on itself to supply dopamine and seratonin while on Strattera. Now, that I swithched to Adderall, the sad feelings are gone. Dopamine again. Coincidence? probably not. I don't seem to need seratonin, but who knows. I'm rambling, but basically, i'm having decent results on Adderall, but not great. I'm on 20mg of the XR version once per day. i think I need to kick that up to 30mg. We'll see what the doc says...

[Wheel1975]

Originally posted by InattentiveType
I went to the Dr. a few weeks ago. He upped me to 20mg/dose 3 times a day.

It definitely works better than the 10mg doses. Still not all I had hoped for though. While I'm much more alert and I don't feel like doing absolutely nothing all the time I still have trouble wasting time on unimportant things.

So I'm thinking I'd like to give something else a try. If all else fails I can always come back to Adderall. Better than nothing.

If Provigil doesn't work then I'll try Strattera (which the Dr. has been pushing this whole time) since it takes over a month to determine if it's working or not.

In my experience, drugs impact nly part of the probem, ever. the tick seems to be finding one that screws things up in a way that can be tollerated, and allows the person to exert a "new" control from inside tht was being sabotaged by something the new drug prevents, without the new drug preventing the new control desired/required as well!

good lcuk!