What is adderall tolerance?

[onemoreyear]

Hi, I actually just posted this as part of my new member intro...which might have been the wrong place....
I just found out on Thursday that I am ADHD...Ive been prescribed adderall.

A lot of people on various websites say that they build a tolerance to adderall after awhile, but exactly what part are they building a tolerance to? The calm, optimistic feeling they describe or the ability to improve brain functioning? What I'm wondering is even if I get to the point where I can't physically feel the medication working (which I don't care about) am I still getting all the focus/attention benefits, or do you lose both the physical effects and the brain functioning?

I know this sounds like a stupid question but I'm very scared of building a tolerance to medication that's supposed to improve my quality of life...

[livinginchaos]

It's not a stupid question and welcome to the forums, onemoreyear!

I don't think you have to worry too much about building a tolerance to ADDerall.

I've been on ADDerall IR since 1999, I started taking 30 mgs a day (20mgs in am, 10 mgs in pm). Just this year my dosage was upped to 40mgs a day (20 am, 20 pm)

I was told (by my ADD specialist Doc) that ADDerall is a very stable drug. I couldn't tell you why - But I'm sure at least one person in this forum could
When I was on anti-depressants, I had to switch meds every 9 months to a year due to tolerance. I haven't had to do that with ADDerall.

I could tell I needed more because after taking my afternoon dose (10mgs) I would not be able to focus as well as when I took 20mgs. I, now, believe I had to up my dosage because I have to focus more in the afternoons in this job than at my previous job, not because of tolerance.

You shouldn't physically feel the med working (once your body gets used to the new med in your system) if it's working correctly for you. Your ADD symptoms should lessen (such as focusing) with the med. Everyone has a dosage that works best for them. Some people can get away with only needing 20mgs (IR) a day, while others need 90mgs.

If by chance you do develop a tolerance to ADDerall, I believe you will notice. Your ADD symptoms will not be as subdued with the med as they used to be.

One thing you can do do avoid tolerance - take med holidays. I don't take ADDerall on weekends. If I'm on vacation, unless I really need to pay attention, I don't take them.

here are links for adderall and tolerance:

it's about Vitamin C reducing effects of ADDerall, but tucked in it is a discussion on tolerance
http://www.addforums.com/forums/show...1&page=1&pp=15

thread on whether stimulants cause dependency or tolerance
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17742

This one is a thread asking who has increased their dosage over time
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15963

Taking ADDerall vacations and tolerance
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15073