Adderall

[Tara]

realjohne from livingwithadd.com
Adderall Posted 2-3-2003 20:57

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was wondering if anyone had specific information about this drug beyond the supposed side effects and effectiveness. I was looking for some facts on how the body is affected by this amphetamine. If anybody knows of good sites to find such information I would be greatful if you could share.

[Andrew]

http://www.adhdhelp.org/adderall.htm

[Andrew]

[atomx]

Big,

Do you know what the average dosing is for Adderall? Esp. the XR formulation. I did a bad, bad thing and sampled my g/f's (non-XR) 10 mg Adderall. It had an effect (I felt clear and focused) but not much. I'm wondering if 10mg isn't a small dosage for a large adult male. Roughly 120kg body mass.

-- Tom

[AMeuse]

I've been on Adderall XR ( Extended Release ) now for about 8 Months. What a difference this little pill has made in my day to day functions. The first time I took it, I had just gotten into work, and about 20 minutes after taking it, I experienced something I haven't felt in about 18yrs, clarity, solitude, quiet. I got so peaceful, and could concentrate within an hour, it's such a wonderful feeling after not knowing what it's like anymore.

My doctor started me @20MG 1X in the mornings, now I'm up to 2X @30MG in the morning. The very first time you take it, you end up being up for almost an entire day, only because, one you can actually think.... and get things accomplished, and two, your body needs to get used to the extra stimulation. Within a day or two I was back to normal. What a difference it has made, my Boss at work has even said things to me, like " what have you changed ?? All the sudden your finishing things on time, even ahead of schedule...., what are you doing ??"
I'm able to concentrate on things I'm doing now to the point of, well what I call it " Focusing so intensly on it, I'm afraid It's going to catch on fire " Sounds strange, but it's soooo nice to have control all over again.
He's currently got me on Adderall XR in conjunction with Effexxor XR, which is an antidepressant ( restores the Seritonin and Nor Epinephrine ) in the brain. I lived with ADD so long that I started into a depression from it. This combo is working great for me.
**** Note: Regular Adderall is a straight dose, an immediate release.

Hope this helps,

[gettingingear]

I would appreciate hearing people's personal experiences with Adderall. I hear a lot of general, "Oh, it's great!" or "I didn't like it..." But, I am having trouble discening if effectiveness because it wears off so quickly. Here's the background:

I've been on Adderall for about a year (I think.) For the longest time I took it haphazardly, on a rough schedule with other meds, treating it like my Wellbutrin, for example. (Take two a day, try to take them around certain times, and expect the effects to come on gradually over time and stay roughly even through each day.) But that is not how it works. Evidently I did not respond to the smaller doses as well, because now I am taking what some say is a huge amount- up to 150mg/ day in up to 4 doses. I've read in several places that Adderall XR is usually prescribed once or twice a day and is supposed to last all day, but my concentration will lapse into a foggier state 3-5 hours after I take a dose. Over the day it seems to build up, but if I slack in the evening (and it is my doctor that tells me to "play with it" or "tweak the dose" depending on my work schedule or activities) I do not become less active or more restful. In fact, I still can't figure out a regular pattern. Every day for me seems to be a hodge-podge of reactions. I get exhausted from always being on the run, sometimes running smoothly, sometimes "stumbling" and unfocussed, and have trouble getting sleep at night. But when I take less Adderall in the evening I can still have trouble feeling restful, and I have obsessive-compulsions that drive me. Last night I went into the kitchen to get some water around 8:30, finally drank some around 10, but did not leave the kitchen until 11:30 after washing the glass I was going to put water in, then the rest of the dishes, then the counter, cupboard doors, the stove, the refridgerator, and scrubbed the floors with the scouring pad. I kept thinking how I was just going nuts, that I couldn't stop until I was "done." Other times I will be online "organizing" for hours. This is usually long after my last dose, but though my productivity has declined, I will continue for hours. I also experience aweful hot flashes where I will become covered in sweat from normal walking down the street, working, etc. If it is cold outside I will get chilled. It is very uncomfortable, and it is noticed by others. My clothes will stick to me, and once I get home I'll have to change immediately.
I know that people can build a tolerance, and I wonder if I am just on too high of a dose and experiencing too many side effects for the short period of help it provides. Has anyone experienced OCD-symptoms, hot flashes, etc on Adderall? Has anyone tried other medications that do last all day?

Another note: I've been trying to take aerobic walks in the mornings for the past two weeks. Just walking fast would raise my heart rate to over 140. But the walks must be doing me good, because now, even walking the same hills and speed, my heart does not pump as hard just from me walking. I'm going to have to find steeper hills, or ride my bike.

[Andrew]

Originally posted by atomx
Big,

Do you know what the average dosing is for Adderall? Esp. the XR formulation. I did a bad, bad thing and sampled my g/f's (non-XR) 10 mg Adderall....I'm wondering if 10mg isn't a small dosage for a large adult male. Roughly 120kg body mass.

-- Tom

Tom,

I don't believe there is an "average" dosing. I believe there is a manufacturers suggested dosing, but can't seem to find it.

The reality is, since each person's brain is wired differently, each ADDer will respond differently to different meds (and different amounts of med). While 10mg's may work for an adult, a child might require 40mgs (as an example only).

And yes, Tom...not a great idea to sample other people's meds without your talking to your doc first

[gettingingear]

Originally posted by gettingingear
I've read in several places that Adderall XR is usually prescribed once or twice a day and is supposed to last all day... [/b]

Is there a generic for Adderall XR? - because, though I was under the impression I was taking an extended release medication, my Rx bottle says "Amphetam Salt 30mg TAB; w/f ADDERALL 30mg" ...maybe the little oval orange tabs are not XR, in which case I could "upgrade" to XR and maybe that would help. I just love watching people's reactions when I come up with these little gems everyone else thought were OBVIOUS!

[Andrew]

There are 3 forms of Adderall available: Adderal, Adderall (Generic) and Adderal XR.

According to a polular medication website, Adderall XR is a sustained release form of Adderall, a popular stimulant which contains dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It is available as a 10mg, 20mg and 30mg capsule, and unlike many of the other sustained release products, the capsule can be opened and sprinkled onto food if you can't swallow a pill. New forms of Adderall XR include a 15mg and 25mg capsule for greater flexibility in dosing.

So, if you have a tablet, it may not be the XR version, especially if you're taking it more than once a day. You should check with your pharmacist or doctor to be sure.

[tontwins]

I’ve been taking Adderall for years; I have taken regular dosage of 15mg for as long as I can remember. And when Adderall XR came out I took that for about 2 years. I’ve have an extensive knowledge and personal experience with this drug. Adderall changed my life in so many ways, it’s helped me see the world more clearly and achieve my goals. However Adderall dose have draw backs, the major one being the time effectiveness the drug works. Adderall XR I would take at 8am it would last till about 5pm. You could tell because your hunger finally returned. Also you CAN NOT take this drug evening, if you do you’ll NEVER sleep. Also the continual usage makes you get a tolerance to the drug. My doctor almost took me off the drug when I lost 20 pounds and was below a safe weight. This summer I’m trying different drugs I’m 20 years old and my doctor believes there maybe a more effective drug that I may benefit from. I’m trying Wellbutrin 100mg, I’ve just started it and I’ll let you know how it goes.

[atomx]

I had to stop taking Adderall -- it just wasn't working

[tontwins]

don't give up... You'll find something to help you. For some people drugs arin't always the answer to their problems.

[steve]

adderall has been a miracle drug for me.

[Keppig]

Amphetamine Salts

I was given a script for Adderall and this is what my insurance gave me. 5 mgs
I started it today and I feel very jittery and my mind feels wierd. Its like I have the coffee jitters. Is this a normal reaction for the first dose? I have anxiety and its setting it off (My mind reacts when my body is feeling like anxiety, even though its not anxiety, hense why I gave up caffeine a year ago)

My pills are bright deep blue.
Anyone?

[Blaana]

I was surprised today to find out how much alike generic and non-generic adderall are in looks. I switched to non-generic a month ago after being asked by the pharmacist if I wanted generic and the difference was very noticable. I was able to reduce the amount I was taking. But since they are so similar in looks, I thought that I had been on non-generic all along and that the difference was due to something else. I tried to post a picture, but couldn't figure out how. Here is a link to a picture of the generic: (type in 'adderall' in the search box on this site to see the picture)

http://www.barrproductguide.com/

I take 10mg. And since I didn't have any of the first prescription left, I had to rely on my memory of what they looked like and could only recall that they were blue.

The makers of the original adderall sued to try to get the generic taken off the market because of how similar in looks they were, but they lost.