What if non-ADHD person takes Adderall regularly?

[umm_lemme]

We've heard stories of college students using Adderall for cramming...but I'm wondering what it would be like for a certifiably non-ADHD person to take Adderall every day. Would it give similar improvements in focus and motivation?

The reason I'm asking is because I've been diagnosed with ADHD, and prescribed Adderall...but now I'm having doubts whether my diagnosis is correct (for instance, Brown's ADD evaluation has about 20% false positive rate), and whether the effects I'm seeing are the same effects that non-ADHD person would get.

[superstressed]

It would probably make a non-ADHD person feel wired or high. They may get more done, but when they crash...they crash hard. Normal ADHD people who usually take stimulants will feel calm, focused, and energized. No amped up feeling. This is just my observation.

[kiosk]

i dont think is so clear cut.....adderall can definitely give me energy but the important part is it does so with focus.....where something like caffeine will just send you all over the place....I do have ADHD and if I take enough at one time it will wire me up like it would a non-ADHD person.....so its all in the dosage I think, my normal dose does calm me down, thou i barely would call it calming effect, but rather focusing on something rather than nothing or 10 things at a time

I dont see how adderall cannot help anyone, with or w/o ADHD, to focus more....

[ADHDTigger]

Originally Posted by umm_lemme

We've heard stories of college students using Adderall for cramming...but I'm wondering what it would be like for a certifiably non-ADHD person to take Adderall every day. Would it give similar improvements in focus and motivation?

The reason I'm asking is because I've been diagnosed with ADHD, and prescribed Adderall...but now I'm having doubts whether my diagnosis is correct (for instance, Brown's ADD evaluation has about 20% false positive rate), and whether the effects I'm seeing are the same effects that non-ADHD person would get.

Actually, doubting your diagnosis is a pretty common thing for newly diagnosed people to do. And that is just about every kind of diagnosis there is. When we first learned about my partner's cancer, he and I wanted very much to disbelieve it. Almost convinced ourselves for a little while too.

Take the Adderall for a couple of weeks. Get stabilized on it. Then quit it for a couple of days. If you feel no differently, time to go back to your doc. If you do, it is probable that your doc was right the first time.

How you are feeling right now about all this is very normal. Keep on connecting with people here and see if you can find strong similarities between us and you. My guess is that you will.

It is very, VERY hard to accept a diagnosis for something that will be with you for the rest of your life. Believe me, I understand that. Give yourself permission to feel however you need to feel about all this.

(((hugs)))

[musicpainter]

Thank you so much for writing this!

Originally Posted by ADHDTigger

Actually, doubting your diagnosis is a pretty common thing for newly diagnosed people to do.

It is very, VERY hard to accept a diagnosis for something that will be with you for the rest of your life. Believe me, I understand that. Give yourself permission to feel however you need to feel about all this.

I've been feeling really off today (and a little last night) and this may be part of the reason why. You have just accidentally given me a great deal of insight. I, too, have been questioning my diagnosis and it really helps me to know that I'm not alone in thinking it.

[frustrADDed]

I'm not on Adderall, but I ran across this thread and you asked the question I've been trying to think of for weeks! At first I very much doubted my diagnosis, but I have been starting to accept it. However, my parents just informed me that they don't think I have it. (They submitted to questioning by the psych. who diagnosed me, and were with me when he told us the diagnosis, so I'm quite confused.) I'm almost worried that they paid off the person to diagnose me so I could get accommodations/meds because my grades really suffered last year, and it's embarrassing to them to not be able to brag back when their friends talk about their children being on the Dean's List. Is that even a rational thought? (Also, we're not rich so I doubt they actually paid them off, but there must be something I don't know, right?)

I know this is the Adderall thread, but does the same go for Ritalin? I am having almost no effects, negative or positive, and I'm at a fairly high dosage now.

Sorry to hijack your thread! I might pose this on another board too, I'm just not sure which one.

[ADHDTigger]

Originally Posted by frustrADDed

I'm not on Adderall, but I ran across this thread and you asked the question I've been trying to think of for weeks! At first I very much doubted my diagnosis, but I have been starting to accept it. However, my parents just informed me that they don't think I have it. (They submitted to questioning by the psych. who diagnosed me, and were with me when he told us the diagnosis, so I'm quite confused.) I'm almost worried that they paid off the person to diagnose me so I could get accommodations/meds because my grades really suffered last year, and it's embarrassing to them to not be able to brag back when their friends talk about their children being on the Dean's List. Is that even a rational thought? (Also, we're not rich so I doubt they actually paid them off, but there must be something I don't know, right?)

I know this is the Adderall thread, but does the same go for Ritalin? I am having almost no effects, negative or positive, and I'm at a fairly high dosage now.

Sorry to hijack your thread! I might pose this on another board too, I'm just not sure which one.

A lot of people have the same experience that you are having. The med simply isn't doing anything for them or they don't have a sense of it doing anything for them.

It can often take a few tries before you find the optimal medication for you. Make sure that you are communicating with your doc regularly. If it helps, keep a journal of your day- when you take the med, what you eat and when, how you are feeling at various times of the day. Take your journal with you to the doc and discuss it.

Parents often don't want to believe in the diagnosis. Especially if you are diagnosed older. Generally, it is because they don't really understand the diagnosis and often because it hurts to think of their child hurting. They have their own grieving process to get through. Give it some time and see if they change.

[superstressed]

Originally Posted by ADHDTigger

Parents often don't want to believe in the diagnosis. Especially if you are diagnosed older. Generally, it is because they don't really understand the diagnosis and often because it hurts to think of their child hurting. They have their own grieving process to get through. Give it some time and see if they change.

I was diagnosed this year at 34 and I thought to myself, I've been feeling that way my whole life and didn't know what it was. My parents didn't take us to the dr.----especially a pdoc back in the day. I see symptoms in my 11 yr old daughter, but my husband is in denial.

[ADHDTigger]

For the sake of your child, hubby needs to come to a clearer understanding sooner than later. Having your daughter checked out doesn't automatically mean that she will be diagnosed, only that if she SHOULD be diagnosed, she CAN be.

Growing up with a positive sense of herself will help her throughout her life. But then, you already know that.

Hang in there! (((hugs)))