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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MarkG on June 1, 2001, at 9:13:08
Hi all,I have a question for all of you out there who are taking Adderall or who have in the past. I just started it a couple of days ago for ADD (Inattentive). My doc said I should start out at 5mg/2x a day and then I could bump it up to 10mg/2x a day if needed. On day one I tried 5mg x 2; my concentration and ability to process information improved a little and I had a little bit of queeziness and P.M. tiredness. Day 2- I tried upping it to 10mg x 2 yesterday; I felt OK in the a.m.- slightly improved ability to focus but still got caught spacing out in a group meeting! In the afternoon after the second 10mg dose I felt pretty wretched for about 6hrs or so. I felt kind of dizzy, flushed, and quite naseous. To top it off, I couldn't sleep last night. What does this mean? Did I take too much too soon? Does it often take awhile for the body to adjust to Adderall? I know everyone differs on how they respond, but I would greatly appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!
Mark
Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 11:11:55
In reply to Adderall: too much, too soon?, posted by MarkG on June 1, 2001, at 9:13:08
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a question for all of you out there who are taking Adderall or who have in the past. I just started it a couple of days ago for ADD (Inattentive). My doc said I should start out at 5mg/2x a day and then I could bump it up to 10mg/2x a day if needed. On day one I tried 5mg x 2; my concentration and ability to process information improved a little and I had a little bit of queeziness and P.M. tiredness. Day 2- I tried upping it to 10mg x 2 yesterday; I felt OK in the a.m.- slightly improved ability to focus but still got caught spacing out in a group meeting! In the afternoon after the second 10mg dose I felt pretty wretched for about 6hrs or so. I felt kind of dizzy, flushed, and quite naseous. To top it off, I couldn't sleep last night. What does this mean? Did I take too much too soon? Does it often take awhile for the body to adjust to Adderall? I know everyone differs on how they respond, but I would greatly appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!
> Mark
Hello...I don't know if I will be much help, but I will share the experience my son had when introduced to Adderall.First of all, he was put on Ritalin, for ADHD. 10 mg 2x a day. It worked, but @6 weeks later he developed tics. Then he was put on Adderall. 10 mg 2x a day! He was extremely irritable, extremely tearful, and could not sleep at night. His dose was decreased to 10mg in the am and 5 mg at noon. Still too much. He was mad at the world on this med! I called the doctor and he told me that it does take about 2 weeks for your body to adjust to the drug. Well, I waited, but no success. He was then decreased to 5mg in am and 5 mg at noon, still too much. I decreased it too 7.5mg, and he tolerated that better. But...when the med began to wear off, he would get irritable and have headaches. After almost a year of trying to get his dose right, the doctor tried him on Wellbutrin SR 150mg. Keep in mind, he is only 10 years old, he will be 11 in July, anyway, the doctor wanted him to take both of these togethor. The Wellbutrin was supposed to curb the side effects of the Adderall. But you know what? He doesn't need his Adderall. The Wellbutrin has done the trick. Wellbutrin is also used to treat ADD and ADHD. I am so happy! He doesn't mind taking it either.
He initially had problems with inattention, impulsive, unable to focus in school, very active, etc. He is much better, and not on any stimulant meds!!!
Debbie
Posted by Sulpicia on June 1, 2001, at 17:50:14
In reply to Adderall: too much, too soon?, posted by MarkG on June 1, 2001, at 9:13:08
>
>It means you're human!
But seriously, most adults who take adderall for ADD, myself included,
take a larger dose in the AM.
10 seems fine for the AM; try 5 in the afternoon.
Adderall is *relatively* dose dependent, meaning that more lasts longer.
The symptoms you describe are relatively mild side effects which will probably
wear off shortly. If 5mgs creates the same unpleasant feelings, take it with
or after lunch. Ditto with 10 if you don't find 5 to be effective.
Remember to drink enough liquid and you may have to force yourself to eat
until the initial appetite suppression wears off.No grapefruit juice with adderall: it destroys it.
If it's any consolation, what you're experiencing is typical. I had to make
no fewer than 6 dosage changes before I was comfortable.Be well.
S. :)
Posted by MarkG on June 1, 2001, at 21:24:21
In reply to Re: Adderall: too much, too soon?, posted by Sulpicia on June 1, 2001, at 17:50:14
Hi,Thanks so much to those who have responded. Well, today I went back to the 5mg x 2 dose. Unfortunately, I'm still having side effects- some queeziness and nausea, a little twitching. Yuck! Is it possible to divide the 5mg tablets and take only 1/2 of it? I'm really hoping that Adderall will be effective but right now I'm worried. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!!!
Mark
Posted by Sulpicia on June 1, 2001, at 21:35:29
In reply to 2 much, 2 soon (Day 3), posted by MarkG on June 1, 2001, at 21:24:21
>
> Yes, you can split the pills -- make sure your hands are dry tho.
Tho the pills are scored a pill splitter from the drugstore can be a
helpful thing.For the nausea: try taking it with or after a meal.
Any other meds right now?
And you're eating, right???
You'll be ok. When you feel better I'll share some of my own
adjustment stories, all of which happened while I was teaching. :):)
S.
Posted by MarkG on June 2, 2001, at 3:22:45
In reply to Re: 2 much, 2 soon (Day 3) » MarkG, posted by Sulpicia on June 1, 2001, at 21:35:29
Hi S.,
Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I'm eating OK. Not as much snacking in between meals as I normally do (I'm not one to shy away from food!) but still eating 3 meals/day. Right now I'm going solo with the Adderall, tho I've been on several ADs in the past. I'm thinking tomorrow I may try taking 5 and 2.5 and see if that helps, ya know- baby steps. Re: your adjustment- whew, I'm guessing that was rough teaching while trying to adjust! I'm a grad student and have many things to juggle but luckily right now we are in the summer so things are slowed down quite a bit. So, I'm just curious- what is your current dosage and how long have you been taking Adderall? Have you contrasted it against Ritalin or Dex? Has it been mostly positive? It's very comforting to come on this board and hear that I am not alone in my experience- thanks!
Mark
Posted by MarkG on June 3, 2001, at 16:16:00
In reply to Re: 2 much, 2 soon (Day 3) » Sulpicia, posted by MarkG on June 2, 2001, at 3:22:45
Hi again. Well, today is my 5th day taking Adderall and I still have concerns. The last couple of days now I have actually felt depressed and just "blah"- I kinda feel lifeless. I'm just surprised b/c from reading this board and others it seems like many people don't experience these side effects- in fact, it seems more likely for people to feel a bit euphoric. Has anyone else out there experienced this w/Adderall? Is this odd? If you have experienced this, how long did it last? Thanks for your sharing your experiences.
Mark
Posted by Sulpicia on June 3, 2001, at 16:46:35
In reply to Re: 2 much, 2 soon (Day 3) » Sulpicia, posted by MarkG on June 2, 2001, at 3:22:45
> Hi--
adderall dosage: 20, 10, 10, 6AM, noon, and 5ish.
I've not tried dex or ritalin. My experiences with adderall
have all been positive tho I still have to remind myself to drink
water during the day.
I do take an AD, a TCA called tofranil. It's working well for me, as it
has in the past. Now and then, especially when stress levels are very high,
I get some weird med interference from it so my pdoc lets me go as high as 60 mgs
in one day if need be. I've only needed to twice and the increases have been
early in the day. According to the books, my AD *shouldn't* interfere with the adderall
but then again paxil wasn't *supposed* to augment adderall and put me in orbit either.You're very lucky to be doing this during the summer. I had some rather *interesting* lectures
in front of 100+ students when I was first adjusting the dosage.... I wish my memory was bad!It passes and slow and steady is the way to go.
Hang in there.
Liz [actually] :)
Posted by Sulpicia on June 3, 2001, at 16:52:47
In reply to Adderall and depression?, posted by MarkG on June 3, 2001, at 16:16:00
>
> Oops. If this isn't just being tired you need to speak to your
pdoc. Depression CAN be a side-effect and if so you should discuss another
option, and soon.Can you take a day or 2 off and see how you feel?
Make sure you haven't dramatically changed your diet and haven't lost
a significant amount of sleep -- these can account for the depression.I know that you can take an AD with pstims but you need expert advice on
how.
Don't give up either -- even if it turns out that the adderall is in fact
causing some depression and AD meds don't do the trick, it's likely that you
won't have the same reaction to either dexedrine or ritalin.
This happens rather often in children and things resolve with a switch.
Isn't ADD fun???Liz
Posted by MarkG on June 3, 2001, at 22:41:02
In reply to Re: Adderall and depression?, posted by Sulpicia on June 3, 2001, at 16:52:47
Hi Liz,
It's funny- I've read several of your posts and just assumed you were male b/c I thought your "S" name sounded more masculine. Ha! Anyway, I think I'm going to call my doc tomorrow and see what he says. Re: diet, the only thing I can think of that has changed is that I've been drinking way less caffiene. A couple of hours ago I had a coke and 2 cups of coffee and that actually took some of the edge off of this depression/headachy/yuck feeling. Amazingly, despite all the caffiene and stimulant I feel quite calm. Yes, 'tis a joy to have ADD :)!!
Still hangin' in there,
Mark
Posted by stjames on June 4, 2001, at 0:38:24
In reply to Re: Adderall: too much, too soon?, posted by Sulpicia on June 1, 2001, at 17:50:14
> If it's any consolation, what you're experiencing is typical. I had to make
> no fewer than 6 dosage changes before I was comfortable.James here...
Yep. It varies on how much and when I take Dex. Generally it is 35 mgs/day, 20 in AM and 15 in PM, 1 PM. If it is a busy day I may switch. I always take it when I wake up but the PM dose time varies and depends on how busy the PM is, timeing the dose so I come off of it once I am home. Take the PM dose too early and rebound hunger makes me eat everything in the house at night. If the day is busy I might wait a little later in the AM to take my first dose, if I am working after 6 PM. Or take 10 mg on waking, 15 mgs at 12 and 10 mgs at 2 or 3. My doc is cool with all this and is kind enough to perscribe strengths that allow this flexable dosing. He just asks that I divide my doses and call him if I need feel I need to go above 35 mgs a day. I have been stable at 35 mgs for 5 years but do find it helpful to make the doses fit my day's requirements.
James
Posted by BruceM on June 4, 2001, at 14:24:43
In reply to Adderall: too much, too soon?, posted by MarkG on June 1, 2001, at 9:13:08
> I'm glad I finally see someone having the same side effects as me. I'm having a very hard time with Adderall dosages. I started out with 10mg 2x but it didn't seem to do much for inattention or focus, and I always got this nauseus feeling in my throat, like I'm going to throw up. I read in the posts somewhere that it can cause nausea at low doses, so I bumped it to 20mg am/10mg pm. Morning was great, very focused and energized, but I crashed big time in the evening. I'm currently doing 20mg am/15 after lunch/ 5 at 5:00.
I almost always have this nasty nausea at some point in the day, but sometimes it's much worse than others. I thought it would be evening out by now. Does drinking water really help? Any suggestions appreciated.
> Hi all,
>
> I have a question for all of you out there who are taking Adderall or who have in the past. I just started it a couple of days ago for ADD (Inattentive). My doc said I should start out at 5mg/2x a day and then I could bump it up to 10mg/2x a day if needed. On day one I tried 5mg x 2; my concentration and ability to process information improved a little and I had a little bit of queeziness and P.M. tiredness. Day 2- I tried upping it to 10mg x 2 yesterday; I felt OK in the a.m.- slightly improved ability to focus but still got caught spacing out in a group meeting! In the afternoon after the second 10mg dose I felt pretty wretched for about 6hrs or so. I felt kind of dizzy, flushed, and quite naseous. To top it off, I couldn't sleep last night. What does this mean? Did I take too much too soon? Does it often take awhile for the body to adjust to Adderall? I know everyone differs on how they respond, but I would greatly appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!
> Mark
Posted by Sulpicia on June 4, 2001, at 18:58:06
In reply to Re: Adderall and depression? » Sulpicia, posted by MarkG on June 3, 2001, at 22:41:02
> A boy????
Hah! No doubt we've discovered another side-effect of adderall:
it causes trans-gendered prose.
Actually it's from writing my diss. I do believe.Caffeine can have funny effects on people. Withdrawal can be nasty
and it would be just like ADD to have some weird twist too.Be well.
Liz
This is the end of the thread.
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