![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bigcat on September 3, 2007, at 18:32:16
During a low spell a few weeks ago, I took some leftover adderall and it worked wonders. Previous adderall trials gave me a small mood lift, but were accompanied by annoying compulsions (biting my gums incessantly, picking at my nails, etc.) But a few weeks ago I would take 10-30mg a day without the physical stimulation and achieve full remission. I could communicate naturally and with ease, i didn't have to strain to think, I was relaxed, less anxious, good energy, comfortable with myself.
Then I ran out, and had to wait nearly a month until I finally got a new adderall script this past Friday. The pharmacy bottle I picked up reads "Amphetamine Salts" which I take to be the generic form of adderall, however this time around, the annoying physical stimulation has returned without any of the therapuetic benefits. What's the deal? Should I wait it out(at 30mgs), raise the dose, consider Focalin or another stim, add something?? I've tried just about every psych med and seen a response only with Nardil, Dexedrine, and now inconsistently with the Adderall.
Are "Amphetamine Salts" the exact same thing as adderall? I'd appreciate any suggestions or experience. I really thought once the adderall got back in my system i'd be fine. This is so frustrating. It was working wonders for the ten days that I was taking it- some days I wouldn't even feel the need to take any- it's like my mind was starting to get accustomed to feeling decent, without any peaks and valleys or crashes whatsoever.
many thanks,
-matt-
Posted by sam123 on September 3, 2007, at 18:59:56
In reply to 'Amphetamine Salts'=Adderall???, posted by bigcat on September 3, 2007, at 18:32:16
> Are "Amphetamine Salts" the exact same thing as adderall?
Yes, the same chemical. Sometimes in some people
generics do not work as well/the same as the brand.
Posted by Girlnterrupted78 on September 3, 2007, at 23:45:48
In reply to 'Amphetamine Salts'=Adderall???, posted by bigcat on September 3, 2007, at 18:32:16
Why don't you tell your pdoc that the generic form of Adderall causes you problems (the compulsions, etc..) and doesn't give you the same results as the actual brand?
I had to do this with Celexa some years ago. My pdoc gave me the cheaper generic, and I tried it.
Then I began to have withdrawal symptoms, despite taking the same dose I took on the brand.
I started getting these weird shock-like feelings in my head, and also felt kind of sick. In order to feel more "normal" I had to double the dosage. In the end, doubling the dose costed me just as much as buying the brand--but with less quality results, so it was worthless and I immediately dumped it.
I told my pdoc right away, and he gave me a script of brand Celexa and I went back to normal.
So just let him know that the generic is not working and is just giving you compulsions and side effects. I'm sure he'll understand.
Posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2007, at 11:25:25
In reply to 'Amphetamine Salts'=Adderall???, posted by bigcat on September 3, 2007, at 18:32:16
Those wonderful folk who bring us Adderall have a new amphetamine salt to toss our way -- brand name is Vyvanse. Go to the web page for it and you'll see that they also call it Adderall XR. It does two things Adderall doesn't do. First, it's a sustained release form so you get a more even dosage throughout the day. My pdoc says his Adderall patients who are trying it are having a "smoother" experience, plus it's pooping out after 12 hours or so instead of the usual 8-9 hours most people see.
The other thing is that they've modified dexamphetamine by attaching a lysine molecule to it (lisdexamphetamine is its chemical name). The main result is that you can't shoot it up or use it any way other than ingesting it as, from what I was told, your stomach acids will strip away the lysine where other intake methods won't.
Gonna start a thread on it in a moment ... curious to see if people have tried it -- I'm switching (for a month) from focalin (an isomer of ritalin). Psst. Have your pdoc check with his drug company rep ... they're giving 30-day trials for free. If your pdoc thinks it might be good to check into, there's a month of meds for free, even if it IS only the co-pay you're free of.
flb
Posted by rina on September 7, 2007, at 18:10:53
In reply to Re: 'Amphetamine Salts'=Adderall??? » bigcat, posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2007, at 11:25:25
I was going to try it also but checked around at about 5 pharmacies here in california. Walgreens and RiteAid aren't carrying it yet. Won't be for awhile.
Posted by IndyFriend on September 11, 2007, at 21:02:57
In reply to Re: 'Amphetamine Salts'=Adderall??? » bigcat, posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2007, at 11:25:25
but Adderall XR is VERY expensive if you buy it on your own. And, like any amphetimene, it is a two-edged sword. I've had plenty of experience with both "edges," which is why I asked my doctor to discontintue it and try something else.
Back to adderall, though. The positives:
It gives you lots of energy to "do things" -- especially at first (of course it does -- it is an amphetimene!)
You can lose weight
And it does help, I THINK, with ADD (although I thought for a long time that what it really gave me was "speeded up" ADD -- I'm not normally ADHD -- but it made me seem that way. Eventually, though, at least according to my doc, it is supposed to settle down and just do its thing, helping you focus.
The negative stuff:
It can make you terribly hyper, especially at first
You can easily become offensive to your friends if you are not careful about what you do and say
-- in otherwords, you can be quite "edgy"
Even the XR doesn't really last long enough for today's world. Say you take it at 8am in the morning-- Well, not matter what, it will wear off at around 8pm -- and I always crashed and burned at that point-- Rumor has it that they are working on a 14 - 16 hour version -- but I have never been able to confirm that is actually happening.
The XR IS better, in my opinion, than the over-the-counter ampthetemine salts-- but it has its limitations. BE CAREFUL and BE AWARE of your own actions.
Again, this is my experience. I would be interested in hearing others.
Right now, I am taking a combination of Zoloft (generic), Welbutrin (generic) and Provigil for alertness. It sort of works!
Posted by finelinebob on September 11, 2007, at 23:55:54
In reply to Re: 'Amphetamine Salts'=Adderall???--BE CAREFUL!! » finelinebob, posted by IndyFriend on September 11, 2007, at 21:02:57
Posted by rina on September 15, 2007, at 14:37:55
In reply to Re: 'Amphetamine Salts'=Adderall???--BE CAREFUL!! » finelinebob, posted by IndyFriend on September 11, 2007, at 21:02:57
Just saw your post and I was having an issue with adderallxr not giving me energy at all. After speaking to my ADD coach and having it confirmed by my pdoc, what they explained to me is that adderall works as a focus and concentrating medicine for people with true ADD/HD but for people who don't have ADD/HD it only makes them hyper. Interesting! He was saying that's why so many drug users like to abuse it on the streets as well as college students.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.