Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with adderall

adderall and hair loss help!

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:45:53 -0800

adderall and hair loss- help! I have really really thick hair. I always have, and I'm 25. People have always commented on it and it's supposed to be one of the 'highlights of my attractivity'

6 months ago I started taking about 10 mg of adderall a day, most days but not every day (what I understand to be a pretty low dose). this wasn't the xr kind. A couple of months ago I noticed that I was losing a lot of hair in the shower- at one point I felt like I must be undergoing chemo therapy without knowing it or something, but thought I must be making it up. It lasted a couple weeks, and after that things seemed normal again. a week ago I looked in the mirror and saw quite a bit of hair gone close to my forehead on one side, and freaked out, and stopped taking the medication altogether except one 5 mg dose a couple of days ago.

i'm really upset, because what I think is a low dose of this medication was making my life so much more manageable on many different fronts. I finally felt like I was able to function the way I felt I was 'supposed to' without stupid easy tasks being so painful to do that at work, for instance, I felt like people were questioning whether I could add 2+2 appropriately when I was a math genius growing up. But the last several months I did so much better at work- the way I thought I was capable of doing- i.e., I could get myself to do everyday tasks without banging my head against the wall repeatedly. And I've done so much better that I've managed to pull off a new job with recommendations from the current one. Then I noticed the hair loss. The last week has been much harder in terms of not being able to get work done and my boss actually accused me of 'having already moved on' because the work I was giving him, which I honestly tried to do, was so bad, (involved taking notes at a complicated meeting, something that involves a lot of concentration to appropriately get the key issues, sounds lame but the company demands very high quality notes). Also, I can't get myself to pack even though I'm moving for my new job soon. I'm really scared that I will do badly in my new job, just because I can't sit still long enough to do this stuff and can't seem to concentrate on any every-day rote tasks. I can't afford to do badly in this job.

it's possible that this was nutrition related as I noticed the hair loss closer to a period of time where I stopped eating a lot- although I've stopped eating a lot much more to the extreme a few years ago not on meds and it didn't cause any problems with my hair. however I didn't notice much hair loss in the last month when I was eating appropriate amounts of food

There's supposed to be a drug out that isn't a stimulant, intuiv or something like that- but it has warnings not to take it if you get dizzy, and I used to have a lot of fainting spells which I actively take cautions against in order to avoid having any more.

I didn't really have any other serious side-effects from the medication and loved what it was doing for me. Please help!

Specific questions- will the hair come back? what vitamins do you recommend? Should I never take the medication again? Should I try a lower dose, a different med? Have you experienced this?

I am in general anti-meds and struggled basically my whole life trying to work past what felt like a huge mental block in terms of doing work even though I really wanted to do it and knew that I was capable. This medication ended those years of misery. I'm not on other meds.

Thanks for any advice you have to offer

for what its worth, i wasn't on adderall technically but the generic- amphetamine salts.

Messy question from a person who is a mess

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:03:54 -0800

Please help me make a decision. I am exhausted and stressed and maybe I am not thinking clearly. A friend gave me Adderall. Should I take some? Basically, I have been working very long hours (12-14 a day) without any time off (including weekends) for a couple of months. Long story short, worst semester of law school yet. I have three days before yet another exam and I am so tired and unprepared. I can't make myself do any work, and I really need to do this work.

Con side, I do not have a diagnosis, nor am i totally convinced that ADD is a "thing" or a thing that we can reliably diagnose. I am not trying to be insulting, sincerely, but I am ignorant and my ignorance makes me skeptical. Especially because I feel like it's cheating to declare that I'm not undisciplined, weak, lazy, spoiled, and so on, just "ill." Maybe some people are, but not me. I am pretty sure I'm just those things I listed.

Another con is that I don't even feel totally comfortable taking Advil... I have an irrational fear of pills. This sounds silly to me. We're taking about a 5 mg pill. I think that's the lowest available dose. But it still freaks me out.

I also fear that it either won't do anything or will be revelatory and life-changing and boom: dependency.

On the pro side, my three days to study are now 2.5 and I've made very very little progress. I also have been struggling for such a long time with what I think could fairly be characterized as a total inability to focus... part of me wonders if it really is "cheating" to take a drug that helps with that. Isn't that just a character flaw? But what if it's not? I don't know.

I think maybe this is a ridiculous question. I apologize. I'm probably just being ridiculous because I'm so tired, and so stressed, and feel so bad about how little I am able to do, and I feel like this is maybe me being tempted to do the wrong thing.

So here I am in the library surrounded by people who are sitting there doing work for minutes and hours at a time. It makes me feel inadequate and ashamed. The bottom line is I need to get my work done. I don't know what to do. I do not feel like I am thinking straight at this point. Please share your wisdom with me.

at least it's not TB....

sio42 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:24:53 -0800

MiseryFilter: I have had a dry cough for about 6 weeks that has gotten increasingly worse. I am seeing an allergy specialist as I already know I have allergies. For the last two weeks, I have been on Nasonex, Singulair, and Allegra. Most nights I cannot lie down due to coughing and have to sleep propped up on the couch. I have been doing the neti pot for the last few days, but it's not like tons of stuff is getting washed out of my sinuses when I do it. It just seems to go in one side and out the other. Then I resume coughing a little whlie later. Also, they started me on Flovent as of Monday. I think it's maybe starting to help, but not sure. Oct 26 I started Adderall XR. About two weeks after that I started getting a dry cough, but it wasn't bothersome. I drink plenty of water, don't smoke, etc.

We moved into our house on Oct 31. There are nice hardwood floors in the entire house and it was already pretty clean. There are no cats, we already take dust mite precautions. (We did pull up wall-to-wall carpet in the entire house before we moved in and then had professionals come in and redo the hw floors. I wore a mask for most of the carpet crap. The previous owner did not have any pets that I know of.)

Other than those two things, nothing has changed for me that I can see causing this awful coughing. Both my GP and allergist do not think that Adderall caused it. They said it's not something they ever heard of. They just want to keep trying different meds for allergies.

My chest X-ray did not show anything. My breath test did not show I was asthmatic. Normally, I just suffer through allergies without meds. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever put up with.

I have no other signs of reflux and already do all the things that are supposed to be what relieves it as part of normal life (with the exception of the raised bed obviously).

I am just fricking miserable and my boyfriend is really starting to get concerned. I just cough all night and can't get more than 5-6 hours sleep at a time. It doesn't matter where I am or what I am eating/drinking/wearing. I can count on having a horrible incapactitating coughing fit about 6pm everynight, which is when I assume the meds ran out. I take the Adderall in the AM along with the nasonex. the other meds at night with more nasonex since trying to sleep is the most important thing right now.

I am at my wit's end. Sometimes I cough so hard, I feel like I might puke or pass out, but so far I have done neither. It's also really bad usually in the morning when I get up. Steam doesn't help, neither does the cold. Other things that do nothing: cough suppresents and/or expectorants, cough drops menthol or otherwise, nettle tea, hot water with lemon and honey, spicy foods, bland foods, wishing.

I have recently, over the past 3 days, starting actually coughing stuff up, but it's only a very little bit of mucous and not yellow, mostly white or clear. I've had my share of sinus infections and colds and my "production" is nothing like those.

Any ideas on what I can ask my dr about next? I really don't want to stop the Adderall because it has been a godsend, but if this is the price, then it's too much.

The First Few Days of Adderall XR

SNWidget — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:05:41 -0800

AdderallFilter: I've just started a new prescription, and I'm wondering about some of the effects and what I should be feeling. I've read the backlog of what AskMe has to offer about the medication, but I've got a few specific questions that I couldn't quite find.

Background: The usual. Couldn't focus, couldn't concentrate, couldn't do any project without checking e-mail 30 times, refused to do work. Went to the doctor (GP), ADD diagnosisgot a scrip for 10mg of Adderall XR, as needed.

The Co-Conspirators: I'm also on Buspar for anxiety, which has been absolution amazing and transformative.

Questions: I popped my first pill around 5pm today, and it's about 8pm now. From what I'd heard, I was expecting "WHOA," but I got more of a "Huh." I did manage to feel a bit more focused, but I also felt hazy and a little... weird? Just like everything was a bit off. I did manage to get some work done, which was uncharacteristic for me.

I know that pharmacological reactions vary by the person, but was I expecting too much too soon? I had friends that used to abuse Adderall like crazy in college (I don't think it was XR, though), and it would hit them pretty fast. I feel focused, but it's not WHOA, like they seemed to get. I understand the XR principle, but am I ever going to get like that WHOA? Or was that just their uncontrolled dosages?

Is it like SSRIs where you need to take it for a while to get the most effect? Will tomorrow's dosage feel different than today's?

Side Question: I like the increased focus, but I'm having trouble harnessing it. I was doing great on some work I had to take care of, but then I switched on the TV, and BAM - TV was in my focus. It's like I have a laser, and I'm swinging it a bit wildly. Is something that just takes practice?

Thanks in advance for the help, medicated (and non) MeFites.

Should I keep taking Adderall?

dumbledore69 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:00:35 -0800

I was recently diagnosed with adult ADHD (inattentive type) and put on Adderall. I have very, very mixed feelings about this -- hopeful, because it seems to really be helping me in multiple areas of my life, but also anxious that it is a crutch that I can't use forever. Does anyone have any insight or anecdotes to help me either (1) feel better about being on Adderall, or (2) come up with an alternative plan to manage my issues? I am a 30 year old woman and I've struggled for most of my life with depression, severe anxiety/stress, and obesity. I've also, for as long as I can remember, suffered from the extreme inability to get my shit together, which often leads to the depression & anxiety that then lead to the emotional eating (pretty much eating for a fix) that I do.

I have always been smart enough to get by and do fairly well despite half-assing everything due to disorganization, inability to concentrate, and inability to get my shit together. For example, in 5th grade, my teacher wanted to put me in remedial math because I never did (or could find) my homework, despite my having been in the 98th percentile in the math portion of that year's standardized test. In high school, I never did my homework or studied, ever. I was in all honors and AP classes, and somehow managed to get a 4 on the AP Lit exam without having read a single one of the assigned books that year. I got into a good college and nearly flunked out both my freshman and sophomore years because I didn't study or attend class, but made it up junior and senior year by overloading classes to make up what I failed and switching majors to one that would better allow me to use common sense and BS to coast.

Now I have a good job and am a part-time grad student, but I struggle to keep my head above water. I know it isn't because I'm not smart enough or competent ... if I have a month to work on a project, I will struggle to do the research and planning at the beginning to do a good job. I will flounder for 2-3 weeks, and then panic for the fourth week, pulling together whatever I can to cobble together a passable result. Usually what I consider passable is plenty good to my employer or instructor, but the thing is that I can do so much better than what I am giving, and with so much less stress.

Not to mention that my home life is a mess. I am constantly forgetting to pay bills, losing important papers, leaving my house a mess (and not knowing where to start), starting exercise programs and then abandoning them because I am too overwhelmed with the rest of my life, budget, and work....

I've tried all kinds of methods for getting myself back on track. I am great at both implementing and making up my own systems for being organized -- schedules and charts and checklists. Oh God, I live for that stuff! But as soon as I create something and MAYBE follow it for a little while, I get distracted or overwhelmed and drop the ball and am back where I started.

And I'm miserable! I have so much to be grateful for, and yet I spend all my time being fat (100 lbs overweight), depressed, stressed, and overwhelmed. Antidepressants (celexa & trazodone) have helped, but only to an extent.

After talking with my psychiatric NP, she screened me for ADHD and found that both the results of the test and a family history (my dad & brother are ADHD) and my descriptions of my school life and adult life point to inattentive-type ADHD. She prescribed me ritalin, which I took for 3 weeks and simply felt sleepy on, and now Adderall, which truly seems to be making a difference. Suddenly I can concentrate and do alll the things I previously would think "ugh I need to do that", and then forget about or put off indefinitely.

AND. Suddenly I am losing weight.

I have been able to stick to my workout program and have felt no emotional triggers to eat over the past few weeks. I actually have almost no appetite at all during the day, which is a first, since snacks have always been the best interruption to getting anything done.

Which is great, right?

But I'm worried. I have a lot of weight to lose, and I have lost before and regained. I have read stories of people abusing Adderall to lose weight (which is NOT my purpose) and then regaining it once they go off almost immediately. I just do not want to lose weight "artificially" only to regain it when/if I go off Adderall. And I don't see myself being on Adderall forever. In a few years when I am done with school, I'd like to have a baby, and I certainly can't take it while pregnant or breastfeeding.

I am really just hoping that I can use Adderall as a tool to get me back on the right track in life. I never, ever learned to be organized, to keep my house neat, to keep my budget in check, to eat right, to do my work consistently instead of at the last minute. If I can focus now and get myself into a routine, and get my life in order, and keep it in order for awhile ... am I going to lose all that if I don't keep taking Adderall?

So, does it sound like I am doing the right thing by taking it? Am I going to have to pay later on for using this tool to get my life together now? Is there anything else I should be doing or plan to do to make the most out of this?

I'm sorry this was so long...I am just so stressed and anxious.

Have you taken Adderall and blood pressure meds?

keener_sounds — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:22:04 -0800

I have Adult ADD -- and about 5 years ago, I briefly got a huge benefit from taking Adderall. But that was before I had high blood pressure. For the past 2 years I've had high blood pressure that is pretty well controlled by meds-- when it was diagnosed it was *really* high (195/110!) I'm not really overweight nor do I have other risk factors for high blood pressure; just seems to be the way I handle stress. Anyway, I have just been given a beautiful bottle of blue pills with my name on it by a respected psychiatrist who says it's OK to take this Adderall as long as I continue take my blood pressure meds and monitor myself at home with a cuff. The regular doc also says it's OK. Only 5 mg of Adderall twice a day; I could take it once a day. But I'm terrified. You are not my doctor. But have you taken Adderall with controlled high blood pressure? The website says: Do not take with high blood pressure. Canada says: Adderall is banned due to sudden deaths and strokes. Docs say: Go ahead. My work says: Take the damn -- what? Was that a squirrel out the window? Oh yeah.
Please let me know if you have experienced this -- seems like it should be all over the web, but all I can find are warnings about high blood pressure, not controlled high blood pressure. Thanks hive mind.

St. John's wort + ADHD medications?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:36:45 -0800

What are your experiences with St. John's wort? In particular, have you ever taken it at the same time as ADHD medications like Ritalin/Focalin (methylphenidate), Adderall (amphetamine) etc? Some sources seem to warn against taking then together, some say only that one will might decrease the effectiveness of the other, and many don't say anything at all, so I'd like to know if there's anything to worry about. Even if you have never taken the two together, I'd still be curious to hear what you thought of St. John's wort in general.

Throwaway email: sjwquestion@yahoo.com

(Please don't tell me to ask a doctor; I'm asking because the doctors that wrote all the information I've read seem to disagree.)

Adderall

ebesan — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:37:05 -0800

amphetamine salt combo. generic for Adderall. 20mg I've been taking these on occasion. But now find myself on a job in Mexico, and have run out. Cannot get a new prescription from the States. Is there a way to get some here, in a farmacia? What should I ask for? Is there any danger? Any substitute?

Adderall and YOU

ocherdraco — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:38:40 -0800

How did Adderall change things for you? My doctor thinks I may have ADD (not ADHD), and is prescribing Adderall for a few weeks so we can see what happens. I have no idea what to expect, and I know that it works differently for everyone. I'd like to have some individual examples of how it affects people, rather than the more general things I've been able to read elsewhere. How did taking Adderall change your life?

Opinion needed on meds and conception.

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:59:43 -0800

My meds and the conception of my second child. I know you aren't my doctor, but I'd like an opinion. I am on a number of medications, and have, while not accidentally - not as planned as I might have hoped, conceived our second child.

I am concerned that somehow my male contribution being tainted by chemicals will somehow affect the baby.

I am on:
Adderall
Gabapentin
Bupropion
and very occasionally opiate pain meds

I don't have any bad habits in recent years, but I worry about the list above causing some horrible something-or-other.

Anyone have words of reassurance or caution on whether or not this might affect the baby? We have a physician to cover all oby/gyn issues, but I have not discussed this one yet.

Thanks!

Should a firefighter candidate disclose ADHD?

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:00:25 -0800

I'm a candidate for my local fire department. It's a paid position. Should I disclose my ADHD? I was recently diagnosed with ADHD. I had been taking Adderall XR and just switched over to Vyvanse.
Will my diagnosis or medication keep me from being hired as a firefighter?

Mixing migraine and ADHD meds?

brevator — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:51:50 -0800

Possible problems mixing migraine and ADHD meds? I've recently been diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed Adderall XR. I also take triptan medications for my migraines. The latest I'm trying is Frovatriptan with varying degrees of success. As my last migraine started I asked my wife to see if she could find any problems with taking these two medications together (I had already taken the Adderall earlier). She was unable to find any conflicts, and I took them with no apparent problems. I've since looked myself and also turn up no conflicts.
My main concern is the vasoconstrictive effect of the triptan, combined with the increased norepinephrine released due to the Adderall. I know that norepinephrine has vasoconstrictive effects as well and I worry about constricting my vessels to the point of causing blockage (ischemia) or hemorrhage.
Are these rational concerns, or should I trust that since it doesn't say anything in the documentation I'll be okay?
I have a doctor's appointment soon and will be discussing this with him, but I figured I'd see what the hive mind thought about this.
(you are not a doctor, pharmacist, or neuroscientist, and even if you are you do not know me or my brain and only an idiot would listen to people on the internet etc.)
Thanks in advance

Any recommendations for a helpful mental health practitioner person in the area of Portland, Oregon?

brisquette — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:25:55 -0800

Any recommendations for a helpful mental health practitioner person in the area of Portland, Oregon? After a few stressful months of medication issues, my boyfriend and I have lost a lot of faith in our psychiatrist, and are looking for additional forms of help and advice, whether a therapist, counselor, or even just a different psychiatrist. We'd both been on ADD medication for a while (I'm on Adderall, he was taking Vyvanse) when my boyfriend (Charles) began to feel that maybe he was depressed. So in January, on the next trip to the psychiatrist, the doctor gave him a prescription for Zoloft. That seemed to be going pretty well, but I didn't ask too many questions about it because I didn't want him to feel weird about being on anti-depressants.

A month later, his prescription ran out right as we were leaving on a 2 week vacation to the other side of the country, and my kind and funny boyfriend started acting like a manic irritable whackjob who saw mystical signs everywhere.

Once we got back to Portland, I managed to get him into the doctor's office again after a week or so, and by the end of the session the doctor was worried enough to put Charles on Zoloft for a little longer, but had him taper down over about a week. The doctor also sent home a sample bottle of Zyprexa, with vague instructions ("take this if stuff gets too much, or if you get too irritable.). This curbed the manic behaviour, and things settled down for a while, but he was still acting weird and saying weird things, and our friends started to notice and get concerned.

This gets us to the beginning of April, when I get a call from Charles' work, since I'm his emergency contact. They think it's best if I come pick him up. They had a meeting to discuss his erratic behaviour, and it became obvious he wasn't in a mental state to talk about it. So another round of calls and doctors appointments and now meetings with human resource folks follows. The doctor now decides that mood stabilizers are in order. Hellooo, Tegretol.

Life has calmed down a bit. My boyfriend's on meds, he's back at work, and we can talk and hang out and be a couple again. Although his work and his union has been really great about all of this, it's been a downer for our relationship and our friendship. Walking down the street can be overwhelming for him. After months of coping with all the ups and downs, I'm starting to get exasperated, even though I know better.

We both are carrying a grudge against our doctor, for various reasons. Neither of us feel that he gives enough practical information about the medication he dispenses. The recent incidents surrounding the antidepressants made me remember how little info I got when the same doctor first put me on Adderall. I used the internet like crazy, but it feels like I had to dig up my own solutions, even though this guy is supposed to be really good at ADD stuff.

My impression is that the doctor didn't give my partner enough warning about how anti-depressants are sort of a big deal, and the last thing you want to do is go off of them suddenly.

Our doctor also seems too willing to indulge philosophical meanderings, which is fine when you're feeling normal, but even when Charles was getting over the paranoid, manic episodes, the doctor didn't tone down the philosophy, and it left Charles feeling weird.

The last time we saw the doctor together, the doctor said that the episodes and behavior were signs of something that probably would have come out anyway, in a couple years. After spending the last couple months scouring the Psych/Disorders section at the bookstore, I do see his point, but it's also really hard not to have him even even acknowledge that maybe none of this would have happened if my partner had just stayed on the medication. I have close friends who've given me way better practical advice than our doctor has, and that's disappointing.

So I'd like to go see a new doctor, psychiatrist or otherwise . Charles is a little burnt out on meds and doctors right now, but accepts that after the last couple of months, it's important to have someone sane to check in with every now and then. He's still on the Tegretol, but is disgruntled about the apparent complications that medication has brought into his life.

I don't know enough about the big wide world of mental health people to know exactly the term for what I'm looking for. Someone who can be practical about real life, someone who will help us find our personal goals and then follow through with them. Someone who's good at talking to a couple of ADD twentysomethings.

Help! I'm nervous and I can't do anything.

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:24:52 -0800

I have Stratterra, Adderall, and Xanax. What can I do to get serious anxiety and ADD symptoms under control, quickly and for the short-term? I'm struggling with the symptoms of ADD along with a very high level of anxiety (this is a recent and hopefully temporary development). I'm taking the LSAT in 2 weeks and suddenly dealing with an extremely stressful relationship situation on top of the pressure of last-minute studying for something that's very challenging and important to me; please understand that my question is motivated by my desire for a short-term coping strategy (I can only get an appointment with my psychiatrist/therapist after the LSAT, but he'll take it from there, thanks).

I took Adderall in the past and have a handfull of those left; recently, I was prescribed Strattera instead since Adderall isn't available where I live (outside the US). I've been taking about 25 mg a day for a bit more than a month, although I've skipped a few pills (accidentally, because, well, I have ADD, and purposely, because of the following...)

I haven't noticed a substantial improvement in my ability to focus and concentrate, which is very critical to me right now, immediately, until the LSAT (on Dec 6th). I have noticed a huge rise in my base level of anxiety since I started on Strattera - I don't recall having a "base level" of anxiety in the past at all, actually; whenever I have a calm or empty moment, i.e. when I'd usually be daydreaming for a minute in the middle of the day for example, I feel an underlying physical sense of dread. I've also had a lot of trouble sleeping and woken up before I've slept enough with my heart pounding an hour before my alarm is set several times recently. I don't know whether this is caused by the Strattera or having reached a threshold of stress and chaos that I can no longer cope with; however, I understand that Strattera is often prescribed off-label as an anti-anxiety drug, so it's surprising that it would have the opposite affect on me. Life's been rough and I'm constantly nervous in a way that interferes with my daily life, interactions, and (right now) ability to study for the LSAT. Is this anxiety a common, or even possible, side affect of Strattera?

I don't want to stop taking Strattera in case it is actually helping because I can't experiment with letting my concentration get worse right now (because of the LSAT!). It could turn out that I'd have even worse ADD symptoms and anxiety if I went off it right now. However, I also obviously can't handle any additional anxiety. So, one option is to experiment with a higher dose of Strattera to see if it helps me feel calmer or more focused - could I here some knowledgeable/experienced opinions on whether this is a good idea?

The other option is to take my small dose of Strattera plus an Adderall, which does significantly improve my concentration, mood, and performance more than anything else. My concern is whether it will be counter-productive or harmful to mix these medications.

I've also been dealing with the extreme anxiety by taking Xanax occasionally (maybe twice a week, when I'm really hurting for sleep) and/or over-the-counter sleeping pills, but the past week they've only kept me calm enough to sleep for about 6 hours and I'm exhausted. I don't want to mix drugs too much or do anything dangerous or habit-forming (I'm well aware of this risk and consider it each time I use these medications), but I need to have some measured input about whether this is the best thing I can do for the next 2 weeks. I don't need to "stick it out" right now and risk totally falling apart/bombing the LSAT (I also can't just take it in February, since I'm abroad and it's not offered abroad after December).

I really can't afford to lose another day to anxiety and distraction right now - not only will it affect the LSAT, but it's putting a huge strain on the relationship that's causing it, which is becoming a rapidly-accelerating vicious circle. So, how can I stop this and use what I have to make myself functional right now? I've also been using my normal, healthy coping methods (coffee, exercise in the right amount/at the right time, healthy food, chatting with positive and supportive friends, taking breaks, etc). I usually know how to handle myself but I feel like my brain is totally out of control and trying to sabotage me.

I can't get an appointment with my psychiatrist until after the LSAT, so I'm asking you in the meantime; I'd really appreciate answers other than "therapytherapytherapy". Yeah, I know, but it's just not possible right now, and I need a solution or at least a strategy right now; having stated that "go see your doctor" and "get therapy" are not relevant for me, I'll also say that seeing this page full of "therapy" answers would be totally demoralising as it's advice that I can't take, even though I will as soon as that changes. Please respond if you have advice that I actually can take, given what I've told you. Thank you very much if you can help me cope.

What about when Adderall doesn't work?

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:44:48 -0800

I saw the doctor to discuss ADD and getting a diagnosis. He started me on Adderall XR, 10mg, slowly increasing the dose. By 40mg, I was jittery as can be, having serious anxiety apparently caused by the medicine, but still as ADD as ever. I have a follow-up appointment with the doctor tomorrow, and want to know what to ask for. (First, in case anyone's alarmed... Yes, I backed off the dose at 40mg, and am back to 30mg, which for some reason is significantly less troublesome.)

I'd been tested for ADD in high school, but the doctor seemed to rely primarily on tests, which concluded I didn't have ADD. I was pretty sure it was wrong, but lived with it until a few months ago, when I went to see my doctor. (I'd finished reading Driven to Distraction, which could pretty easily be my life story.) He decided to start me on Adderall XR to see if it cured me, agreeing with my reasoning that being unable to focus on anything, ever, was a better test for ADD than a computerized test from a decade ago.

But... I'm not feeling better. I still can't focus. All the descriptions of people with ADD starting Adderall have pretty much been, "It just worked, just like that" and, "It was the difference between night and day." But not for me, which has me quite discouraged.

I'm getting all the side effects of Adderall. It certainly keeps me from being drowsy. It's suppressed my appetite, though not to dangerous levels. I'm bursting with (amphetamine-induced...) energy... I just can't focus it.

I should mention, since I can't follow up (being an anon) that I'm also taking 10mg Lexapro for anxiety, both social anxiety and generalized anxiety. The Adderall leaves me feeling more outgoing, but also leaves me feeling very anxious. And feeling very anxious about nothing plus feeling very jittery/hyper is pretty miserable... (My doctor and I discussed the risks of Lexapro+Adderall ("serotonin syndrome"), but the risks were minor and he's monitoring me for that, so don't think we overlooked a dangerous drug interaction.) This isn't my main complaint with the Adderall, I just wanted to mention it in case it was relevant to any answers.

ADD is really very handicapping in my life, especially right now when there's not a lot of outside structure. I've been working on things like setting up a structured environment, but that's no panacea. I'm not a big fan of drugs, but I think I need medication for this.

I have an appointment tomorrow with the doctor, and he is quite competent. But I don't want to go in empty-handed, either: I really like to go in already knowing my options and having some recommendations for treatment. Is it common for Adderall to not work on people with ADD? All my research really only turned up people who had Adderall work miracles, and a couple people who had bad experiences; I didn't see any stories of people in my case. Any advice at all, really? mefitemp42@yahoo.com will reach me if need be. :)

Longterm affects of amphetamines?

decoherence — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:07:02 -0800

What are the potential longterm effects of regular amphetamine (i.e., adderall, ritalin) use? Does anyone really know? As more and more of my friends have begun daily regimens of amphetamines, I've begun wondering how much is known about the longterm effects of these drugs. It's not unreasonable to suspect that running any bodily organ on overdrive for years on end might have some negative consequences, but I haven't seen much research on the subject. This psychiatrist's blog post, however, suggests the suspicion could be well-founded.

Does anyone have any information -- anecdotes are fine, but research would be better -- that says one way or another whether amphetamine usage over the long run is anything to worry about?

I'm off Adderall and now I'm tired all the time. Help!

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:22:45 -0800

I've stopped taking Adderall and have been tired, tired, tired. How long will this last? I was taking 30MG XR every day for 24 months. I've stopped and have had no cravings (the addictive aspect concerned me) with otherwise no adverse side effects sans increase appetite and being tired all the time. I stopped taking it on Saturday and today is Tuesday. I'm dead tired by 4PM and usually in bed around 9PM. I am in my mid-20s so this is sort of way off. Sunday I slept in until 1PM! Usually I'm up around 8AM.

My doctor told me not to worry and that this isn't a serious issue, but that withdrawal might awhile and everyone reacts differently.

I'm assuming this will last for a couple more days, right? Any suggestions? Is it best to hunker down, take the week off work and sleep, sleep, sleep or should I try to maintain a normal schedule?

Adderall-induced weightloss: how permanent?

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:15:38 -0800

9 months on Adderall, and I've lost a moderate amount of weight. What can I expect if I stop taking the drug? Details: Since starting Adderall for my adult-diagnosis ADD, I've dropped about 10 pounds, taking me from the reliably mid-120s girl I've been my whole life to a more Jessica-Alba-like 112ish. I'm wondering where my metabolism will be when/if I stop taking Adderall, assuming I don't wildly change my eating or exercise habits.

Will my current weight be my new set point, and relatively easy to maintain? Will my body drift back up to its old 120ish "normal", then stop? Or could my metabolism come back online in some sort of crazed starvation mode, causing me to gain a ton of extra weight on top of that? If the latter is at all possible, any ideas on how to avoid/mitigate that effect?

How much Adderall are you taking?

Brandon1600 — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:18:16 -0800

Hive mind Adderall filter: Those of you taking this med, exactly how much of it did you start off with and how much are you taking now? I am taking 10 mg a morning for depressive disorder for about a week now with no effect. Should I ask my doc for more?

I'm convinced I have ADHD. Where do I go from here?

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:19:36 -0800

I'm convinced I have ADHD. Where do I go from here? I've never been able to focus on anything for more than 5 minutes at a time - especially if there are multiple things going on. In spite of this, I've always managed to pull through - and perhaps even succeed on what is just sheer intelligence (as arrogant as that may sound). I've been a horrible procrastinator, and my grades are all over the place, but mostly thanks to the powers of persuasion have always ended in the A,B, and C range (there have been a few Ds I talked my way out of).

Even though my grades in HS were spotty, I was accepted into a semi-good school (thanks potentially to affirmative action and high SAT scores). At this school, I was able to succeed easily - I was simply smarter than my peers, and it showed. I worked little, but still got great grades. I skipped class often, oversleeping - a problem that I ascribe to my amazingly low locus of control. I decided to transfer to a very good school, based on how well I was doing.

There, things that were bad in HS only got worse, as in college, we are expected (rightfully) to take full responsibility for our actions, and manage our own time. I found/find myself depressed because I couldn't keep up with reading nor did I attend class frequently (usually because I overslept). And by overslept, I don't mean until 10 or 11, I mean until around 3pm - and this situation gets worse by the month.

Originally I tried to get around it by scheduling classes later and later in the day - but it just got worse and worse.

Recently, a friend with ADHD gave me a few of his Adderall (XR 20mg), and they more or less changed my life. I was able to study, with out being distracted, and generally more active in my life - actually listening to people when having conversations with them, going to class and actually taking notes, etc.

Now for the questions:

1. Who should I go to to have myself diagnosed? I'm guessing the options are psychiatrist or general practitioner. What are the advantages and disadvantages of those options? Bear in mind, I'm in a college town, one where I'm sure people use drugs like the kind I seek recreationally - how do I avoid being lumped into this group?

2. I feel like I haven't been diagnosed in the past just because I've done fairly well in school, and generally present myself as a member of the intelligentsia. Could this impression cloud a medical professional's judgement?

3. Is it wise to mention my experience with Adderall given that it's a prescription drug? I don't want the doc to throw me to the curb because I tried it - although I get the impression that this kind of thing (a friend giving you onee) isn't uncommon.

4. I do not currently have insurance. How much will all of this cost? I fear having to go to "doctor-shop", not to mention the cost of the drugs themselves. How much should I plan on spending?

Any other insights are appreciated, and you can contact me at rsollali@gmail.com for any further information or comments.

Strattera vs. Adderall

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:34:59 -0800

I have adult ADD. I've been on Strattera for 5 years. My new doc wants me to switch to Adderall. Anyone else done this switch? What are the differences/effects between the two?

How long does it take an extended release pill to be completely disolved into your bloodstream?

catatethebird — Fri, 11 May 2007 07:57:04 -0800

How long does it take an extended release pill (specifically Adderall XR) to be completely disolved into your bloodstream? The matter is mostly academic now... (possibly TMI here) About three hours ago I took 20mg of Adderall XR (actually, two 10mg capsules, if it makes a difference) as usual. Just now I decided to take a multivitamin. On an empty stomach. Needless to say, it came right back up, with everything else in my stomach (which wasn't much.)

So my question is, would three hours be enough time for the Adderall to have dissolved into my bloodstream? I read somewhere that the little granules in the XR version are coated with something that takes longer to dissolve, to achieve the extended effect. Is this true, and would that mean that some of the medicine was probably still in my stomach, undissolved after three hours?

Will Adderall kill me, and can I take it on occasion?

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:13:43 -0800

Two questions about ADD medication, especially Adderall: 1) How dangerous is it (for me)? 2) Can it be taken "as needed"? Since I was young child I've had problems concentrating; I started school early but was held back a year for failing to pay attention, and then switched back and forth between "gifted" and "troubled" programs, etc. I'm still constantly forgetting and losing stuff and often unable to focus on tasks until after the last minute. I've nevertheless managed to cope, more or less, and should soon manage to complete a doctoral degree at a major university (they've been remarkably kind, letting me finish my degree in almost twice the time it usually takes--I'm now 35).

I'm tempted to ask about medication for ADD. This summer I have to finish and defend my dissertation, and while I'm quite close to completion, I'm nevertheless afraid that I might fail to do this, which I'm not sure I could bear.

Getting to my first question, then: the reason I've never really pursued the possibility of using ADD medication is that I think I may on occasions have benign heart palpitations. When I started to notice these, perhaps a decade ago, an EKG reveled a partial right bundle branch blockage which, they say, is supposed to be a pretty insignificant and common condition.

Here's the thing however: I don't even know that I *have* had palpitations. If I do on occasion have these, they never involve more that a few skipped beats, and have never produced faintness or other symptoms (I've never had a holter test). Additionally, these events seem to have become less frequent than in the past (or perhaps I don't notice them so much any more). All the same, the possibility of "sudden cardiac death" as a result of using stimulants has been a powerful deterrent to my asking about using Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, etc.

Now however (as more and more of my students attest to the effectiveness of Adderall) I'm wondering whether an excessive paranoia about sudden cardiac death or etc. has kept me from trying medication that could make a major difference in my life, and I wonder: how dangerous *is* ADD medication (especially Adderall) for someone in my state? How much worse is it, for example, than caffeine, which I drink all the time? Mightn't I try it, in a controlled setting at first, and discontinue use if anything worrying occurs?

Also, I wonder whether it's possible to get a prescription that allows one to take ADD medication "as needed"? I hate the idea of long-term use of stimulants, which I suspect can't be good for one's cardiac system. I've (almost) managed to cope for a long time without medication, and on days when I'm just running errands or etc., I can manage fine. I'd like to take a medicine that doesn't give me the heart-damage of long term use of stimulants, or flatten my creativity, or my usual spacey digressiveness, except when it's necessary to do so. I think that people with real ADD can *sorta* get by without medication---I'm pretty sure that many can, and that I'm one of those people. Therefore, if it's not inadvisable, I'd like to try taking a low dose of Adderall on occasions when I need to fix my concentration on something and it just won't happen.

So, how likely is stimulant-type ADD medicine to kill me, and is it possible to legally take these medicines only "as needed"? Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Will taking Adderall be a "permanent deferral" from donating bone marrow?

slc228 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:23:34 -0800

Will taking Adderall be a "permanent deferral" from donating bone marrow? I am wanting to be put on the bone marrow donor list, but I am wondering if Adderall will prevent me from doing so. I found this link (for California):
http://www.cencalblood.org/plasmabone.html

Does anyone know if this is true for Virginia? If so, why?

So dudes I've got this pro--whoa shiny!

schroedinger — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 10:09:19 -0800

Has anyone had experience coming off of ADD/ADHD medications? How did you cope with the return of all the negative ADD/ADHD symptoms, and the nagging feeling that you were a better person on the meds? I've been coming off of Adderall XR for the past month or so as I can no longer afford the medication under my current health insurance. Luckily my psychiatrist kept me well-stocked with a variety of dosages so I've been able to step down gradually. It's been painless, except for the past week. As I reach the lowest dosage and approach total elimnation the decrease has gotten particularly noticable. When trying to focus and when interacting with people I have the same impulsive all-over-the-place fidgety thinking that I did before I started taking the meds. Added to that is the realization that I'm a heckuva lot less obnoxious when on Adderall.

So, ADD/ADHD Metafilterites, anyone successfully take themselves off of meds? How did you do it? Any mental hacks, coping techniques, tips or tricks that you use to keep up the same level of effectiveness that you had on medication?