I was diagnosed with ADHD last fall and was started on 10mg of 6 hour dose Adderall. It seemed to work amazingly. My fidgeting decreased I Was able to hold a thought, focus, etc. Then I noticed the effects starting to not work as well. So then the doc increased my dose to 20mg of 6hr. Better...started to work again. Then my body got used to that so he thought it would be best to start me on 30 mg of adderall xr. WOW that was amazing...it worked wonders. All up until about a month ago, where I felt like my body started having adverse reactions. I started to feel too speedy, and started having heart palpitations and anxiety attacks, and shortage of breath(having trouble being able to take one of those satisfying deep breaths) so the doc lowered my dosage back to 10 mg of 6hr...to be taken-in 2 incriments as needed. My heart palpitations have decreased and my breathing is better not 100% but better...buuuutttt I still seem to get anxiety. HAs anyone else experienced these side effects?? and are they a result of long time usage of a stimulant or because my dosage was initially too high and it built up?? I've asked my doc but he has been vague in his explainations. Also can someone tell me the difference between adderall, concerta, and ritalin?? And why my doc iniially went straight for the adderall rather than the other meds?? IS one better than the other, would I have a better effect from another med rather than adderall? THank you soooooo much for the help. Hope everyone has a wonderful a nd SAFE 4th of July.
Last edited by KawaiiiGal; 07-04-2005 at 01:59 PM.
Re: My Neg. Effects Of Adderall...anyone Get These?
Quote:
Originally Posted by KawaiiiGal
I was diagnosed with ADHD last fall and was started on 10mg of 6 hour dose Adderall. It seemed to work amazingly. My fidgeting decreased I Was able to hold a thought, focus, etc. Then I noticed the effects starting to not work as well. So then the doc increased my dose to 20mg of 6hr. Better...started to work again. Then my body got used to that so he thought it would be best to start me on 30 mg of adderall xr. WOW that was amazing...it worked wonders. All up until about a month ago, where I felt like my body started having adverse reactions. I started to feel too speedy, and started having heart palpitations and anxiety attacks, and shortage of breath(having trouble being able to take one of those satisfying deep breaths) so the doc lowered my dosage back to 10 mg of 6hr...to be taken-in 2 incriments as needed. My heart palpitations have decreased and my breathing is better not 100% but better...buuuutttt I still seem to get anxiety. HAs anyone else experienced these side effects?? and are they a result of long time usage of a stimulant or because my dosage was initially too high and it built up?? I've asked my doc but he has been vague in his explainations. Also can someone tell me the difference between adderall, concerta, and ritalin?? And why my doc iniially went straight for the adderall rather than the other meds?? IS one better than the other, would I have a better effect from another med rather than adderall? THank you soooooo much for the help. Hope everyone has a wonderful a nd SAFE 4th of July.
Hey Kawaiiigal. Let's see what I can reply to and what I can't. First off, I just started taking Adderall for ADD. It's amazing. I actually feel calm. I probably feel much like you did when you started. I was prescribed 10mg 2x a day. But I take it a little differently, and I'll tell ya about that later.
Quote:
HAs anyone else experienced these side effects?? and are they a result of long time usage of a stimulant or because my dosage was initially too high and it built up??
I'll tell ya what negative stuff I'm feeling so far. Aside from all the positive stuff, during the day when I'm taking adderall, I can get a little edgy, dry mouth, maybe little "flashes" of anxiety" that go away. Also, I'm one of thes OCD'ers who obsessively think about everything, the adderall almost takes that away, but I get "flashes" of those thoughts starting up. (I hope that makes sense, you may or may not be familliar with OCD) Byt eh end of the day, after I've taken all my daily dose, these negative effects can increase. So, you're problems may or may not have to with the "amount of time" you've been taking Adderall, but more about what your dose is, how you take it, and what your natural tolerance is.
ABout dosage: Like I said, I've been taking about 20 to 30 mg a day. BUt I'll take a 10 first. 2 hours later take a 5, another two hours take a 5. If I'm working late, I may take another 5. The point is, I'm trying to get a feel for myself. I can break those pills up any way I want. So for you, it may be how much you take at a time. Meaning, you may not need a 30 mg burst in the morning, and nothing else all day. Maybe, you need 5mgs every few hours, 5 in the morn ing, 10 at noon, and 5 in the afternoon.
As far as the rest of your questions, I don't really know I can say this, My doctor believes that the stimulants are the first line of defense against ADD. He's thinks that if your life can be improved with thsoe, go for it. If you have prblems, then try something else. Hey hoped I can help in some way, good luck.
Re: My Neg. Effects Of Adderall...anyone Get These?
Quote:
Originally Posted by KawaiiiGal
I was diagnosed with ADHD last fall and was started on 10mg of 6 hour dose Adderall. It seemed to work amazingly. My fidgeting decreased I Was able to hold a thought, focus, etc. Then I noticed the effects starting to not work as well. So then the doc increased my dose to 20mg of 6hr. Better...started to work again. Then my body got used to that so he thought it would be best to start me on 30 mg of adderall xr. WOW that was amazing...it worked wonders. All up until about a month ago, where I felt like my body started having adverse reactions. I started to feel too speedy, and started having heart palpitations and anxiety attacks, and shortage of breath(having trouble being able to take one of those satisfying deep breaths) so the doc lowered my dosage back to 10 mg of 6hr...to be taken-in 2 incriments as needed. My heart palpitations have decreased and my breathing is better not 100% but better...buuuutttt I still seem to get anxiety. HAs anyone else experienced these side effects?? and are they a result of long time usage of a stimulant or because my dosage was initially too high and it built up?? I've asked my doc but he has been vague in his explainations. Also can someone tell me the difference between adderall, concerta, and ritalin?? And why my doc iniially went straight for the adderall rather than the other meds?? IS one better than the other, would I have a better effect from another med rather than adderall? THank you soooooo much for the help. Hope everyone has a wonderful a nd SAFE 4th of July.
Well, from what I've read, your reactions are not unusual. The brain has an inner defense to maintain it's homostatis, so it does eventually build up tolerance(opposition) to most any psychoactive drug that takes over or controls brain function. This could take a short time or a long time, it varies by drug, dosage and personal chemistry/tolerance.
Tolerance can also bring on tolerance withdrawals while still on meds which is usually mistaken for worsening original condition or new emerging condition but it's the brain experiencing withdrawals because the dosage no longer has an effect plus the brain has built up opposing receptors to the drugs.
I heard a doctor mention on T.V. that side effects can be culmative, or appear years after taking the same drug...of course, escalating dosages increase the chances of side effects.
Anxiety can be a side effect of stimulants. In fact, I read that dopamine( the neuro that stimulants effect) is pre-cursor to adrenaline....adrenaline is the main culprit in anxiety.
Re: My Neg. Effects Of Adderall...anyone Get These?
Jennita, what a simple, clear explanation of the side effect & brain reaction! It made sense to me.
I always have side effects to everything; drugs never work the same for me as others. It's like my brain has its own anxiety attack when I take something that alters its chemistry.
KawaiiGal, I've had ADD, OCD, depression and anxiety all my life, with text-book examples of each. In addition to Adderall, I'm taking other medications, both to deal with my other problems, as well as to counteract the side effects. For instance, I'm taking Requip to tone down jitters and eliminate painful muscle spasms (which does concern me--that I am taking something to cover up a side effect to a drug I don't like having to take).
For *anxiety* I am taking small doses of risperdal, which, in larger doses, is used for schizophrenia. I am definitely less anxious now than I was before I took the Adderall, which I'm still taking, though in low doses.
I'm also taking Zoloft (for depression) and Trazadone at night, but not because its an anti-depressant, but to off-set the Adderall so I can sleep before 4:30am (not too happy with the idea of that anti-side effect either).
Sometimes I take a 5mg of Ritalin around 2pm, which helps me focus in the afternoon at work, but also makes it hard for me to go to sleep at night.
KawaiiiGal, Your description of symptoms and side effects are very similar to what I've heard/read elsewhere. I'm a little different than most, in that I'm still only taking 10mg of Adderall after about 6 months.
Last edited by seriousperson; 07-05-2005 at 07:02 PM.
Re: My Neg. Effects Of Adderall...anyone Get These?
I've gone from Aderall XR to Concerta to Straterra and back to Aderall non-XR and that's where I'm at now. Here's what I had for each.
Aderall XR - Started 20mg in the morning. I was jittery from the get go but could tell a difference in focus. It was supposed to last for about 9-12 hours so said (XR - eXtended Release). I got about 4 out of it. It was wonderful though until it started to wear and boy was I grumpy. Eventually the jitters went away and so did the focus. Up to 40 I went and the cycle started again. I continued this cycle for various doses and when the jitters, anxiety, emotions (I'm a guy, not used tho those ) got so bad we went for Concerta...
Concerta - Energy only. No focus, no grump. The energy lasted all day. If I could combine the positive effect of Aderall with the consistency of Concerta, I'd be homefree. Next, Straterra.
Straterra - Nothing... not one bluming thing. Back to Aderall but the non-XR version.
The Aderall "kickers" - I take a 30mg that lasts for about 2 - 4 hours and repeat as necessary. Went they wear off for the day, I become detached or ADD-worsened for a period of about 30-45 minutes. Not grumpy or anything. This is working fine. I take it up to 3 times a day. I am noticing the usual slump in focus, like it's not working. Today was like I didn't take it at all. Took a 40 at noon and still didn't notice anything. May have been a bad ADD day. I've seen these days where the meds don't touch it. Very few thankfully.
My Neg. Effects Of Adderall...anyone Get These? 
I can say this, My doctor believes that the stimulants are the first line of defense against ADD. He's thinks that if your life can be improved with thsoe, go for it. If you have prblems, then try something else. Hey hoped I can help in some way, good luck.
) got so bad we went for Concerta...
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