RE:Adult ADD ..Help ! I Need peoples experiences w/ Adderalls effect on them - ADD / ADHD Message Board

Cindy12 · 03-31-2003, 08:03 PM

Hello to Everyone ! I'm new to this board and hoping to be able to get some other users experiences with adderall and how it has effected them so I can decide if I should stay on it.I'm also hoping I'll be able to make some new friends here! I'm very new to taking Adderall .Here's my story ... My family and I have a long history of ADHD that I can trace back to my Grandmother , my Father , then Me and my Brother and now my 2 Boys . My boys have been diagnosed and on adderall since they were 3 & 6 . I know 3 is young( he was almost 4 ) but when he started threatening me while in the "time out chair" to cut my head off and burn the house down I felt I needed to get professional help. Meds have helped them tremendously.I am very well informed on ADD-ADHD and have read Hollowells books Driven to Distraction and Answers to Distraction and found them fasinating as I could relate to so much of what I read (read it and weep). The boys are now 11 & 14 and doing well
(with some ups and downs,its always a struggle ) with intervention at school and support on my part.Its been a long rough road of learning disabilitys ,handling 2 ADD-ADHD Kids ( I have one of each ) , dealing w/a husband who did'nt think anything could be wrong w/ his kids ", a divorce , and a back disability . I'm 45 now and have suffered with magor depression for the past 8-10 years .I've been on Anti-depressants , had access to Valium type meds..ect,ect but they all seem to have a numbing effect on me and I have not responded very well to them.I've also tried all kinds of vitamin products some of which I'm on ( Sam-e is excellent ) .. but none of which have worked for my kids so please don't go there with your replys ok !) . Lets face it,life with my ADHD , 2 Kids with it & learning disabilitys, and then throw in a divorce
( actually my second ) and a back injury and its enough to put anyone over the deep end ! So I've had a rough time coping with everything and my energy levels and abilitys to function on a " normal" level ,if there is such a thing, have been greatly reduced. My shrink thought that I should try the ADD meds and see if it helped .I almost immediatly noticed within the first 2 hours that I was feeling more motivated and able to accomplish things . I just felt better than I had in many, many years ( I don't know if thats the "exagerated feeling of well being side effect" or me feeling better ? ) .. I seem to be taking a greater interest in myself and my appearence and just in ME in general ..I always put myself last interms of care it seems because I was so overwhelmed just doing what I had to do for the kids ect..My outlook on life is much better.. I have much more energy .. I seem to handle stress better which has always been a problem for me . Its almost like someone blew the dust out of my brain and I've come back to life again in just a few days ...Like a re-awakening of sorts . The meds seem to help me control my eating , which was out of control alot of the time and also has seemed to cut my need for alcohol. Either I'm handling stress better so I feel I don't need it to cope with it by drinking ... or I just don't feel the need when I'm stressed to drink because I'm calmer inside .. I don't know . I'm also not sleeping all the time , I was sleeping 12 hours a day ... no naps in the past few days ! ... BUT .. I noticed the dose that I started on was not as effective a few days later ? .. Do the effects kind of wear off at first untill you find the right dose ? Right now I'm trying 30 mgs time released a day.I am having problems with not being able to sleep, had that even on lower doses. But after sleeping the last 10 years away , its not so bad .. but I will need to figure a way to sleep at some point. My sleep is so light its not quality sleep right now.. Will I adjust and be able to sleep after a while ? Any help or sugestions you can give me as to how you felt when you started this medicine and how you are doing now would be really welcome ... I know I'm ADHD but I'm not sure my responces to this medicine are appropriate and mean that it is helping me .. I know I'm fuctioning on a much, much higher level than I was before , I know I feel much better ... If you have/had depression and ADHD also I'd love to hear from you and how the medicine has helped you or if it has or has not.I'm also wondering if the feel good feeling wares off and if its normal to feel this kind of "Better" on it ...Are there any sites that talk about how you "gage" the meds effectivness ? If you can relate to anything I am saying I'd love to hear from you .. thanks for listening ...

[This message has been edited by Cindy12 (edited 04-01-2003).]

mkoffskey · 03-31-2003, 10:57 PM

hello there, I read your post I too take ADDERAl 30mg tabs XR. I started this medication when I was a Freshman in College, and it helped me a great deal. Since I have finished and am currently in the medical/health field, so I can help you in personal experiences, as well as medical (I am fairly educated with the medication.) First off ADDERAL is a "Stimulant." Some people refer to it as "Government controlled speed" as it is a stimulant, possesing stimulant compounds. It is very effective in people with ADD, and ADHD. It also is used in people with narcolepsy, and not as often in Depression, and weight loss. Mainly ADD, and ADHD. Since ADDERAL is a stimulant it can be habit forming for tolerance to this medication becomes very high. Meaning the initial feeling of euphoria or sense of well being subsides quickly, and higher dosages are required to sustane this feeling or "high." So this feeling you have will subside as you use Adderal. I have experienced all the side effects you described. Insomnia (sleeplessness) will go away as your body gets used to the medication in a few days, also appetite suppresion with return gradualy. I also experienced irritability some time when using ADDERAL so be aware of this. ADDERAL is not used to get you "HIGH" it is used to focus and motivate a person. I also read you stopped driking alcohol this is good but also be aware that Adderal can be habit forming and in people who have had drug or alcohol abuse problems in the past may be in danger of abusing this medication. So be aware of this. People often quit a drug to replace it with another one, so be aware of this. It sounds like you are doing better though with the medication just remember to only take as perscribed. Sleep will come as your body adjust, if you do not get your sleep back notify your doctor because that could be serious. I can't remember every thing you questioned but if you have any questions I wil try to answer them as far as side effects or any other question. KOFF,

Cindy12 · 04-01-2003, 06:40 AM

Thank you so much for your reply and your information .. My drinking was never to the point of abuse, but I did use it to "self medicate" at times when I was stressed & feel I have lost the need for that at this time w/ the adderall because I'm calmer inside for the most part and handleing the stress better ...I have felt irratable at times.. I do know what you mean ..thanks again ... Cindy

miteebabe · 04-01-2003, 01:24 PM

Cindy12, I agree much of what mkoffskey said about adderall. I, too, started taking adderall 30 mg XR as a freshman in college and have been on it for about 6 months. I know exactly what you mean about how you felt the first couple of days you were on it. It was amazing, wasn't it? It was not just that "high," but it was the positive outlook and the reassurance that you could get things done as well. Unfortunately, that fades really, really soon, as you have already experienced. However, though the "high" is gone, I have continued to be on task and motivated in the 6 months I have been on it. Something else you should probably know is that it made me EXTEREMELY hostile, angry, and even explosive much of the time. And I am NOT this kind of person, trust me. Sometimes I feel like adderall is not just a drug, but a little voice in my head that tells me to be angry at minor things. Okay, don't think I am crazy--it is not literally a voice in my head, but do you kind of know what I mean? It's like, I am the same person deep down, but adderall has changed me profusely. I am now extremely anti-social and literally have transformed from an extravert (party-going, loved to be with people) to an extreme introvert (I never really want to see anyone, just be alone most of the time). I know that every person is different, but it is a fact that many, many people have experienced such side effects from long-term usage of this. Basically I am just telling you what it did to me. Nevertheless, I make perfect grades in college (I never made perfect grades even in high school!!) and I am always focused and on-task. I am also the opposite of a procrastinator (and believe me, I was never like this before). Obviously there are pros and cons and you will have to decide all this stuff for yourself. Good luck in the process!!!

mkoffskey · 04-01-2003, 08:56 PM

Mitee- I know exactly what you you mean about your behavior toward social interaction, and over all perspective/behavior while on adderal, and yes the inital euphoric feelings at first are very welcomed! I remember feeling like I could do anything I wanted, or challenging any task and the motivation to do it was extreme! But this feeling does subside unfortunatly, that is why it is sometimes abused understandibly. I can comment on the social isolation, not realy isolation as you don't want to talk to any one, but I too would sit in my dorm room weekends and study or on thursday night (College parties) because I just did not feel like socializing. I'm not saying I never went out because trust me I did my fair share of crazy stuff and getting a little too tipsy in college, but if I was taking adderal that need, or wanting to go out was not as persistant, Ya know? I also would get VERY AGITATED or like you say Have outburst of aggressive behavior for really no aparant reason. You are right too for the smallest things, it would set me off and after an outburst I would ask myself "why in god's name did I act like that?" The outburst is almost like a blurr. That was a problem some times for me because I did alot of trainning/weight lifting in college and I would destroy things for nothing! I guess you learn in time to better control this aspect of the side effects. Any way good day, and hope everyone gets a little info...