Hi, I'm 36yrs. old and just found out that I have ADD (really bad). Told that behavior therapy would not work. I kind of new that. My Doc. put me on Adderall XR 20mg. Anyone out there taking same med? How long till I notice it helping/working? Anything else helpful I should know?

Over past few years I have casually thought I might be ADD, but I never did anything more than just mention it. As I look back over my life and especially my childhood I know that if 30 yrs ago they knew aboout ADD that I would have been diagnosed . I don't begruge anyone and I am surely not angry that it took this long to be diagnosed. I think I am actually relieved that there is now a reason or answer for why I am the way I am. I also feel a sense of relief for takling charge of my life in a positive way.

I am also in process of finding out if my 6 1/2 yr. old daughter has ADD/ADHD. School Teacher mentioned this to us based on her behavior and academics in school. Actually, I have casually thought this about her and I guess I was just telling my self that she needed more time to learn how to go to school and that just maybe she learns differently or wasn't fully getting the academics. All just possible excuses I guess and good reasons not to talk medicating her. My Husband and I have not talked with Pediatrican yet (we do in few days). Finally admitting that it may be an issue that is not within her control. Actually looking forward to the appt.

Its not just me new to ADD and talking med., but I have to be able to help my daughter work through this too.

Sorry if I ramble, seems I do this a lot with ADD. Realizing I do a lot of things because of ADD. Any thoughts about meds.(how long before I will notice a difference, common side effects, or anything else helpful). New to all of this and trying to understand all I can.

I take adderall 20mg 2 times a day, and it really differs with everyone on how long it takes to work. Taking this medication, for ADD/ADHD, really helps, but there are down faults. I know I'm not alone! At first, I though loosing weight was great, but the thing is I wasn't a heavy person, but I had just had my son, and went back on my medication, I had gone off it the entire pregnancy. The weight loss gets old fast! It's one thing to lose a littlle, but I am too thin, I don't like it. I am trying to eat more, and make sure to eat! and take vitamins, I take a multi womens, and also started a hair vitamin, because my hair started literally falling out! Adderall helped me, and helps, but, just like taking anything, our bodies get use to it, and usually have to increase the dose , because a tolerance builds up. Just be careful! If you havn't started any meds, I would consider other options first, I have heard there are safer medications, natural, and so on. Do a google search, on ADDERALL and other meds, I wish I had!!! But, it is so important to take vitamins, and nutrition! I don't know why my doctor never explained that to me! I learned the hard way! I hope all works out for you!Are you seeing a reg doctor, or psychiatrist? I wish you the best!

FallenAutumn is right; you don't want to take the medication decision lightly.

Besides the risks of tolerance (& possible addiction), there are cardiac risks as well. You have to weigh if your ADD - as well as your daughter's - is serious enough to justify the risk. Only YOU can decide that.

Hopefully what your doctor said was "behavior therapy ALONE would not work". I would have concerns about a doc who suggests that you should look solely toward medication for help by telling you that behavior therapy won't work. Even the makers of the drugs say that a combined approach is the most effective. Use your time on medication to learn new ways of making yourself focus. Maybe use that time to see a counselor. Don't rely on meds as a "be all, end all".

Stimulants like Adderall work immediately; it isn't necessary to build up a blood level. However, it may take a few days to get past the side effects and really see the benefits. The most common initial side effects are headache, loss of appetite and insomnia.

More likely than not, you will experience a wonderful sense of well-being your first few weeks on a stimulant. It won't last. Don't confuse that sense of well-being with the medication working. Instead, look realistically if the medication is helping with your focus, with your ability to get tasks done, etc. Keep that separate from how you feel. Increasing your dose so that you get that "feel good" feeling again is a slippery slope.

Good luck!

Thanks for mentioning the side effectd that you have experienced. Thats helpfull to me. So far the first and second day I had a headache both days. Not sure if it is because I am also going cold turkey on caffeine. Not that I had a lot, but enough through out the day that I don't feel the need to had any at this time. Your are right I do not feel like eating and have to remind and almost force a little in me. As of now I could stand to loose some weight been dieting for over a year and not very successfull. Lack of focus. Believ that HAA!!!!! As for what Doc. I am seeing its my Primary Doc. Never went the specialist route. I am howevere working very hard at looking at my life as it was (ie. physical clutter) and taking baby steps to allow the med. to help me focus and move on with life in a more positive and less clutter more organized way.

Hey there, I just posted a thread... Seems like we are in a similar boat ... I was just Dx with ADD today and put on Adderal XR (I will fill the script tomorrow a.m.)

my son and I both take adderall xr-however he was diagnosed 3 years ago, I was diagnosed a week ago-the loss of appetite is there, but it helps me, I am already very skinny, but I also take depakote for bipolar and a side effect of that is weight gain-I was always so damn hungry I would never stop eating, but now it's kind of balanced. My son and I both go to therapy-his therapist said that as he gets a little older he can get off meds by learning techniques to use in school without med, but at this early age (7yrs) it is very difficult to explain to him that he has to pay attention when he keeps wondering off without helping it. best of luck.

Mommyathome, I was wondering how it was going? I have been on Adderal for a couple of weeks now, and it's working very well. I noticed an immediate difference. I am alot more focused and organized, and better able to keep my attention on things.. Alot less figity.. I also had pretty bad headaches for a while there. I'm right on the boat with the "praise for adderal" post ;)

How are you??

To MissJessica. Sorry for delayed reply. Very busy getting ready for Holidays. Hope all is going well with your Add and taking of med. Hope no unusual side effects. Its been almost 7wks. for me and starting to question of dosage is riht for me or should I ask for an increase. Not looking for the initial high that I felt for week or two. I just not feeling as motivated or as energetic. Hard to decide if its the slow down after the rat-race of the holiday season or just not a high enouogh dose of meds. I really feel no difference on the inside when I take the med. No side effects. Had weight loss for few weeks, but appetite seems to be back to normal. Headaches stop after first few days. I do feel that some days I am able to get more done. Much more focused on some days and others fell like my old self. I guess that is why I question if I am on the right dose of med. Anyway, back to you. Hope all is going well for you. I guess I feel like the meds. don't fix your problems thsy just open your eyes to what was really going on for all those years and they also allow you to find ways to help improve or conquer these problems or issues.

Miss Jessica glad to hear things are going well. Also glad to hear headaches better or gone. The focus and attention that you say is much better, is it always(everyday) better or do you still have good and bad days? What dose are you on? Do you feel that it is right dose for you or too high or too low? Would you ask doc to change( lower or increase) your dose? I am on Adderrall XR 20mg. and I feel as though I good very focused, very productive days and then I have days where I get absolutely nothing done. I don't even feel motivated to do anything. I am seriously considering asking Doc. to up my dose. I do see things more clearly and I do notice the things that need to get done, but I lack the motivation to do what I need to get things done.

Hi there ! So glad to see your response.. Um, I have good and bad days too, but I am having more good then bad, meaning I feel productive and focused more often now, then not (but like I said, I still do have the off days)

I am on Adderall XR 15mg, and yes I would ask her to increase it. While I do notice a change (for the better) I also notice somewhat of a plateau which I am thinking could be b/c the dose is not correct. I had to reschedule my appointment, and I dont go back to see her until Feb.

I too had a major stunt in my appetite and lost weight, but that is back to "normal" as well..

The headaches are more or less gone, which is nice!

Well talk to you soon !!

Hi, I'm new to this board (this is my first post, actually). I was diagnosed 12 years ago as a result of an audiology test, but my doctor at the time was reluctant to prescribe stimulants (which were then the only available pharmaceutical intervention). He was concerned because I had a history of amphetamine abuse in late teens/early 20's. I recently asked my primary care doc (a different doc) about Strattera; he reviewed my history and said that first of all, there are stimulants with little abuse potential available now and that he believes my adolescent/early adult experience with illegal stimulants may actually be confirmation of the diagnosis. I've worked a lot over the years on behavioral approaches, and they've made life manageable for the most part but recently my job has evolved to include a lot of deadlines for very detailed and rather complex issues (grant proposals, government contracts, etc.) and I've really been struggling for the past year. My doc has recommended Daytrana, which is a ritalin patch; 20 mg. patches worn for 9 hours per day that deliver about 2 mg. per hour. I just started a few days ago, and I have noticed appetite suppression and sleeping problems, but they haven't been deal-breakers for me so far. I would be interested to hear if others are using this medication. The doc wants me to try it for a month and to ask my partner and a person I trust at work to help me monitor whether it makes much difference; then see if I want to continue or try Strattera (which he feels has been a somewhat disappointing drug). I hope your experience with Adderal continues to be positive. Have you talked with your doctor yet about any increase in dose? Have the "good days" outnumbered the unmotivated ones? Thanks and good luck.

Hi, I'm 36yrs. old and just found out that I have ADD (really bad). Told that behavior therapy would not work. I kind of new that. My Doc. put me on Adderall XR 20mg. Anyone out there taking same med? How long till I notice it helping/working? Anything else helpful I should know?

Over past few years I have casually thought I might be ADD, but I never did anything more than just mention it. As I look back over my life and especially my childhood I know that if 30 yrs ago they knew aboout ADD that I would have been diagnosed . I don't begruge anyone and I am surely not angry that it took this long to be diagnosed. I think I am actually relieved that there is now a reason or answer for why I am the way I am. I also feel a sense of relief for takling charge of my life in a positive way.

I am also in process of finding out if my 6 1/2 yr. old daughter has ADD/ADHD. School Teacher mentioned this to us based on her behavior and academics in school. Actually, I have casually thought this about her and I guess I was just telling my self that she needed more time to learn how to go to school and that just maybe she learns differently or wasn't fully getting the academics. All just possible excuses I guess and good reasons not to talk medicating her. My Husband and I have not talked with Pediatrican yet (we do in few days). Finally admitting that it may be an issue that is not within her control. Actually looking forward to the appt.

Its not just me new to ADD and talking med., but I have to be able to help my daughter work through this too.

Sorry if I ramble, seems I do this a lot with ADD. Realizing I do a lot of things because of ADD. Any thoughts about meds.(how long before I will notice a difference, common side effects, or anything else helpful). New to all of this and trying to understand all I can.

Hi. I'm new here too. I was diagosed 3 months ago and started adderall. What I have noticed is that after taking it for awhile and I build up a tolerance,I have to go off it for a day or two. When I start taking it again It works alot better. With the weight loss issue, I have lossed 30lbs and loving it. I am back to my prebaby weight again. As for lossing any more I don't think I will,I have the most intense cravings for everything chocolate,it's weird but I have maintained my current weight.