adderall dosage

[saje]

Hey there...

I have very recently been diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type and was prescribed adderall.

my question...

First of all, i am very concerned with gaining an addiction to this drug. it seems taking adderall on a regular basis, twice a day, will gradually lead me on the path of becoming psychologically reliant on the drug...which i DON"T want to happen. What are the pros and cons of taking the drug at crucial times when concentration is absolutley required, as opposed to on a daily basis. In this way, I feel like I am less likely to grow addicted.

Also, i have to say before i started taking the drug, i daydreamed for about 90% of the day. and now i'm not. which, I suppose is what i wanted. At the same time, i sort of miss my fantasy world. (very rarely are the Positive qualities of us dreamers talked about) It seems so much a part of who i am. Is there a way to have both "worlds", perhaps by taking adderall when I WANT to focus for a period of time. ???

please help...

[mlgable]

I am unsure of how they came across your diagnosis since daydreaming is not usually part of ADD or ADHD. You normally have trouble staying on task meaning that if you were working on a paper and someone or something disrupted you you would have no clue where you were on that paper when you tried to go back to it. The daydreaming sounds more like ADD tendencies than ADD or ADHD. Also you did not mention being hyperactive and if you aren't hyperactive then ADHD is definately not a proper diagnosis. If the adderall helps then by all means use it only when you need to but be sure you have a concrete diagnosis via proper testing. ADD tendencies which is what you sound like is generally treated with seeing a psychologist/counselor. It might help if you posted how they arrived at your diagnosis but in any case whether or not to use the medication all the time or only at certain times is up to you.

[slk34]

daydreaming is definitely and add symptom. i'm new to all of this, just diagnosed, second day of the lowest adderall dosage. so i can't offer any experience -- but if the adderall is cutting of your daydreaming altogether, why don't you ask your doc to give you a lower dosage?

also, you might try the extended version. it might give you a more even feeling through the day.

i don't know about the addiction thing. but the way i look at it, if it significantly helps you daily, you'll probably end up takind it daily. it's not like you'll be on it for 3 months, then be better and need to get off it.

yeah, it's hard to feel like you need to rely on a drug to get by. but if your frontal lobe isn't putting out enough chemicals, and the adderall helps -- you shouldn't feel like a weaker person for it. it's like someone with a thyroid problem taking thyroid medication.

good luck with figuring out the right med & dose so you can help reduce the daydreaming without eliminating it.

[BluRydge]

I've been taking Adderall for about three years and it's definitely made a difference in my life (for the better). I'm on a pretty high dosage - 20mg. four times a day. I understand that's higher than the usual prescribed dosage but that's what it took to work for me. I usually don't take it at least one day a week, and every once in a while I'll go off it for two or three days. I've never had a problem with not taking it, so I guess that means it hasn't been addictive for me. But everyone reacts differently to meds. and I've certainly heard that some people have had trouble with addiction. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones (at least, among those of us with ADHD).

I would discuss it with your doctor. Also, monitor yourself closely. You're the best judge of how you feel and will know if you start feeling like you can't do without it. That will definitely raise a red flag.

I wish you the best of luck.

BluRydge

[Amy2838]

Originally Posted by mlgable

I am unsure of how they came across your diagnosis since daydreaming is not usually part of ADD or ADHD.

Also you did not mention being hyperactive and if you aren't hyperactive then ADHD is definately not a proper diagnosis.

Whaaaah????? Both of these statements are outrageously false.
"Someone" needs to review a symptoms checklist and maybe a Myth-Buster FAQ page. This type of assumption has kept many a sufferer from being diagnosed (much to their detriment)

I am glad you have been diagnosed and are now starting treatment. Let me strongly add that medication alone will not be enough. Joining a "community" or therapy group, seeing a counsellor, and keeping yourself educated about ADD are all things that you'll need to learn to live with this unique mind you've been born with. It CANNOT be cured (personally I say, "what's to cure? it's part of who I am!") but you really do have to learn to manage it, and that takes practice and a lifetime of patience, understanding, and self-acceptance.

This BB is a great place to "commiserate" and get others' feedback who share your problems. Seeing a therapist or coach is also important so that you can work through some of your earlier disappointments and find ways to cope from this point forward. Reading a wide range of books on the subject is also a great way to keep yourself informed on the latest info, and they are very helpful when the first two venues are a bit limited.

Welcome to a brand new ADD life! It might be a weird ride, but at least you are no longer blindfolded. Sit back and have fun with it.

Amy