I have had ADHD since I was six. My mother tried me on Ritalin back then for about a week and as she says "I just could not medicate my child like that". Well I'm 45 now and working as a Paramedic Instructor. With a lot of the prep work needed, it was taking me forever to concentrate and get it done the night before class. College was the same way. Incomplete assignments, thinks taking forever etc. due to being constantly distracted. I decided to talk to my doctor about it and try Adderall. Started taking 20mg twice a day. What a difference. I could not have written this simple comment in one sitting before. I wish I had taken it my entire life especially in college! I take it with 150 mg of venlafaxine with no side effects.
I wrote an article on switching from Ritalin to Adderall.
I found Ritalin made me zombie like, whereas Adderall was perfect.
I was in my 30's when I got medication finally.
-James N
I started taking adderall when i was 35. it gives an immediate response, butthe initial side effects of headaches, thirst,and the initial shock of stimulant took about 3 days to taper down. i was immediately focused and wanting to do tasks, yet i was quiet and not talkative like usual. lke i said, about 3 days to adjust, and that includes eating and sleeping normal. with the medication i am not overwhelmed by a task, i let people finish their sentences, no longer stress/mood swing because my brain is going 199mph with a thousand different things to do and no time to finish all of it,a pile of toys doesn't seem to be amountain of never ending items to put away,and the best thing is people enjoy my calm and normal company rather than the exhausting to keep up with person i am without medication. also,i have taken in spurts, since i dont always remember to take in morning, witfh virdtually no side effects...the only thing i ca think of would be sluggishness upon waking and possibly mood swings if you are a long time user. i also have a son, 6yrs who is on daytrana ritalin patch. i would not let my son take adderall as it is basicallyno di fferent than taking meth from the streets. meaning, drug users have hear condition, blood vessel contrictions in the brain,and other health related hazzards. I did not want to risk my 6yr olds developing body and brain on a drug bthat has not been around for long and we are well aware of the side effects of cocaine and meth use, so adderall can be a choice for him to make when he is an adult. all in all life is better ,calm, and less stressful with adderall, and i seem to have a lot more patience these days especially with my child. Hope this helps. t
1. What made you decide to take this medication?
I've always been kind of a scatter-brain, but I liked to read and write, and I especially liked school. During school I was able to cope by cramming with amazing effectiveness, which lead to laziness and susceptability to procrastination. After undergrad (I made it through college before I decided to get professional help), my desk job was a real bore and I kept get repremanded for not being on task (a whole 'nother story, because my productivity never suffered). But no matter how hard I tried I could not force myself to focus, and it became a real problem.
My doc started me on 10mg, three times a day. I typically took only two on nights I got sufficient sleep. I liked Adderall in small doses because I could "turn it off" -- specifically the side-effects I'm not in love with -- or skip a dose towards the end of the day so I could more easily fall asleep.
2. What does it feel like to take Adderall? What is the experience like?
At first it's a bit like being stoned and over-caffinated. You're a little dizzy and then at first feel a bit overwhelmed by the rapid heartbeat and sweating, which tends to subside fairly quickly. This can be a problem for anyone prone to addiction (I am, but I have successfully stopped taking the medication for months at a time to gauge if I'm becoming addicted to the medication).
It doesn't take long for the medication to get you lazer-focused on a task at hand. But, if preparation for that task isn't done, you can lose a lot of time doing (often unnecessary) prep work. That's a big drawback for me, because sometimes prep work gets missed and you need to just start working.
3. How long did it take before this medication "worked" for you?
The first week I rarely slept. After that I learned to adjust what time I took my final daily dose. So, about a week, because during that week I was rather grumpy because of sleep deprivation (that is, once my medication was wearing off).
4. What side effects did you experience?
As I reported previously, sleeplessness was the most prevalent. There is also rapid heart rate, sweating, some aggressive behavior (which my wife made me aware of and am now more able to recognize and address), and sometimes focusing on the wrong task at hand (not sure if that's a side-effect or not).
5. What improvements did you notice?
For the mundane tasks at work (which is really 90% of my job), it worked wonders. I could sit all day and organize engineering drawings if I had to. Before, I would have to break that task up to do it over a few days because by the end of the day I felt crazy with boredom. While take Adderall, I could just put on some headphones and slave away.
I'm not sure it was exactly making me more productive per se, but it definitely made me more industrious with my work habits.
One of the best improvements for me was that I wasn't completely drained when I came home from work, which for my kids is invaluable. I wasn't completely bummed at the idea of reading to my kids or listening to them read I love my kids to death. I love reading to death. I love reading with them and listening to them read, when the time is right. The medicine made it so that "time" came around more consistently. I didn't immediately make the connection to my ADHD and my pitfalls as a parent; I was so impatient, and had a hard time helping them with their homework. But my relationship with them improved very dramatically, especially at that crucial time when I would come home from work.
Finally, housework. My wife will tell you that with Adderall I know how to clean, without it I'm useless cleaning the house. She's half right, because I like to watch sports while I fold laundry. If I don't take my medicine I'll only be half as productive (same with dishes).
6. If you have stopped taking this medication what was the reason? Did you suffer from any withdrawals?
No serious withdrawl symtpoms to report. The worst was that Adderall wreaked havoc on my sleep patterns in the first place, so while I stopped taking the meds I was still going to bed too late. I'd wake up very groggy and drag my feet through the day. But going to bed very early one night seemed to correct that.
I take adderall-
I'm an 18 year old college student that has a very severe case of ADHD.
I decided to test myself for ADHD at a very young age, because I knew I had a difficult time with basic everyday skills that the other kids my age didn't even have to think about. My mother finally took me to a physician, and he tested and diagnosed me with ADHD that very same day.
I chose adderall, because it seemed to work the best for my body and my degree of ADHD. I've tried many other medications, and they didn't seem to work as well as Adderall. I take 'Adderall XR 30mg' once a day.
When I'm on Adderall, I'm very calm; I feel very focused and very willing to work. Time passes by very fast for me, and I can literally sit down and study for 9 hours and not feel any urge to get up, to eat, or to do anything of that matter. Right after my Adderall 'kicks in', I start doing things that I would normally procrastionate. It basically feels like I finally can act normal, after all those years of being the 'loud outsider girl who wouldn't close her mouth or sit down for one second'. Literally, for me, it feels like (what I think) the people who don't have to take it feel: Normal. Calm. Proactive. I very much dislike it when teens my age use this medication for recreational use. It is not intended for that, and it has serious side-effects for people without ADHD to use. It is an addictive drug, so please don't use more than prescribed. If a doctor didn't prescribe it to you, please, don't use it.
It didn't take very long for my medication to work for me my first time of consumption, it only took about one hour for it to 'kick in' (the same every day).
Side Effects:
Extreme weight loss. (I never think about food. I only eat when my family/friends know I haven't eaten all day, and when they makes me eat. I don't do it on purpose at all, I just honestly feel like my tummy is full.) You know the feeling you get right after you've sucessfully dominated a chinise-food buffet? That's how I feel, even without eating all day long.
Sleep Loss. This one is really bad for me, because I am a working college student who needs her rest. No matter what I do, I am never able to sleep.
Being EXTREMELY Emotional. I 'take everything to heart' and rationalize every little thing, my friends and family think it's funny now. I got over it a while ago because I think it's funny too. For example, my mom will tell me that my shirt has a stain on it, and I could easily break into tears and ask her why she doesn't like my personality. Two totally oposite things, and one WEIRD side-effect..
Head Aches. Every day around 3pm, I get horrible headaches and a bad mood. It passes over time with lots of water. Maybe it's because I have low blood-sugar due to the lack of food intake. When I eat, it goes away.
Those are the only main side-effects I have almost every day.
I've not only noticed improvements with my education, but I've noticed improvements everywhere. Work, relationships, keeping things clean, remembering things, responibility, determination, goals, family-life, and being proactive. It literally helps me do EVERYTHING better.
This medication, for me, was a complete 'life changer'. It helps with everything I do, and my parents, teachers, boss, friends, and siblings notice how much better I am doing. To some, this medication is bad and doesn't help; but to me, it changed my life for the better.
Again, please, use this medication with caution. Just because it works for me, doesn't mean it will be perfect for you too. Remember that there are a lot of risks and there are a lot of side effects.
I hope this helps.
: )
1. What made you decide to take this medication? I'm 16 and I think I started taking it when I was about 14. I decided to take it because my trusted doctor told my mom and I it might work better than what I was taking.
2. What does it feel like to take Adderall? What is the experience like? It depends on the person and everyone should keep that in mind. For me it just helped me stay on track and focused, it did have it's side effects though.
3. How long did it take before this medication "worked" for you? It worked almost as soon as I took it.
4. What side effects did you experience? Some headaches (but that could have just been me), less hunger (lessened over time), annoyance and over seriousness (not very much after I got used to the drug), possibly hightening in my anxiety (also was probably just me), and hightened pulse for a little while (maybe like an hour).
5. What improvements did you notice? A large imprivement in my focus that I think was worth it.
6. If you have stopped taking this medication what was the reason? Did you suffer from any withdrawals? I have a new insurancy that does not cover it so I can't take it anymore. I also think there is a stortage of the drug at the moment.
This is what taking Adderall did for me. MY JOURNEY WITH ADDERALL
1. What made you decide to take this medication? My friend and I wanted to get high and she had adderall. We took a small dowager and we were in a good mood and nothing more. We did not sleep for two nights and did not eat and everything was back to normal. 2. What does it feel like to take Adderall? What is the experience like? I have taken it about twice more since then at much higher doses. I took 4 pills of 20mg and over the course of 2 hours, I was at a peak and even though I've never done cocaine I felt like I was on crack. I felt a huge, continuing adrenalin rush that lasted about an hour and a half or so and then I calmed down. When I was feeling this rush my mind was racing and I felt invinsible. Even though I could not sit still I did not want to move from my position and I did not want to walk. I talked on and on to my friend for hours and never stopped eventually I became awake and irritated. I no longer felt the sense of well being. I felt energized, tense and unsettled. I stayed up all night and I did not eat until the next afternoon. 3. How long did it take before this medication"worked" foryou? The first time I did and truly felt it it kicked in within an hour. I became jittery and kept touching and gropping my hair and arms. I later felt the rush come on like, as said earlier, was a long-lasting adrenaline rush and was an extremely pleasant enjoyable feeling. 4. What side effects did you experience? After coming down and having the initial rush wear off, I felt awake but irritated and on edge. 5. What improvementsdidyou notice? Strictly recreational, not seeking improvement, nor did I notice a change in myself at all. 6. If you have stopped taking this medicationwhat was the reason? Did you suffer from any I would not regimens doing this often. From my personal experience, the after side effects are not worth feeling. It is very unpleasant. I only do this occasionally because I do enjoy the feeling but not the restlessness, irritability, and exaggerated loss of appetite. If it were not for those factors, I would definitely do it more often.
For awhile, I was pretty dilligent about writing and sharing my
expeiriences with Adderall on Hubpages, and my own blog.
I stopped doing that, because I noticed the posts were increasingly getting weirder, the more I elevated my usage(abuse)
I have ADHD, and I was recreationally using Adderall like an anti-depressant.
For short bursts, it did relieve some bad moods.
It (Adderall) created just as many bad moods; due to sleeplessness, poor nutrittion, and depleted dopamine levels.
I straightened the ship out, but it was a bitch to get balanced again.
Adderall sometimes works too well if you catch my drift.
Take it from somebody who abused this addictive drug: DON"T start
taking more than your prescribed dose! Trust me, and thank me later :)
Someone asked what it was like to take Adderall. My answer to you is that it depends what you are using it for. I was diagnosed with ADD. I never knew for sure that I had it. I started on 10 mg once a day and now I am on 20 mg 3 times a day. I couldn't concentrate on any given task. i was told it was hypo manic bipolar disorder. i was put on all sorts of psych meds. i decided to just stop taking them. it was against medical advice but i went from 195 lbs to 278 lbs. i stopped and ha no problems at all. i started on them 5 years ago and i stopped a little over 3 years ago. i started seeing a phychiatrist and was diagnosed with ADD. before taking Adderall I had poor concentration at all. now I can work 14 hours on my computer doing all kinds of research and never lose concentration. Although it is an Amphetermine it does not speed me up or make me hyper. My system is backward. I was told I have the paradox effect. If I were to take poiates I will rip apart closets and wash walls not get drowsy like most people would. I have chronic fatigue syndrome so it helps me stay awake but not in a negative way. I have absolutely no problems with concentration or with the drug itself. I only take it as directed. It really helps me because I am always online researching my medical issues such as type 2 diabetes and Chronic kidney disease (diabetic Nephropathy) which takes a lot of reading and concentration. I am no Doctor but I know what works for me. I hope this helps anyone wanting to know about Adderall. Do not take this or any other medication unless it is perscribed for you. Vicki
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I started taking the XR I dont like how it calms me down, Its hard to carry on conversations too. My husband likes it, because I cant fight back. Just when I was younger, alot younger I didnt like the meds my parents put me on. Its hard to deal with ADHD these days, I was doing really good and then all of the sudden Im not. My husband tries to fix me and he cant so then he gets frusterated, and tells me I need to do this and that, its just not that easy. He brings me down, he thinks he's helping but he's not he's hurting my self esteem. Ok, totaly off the subject.. Just needed to express a bit.
Thanks for sharing this. So you feel that the Adderall is calming but causes you to have difficulty with conversing? Does it help you to focus at all?
I am sorry to hear about the interactions with your husband. How do you cope?
Feel free to talk here any time. We are here for you.
It might be a bit irresponsible to label the original poster's husband a "jerk" when you've only heard her side of the story. I get the feeling that there are a lot of factors in this situation beyond the small handfull meagerly elucidated. What is the advantage of poisoning her relationship on such little background?
That being said, I sympathize a lot with the original poster's feeling of being "fixed". When I was younger and in school I had a repulsion towards medication (Adderall) because I felt it was my mother blindly solving her problem in me. PErhaps this even blinded me to the real benifits of medication.
In my experience, this is a case of selfishness with both parties. I disagree with the claim that you must love yourself first and stand up for yourself. I believe one must take a step back and really look at the validity of arguments on both side with a willingness to change.