My ADHD seems to be getting worse. I take 30mg of Adderall, never help with the ADHD, works for dep
My ADHD seems to be getting worse as I get older. I am a 42 year old 6th grade teacher, who takes on way to many projects. I take 30mg of Adderall, which has never seemed to help with the ADHD, but has made a world of difference with my depression issues. The downside ~ I only sleep about 4 hours per night and when I don't take it for a couple of days, I feel rage, depressed and all I want to do is sleep. I'm assuming my body has become dependent on it. Is there an answer? I drive my co-workers, family, friends and myself crazy. I cannot keep up with all of the ideas that run through my head or the activities and projects I start.
Hi Luvs2run,
I see a number of red flags here- let's address them, ok?
First, you've been taking Adderall for ADHD, but you say it's never helped the ADD symptoms; just the depression. Stimulants actually do help some with depression, since they are...stimulants. They are often used in the geriatric population for just that reason. However, I'm wondering why your doctor continues to prescribe Adderall if it's not helping with your ADD symptoms. Adderall is typically not the drug of choice for targeting depression; antidepressants are used instead and are much more effective.
You don't mention what time you take the Adderall. I'm assuming it's the regular release; not the XR, which is long acting. If you take Adderall in the morning- regular release- it should not affect your sleep the way you are describing. However, if you are taking another dose later in the day, then yes, sleep can become problematic.
Taking only 30 mg of Adderall per day would not normally cause a person to become addicted. So I, again, am wondering if you are taking more than 30/day.
The symptoms you mention are sometimes seen as stimulants wear off at the end of the day. It's called "rebound", but that typically stops after a very short period of time- not days after your last dosage.
Which makes me wonder about a few things:
1. Do you have a valid ADHD diagnosis give by a healt/mental health professional?
2. Could you have other issues going on besides ADHD? If you have depression *and* ADHD, your depression is not being adequately treated. Or in your case, neither one is being properly addressed.
3. Have you discussed these problems with your doctor?
If Adderall isn't working, you really need to discuss this immediately with your physician. And from the symptoms you are describing when you stop taking it, it sounds like either the medication and/or dosage is wrong for you, or you have more than ADHD going on that requires a different medical intervention.
Talk to your doctor!
Hope this helps-
Terry
- Thank you for your input
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Hi im 27 and been on them all from ritalin to adderal, now i take Vyvance, Last longer good 8-10 hours for me and is more of a conntroled release. Talk to your Dr. I would recomend it to any one. If your doctor neglects to ask for a ekg first taking age into consideration there are risk of cardiac problems. Im sure your aware of this being on adderal. But still when i switched from concerta I experienced some chest related discomfort but nothing more. Oh and you can sleep and eat relativly normally.
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