I am admittedly feeling desperate and low. I have not felt so bad in some time, and each day feels worse than the previous one. I welcome any feedback, suggestions. BTW I had an candid exchange with my psychiatrist and tried to explain felt more like convincing my positive experience with Adderall.
Thanks very much for listening. Adderall has also changed my life as I was diagnosed at age 54 with ADHD inattentive type and general anxiety disorder. Since taking Adderall I have reduced citalopram by half the dose daily and could not function without my daily dosage of Adderall. I used to Nap for hours a day on the weekend, but rarely nap now. I was so relieved when I came across your blog today. Guilt consumed me as well. Medical tests ruled out anything concrete, so my psychiatrist gave me a prescription for Adderall.
As Adreana commented above, I too became discouraged after seeing nothing but negative talk about it online. Article after article left me wondering— maybe my family had been justified all these years in their feelings towards me? Maybe they were right to shame me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Reading this was so relieving to me.
Calls to the doctor or simple tasks still sometimes feel like marathons! Moving into adulthood and especially the advent of the internet changed my world to a large degree as i can move through info as fast as I want and KEEP myself focused in subjects although moving very fast from one to another.
Over the years I have mastered many coping strategies, making my world smaller, checklists, avoiding stress and social situations. Recently I was prescribed Pentermine for weight loss which worked very well. After experiencing this clarifying relief I saw to a clinical Psychologist-Phd, went through the testing and was diagnosed. The fear? Oh my gawd the fear…the ignoring those things which stress, confuse or things that have to be done?
The OP here could have been written by me had I known the symptoms or how this was affecting my life.
I have a appointment to see my MD and hope to start Adderall this week. Thank you for this article. I was diagnosed a few years ago with ADHD in my early fourties. I can listen attentively to my wife. I can be in the moment with my kids. I can do my job without panicking about missing deadlines.
In addition, I stopped biting my nails. I noticed days into my treatment that I was not biting them nor did I even have the urge to. I was not a good student then. My teachers often said I was smart but lazy. I did better in college but only after adopting my own coping mechanisms that I carried with me into adulthood.
But as we all know, those coping mechanisms work but only so much. And they are exhausting. Thank you for your post. I am 41 yrs old and a mom of 2. I am newly diagnosed and everything you said was spot on. For years I have struggled with anxiety, and the psychiatrists were adamant that I was bipolar even though I Never received the benefit to live a fulfilling life that I desired.
I finally took myself to be fully evaluated for my doctor to listen to me. My focus was calm and on my own life. There are some psychiatrist that just do not feel comfortable prescribing stimulant medication period. They have their reasons but, if your psychiatrist has prescribed it for you for a long period of time why would he just all the sudden stop the medication?
Did you have a situation where you requested an early refill? Did you fail a urinalysis? Did you have a high blood pressure reading that was due to the Adderall? There are so many questions left unanswered.
I am trying to understand but, there is too much left out of the story to make sense of this. You are not going be able to force his hand to wrote it for you so your best net is try and make a way to get to the nearest psychiatrist that will help you.
Adderall tablet is also approved to treat narcolepsy. It can help reduce daytime sleepiness in people with this condition. This is called off-label use.
It may also be used to treat depression in people who have both ADHD and depression. Some people who take Adderall or similar stimulant medication along with antidepressant medication have improved depression symptoms.
However, taking stimulants with antidepressants can increase the risk of side effects. Talk with your doctor before combining Adderall and any antidepressant medication. Adderall or similar stimulant medications are sometimes prescribed off-label for people with anxiety , especially for those who have both ADHD and anxiety.
Some research suggests that combining stimulant medication with antidepressants might improve symptoms of ADHD and anxiety. Adderall and other stimulants are sometimes prescribed off-label for treating symptoms of depression in people with bipolar disorder.
In some cases, this type of misuse of Adderall can lead to abuse of the drug. Adderall can cause a loss of appetite. Because of this side effect, some people misuse Adderall as a weight loss aid. Adderall is often misused by people without ADHD to increase focus, concentration, and endurance when studying. This occurs especially often with college students.
In addition, it could worsen memory. Adderall tablets are approved for treating ADHD in children ages 3 years and older. Adderall tablets are also approved for treating narcolepsy in children ages 6 years and older. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor to learn more about other medications that may work well for you.
Adderall belongs to a class of medications called stimulants. Drugs in this class are usually considered the first choice of medications for treating ADHD. Other stimulants that are options for treating ADHD include:. Some people also use herbs and dietary supplements to treat ADHD. For most of these supplements, there is very little research showing that they work, or research findings are inconsistent.
Examples of these supplements include:. Despite these similarities, there are some differences between the drugs that might make you prefer one over the other.
Vyvanse is approved for treating ADHD and binge eating disorder. Vyvanse is also used off-label to treat narcolepsy. Adderall comes in two forms: an immediate-release tablet Adderall and an extended-release capsule Adderall XR.
Vyvanse is available as a delayed-release capsule and a chewable tablet, both of which are taken once daily. The chewable tablet may be a good option for those who have a hard time swallowing pills. However, individual people may respond better to one over the other. Because Adderall and Vyvanse are very similar medications, they also have similar side effects and drug interactions.
Both medications can cause psychological and physical dependence and can be misused or abused. However, Vyvanse may be less likely to be misused. This is because Adderall has a more immediate and intense effect when taken, which might be attractive to people who want to misuse it. The costs of brand-name versions of Adderall and Vyvanse are similar. However, Adderall is also available in a generic form, while Vyvanse is not. The FDA has determined that the patent for Vyvanse is valid until It will be at least until then before a generic for Vyvanse is available.
Generic drugs are typically less expensive than brand-name drugs. But in some cases, the brand-name drug and the generic version may be available in different forms and strengths. However, there are some differences that might make you prefer one over the other. The Adderall tablet is taken one to three times daily.
Adderall XR is taken just once daily. Like Adderall, Ritalin also comes in two forms: an immediate-release Ritalin tablet and an extended-release capsule Ritalin LA. Ritalin tablet is taken two to three times daily, and Ritalin LA is taken once daily. Generic versions of Ritalin also come in other dosage forms, including a chewable tablet and an oral liquid solution. These forms may be a good option for people who have a hard time swallowing pills. However, individual people may respond better to one than the other.
Ritalin tablets may work slightly faster than Adderall. However, Adderall works for a slightly longer period of time than Ritalin:.
Adderall and Ritalin are very similar medications. They also have similar side effects and drug interactions. The cost of brand-name versions of Adderall and Ritalin are similar. The actual amount you pay will vary depending on your health insurance plan. Adderall and Ritalin are both available in generic forms. The generic name for Ritalin is methylphenidate.
Adderall and Concerta methylphenidate extended-release are medications that are commonly used for ADHD. They are both stimulant medications and work in a similar way. There are some differences that might make you prefer one over the other. Adderall is also approved for narcolepsy, but Concerta is not. Concerta is used off-label to treat narcolepsy. Adderall comes in two forms: an immediate-release Adderall tablet and an extended-release capsule Adderall XR.
One difference between the drugs is how fast they work and how long they last. Adderall may work slightly faster, but Concerta lasts longer:. Adderall and Concerta are very similar medications. Both medications can cause psychological and physical dependence, and can be misused or abused. Both Adderall and Concerta are brand-name drugs. The generic name of Concerta is methylphenidate extended-release.
Adderall and modafinil, a generic drug, are both stimulant medications, but they affect the brain in slightly different ways. Modafinil increases wakefulness and alertness. Adderall can also stimulate wakefulness and, in people with ADHD , can produce feelings of calm and focus.
Modafinil is approved to treat narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and sleep apnea. Modafinil is used off-label to treat ADHD. Both Adderall and modafinil are effective treatment options for daytime sleepiness in people who have narcolepsy. Adderall is considered a first-choice medication for treating symptoms of ADHD.
Adderall and modafinil are both stimulants and have some similar side effects. However, Adderall is more likely to cause side effects than modafinil. Both Adderall and modafinil can cause physical and psychological dependence leading to misuse or abuse.
However, dependence appears to be more common with Adderall than modafinil. Due to these differences in side effect risk, modafinil is often preferred over Adderall for treating narcolepsy. Adderall and modafinil are both available in brand-name and generic versions. The brand name of modafinil is Provigil. The generic versions of medications typically cost less.
But in some cases, they may not be available in all strengths or forms as the brand-name drug. The generic version and the brand-name version Provigil of modafinil usually cost more than the brand-name and generic versions of Adderall. Adderall is a stimulant medication that increases norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and produces calm and focus in people with ADHD. It works as a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and increases the amount of norepinephrine in parts of the brain.
Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter , a chemical that sends messages between cells. Adderall, a stimulant, is considered a first-choice treatment for ADHD. Stimulants are the best studied and most effective treatments for ADHD. Adderall and Strattera are both available in brand-name and generic versions.
The generic name of Strattera is atomoxetine. The brand and generic versions of Strattera usually cost more than the brand and generic versions of Adderall. Adderall and methylphenidate are both commonly used to treat ADHD.
Both are also used off-label for treating similar conditions, such as depression and anxiety , in combination with other medications. The chewable and solution forms of methylphenidate may be good options for those who have trouble swallowing pills. Methylphenidate tablets may work slightly faster than Adderall.
However, Adderall works for a slightly longer time than methylphenidate:. Adderall and methylphenidate are very similar medications. Adderall is a brand-name medication. Methylphenidate is a generic medication. Brand-name Adderall costs more than generic methylphenidate. However, generic versions of Adderall cost about the same as generic methylphenidate. The exact cost will depend on your insurance.
Deciding which medication to use may come down to which is covered by your insurance, the drug form that you prefer, and how your body responds to the medication.
Picking the best medication is often a matter of trial and error. Your doctor will guide you through the process of finding the right medication for you. Consuming alcohol with Adderall can be a dangerous combination for some, especially for those who drink too much. Drinking alcohol while taking Adderall can make you feel less drunk than you really are. This can lead you to drink too much. In addition to other effects, drinking too much may worsen symptoms of ADHD.
Consuming alcohol with Adderall can also increase your risk of heart-related side effects such as:. Adderall can interact with several other medications. Instead, make an appointment specifically to discuss ADHD. Discuss your ADHD symptoms with your doctor and give examples of how they interfere with your daily life. Once you confirm a diagnosis of ADHD, you can use medicine or one of the psychosocial treatments, mostly cognitive behavioral therapy.
Adderall amphetamine and dextroamphetamine is only one of the many medications for ADHD , and it should not be the only one used for adults, he notes. Currently for adults, there is one approved nonstimulant, Strattera atomoxetine , and five approved sustained-release stimulants — two of which are Ritalin-based methylphenidate and three that are amphetamine-based including Adderall.
Healthy lifestyle modifications can also be beneficial. Some mindfulness therapies can be quite helpful in terms of relaxation techniques, he adds. If treatment is effective, you would want to see at least a 30 percent improvement in your overall symptoms, he notes. Or having a child diagnosed with ADHD and recognizing your own symptoms.
There is a small amount of literature showing that hyperactive-impulsive behavior may come forward again as people age. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics.
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