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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MissyMissy on May 2, 2001, at 10:43:40
My doc suggested Adderall to conquer ADHD. I've been VERY hyper all my life. Never could sit still- not sure how I made it through college... I'm in grad school now and can't get away with short study periods... I'm currently taking Wellbutrin (mild dep.) and buspar (anxiety) Any experiences with ADHD meds appreciated!
Posted by Sulpicia on May 2, 2001, at 19:00:34
In reply to Adderall- adult experiences wanted, posted by MissyMissy on May 2, 2001, at 10:43:40
>Hi--
an adult with ADD here, also on AD med [tofranil].
Ideally, if you're hyperactive, a pstim like adderall
will focus you and along the way you'll get rid of the
hyperactivity.
Go slow!! Adderall will potentiate some AD meds and being
in orbit is not fun for very long.
It may take more than a couple of tries to get the dose right
especially with the buspar, I *think*.
Ditto about the college [unmedicated] and it wasn't until
grad school --now!!-- that I started the adderall.
The only thing I can warn you about is to watch that the
dose is not so high that you hyper-focus... by this I mean
you do something like take 20 pp of notes on 20 pp of text.
This wastes just as much time as taking breaks, if not more.
Experiences so far [1yr] very positive.
Questions in particular?
S.
Posted by Sulpicia on May 2, 2001, at 19:00:34
In reply to Adderall- adult experiences wanted, posted by MissyMissy on May 2, 2001, at 10:43:40
>Hi--
an adult with ADD here, also on AD med [tofranil].
Ideally, if you're hyperactive, a pstim like adderall
will focus you and along the way you'll get rid of the
hyperactivity.
Go slow!! Adderall will potentiate some AD meds and being
in orbit is not fun for very long.
It may take more than a couple of tries to get the dose right
especially with the buspar, I *think*.
Ditto about the college [unmedicated] and it wasn't until
grad school --now!!-- that I started the adderall.
The only thing I can warn you about is to watch that the
dose is not so high that you hyper-focus... by this I mean
you do something like take 20 pp of notes on 20 pp of text.
This wastes just as much time as taking breaks, if not more.
Experiences so far [1yr] very positive.
Questions in particular?
S.
Posted by Sulpicia on May 2, 2001, at 19:00:34
In reply to Adderall- adult experiences wanted, posted by MissyMissy on May 2, 2001, at 10:43:40
>Hi--
an adult with ADD here, also on AD med [tofranil].
Ideally, if you're hyperactive, a pstim like adderall
will focus you and along the way you'll get rid of the
hyperactivity.
Go slow!! Adderall will potentiate some AD meds and being
in orbit is not fun for very long.
It may take more than a couple of tries to get the dose right
especially with the buspar, I *think*.
Ditto about the college [unmedicated] and it wasn't until
grad school --now!!-- that I started the adderall.
The only thing I can warn you about is to watch that the
dose is not so high that you hyper-focus... by this I mean
you do something like take 20 pp of notes on 20 pp of text.
This wastes just as much time as taking breaks, if not more.
Experiences so far [1yr] very positive.
Questions in particular?
S.
Posted by MissyMissy on May 2, 2001, at 22:27:31
In reply to Re: Adderall- adult experiences wanted » MissyMissy, posted by Sulpicia on May 2, 2001, at 19:00:34
> Thanks SO much for your response. Sounds like we have a few things in common, huh?? Ya know, I take this ADHD thing as a compliment, I guess- they say it plagues "creative people." Anyway- I have TONS of questions. I have to run to study soon so I'll fire a few now:
How does toranfil work?
Can Adderall ever be taken on an "as needed basis?" (i.e. when the semester is on vs. breaks)
Are you taking any other meds (anti-depressants, etc.)? Someone recommended Celexa to me because they noted that the Wellbutrin with the Adderall might not be a good idea...
Again THANKS
Posted by bella007 on May 3, 2001, at 13:32:12
In reply to Adderall- adult experiences wanted, posted by MissyMissy on May 2, 2001, at 10:43:40
I am 20 yrs. old, and I have been on Adderall for a little over a year now. It has done wonders for every aspect of my life, not to mention the weight loss, which is always an added plus. Many of my friends and family members take it too, and they have all had very positive results. I could go on and on about it forever; if you have any specific questions, I would love to chat.
Posted by Sulpicia on May 3, 2001, at 18:16:59
In reply to Re: Adderall- adult experiences wanted, posted by MissyMissy on May 2, 2001, at 22:27:31
> > Thanks SO much for your response. Sounds like we have a few things in common, huh?? Ya know, I take this ADHD thing as a compliment, I guess- they say it plagues "creative people." Anyway- I have TONS of questions. I have to run to study soon so I'll fire a few now:
>
> How does toranfil work?
>
> Can Adderall ever be taken on an "as needed basis?" (i.e. when the semester is on vs. breaks)
>
> Are you taking any other meds (anti-depressants, etc.)? Someone recommended Celexa to me because they noted that the Wellbutrin with the Adderall might not be a good idea...
>
> Again THANKSHi--
Tofranil is a tricyclic anti-depressant and if I could tell you how it worked I wouldn't be in grad school -- I'd own it.
All kidding aside, with the exception of a hazy notion that it affects norepinephrine, nobody knows. But it works for me.
Adderall and the other pstims can be taken on as-needed basis with some cautions: DON'T increase the dose w/out thinking it
thru with the pdoc because while folks with ADD don't as a rule develop a tolerance, it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Also be super-cautious since stopping pstims can *sometimes* trigger depression. If you experience more than a day or 2 of
sleepiness or feeling blue [which you may not feel at all!], you should be cautious in case you ever develop more severe
symptoms.
As for the wellbutrin, I don't know. Reactions to meds are so highly individual I could scream. I took paxil at first and
along with the adderall it promptly launched me into orbit. Yet according to all the interaction warnings, paxil *shouldn't*
do this. Now I take tofranil, which has a warning about potentiation, and yet it doesn't happen to me.
Check out med interactions at www.drkoop.com
If you need an AD med, by all means find one that works for you and then deal with the pstim.
Unfortunately it's a given that getting the pstim dose right will take several weeks. And then you may need further adjustment
down the road.
What you want to avoid in an AD/pstim combo is getting over-focused and getting nothing done. If this happens you need to decrease
the pstim dose -- the trick here is to keep it high enough to be effective but not intoxicating.
Perhaps you could ask for suggestions on this board re: the interactions?
Now *I* have to study. Teaching first thing in the AM.
S.
Posted by GAILNY on May 3, 2001, at 22:48:49
In reply to Re: Adderall- adult experiences wanted, posted by bella007 on May 3, 2001, at 13:32:12
BELLA007-DITTO-SAVED MY LIFE-LIKE SEEING 20/20 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE-THANK GOD I GOT AWAY FROM THE DIET PILL PHENDIMETRAZINE-THAT ALMOST DESTROYED ME. I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING SO PERFECTLY MATCHED TO ADD SYMPTOMS MINUS THE NEGATIVE AFFECTS NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH STIMULANTS
Posted by MissyMissy on May 3, 2001, at 23:24:06
In reply to Re: Adderall- adult experiences wanted, posted by GAILNY on May 3, 2001, at 22:48:49
May I ask what dosage schedule you have?? Are you taking any other meds?? Thanks again, this is so helpful....
Posted by bella007 on May 4, 2001, at 9:27:50
In reply to bella007,GAILNY,Sulpicia- dosage? With other meds?, posted by MissyMissy on May 3, 2001, at 23:24:06
> May I ask what dosage schedule you have?? Are you taking any other meds?? Thanks again, this is so helpful....
Hey MissyMissy, I am 20yrs. old, 110 lbs., and I take 20mg 3 x a day. Of course I did not start out w/ this much, but slowly worked my way up. You kinda have to play around w/ the dosage for the first few months, and find out what works best for you and your lifestyle. The average person usually starts out w/ 10mg 2 x a day, and goes from there. I do also take Celexa for social anxiety, but this is only my 4th day on it, so we shall see how it goes. I have also taken Paxil while on Adderall, which helped with the social anxiety, but caused me to gain weight, and it decreased the dopamine and I found myself having to take more Adderall.
Posted by MissyMissy on May 4, 2001, at 16:04:29
In reply to Re: bella007,GAILNY,Sulpicia- dosage? With other meds?, posted by bella007 on May 4, 2001, at 9:27:50
After these responses, I'm definitely going to stick with the adderall. Thanks for sharing your stories. I am currently on Wellbutrin and Buspar. Andy advice about combining these with Adderall??
Posted by bella007 on May 6, 2001, at 12:18:44
In reply to One more?Re:this combo of meds, posted by MissyMissy on May 4, 2001, at 16:04:29
> After these responses, I'm definitely going to stick with the adderall. Thanks for sharing your stories. I am currently on Wellbutrin and Buspar. Andy advice about combining these with Adderall??
Hey Missy, I responded to your question the other day, but I guess it didn't post. Sorry. Anyway, I know a few people who are on Wellbutrin and Adderall; I have never seen negative results w/ this combo, instead, very positive results. My psychiatrist is very fond of prescribing the two together, especially for ADHD/ADD pt.'s who have comorbid depression or are frequent smokers (Wellbutrin is supposed to help you quit). It works too!! Regarding Buspar, my psychiatrist put my mother on Buspar along w/ Adderall, and she did not like how it made her feel; It was supposed to decrease her anxiety from the Adderall, but it made her more anxious, and she began grinding her teeth and tightning her jaw. I don't know how good of a source she is, though, she is somewhat sheltered and this was her first time on meds.
Posted by MissyMissy on May 6, 2001, at 22:15:35
In reply to Re: Response to MissyMissy, posted by bella007 on May 6, 2001, at 12:18:44
You've been a great help! Actually, one opinion and one question :)
What time period did you wait before you increased your dose the first time?? I've been taking 10mg 2x day for 1 week. I notice when the benefits start to wear off (I think) after about 3 hours. Do you think I should suggest (to my doc) that I increase the mg or increase the times per day or both???
The buspar was prescribed for me to mellow me out a little since I'm so damn hyper (and often short fused). I'm wondering if the adderall would work on that issue by itself without the buspar - I know for sure that the adderall helps me concentrate and study MUCH longer than my typical 10 min intervals! I really don't have any GAD or social anxiety issues, but I do suffer infrequent panic attacks....
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!!
Posted by bella007 on May 7, 2001, at 8:36:41
In reply to adderall dosage? maybe not buspar at all?bella007?, posted by MissyMissy on May 6, 2001, at 22:15:35
> You've been a great help! Actually, one opinion and one question :)
>
> What time period did you wait before you increased your dose the first time?? I've been taking 10mg 2x day for 1 week. I notice when the benefits start to wear off (I think) after about 3 hours. Do you think I should suggest (to my doc) that I increase the mg or increase the times per day or both???
>
> The buspar was prescribed for me to mellow me out a little since I'm so damn hyper (and often short fused). I'm wondering if the adderall would work on that issue by itself without the buspar - I know for sure that the adderall helps me concentrate and study MUCH longer than my typical 10 min intervals! I really don't have any GAD or social anxiety issues, but I do suffer infrequent panic attacks....
>
> Thanks in advance for your thoughts!!Hey Missy! It's good to hear from you again. My psychiatrist begins to slowly move the dosage up after a week, so it looks like it is about time for you to increase. But, first I guess you would have to get your dr. to increase your RX. Some doctors are hesitant to do this, due to the fact that Adderall is a stimulant, and it could become addictive, and so on. If your doctor is okay w/ this, I would start taking a whole pill in the a.m. (20mg), and a half around 2:00 or so (you may need to take one earlier, depending on your metabolism). Then if needed, a half (10mg) around 5 or 6, or a whole pill in the morning and a whole pill around 3:00. Again, you really have to play around w/ the dosage depending on your metabolism, what time you get up, what time you go to sleep, and your personal schedule. The 10mg that you are currently taking is lasting you exactly how long it should be, so this is good, and it means you definatly are in tune w/ your body and how you feel. 10mg is supposed to have a life of 2 to 3 hrs., and 20mg is supposed to have a life of 4 to 5 hrs. Regarding the Buspar, I would lay off of it for a while and see how the Adderall alone works for you. It works very well alone for many people, and seems to help their depression, anxiety, or what have you, all by itself. You can always incorporate the Buspar back in. I'm so glad to see the Adderall is helping you. You will continue to see improvements in every aspect of your life, and it will really make you learn so much about yourself and others. Good luck!
This is the end of the thread.
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