Adderal use and side effects

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I asked this question on the Parents forum, but really I really want to hear as much as possible about Adderal.

My 11 year old is currently on Strattera for the last three months. I don't see that it's helping very much, so I'm considering going to the doctor and suggested Adderall.

After much reserach, Adderall seems to be a wonder-drug for quite a few people, but at the same time seems to have many adverse side effects, seeming to have more than many other drugs.

If you've taken Adderall, did you experience:

1. a positive reaction?
2. a mostly negative reaction?
3. weight loss?
4. stunted growth?
5. low self esteem issues/suicidal tendencies?
6. euphoria, followed by a severe drop in mood?
7. trouble sleeping?\
8. difficulties when going off the drug?
9. vacation times (i.e. 5 days on, but 2 days off on the weekends), when you would purposely go off the drug to avoid dependency?
10. vacation times, and had difficulty when not on the drug?
11. the absolute need for the drug, as if you couldn't function optimally without it?

I want to help my son, but I don't want to set him up for dependency/heart problems, etc.

Kris

Hi, I'm an adult with ADD and I take Concerta, has your son tried it? My impression is that methylphenidate is a safer (and in the Concerta extended release form) smoother than the dextroamphetamine / dextroamphetamine salt mixes. It certainly works pretty well for me.

I've tried a very similar drug to Strattera in the UK called Reboxetine, and that had no effect on me. From what I gather the general US medicinal approach seems to go Strattera > Concerta/Ritalin > Adderall/Dexedrine.

It's so good to read about your experiences. The things that I've read about Adderal seem to be very positive, especially from college age or older people. But there's the downside as well, for sure. It's definitely a lot to think about.

It seems that whatever my son takes, it works for a while, and then loses effectiveness. The Strattera has been interesting, in that I've felt like it has helped his social skills somewhat. Hasn't done much for focusing purposes, though. And he is just now starting to really tune in to getting good grades, paying attention, etc.s

Kri

1. a positive reaction? somewhat
2. a mostly negative reaction? somewhat
3. weight loss? yes!
4. stunted growth? no!
5. low self esteem issues/suicidal tendencies? yes!
6. euphoria, followed by a severe drop in mood? yes!
7. trouble sleeping? no so much
8. difficulties when going off the drug? somewhat
9. vacation times (i.e. 5 days on, but 2 days off on the weekends), when you would purposely go off the drug to avoid dependency? yes
10. vacation times, and had difficulty when not on the drug? yes
11. the absolute need for the drug, as if you couldn't function optimally without it?somewhat

Soory for the shortness of my answers.....I am kinda groggily woggily right now.....I was on adderall xr for a few months....i had increased irritability and suicidal thoughts....I thought it would help me get more of what I was supposed to do taken care of..instead, it just made me more hyperfocused on my obsessions....a very bad thing.
I did make some very interesting sock creatures though

poopylungstuffing -

I totally appreciated your answers -- that's exactly what I needed to know.

So it didn't help you very much. Have you found anything that worked better?

Kris

Apart from having energy to get out of bed and the ability to get things accomplished (which, admittedly, are HUGE improvements for me), I hate taking Adderall, so I don't do it very often. I feel fine for the first couple of hours, but as it wears off I feel sick to my stomach and dizzy/nauseous, even on a quarter of a pill. I lose my appetite and end up popping Advil for headaches. I also have a lot of trouble sleeping (either waking up throughout the night or just not falling asleep until about 3 AM, even if I take it early in the morning). That being said, my mom (adult ADD) takes it just about every day (full pill) and she says her quality of life couldn't be better, and she doesn't seem to have any of the side effects I have.

I was misdiagnosed with ADD when I was 5. Twenty years later, I found out that it was wrong. Fortunately, my parents never made me take any drugs. However, I did take Adderall when I was 20 - 22 and then again when I was 26 because I was having trouble concentrating at school and work. The effects were slightly different at the different ages.

1. a positive reaction? It did help me to concentrate.
2. a mostly negative reaction? When I was 26, I acted like I had OCD when I was on Adderall. That's why I went off, and never took it again.
3. weight loss? I don't weigh myself, so this is hard to answer. I noticed that it decreased my appetite, but my clothes still fit the same.
4. stunted growth? N/A
5. low self esteem issues/suicidal tendencies? No. I think my self-esteem was slightly better when I was on it because it helped me to act more normal socially.
6. euphoria, followed by a severe drop in mood? No.
7. trouble sleeping? Each time I went on it, I slept for the whole first day. It was like a tranquilizer. After a few days, I'd need a normal amount of sleep. After being on it for a month or two, I needed an hour or two less than normal (7 or 8 hours instead of 9).
8. difficulties when going off the drug? No, it was easy to go off.
9. vacation times (i.e. 5 days on, but 2 days off on the weekends), when you would purposely go off the drug to avoid dependency? No, I did not do that.
10. vacation times, and had difficulty when not on the drug? No.
11. the absolute need for the drug, as if you couldn't function optimally without it? No.

I should also specify that I took a very small amount: 5mg or 10mg per day.

my son is on it.




1. a positive reaction? Yes....if the dosage is right
2. a mostly negative reaction? no
3. weight loss? yes
4. stunted growth? somewhat....he's small for his age
5. low self esteem issues/suicidal tendencies? yes....low self esteem
6. euphoria, followed by a severe drop in mood? no
7. trouble sleeping? no
8. difficulties when going off the drug? yes.
9. vacation times (i.e. 5 days on, but 2 days off on the weekends), when you would purposely go off the drug to avoid dependency? no. noticable difference (even after 1 day)
10. vacation times, and had difficulty when not on the drug? YES
11. the absolute need for the drug, as if you couldn't function optimally without it? yes. Actually working on getting it upper because of the inattention. (been on that dose about 18 months)

****he tried vyvanse.....made him very aggressive, hateful, defiant....etc.*****

Wellbutrin knocked me out, I think its a phenyl. I think adderall converts to a phenyl compound, as it caused me to wake up laughing in the middle of the night. (my son and I are both adhd/autism) the ritalin la knocked him out. I found the ritalin LA benificial. My son was on focalin a micro dose, and it worked wonderfully. he is 7, and at 55 lbs. 2.5 mg focalin 3 times a day. When he gained a little weight he was up to 5mg. I would not recommend the long acting medicines for children, also there is the ritalin patch, its called daytrana, I liked it, but i still needed a morning oral dose. my son had major temper issues when on the daytrana patch, and still needed a morning oral dose. I hope this helps!

Also, when I took the adderall, I became VERY creative and it inspired some great writing. But i also had wacky thoughts which I would not consider along the lines of normal mentally healthy thoughts.

I was just put on Adderol (sp?) about a month ago after taking Ritalin for basically my whole life. Man, why didnt they put me on Adderol sooner??? it has been SOOO much better. With the Ritalin I would have sleeping problems, basically no appetite, and had much more anxiety/depression as side effects.

The Adderol doesn't interfere with my appetite, sleeping, and I get NONE of the anxiety/depressive side effects that I had on the Ritalin.

Personally I would recommend it, but everybody reacts differently to different things.