Adderall XR is improving my life (AS/ADHD)

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So this may be a little bit premature, but the effects have been so dramatic I just wanted to share this.

Today I visited my Dr to discuss medication for AS/ADHD-NOS. She initially suggested anti-depressants but soon understood that I had a pretty good idea about the conditions and basically offered to prescribe me whatever I thought would be best. I suggested Adderall, as I feel a lot of my depression is due to misplaced focus (i.e. thinking about the wrong things at the wrong time, like special interests or hurtful past events while at work) and a pervasive feeling that I'm wasting my potential and not achieving even simple goals I set for myself (e.g. getting a driving licence, getting back in shape, etc.)

So I left with a prescription for 1 month's supply of Adderall XR (20 mg), picked them up at CVS, then took my first pill at around noon. I sat there on the computer googling about how long it would take to kick in, and what it would feel life, and about 45 mins after taking the pill I started to feel 'something', some tingling in my head and a slightly increased heart rate. I figured I should get back to work as it was starting to work.

What I experienced today was anything but a placebo effect. I was able to clearly see every step of the tasks I had to get through and started with the first one, then moved onto the next and the next without any of the usual inclination to take a break or get sidetracked. It felt GREAT getting all that work done without stressing about anything -- organizing multiple tasks and focusing on them and completing them quickly became easy and totally natural. Even more surprising was I felt WAY more social. I struck up a conversation with somebody who worked in a neighboring department and whom I didn't know extremely well (this is totally not like me), and it didn't feel awkward at all, I felt confident. Soon after I joined in a group conversation in my own department and contributed spontaneously and effortlessly. The whole day I found myself interacting with my colleagues in a very spontaneous and comfortable way, with occasional one-liners and short conversations like I was a part of a cohesive and dynamic group, The combination of increased productivity and better social functioning has made me feel like this is some kind of wonder-pill for AS/ADHD and I am excited about how this is going to improve my life. I felt more alive today than I have felt in a long time.

Tomorrow I will start with the course of taking one in the morning when I wake up and I really hope this continues. Right now it's 7pm and I still feel the effects quite strongly, and I feel an urge to do something, so I am going to the library to study the theory book for my driver's permit. This is something I have been procrastinating over for years!

All I can say right now is that I feel good and very happy to be able to enjoy the fruits of modern medicine

Hmm, interesting. I'm thinking of seeing a doctor to see about a possible ADHD diagnosis and medication

Good to hear. I have been on Ritalin for almost two years now and I have had the same positive effects. The social confidence and chatterboxery was the most surprising. It has also decreased my sensory issues. I was the same way with anxiety/depressed thoughts but Ritalin centres my attention on one thing and unlike some people I know with ADHD I've got this voice in my head to tell me to do those important tasks now.
I'm yet to take my first daily dose and I plan to clean my room, finish writing this chapter of a book I've been writing for 7 months (something I'd give up three days later if I wasn't on Ritalin), and do a few more chores or read.

If you want any help on what to expect on the medication you can PM me. Stimulants decrease the appetite and if it happens you need to take the extra steps to make sure you eat properly. But that is 6 months or so down the track.
I've had a lot of experience on my medication and I'm superly strict on myself and I'm willing to help. You don't have to be as superly strict on yourself though if you don't want to.

I'm seriously considering asking my doctor about a stimulant med since I'm having such a hard time focusing on ANYTHING. If it helps with social anxiety (as it seems to have for you), that would be fantastic.

Glad to hear that Adderall XR is helping you focus on whatever needs to get done. Personally, I've been on every ADHD med available. Since Adderall XR wears off too quickly for me, I take Concerta (extended-release Ritalin). Sometimes if I have a lot that I need to get done, I'll take a low dose of Adderall in the afternoon.

If you have anxiety, I wouldn't recommend Adderall.

Sounds great and something that could definitely help me, except I am concerned about the long-term effects on the brain, specifically dependence, tolerance and side effects. Putting dependence and tolerance into question, I wonder about the possibility of that causing or exacerbating mental instability, according to the "what goes up must eventually come down" rule of psychoactives. Anyone with negative experiences?

Anyway, glad to hear about your triumphs. I'd like to get a hold of some at least to experiment with.

Slept fine but just woke up at 4:30 am. Apparently a common SE is insomnia. Hopefully it passes (it is still day 1 after all).

Long term effects are something I worry about also. I found only one study from 2001 which followed adults taking it daily for two years and they basically say it remains effective and the side effects are gradually reduced (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11483144).

I've been thinking of maybe dose cycling it (e.g. four weeks on, one week off), which was recommended for some exercise supplements I used to take, but I can not find any information on the value of this for Adderall.

Thanks for comments all. Pensieve it's good to hear I'm not alone and you're also experiencing similar benefits even after two years =)

I've been seeing good effects with various ADHD meds, but recently found that even low doses produce heart palpitations. I mentioned that to the prescribing doctor and she told me to stop taking them

it's good in the beginning but it will drive you insane and your chest will always have pressure/pain/ or palpitations.

least that's been my experience.

also I don't like the feeling of not thinking the way that I am used to, that can be disorienting in itself.

plus paranoia/anxiety.

(millieage may vary)

Day Two
Another super productive day. I only slept 3 hours from 1:30am to 4:30 am (very unusual, see above). I didn't feel tired enough to go back to sleep (unusual again), so took the pill at around 5:30am and went to work. Was super productive and focused until 4pm when I crashed pretty bad and went home. Not sure if this was the pill wearing off, the sleep deprivation, or both. Hopefully I will sleep better tonight and won't crash like this tomorrow.

Adderall is basically speed. It is a controversial drug, and I have a friend who swore by it while she was in school, but her family didn't like the person it made her become.

You describe only getting three hours of sleep last night, and we can safely assume it's because of the drug. That's not good, even if you felt okay when you woke up. You need sleep in order to function properly, which explains why you "crashed."

There are a lot of doctors who won't prescribe Adderall because they believe it's dangerous even when used as prescribed.

All I can say through my limited exposure to it (I've never taken it myself) is that it can really change you in many ways not always for the better.

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