Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 621839

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Good starting Adderall dose????

Posted by jonquiljo on March 18, 2006, at 22:21:58

Just for background, I have ADD/OCD (never know which is worse) and am a male in decent shape around 200lbs. I am going to ask my p-doc for adderall - because it seems that I do best on stimulants (go figure!) Is adderall XR a good bet? Or is immeiate release better?

BTW, anyone know of a convincing way of getting a p-doc to prescribe this kind of stuff? Oh well, TIA.

Jon

 

Re: Good starting Adderall dose???? » jonquiljo

Posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2006, at 22:37:43

In reply to Good starting Adderall dose????, posted by jonquiljo on March 18, 2006, at 22:21:58

Iwish I did I could it now. fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Good starting Adderall dose???? » jonquiljo

Posted by Racer on March 18, 2006, at 23:03:26

In reply to Good starting Adderall dose????, posted by jonquiljo on March 18, 2006, at 22:21:58

> I am going to ask my p-doc for adderall - because it seems that I do best on stimulants (go figure!) Is adderall XR a good bet? Or is immeiate release better?

I just started Adderall, immediate release, and it's not overwhelming me so far. That said, I've been told that the extended release version is better. Right now, though, my biggest problem with the immediate release version is that I get nap attacks about an hour and a half after taking it. I don't think that's what it's expected to do...

In general, though, I think doctors start you on the immediate release, then, if that works well, they try the extended release. Apparently some people who do well on the immediate release don't do well at all on the extended.

Have you tried Ritalin? Or Concerta? The Ritalin worked a lot better for me, in terms of intrusive thoughts, and controlling the intrusive thoughts tends to improve my focus. (Funny how that works, huh? lol) The Ritalin gave me terrible headaches, though, and it also made me feel high. I've been told that Concerta doesn't make you feel as high, so may try that myself.

>
> BTW, anyone know of a convincing way of getting a p-doc to prescribe this kind of stuff?

I don't know of any "convincing" way to approach your pdoc. In my case, I had a couple of strikes against me, mostly being anorexic, but my pdoc was willing to give it a try. In my favor, I'm middle aged, and a low risk for abuse.

My guess is that, if you have taken stims in the past without problems, your doctor should be willing to consider them again. If, on the other hand, you have had trouble with substance abuse, or your doctor considers you high risk for substance abuse, it would be on the thin end of malpractice to prescribe them.

Good luck, whatever happens.

 

Re: Good starting Adderall dose????

Posted by jonquiljo on March 18, 2006, at 23:26:11

In reply to Re: Good starting Adderall dose???? » jonquiljo, posted by Racer on March 18, 2006, at 23:03:26

I've tried Ritalin, bit it too gave me headaches. It cetainly is better than nothing, as I've only gotten a script for adderall once - 10mg 3x a day - and that worked well. But i've heard that XR is better.

I am pretty middle aged with no obvious vices - so I can't imagine that a Dr. will be too worried about me. No history of substance abuse either. Mostly a history of Dr.'s not wanting to deal with medicating an illness at all - mostly becasue they're worried about themselves. Thanks.

 

adderall dosage

Posted by med_empowered on March 19, 2006, at 0:04:12

In reply to Re: Good starting Adderall dose????, posted by jonquiljo on March 18, 2006, at 23:26:11

it really depends on your doc, other meds you're on, previous experience, etc. but for adults, I think its usually pretty standard to start on 20mgs of either long-acting adderall or long-acting Ritalin for ADD-type issues. If you're using the adderall for depression or ocd or something, the number could be higher or lower. Good luck!

 

Re: adderall dosage

Posted by jonquiljo on March 20, 2006, at 3:36:43

In reply to adderall dosage, posted by med_empowered on March 19, 2006, at 0:04:12

I do well on 10mg twice a day. I'm not sure about XR. I guess I'm old fashioned, but I'd rather have more "control" over the dosing and take 10mg then 10mg, and have the option to skip the 2nd dose if I don't need the help.

I get mostly worried about tolerance issues - and having to go higher and higher. Lately, when I can get it, I take adderall one day then ritalin the next and a day or two off during the week - just to avoid tolerance.

DO people find they build much of a tolerance - or will taking 20 or 30mg per day do it for a long-term dosing?

 

Re: adderall dosage » jonquiljo

Posted by CareBear04 on March 20, 2006, at 8:41:24

In reply to Re: adderall dosage, posted by jonquiljo on March 20, 2006, at 3:36:43

hey-- i've found that the long-acting stims work better for me than the immediate release. Adderall XR worked wonders for me in the 20-30mg/day range. My pdoc also gave me the immediate release to use late in the afternoon if the XR wore off, and that worked great. I did seem to build up a tolerance to it, so I jumped around to COncerta and Dexedrine. I'm trying Adderall XR again at 20mg, and it's working great again. I'm just using some of an old script that I had left, so if i want to go back to adderall, i've got to talk to my pdoc. good luck!
CB

 

Re: adderall dosage » CareBear04

Posted by Racer on March 20, 2006, at 11:21:01

In reply to Re: adderall dosage » jonquiljo, posted by CareBear04 on March 20, 2006, at 8:41:24

> hey-- i've found that the long-acting stims work better for me than the immediate release. Adderall XR worked wonders for me in the 20-30mg/day range.

I'm just looking for a stim that works for me right now, and I wonder if you could advise? My doctor started off with Ritalin, which gave me horrible headaches, and I felt high. Switched to Adderall, none of the benefitst of Ritalin, and irritable as -- as -- as a really cranky person. Now I have a scrip for Concerta to try, but I'm a bit concerned, and wonder if Adderall XR was worth trying? Or maybe Dexedrine? It sounds as htough you've tried a few, did you find distinct differences like that between long and short acting? Would the Concerta maybe not cause the headaches? Or Adderall XR not turn me into -- such a really awfully cranky person?

Thanks!

 

Re: adderall dosage » Racer

Posted by CareBear04 on March 20, 2006, at 15:22:46

In reply to Re: adderall dosage » CareBear04, posted by Racer on March 20, 2006, at 11:21:01

hi racer,
i found that i was a lot more irritable on immediate release Adderall than on XR. the XR also just felt more potent, so i didn't feel like taking a nap a few hours into the dose. when i've been in the hospital, they've given me regular dexedrine, and i haven't felt a thing, whereas the long-acting spansules definitely help. i've tried concerta, but i haven't tried regular relase ritalin, so i can't compare the two. i don't know if concerta will bypass the headche problem, but trying the long-release forumulations is definitely worth a try. hope this helps. good luck! CB


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