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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Myrk on August 4, 2006, at 13:24:48
I am gloriously AD/HD. Been able to "power" through it most of my childhood and adult years, getting almost entirely though college without medication or cognitive excersizes. Now, whether or not I am was decided by my pdoc after an EEG (dunno if this was just a test to make me think she could detect it, but whatever).
Anyway, I'm told that my descion making is off. Way off. I live for the moment, not giving a crap about tomarrow. Computers and video games are my outlet, which I am told stimulates a section in my brain that is usually dormant due to the AD/HD.
I was given Adderall XR (20mg/day) for all of this. At first, it really worked! I actually /enjoyed/ studying for the first time in a LONG time. I'd finish my chores, dinner, whatever, simply to hop onto a good book to calm me and center me. I was doin great, and took about 10 pages of notes before I called it a night. I was feeling fantastic, though a bit edgy from the energetic "high" Adderall was giving me.
After about a week, the Depakote that I was taking at the same time seemed to take over. I was starting to really feel the Lethargy, and just dragging throughout the day. So, like a freaking moron, I decided to fix this problem myself. I took two doses of my Adderall in one day, 4 hours apart. 20mg at 10am, 20mg at 2pm. I went into work and bam, I was feeling just as good as I was the first few days I took this drug. It was awesome, I was on top of the ball, remembering everything, getting back to customers, etc.
The next day, though, same lethargic feeling. So I decided the Depakote had to go - It was mainly used to combat the side-effect of "manic episodes", which I really wasn't afraid of (especially since a freakin manic episode would do me good right about now...).
I cut off the 500mg/day depakote, but for some reason... I was still lethargic. I shared this with my pdoc (not the double-doses, though) and she said "let's try 30mg for a month". 30mg is nothing. So a few days after being on 30mg, I made another bad descion (in retrospect). I took one of the old 20mg the same day I took a 30mg, brining it to grand total of 50mg in one day. Again, I felt good and focused without any real side-effects. But I decided not to repeat that, since I'm no real doctor, and continue on the 30mg.
I'm still tired, still unorganized, still not focused. My studies fall and actually last night I made a descion irrationally that could influence my entire college career. Negatively.
Just need some help here as to what I should share with my doc and what I shouldn't. I know that the Adderall is a VERY controlled substance, and anyone with a history of abuse is quickly denied scripts to it. I don't want this to happen to me.
--Myrk....
Posted by silvercoin on August 4, 2006, at 16:45:15
In reply to Adderall - Did I ruin it for myself?, posted by Myrk on August 4, 2006, at 13:24:48
It would appear as though you may be encountering a tolerance issue with the Adderall, where increasing dosages become necessary to achieve the same effects. This is one of the chief negatives with amphetamines and a large reason why they are controlled substances. It is not necessarily a negative reflection on you, but rather a result of your particular brain chemistry. Some people are apparently not as susceptible to this issue.
You can simply tell your pdoc that the Adderall seems to be losing effect with time and that you are concerned you may be developing tolerance to it. I would suggest asking if there might not be another med that is not as problematic. Ritalin is also a Schedule II controlled substance, but it has a slightly different mechanism and probably is a somewhat better med as far as these negative aspects. There are also non-stimulant meds available that have zero abuse and dependency potential. Don't let yourself get too far down the slippery slope with Adderall, as the withdrawal effects, including severe depression, can be extremely unpleasant.
Todd
This is the end of the thread.
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