Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurologic syndrome that exhibits symptoms such as hyperactivity, forgetfulness, mood shifts, poor impulse control, and distrac...
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Adderall CONFUSION - HELP!
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Ugh. I have been diagnosed with ADHD and take Adderall 10mg extended release capsules twice a day along with a 5mg tablet (regular quick release) in the evenings if I need to. My problem is that I have a variety of symptoms and I don't know what they're caused by - whether they're drug related or natural psychological effects that I'm dealing with. I know the two are intwined so this makes it difficult! I have depression as well as OCD (although this too could be caused or enhanced by Adderal) as well as ADHD, as I mentioned before. For a while now, I've been experiencing a couple symptoms and I'm trying to figure out whether they're related or caused by Adderall:
1) A sense of urgency lingering all the time: in a good mood, I suppose this could be translated into a desire to be productive, something that I can experience positively, although when I'm in a neutral mood or a negative mood, this urgency feels more like an impending doom! I feel like it's hard to relax and simply "chill." I've always got to be "doing" or "completing" or "making progress." What's silly, though, is that even though I might complete some task or another, or start "making progress" in the general direction that I'd like to take my life, I never feel any sense of completion. It's like I hadn't done anything at all! I'm sick of feeling like I'm sitting at the edge of my seat all day long. I want to just have a lazy Sunday and not feel like I always need to be contemplating anything and everything... 2) Irritability - I didn't use to be somebody whom I'd consider to be an irritable person. Lately, I feel irritable much more often, generally when people I am with are not understanding the point I'm trying to make or are thinking/acting in ways that I perceive to be "slow" or "stupid." My mind really races sometimes (with or without Adderall) and I'll get annoyed at people for not being able to keep up, even though it's totally reasonable that wouldn't follow my crazy-speedy line of thought. I'll also get irritable if I'm trying to get something done real fast and efficient and somebody gets in my way or tries to slow me down. Irritability, I know, can also be a side-effect of depression. Perhaps this is party due to the increase of this emotion. 3) Needing to tap or twitch some part of my body, generally my feet or my hands. 4) Picking obsessions - as in, with the skin on my hands or my fingernails... It's hard just to sit still without wanting to pick at my skin. Also, when I look in the mirror, I always want to analyze closely my skin - pimples, hairs, etc. Sometimes I'll have bad obsessions where I actually pick my skin until it bleeds. Yeah, I started out with a compulsive sort of nature, but it didn't manifest in these sort of skin/body related picking sort of obsessions. It had more to do with a general perfectionism with school/sports/organization/etc. I guess I'm wondering if my Adderall is causing an increase in OCD. 5) Mentally spinning my wheels - sometimes, I think Adderall really helps me think more clearly and make progress, but other times, I feel as though I'll ruminate on some tiny little detail, maybe in a paper, or in everyday life, to the point where I end up waisting a bunch of time. During the time I'm thinking about the detail, however, I usually consider the analysis of such to be prime importance! I consider myself to be doing very important intellectual work! Afterwards, I realize that it was mostly a waist of time and that my scope was just off... Sometimes I wonder if I would have made better progress or waisted less time withOUT the Adderall at all... It's hard to say when discussing how Adderal does and does/not effect me. Other variables that play along with these negative side-effects could include: what I've eaten, how much sleep I've gotten, how stressed I am, the general state of affairs in my life, and the like... What have other people on this drug experienced? What helped you to come to the conclusion about Adderall being a good fit/not a good fit for you? Did you experience similar effects? Do you think they were also due to Adderall? Anything comments greatly appreciated! Thanks! Best wishes to all, Beechildd Posted on 04/17/08, 06:04 pm |
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In my opinion, it sounds like most, if not all of what you've listed could be side effects of the Adderall. Because it is a stimulant, you will feel the need to constantly be doing something/accomplishing something, twitching, moving, etc. And the irritability can also be a side effect as well.
My personal experience is that the good outweigh the bad. I'm able to focus, I'm able to take my natural drive/ambition and actually do something productive, and I can keep "stuff" in order now, whereas before-I was a mess. Couldn't finish ANYTHING, would forget EVERYTHING (including the fact that I'd be cooking dinner, walk away, forget, and almost burn the house down)-not to mention paying bills (found out the hard way that they cut things off when you don't pay the bill). I've been lucky in that irritability hasn't been an issue for me, thank God. I will mention this: I was on the Adderall XR for awhile (20 mg), and it was too much for me-made the symptoms you described much more pronounced. So, I went to standard Adderall-not the XR-and do much, much better on that. Perhaps you could address that with your doc? If you don't think that it's truly benefiting you, there's always a possibility that it isn't the medication for you-perhaps there's another med out there that would work better for you. Hope this helps! 
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that's what i am on--the 20mgXR adderall, and i'm having trouble sleeping at night. i think i'll ask my dr. for the quick release..thanks dixie pixie. beechild--i do that as well--bite my nails, etc. my mind speeds up. but i'm like this normally, just more pronounced on meds. i haven't decided if the meds help or not. i am completely (overfocused) on what i'm doing, so that's a good thing. but i still need to do so much, and get organized, etc. etc. ugggh. DP--i can sooo relate. got my phone/cable disconnected last month. (oops.). =)
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It seems strange to me that you are taking 2 extended release doses in one day, followed by a another quick release in the evening! From what I know the XR capsules last about 12 hours. Sounds like too much.
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oh goodness, I think I would prefer to be without the medication ....:(...C X
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I was taking 45 mg (30mg in the morn and 15mg at 11:00 to hold me through night classes) of the addreall XR. I recently cut back to 30 due to insurance and no classes. I experience a lot of the things that you listed but I think that those are symptoms of ADHD- I am not sure if it is a side affect from the meds ( at least for me). I know that it is a stimulant so for some it may increase anxiety levels. Like Dixie Pixie said the good outweighs the bad. Recently I decided to take a few weeks off of my meds to see how I would do. Needless to say my psychologist told me I needed them. I saw a HUGE difference in my functioning and I was not able to focus on much of anything and all of the above symptoms were increased times 10. I did find though that the meds do overfocus me sometimes which places a damper on my spontatniety and creativity. I tend to be in a zone.
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Sounds like too much meds.I would call your Dr and tell them what is going on and see what they think.Hope you feel better.:)
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I just read your discussion, and I have some similar problems, although I 'm not compelled to finish things; I start them and not finish them. I get irritated with everyone and get mad at everyone, although I thought it was because of cymbalta or cipralex that I've been on. I'm also picking my nails 24/7---never stop. I'm glad to hear someone else with the same complaints/ problems.
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