Get specific. Hormones can have a huge impact on brain functioning for some women. I’m going to talk to my doctor, but I’m at my wit’s end trying to find something that will help. I hate spam too. My professional life suffers when I dont take them, but I’m scared to tell my doc. A few weeks later, I went back to the doctor and wanted something for long-lasting, so they gave me a generic Adderall ER 15mg. i’m no longer angry, mood swings are basically non-existent ,and i’m pretty calm and quiet now. Don’t you love being interesting… ADHD medications usually decrease hunger. You’ll find lots of info about that here on the blog. My doctor upped my dosage to 40 mg and I felt the difference the first week but now after I take it, I feel myself still avoiding my actual responsibilities and focusing on different things. But I also want to be sure I have given the 18mg dose a decent try. I feel like there is a big difference between the generic brands and the name brand adderall. I hope the new approach is working for you. You might try a high / complete dose of Omega-3s and see if that helps. I stopped taking it when I had my son. I am extremely hungry all day long! Well, I am on generic adderall xr 30 mg and I think it is doing some kind of improvement, for example if I felt brain fog, then the medication would eliminate that, but I also still notice being distracted while doing homework or doing research online. A week ago I started noticing that I’m going back to my old condition again. However after about 6 months using concerta I find myself no quite as productive (but still incomparable to days I don’t take.) Try something that boost serotonin ! I’m 24 and have just been diagnosed with ADHD and put on Elvanse 30mg once a day. (Psychiatrist is still figuring out whether I have those which is one of the reasons I’m researching so much to try to figure it out). I hope that still means I’m adjusting. I’m afraid of what he might think. I have been on 72mg of Concerta since October 2017. It was such a horrible experience. Hey Nate, it’s best to be consistent with your dose. There’s many days I need to stay at work late and I’m finding that I just can’t. Of course, get your doctor’s opinion. Without further ado, I will tell you what I’ve been through in these last month –– just because I haven’t found anything like this in the previous questions, otherwise I wouldn’t bother you, so if it’s already there, sorry, I let it pass. It’s probably more than one thing that will. medications and/or supplements) along with Vyvanse. We all appreciate your info. Do you have any tips on how to tell if you need an adjusted dosage or if you are just simply not putting in the right amount of effort to reach your targets? Thank you, Hi Emily, Wow! one day I took 15 mg at once and another 5 mg in the afternoon and it seemed to work, i wasnt as exhausted in the afternoon and i had more focus while driving or talking to people. Is this normal? I started on 5mg fast acting twice a day, and then increased to 10mg fast acting twice a day. First, fantastic that you’re 80% better! While I definitely have issues with impulsivity, cognitive behavioral therapy has seriously helped curb unproductive impulses and keep me on track. It’s important to take your medication as directed. The good effects of calmness and clarity now last no more than 45 minutes and then I’m in the depths of despair! What do you recommend? You are having a bad reaction. Good luck, Dana. I do wish you all the best! Most of the long acting preparations also have this issue. The dr prescribed 10mg per day. I have had a pretty great experience with all my meds. Talk to your doctor. Tailoring a Bed Skirt. If you’ve taken Vyvanse and experienced any side effects or adverse reactions, share your experience in the comments section below.  Provide some details about your experience such as: your Vyvanse dosage and how long you’ve used it.  Also note whether you’re taking other substances (e.g. Hi Kelsey, I’m sorry the Adderall isn’t working as well anymore. MANY people (me included) are successful and well-dressed. I even had to switch gears and come back to this comment. I been so forgetful .Missing appointments. Hello. Adderall is best absorbed in a basic environment. I had been prescribed adderall in the past and I knew it was effective, I just preferred vyvanse because of the come down I got from adderall. I’ve gotten really tired and out of breath faster and I’m a little worried about my increased heart rate. Now I’m on the third day and I feel like I’m going back to exhibiting some ADHD symptoms again i.e. Is there any way for me to still get the concentration effect of the Vyvanse but be able to task switch? Dana, The next three did not do this but did nothing to help with concentration and made me feel very bad about myself and depressed. Is this just because things are all starting to hit me? If you aren’t noticing any improvement the Ritalin may not be the best medication for you. My doctor recommended it but I am nervous. Perhaps you need to try a different medication. I did just start last week but I am gonna have to tell my doc. With or without the ADHD medication. Trying a higher dose of Adderall for a day or two won’t hurt you. Hi Addy – Please check with your doctor about taking different doses each day. He thinks I might be passing all the medicine before it has time to kick in. I have two questions. I laughed because I’ve never left the house calmly and chronic lateness has been a lifelong issue I’ve dealt with. I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD since 1st grade. how do i go about talking to my dr. about increasing my medication, without sounding like an addict. -Angie, Hi Angie, I am so sorry, but I am not able to answer your question. I was on vyvanse for a month but switched to adderall because of pricing and because I couldnt slerp after taking vyvanse. Driving 6-9mg I had my first son in November 2017 & a basilar artery inclusion stroke in May of 2018. You may not have the same reaction as your brother. However, there’s something else to look at. Humm…talk to your doctor. Hi Dana, I sent an email about my situation and noticed you dont answer prescriptions via email so I thought I would post here. I really appreciate your article and responses to so many questions. I took 5mg basically. Good luck, Dana. My biggest issue is meeting deadlines. Perhaps you need a lower dose. But they did not fully address the last remaining issues hence the new prescription of amphet am/ dextroamp ER. That also began to stop working and the anxiety crept back in. Tyrosine creates dopamine so a supplement is crucial to making sure the effects stay at their best. To drive I need to be above 6mg but never above 9. My daughter is 13. Melatonin at night might as well be a sugar pill. ... Wellbutrin XL, Lamictal, Lyrica, Ritalin, Attentin, Vyvanse and Modafinil. My main issue is I do not want my almost 2 year old picking up on my ADHD symptoms and him thinking it’s NORMAL. Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a prodrug comprised of the amino acid L-lysine coupled with dextroamphetamine, hence its chemical name “lis-dexamfetamine.”  As a prodrug, Vyvanse is inactive until ingested and enzymatically metabolized into l-lysine (an amino acid) and dextroamphetamine (a psychostimulant), the latter of which has been deemed effective for the treatment of ADHD and binge eating disorder.  Although the medication is considered safe when administered at medically-prescribed dosages, most users will experience Vyvanse side effects while under its influence. I was taking 27 mg of concerta and it changed my life completely but recently went to vyvanse and they also work incredibly. Suggestions on what to do? I’m not familiar with escitalopram. I see you know a lot so i was wondering if you could give me advise. I used to feel zoned in and could stay focused and read with laser like precision. It can be tough to know if your ADHD medication is working. I’m so glad I found your blog. Hi, is it possible to experience side effects like losing appetite but don’t experience any noticeable therapeutic effects mentioned here? I felt nothing at 10, a tiny bit at 20 & a little at 30. Hi Amanda, yes the medication should help your productivity, too. Firstly do you think perhaps I should try the next dose above 36mg if I find 36 is waning slightly? Best discuss it with your doctor. Im 31 years old. Today I have been falling asleep again despite have a great 7.5 hours of sleep. So sorry! Wow I felt normal again. Good luck, Dana. Hi, my 6 year old son was just diagnosed with severe ADHD. Yes, your metabolic rate can influence how well your medication works. My family noticed that i’m not remembering things they told me earlier.but my issue here is i don’t really know how i feel . Dry mouth is a common side effect of ADHD stimulant medication, drinking more water may help. I guess my question is when I go back to the doctor next week should I ask about upping the Adderall again or go back to the Strattera even tho I didn’t like some of the side affects? Dana. I am on day 3 of amphet am/ dextroamp ER 10mg capsole. As an avid coffee drinker I just shifted my habits to drink coffee when I wake up (4-5 am) and take the Vyvanse at 8:30 before I start work at 9. Ashley, here’s the bad news. I truly appreciate any feedback that could help!! When I took Adderall, that’s exactly what I did. I am a female in my 30’s and I have been taking the same dose of Adderall XR 20 mg for at least 6 years now with no real issues. I was expecting either nothing or an increase in energy or focus. Experiment with and without coffee. is still 107/67. Dana. I know I need to consult with my doctor, but would the next step be to possibly try a prescription for a higher dosage? If it’s not better by early next week, do check with your doctor. I’ve lost so many jobs, missed flights, miss meeting my friends or get there in the middle of an event and it’s horrible. The only issue is I’m afraid that I may still be struggling because I am expecting the medication to do too much. Good luck, Dana. The doctor told me that if this current doesn’t work, that he will try some other medication and I told him that my previous medication of 20 mg xr generic did nothing for my inattentive symptoms. I felt so clear the first time in months and I could concentrate and I was awake. Today I started Vyvanse at 30MG. I was super scared and worried. Could it be because of the fillers in the tablet it needs to be taken whole? It’s been about 6 months since he’s upped my dose but the past few months I cannot focus to save my life, I feel like I’m always in a daze, and I’m going back to the impulsive, messy, cluttered, always late version of myself I do NOT want to be……. 36 mg of concerta was overwhelming for me. I am 52 years-old and my doctor started me on Ritalin (which made me feel very jittery). I was prescribed vyvanse at 30mg then upped to 40mg. What do you think? My current dose is 40 mg. I took Adderall for about 5 years 10 years ago, then got off it when I graduated high school. However, I also take various vitamins and supplements that can often help with mood, focus, stress, and brain function, so I don’t know if that allows me to be on a lower dose than I would otherwise need. That truly is fantastic. I passed all of my tests easily and reading was a piece of cake for me. Talk to your physician. The name brand has never seemed to work as well. All of that being said, I guess I have two questions. Many people get used to their dosage level and need to be increase to a higher dose to be able to have the medication work as well as it once did. I was diagnosed ADD/ADHD 6 or 7 y/o was on Ritalin from 1st grade until 10th grade when I decided to stop taking it. Work with your doctor to find the one that works best for you. We have been slowly creeping in doses with his Ritalin and his abilify. What happens to the energy and talkativeness on a lower dose? Good luck! Problem is how do i tell my doctor that a slightly higher dose worked better when she didnt tell me to play around with the dosage? But the meds should help if it’s the right medication and the right dose for you. Is this a law or a quirk of insurance? I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and I’m wondering if you can give me some advice regarding medications. I do see that Vyvanse is more effective for some clients if they eat healthy food and drink enough water. And I have a few thoughts, as well. Good luck, Dana. Jittery, anxious, unfocused. hi dana, i’m on 45mg of concerta and i’m not sure if it works because i have nothing else to compare it to. I was wondering how long it takes for this medication where I start noticing a difference. Sign up for the newsletter now! I realize the second dose kicks in 6 hours later, so maybe it was a crash. I’m a 30yo female. He changed me to 10mg adderall 2x daily. Good Luck, Dana. Then I started to wonder if maybe there is some problem with my neurotransmitter receptors. Or should I give it time? You need a doctor who supports you. Dana. I just don’t really know how i feel about it. So lucky to have found Ink for All. I have always known I had it but never dx with. Good luck, Dana. month ago concerta wasn’t available so my dr. switched me to vyvanse 50mg and lexapro 10mg (got recently reduced to 5 because I was sweating too much). My brother did not do well on Concerta or Strattera, so I’m scared to try them, but I’m not sure what other options there are and the Adderall does help me focus and get boring lasts done easily. It’s almost like I am overwhelmed now by the chaos I was living in if that makes any sense….. Hi Nicole – Yes, it makes sense. You could try decaf coffee I now drink decaf tea as I am a constant tea drinker. 2. Is it possible that I can’t take adderall for my ADHD anymore? I have Medicaid and options for psychiatrists and even therapists are very disappointing. ADHD diets haven’t been researched a lot. One thing to know about the Atomoxetine is that it can take up to 6 weeks for it to start working. It’s been a pleasure to read your page and also your responses helping others, makes it all so much more relatable. I seem to be on an emotional rollercoaster where small things are triggering annoyance and anger. I understand. I don’t want to take a risk on generic. Any suggestions? Pay extra attention to your brain care – diet, sleep, exercise, hydration, etc. Taking Lexapro 10mg once in a day is the recommended dosage. That could help if you’re not. I am 44 yrs old, I was recently prescribed 20mg Vyvanse; it was working but only for a couple of hours while working. I started on 5mg fast acting once a day Adderall, increased to twice a day after a couple of months, then increased to 10mg twice a day after another two months. i recently started Vyvance 40mg & i have never been on Vyvance before. Brittany, your body could have adjusted to the dose. And, congratulations on those babies. For the most part I feel like the medication has had a positive impact on me, but I really don’t like the “anxious” feeling, Hi Jahi, isn’t that ‘light turning on feeling, amazing! Dana. I’m distracted cant focus etc. I’m currently on 30 mg of Vyvanse, it worked great for me at first I was able to focus more at work, wasn’t so cluster brained, and wasn’t jumping from thought to thought every 5 seconds. i think it is crazy that any doctor could prescribe such a low dose and think that it is going to work for anyone. That’s because the structure and stimulation work provides is missing. Especially, the longer-acting types of ADD/ADHD drugs I wrote about last week. As it was a new drug, she told me to start with the weakest dose (30mg). ?’ Anxiety can be a side-effect of Vyvanse. There are other ADHD medications that might work better. I often feel bad after long sessions of doing these things but it doesn’t deter me from them. Is there something wrong with me? Happy holidays! Don’t wait for a month. I do have a thryoid issue but it is being treated with Synthroid so I know that cant be related to this. Thank you so so much in advance, you’re a star! I take no other medicines but I feel like he maybe thinks I am drug seeking. https://www.additudemag.com/vayarin-discontinued-effective-immediately/. I’m taking him for another med check soon so I’m thinking to ask if he needs an adjustment. My doctor said that technically I should have been diagnosed in chidhood to be able to treat me fully but he still agreed to start me on medications for ADHD and started me on Vyvanse 20 mg. Then it only last about an hour. I’ve frequently found work emails open that I just never hit send on. My psychiatrist is very reluctant when it comes to increasing the dose. My daughter is a Junior, she struggles with ADHD. They haven’t at all. Should I start the Prozac or should I wait to get my adhd doagage and medicine correct? I have ADHD and can’t seem to focus sometimes and some days I feel hyper even though I’m taking Vyvanse I still feel hyper sometimes I stay up till midnight and I wake up at 9:25 A.M. However, after 6 months that was not working for me either so he suggested switching me to 40 mg of Vyvanse once daily. I have just started medication, and these guidelines have given me a much clearer idea of what to expect and shoot for. Perhaps, if you approach it as “these are the things I need to be able to do and can’t” and give specifics about where you’re struggling, he’ll listen. Yes, Desoxyn still exists.