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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rgreene on April 27, 2002, at 1:37:22
I've been on Adderall for about a year. When it's at its peak level, I feel sharp, energized, etc. When I come down (which seems to come too quickly, particularly after I eat a meal) I feel so dumb. I can't remember things, I have a hard time finding words, my thinking is sluggish...anyone else find that they're losing IQ points on Adderall?
Posted by Phil on April 27, 2002, at 8:23:59
In reply to Losing IQ Points on Adderall, posted by rgreene on April 27, 2002, at 1:37:22
No. What's your dosage???
Posted by Bekka H. on April 27, 2002, at 9:06:01
In reply to Losing IQ Points on Adderall, posted by rgreene on April 27, 2002, at 1:37:22
Have you tried Adderall-XR, the new sustained release formulation? Perhaps that might help. Of course, it will "wash out" at the end of the day, but at least it's more consistent during the 9 or 10 hours that it's working.
Posted by katekite on April 27, 2002, at 10:31:45
In reply to Losing IQ Points on Adderall, posted by rgreene on April 27, 2002, at 1:37:22
You may be experiencing rebound which can be worse than your natural state. Rebound is variously said to start when you are close to wear-off of the med and last/worsen/improve (depending what source you look at) over the following 8 hrs. How long does adderall last for you? If its not lasting long enough you might need a higher dose. I think its adderall that lasts longer at higher doses (can't recall for sure, maybe thats adderall xr only).
I hope I'm right in saying eating usually causes a temporary boom in serotonin. (is that true anyone?)And serotonin I'm starting to think of as inhibitory to dopamine, in an oversimplified view. The post-thanksgiving dinner effect where its all one can do to pay attention to the football game. Something more mild but similar could be going on when you eat. Hard to avoid eating, though.
Have you been on concerta? or adderall xr?
Well thems ma theories.
kate
Posted by Phil on April 27, 2002, at 11:34:57
In reply to rebound, posted by katekite on April 27, 2002, at 10:31:45
The Adderall XR capsules are really cool looking, too.
Posted by james on April 28, 2002, at 1:00:54
In reply to Re: rebound--rgreene, posted by Phil on April 27, 2002, at 11:34:57
I also have a bad rebound thing going on with Adderall. I have been taking so much I became very tolerant and about a month ago stopped really feeling any effects. Of course that was after about 5 years of taking it, and constantly upping the dose. At the end I was taking 30 mgs almost 6 to 7 times a day. Recently (last thursday) I started trying to augment it with Concerta. Oh yeah, And I had to come off the Adderall completely for about a month and now I'm feeling it a bit, at my once regular dose of 30 four times a day. So, I feel you rebound pain. The concerta is supposed to be smooth and more long lasting, so we'll see if it evens out the bumps in between Adderall doses.
--James
Posted by Phil on April 28, 2002, at 7:49:22
In reply to Re: rebound--rgreene, posted by james on April 28, 2002, at 1:00:54
How did you get a script for that high of a dose?
I can take pretty big doses but if I took 210 mg daily, I'm afraid I would be psychotic.
Your doc would really write scripts for 200 30mg Adderall a month?! Did they put take 7 times a day for ...? Where do you live??
My insurance company would never let that fly..or my pdoc. Just curious.
Posted by james on April 28, 2002, at 8:41:45
In reply to Re: rebound--james, posted by Phil on April 28, 2002, at 7:49:22
Thankfuly I have an understanding pdoc. Also, he adderall just wasn't touching me.
--James
Posted by Phil on April 28, 2002, at 15:32:57
In reply to Re: rebound--james, posted by james on April 28, 2002, at 8:41:45
I'm just wondering if the DEA will understand.
: ^ )
Posted by benzapp on June 1, 2002, at 10:50:27
In reply to Losing IQ Points on Adderall, posted by rgreene on April 27, 2002, at 1:37:22
I used to have this effect very often. The problem is you are not eating enough. You need to eat a higher fat diet which provides more long term energy. But eating more in general is an absolute must. Sugar provides a noticeable boost in mental focus. Try a big glass of juice, you will be amazed.
Most of us got by on meager diets I am sure, but Adderall will make you need to consume 2500 calories a day, which is a lot. Remember, this is a weight loss drug too. If you were fat, you would be fine. Until you run out of fat.
Also, as far as fat you consume, Avacados are a great source. They are highly nutritious and the fat is very healthy. They also pack a lot of calories. They may seem expensive at the store, but they pack about 400 calories. For $2, thats cheap considering the quality. Eat a couple of those day instead of a big mac. You won't regret it.
Posted by nightlight on June 3, 2002, at 20:40:59
In reply to Losing IQ Points on Adderall, posted by rgreene on April 27, 2002, at 1:37:22
> I've been on Adderall for about a year. When it's at its peak level, I feel sharp, energized, etc. When I come down (which seems to come too quickly, particularly after I eat a meal) I feel so dumb. I can't remember things, I have a hard time finding words, my thinking is sluggish...anyone else find that they're losing IQ points on Adderall?
I was dx'd ADD last fall. I had suspected it for a couple of yrs.,had 'problems' w/mood, etc. since forever. I was 46. I got my g.p. to Rx both Wellbutrin and eventually Ritalin. I got up to 60mgs a day on Ritalin, but it was a total wipe-out. Felt like I took a 'Let's make her as anxious & angry as possible pill', no energy or focus improvement,definitely no IQ increase, plus I came crashing *down* to a lower level than before I took the med within 45-50 minutes and had to nap for at least a couple hours til the crap was outta my system.
WB was ok, but only had very mild ameliorative effects on energy and depression, was on 300SR for many months, tried 450, but it made me too 'wound', w/o any change in energy level.
Later came the official ADD/anxiety/major depression dx from a psychologist/shrink team last November. Started w/Adderall, worked up to 120 mgs within 3 months. The drug was good, I felt my IQ pts. grabbing at the ladder, but I needed a lot of it and too much made me groggy-I have suffered from EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness) since puberty. It is truly a curse. The Adderall did make me feel awake, in the beginning, for the first time in decades. It yanked me out of a deep depression, DAY 1, b/c I finally saw a little sparkly glint of hope on my horizon and I was finally awake and interested in the things/people I loved again. But, with time, didn't seem 'quite right'.
To carry on, we tried generic IR dexedrine and it really disagreed w/me, made my face itch like crazy, so went back to adderall (at 40mgs. 3x's a day) along w/titrating up the Effexor ladder, complemented by 2 mgs. clonazepam daily as needed.
The clonazepam is a great drug, and had been rx'd to me by a physiatrist for chronic pain, due to herniated discs and myofascial pain in my shoulders and back . It was the 1st of dozens of drugs that actually released the tension in my muscles, plus it really helps when u have a lotta shi* to go thru and still perform. I digress...It was not the summit. Pdoc then suggested Adderall extended release. I wanted ex. release, but wanted to give someting besides add. a chance. I asked if we cd. try dexedrine spansules, since I'd read (here) that dex does not contain the levoamphetamine, just the dextroamphetamine.(Hope I got that that terminology correct). And I figured NO x-release forms of methylphenidate were entering my body, I hated my ritalin experience so much.
Well, am now at dex spansules-20 mgs. 3 times a day. And I have a few 5 mg. Dexstrostat in case I feel myself losing my sense and concentration before my 5 yr old is asleep, which is usually around 10.
So, my safeguard against the evil downward spiral of pstim elimination, and the dumb-bunny, lethargic, testy side-effects is to space out my doses at arising (or an hr. before), 1-ish and then at 6 or 7. That way, the crash, if there is one, happens when I am tucked in and ready for the sandman. I also take 300mgs. Effexor and .5-1 mg clonazepam sometime between 8 o'clock and bedtime. I have NO problem sleeping and no negative down-time between 6 and 12 a.m. I don't want to allocate *all* my med support and new-found interests and clarity on 'daily duties'.
Anyway, stretching out the medication over a 16 to 18 hour period is making a very big difference in my attitude and outlook on life. I hate dreading anything, especially when it is very negative and disrupting and can be avoided by following the guidelines that work for me.
Try stretching it out...might help.
This is the end of the thread.
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