Adderall Questions

[veronica]

“Plus … The Pharma people are just getting ready to make a big push on their new ADD product, Vyvanse. My Doctor tells me this is because Adderall is now available (will be available?) in generic form and the Pharma-gang want a new high-priced ADD Med to replace it.”

i’m in the states. dunno where you and bishop are, but here i get my generic brand for $15. $15 for an entire month’s supply.

thanks for the info, glen… really! it’s insightful and interesting to say the least. i’ve found myself being more aware of my body and it’s corks while on this med and also found my attitude toward handling things to be a more positive one.

i meet with the doc tomorrow about the tics. glen, do yours come on if you’re really tired? just wondering b/c the other night i couldn’t stop and i was really tired…. my hubby and i were just sitting watching t.v. it was so sudden and didn’t stop for about 30 seconds (which feels like a lifetime). my husband finally asked if i was ok, and i had to concentrate really hard on “not moving”, but to no avail. i just excused myself and went to the restroom. they finally stopped. but it got me thinking that i’d not had one of those type of episodes in a while.

“Re appetite: Ah, now here’s a topic I KNOW. <g> Had to do a lot of research on this because the subject comes up all the time.

Here’s what I’ve found (for ME). All of these meds really don’t affect your appetite, they affect your appetite TRIGGER. What disappears on meds is the SENSATION that you’re hungry. It feels like you’ve lost your appetite, but you really haven’t.

It took me a while to realize that, while I didn’t sense the need to eat, all I had to do was place food in front of me and I DEVOURED it.”

i understand it’s the trigger sensation of hunger that’s affected; however, i have to wait till my meds are slowly “exiting” my body to feel any ounce of that trigger sensation return. currently i’m on a 2-a-day, 20-mg. i take one at about 730 or 8 and the following around 1, so i have breakfast before the first and lunch prior to the second, but somehow by the time dinner comes around the sensation i’d expect to have returned doesn’t…. so i find myself forcing the food down my throat. fun!

aside from that one side effect, i’m cool with the meds. i don’t have insomnia. which is nice.

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[Anonymous]

$15 for a months supply!!?? Good God! Why so expensive here in Canada??? Did they make a mistake?

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[Fearwidg]

Veronica…

Bishop & I are in Canada. It takes longer for meds to be approved here and seemingly forever for generic versions to appear.

Hey, Rick … you reading this?

How’s about a rant on the price of our meds?

(And aren’t the Americans always complaining because our meds are so much CHEAPER??? What gives?)

Also…

Re tics – Yup, mine were worse at night. (“were” – what a wonderful word <g>).

Re trying to stop tics. I remember THAT battle well. It is possible for VERY short periods of time, but the price is that they EXPLODE once you finally have to give in.

Re having a tic episode for the first time in ages …

Sigh. Afraid I’m partially to blame for that. Our discussion, and your decision to talk with your Doctor about them, has you thinking about tics again.

It’s truly weird, but – before I got my Clonazepam – I discovered (to my horror) that if I was giving a talk on ADD and demonstrated a tic I used to have, IT CAME BACK!

It was almost like the “Tourettes part of my brain” was thinking, “Oh yes – that was a good one. Let’s do that again!”

It got so I was afraid to mention any of my past tics, lest they return to haunt me.

(Just a little schizo … not that that’s anything to laugh at {Sheesh, I really have to be careful what I say}.)

Anyway – sorry if I “reminded you” about your tics. Then again – if you’re going to see your doctor, perhaps it’s just as well they have come back.

(Sidebar: Every time I’d tell my GP about my tics, he’d look at me strangely cause he’d never seen them. {I now realize that’s because I was hyper-focused every time I saw him.} Then, one day I was filming some Sludge-dumpers breaking the law {one of my other “causes”}, and when I put the camcorder down on the passenger seat, I forgot to turn it off. So I ended up with about 30 minutes worth of footage of me tic’ing away like crazy. Next time I saw my GP, he was surprised to see me waiting with a camcorder <g>, but when I showed him the tape, he could finally see what I’d been dealing with).

All the best with your Doc tomorrow. Just remember not to be disappointed if he doesn’t nail the right med off the top. It took my Specialist 3 tries to nail it … but WHAT A DIFFERENCE. (Just hope I can keep on taking it. Will keep you all updated on the results).

Cheers till next time,

GN

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[veronica]

eh, i noticed them before i even got on the thread of yours and read about it. my husband has even teased me about it.

it’s all good. you have been a lot of help actually.

i had to push my doc appt to next week wednesday, schedule conflict. i’ll let you know what he says then.

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[Fearwidg]

Good luck, Veronica.

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[veronica]

well, glen… and anyone else interested…. here’s the update:

i went in on wednesday to see my doc. told him my concerns (won’t get into details)… he prescribed XR, instead of the regular. and he told me that the issues of the ticks and the adhd together should be handled by someone who specializes in this (i’m grateful that he was honest in his lack of knowledge on the subjects). he recommended a doc to have me go sit with for those issues and overall mental health.

AAAAAAND…. she’s totally covered by my insurance!! woot! woot!

emailed her and she’s available. just have to see about getting my schedule in order to go in and see her. i’m very very excited!

thanks for all the info! *high five*

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[Anonymous]

Excellent news veronica! Let us know how it goes (side effects, duration, feelings etc).

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[Anonymous]

Yes, takes away all the mind noise, allows me to focus, need to eat. Once you start to eat its fine. Remind yourself somehow.

Sleep…. take a mild pill and don’t take the Adderall too close to bedtime.

For me, I can really focus on what I need to rather than all I do not. I wish I had it a long time ago, It also doesn’t change who I am but makes me seem quieter sometimes (which is probably a good thing)

Good luck!!!

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[Anonymous]

Well, I’ve been on Adderall XR 20mg/day for about a week now and what I can say is I have much less of a ‘crash’ than I did while on Rit. I still have fatigue and headaches but I imagine those will subside with continued use? I feel as though I’m on a caffiene high when it kicks in. I get clammy hands, heart feels laboured for want of a better word and I’m wide-eyed and very alert.

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[BAM123]

Does anyone have any experience with adderall causing high blood pressure in someone with normally good B P?

Is it possible for adderall to harm or damage the heart/

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[Anonymous]

Hey BAM123

As with everything, there are possible cautions and side effects. here are some listed. Maybe one of these may trigger why you have high bp?

Side Effects

Although generally well tolerated, the main side effects of Adderall and Adderall XR include anorexia (loss of appetite), insomnia (difficulty sleeping), weight loss, emotional lability, increased tics, abdominal pain (stomachache) and depression.

You should not take Adderall if you have a heart defect, other heart problems, including high blood pressure, and heart or blood vessel disease, an overactive thyroid, glaucoma, or a history of drug abuse.

If side effects don’t improve with time, your Pediatrician may have to lower your dosage or consider changing to another medication, such as Concerta or Strattera.

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[Anonymous]

I find the Adderall XR actually improves my mood. Anyone else find this too?

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[veronica]

totally bishop! i know my kids have really noticed a complete change in my mood. i seem to be more approachable, where i wasn’t before. *sigh*

how are you? how are you liking the AXR, compared to the ritalin?

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[Anonymous]

The XR is good for me personally.

I have tried the American version (not extended release). Boy , talk about Mood change immediately. The XR kinda eases you into focus and helps.

I think the instant gratification followed by the way I can finish things is working well.

Never tried anything else… well I mean … you know.

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[Anonymous]

Hi, I started Adderall 20 mg IR 3 times daily in Nov 09. Really did nothing for me other than a feeling of well-being and improved social anxiety. Felt like I could procrastinate better than ever before!!! Also developed a tic strangely enough–rubbing my fingers together–weird! Disliked the side effects so much–I just stopped taking it and I am very reluctant to try any others. It took me a long time to talk to the psych doc about my own ADHD after seeing him for the past 6 years treating my kids ADHD. Had my hopes up for some improvement with the Adderall. Now I am an unhappy ADHD mom trying to decide what to do next!

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