Xaggitin XL Side effects?: Hello. I'm... - CHADD's Adult ADH...

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Xaggitin XL Side effects?

Katiekate24 profile image
21 Replies

Hello. I'm within my first week of taking Xaggitin XL 18mg for ADHD combined time. First medication I'm trying. I've read a lot about how people with ADHD respond well to medication and feel positive effects from the start. Thing is I don't and if anything I think it makes me feel worse. So far I’ve experienced nausea, headaches, stomach aches, feeling really weird for first days, anxious and self aware. None of the positive effects, if anything maybe its bit worse, I had energy to do things but been very chaotic. Its a very low dose so I think next steps would be to increase it but with this many side effect I'm not feeling like I want to take it anymore. Has anyone experienced the same? Is it because I'm not giving it long enough or it may just not be for me.

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Katiekate24
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21 Replies

It can take a while to get to the right med. Lots of folks have your situation.

Call your provider and tell them what you're experiencing. You don't want to process this alone. A major part of treatment is just trial and error. We can't predict yet who will react in what way to what specific med.

You tell your provider what you're experiencing. You don't have to wait til next appointment. You can call. Provider takes in your info, talks to you and proposes a next step, which could be to hang in there through the side effects or change meds immediately. Sometimes change in eating habits (eat before the med and so on) can make a huge difference. The provider usually knows this.

Yes, your reaction is not unusual at all. And no, meds aren't automatic magic. It can take a year or so to get to the right med that gives you the best benefit with the lowest side effects.

Now to complicate things: side effects often decline after a few weeks. But sounds like you're not getting the good effects of the med. Lots of times people wait out side effects because they're getting the good effects as well.

Katiekate24 profile image
Katiekate24 in reply toGettingittogether

Thanks, that is good advice, I'll speak to the provider. My next appointment is in 3 weeks which is long time to wait. As I understand there are different meds so maybe methylphenidate isn't for me or the dose is wrong. It just worries me that I react so badly to lowest dose as it would probably get worse if it was increased.

I know that drugs come with side effects and sometimes it's the cost to pay to get the beneficial effect. I'm just losing my motivation as it makes me feel weird and unwell day after day and I don't see anything good. If it feels like I'm taking it to feel worse I don't really want to.

BlessedLady profile image
BlessedLady in reply toKatiekate24

You probably need a different drug. Talk with your doctor

Hominid711 profile image
Hominid711 in reply toBlessedLady

Probably not. These are usually the s/e that get better as she continues/titrates the meds up to the effective dose.

Hominid711 profile image
Hominid711 in reply toHominid711

Unless it's an interaction with something else she is taking. Check leaflet or Google.

Katiekate24 profile image
Katiekate24 in reply toHominid711

How long does it normally take for s/e to get better? It's been a week for me and it seems that they are getting worse

I'm not taking any other drugs so interactions can be excluded.

Izopan profile image
Izopan in reply toKatiekate24

My adult son was on Xaggatin XL started on 15mg and was gradually increased up to the full dose but it never agreed with him. He didn’t suffer the side affects to the extent you have but it always made him a bit anxious plus he did not feel any beneficial effects. He has just been switched to Vyvanse 30mg and is on his third dose today and although he has some weirdness and a little anxiety he has reported that this wears off after a short time and he’s feeling beneficial affects that he never had with Xaggatin XL. We’re crossing our fingers that this is going to work for him. So far it’s working better for him and side affects will hopefully disperse within a week or two. Because he’s feeling a benefit he’s more positive to continue with it.

Hominid711 profile image
Hominid711 in reply toKatiekate24

It depends. If it's due to the drug a couple of weeks. If not and getting worse especially with localised pain as opposed to all over abdo pain and vomiting and especially with fever you should call a doctor or medical advice line and if it's really getting worse quickly go to the ED.Statistically Amphetamines are a bit (marginally) more effective than Methylphenidate, but worse when it comes to gastrointestinal side effects.

If in doubt and if it helps call your doctor anyway.

Katiekate24 profile image
Katiekate24 in reply toHominid711

I've not had any side effect that bad but it feels like it is making me constantly unwell for a week so far. I've been telling myself to bare with it to give it a shot but it's hard when I see no positives.

Hominid711 profile image
Hominid711 in reply toKatiekate24

Then it's time to increase

Gettingittogether profile image
Gettingittogether in reply toHominid711

Stimulants show their effects immediately. Now, of course other factors matter. Are we sleep deprived and so on.

But the effects happen right away. They are not a build-up medicine (like antidepressants and other meds) that requires a certain amount of steady dosing over takes to reach the needed level in our bloodstream.

Hominid711 profile image
Hominid711 in reply toGettingittogether

Exactly. She isn't having a positive effect so its time to increase.

Hominid711 profile image
Hominid711

. ...and a pregnancy test

Katiekate24 profile image
Katiekate24 in reply toHominid711

That's easy to exclude. Not pregnant.

I'm pretty sure it's the medicine giving me s/e.

BlessedLady profile image
BlessedLady

All stimulants are not the same. You might do better with Adderall or Dextroamphetamine.

Katiekate24 profile image
Katiekate24 in reply toBlessedLady

Thanks. I'll see if I can speak to the doctor. Not sure how keen they'd be to try something else right away.

NYCmom2 profile image
NYCmom2

That’s how I felt when on a too high dose of stimulants. Quick search of the brand Xaggitin XL 18 mg you’re on seems like it’s in the generic Methylphenidate family and its dose is 1:1 between the two drugs. For reference Methylphenidate comes in lower dosages 5 mg, 10 mg.

Can you call the doctor’s office and request they call in a lower dose medication? Or ask the Dr if the current medication can be halved.

Eating breakfast before you take medication can reduce or eliminate the nausea. Appetite suppression can also lead to nausea when you don’t force yourself to eat something at lunch time.

Heightened anxiety and being overly self aware and feeling chaotic is definitely not the desired or intended result.

When my medication is optimal I feel able to pause, focus, make a plan, transition with greater ease, have a greater awareness of time, greater self control and emotional regulation and feel perhaps slightly more self aware but it’s not troubling. My anxiety can go up and down for any number of reasons throughout the day or week but taking medication shouldn’t cause a sudden surge of anxiety.

When over medicated or dysregulated an intense physical workout can balance things out.

Katiekate24 profile image
Katiekate24 in reply toNYCmom2

Thanks for your reply. I'll check with the doctors.I was told that I don't need to take the medication with food so first day I took it before breakfast and felt really sick. When I started taking it with food I've seen a little improvement but still having nausea and stomach aches. I didn't feel hungry but been forcing myself to eat because I know I need to eat, specially if taking stimulants.

I've tried the exercise but it felt pretty uncomfortable as I can feel the drug affecting my heart rate so was getting bit dizzy and nauseous. I don't have any serious effects like chest pain but sweat a lot and even though I try to drink a lot I feel dehydrated so gave up on exercise for now.

Emotional regulation was not really a problem for me before, like I'd feel a bit anxious occasionally but nothing like I've experienced on this medication. It feels like the bad things really outweigh any benefits as I've not really seen the medication working in a good way yet. It really makes me think it's making things worse.

Solyplaya profile image
Solyplaya

Hi,I am on Xagittin 45 mgs. It's fine for me now. Apparently you have to take it for a few days to build it in the system. I didn't notice any stomach issues, so if it continues you might want to try a different medication. Too high a dose does make jittery and anxious, but the current dose seems fine for now.

Best of luck,

Juana

Katiekate24 profile image
Katiekate24 in reply toSolyplaya

How long did it take for the side effects to go away? In a week I've not seen improvement, if anything I'm thinking it goes the other way as first two days I didn't get the headaches but day 3/4 onwards my sleep declined and was feeling more nauseous during the day.I'm quite small weight so maybe the low dose is quite high for me but I thought it's a dose given to children.

OldIndigoBlue profile image
OldIndigoBlue in reply toKatiekate24

Hi - just my two cents' worth. I am extremely sensitive to most all medications and supplements. As an example even a tiny amount of caffeine affects me. I'm not underweight, but I am old, but I've been that sensitive all my life to meds - sometimes there's no problem, other times it's an allergic reaction or even just as you say, feeling unwell, feeling not quite right. YOU are an individual person and so you may react differently than anyone else does, so I do hope you got ahold of your doc and that you are trying something else now, because it sure sounds like the drug/dose was NOT working for you. Hugs.

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