Experimenting with Adderall XR

[BrainSaladMa]

Hello, I recently was diagnosed with ADHD (at 39!) not long after my soon to be 6-yr-old son (though he is equally presenting as inattentive and impulsive.) He is taking Guanfacine now, and it has helped a lot with impulsivity, but not necessarily with inattentiveness.

On the other hand, I have been taking Adderall extended release myself for over a week now. The first day I noticed an improvement in focus, but also a severe headache at the end of the day. In the days following, the effectiveness seemed not as marked. Also, while the headaches got better, I still end the day with a dull headache and a clenched jaw.

Anybody have experience with this? Are these common side effects to get at the end of most days and will they ever get better? Has anyone switched from this to a different formulation, higher dosage, or Ritalin, to better success?

Thanks in advance!

[MomOfSuperheroes]

I'm told that headache is a common side effect of this drug. Have you called your prescriber to explain how you're feeling? They might have the best sense of what to change and how.

I don't take an extended release stimulant because I can effectively manage my day by starting with four "on" hours and using that to propel me, but I can see how many would consider that an unworkable approach to ADHD medication. It wouldn't have worked for me five years ago.

Other members of my family are happily taking extended release stimulants. I think it's just what works for your mind and body. Sometimes it takes lots of trial and error.

[Mamamichl]

Thank you so much for sharing! It is quite common for us parents to be diagnosed around the same time as our kids because we realize the behavior our kids have that are related to the cindition, resonates with our behaviors too. Guanfacine is a med that lowers blood pressure, but usually doesn’t affect the way our brain thinks. This is why it helps with the impulsiveness but not the inattentiveness. It is not a stimulant med.

Your Adderall is a stimulant medication. These medications are known to dehydrate a person and raise blood pressure. Either of those can cause headaches. I have noticed that I clench my jaw since my medication was raised, but I have been drinking a lot of Gatorade to offset the headaches and lightheadedness I get from other things going on (may or may not be ADHD related). You may need to try a lower dose. My partner also got headaches when the stimulant meds wore off, so maybe look at if that may be happening with you.

Also, you may want to look into a Genesight test for each of you (if insurance covers it). This tells you which medications the person will have adverse side effects on and how extreme they may be. It works for all mental health medications. Though it won’t tell you what those side effects will be, just how extreme they may get. It also won’t tell you if the medication will work with the body chemistry. My daughter had tics from one med, my partner had aggressiveness from one, and I didn’t feel anything from one, so we all decided to take the test and it helped my partner tremendously, and helps me some. We havent gotten to use it with my daughter yet, but we are going over results in the next week.