Confused and hyper

[Lene-Alice]

Hi all I have had adhd all my life I’m on Ritalin 20mg x2 so 40 mgs a day but I’m starting to think that it is to low now because I have an increase of symptoms like being confused can’t concentrate more or sit still or being quiet for long

[juli1357]

Hi Lene-Alice,

I think that what you are experiencing is likely the result of developing a tolerance to Ritalin. This is a normal phenomena experience by most people who take a stimulant medication every day for a year or longer. I recently did a long post in response to someone else's question, which was similar to your own. Rather than re-create a lengthy response, see my cut and paste below. I do think this information may be of help to you. Please do let me know if you have any questions after reading it.

What you are experiencing is the phenomenon of developing a tolerance to Adderall. Most people who are prescribed stimulant drugs will develop a tolerance after a year of daily use. I found myself in the same position about a year after I began taking Adderall. Like you I did not want to increase my dosage. So I studied up on the various options to address tolerance and I tried them all.

First, I tried switching to a different stimulant, Focalin. What I learned from that experiment is that a stimulant is still a stimulant. Going on a different stimulant did not reset or lower my tolerance to Adderall.

Then I tried going off of Adderall completely for two months. What I learned from this experiment is that for the first 5 to 6 days, my energy level was lower than it has ever been before in my entire life. But after that first five or six days, my energy level bounce back to where it would have normally been. When I resumed taking Adderall, it had a more robust effect on me than it had before I stopped taking the Adderall, but it did not completely reset my tolerance to the way I had felt when I first began taking Adderall.

What has ended up working best for me is to take Adderall during my work week, which is Monday through Friday and not taking it at all on Saturday or Sunday OR taking a much lower dosage on Saturday and Sunday, just enough so that I can get up off the couch. Normally, I take 30 to 35 milligrams of Adderall a day. On Saturday and Sunday, I either take 5 mg twice a day or 10 mg once a day. Taking a "medication holiday quote from my Adderall every weekend in church that I will have a more robust response on Monday and towards the beginning of the week. It is also much more helpful for me to do it this way then to go off the medication entirely for two months.

I have tried the extended release, but I preferred to be prescribed 10 mg pills that provide me the opportunity to break them into two 5 mg pills. This ensures that I am only taking the amount of medication that I need, when I need it. I feel that I have greater control over my medication by doing it this way instead of taking the extended release. Also, there is a benefit to not taking the extended release in terms of ensuring that you are not building up your tolerance to Adderall any quicker then you must. I am actually taking less Adderall now than I was when I was initially prescribed it. For my first year, I was given the OK to use up to 40 mg a day, which I did most days. Learning how to manage my tolerance to Adderall has allowed me to function just as well on 30 to 35 mg per day five days a week and just 10 mg per day the other two days of the week.

Here is a helpful article that explains variables that impact one's tolerance to Adderall. Unfortunately, this article does not tell you what your options are to address your tolerance other than see your physician. medium.com/@timothyguilorry...

Please let me know if you have any questions.

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

Well I have one

I taken ritaline 10 mg

But is this not too low ? For a adult ?

Because I have the taken it door focus but I don't like the rebounds

[juli1357 in reply to Elfje]

How long have you been taking Ritalin? If you've only just begun starting it, know that the rebound effect you're talking to is a side effect that only last for a couple of weeks. The best amount of stimulant medication to take for ADHD is the lowest amount that will give you the desired effect.

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

Lower than 10 ?

But 10 mg they give on children

I taken it for a long time but my emotions

That is not normal

I get angry and stuff

No I don't know is it from the ritaline is it my anxiety

Confusing

[juli1357 in reply to Elfje]

The average dose of Ritalin per day for adults is 20 to 30 mg. It is not recommended that one goes over 60 mg per day. Yes, I take 10 mg of Adderall three times per day during weekdays. On the weekends I take a greatly reduced amount. Stimulant medication impacts the brain, so it's not about how much you weigh or how big you are compared to a child. A high percentage of people who been diagnosed with ADHD have another mental health diagnosis. In cases such as that, it is important that both conditions be treated simultaneously. I encourage you to talk to your physician about your concerns.

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

O ye I did

ADHD and anxiety disorder

Nice

I get frustrated

Because I talkt enough to the doc

Ritalin and Xanax

Ye ok

I lissen but still I feel not like myself

Maiby it's my ADHD

But it's not me the anger

[juli1357 in reply to Elfje]

Anger is not a symptom of ADHD. I think you may have something else going on. I encourage you to find a physician and/or psychiatrist who is highly experienced in treating individuals with ADHD and anxiety.

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

Well maiby my anger is frustration that I always pusch myself to what others whant

And let me down because I told my colleagues that I have ADHD

They gossip all the time

I work with huge stress

Maiby it's this

I don't know

[juli1357 in reply to Elfje]

It sounds like you're in a very difficult situation. What kind of work do you do?

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

I am all round in a store deal with difficult people

Off course also nice people but my boss put so much pressure on me

My work is verry ok

But it's more personal

I have always the say yes the moment that I no

Than he verbale hit me on my personality

Some colleagues I scared and go in silence and I am the one always that he hit

Difficult for me

So it's Saturday morning have the go too work

And feel already stress

If I am there than I focus on my job so gone be ok

[juli1357 in reply to Elfje]

I think you should look for a new job. Nobody should be treated that way. You deserve better.

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

In Belgium find a new job is not easy

Not when you are alone

They are too many bosses that whant verry young people that they have the pay than not so much

Ye Belgium is really not so a good country that some think

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

Why you taken a lower doses in the weekend ?

[juli1357 in reply to Elfje]

Taking a lower dose or no medication on the weekends keeps you from developing a tolerance to the medication. If you develop a tolerance, you will have to increase your dose to get the same affect. I do not want to have to keep increasing my dosage.

[Elfje in reply to juli1357]

Thank you

I understand

My doc told me a stop too

But than because I have the taken it for my focus and keep me calm ??

I find it completed

Keep me calm ??

I gone ask more information because keep me calm ?

I whant the be myself not keep me calm ?

B