Adderall xr doesn’t seem to work as well?

[SunniM]

Hi everyone! So glad I found this resource. I was tAking vyvanse 40mg and adderall 10mg to help me think faster/concentrate for about the last year. For some reason, my dr is against stating a diagnosis. Anyway, It was great for a while but then I had to see a new dr and now my insurance won’t cover vyvanse. She switched me to Adderall XR 30 mg and Adderall 10mg at 4pm. The first couple of days seemed fantastic. Like even better then the vyvanse. I’ve been taking it for about 4 weeks and the last 2 or so I’ve been having more headaches and I’m getting so sleepy about 3 hours after I take it. But the sleepiness is much worse on some days. I’m not sure why. I have noticed that I forget to eat until I feel physically ill. Shaky etc. I’ve been more mindful of that and it’s better but the last couple of days I’m still very sleepy by noon and can’t seem to function past 1pm without taking a nap. I am definitely more cAlm. But I have to be able to function and can’t always take a nap. Could it be wearing off that quickly ? Is it possible to take the immediate release Adderall earlier ? I know I do have absorption problems but didn’t think it would wear off that quick. Will the sleepiness go away? Or do I need a dose increase or is it possible to take the immediate release several times a day ? Just looking for suggestions to try so I can mention it when I see my dr in a few days. Thanks!

[Martin83]

I had similar problems. Dr. Charles Parker's book New ADHD Medication Rules alerted me to a good bowel movement, at least every 24 hours. I sometimes had bowel movements once every 3 days. I now use linseed with spirulina 3 timer per day and that works well. I nog haven onwel movement 2 times per day. The medicines now work much better. Hopefully it will help you.

[SunniM in reply to Martin83]

Thanks. Definitely something to consider.

[DrHypno]

I can certainly empathize , I'm going through similar issues.

[SunniM in reply to DrHypno]

So, I've found that if I eat something like peanut butter and crackers when I first wake up, then take my med, it seems to start working in about 20 minutes. So, by the time I get out of the shower, I'm good. I am also experimenting with taking the afternoon dose a little bit earlier and really paying attention to when I start feeling tired. Typically, that's about 5-6 hours afterward. So far, it is going better.

[amills277]

I've been on Concerta (27 mg) for a few weeks now. I was originally at 36mg and then I had to switch to straight Methylphenidate at 10mg twice a day because of insurance. I had to stop taking straight methylphenidate because I had a terrible physical and emotional reaction to it. I've been using GoodRx to help cover the cost of the meds, but I need to find it at a better price if possible.

But the headaches I've had since day one. I can't shake them. I notice that my BP is elevated no matter the dosage of the meds. So I would highly recommend checking that if you can. Also, if you aren't drinking enough water, the meds will cause you to go into a dehydrated state. Taking it with food also helps. I have found that I won't notice that I'm hungry either, and I have to force myself to eat and I start feeling better too.

All of the things you mentioned should be brought to your doc's attention. Also, falling asleep at noon thing could mean that you aren't sleeping well at night. I would ask about possible sleep interruptions. Before I started taking meds, being sleepy at the same time every day clued me into that there was sleep deprivation. Quality is just as important as quantity. I find when the sleep-cycle is interrupted, I still get tired and need to nap when medicated.

I hope this helps a little and that the doc is able to give you answers and help you get everything back on track!