Stimulant/Adderall crash

[fanglorious]

I have been on Adderall XR for 3 months and things have gone well, but I have noticed a recurring theme. About once a week I will suddenly be mentally exhausted and grumpy even with my medication and the only thing that fixes it is about a 12 hour sleep. Every day prior to this I feel fine and hugely productive and never tired. I usually sleep about 6 to 8 hours on normal nights, so it's not like I'm deprived, but it seems like my brain accumulates a sleep debt that hits me without warning. Anyone else get a predictable crash on their stimulant medication?

[TurquoiseMonkey]

Yes! This happened to me just yesterday. I got nothing accomplished no matter how hard I tried and just slept all day on and off at random times. I thought it was just me.

[fanglorious in reply to TurquoiseMonkey]

Do you sleep well most nights of the week? I'm wondering if my brain gets tired from being stimulated all the time but my medication keeps me from feeling it until my weekly crash day.

[faiths35]

YES. I most definitely experience this but I feel sometimes I get hit with this for several days in a row? For example, last week I was wildly productive, waking up not feeling groggy, consistent energy, focus and motivation. I was so happy, I was getting things completed that have been on my to-do list for months. Then this week is honestly completely opposite, ive been waking up still feeling exhausted, cranky, unmotivated and its taking a lot for me to get something done.

Just like you, I regularly sleep 6-8 hours a night but this week I feel like I could sleep for 12 hours and then still lay around and lounge all day. I have little to no energy and im extremely unmotivated.

I have no idea why this happens. I have changed nothing from last week, I drink an adequate amount of water, eat healthy and exercise 3-4 times a week.

It is so unbelievably frustrating because its like im right back to my old ways before I got diagnosed and it feels like my medication does absolutely nothing during these days.

[fanglorious in reply to faiths35]

I'm wondering if maybe we made an effort to routinely get at least 8 hours of sleep/rest every night the crash could be prevented or at least minimized. It's kind of hard when sleep isn't interesting lol

[sgtslawter]

You're not alone in this. I deal with it as well. I was beating myself up for being a lazy bum because I find myself sleeping hard no matter what going on.

[JW621]

I’m on vyvanse 70 mg and adderall 20 mg I need it but I hate it when It’s wearing off