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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 9:25:45
I just took my first dose of Adderall...just wondering what to expect. I have slight jitteriness ad mild headache; do side effects such as this normally subside? I suppose I shouldn't be drinking coffee so much...
Does the full efect hit within a few hours? Or does it need to build up in your system over a couple of days?
Posted by med_empowered on February 3, 2005, at 12:54:53
In reply to Adderall users-what to expect?, posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 9:25:45
hey! Being kinda jittery, maybe with an upset stomach or mild headache, is normal in new users of adderall...I had anxiety and stomach aches myself. No big deal...try to cut down on/eliminate coffee and other sources of caffeine (adderall is an amphetamine blend...always remember you're already taking a strong stimulant), avoid decongestants, etc. If the jitteriness is bad, some docs will lower the initial dose, and some might add a temporary anti-anxiety agent in low doses (its an upper-down combo, but it works well).
Posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 13:34:13
In reply to Re: Adderall users-what to expect?, posted by med_empowered on February 3, 2005, at 12:54:53
Thank you. I know in one sense it is obvious and to be expected that the body needs adjusting.....I actually am not having anxiety, in fact I feel more competent. Did you ever note that your vision seems to impreove--that you can see distant objects with remarkable clarity? NOt that you COULDN'T see so far, but you somehow had to push more effort into noticing far objects.
I know I am dissecting things too much after only a few hours of taking it, but it is hard not to.
Posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 13:39:05
In reply to Re: Adderall users-what to expect?, posted by med_empowered on February 3, 2005, at 12:54:53
Sorry about all the questions...this new pdoc I have is a gem in terms of trying all kinds of things, but does not take much time to explain these things, what to expect.
I just previously had a pdoc that was good and informative, but very conservative and we both agreed I would be better off with this other pdoc--she was not comfortable doing some of the med regimens I wanted to try without hospitalizing me (when they truly arent a big deal).
Posted by med_empowered on February 3, 2005, at 14:39:22
In reply to Re: Adderall users-what to expect? » med_empowered, posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 13:39:05
hey! I've never had the vision thing. Don't be sorry for asking questions! I personally take it upon myself as a mental health consumer to try to do good, indepth research and ask questions both of experts and lay people regarding meds in general, but particularly the ones I'm one. This board is great in that regard; SOMEBODY usually can help you out. I'm not an expert by any means, but I'll try to answer as many of your adderall questions as I can..others will help, too.
Posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 16:25:46
In reply to Re: Adderall users-what to expect?, posted by med_empowered on February 3, 2005, at 14:39:22
Thank you!
You know, I was reflecting today that I am so less depressed, that I seem to be going finally in the right direction. And I noted that it was all from what I learned from people on this board--sharing experiences. If I had simply left it in the hands of pdocs, I would not be at this point taking these meds. Not that their advice is not sound--but only I am in my body and have the intuition of what "flavor" of depresssion I have; and being almost a PhD fooled me into thinking there is no way ADHD might be part of the problem. But when several family members got diagnosed, and I read how many people here also suffer ADHD concominantly with other disorders, the proverbial light bulb began to turn on. I am not diagnosed yet, but pdocs agree after my description that it is quite possible.
So I thank everyone on this board, I truly had tears in my eyes as I thought about this today. I too always try to share my experiences--though not unique, perhaps someone is helped by them.
ANYWAYS I do have one question--on dosing schedule. My nutty but nice pdoc gave me free Adderall capsules...but they are 30 mg. He said for me to take 1/4 to 1/2 of them (pour out 1/2 the spansules). So I did ( take 1/2).
What is the typical starting dosage, what dosage do people usually get to? It's around 30, isn't it?By the way, I have major depression and anxiety ( and possible ADHD, formal assessment net month); I take currently:
Lamictal 200mg
Abilify 2.5 mg
Desipramine 75 mg
Adderall ~15mg as of todayB.
Posted by zeugma on February 3, 2005, at 16:50:55
In reply to Re: Adderall users-what to expect?, posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 13:34:13
> Thank you. I know in one sense it is obvious and to be expected that the body needs adjusting.....I actually am not having anxiety, in fact I feel more competent. Did you ever note that your vision seems to impreove--that you can see distant objects with remarkable clarity? NOt that you COULDN'T see so far, but you somehow had to push more effort into noticing far objects.
>Yes, I've experienced this. The world becomes blurry when I'm not on a stim. Basically I can't drive without one. unfortunately I am so jittery and prone to side effects that I have not found one yet that I can tolerate.
-z
> I know I am dissecting things too much after only a few hours of taking it, but it is hard not to.
Posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 21:50:32
In reply to Re: Adderall users-what to expect? » banga, posted by zeugma on February 3, 2005, at 16:50:55
Do you know what this means by chance? I do remember once reading that dopamine is involved in vision....truly I felt MUCH better about driving than I have in a long time today.
I even saw the stars....
not to be corny, but really I don't know when the last time is that I had that "universe" sensation in seeing these bright stars in neverending darkness...they were so crisp and real, not fuzzy. All this time I thought they were fuzzy and out-of-focus because of my astigmatism!
Posted by zeugma on February 4, 2005, at 19:00:00
In reply to Re: Adderall users-what to expect? » zeugma, posted by banga on February 3, 2005, at 21:50:32
> Do you know what this means by chance? I do remember once reading that dopamine is involved in vision....truly I felt MUCH better about driving than I have in a long time today.
> I even saw the stars....
> not to be corny, but really I don't know when the last time is that I had that "universe" sensation in seeing these bright stars in neverending darkness...they were so crisp and real, not fuzzy. All this time I thought they were fuzzy and out-of-focus because of my astigmatism!
>
I don't know what it means, but for sure it involves dopamine. I think DA somehow is invoved in detail perception, things generally seem undifferentiated and vague to me, I don't know for instance what color things are, simply because I don't 'look' very attentively at things. Perception off stims feels like an act of will, maybe it's partly why I'm so tired all the time!-z
This is the end of the thread.
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