Adderall

Thu, Sep 28, 2006
Me
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27 comments

A friend (I’ll not get anyoneÂ in trouble by mentioning names) was prescribed Adderall for his ADHD and was raving about how it allowed him to concentrate more and become more focused… really, to do more work in less time.

I read about it on Wikipedia and decided to give it a shot. What really interested me was that it was described as an “overachiever’s drug.” Adderall is often taken by college kids to cram on an exam, for instance, due to the fact that it allows you to focus on even really boring subject material.

I was interested to know what it would do to take it, and since it’s not addictive, I bummed one off my friend and took it this morning. I took a 10mg (blue) tablet. The results? Well, this is unlike any other drug I’m familiar with.

I let the “buzz” for the first hour wear off while I was getting my car an oil change. Then I headed to lunch. However, I was itching to work and ducked out of lunch after eating a salad to try my hand at staying focused.

I typically tend to ignore things that I don’t want to deal with or that take too long to do, but today, I was burning through work. It was really unbelievable. All of those little things that had been nagging me for a while (small things, mostly, but all of them little details that had just been piling up on my desk) suddenly got brought out into the light. All of a sudden, I did not want to do anything else. I wanted to get all that crap cleaned up.

And clean up I did. I sent email after email, setting up billing for clients, emailing a resolution for a long-standing billing dispute, and sending a detailed email to a customer who wanted advice onÂ a hosting solution. I aggressively ripped through my inbox, replying to email after email, ensuring that Things. Got. Done.

I also noticed that I was a lot more mellow around the office. I engaged employees in conversation. I smiled a lot. I was less concerned about myself and more concerned with making sure that other people were satisfied. (This was, in fact, the same thing that prompted me to get all of those outstanding issues resolved. I felt that my integrity was on the line in all cases and decided to get things resolved to make my customers happy.) This, I feel, showsÂ an important part of my lifeÂ — making sure others are happy and making sure I clear up issues so that people are proud to have me in their lives.

I am amazed at the productivity level that I’m having today, but I notice something different. I’m sure as heck focused, but I feel like my vision is narrower. Adderall forces you to focus on NOW. What is going on NOW? Typically, my thought process is about the future. Right now I don’t care about the future… I just want to get some work done. And while I can tell you that this is extremely valuable to have once in a while, it would ruin my business were I to do this every day, because I would not be able to be a visionary and think about where I want to be in 5 or 10 years.

But boy… to just be able to so aggressively attack all those things I’ve been putting off… well, that’s an amzing feat in and of itself.

So why did I decide to post this on my blog? Mainly because I want youÂ to know what Adderall is like should someone you know be on it, should you want to take it, or should you have kids and someone recommends Adderall for them. I can say right now… please, I beg of you, do not put your kids on Adderall every day. It is great for routine work and terrible for visionary creative moments. But when you need to stop being soÂ future-focused for a day or two and just really focus on clearing up all that stuff that accumulates in your inbox while you’re out there being an awe-inspiring visionary… yep, go for it.

Summary: Adderall 10mg
Good effects for me: Increased focus and concentration; increased calm feeling; more relaxed and able to interact with others; getting busywork done instead of letting it pile up
Bad effects for me: Sweaty palms; dry mouth; creativity and visionary abilities gone; no ability to focus on the future, just NOW
Recommendations: Take every once in a while when you know you need to clean things up or get busywork done, but don’t have the motivation to do so. Do not take or recommend to anyone who needs to be creative.

Ted Rheingold says:

9/28/2006 at 5:29 pm

While not physically addictive I’ve seen folks get ‘reliant’ on the output it offers them.

Fortknox says:

9/28/2006 at 5:38 pm

Ummm… taking a prescribed drug, an amphetamine, mind you, without a prescription is probably not a great idea (did you look at the possible side effects, including all the warnings?).

For someone WITH ADD, I can tell you all that stuff (adderall, ritalin, etc..) is straight energy in the form of the drug known on the street as ‘speed.’ It doesn’t help you concentrate, it just gets your heart pounding. ADD people have a little less energy than a ‘normal’ person, and when the body senses this, it overdoes it (hence the ‘hyperactivity’). The speed just adjusts your energy to a normal level, so no overcharging is done….

Honestly, I’ve had too many side effects with all the different amphetamines, so I don’t take anything for my ADD…

Pythor says:

9/29/2006 at 5:27 am

I have a similar reaction to Ritalin. I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 22. Since then, I have taken generic Ritalin (Metylphenidate) off and on. Taking it makes me focus. I get work done that I’ve been putting off. I don’t see that it improves my relationships, or stops me from thinking about the future. But it silences the thoughts that are always running through my head. Which is exactly why I don’t take it much. I like the thoughts running through my head. I am the thoughts running through my head. I don’t want to be that other person. Still, when deadlines loom and I need the ability to focus and get stuff done, I take it. I refuse to take it on weekends, though.

Tom V says:

9/30/2006 at 6:48 pm

In middle school I got terrible grades. Rarely ever got a C. My freshman year of High School I was prescribed adderall and ever since I have done much much better. I take it every school day and sometimes on the weekend if I have huge projects. Its makes me really shy and takes away my appetite. But without it I would barely be making it through school.

epsas nova says:

10/14/2006 at 11:50 pm

People who use meth are happy that adderal exists: a pharmaceutical that can sometimes takes the edge off of living with a serious crystal habit.

Adderal’s caliber of tweak lies somewhere between street crank and real ice…

Would you reconsider your endorsement of this medication for ‘performance enhancement’? It can be ridiculously easy for people to become psychologically addicted to the initial benefits of an amphetamine regimine*.

[ * Paul ErdÃ¶s, famous brilliant engaging mathematician fucked-over by some fucked-up notion that he needed some illegal chemical to maintain…]

“…
But when you need to stop being so future-focused for a day or two and just really focus on clearing up all that stuff that accumulates in your inbox while youâ€™re out there being an awe-inspiring visionaryâ€¦ yep, go for it.
… “

Matt says:

11/29/2006 at 6:43 pm

Hey there Erica I just came across your blog and I thought I would put in my two cents. For whatever that maybe worth.. Well Adderall can be a great rec. drug unless you are predisposed to addiction then well one is to many and a thousand is never enough. You should feel safe that no one has died from too much adderall taken orally or sniffed. It can however be deadly if you try to inject it and over dose to the point of death is possible. Signs of an oral or nasal over does can be stomach cramps, bad headaches , and illusions just to beguin with.. Heres the thing though is that doctors “try” to get the person on the right dose and there are many cases that people take up to 200mgs aday cause there dopamine levels are that far off. However for never taking it and then taking a 10 mg or even 20mg pill it will get you going. But if you took that day after day your dopamine levels would balance it out and the same dosage wont effect you. It is a mirical drug for some and a Judy Garlin drug for way tooooo many. Enjoy it when you can and dont go over board and “spin out”. Youll never be the same. Nontheless you would probablly bennifit from anywhere between 40-60 mgs to reach that point of revolation and double that if you want to reach damnation. LOL Just tread lightly and all will be well. Take care and play it smart. Peace Rev,Matthew

Rach says:

1/8/2007 at 11:47 am

does anyone have any idea how much is too much to take a day if your not prescribed it?

James says:

2/8/2007 at 9:52 pm

Regarding Rach’s Question: There is not a definitive answer. Everyone’s body chemistry is different, and as a result, people respond to the drug’s effects differently. There have been people that have consumed large quantities (400-600mg), and they haven’t died, but there have been many others who have overdosed at 30mg (XR). My advice would be to not try your luck. Adderall is an effective medication when prescribed under the supervision of a physician, but can be just as dangerous as many illicit drugs when taken recreationally. Be safe.

lucky says:

2/14/2007 at 9:39 pm

I want some!

Gerald P. Jones says:

3/12/2007 at 11:55 pm

I have been taking just 10 mg of methylpenidate per morning to become awake. This was prescribed 15 years ago as a medication to combate morning lethargy, slow to become alert,
slow getting up due to a CVA (stroke). After waking upo, it is normal the remainder of the day. I have left the city where my neurologist prescribed this for me & it is difficult to get my primary care physicians toi prescribe this low dose on an ongoing basis. I need suggestions of how, where, i.e trials, samples, test, etc to get this medication to start my days. HELP!

Gerald

steven michael braswell says:

4/7/2007 at 6:45 pm

I don’t know what that fortknox person was talking about just because you have had side effects with one or two or even sevel different medications doesn’t mean there all bad it just might not be the right one for you. I myself have taking all kinds of add/adhd medications such as strattara, ritalin, adderall, ect… its hard to find the right medication but if you really and truly have add/adhd then there is the right medication out there for you. and to all the people taking medication for this condition, keep taking your medication as prescribed by your doctor and if you have any side effects like fortnox had tell your doctor and he/she will eventually find the right medication for you just be patient. to gerald try to get your old neurologist to take to your primary care physician about your situation

15 year old kid says:

4/20/2007 at 6:01 am

I have been taking adderall since I was about 7 years of age. It is not working for me very good any more. I try to take the drug (Adderall) on and off because i dont trust the drug a whole lot. As I sit here at my desk I am not doing my homework I stayed home for. I am not doing this because I have found something else to concentrat on if you take adderall every day you concentrat on things other than School work. Once you take adderall you develope a different mind and you are now interested in something else on it. You cant controll your selfs sometimes I used to beat on people at my school because i used to relate everything they said to be against me that was the Adderall MIND. I know play more WOW (World of Warcraft) because i cant controll my self when on adderall and when you think about something so distinctiveley you concentrat on it more when you are on adderall and that is what happens to me I think about the World in WOW and think about how i should be LVLing more in it. So if you take adderall and prescribed it take it how you are suppose to not on and off.

15 year old kid says:

4/20/2007 at 7:08 am

I sometimes find my self not beeing able to get up and do anything. I just dont want people to see me so i dont go out at all and i stay in when my family got out for dinner or shopping. I dont know Why?

Nicole says:

5/17/2007 at 9:33 am

I have never been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, and to be honest, I don’t really know a whole lot more than just the basic facts. Regardless, it is exam week at my school and so when my boyfriend offered me some of his brother’s Adderall and told me it would help me focus, I took it without hesitation. I am the type of person who will sit down to study or write a paper and be on AIM within 20 minutes of starting.

I took double the dosage prescribed, but I have no idea what that dosage is. In retrospect, this was probably a bad idea. About 30 minutes to an hour after taking it, I sat down to study and didn’t move until my roommate came back 6 hours later and told me I needed to take a break. My heart was racing, and I had a really hard time stopping. I had planned to do laundry throughout the day, but completely neglected it once I started working because I couldn’t bear to stop without finishing what I had started. I didn’t eat or drink anything all day except a couple sips of water, and when I went to bed last night I couldn’t fall asleep, which is normally not a problem for me. On a normal day I usually sleep between 10-14 hours, if I get a nap. I also have a very healthy appetite.

Right now, I’m still wired and fidgety, and I had to force myself to eat some breakfast, even though I’m not hungry.

My boyfriend described similar symptoms, but he tended to get angry when disrupted, whereas I couldn’t recognize distractions because I was so absorbed in my work. He also fell asleep more easily, but that is probably because he took something else to calm his anxiety.

I will definitely take Adderall again if presented with the opportunity and a situation where I need to get stuff done. I won’t, however, take as much.

Nicole says:

6/3/2007 at 1:04 am

I just thought you guys needed to know, in case you don’t already, that Adderall is in fact very addictive, physically and psychologically, and you can easily build up a tolerance to it. When this happens, you have to take more for it to be effective, and more often.

MikeM says:

6/14/2007 at 10:06 am

I began taking 30mg Adderall XR but experienced some scary side effects after a few weeks. And what’s scary is that I was absolutely unable to describe what I was feeling, I just knew I wasn’t okay (mentally & physically)… almost like a panic attack. I called my shrink and contemplated going to the E/R but she recommended stopping it immediately, going home, and to schedule another visit.

I stopped immediately, went to see the doctor, and she started me on the non-XR (eXtended Release) product, 10mg at a time. She suggested taking up to 60mg a day but told me that I would have to figure how how much and how often.

I now take 10mg several times a day but I’m really struggling with how much to take and how often. Sometimes it seems I take too much in too short of time, and other times I wait too long and crash. In addition, I have to be careful not to take too much late in the day or I will not be able to sleep.

Can anyone offer me any advice when taking the regular Adderall 10mg at a time? And, does anyone else take Oxycontin for chronic pain in addition to taking Adderall? To me it seems like a serious conflict of medications since one is a depressant and the other a stimulant, but the doctor says she’s found no evidence to the contrary.

Small town screwup says:

9/14/2007 at 1:36 pm

I started taking adderall at about 14. It definatly helped my concentrate in school but it also took a huge spill. After about a year of taking it i got very depressed due to a bad breakup. I started to keep things bottled up and held grudges against classmates that would occasionally give me a hard time, ussually id think nothing of it but when on adderall things are different. At the same time, i had my parents constantly reminding me of all of my past screw ups and my teachers were extremly judgemental and went by how you were the prior year. So i ended up getting a severe case of depression and could never sleep and would never care to go to school anymore because i saw it as a place of ridicule which made me feel like i was nothing, and with the judgemental teachers i had there would be times id get in trouble for simply getting up in study hall to ask a question or ask another classmate for help when one of my close friends was doing cartwheels and the teacher would laugh at him. I got to the point where i had enough. I slowly stopped attending school and eventually got in a fight with my stepdad over nothing and lashed out on him and when i did i pulled up my sleeves and showed him that i had been cutting and made it clear that i wanted help. I went through councelling, and had meetings with my parents and princaple of my school trying to think of any way to keep me in school but anything they came up with i didnt want to do it knowing that i was already on the edge. I ended up moving to my dads and got a job and kept busy, I started writing about what happened and that helped me get over things and ever since ive had a passion for music. I now have a good relationship and have plans for getting my GED. I dont take my adderall as perscribed anymore because of the side effects, i take it now to lose wieght or just to get things done otherwise i let it sit around for a while. But to anyone who can relate to this i will have a soft spot for just because its a very hard process to get through.

Messed says:

10/5/2007 at 10:01 pm

I was already doing these ADHD plls for fun it wasnt adderall but it was different, they were 50mg. Next thing i knew i was snorting 250 mg! THATS ALOT OF POWDER!A couple hours later i was having troube breathing with tight chest pains, and even thought about going to the hospital it was so painful but i just toughed it out. Ive taken a break, but this past week i started my junior year in highschool. I dont know what to say its hard, and im hearing impaired. I can hear but i use really tiny hearing aids to help me. Which bilieve it or not has caused me alot of bottled up anger and depression. Im in my 9th week of junior year and a few weeks ago i was put on 30 mg adderall XR. It started working pretty good, got my focus and organiation skills together. My social life had expanded and i was able to throw in a little online gaming(WOW)in there. Everything seemed fine…i was getting the slight speed but since im not even really adhd or w/e and i wasnt even coming down that bad. But this past week ive been becoming paranoid. And almost every second i see a flash or a shadow to the side and jerk my head to look! I become very sleepy on the weekends since i dont take it, and i fear my tolerance is goingup. I dont know what to do. If i ask for higher ill just sound like a druggie…And this anxiety, and these flashes, are just getting worse! Can anyone help??

bradley says:

11/9/2007 at 11:34 am

I have been on adderall for about 6 years and let me be the first to tell you, it is very addicting. i became addicted about 2 years ago, and i started taking about 60mg/day. now im taking 80mg almost every day. if you are smart, you will only take this when you need it. i abuse it and i get horrible headaches when im coming off of my buzz.

Elyse says:

12/6/2007 at 9:56 am

Hi 2 years ago i was prescribed adderall for my ADD however I was underage and since my mother doesnt believe in these types of medications she wouldn’t let me fill my perscription. Since one of my friends took adderall I just started getting them from him. I’ve been taking it when needed for about two years now but I recently switched to a different kind. For the past few days I’ve been experiencing pain in the left side of my neck, back, and chest. My chest feels very tight and I actully have to “try” to breath. Also, on and off, there is some kind of faint noise coming from my chest when i breath, not a cracking sound. I am a smoker so I’m familiar with these types of symptoms but on the adderral they’re so much worse. Again my family/ doctor doesn’t know I’m actually taking it and have been for years so I don’t really have anyone to talk to about this. I also cant find any information about correlations between smoking-adderall-tight chest online. Have any of you experienced symptoms like mine or know where I can go to find out more information?

16 year old kid says:

4/22/2008 at 10:43 pm

first I took a 30 ml gram adderall before a golf match and felt very focused, i played better. After i took two more and am very buzzed. Is this an extremely dangourus amount? its great and helps me focus in lower doeseges though.

ericabiz says:

4/25/2008 at 1:26 pm

@16 year old kid: If you have to ask, it’s probably dangerous. Use the lowest dosage you can. (Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this should not be construed as medical advice. Consult your doctor for advice specific to your needs.)

-Erica

andrea says:

12/6/2008 at 3:18 am

see now ive taken adderall off n on for the last 11 years. i was on ritilan when i was first diagnosed with add in 6th grade. as a kids trust me i had alotttttttt of evergy but i couldnt focus to save my life in school or understand what im learning. it took me to read a paragraph 6-8 times over with out any meds just to know and understand what 3 sentences were. thats how distracted i am. but i am actally allergic to rittilan. so my jr year we tried adderall.. i got straight a’s. bad thing was i weighed 90lbs. but i understood everything n didnt struggle as hard. my sr year my moom took me off it due to the weight loss. but i just started college after being out of school 10 years, and let me tell u if i didnt take adderall id be screwed. and slight noise i get bothered. i cant learn by reading. and its hard for me to grasp things easily. i was diagnosed as a tru case of add. but my son had the same prob but id never dare put him on adderall.. i mean it works wonders for me in school, thats about it. i suffer from severe adgitation, bad mood swings, i hardly eat, but thats not much a symptom anymore cause i make sure i eat now on it. mostly i suffer from severe depression and anxioty. it makes me think of things i normally wouldnt n i single out. sit in room alone. mood swings. but i have a 3.5 gpa. i dont know what else to take. i tried focalin n it didnt do crap. i have to see a nuro but its hard when ur insurance dont cover much. but for people who truly struggle with focusing n stuff i recomend it but if your susseptible to depression i highly suggest aainst it. it causes alot of suicides. it makes you that depressed. yes ive had the thoughts too.. thats y i dont like it. n i, suppose to take 30mg a day but i take 20.. so.. it reacts to everyone differently. rittilan n focalin which r brother n sister. knoocked me out n made me real tired n didnt help in school.

andrea says:

12/6/2008 at 3:18 am

oh and im 27

andrea says:

12/6/2008 at 3:20 am

oh yea and ive started develpoing sever anyxioty and attacks. and i dont know how to treat them or know what the cause 4 severe depression is from either.. its just there ruining my life

David says:

8/20/2010 at 8:42 pm

As an entrepreneur myself, I must say Adderall is a gear of my enterprise I could not do without. Either your a worker or a strategist. as an entrepreneur you are the latter, bu the former is also important. “busywork” or admin work is tedious but essential. Adderall definately takes the bite out of it.

T. says:

5/2/2011 at 10:31 pm

After multiple weeks or months of taking it, the “buzz” of work work work isn’t ad strong and you can again see things and think them through and plan thoroughly, as well as feel an urge to reach your fullest potential. Adderall is actually a highly abused drug because of the euphoria. Vyvanse, by the same company, has less of a “narrowed buzz” and more of an enhanced businessman effect. On vyvanse I’m able to choose which work is the most important and what I can do to have the best future possible. On vyvanse, I planned my highschool classes into about 6 semesters into the future and even discovered an exceptional way for me to graduate and head off to NC State to become a computer engineer at 16 years old.

On vyvanse, I’ve learned programming languages that take years to learn in weeks to the point that I was actually able to solve problems for college level programmers. (C being the language)

I’m 14 now, and I feel lazy without the medicine. In the past I’ve smoked weed, cigarettes, and other things I won’t mention here, and have even been caught doing it at school, but after starting the treatment with these medicines, I haven’t taken a single illegal pill or even considered smoking anything. I feel good enough on the medicine that I don’t crave anything illegal of that sort.

Excuse errors and poor sentence structure. I’m on my iPod.

Please take my advice and don’t discourage the use if this medicine so strongly just yet. I know it’s hard to trust a 14 year old boy, but I can truthfully tell you that the medicine is not thought hindering once you get past the few days of buzzing work ethic.

Adderall

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