Just Diagnosed with ADHD

[Chammie]

I am a 21 year old female college student and I was just diagnosed with ADHD.  My doctor prescribed me 10 mg of Adderall XR (the capsule form) and I have been taking it in the morning before breakfast.  I'm not sure how long it's supposed to take for it to work, but I honestly haven't felt any different.  My mind is still fuzzy and wanders constantly, I can't sit still.  Does anyone know if its normal for it to not work for the first few days?  Also, does anyone know if drinking caffeine is bad while on Adderall?

[Louisville_P]

I just started Adderall last Friday and within 20 minutes of taking the first 10mg dose it impacted me obviously.  My mind went from a dim flashlight to a relative laser beam in general conversation and business.  I still feel that I could improve but it is vastly better than where I was.  My biggest fear now is an indefinate relationship with adderall and the long term effects of the med/building resistance to it.

I've been reading a whole lot over the weekend and hope to attmept to address my ADD more with diet and less with the drug but I will say adderall has opened my eyes to the possibilities for me.

[Sandman2]

Thanks for the response.  I wasn't real happy with the way your first doctor treated you, so glad to see the change.  Do let your doctor know what is going on.  If you still are not feeling much of a change by now, then your doctor needs to know.  I don't think that coffee will be a problem - but, once again it may be a little trial and error.  Good Luck

[little_hippie]

Im 25 and i was diagnosed with Adult Adhd just over 2 years ago, i was put on to Ritalin right from the start, altho it has so many side effects, i get on with it pretty ok. i find i can concentrate much better now and get on with alot of things i couldnt before, however, i get side effects from taking it, i lose my appeitie alot of the time so therefore i have very little control over my weight lose/gain, I also take Temazepam at night to try and help me sleep as that can sometimes be rather hard to wind down. this is also a side effect of Ritalin. i take a form of Ritalin called Concerta which is a 12 hour slow release.

sorry to go on, thought i would shed some light on some of the effects of Ritalin!

[Chammie]

I did the actual ADHD clinical testing, I didn't just ask for Adderall because I thought that I had ADHD.  I am no longer with the doctor that I was with over the summer.  I have not been taking my anti-anxiety med since starting Adderall, but that is because my doctor didn't mention to me if I should stop taking it.

[Sandman2]

Went back and read your last post.  Are you still on anti-anxiety medication?  That can affect your response to Adderall. Just being curious (and you don't have to answer) - are you still seeing the same doctor?

[Sandman2]

The amount of medication that is necessary to work varies for each person depending on body weight, age, and severity of ADHD.  Doctors typically start out with a low dose and wait to see how it works.  Thus communication with your doctor is very important (He should have told you this).  10mg is enough (I would think) that if you don't have ADHD you would be off to the races (which is another reason the doctors start with a low dose).  Let him know how you are feeling.  The results should be fairly rapid.  Not sure about the caffeine.  Ask your doc.   Good Luck.