Posted by nightlight on June 3, 2002, at 20:40:59
In reply to Losing IQ Points on Adderall, posted by rgreene on April 27, 2002, at 1:37:22
> I've been on Adderall for about a year. When it's at its peak level, I feel sharp, energized, etc. When I come down (which seems to come too quickly, particularly after I eat a meal) I feel so dumb. I can't remember things, I have a hard time finding words, my thinking is sluggish...anyone else find that they're losing IQ points on Adderall?
I was dx'd ADD last fall. I had suspected it for a couple of yrs.,had 'problems' w/mood, etc. since forever. I was 46. I got my g.p. to Rx both Wellbutrin and eventually Ritalin. I got up to 60mgs a day on Ritalin, but it was a total wipe-out. Felt like I took a 'Let's make her as anxious & angry as possible pill', no energy or focus improvement,definitely no IQ increase, plus I came crashing *down* to a lower level than before I took the med within 45-50 minutes and had to nap for at least a couple hours til the crap was outta my system.
WB was ok, but only had very mild ameliorative effects on energy and depression, was on 300SR for many months, tried 450, but it made me too 'wound', w/o any change in energy level.
Later came the official ADD/anxiety/major depression dx from a psychologist/shrink team last November. Started w/Adderall, worked up to 120 mgs within 3 months. The drug was good, I felt my IQ pts. grabbing at the ladder, but I needed a lot of it and too much made me groggy-I have suffered from EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness) since puberty. It is truly a curse. The Adderall did make me feel awake, in the beginning, for the first time in decades. It yanked me out of a deep depression, DAY 1, b/c I finally saw a little sparkly glint of hope on my horizon and I was finally awake and interested in the things/people I loved again. But, with time, didn't seem 'quite right'.
To carry on, we tried generic IR dexedrine and it really disagreed w/me, made my face itch like crazy, so went back to adderall (at 40mgs. 3x's a day) along w/titrating up the Effexor ladder, complemented by 2 mgs. clonazepam daily as needed.
The clonazepam is a great drug, and had been rx'd to me by a physiatrist for chronic pain, due to herniated discs and myofascial pain in my shoulders and back . It was the 1st of dozens of drugs that actually released the tension in my muscles, plus it really helps when u have a lotta shi* to go thru and still perform. I digress...It was not the summit. Pdoc then suggested Adderall extended release. I wanted ex. release, but wanted to give someting besides add. a chance. I asked if we cd. try dexedrine spansules, since I'd read (here) that dex does not contain the levoamphetamine, just the dextroamphetamine.(Hope I got that that terminology correct). And I figured NO x-release forms of methylphenidate were entering my body, I hated my ritalin experience so much.
Well, am now at dex spansules-20 mgs. 3 times a day. And I have a few 5 mg. Dexstrostat in case I feel myself losing my sense and concentration before my 5 yr old is asleep, which is usually around 10.
So, my safeguard against the evil downward spiral of pstim elimination, and the dumb-bunny, lethargic, testy side-effects is to space out my doses at arising (or an hr. before), 1-ish and then at 6 or 7. That way, the crash, if there is one, happens when I am tucked in and ready for the sandman. I also take 300mgs. Effexor and .5-1 mg clonazepam sometime between 8 o'clock and bedtime. I have NO problem sleeping and no negative down-time between 6 and 12 a.m. I don't want to allocate *all* my med support and new-found interests and clarity on 'daily duties'.
Anyway, stretching out the medication over a 16 to 18 hour period is making a very big difference in my attitude and outlook on life. I hate dreading anything, especially when it is very negative and disrupting and can be avoided by following the guidelines that work for me.
Try stretching it out...might help.
poster:nightlight
thread:104266
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020602/msgs/108577.html