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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jo Ann on October 19, 2002, at 10:19:27
Hi, has anyone ever switched from Dexedrine to Adderall? I am thinking of asking my doctor to switch me for a while, I feel like I am becoming tolerant to Dex. If I am tolerant to Dex, will I also be tolerant to Adderall? I take 20mg of Dex everyday, and I wake up periodically throughout the night. I never have a good consistent sleep, unless I take Benedryl. If there is anyone who has taken both these meds, please let me know which one worked better for you. I am taking them for ADHD.
Posted by JonW on October 19, 2002, at 11:58:27
In reply to Dexedrine v. Adderall, posted by Jo Ann on October 19, 2002, at 10:19:27
As I understand it, which stimulant works best for you is a very individual thing. That being said, Adderall caused me more anxiety than Dexedrine and I felt Dex was more effective. Adderall was a little smoother, though. You may have to accept that you need a sleep med like ambien to be on a stimulant. It's probably not even worth a shot, but you could try Provigil. It probably won't cause you as many problems, but I don't think the trials for ADHD have been very positive. Have ever been on Wellbutrin? Or maybe another anti-depressant like Effexor, or even zoloft? Zoloft is probably the least likely to help out of those. I suggest ADs because I never heard of a solution to stim tolerance. You can skip a day or two on the weekend if you can tolerate the crash and then start back up on monday. I've heard it suggested that a foreign drug called memantadine combined with a stim might prevent tolerance, but I don't think there is any evidence to back that up. Anyway, hang in there! You'll find a solution eventually :)
Jon
Posted by Ritch on October 19, 2002, at 13:37:21
In reply to Dexedrine v. Adderall, posted by Jo Ann on October 19, 2002, at 10:19:27
> Hi, has anyone ever switched from Dexedrine to Adderall? I am thinking of asking my doctor to switch me for a while, I feel like I am becoming tolerant to Dex. If I am tolerant to Dex, will I also be tolerant to Adderall? I take 20mg of Dex everyday, and I wake up periodically throughout the night. I never have a good consistent sleep, unless I take Benedryl. If there is anyone who has taken both these meds, please let me know which one worked better for you. I am taking them for ADHD.
Hi, immediate release dexedrine usually lasts about 4 hrs after a dose. Are you taking dexedrine spansules? That might be contributing to your insomnia. Adderall contains the d-isomer and the l-isomer of amphetamine. The l-isomer has a half-life of about 11 hours (from what I have been told anyhow). Switching from immediate-release dexedrine tablets to Adderall (of the same dosage) would likely make insomnia problems worse rather than better, unless perhaps you took a single 20mg tab in the morning. I didn't have any insomnia trouble with Adderall as long as I only took it first thing in the morning. Immediate release dexedrine didn't cause trouble either as long as I didn't take a dose within six hours of bedtime. I am on Ritalin now and I can take 10mg two-three hours before bedtime and sleep rather well, but I am on anticonvulsants for comorbid bipolar-II at bedtime which help me sleep. Strangely, it seems to help me sleep better if I take some Ritalin a little close to bedtime. Perhaps it keeps me from grazing in the refrigerator and sleeping on an empty stomach makes for better sleep.
This is the end of the thread.
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