How long will I have to keep taking Adderall XR?!


Question:

How long will I have to keep taking Adderall XR?

I am Adderall XR 20 mgs every 8 hours. I weigh 170lbs and am 32 y/o. I was put on it for intermittent explosive disorder/ defiant dissorder. I am eating "the ADHD diet" and exercise 1.5 hours 4 days a week. The doctor tried Stratera and Provigil first, but they gave me severe headaches at the lowest dose. I've been on the Adderall for 5 months and my family loves the result " no irritability and I will sit down". It lowered my blood pressure to 116/72 and slowed down my brain- which it's hard to adjust to when you have always had alot of enrgy. I thought I was better and missed a few doses and got a massive amount of energy but my brain was like a light show of images. I really think I feel better without it but nobody wants to be around me when I don't take it because I annoy them. Do I have to take it the rest of my life? The doctor also thinks 1 mg per kg would be of more benefit- so he wants to up it. Why am I light/sound sensitive without the Adderall XR?

Additional Details

4 weeks ago
I have been sensitive to light and sound my whole life. The Adderall stops the sensitivity and when I quit taking it, it rebounds and comes back.


Answers:

You raise a great question for those living with life altering mental illness.

I'm living with mood disorders, where I'm taking 2 major meds that have prolific effects on my energy levels - essentially I feel somewhat contained and limited in my flight of ideas - which for me is quite discering. What I've learned to do is weigh the costs and benefits to taking meds. When analyzing the results of my social life, financial status, family relationships, health and overall sense of selfe, I feel much more comfortable staying on the meds as the benefits far outweigh the costs. It's taken me a while to get to this point, through extensive med management and psychotherapy - but the answers are clear as day for me.

There may be other underlying factors that contribute to what you define as an optimal state of well being. However, from what you wrote, you seem to be in good health and depending on how you value your relationships with your family, will determine the value of taking the meds vs. not taking them.

From your other question, it appears that you may be experiencing withdrawal effects from amphetamine (which is what adderall is essentially) but this is something to discuss with your Dr.

Good luck to you.




The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories