Figuring out Adderall prescription

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I was prescribed adderall on December 30th. 5mg extended release one a day in the morning. I felt it the first couple of days. I really felt clear headed in the morning, however it dies down in the afternoon end my mind starts wandering again and I can't focus, and get tired. Now 2 weeks in I'm thinking I want to talk to my doctor about trying out a higher dosage. Should I wait until my next appointment on the 23rd? or try to schedule one in the next week or so? Would it look too suspicious to do it so soon, but also not right away?

Hi Jules! I imagine your appointment on the 23rd was scheduled to find out how the prescription is working. There's no reason you shouldn't bring it forward a bit if you have a clear answer to that.

The extended release Adderall is designed to give you half the dose when you take it and the other half four hours later. It might be that what you want is not a higher dose, but spread further into the afternoon. (You don't want it too late, though, or it might make it harder to sleep.) Perhaps you could take it a little later in the morning; or perhaps you could use the non-extended-release tablets and take half in the morning and half early afternoon. At one stage they were working on a triple-release Adderall but it doesn't seem to have come to market yet. Methylphenidate, a different ADHD medication, is available in slow-release formulations that work all day.

These are all things you can discuss with your doctor at your next appointment.

So I scheduled my appointment for this Friday instead. I have a really busy week next week and need to stay on my toes. What should I do when I go in? Just say the same stuff I've said here?

Yes, always start with what you have observed in yourself. Don't start suggesting solutions until you have made clear what the problem is.

It shouldn't be any sort of contest--your doctor and you are meant to be on the same side. :)

Thanks Ineligible, that really does help!

@Ineligible So we ended up upping the prescription to 10mg which has been working fairly well when it's working, but doesn't last the whole day. I was thinking that maybe 10mg 2 times a day might work best. Would it be self-prescribing if I recommended that to my doctor? I would almost go so far as say one 20mg in the am and one 10mg midday, but I feel like that might be pushing it as a personal assumption.

It's not self-prescribing to suggest something to your doctor, but I think your doctor, having just doubled the dose, would not want to double it again so soon, let alone triple the doubled dose. I would suggest 5 mg twice a day to spread it out better.

Sure, that makes sense. Thanks!

Jules there is a really good book about adhd drugs from charles parker you can find it at amazon. he gets into all kinds of details about dosing and what not. maybe this would be worth reading.