adderall

[aresian]

Adderall... it is in the same family as methamphetamines but supposedly when used by those that need it, provides help in focus. I have recently begun taking it under the Dr's care. Day two has me feeling warm in the temples and I feel slightly hyper but not in the crazy way like when I drink caffeine. Cant tell any physical affects yet. I will return with more information.

[Alice]

I see one effect, unless you just woke up or you wrote this post from a phone. Your typing isn't even this bad on the full moon.

May you find what you seek,
Alice

[aresian]

I meant this to be a marker for me to come back with research, and a better typing medium.

Yes, I was typing from a phone and I wasn't feeling quite myself at the time. The feeling of not quite myself wasn't directly related to the medicine. There are plenty other things wrong with me that I must take into account when analyzing the medicine side effects. Like my multiple tendency, my spiritual pursuits, and anything else I was doing at the time of the post. I may have posted that from the hookah lounge I frequent in which case there was a lot of distractions.

I do notice a warming at the temples, it isn't an unpleasant action but I should make note of it. The warming of the temples has begun about an hour after taking the 10mg pills. They are time release capsules too.


Another side-effect I have noticed is a loss of appetite. Even when my stomach is hungry I have nearly zero impulse to eat. It is like I take a bite of a sandwich and I feel full. I am sure this effect is temporary but I know from previous experience that this comes directly from the type of medicine that Adderall is.

I'm not going to take up space regurgitating what I found online so here is the link to the technical descriptions:

Adderall

As one can see it is definitely an amphetamine. It isn't exactly the street drug as it is classified as a "derivative" but still for all purposes it is. They just know the dosage and potency a little better than the street form of amphetamine (supposedly).

I made this section to note my reactions to the medicine. As you might have noticed there is a lot going on.

Another note for now would be an extreme focus on one item at a time no matter the importance. It works with the kind of thinking I usually experience but kind of "enhances" the tendency to fixate on things.

I have also noticed that it took all my "scatter brained" tendencies and has begun to organize them into a kind of priority list (can't think of anything to describe it better at the moment). Instead of being focused on a whole grouping of items I now approach my tasks one at a time. This "hyper focus" has the downside of making me less able to multitask. Not that I could before. Before I would start many different projects and finish non of them so it really wasn't multitasking at all. Now I finish the task I begin before going on to the next task. So, on a positive note the medicine is so far doing what it is intended to do.

Some other affects I've noticed is a feeling of being hyper with no additional sugar or caffeine. I even stopped drinking caffeine in the morning. My body doesn't miss the stimulant affect of caffeine but I am beginning to get headaches from withdrawal of caffeine. The headaches are compounded by the raise in blood pressure from the Adderall.

Yet another note to make is that this is the generic of Adderall not the name brand. Doesn't really seem to be any different to me.

I think a fair conclusion is that there is a hyper focus as displayed by the length of this post. I hope it isn't ranting. Like I said there is a lot going on these first few days of being on this medicine.

Socially, I have yet to see what the affect is but tomorrow I should be able to tell when I attend my weekly game club meeting.


It is slightly amusing to me that I can't stop fixating on something. I mean I can stop but I have the impulse to not stop until it is done. So on a post like this where it is an on-going discussion perhaps you can see where my problem is.


Drawing the line here for now.


-Aresian-

[Alice]

Actually, that post was less daunting to read than many of yours are, especially the full moon dissertations you are so prone to. Seems like your thoughts are wandering less as you try to put them down in the post. It's a long post sure, but it's all on one subject. Often as not your posts are broken up by references to things you thought of while posting that have nothing to do with the intended topic.

Take some Aspirin to relieve the pressure when the headaches get too bad, making sure of course that it's safe to take with amphetamines. I don't remember off the top of my head. You could have a cup of Tea and get about 1/8 of the caffeine of the Coffee, and that'd take the edge off as well.

May you find what you seek,
Alice

[aresian]

Day 7 of actually taking the adderall.

The feeling in my temples is lessening a little. I did take some advil for a headache I was getting. I discovered that something between my pills, inhaler, and vitamins was interacting negatively yesterday. I cut out the certain vitamin I was taking and I feel much better today. I woke up with congestion (maybe getting a cold or allergies) and took some licorice root. I kept my dose of licorice small and there weren't any side affects that I can tell with the root. I also ate a lighter lunch than normal.

This morning I tried a calcium pill and I feel a whole lot better than yesterday (it has zinc too so might help with the cold too). This is a different vitamin pill from the one I stopped taking due to feeling ill yesterday.

I am feeling a little more sleepy than usual due to not getting a restful sleep. The sleep pattern is probably due to not feeling well last night.

Perhaps another section I should add is the spiritual side of my journey with this new medicine.

Today is the first day I felt truly "scattered brained" since beginning the medication. I read that there were two meteors yesterday, one being in Russia and the other passed close to Earth with no ill affects. Previously when there were meteor activity, eclipse, or such astronomical events I have noticed I pick up on such energy changes. It is just a feeling for now as I need to gather more data.

I have noticed I am a lot less hyper feeling and even on the side of depressed feeling since yesterday. I have been going through my herbal stock to see if I can help that feeling and it seems to have worked. I did a cleans and a revitalization. Still can be due to me not sleeping well last night.

A few physical side effects of the medicine have lessened for now.

I do fixate mentally on tasks. That is part of the point of taking this medicine. I still tend to fixate on things that I would otherwise have overlooked or ignored. Maybe a side effect but also maybe it is simply what the medicine is meant to do. I need some more time to tell for sure.


That is all for now. I will keep posting as I get the time to post and as I feel it is necessary.

[Alice]

For depression, St. John's Wort, which reminds me I should start a thread about that.

May you find what you seek,
Alice

[aresian]

On day ten I am finding myself able to focus a lot better, yes. The noted side effects are an increasingly frequent occurrence of "spacing out" or kind of a daydream minus any dream. I just kind of feel like I feel asleep with my eyes open and find myself not thinking of anything at all notable. If someone is talking to me while I am "spacing out" I can't hear them or even acknowledge them. I have felt like this when I meditate or something on purpose but in those cases it is a hyper awareness not this kind of dullness that settles around me like a cloud. Not sure the triggers on it and I haven't noticed it happening while driving. I think it comes more frequently (the spacing out) when I am at rest, it could be my mind searching for something to pay attention to when there is a lack of stimulus.

I can note that I am sill hyper focusing on single tasks. Where this is useful I am glad for it but when I am running a business by myself I need to multitask so this can be an issue.

A behavioral note: I am still putting off difficult tasks but I am finding it easier to motivate myself to complete them before the "due date" so this area is improving not solely due to the medication but it is giving help where needed.

Physically, I don't feel any side-effects no heart rate increase or anything of that nature. I am continuing to reduce my caffeine intake. Today, I drank about a quarter cup of coffee (very small "shot" of regular coffee)and one soda (the Mexican Coke soda to be exact 335ml).

I do feel some sort of detachment from my spiritual side. I am not sure if it is merely the timing of all this or the medicine. I just feel more like everything is an illusion. Perhaps it is my increase in observance that I start to see the world for what it is in a way... I think this is a spiritual matter that was already present but amplified by the focus-inducing medicine. Could just be my current mood.


Had a dream I was an aspect of emotion like it was some sort of magical power attached to the emotion. I was to undergo a trial to test if I was going to accept this "power" and I was awoken by cats meowing right as I was about take said test. I think that summarizes my subconscious at the moment. I think there is a desire to test myself. In many ways that is sensible and actually helps growth so I guess it is ok for now.

[aresian]

My caffeine intake has returned to pre-medication levels (except it is coffee not energy drinks). I have found my anxiety to be off the scale but I am not certain if that is the medicine or merely the boost in caffeine. Plus I smoked again yesterday (the shisha tobacco)so that could be included in what's going on. I've been eating regularly lately and not snacking a whole lot between meals. I do take vitamin C and calcium supplements a few times per week (I found it is easier than every day).

I am still "spacing out" but the frequency of that is less with more caffeine. So, I feel for now the increase in caffeine is at a good balance. I had one soda at lunch and what would equate to two cups of coffee. That is actually an improvement over several sodas in the afternoon as coffee has a lot less bad for me compared to the soda (the processed sugars and/or fructose corn syrup isn't good for add specifically).

On the positive I am improving my ability to focus on difficult tasks. On the negative I am still not at the level I'd like to be with focusing on difficult tasks.


Overall, I feel I am getting used to the medication at the moment.

The anxiety can be countered with lavender/rose/jasmine even. I am not having trouble sleeping that I know of.

[aresian]

Overall attentiveness is improved on day 14 (second week) of being on this medication. My task completion is increasing (while still far from greatly improved). My motivational thinking has kind of reached a snag, not sure this is a direct result of the medicine or perhaps my habits are adjusted to the medication so it really doesn't affect that so much anymore. Side effects are still anxiety, irritability, and a sort of "neutral" feeling on emotions. I don't feel sad but I don't feel happy either even about things I used to find enjoyable. I think it has been my expression of emotion that has been further lessened (it wasn't the best to begin with). I still feel emotional but I find I don't express it appropriately and this seems to be highlighted with the medication.

I did not keep off of the caffeine. I had one energy drink today. On the other hand I have so far had zero sodas of any kind (except I guess the energy drink being carbonated, sugared, and caffeinated makes them sodas). So, perhaps an improvement still in my eating.

This morning I had breakfast of the energy drink and a large sweet muffin (cheese strudel). I had for lunch a chicken ranch wrap with chips. I just ate a fiber one bar. That pretty much accounts for all the sugars I might have ingested.

I am still fixating on singular thoughts and I am still "spacing out" a lot. In fact there are short periods of depression followed by the neutral "aphasia" feelings.


Well, that's about it for now. I will keep noting what unfolds for me.

[aresian]

19th day of the whole medication regiment. I have not skipped a whole day, although I've taken the pills later in the day or earlier depending on when I wake up. I haven't noticed if later in the day makes much difference as I haven't taken the pills as an initial dose much later than 11 am.

Symptoms are subsiding quite a bit, at least for today. I find myself still having short periods of irritability. Not sure if this is due directly from the medication or from my bad sleep patterns. The sleep patterns are getting a little bit off from the "norm" as I have been going to bed much later than usual and waking slower because of going to sleep later (like 2-3am and waking 8-9am).

I am still "spacing out" but less frequently than a few days ago. I am still super focusing on single tasks easier than before the medicine but to the exclusion of other tasks (still having issues with multitasking).

Spiritually, I feel "shut off" or at least my connection to the spiritual world feels a bit more "muddy" like I can't seem to focus at all on spiritual pursuits.


Well, windows decided to update right now so I have to go.

[Alice]

I've heard others report that the use of stimulants to treat attention disorders interferes with their spirituality. The continuation of study of long term side effects may be wise, but ultimately you may want to use it on an as needed basis.

May you find what you seek,
Alice

[aresian]

Meh, there are a number of factors that can affect mood. For example, right now I feel pretty good.