I am glad it was helpful info lol. I also though it was a gradual constant release of the medicine as well. But I read up did some research and it is a two step release.

The big thing that turned me off to the XR as well was the price difference. It was double the cost of the IR to fill.

As far as the night and day difference. I can clearly tell when the IR is starting to wear off and I can tell when it is basically gone. For me around the 4hr mark I can tell it is starting to taper off, at the 5 hour mark it is basically gone.

Timeline: Take 20mg@10am; Working by 11am, full strength; 3pm effect starts to wane; 4pm effect is basically all gone, Next dose taken.

So I get about 4 hours of max strength use out of 1 20mg pill. from the 4hr mark on the effectiveness drops off pretty fast. But since I am only currently getting two pills a day allowed. I wait until the effect is gone completely at the 5 hour mark so I can stretch the two pills I do get to last the whole day I need them to.

If I could get my way I would have the option for 3 pills a day and take them at the four mark so the drop off does not really have a chance to take hold until I am ready to sleep lol. Baby steps though . Also the come down of the IR is much smoother to me compared to the XR even though it is said that it is suppose to be smoother. Also the XR really interfered with my sleep something fierce. All around it was not good for me.