In my experience, any activating type of reactions when I started the drug completely leveled out after a couple of months. At this point, I cannot tell I am taking a drug. I even sleep better while taking this drug. But if I took it more than twice a day, I would probably have trouble sleeping too. I take 10 mg. twice a day. Since I have the tablets, I cut them in half or a fourth if needed. It's not like antidepressants, where you have to take the same amount consistently every day. My psychiatrist never seems to mind that I adjust my doses as needed.

This drug is very short acting--it usually works for about 4 or 5 hours. It's not the most consistent drug either, so keep that in mind. Some days it works better than others and same as you, sometimes it makes me more tired. It took me a long time to realize there are inconsistencies with effectiveness, but I have taken other drugs and this has the least amount of side effects for me and it is more effective. What time to you take it? I take 10 mg. at 7 or 8 am then again at 12 or 1 pm; 2 at the latest.

I believe this is one of the cleaner drugs out there, but it's odd a psychiatrist would prescribe this drug to you before trying some of the others. Paranoia is a known side effect for some. If i had that side effect, I would simply lower the dose like was recommended to you. I think this is a drug that is good to start out at 2.5 mg. for a few weeks before moving up to 5 mg. then 10. Psychiatrists can't predict how someone reacts exactly as with most psychotropics, but perhaps even moreso with this drug as again, the effects are not consistent even with the same person. Very curious why you were prescribed this drug right off the bat after your diagnosis, if you don't mind saying.

I noticed what you said about folding clothes-that is definitely not something I experienced from this drug, even in the beginning. If anything, the drug can lead to hyperfocus when it comes to those type of tasks. It sounds like you could possibly be experiencing mania to some extent. Are you bipolar too? I'm very surprised a pharmacist would give dosage recommendations. The 'space' between paranoia and psychosis is rather small. Maybe you should talk to your psychiatrist about all of this.