Sooooooo tired...

Yo yo yo....hope everyones doin good! I've been crazy busy with school the last month (a 40+ page paper, 3 tests, lots'o'programming, etc), so I've been sort of dormant while catching up. Get ready for a ramble.

So, I found a cheaper place to pick up my 20mg Adderall XR Generic (Amphetamine Salts) and decided to try them out. Instead of orange, these capsules are blue. So, of course, my obsessive compulsive disorder kicked in to high gear and immediately began thinking these aren't going to be as effective. Took one today, and I'm so tired I can barely function. But I also took some sleep-aid last night to make myself sleep earlier to try and get on a better sleeping schedule, so that could be making things worse. I'm still off the anti-histamines (for those who recall my previous posting), and still clear-headed.

Honestly though, I have always had major energy issues. I've always had this dazed and confused feeling (without the fun marijuana feeling), and maybe even lethargic/week. Does anyone else diagnosed with ADD (not HD) always feel this way? I doubt I'd even be able to manage life without medications....I'd probably turn into even more of a hermit and never leave my bed simply because I wouldn't have the energy.

Now that I am on medication. I seem to have more energy. But it is more controlled and I can focus it where I want, without sending out 5000 mental energy feelers if that makes any sense.

It just seems to me that you are just mentally exhausted from your college work. Which is not good for us add'ers. Being mentally exhausted is one thing that contributes to us being mentally worn out and having no energy. Couple that with the amount of work it sounds like you are doing. You are making your brain pull double duty. I hope the tough week ends soon for you and you can give your brain and body a chance to relax and catch up on some rest.

You and me both brother!

Changes have been made to my degree program which is forcing me to finish up before the end of this year...hello 18 credit hours +extracurricular computer security competition.

I'll def need a rest after all this passes, but its all been so worth it.

Like you say! After it is all said and done and you will be on top of the world and all the trouble and and stress will all be behind you and forgotten! All you will have to look forward to then is a awesome future!

I just realized I posted information related to this discussion on in a previous topic. D'oh! I'm a believer in leaving some breadcrumbs in the event that someone else might be searching for information related to my investigations/questions/issues so others won't be forced to go through the same steps. That being said, the following was written without any meds, so may the force be with you.

There are a number of manufacturers that produce generics for Shire's Adderall XR; namely Barr, Teva, Actavis--possibly more that I have yet to discover. From information available from various forums and websites, Actavis' generic does not follow the same formula/composition and can produce different side effects.

My experience with Actavis' version after using Teva's for three years has not been good. This formulation has left me tired and depressed, confused and struggling with school (the last thing I need while taking 6 uni courses). As a cherry on the Sunday for this situation, the pharmacist and Dr who arranged for me to receive the medication are unaware of this difference.

Not everyone will react the same to this med, so it may work for you. But it's NOT THE SAME as other generics.

Visual Differences:

Teva:
Label = Amphetamine ER 20mg CAP TEV
Color = Orange
Purchased at Sam's Club (Walmart)

Actavis:
Label = Amphetamine Salts ER 20mg CAP
Color = Solid Dark Blue
Purchased at CVS

I'm assuming labeling conventions are different among sellers as well, this is why that information is included. We can probably bet that all stores of the name carry the same brand too....but that's an assumption.

Now, I'm gonna find a way to receive the proper medication. Live long and prosper.

Being tired and in the ADD Fog is totally common. Before my diagnosis I was pretty good early in the day, if I got up and got going, but by mid-afternoon if there were no crisis at work to keep me going I'd be falling asleep off and on most of the afternoon. It was really bad when I was driving home from work (5-6pm) I'd be struggling to stay awake?!?!?

Have you ever taken a higher dose of your Adderall XR? 20mg is a fairly low dose. I take generic Adderall (non-xr) 20mg at 5am, 20mg at 10am and 20mg around 4pm during the work week.

It's crossed my mind, but part of me is afraid to try a higher dosage because of how difficult this medication is for me to come by and I've also got some psychological issues in terms of feeling like adderall is holding me back or something. It's hard to explain, but I like to think I'll be able to quit medicating one day when life slows down. I guess I feel like it'll be even more of a permanent part of my life if I up the dosage...and I'll never break free.

I know all this sounds crazy, and I know I have issues related to this that needs to be ironed out in therapy.

There are definitely different MFR. The XR I have that I do not use any more is made by Global Pharmacies. It is a orange capsule. I was under the impression that The XR version of adderall was only made by the parent company and one other company that the main company who developed the XR version is allowing to produce there Medication as a generic. Also as YYZ said 20 Mg is relatively low for XR. I take 20mg IR adderall twice a day. (Generic) I took the 20 mg Xr and it did nothing for me til the end of the day after everything I needed to do had already passed. I was even tempted to take a short acting with the long acting so I had some on board. But thought against it lol.

I was worried in the early days about the Adderall and eventually needing more. My dosage is just as effective now as it was four years ago. I've messed around with the timing, but the dosage has not changed. I like the IR better because I tend to be real foggy when I first wake up. I can also plan for the day too. If I sleep late (I know... that is a stretch) I might only take two doses.

Being super busy helps ADD to a point, but being Too Busy can really make our symptoms worse. Tough balance... The ADD never goes away, but there are many things you can do to limit it's effects on you. There are other meds you can try if the generic Adderall side effects bother you. My daughter (15 y/o) does real well on Vyvanse 60mg.

I definitely went through a grieving/embarrassed period after the wonder of my diagnosis wore off. Read the books I mentioned. Adderall is like eyeglasses for the ADD brain

THANK YOU so much for this post! I never thought being in a daze was an ADD issue. Thinking it only applied to hyper and distracted people. I have been so confused for years about my psych issues. I took adderall (without a clear diagnosis) my senior year in high school hoping it could help me. and I loved it because I had more energy and could talk with people and enjoyed learning. I struggled severely with social issues. Not because I was afraid, but I couldn't organize my speech. I didn't have the energy either. I was often weak and lethargic. Didn't want to do much of anything. I'm not anemic and had my blood tested for other possibilities. Basically thought I was struggling with generalized anxiety.
I've been in therapy for 5 years now and have finally concluded (with my therapist) that I struggle with ADD and hyper focus which results in my anxiety.

I started the generic amphetamine salts (10 mg 2x a day is enough for me) and they are making me more sleepy, helping a little after not being on meds for 7 years, but not what I expected since I know how adderall made me feel.

I'm thinking of trying Vyvanse. Anyone with the ADD fog have any input on this med?
I'm glad to have found that I'm not alone in feeling this way.

I hate you :P
Doc won't prescribe Dexamphetamine in the UK
Have to put up with Mephylphenidate variants which prob do more harm than good.

So shhhhh! Go to sleep so I can steal your medication. :P

Seriously though, tiredness of MPH vs AMP/DEX, no comparison in the rebound! AMP/DEX may make feel tired, and kinda idk how to describe it's been a while, but MPH, you just want die but you can't because you're too tired and gotta deal with the rebound a while longer. I seriously do envy you guys in the states. MPH and Strattera pretty much only options here. Getting DEX prescription is near impossible.

AMP doesn't give energy? Lol. Thought it was bi-product of calming mind, so the energy of being hypersensitive, in your head, is now transferred to into your physical self?

At least, stimulants give you energy if not ADHD. (or too much and you're wired), or psychosis/manic moment which are known are higher doses of stimulants, resulting in emotional instability, hypersensitivity and even prolonging an emotion, which for ADHDers, is a MYTH...

Sluggishness is probably we most of us have trouble getting a good night sleep.
Many of us get to bed late, and have messed up circadian rhythm.
Eat junk, energy drinks, overwork ourselves, more junk and energy drinks,
cycle, eventually burnout with what seems like forever.
We've overstimulated without medication.

That and stimulants tire your nervous system, some people take a break from stims in the summer. Wired for a whole year, damn right i'm tired.
Then there's the extreme example stimulant abuse withdrawal fatigue? It's pretty bad in terms of no energy, good for sleeping though...well... can't do much of any thing for idk, week+, sleeping 20 hours a day, say, idk, Varies. Not something I'm encouraging ofc! Just saying.

and finally, before I think of anything else (1-0 to ADHD, grr) not being on medication after being on it, you can see how in "slow mo" as it were, the ADHD symptoms, so thus feel blurgh, stay off med long enough though and they soon go back to whatever speed.
That's how I see it, though. Not explaining this great, but am sure you guys get what i'm talking about.

Soooo tired But must stay up, not sure why, ugh.