Posted by Mitch on November 7, 2001, at 0:18:06
In reply to Re: Adderall help, posted by Peter on November 6, 2001, at 14:09:47
> > > Hey Mitch. I'm completely with you on all you've said. Now that I'm getting more used to the adderall, I'm realizing that it really does calm me down and help me to hyperfocus on important things without being as easily distracted. The music thing is interesting. I'm a musician - a jazz pianist - even off of medication I can get very involved in creating music because I love it. But now that I think of it, I always had trouble following lyrics and the spoken meaning of certain compositions. Since I was very young, it always seemed like my friends would be able to recite lyrics and I'd just be in the dark. I'll see as the days go by how adderall helps me with that. As far as the SP, you really hit the nail right on the head; I'm more willing to go out, be with groups, less nervous and chronically worrisome about engaging in new activities, and less restless and agitated when I do engage in them. But I gotta say there is something wierd that accompanies the benefits - maybe a subtle paranoia or oversensitivity to people around me, like you touched on. Also, I gotta get used to the "crash" element of the adderall - when it wears off, I sort of feel crappy. Oh well, I guess finding the right doses of the combined adderall, depakote, and kolonopin can smoothen the problems out. BTW, did you take 5mg 2x each day or 5mg total? Starting tomorrow I'm going from 2.5mgx2 to 5mg+2.5mg, and eventually up to 5mgx2 by the end of the week. Just curious. Anyway, thanks alot for your input; it's been really helpful and encouraging.
> Peter
Hey, no problem! I have only rapped with a few folks here with this odd combo of troubles. I have been through some docs over the last few years (including a neuro that did some brain mapping that said I had some asymetrical hypofunction in my frontal lobes-whatever!). Have had the BPII dx around my neck for over 20 years, but interestingly with no hospitalizations or relatives/friends dragging me to see a doctor!As far as music goes-I have to have it around me constantly. Also I am always listening to my own CD's and stuff, not the radio with all the commercials-need to have that control. Yes, *creating* something is one hell of a lot easier than *analyzing* stuff- though my job involves a lot of analysis it is *graphical* in nature.
I never tried to learn to play music until I was seeing a shrink. My first therapist (of about 18 years) played lead guitar in a roaming bar band in the midwest and sold me his 1967 Gibson "f-hole" dual accoustic/electric for $600 so I could try to learn. He bought it right back when I got frustrated with trying to play it-I really..really.. wished I would have kept that and plowed on!As far as lyrics go-throw something lyrically complex in the CD player (it may take some extensive thought to even come up with a lyrically complex example!) in the morning an hour of two after the Adderall and a cup of coffee and see what happens.?? I found listening to some Van Morrison or older Dylan lyrics were especially enlightening (don't ask me any specifics about those now-because I won't be able to remember).
As far as the "hypersensitivity" goes-I have seen a couple of posts here about this. Even my pdoc mentioned this also. When you become more "attuned" to the CONTEXTS around you (all sorts of contexts), you are going to experience a lot of stuff that you MISSED before-and that may freak you out somewhat. IF you grow up as a child (without ADHD), you "pick up" on these social cues and ADAPT over time. When you start taking meds now that flood you with NEW information that you "tuned out" due to inattentiveness you may get panicky and experience worsening of pre-existing anxiety disorders.
Oh, as far as dosage goes-I started off with 2.5mg in the morning like you did. I also noticed a "crashing" effect later in the evening before bedtime accompanied by some irritability. I then just increased it to 5.0mg in the morning and I was fine. I "crashed" just an hour or two before I would normally go to sleep. I slept like a rock without any disturbances and woke up about 7-8hrs later within minutes (+/-) for days. In hindsight, it might have worked better for me to take 2.5mg/twice daily (say 2nd dosing in the afternoon).
I really think that just plain Dexedrine would have worked better for me also somehow. The "L"-amphetamine that is mixed up in Adderall is supposed to cause more anxiety then the "D"-amphetmaine(dexedrine). I did notice that within about an hour of dosing in the morning I would have this almost *sleepy* phase where I could go and lay in the sunshine coming through the windows and nearly nap for an hour. But, I got these *waves* of anxiety that would ebb and flow during the day. I wonder if it was the "mixed-salts" peculiarities of the med.
Keep us posted,
Mitch
poster:Mitch
thread:83085
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011104/msgs/83410.html