Adderall / ADHD + design
Out of context: Reply #18
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I take adderall for narcolepsy. I've jumped through jumped through all of them (ritalin, provigil/nuvigil, cylert). More or less, they are all very similar. Over time, I've found they give awful headaches, though that diagnosis is purely my own and not 100% sure.
The side effects are obvious - poor sleep, the inevitable peak and crash (some are better). Most Dr's will just give you a sleeping pill, so it is up/down/up/down. To me, that's the worst. You get 'high', then need a downer to sleep, feel like you are in a coma the next day, take more to feel 'normal', then more to feel 'good'...vicious cycle.
I take as little as possible, maybe once a week, because of the long term problems. I can only imagine the damage these will all do if you are on them daily (and yet Dr's continue to not worry about that).
Also, your sensitivity will vary dramatically. I take about 1/4 of the normal dose, will be a zombie if I don't, and it generally feels great. I always think "wow, is this what most people normally feel like?"
BUT they don't last 1/4 of what they say, none of them. All say "take upon waking..." and say they'll last all day. I find 2-4 hours effective and a little wind down after that (provigil/nuvigil last a little longer, the controlled release ritalin could be different, but the peak/crash was too much for me).Personally, I manage things with coffee, sleep, etc.
I would strongly recommend doing what others suggest - control things with natural techniques. Somehow the world survived w/o all these drugs. You can't take a drug, any drug, w/o doing something to your body and mind, its just not possible. More you take, more problems you could cause.
I see so many friends that claim to have ADHD and they bounce from one drug to another. I am sure it works wonderfully for some, but from what I see, it is a crutch (my condition is a little different, it is simply a safety issue, not 'feeling', another reason I don't take them often...too easy to rely on them).
- Yes. Proper sleep. Proper diet. Excercise. Meds are only part of the solution.jagara