Haven't taken Adderall, but I used to take Concerta. Rather than getting addicted to it, my problem was that I didn't take ENOUGH. I kept forgetting to take it, or forgoing it because I wasn't doing anything that day that I needed to be focused for.

Still, if you're worried about addiction (and can afford it), maybe try behavioral therapy?

I have not.
I don’t think I’ve ever taken an amphetamine, though I’m nearly certain I’ve taken related chemicals.

Concerta is better in my opinion. Same active ingredient as Ritalin but the pill is pretty high-tech and delivers a certain dosage continuously over an extended time.
My pshrink wouldn’t say I had ADD or ADHD. He thought that was a “troubling” diagnosis to make for a patient in his late forties.
He just said I had something that methylphenidate seemed to help.

That was more than 20 years ago.

…..

Just to be clear: I Am Not A Doctor. I Am Not A Pharmacist. And I Am Not A Psychologist.

So I have the same things while adding in being forgetful and procrastinating. 10mg twice a day is a very common starting point for doctors. I started at 10mg and I'm currently at 30mg twice a day.



Before you start cutting your dose in half, give your current dosage the full time the dr said to take it. This is important as when you go back to your dr (s)he is going to want to ask how you felt on it. Also, your body will become use to the dosage so even though you are feeling it now, in a week or so you may not. Again, don't go altering you dosage without first talking to your Dr.

I understand not wanting to take it for the rest of your life and not wanting to becoming addicted. Once your Dr is happy with your dosage and that it's giving the right benefits, (s)he will tell you to take breaks on weekends and days off to help your body reset. As long as you dont mess with your dosage and tell your dr exactly how you are feeling on it then you shouldnt form an addiction.



Again, Yes. Pretty much all the reasons you stated, plus many more on the ADHD checklist, are why I started looking into it. Dont mess with your dosage though, it is important that you take what your dr told you to take and when so that (s)he can get you at the right dosage.

+1 to what Q2 said.
For that matter what AGW said is also something to consider.
Don’t change doses nor change therapies without talking to your doctor about it first.
But being proactive about your health is probably a good thing overall. (Why am I saying “probably”? I’m sure it’s overall a good thing!)

So once your Dr has you on a dosage (s)he feels is right, (s)he will recommend only taking it when you have something you need help with focusing on like work. Otherwise you will be told you don’t need to take it if you won’t be needing help with focusing. You can always call your Dr and ask them over the phone about your concerns or ideas about cutting back on the dosage. Just don’t do anything until you’ve talked to your Dr.



I started talking Adderall in late may/ early June.

I recommend watching this YouTube channels for help with ADHD related things:
https://youtube.com/c/HowtoADHD https://youtube.com/channel/UCghISgw8-UN2lZLbqfyMY6w https://youtube.com/c/ADHDManagement
Those really helped me out so hopefully they help you too.

I was first diagnosed (not with ADD or ADHD) at the age of eightish about 61 years ago.
I was first medicated (with the wrong medicine and the wrong diagnosis) in junior high, maybe 51-53 years ago I think?
I was first correctly diagnosed (with depression) and correctly medicated (with the right medicine but the wrong dose, but it was considered right at that time) in college, maybe 48-50 years ago. This was my first competent pshrink.

At about age 30 — (that is, 39 years ago or so) — I got a super-competent pshrink who was actually an expert and specialist in depression. I not only got the correct dose of what I’d been prescribed before, I also got to try out many new medicines. And I was treated for “co-morbidities”, often with good results and seldom with any adverse events.

It wasn’t until moving to my current state that my pshrink suggested I might benefit from methylphenidate. I think I did. I don’t know how to describe whatever condition it helped me with; as I said my pshrink hesitated to call it ADD/ADHD.

I wasn’t diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome until I started going to my current clinic. I think that might have been in 2009? Ish?
Anyway since then I haven’t been prescribed any ADD/ADHD-targeted drugs — if I remember correctly.

I have now been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD; and prescribed Atomoxetine. It’s wotking!

I take 12.5 MG most days, at least once. It's really made mornings the best part of my day, when I pop a pill and have a strong cup of black coffee (prior to getting on these meds, I'd have 3-4 a day, which is typical for people with ADHD). Goes good with reading the New Yorker, or doing the crossword in the back. I'll also mess around with my ukulele then too.

That being said, it's no panacea. You still need to build good habits like making a to-do list, and removing/getting away from things that you know will distract you.

Also you have to manage the side effects. Loss of appetite can make you lose weight, and exacerbate disordered eating. I also have a habit of grinding my teeth, chewing on my lips, etc., that I think addy makes worse. It also raises my blood pressure. Most of the time it's been done in the last couple years, in fact, someone will comment that it's a "little high" or something. Though when I mention the caffeine/addy, that makes complete sense to them, and then it's not much of a concern. Still, that's something that I/you should keep track off, and maybe consider switching to different meds, which I've heard can really help.

My Primary Care Physician recommended Vyvanse, which I think is the same class of medicine Adderall is?
But she left it up to my pshrink; and he thought Atomoxetine would be a safer choice for me.

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