Adderall XR for ADHD User Reviews (Page 4)

• FUT...
• February 14, 2012

"I am a 36-year-old African American female graduate student who is currently applying to med school while working full-time in a hospital pharmacy. I had been on Effexor 150 mg daily for several years for depression. Last March (2011), I was diagnosed with ADHD by an LCSW with 30 years of experience in the field. Initially, I was on Concerta 36 mg, but switched to the less expensive Adderall XR 20 mg daily. I find that my concentration is much better, but I have lost 30 lbs. and have a decreased libido. After taking Adderall XR 20 mg for only 3 months, I saw significant improvements in my MCAT score (8th MCAT attempt)! This year, I will definitely obtain a competitive score and finally secure my spot in med school. THANKS, ADDERALL XR!"

• B A...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2017

"Mine may be a somewhat rarer case of ADHD that is very severe, and my response to amphetamines is almost perfectly paradoxical for the best-known effects. I sleep better and longer with significant blood concentration (it's neutral for going to sleep but keeps me asleep longer), have a better appetite, cannot achieve euphoria or a 'high' from amphetamines, only a mild feeling of extra energy. For me, Adderall is far less effective than single ingredient D-isomer formulations. Best guess is that the L-isomer is what ruins it for my condition or perhaps the more exotic salts. Vyvanse, Desoxyn, Dexedrine are much more effective and without side effects for me. Didn't expect the difference, but Adderall doesn't work well with my brain chem."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2019

"I will never give this to my child again! I know all children are different, but I'm sticking with Dyanavel XR. While he was on Adderall, he was acting angry and violent, like he was on some kind of illegal drug. His facial expressions were intense, and he could not sit still, and was very emotional. So I have to give this a 1 star on my personal experience and my son's."

• Chr...
• October 29, 2014

"My 10 y/o daughter used this medication for several months. Was not as effective as a previous medication (Vyvanse). Did not last that long (effect wore off mid-day) and caused her to have an increased heart rate daily. In addition, her entire mood changed. She became uninterested in even her favorite things, almost like a depression, and she also became extremely moody. Very irritable and easily agitated and upset."

• LA4...
• November 30, 2014

"I love it. It helps me succeed in subjects/work tasks that I have struggled with so much in the past, which has affected my self-esteem. I have been on it for 5 years. I take 20 mg twice a day and feel a need to go up a bit for the dosage. It's been a while and doesn't feel as effective."

• Bry...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 7, 2024

"I've tried them all: Concerta, Vyvanse, etc. Adderall XR is the ultimate winner. Even with tolerance to all these medications, this one still seems to get the job done. It's been 6 years on ADHD meds. I've tried them all for reasons of tolerance. Vyvanse ideally would be the winner because it's a prodrug, but still falls short once you get tolerant to it. Adderall XR just seems to break through the tolerance again and again. There is a reason this one is higher rated. Good luck."

• Bra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2019

"Well, first off. Adderall is an amphetamine, which assists with the production of dopamine. Very close relation to meth. I am 21 years old, and I started Adderall again. Previously, I was on Adderall from ages 8 to 13, and it worked great. Some say ADHD is not real and it's just a symptom of bad health, etc. I have been very, very healthy and unhealthy, which produced no change in brain fog. Now that engineering is my main task in life, I seem to have a hefty amount of brain fog. Adderall does, in fact, help with focus, but the downside is the extreme crashes that happen when you stop taking it."

• NBA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2012

"My focus and energy increased immensely. I did a 4 to 6-page research final paper in 3 days. I finally can focus on tasks and not spend hours and hours on one task because I dozed off and daydreamed. I also did a 13-page AP English paper within 9 days. I'm glad I decided to take Adderall XR at the end of high school, and now I will be taking it while I'm in college. Is it a cognitive enhancer, which is said a lot? ABSOLUTELY NOT. It doesn't make you smarter, it doesn't improve your thinking, and it doesn't improve your memory. It just does what it's supposed to do and helps you focus. The bad thing is that it is hard to sleep."

• bli...
• September 6, 2011

"My 10-year-old son has taken Adderall XR for about 3 years now. This medication is amazing! Twenty years ago, my oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD, and I refused to medicate him because all of the children I knew that were medicated were 'zombies.' This time, when I had a child with ADHD, I decided it was not fair to not medicate him and am so glad I did. With Adderall, he is alert and well-behaved (for the most part). He says he can focus instead of daydreaming all the time. Insomnia and loss of appetite are the only problematic side effects we have, but they have been easily remedied with Pediasure and melatonin. I take him off medicines two weekends per month to be sure he's not getting dependent and he goes right back to his normal ADHD self."

• Tra...
• October 19, 2016

"Takes about an hour to two hours before effects take hold. Ability to focus and think clearly becomes apparent. Some shortness of breath here and there. I'm fit and active. Increased symptoms of PMS during cycle."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 6, 2018

"I've been taking Adderall XR 25 mg with an optional 10 mg of instant release in the evening for a little over a year now, and it works almost as well as when I started. For me, it seems to last about 8 hours. Some of its benefits have lessened, but it really helps with reducing impulsivity and hyperactivity-I seem to have endless patience, which is very helpful."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2021

"Worked really well for the first week or so, but then really made me more irritable and gave me uncontrollable suicidal urges that ultimately sent me to the hospital. The suicidal urges stopped after dropping the medication. I wouldn't recommend against the medication, I would just proceed with caution as the side effects can vary in intensity from person to person."

• Dac...
• September 15, 2008

"I am in my 30s and have been taking Adderall XR for three months. Seriously, what a difference I have seen in my life! My mind is 100% more clear, and I am so much more levelheaded and organized. I wish I had gone to the doctor years ago for my ADHD instead of just living with it. Now, I am so happy to have the ability to control my thoughts and accomplish my goals. I occasionally get insomnia, but I have had insomnia for most of my life. I also have lost weight and didn't have much to lose, so I have to start eating even if I'm not hungry. No other side effects for me."

• ggg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2015

"Worked perfectly for the first week (10 mg), my mind was completely clear, and I felt almost no anxiety whatsoever. Second week (20 mg), started feeling suicidal, worst I've ever felt in my entire life. Parents thought it was out of character, I couldn't stop crying-worst emotional pain I've ever felt (I've never felt like that before). Was convinced it wasn't the medication, but felt better as soon as I stopped taking it. If you're feeling this way while being on it, it's probably the medication... I was convinced that it wasn't until I started seeing that a couple of other people had similar reactions. 19/female"

• Ton...
• July 11, 2014

"I was prescribed Adderall XR for lack of focus and attention. After being on the medicine (10 mg) for 4 days, I felt very confused and had trouble talking. I was stumbling over my words and second-guessing myself. My appetite was altered (as expected), but I made sure I ate frequently. I also noticed I was very impulsive and short-tempered, more than usual. I just wasn't my normal self on this medicine. I'm glad it has worked for many people, but it did not agree with me."

• Pro...
• August 27, 2008

"My son is nine now, and he takes Adderall XR 20 mg. He was only 4 years old when I finally decided to have him tested. He was so active, never finished what he was doing, never got along with other kids. But now he's a straight 'A' student. He's always trying new things. I don't have to think for him anymore, now he thinks for himself. This was the only drug he has ever tried, but I would not change it for the world."

• Yea...
• August 24, 2017

"Adderall XR does exactly what it's supposed to for me. I suffer from very little noticeable side effects. The most noticeable ones are insomnia when first taking this medication, lack of hunger in the beginning, and slight dry mouth. Overall, the side effects are not bad at all. The only negative for me is it feels like the medication stops working after 6 hours for me."

• Ano...
• October 6, 2009

"I have always been a gifted student, but struggled to pick anything up in class. My entire life, I would go to class and walk out gaining nothing but a couple of good daydreams. I thought I had ADD a very long time ago and asked my mom to have me checked; but being the proud mom she was, her son couldn't have ADD. This year, I started college and the same trend of gaining nothing from lectures remained. I was sick of putting in the effort to go to class and getting nothing from it. I was diagnosed last November and tried a few medications prior to Adderall XR. This medication changed my college career; I can now go to class and follow my professor through the entire lecture. I no longer need to reread everything to understand it."

• Mik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2022

"I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life. Started taking in my late 30s and have been on it almost a year. I started at 5 mg and increased to 20 mg over about 4 months. I don’t take it every day, and I only do the 20 mg in the morning, but I can take another 20 mg, however, I rarely do. I really have not had any bad side effects. I am very aware of addictions, so I will not abuse the drug. I find I am more focused, and I am able to get things done. It’s not some magic drug, but it does help you stay on task. It does not give me tons of energy where I can run circles around the neighborhood. I think it gives you normal energy to a person that does not have ADHD. It just seems to help my mind slow down and rest. I actually rest better now because my thoughts are not all over the place. I would be trying to do 5 things at once, and nothing would get done. Now I can focus on one thing until finished and move on."

• Lov...
• March 17, 2009

"I love Adderall. I'm 38 years old and a very accomplished and successful person. I started taking Adderall this year, and it has done wonders for my productivity. It makes me sad that I hadn't discovered it earlier in my life. To think what I could have accomplished. Like a lot of people, I start 10 things and finish none. Adderall helps me stay on task. It's like responsibility in a pill."

• Anonymous
• June 18, 2011

"I am 43 years old, dropped out of high school, had many bad relationships, many bad decisions, and could never finish one thing when I started it, could never be organized, could never remember things when first told, always lost things or misplaced them, tripped over my own feet, and was never good at keeping appointments, I would forget about them. I have been on Adderall for 4 years, had my ups and downs with it, have had to change the dose some, go off of it on my days off because it got to where it wasn't working as well, and if I medicated myself, I took too much, or not enough. I do notice a big difference in the generic, even though they say it's the same. Adderall XR has worked wonders for me and has changed my life."

• its...
• May 1, 2008

"Diagnosed 3 years ago, participated in Strattera study, did not help at all. Finally started Adderall 20 mg XR two days ago. Main difference is the absence of fatigue and a quieted mind. I can actually sit and not have to argue with myself, overwhelming feelings gone for the most part. Insomnia straight away first night, hardly any sleep again last (2nd) night, underlying headache now. Definite loss of appetite, appreciate the lost lbs but still have to eat!"

• Smi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 5, 2012

"I am 22 years old and never was a bad student throughout school but was always very unfocused when it came to reading comprehension and listening to lectures. I now work for a general physician and she seemed to notice my frustration with not being able to get anything done when there was a lot to do. I would get very aggravated easily and had very bad mood swings. My doctor prescribed me Adderall XR and I was very hesitant to take it. When I started taking it, I felt like I was much calmer, was able to do my job. It's really great, me and my husband get along now because I'm not so uptight. It does give me dry mouth and insomnia, but I can deal with the no appetite. Overall, I think it is great!"

• Fle...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2023

"Adderall XR (25mg) had a huge positive effect on my day-to-day life almost immediately. I was able to focus much better, concentrate, and complete tasks. It kept my brain from racing from thought to thought and lessened the daydreaming/mind-wandering. Initially, the only side effect was some insomnia, but that eventually went away. Sadly, after taking Adderall XR for about 8 years, it no longer was effective in treating my ADHD. I'm hoping within a few years of being off Adderall, I'll be able to go back on and it'll work again."

• Sco...
• February 11, 2010

"I have taken Adderall XR for 6 years now. I started with 20 mg once a day and now I am taking 25 mg twice a day. I had severe ADHD since I was very young, and Adderall XR seems to have taken me out of a fog I felt for many years. After reading other postings, I question if I am taking too much of this drug. I do not have any side effects, but I can definitely tell when it is wearing off. It seems I cannot wake up without it, and my second dose at noon is never forgotten, or I will start to really drag. I'm worried I am dependent on this drug, and it scares me. Now it seems like the dosage is not as effective as I am very tired by 8:00 pm. Overall, this drug has helped me tremendously with ADHD and depression."