Is Dexedrine better for ADHD when Adderall causes anxiety and ED?
Question posted by BrentDG on 21 Aug 2015
Last updated on 26 March 2017
I was finally diagnosed with adult ADHD 2 months ago at the age of 30. My psychiatrist put me on Adderall, XR which has allowed me to focus on one thing until it's done (instead of getting sidetracked a dozen times) for the first time in my life. It's really been great, being able to focus and get the things I want to do done.
There are only 2 problems. First is that a couple hours after I take the Adderall XR, it starts to mess with my anxiety. I get a low-level general anxious feeling that lasts about 2-3 hours then passes. The other problem is that I have a very hard time achieving & maintaining an erection. In the morning before I take the Adderall (when I should have the smallest about in my system) I can barely "take care of myself". Any other time of day is a total no-go.
Would dexedrine be a better solution for me? Am I likely to get relief from my ADHD without those side effects?
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Answers
CA
carcrazy989
21 Aug 2015
I've been on a handful of the ADHD meds- I was first diagnosed at age 7, and have been trying the various meds on and off since then to find the one that works best for me. so I've had Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse, Focalin, and currently Adderall, which i've found to be the most effective.
When it comes to your issues, i totally can relate- the anxiety is prevalent throughout the day, although never bad enough to become an issue to me, but the most frustrating is the issues with my manhood..i've experienced the same problems as you, and have found a few ways to work around it thankfully haha. & i've not personally tried dexedrine, but of all the other medications for adhd that i've been prescribed, the side-effects (specifically the two you're concerned about) are pretty much all the same, with some variation in severity. focalin though had the weakest side effects for me- but also wasnt as effective in keeping me focused. i'd suggest talking to your dr and seeing about doing trials on some of the alternative meds to find the best fit for ya
Votes: +1
BR
BrentDG
21 Aug 2015
Thanks for your feedback! I do feel better at least knowing I'm not alone in this. :-\
I think I'll take your advice and talk to my Dr. about trying something different and seeing how that goes, and possibly repeating until I find what's best. That's what I had to do for my anxiety disorders, so it makes sense to use the same trial process.
I'll start mentally preparing myself for the possibility that I might not be able to fully control my ADHD without at least some of these side effects, though. Hopefully a bit better balance, though - I'm sick of changing sticky sheets because it's been too long... ;-)
CA
carcrazy989
21 Aug 2015
haha i feel ya- glad i could be of help, & if you have any other questions or concerns feel free to pm me and ask away anytime you need man
TS
tstn1063
23 Sep 2015
Hi, my name is Tim I have been on a number of different ADHD medicines. I am now at the age of 51. After much discussion and trying almost every medication for adhd and depression, my Dr. Finally agreed to change over to the dexedrine and I can personally tell you it will definitely help my manhood. All of the other medications I have taken have made it not work for me at all which increase my social anxiety and I stopped dating because my equipment stopped working with all the other meds.. But thanks to the dexedrine I no longer have to worry about that problem. Dexedrine also had little to no side effects for me and I did not get agitated at all. It has been a wonder drug for me.
CO
Codes
26 March 2017
I've been on Dexedrine for almost 15 years off and on. I have anxiety and depression but I'm on other meds to help with those. Dex has been the only medicine that helps me keep my attention, otherwise I find it hard to get anything done. The two side effects that are most common are anxiety and erectile dysfunction. I have a hard time getting and maintaining an erection and it's become very hard to have any kind of relationship. I'm 30 and this shouldn't be happening. The only thing I can suggest is going off of dex for a few weeks and letting it start over in your system. Dex is great at first for great erections and libido but after awhile causes problems like I've described. Go off for as long as you can or keep trying other meds. Maybe ask about Wellbutrin, it's for depression and anxiety but in some cases Dr will prescribe it for ADD. Helps a little while taking dex and even better when I'm off. Sorry if this is confusing, lots of different things to try.
