Amphetamine / dextroamphetamine for Narcolepsy User Reviews (Page 2)

• Tho...
• May 10, 2015

"I'm a 52 yr. old male. I started taking Adderall about 14 months ago. For the first 2 weeks, I didn't notice much change, then I noticed that when I took the medication in the morning, suddenly I had a lot more energy and it seemed like I could concentrate better and not be as agitated about life in general. I take my 2nd dose at lunchtime. The increase in my energy level was keeping me moving more during the day, so it allowed me to rest better at night. Every morning when I wake, I go straight for the Adderall. Overall, I think Adderall has improved my quality of life, and I think Adderall should be prescribed to the aged for the same effects. It's not going to work the same for all, so close monitoring for 30 days on a 2 per day 15 mg dose."

• Dec...
• January 6, 2021

"I was diagnosed with a severe case of narcolepsy about a year ago. I always thought it was my chronic fatigue that made me feel so sleepy all the time. I was finally referred to a sleep specialist who ordered a night and daytime sleep study. When I received the results, he told me I was a very sleepy person, his worst case in many years. I have been taking 20 mg Adderall 3x a day. It does help, but I'm still extremely tired throughout the day. The sleep doctor advised me in September that there's a newer medication that can be added to my Adderall, but insurance didn't like to approve it and that in 6 months, hopefully, it will be easier to prescribe. I've seen somewhere that 60 mg a day is the max for treating ADHD, but that 90 mg is the max for treating narcolepsy. I'm curious if that dose would improve my symptoms. Overall, I'm happy with the medication as I never notice any side effects. I just want to feel more awake and less sleepy."

• Whi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 17, 2014

"I thought Nuvigil was good, but Adderall is amazing. It helps me feel almost human again. Not only does Adderall keep me awake, but it clears up some of the mental fog caused by narcolepsy. Cataplexy is also not as severe when I'm on Adderall. I can finally focus at work, I have enough energy to take care of myself and my family, and I'm doing so well at work that I got two raises in the last 3 months! The irony is that you have to be well-rested for it to work; otherwise, it does absolutely nothing. I have also started developing a tolerance, so it starts to wear off after about 3-4 hours, but I take another dose and it gets me through the rest of the day."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2016

"I had been on Adderall for a couple of years. I was finally, after being out of it most of the time during my life, able to get things done, and even if I did not get enough sleep at night (I still have that problem). I was fine just taking 20 mg in the morning and sometimes (rarely) 10 mg around 11:00 am. I did not gain nor lose weight. I did have enough energy, though, to go to the gym and not worry about driving any time of the day. All was good until Medicare said NO, I could not have it anymore. I am now on Ritalin 30 mg in the morning. It helps a little, but I don’t ever want to drive far, 5 miles is my limit before I get sleepy. My sleep is very restless, and I wake up many times, averaging around 4 hours sleep out of 9 hours in bed."

• Hus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2016

"I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea when I was about 50. I have been tired most of my adult life, so I assume I have had apnea a long time. Tried CPAP, forget that, got a Somnodent mouthguard which stopped almost 100% of my apneas, but I didn't feel better. Put on Provigil like 5 years, not really much better, same with Nuvigil. Finally, doctors and I were fed up, I could not make it through a day without at least 2 to 3 short 5 to 20-minute naps and always felt like I had a cloud in my brain, and my PCP recommended to sleep doctor to try Adderall. I had no idea what Adderall was, I knew it was used for ADHD, but really didn't care, just went home and took it. Results have been unbelievable. Almost never take a nap, feel way more refreshed, no brain fog."

• tir...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 19, 2021

"I've been taking generic Adderall for 11 years. In my opinion, Teva is the most effective generic, Mallinckrodt has been the worst. It makes me tired and gives heartburn, which I never have normally. I just picked up a refill, new mfg, Alvogen. Took it an hour ago and keep nodding off. Looks like another generic to avoid."

• Sei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2014

"I gave Adderall an 8 out of 10 because it is very effective. Anyone who is narcoleptic (which is why I use this medicine) will stay awake completely. Depending on the dosage, you can stay awake anywhere from 5 hours to even more than 12. The downside to this medicine, and let me be clear that it is just with my experience, is that it can make you jittery and excited. It also gave me 'false confidence' and just overall made me more outgoing than I usually am. Also, I found that the first time I used it, it gave me quite a high, which I eventually got used to. After several days, I started hallucinating things and got paranoid. There are definitely some psychological side effects even more than the ones that I've experienced."

• jjh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2020

"I was switched to Adderall, but after 2 years, switched to Ritalin. Adderall seems to open up parts of your brain best left closed. I started to see a 12-year-old boy in the yard during the day, he would be gone when I went to talk with him. My neighbors told me that in the 1970s, he died here. You have to watch the dosage."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 28, 2014

"Insurance didn't cover the Extended Release (XR) form, so I was taking multiple regular Adderall pills a day. It was pretty obvious that they worked, but over time, I developed a tolerance that made me need to take one every 2-3 hours, rather than the standard 4-6. Only side effect was feet so cold, they tingled."

• Anonymous
• June 27, 2008

"Adderall has really helped me stay alert and concentrate, as I have chronic pain issues which leave me sleepy and unfocused. I have the energy to enjoy life again. I do have difficulty sleeping, and also since I do not take XR, I can 'crush' it if I forget my second dose. I have noticed it makes me most irritable and difficult to be around. This side effect seems to have waned over time, but I am still occasionally cranky when it wears off."

• MD1...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 22, 2017

"Adderall has helped me greatly, though it is not perfect. Many doctors have suspected that I have narcolepsy, but my insurance company won't pay for the sleep study because I'm only in my 20s (what??). Anyway, my doctor prescribed Adderall because I simply could not stay awake in class, driving, riding the bus, watching movies, doing homework, etc. Basically everything. I remember the first dose I took. I felt like a normal person. Not hyper or overstimulated (my doc was worried about this because I also have bipolar I), just normal. I just went about my day and did my homework and washed the dishes and read a book like a normal person. This drug has really changed my life. I gave it an 8 because I still have to take naps throughout the day."

• Jds...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 5, 2019

"I was originally prescribed for adult ADD. I took it for several weeks with some results, but I soon learned that it was great for a sleep disorder as well. Recently, I stopped taking it, but soon afterward, all I could do was sleep all day. I was extremely fatigued. I had a blood test for hypothyroidism, but it was negative. The only side effect for me was hypertension, which I take medication for, but lately, it has been elevated. Nothing the doctor can't fix by increasing the dosage of my blood pressure med. I don't plan to stop this medication unless I need a larger dosage to work. Currently taking Adderall XR 20 mg in the morning and regular Adderall 20 mg at noon. Moreover, it helps ease my craving for carbs. It works better than any antidepressant."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2008

"My stomach couldn't handle the normal Adderall, so I tried Adderall XR. It took a while for me to really enjoy the medication, but with the combination of Cymbalta, I don't have real ups and downs. I take 90 mg, I am a muscular 255-pound male. I would recommend Adderall: side effects, dependency, dry mouth, less hunger until you come down at night."

• Kat...
• April 10, 2012

"I fall asleep at the drop of a hat and experience sleep paralysis. There are times I know I'm supposed to be awake, and I simply can't wake up. Adderall helps so much. I've taken it for about a year, however, it is wearing off. I hope to find a substitute that will help me stay awake soon."

• KCi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 25, 2019

"I’ve taken Adderall XR since 2007 when I was diagnosed with a narcoleptic-like disease. It works well for me and has continued to work on the same dosage amount. When I first started taking it, it did decrease my appetite, and I had issues with dry mouth, which still happens every once in a while. I have no problems sleeping at night, but may not get as much deep sleep as others and still spend more time in REM sleep than the average person (according to my Fitbit at least). I wouldn’t be able to work or care for my children without it."

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2019

"I'm 72 years old and was having problems maintaining concentration and focus. Kind of like ADHD, but instead of being hyperactive, I was falling asleep. The doctor gave me 5 mg of Adderall once a day. It seemed to help a little, and after a couple of months, I started taking 10 mg 1x day. Works much better. I have not noticed any particular side effects. They say it helps with weight loss, but not for me."

• jdv...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 7, 2023

"I've been on generic IR and XR for 15 years. Teva is better than the rest, but they do have bad batches. Anything orange seems to work best. Had Epic Pharma pink IR last month. Had to break them up to kinda work. Pink/yellow XR were useless, had to open the capsule and use like an IR."

• Mag...
• January 24, 2019

"Adderall XR 25 gave me my life back that narcolepsy, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, night terrors, excessive fatigue, and depression had taken from me. Regretfully, now I am on Medicare, and even though for six months my Part D covered the Adderall XR, my new plan will not. They say it is not an FDA-approved drug for narcolepsy. I think it should be. Did they ask any of us that used it? Not me. I am forced to either go generic trial and error or just go back to a nightmare life again in my retirement years when my husband and I were planning to move and to travel in our camper a little. Plus, I am scared of withdrawals after twenty years of use."

• Log...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2019

"I read a lot about this drug, and it is hard to find anything about the side effects I have gotten. So, I have taken Adderall XR 10 mg (once in the morning) just for a few days now. The first time was amazing, and I actually had a road trip to take that day, and I drove a whole 12 hours with no problems! That is really good considering I need a nap just an hour after waking up usually. There were still the positive effects, but the side effects are just so bad. Food just doesn’t seem appealing anymore, and I have constant headaches and stomach issues. That's not even the bad part, I have had terrible hallucinations, and it makes me very paranoid and scared to do anything in my day. At some points of the day, I feel fine, but others I feel those side effects and episodes of tense muscles that tremble when I hallucinate and increased heart rate and heavy breathing. I keep reading all these amazing things about this drug, and I want that for me too. If anyone has experienced, I would love the feedback :)"

• ska...
• July 20, 2018

"I was diagnosed with narcolepsy after about 5 years-1995 to 2000. A sleep study doctor diagnosed me as having this disorder. After trying methylphenidate and then Provigil, I still had EDS. I even had a doctor prescribe Desoxyn, which didn't help. Adderall XR also was not effective enough, so I was prescribed 30 mg of Adderall I.R. once a day. Narcolepsy causes sleep deprivation, causing anxiety, depression, and nights of no sleep at all. Most doctors hesitate to prescribe medication for these side effects. I finally found that Belsomra helps on those sleepless nights. Adderall is not the 'magic bullet' by itself, and the stigma of having to take Adderall, Klonopin, Wellbutrin, and Belsomra gives narcoleptics anxiety and fear to ask physicians to prescribe medications that almost make us feel normal."

• Mit...
• September 11, 2011

"I have always been tired a lot (chronic fatigue), but symptoms worsened after my son had a near-death auto accident, he was only 4. I took antidepressants for 8 years. It worsened my chronic fatigue. I was a mess, everything was falling apart around me. I did research on Adderall and talked to my doctor. I take 40 mg a day, I can't explain how much better I feel. I have control of my life again. I have energy to care for my family for the first time in years. Side effects are irritability at night and insomnia, but the longer you are on it and the earlier you take it, it doesn't cause too many problems sleeping."

• Jam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 3, 2022

"I take generic Adderall for narcolepsy, and I have for 10 years. I have tried almost every generic available, and although sometimes you can find one that’s better than the other, I have found the most efficacious is Teva. Beware, however, of a manufacturer called Camber."

• Anonymous
• March 30, 2012

"My life was sleep before I started Adderall, taking 15 mg twice a day, and I'm still tired but not sleeping like I was before. Only been taking it for a few days, but has helped a lot. I only slept and worked, and sadly that was my life for 5 years."

• Iri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2016

"I use Adderall XR 20mg in the morning upon waking up for narcolepsy and find it effective. It helps like nothing else to start a day off 'awake' as can be. I am also prescribed 20mg IR taken twice throughout the day as needed, as well as Nuvigil (armodafinil) 150mg at night right before sleep. Balancing meds is vital for this disease. But back to the point, Adderall XR is amazing."

• Lex...
• October 9, 2020

"I have been so sleepy for the past 15 years of my life. I finally found a PA that listened to me about my sleepiness. She has been great. I cannot afford the recommended sleep study. I am currently taking 10 mg extended release. It has helped, but I am still falling asleep at work. My PA will meet with me in after a month on it. I’m not sure if I need an increased dosage or if it’s not working on me. It’s a struggle still. I don’t want to feel hopeless that I can’t find help."