Dextroamphetamine and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Div...
• November 26, 2018

Dextroamphetamine for ADHD "This medication is hard to find, which is unfortunate because, quite simply, it works on some ADHD people when other more common medications do not. Dextroamphetamine (generic)/Zenzedi (brand name) acts more on dopamine than norepinephrine. Adderall, which is dextroamp and levoamp, the latter affecting mostly norepinephrine, made me tired and flat--and hungry. Kind of a paradoxical reaction. It helped my emotional overreactivity, but not other ADHD symptoms like initiation of tasks and related anxiety/irritability, procrastination, and negative ruminations (mentally getting 'stuck'). Obviously, my brain needs help with dopamine, and too much norepinephrine is dulling and unpleasantly sedating. Those with similar reactions to Adderall (and/or methylphenidates like Ritalin) might want to give Dextroamphetamine a try. It feels like a totally different class of medication than Adderall to my (admittedly atypical) brain, and works great."

• cra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2016

Dextroamphetamine for ADHD "Been on Vyvanse for 3 years, Adderall XL, & Adderall for another 3 years with limited success. I take a lot of other medications for mania & am always tired in addition to lacking focus... for the first time in years, I can watch a movie, read a book, make it through multitasking a workday. Maybe this is what normal is meant to feel like-a world without yawns and easy distractions? Have I truly found a way to make it through a two-hour movie? I think a new chapter in my life just opened..."

• ADD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2022

Dextroamphetamine for ADHD "After 38 years of thinking my brain was broken, I finally have found relief for the constant overthinking, anxiety, and racing thoughts. My whole life I’ve been an anxious person but still managed to do well in school and become a medical professional. It never occurred to me or my family that I was suffering from severe hyperactivity. I was constantly restless, had chronic insomnia, and was obsessed about food. I always assumed I just had an anxiety disorder and didn’t know how to shut my brain off. I had tried SSRIs, Xanax, supplements. Nothing seemed to work and usually just made me feel worse. It wasn’t until I tried Wellbutrin and passed out for 8 hours that my treating doctor suspected I might have ADHD. I was given an evaluation and took my first stimulant (Adderall) and behold, I fell asleep within 30 minutes. Adderall made me too foggy and tired, Ritalin made me tired and had heart palpitations, but Dexedrine has been quite literally perfect. It’s changed my life."

• Pop...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2021

Dextroamphetamine for Narcolepsy "Have been taking Dexedrine from the days of SKF, and before. Now in my seventies, a different pharmacist gave me a generic version from Activa Co., which seemed to have no proper drug in it. I mostly felt cheated because there was no helpful effect. I felt lousy and slept away 3 months of my life, having no energy. I could not function normally as before. I called my pharmacist to report the medication was not working, and the spansules weren't even the same color or size. He said they are a cheaper brand. I told him I don't mind paying more for the proper medication I have taken daily for more than 50 years. I refuse to be abused in this way, and will take my next script back to my previous family pharmacist."

• Sle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 5, 2014

Dextroamphetamine for Narcolepsy "Along with narcolepsy, I've also been diagnosed with ADHD. I have been taking Dexedrine for the last 4 years. At first, it was 5 mg tablets, which worked for a couple of months. As soon as my dose was increased to 10 mg spansules a day, my life has been so much easier since then. I can actually concentrate on one thing without wanting to quit in the middle and take a nap. Many side effects, including dry mouth almost every day, heart pounding, loss of appetite leading to weight loss, muscles twitching, and severe tiredness if I suddenly stop taking it."

• Sf1...
• March 3, 2018

Dextroamphetamine for ADHD "I began treatment for bipolar 2 years ago. It has been successful. I still had severe brain fog, impatience, and lethargy, though. The psych doc diagnosed ADHD on top of bipolar. Tried Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Dexedrine. Dex won for me. 10 mg in the am and 5 at lunch and dinner. Much more patient and clear-headed."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 30, 2020

For Fatigue "Have been using Aurobindo generic immediate release dextroamphetamine sulfate 5 mg tabs, 2 in the am, for 10 months. Worked beautifully, more focus, more energy, more motivation to accomplish tasks. No noted side effects. Last refill June 2020, was a completely different experience. Seven days of early morning nightmares, no energy, fatigue, felt terrible. Reported to physician, pharmacist, and to FDA. Looking for an independent lab to get this tested and find out what happened. Pharmacy tells me that the other manufacturers of this generic drug are on back order and not currently available in my region in the US. Quality of life has taken a huge hit without this medication."

• LVi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 25, 2023

For Narcolepsy "My doctor had given up on finding a medication that would help me. I saw an article about our military pilots using dextroamphetamine on long missions. So I asked my doctor if I could try it, he said yes, that was 16 years ago now. I still feel tired most of the day, but I can enjoy my days. I'm not sleeping 20-plus hours a day. I thank God for showing me the article so I could live again. I thank my husband for sticking with me during some very difficult years. I would recommend this medicine, it has given me the ability to live my life again."

• 5ch...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2016

Dextroamphetamine for ADHD "I would rather not take any medicine at all than take this med. It made me feel awful. Achy all over, headache, blurred vision, no energy. Numbness in hands and feet. I wouldn't recommend it. It didn't help me focus or stay awake. In fact, I just wanted to lay down, it made my head hurt so bad."

• Tar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2019

For ADHD "Finding that starting this medication can be very tricky, as it will work differently for so many with ADHD. I've found the small dose makes me very tired and lethargic, with no motivation. Going up in doses is trial and error, and unless you're very patient or have the ability to experiment, this could take a long time to find the right dose and top-ups. Coming back to your ADHD self can be very depressing too."

• Tar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2019

For ADHD "Finding that starting this medication can be very tricky, as it will work differently for so many with ADHD. I've found the small dose makes me very tired and lethargic, with no motivation. Going up in doses is trial and error, and unless you're very patient or have the ability to experiment, this could take a long time to find the right dose and top-ups. Coming back to your ADHD self can be very depressing too."

• ret...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2021

For ADHD "I have ADHD with comorbid depression and anxiety, and this is the only drug I've tried that combats all three symptoms at once; SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and other stimulants like Adderall, methylphenidate, and lisdexamfetamine were all ineffective. Methylphenidate gave me anxiety and irritability on the comedown, whereas lisdexamfetamine was barely noticeable because it's a prodrug that is slowly converted into dextroamphetamine in the body. I have zero side effects from this 'dangerous' drug compared to all the SSRIs I tried, which gave me concentration issues, sexual problems, and extreme tiredness. Dex, on the other hand, has given me my life back and is smooth as butter."

• Coo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2021

For ADHD "I have been using dextroamphetamine 10 mg tablets for many years. I have always been given the Barr orange-ish colored tablets. For the last two months, I have been getting the white diamond-shaped ones. And I didn’t think it would make any difference, but I don’t feel right inside my head! I am unsteady, weak, extremely tired. I take 10 mg, 2 tablets three times daily. The pharmacy can’t get the other one. Usually, it is very helpful with focus, concentration, reading comprehension, which I don’t want to lose."

• Spa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2016

For Fatigue "Does the opposite of what it is supposed to do. Teva brand worked like magic, and this just makes me very tired!!??"