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Suggest The Ideal Dosage For Adderall Taken For ADHD
Question: Hello,
I am prescribed adderall 20mg, 3xday for ADHD. I have been taking this medication for around 2 years now with no problems. Recently, I have been having more side effects related to the vasoconstrictive properties of the adderall. My feet and hands get very cold, my legs (mainly my calves) have felt tingly, and tightness. I feel like my lower legs are swollen, but physically they are not swollen at all. My muscles feel tight and sore. Some times my hands look similar color to Raynaunds, just the red color. I have had a recebt EKG and xray done, everything coming back normal, and also all my blood work is normal.
I am 25 years old, female, around 120 pounds, with no horrible medical history, very healthy. And I do not take any other medication.
Could my dose be too high? Or should I switch medications? I just want to make sure its the medication causing this, not something really wrong underlying. Or something I need to add in my lifetsyle.
I am prescribed adderall 20mg, 3xday for ADHD. I have been taking this medication for around 2 years now with no problems. Recently, I have been having more side effects related to the vasoconstrictive properties of the adderall. My feet and hands get very cold, my legs (mainly my calves) have felt tingly, and tightness. I feel like my lower legs are swollen, but physically they are not swollen at all. My muscles feel tight and sore. Some times my hands look similar color to Raynaunds, just the red color. I have had a recebt EKG and xray done, everything coming back normal, and also all my blood work is normal.
I am 25 years old, female, around 120 pounds, with no horrible medical history, very healthy. And I do not take any other medication.
Could my dose be too high? Or should I switch medications? I just want to make sure its the medication causing this, not something really wrong underlying. Or something I need to add in my lifetsyle.
Brief Answer:
dose reduction is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello Alli,
Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.
Muscle pain and stiffness are side effects of adderall. You are taking maximum recommended dose of adderall 60 mg per day. As you said other examination and investigations came normal, these are likely side effects of Adderall.
Let me know about your blood work report so I can guide if anything more is required or not.
As the first step I recommend gradual reduction in dose of adderall. 10 mg every 10 days should be reduced and reach up to 30 mg and check that your problem is reduces or not.If you get some relief, drug is likely responsible.In any case problem persists we must stop the adderall to check that drug is responsible. For a while you can take multivitamin supplements specifically vitamin D and vitamin B12. For severe pain you can use OTC pain killer medicines.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
dose reduction is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello Alli,
Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.
Muscle pain and stiffness are side effects of adderall. You are taking maximum recommended dose of adderall 60 mg per day. As you said other examination and investigations came normal, these are likely side effects of Adderall.
Let me know about your blood work report so I can guide if anything more is required or not.
As the first step I recommend gradual reduction in dose of adderall. 10 mg every 10 days should be reduced and reach up to 30 mg and check that your problem is reduces or not.If you get some relief, drug is likely responsible.In any case problem persists we must stop the adderall to check that drug is responsible. For a while you can take multivitamin supplements specifically vitamin D and vitamin B12. For severe pain you can use OTC pain killer medicines.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello,
All my blood work came back completely normal! I agree with lowering the dose, and my PCP also gave me the same advice. I will be having an appointment tomorrow or Friday.
Is there other foods or diet to follow to prevent the muscle pains? And suggestions to also imrpove circulation issues? When I do not take adderall I do not have any of these symptoms.
Also would there be another medication for ADHD with less vasoconstrictive side effects or reduced side effects in general?
Thank you so much!
All my blood work came back completely normal! I agree with lowering the dose, and my PCP also gave me the same advice. I will be having an appointment tomorrow or Friday.
Is there other foods or diet to follow to prevent the muscle pains? And suggestions to also imrpove circulation issues? When I do not take adderall I do not have any of these symptoms.
Also would there be another medication for ADHD with less vasoconstrictive side effects or reduced side effects in general?
Thank you so much!
Brief Answer:
bupropion or atomoxetine
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up. As such no food or died can help for this. Relaxation techniques and meditation can help up to some extent.
You are not getting pain when you do not take adderall means it is a side effect.
You can try other medicine like bupropion (wellbutrin) or atomoxetine which may also cause such side effect but less than that due to the adderall.
You just also ask your doctor that now you can do well without any medicine or not as 2 years is sufficient duration.
Take care.
bupropion or atomoxetine
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up. As such no food or died can help for this. Relaxation techniques and meditation can help up to some extent.
You are not getting pain when you do not take adderall means it is a side effect.
You can try other medicine like bupropion (wellbutrin) or atomoxetine which may also cause such side effect but less than that due to the adderall.
You just also ask your doctor that now you can do well without any medicine or not as 2 years is sufficient duration.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I will for sure add those activities to my daily schedule! And will talk to my doctor about the medications.
As far as not taking any medications, its extremely hard to do every day things. I do take short holidays, but when I know I will be okay. I am in nursing school, so not taking anything would be a hard option. But I am willing to start trial and errors with different meds.
As far as the Raynaunds because its secondary to the adderall, will that reduce or go away with changing medications? Reducing the dosage has helped alot also. My main concern with that side effect and also circulation side effects is maling sure my heart is okay.
As far as not taking any medications, its extremely hard to do every day things. I do take short holidays, but when I know I will be okay. I am in nursing school, so not taking anything would be a hard option. But I am willing to start trial and errors with different meds.
As far as the Raynaunds because its secondary to the adderall, will that reduce or go away with changing medications? Reducing the dosage has helped alot also. My main concern with that side effect and also circulation side effects is maling sure my heart is okay.
Brief Answer:
start other medicines after a break
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Raynaud will likely reduce or stop with wellbutrin but may occur with atomoxetine. However if you are consulting doctor regularly significant heart problem wont be there.
You may not be continue without medications. In that case I recommend taking a break form all medicines before starting other medicine.
Hope new medicine will not cause side effect.
Take care.
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki (for future communication this is a link to contact me directly by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions )
start other medicines after a break
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Raynaud will likely reduce or stop with wellbutrin but may occur with atomoxetine. However if you are consulting doctor regularly significant heart problem wont be there.
You may not be continue without medications. In that case I recommend taking a break form all medicines before starting other medicine.
Hope new medicine will not cause side effect.
Take care.
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki (for future communication this is a link to contact me directly by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions )
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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