Ehh, should I be concerned? Dr. started me on 40 mg Adderall?

Question

My doctor started me seven weeks ago on 40 mg adderall (IR, not XR) and as I research it it looks like most people start on less. I weigh around 120 lbs, and I dunno, it makes me concerned that maybe I've been started on too much or something. I've already built some tolerance to this amount.

What do you think? Was this crazy of the doctor or am I overreacting? Just since most people start on less I get nervous. =/

Answer 1

I wouldn't be too concerned.

Yes, you are starting off at a high dose, but doctors know how much of a medication to prescribe per pound for people and they are careful not to prescribe overdoses. Most doctors start a patient off on a smaller dose and increase the dosage until it reaches an effective level. You are correct in thinking you are taking a large dose since normally the biggest pill sold is only 30 mg. If you have questions then call the doctor and have him double check the dosage. He may have prescribed only 20 mg and the pharmacists may have misread the dosage; but that is pretty rare.

I would ask your doctor why he/she started you out on such a high dose.

Adderall can be habit forming so I would be careful about that and make sure you don’t let other people take your medication. It can also cause sleeping problems so take it in the morning and don’t take it with vitamin C as that can change the absorption levels; take it with a glass of water. Don’t take antihistamines with this medication and you need to be careful about your blood pressure. There are a few other things you need to look out for as well.

According to Drugs.com: http://www.drugs.com/adderall.html
“Adderall is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Adderall may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.”

“Take this medication with a full glass of water.

Do not take Adderall in the evening because it may cause sleep problems (insomnia).
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to see you on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
This medication can cause you to have unusual reactions.”

“Avoid drinking fruit juices or taking vitamin C at the same time you take Adderall. These can make your body absorb less of the medicine.”

“Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Adderall and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest
• pain, numbness, seizure); or
• tremor, restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or motor tics (muscle twitches).

Continue taking Adderall and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
• headache or dizziness;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• loss of appetite, weight loss; or
• loss of interest in sex, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.”
• (You may be too young for this problem.)

Answer 2

i have a 7 year old who started on on 20mg so no i dont think you should be concerned about starting out taking 40 mg cause he weighs about 40-50 lbs, but i didnt like the side affects he was having and it didnt seem to last very long so now hes taking vyvance, which is from the makers of adderall but the side affects are suppose to be less and its suppose to last longer, so far its working pretty well

Answer 3

That is a bit of a high dose to start on, but if you are not having a bunch of horrible side effects I wouldn't worry. Your doc knows what he is doing and maybe you just need a higher dose because your condition is more sever than most or maybe you are on another drug that interferes with the Adderral a bit or something. With out knowing all the specifics of your case I can't say, but wouldn't worry about it.