Adderall questions

[geoffcamp]

So in seeking therapy for my mood and depression I was referred by my psychologist to the psychiatrist in the practice for ADD and depression. Today I had my session and I was prescribed adderall or Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine the generic form. I have dialysis today so I will not start taking until tomorrow. Anyone else here taking this med?  If so what can I expect?  Thx. G.

[okarol]

I was just reading a news story about Lindsay Lohan and adderall. I had heard adderall is very addictive.
From the article "Lohan has been very open over the years about how much she thinks the prescription drug has helped her overcome her ADHD disorder, but apparently, doctors at the Betty Ford Clinic almost always try to switch adults to a different medication because of how addictive Adderall can be."
http://www.cinemablend.com/pop/Lindsay-Lohan-Wants-Leave-Betty-Ford-Clinic-Cuts-Off-Adderall-55572.html

[geoffcamp]

That's part of my concern and the prescribed me the regular release not the extended release and I'm afraid there might be a "high" when taken. Also I lost my kidneys to high blood pressure and I read that is not good with adderall. It's a stimulant so I've took out my BP cuff and will be monitoring it regularly. I've put off taking my first dose until I can spend the day with family to see what happens.

[skg]

FWIW, I took (generic) adderall for a number of years. With the dose I was on, there was no high a t all. It did make a marked improvement in my ability to focus. I was on 10mg tablets as needed usually just one in the morning but sometimes a second at noon, and on rare occasions a 3rd around fivepm.

So far as I could tell personally, no sign of addiction or, withdrawal.  Drs.. Had me stop when my creatinine first shot up, restarted a couple months later. Then learned that adderall was sometimes problematic with BP (after learning BP was probable cause for my ESRD) so stopped again until I can go over it in detail with psychiatrist. I take my BP daily and did not notice any clear improvement going off of the adderall. OTOH I can live with the ADD - did for decades. Same story with anti-depressant. <sigh> took many years to find the combo that worked well. Now I'm more worried about the kidneys. Psych. Checked for Kidney contraindications, but didn't  know about BP connection at last appt.

But I've had to cope with ADD and mild depression for decades, so will deal with the devil I know rather than risk making BP/kidneys worse at least until I am more familiar with this devil.

cheers,
skg