Adderall isn't working!

[Hugh_Myron]

Hello, I'm new here. I have a a few questions. I've tried Adderall multiple times within the last few months with horrible results. I've been trying to attain the euphoria/high or any good effects at all from the drug. The first time I ever took it was almost two months ago.

I took a 30 mg ir pill. After an hour I felt my heart rate raise and after about two hours I think I felt some extra energy and was in a slightly better mood than usual but that's about it. The better mood may not have even been the drug because it just felt like a good mood but nothing out of the ordinary. About 4 hours after taking it I started getting bad side effects.

Jaw clenching, anxiety, headache. Also it felt harder to concentrate. The side effects got worse but I fell asleep when I got home, about 6 hours after taking it and when I woke up the effects were all mostly gone. Overall it was a bad experience. At the beginning of this week I tried again taking half a 30 mg pill. I didn't really feel anything except for heart rate increase.

Next day I took about 2/3 if another 30 mg pill (it was around 20mg, maybe a tiny bit more). After ~ 40 minutes I felt heart rate increase and a little anxiety. A little after an hour I felt a little extra energy and then I took a started a test another 30 minutes later. It went horribly. I couldn't concentrate at all, focus was absolutely terrible. Worse than normal. After several hours I get a bad headache and muscle aches.

Next day I take remainder of pill ~ (10 mg, trying to experiment with dosages) I didn't really feel anything. I did get a headache later but it wasn't too bad. Next day I didn't take any. Today I took 15 mg (the other half of the first pill I took at the beginning of the week) light headache and muscle ache again (it's always in the jaw) not too bad though. I think I actually felt something, I felt kinda weird, idk how to describe it. Not really good or bad.

The point of all this is, what's wrong with me? I take it on an empty stomach and I don't have any vitamin C before but I never feel the good effects only the bad side effects. If anyone has any ideas why or if there's a way to reduce the side effects and/or potentiate the good effects or something let me know. It's so frustrating because everybody talks about how awesome it is. Also my other questions, what's another add/adhd medication that can give a decent/good euphoria, what would you say the best one is besides adderall since it seems like I can't get any high or adderall. Also what medication would you say is in the best (in your opinion) for actual focus and concentration that doesn't usually cause the side effects I'm experiencing with adderall? Sorry for the long post!

 

[Hugh_Myron]

I'll make cliffs
-Adderall isn't working, any ideas why?
-Only feel bad side effects, never good ones like euphoria or focus.
-Have taken several times with different dosages.
-What is another good add/adhd drug that can give a euphoria since I can't get high off adderall.
-What other add/adhd pill is really good for concentration and focus that usually doesn't give the bad side effects adderall gives?

 

[Dysphoric]

That's called losing the magic or in other words the dreaded irreversible tolerance of amphetamines. Look all around and everyone else who is experienced with amphetamines will tell you the same. Its a harsh reality, but you just need to hang it up. No, there is no way of lowering tolerance either, even with long cessation you'll find yourself disappointed. You might hear of NMDA receptor antagonists; however, those don't really sensitize one to amphetamines, but prevent tolerance from developing as rapidly.

Hope I answered your questions and the ones that would most likely follow.

 

[Hugh_Myron]

That's called losing the magic or in other words the dreaded irreversible tolerance of amphetamines. Look all around and everyone else who is experienced with amphetamines will tell you the same. Its a harsh reality, but you just need to hang it up. No, there is no way of lowering tolerance either, even with long cessation you'll find yourself disappointed. You might hear of NMDA receptor antagonists; however, those don't really sensitize one to amphetamines, but prevent tolerance from developing as rapidly.

Hope I answered your questions and the ones that would most likely follow.

Yeah the thing is I never had the magic to begin with. Even the first time I took it, no euphoria or high at all. Oh well, any other add/adhd medication that can give a euphoria?

 

[buckinjo]

First time I tried IR was early 09. Was fantastic. Did it off and on a few months and stopped. Never lost it's magic. Last month I was prescribed XR. HORRIBLE. headache , cloudy mind, slow response to everything. Slight heart rate increase and extreme hunger (really? On a previous diet pill?) Went to shire brand and still nothing. Was given 3 10mg IR. Same side effects. I even tested negative for amphetamines while taking the XR!! I have contacted Shire. I've heard Vyvanse actually kinda feels like the old Adderall more than today's Adderall. Don't try to abuse it. Just swallow them. Shire kept the magic for Vyvanse since it's they're new money maker. Ritalin can work for you since you don't chemically have a amp tolerance. It's not you it's the reformulated Adderall. Just google it. You will find hundreds of people who, not only had Adderall stop working, but started getting side effects never heard of from an amp overnight. Extreme hunger, lethargy, depression, drunk like feeling right after a dose. Not a coincidence. Good luck!!

 

[neversickanymore]

Since you are new to taking these drugs you may want to cut down your dose a bit. The thing with stimulation that a little is ok, the right amount is great, overduing it sucks.

You may consider trying methylphenidate. This caused better euphoria with me but is also causes much more significant side effects. The addition of taurine is thought to mediate some of the sympathetic nervous system reactions, this is likely why it is prevalent in energy drinks.. its allows us to get stimulated but reduces the negative side effects.

On the other hand stims might just not be a drug that is likeable or beneficial to you.

 

[Dysphoric]

Yeah the thing is I never had the magic to begin with. Even the first time I took it, no euphoria or high at all. Oh well, any other add/adhd medication that can give a euphoria?

I will admit I hardly read it, seeing as how most of these threads are about the tolerance. So many are being made recently. If it isn't giving you any euphoria than maybe you just don't respond to amphetamines.

You may consider trying methylphenidate. This caused better euphoria with me

Ewww how?!

 

[neversickanymore]

Ewww how?!

I guess i dont know what you are asking.

Euphoria (/juːˈfɔəriə/; from Ancient Greek εὐφορία, from εὖ eu, "well", and φέρω pherō, "to bear") (semantically opposite of dysphoria) is medically recognized as a mental and emotional condition in which a person experiences intense feelings of well-being, elation, happiness, excitement, and joy.[1]

Personally I think stimulants are some of the worst drugs to use to find this. But my guess would be that the Methylphenidate likely manipulates the serotonin more significantly than the reg amps do.

 

[Dysphoric]

I guess i dont know what you are asking.



But my guess would be that the Methylphenidate likely manipulates the serotonin more significantly than the reg amps do.

I was wondering how you find methylphenidate more euphoric. No, methylphenidate has little to no 5-HT activity; Amphetamines however does, but not a whole lot.

Personally I think stimulants are some of the worst drugs to use to find this.

Really? I was blown away in euphoria from 20mgs of Adderall, best I've ever felt in my life. I guess that just goes to show how different peoples brains are.

 

[Hugh_Myron]

Damn I guess amphetamines just don't work for me. I guess I'll try Vyvanse or Ritalin or something.

 

[_DankOpiAmp_]

Methylphenidate has more side for less dopamine than amphetamines. It's effect ceiling is also much lower. It is objectively less potent in the pleasure department that is why there is surprise with your experience, Never. I also doubt it produces more serotonin, it is less centrally acting than amphetamine all around. You likely just dosed in the ideal range with the methylphenidate and slightly overdid it with the amphetamines since there potency per mg is different.

I personally have only found your definition of euphoria in the most extreme possible way from stimulants. Downers are lacklustre for me, then again I have never tried h. People are different I guess, some respond more actively stimulants, some to opiates it seems. My very limited experience with opiates just gave me mild itches on one occasion and sedation without pleasure on another.

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

No euphoria? I don't see that as a bad thing. That probably means you are using the medication well.

 

[neversickanymore]

Damn I guess amphetamines just don't work for me. I guess I'll try Vyvanse or Ritalin or something.

Vyvanse will likely have very similar effects to the amphetamines as I belive it basically turns into an amphetamine once it gets into the body.

.

Abstract
Methylphenidate promotes a dose-dependent behavioral profile that is very comparable to that of amphetamine. Amphetamine increases extracellular norepinephrine and serotonin, in addition to its effects on dopamine, and these latter effects may play a role in the behavioral effects of amphetamine-like stimulants. To examine further the relative roles of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the behavioral response to amphetamine-like stimulants, we assessed extracellular dopamine and serotonin in caudate putamen and norepinephrine in hippocampus in response to various doses of methylphenidate (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) that produce stereotyped behaviors, and compared the results with those of a dose of amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg) that produces a level of stereotypies comparable to the intermediate dose of methylphenidate. The methylphenidate-induced changes in dopamine and its metabolites were consistent with changes induced by other uptake blockers, and the magnitude of the dopamine response for a behaviorally comparable dose was considerably less than that with amphetamine. Likewise, the dose-dependent increase in norepinephrine in response to methylphenidate was also significantly less than that with amphetamine. However, in contrast to amphetamine, methylphenidate had no effect on extracellular serotonin. These results do not support the hypothesis that a stimulant-induced increase in serotonin is necessary for the appearance of stereotyped behaviors.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9109529

Chronic treatment with prolonged release methylphenidate induces subtle changes in the daily fluctuations and concentrations of both serotonin and melatonin. Improvement in Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) scores was not related to a morning increase in serotonin.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23088865

So since Adderall clearly is known to effect the seronton system. This actually might be the reason I get more euphoria of the methylphenidate. My system does not like some serotonin manipulations. The use of MDMA and A wide variety of SSRI's produced very negative results for me. They had a myriad of different effects, but euphoria was not one of them.

 

[_DankOpiAmp_]

What were the different doses of each you took? I still think my theory is most probable. The serotonergic effect in amphetamines is almost universally positive in people I don't see how you could just not like it. Going a bit past he pleasure zone in dose almost totally negates the euphoria; I see that as more likely than idiosyncratic brain chemistry.

SSRI's cannot ever cause euphoria in anyone btw, their effect is bafflingly different than any other drug that effects serotonin.

Also, do you experience enjoyment from cannabis?

 

[neversickanymore]

SSRI's cannot ever cause euphoria in anyone btw, their effect is bafflingly different than any other drug that effects serotonin.

I do not find this to be the case.. I get crazy euphoria off psilocybin?

Also serotonin manipulation in bipolars can cause manic symptoms. Manic is a long way away from euphoric. So even if serotonin is claimed to not be able to produce euphoria.. if a drug that both manipulates dopamine and serotonin, the negative effects of the serotonin for some people could overshadow any euphoria.

Antidepressant treatment of bipolar depression has been associated with manic switch and cycle acceleration.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18681751

The way i look at it is the ultimate euphoric state would be akin to hypomania.. the old I feal great, I can do anything, and the world is at my finger tips.. but slip to far up and mania is reached.. this is akin to hell.

These findings support the concept of antidepressant-induced hypomania presented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17667735

So your theory of doses being to high may fit. But also a substance that manipulates the serotonin is more likely to produce adverse effects in a certain population than similar drug that does not affect the serotonin. negative effects of course should reflect dose size.

Also, do you experience enjoyment from cannabis?

I smoked very hard for many years.. when I got to be about thirty the drug sorta turned on me and I no longer enjoyed it like I once did. It began to have stronger negative side effects, like anxiety and such, I also did not like some of its regular side effects because of changes in my life. I do enjoy still now, but since I do it really occasionally these days I view it as almost a different drug... where as I used to smoke all day every day.. I now eat or vap a decent dose of very high quality concentrate 4 or five times a year.. so its more like a harder psychedelic "trip" for me.

 

[Dysphoric]

SSRI's cannot ever cause euphoria in anyone btw

That is very untrue, people with bipolar disorders for example can get huge waves of euphoria from SSRI's.

Edit: Well it would seem never beat me to it.

 

[_DankOpiAmp_]

How is psilocybin an SSRI? I was only referring to the generation of antidepressants. Mushrooms have a radically different effect and method of action despite using serotonin as well. It likely uses completely different receptor subtypes in different parts of the brain.

And dysphoria, again, are you using SSRI to refer to something other than antidepressants? A switch to mania is still different than the drug actually causing euphoria.

 

[Dysphoric]

A switch to mania is still different than the drug actually causing euphoria.

Well, technically you could say that about amphetamines in a non-bipolar person as well. Amphetamines essentially triggers a hypo/manic state as well. If SSRI's trigger hypo/mania in bipolar individuals which is most of the time, I would definitely say that's a side effect of the SSRI.

 

[mr druggles]

For me amphetamine isnt a euphoric fun style high I see it as a coffee that actually does what its supposed to and without the bad effects that large doses of coffee create

but if your doing any sort of excercise for example walking weightlifting running or things like that then I can definately see why it could be classed as euphoric :D

I actually planned on keeping a supply of amphetamine at all times to use as a decent energy source but it seems I cant have it there without abusing it most of the time so I am unable to have a real source of energy

 

[mr druggles]

That's called losing the magic or in other words the dreaded irreversible tolerance of amphetamines. Look all around and everyone else who is experienced with amphetamines will tell you the same. Its a harsh reality, but you just need to hang it up. No, there is no way of lowering tolerance either, even with long cessation you'll find yourself disappointed. You might hear of NMDA receptor antagonists; however, those don't really sensitize one to amphetamines, but prevent tolerance from developing as rapidly.

Hope I answered your questions and the ones that would most likely follow.

Are you saying that the entire tolerance will stay or just the fun side of it tolerance?