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Stimulants Questions about Adderall Tolerance and Long-term Use for Studying

Stimulated

Bluelighter
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
29
I was recently prescribed 30mg Adderall XR for my ADHD, and have been taking it almost everyday for about two weeks. I do not abuse the medication, and am only interested in the medication in terms of its therapeutic value in terms of staying motivated, focused, and on task while completing homework and while studying. This is not, however, the first time I've ever taken Adderall (I used to get them from a friend before I had my own prescription and would use them to help me focus, study, etc.). I have never taken more than the recommended dosage, and I'm not interested in recreational usage. Once again, I am not chasing the euphoria, I am ONLY concerned with the medication and its ability to motivate me, keep me focused, and help me study.

My doctor told me to take one capsule daily in the morning, and that is what I've been doing. For the past few days however, the medication has seemed somewhat less effective than it was when I first started taking it everyday (two weeks ago). It just seems that it's starting to have a lesser impact on my focus and motivation, and that I'm having a harder time studying and remaining on task. I should also mention that I've been getting far less sleep than usual (4-6 hours) as opposed to my normal 7-8 due to periodic insomnia that I get occasionally, so this might have something to do with the reduced effectiveness of the medication.

I've been doing some research online, and it seems that Adderall tolerance is very real thing that both prescribed patients and recreational users deal with. This concerns me. I am very worried about my tolerance level reaching a point where 30mg completely loses its effectiveness in keeping me focused, motivated, and for studying. I'm scared to raise my dosage, as I don't want to constantly increase it over the years. I've found a few posts online advocating ways to prevent/reduce tolerance, including regular breaks from the medication, magnesium chelate, keeping an alkaline body/stomach, DXM (seems kind of dangerous to take DXM everyday), etc..

My questions/concerns:

1) Should I be concerned with developing a tolerance to Adderall even though I'm taking it as prescribed and only using it for therapeutic purposes?

2) Will there be a point when taking the same 30mg dosage of Adderall will do nothing for me? I'm scared that my doctor will have to keep raising my dosage for it to continue having the desired effects, and I really don't want to have to take more than I am currently on.

3) Is the Adderall really getting less effective, or is it just in my head? Could the actual problem be the fact that I haven't been sleeping enough this week?

4) Is there any scientific proof as to the effectiveness of any of the previously listed methods/substances for reducing or preventing tolerance?

5) How can I prevent tolerance? What works, what doesn't, and what might work?

TLDR: I've been taking my prescribed 30mg Adderall XR for two weeks, and I seem to be noticing a bit of tolerance. Should I be worried about tolerance while taking Adderall to study only at prescribed dosages? How can I prevent tolerance? What works and what doesn't?

Thanks!
 
For me i was on vyvanse started at 30mg and took it everyday... tolerance grew fast about every 2 weeks i would go back and get the next 10 mg up... i took it everyday up to about 70mg.. then i stopped C/T withdrawals sucked for about 3 days... but IMO yes tolerance builds wicked fast and the best way to go about it is to cycle it.. make sure to take plenty of time off in between cycles

As far as i know there is nothing you can do to prevent your body from developing a tolerance
 
I've been on adderall for years. I never noticed a tolerance as far as the therapeutic value, but I am in the minority. However, I always would take a day or two off each week. It would help with sleep and keep the tolerance at bay. I've never needed to go up to any ridiculous high dose either. You do need to be sure the drug is having its maximum effect while you are trying to do your work though, so you may need a short acting dose toward the end of the day if you are studying late.
 
1) Should I be concerned with developing a tolerance to Adderall even though I'm taking it as prescribed and only using it for therapeutic purposes?

Yes chances are you will, although not rapidly. If this med is meant for long-term prescribing the posology will need to be periodically adjusted by your doctor accordingly

2) Will there be a point when taking the same 30mg dosage of Adderall will do nothing for me? I'm scared that my doctor will have to keep raising my dosage for it to continue having the desired effects, and I really don't want to have to take more than I am currently on.

Can't comment on a specific dose. Saying it does this or that for me would be of no value to you.

3) Is the Adderall really getting less effective, or is it just in my head? Could the actual problem be the fact that I haven't been sleeping enough this week?

Maybe maybe not. One week is too short a period to draw conclusions. Wait 30 days.

4) Is there any scientific proof as to the effectiveness of any of the previously listed methods/substances for reducing or preventing tolerance?

For amphetamine? Not that I know of. Tolerance is supposed to develop slowly at therapeutic dose unless said dose is significantly below the requirements of the patient's stature or psychiatric condition.

5) How can I prevent tolerance? What works, what doesn't, and what might work?

Don't try, you're supposed to take the drug as prescribed otherwise your symptoms could flare up.
 
Tolerance build up is natural with any continued use of a narcotic substance. Especially with medications which are stimulates or analgesics (amphetamines and opiates) the build up of a tolerance is unfortunately inevitable. You can stay on the does you are on but long term stimulant use really hasn't been properly studied. The best advice i can give is actually titrate off of the medication or continue the progression to the point where your doctor will not prescribe you a higher does. I suppose it's up to you to decide….
 
there is also a "honeymoon period" where it puts you in autopilot and then after that you are in a different state where you can motivate yourself or if you are hyper, you can stop and think before you do, think, or say something that will mess up your life. I have been on these drugs since I was five and I have been on low end doses 30-45 mg to 120 mg and back so with some people it is possible to go up and down with them. Tolerance happens but when it comes to taking it for years, it can go the other way too. I take Dexedrine though, and I have had the most success with that drug AND the increase and decrease in tolerance seems to be typical in my case... sometimes one dose will zombify me and other times I can take 120 mg and feel nothing (when I need that dose due to who knows what, needed more as a kid but I wasn't taught skills at all, it just shut me up and sat me down).
 
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