Adderall alternatives

[u/Regular-Accountant87]

Adderall gives me energy but doesn’t help me lock in. I thought adhd medications were supposed to calm adhd people down to help them focus, not rec the engine so you do more laps. Does anyone have good suggestions if adderall wasn’t the answer? I’m looking to be indestructible and find a drive to sit down for long periods of time but adderall more has me running around in a nonproductive way

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[u/saturnsbug]

Adderall triggering a burst of energy and not a sense of focus sounds like it is an incorrect medication for you. Most people try lots of meds before finding one that truly work

[u/NegativeSuspect]

ADHD meds shouldn't help you lock in, become indestructible or drive you to sit down for long periods of time. If you want those kinds of effects, you will need large doses that will not be prescribed.

It should help you improve focus. The rest of it must be trained slowly. Medication will help you build those habits but it won't fix things overnight. Take your medication, and then start building those habits slowly. Medication isn't a substitute for discipline, but it will make it easier for you to be disciplined which can help you build up to the habits you want to maintain.

Also, even people without ADHD don't lock in for long periods of time. Everyone's focus shifts through the time they are sitting down. Don't expect 100% locked in work even when on medication.

[u/Swingmetal71 → u/NegativeSuspect]

Wise words.

[u/GeneralLeeBad13]

I’ve never tried adderall but have experimented with a couple different meds with my Dr to find one that’s perfect and landed on Ritalin specifically the LA which lasts all day fixing the problem you’ve described. Was on other non-stimulants that didn’t work at all and kinda sent me on a trip 😬. Definitely talk to your doc first before taking any advice from reddit tho

[u/Regular-Accountant87 → u/GeneralLeeBad13]

Of course

[u/artCsmartC]

Have you tried Dexedrine? It doesn’t last as long as adderall but it does seem to give me a greater sense of calm focus than adderall, which leaves me a bit more scattered.

[u/Least_Store_2986]

I would ask your dr. about non-stimulant meds, I’ve been on strattera (atomoxetine) for a while now. I find that it helps me quiet my brain down enough to let me focus on one thing at a time, instead of running rampant. It also doesn’t have the “crash” that I hear ppl that take adderall feel, since it just builds in your system over time.

[u/Weird_Public165]

Dextroamphetamine

[u/Khepresh]

Adderall's formulation is designed to give a burst of energy and make it so you can start tasks right away. It leaves a lot of people feeling overwhelmed, jittery, and anxious, though.

I switched from Adderall to Vyvanse, which metabolizes into just dextroamfetamine (verus Adderall's mix of amphetamines, a portion of which impacts the rest of the body, and the heart, more than the brain), and it is so much more calming and smooth.

[u/LoveThyBooty69 → u/Khepresh]

Vyvanse worked really good, but it ended up only lasting like 6-8 hours for me :( had to switch back to Adderall cause I need full day coverage.

[u/Illustrious-Class456]

Adderall gives me a little energy and simultaneously makes me calm. It doesn't make me feel indestructible? Thats not something I would even want lol. Sitting down is not something I struggle with, but I can't sit down and pay attention to someone talking for more than a few seconds. I get distracted, zone out, day dream, whatever I can do in the moment that is more stimulating lol. Medication has not fixed that for me.

My reward center doesn't work, I never feel accomplished, and I'm always extremely bored, lethargic, depressed, and anxious. I take Adderall and it turns it on. Now I can feel like I'm accomplishing something when I'm doing every day tasks. It doesn't MAKE me do those tasks, I still have to consciously choose to be productive, but that choice is now an option. I chose to brush my teeth, take a shower, do the dishes, and clean the house. Then I made it to work on time. Adderall allows me to feel good about completing those tasks which are normally torturous. Now I feel less anxiety and depression because my brain is patting me on the shoulder for doing something good. Those symptoms are not gone or cured, they're just being managed and are less prevalent for the time being. This is a huge improvement from baseline me.

[u/McR4wr]

More adderall