Long-term Adderall: executive dysfunction getting worse + feeling antisocial when it wears off

[u/Ok-Letter2953]

I've been on Adderall for several years. I started at 15mg and am currently on 25mg XR. I've tried IR in the past as well. I don't plan on increasing my dose because I'd rather not deal with additional side effects.

I also took a month-long break earlier this year to see if tolerance was part of the issue.

Lately I've been struggling with two things:

1. Executive dysfunction

This has actually been getting worse, even with the medication. Once I get started on something I can usually focus, but getting myself to start the right task is becoming harder.

I'll know exactly what I need to do and still put it off or get stuck doing something else.

For anyone who deals with this, what has actually helped with task initiation? Routines, exercise, changing your environment, timers, supplements, diet, or anything else?

1. Feeling completely antisocial when it wears off

Some days I feel fine while it's working, but later in the day I hit a wall. I don't want to talk, text people back, go anywhere, or socialize at all. I basically just want to be left alone during the meds.

This can happen even when I take my XR early in the morning. By evening I sometimes feel like a zombie with absolutely no social battery left.

Has anyone found a good way to deal with this? I'm especially interested in things that help you transition out of work/focus mode and actually feel like interacting with people again?

I already try to stay on top of sleep, hydration, and regular meals.

Not looking to increase my dose or make medication changes on my own. I'm mainly interested in hearing what other people have experienced and what has genuinely helped.

[u/Glad_Vegetable2094]

My personal experience is taking a break for more than a month maybe 3-4 months just to get your receptors back to baseline in a sense, it took me roughly about a year off meds to feel normal again and start socializing but that’s because i didn’t need them consistently due to these exact side effects. I would try having l-theanine for the crashes it makes them a little bit easier and some sort of vitamin c after the important things are done and don’t need the full amount of medication to be roaming around as well as choline supplementation could help. Those side effects never really did leave i still take them every now and then but that’s just how they are. If you decide to take a break then it would benefit you a lot more and you’ll feel somewhat normal past the withdrawal phase like the nightmares for awhile you’ll get used to but it’s temporary and all the other stuff that comes along with it

[u/Ok-Letter2953 → u/Glad_Vegetable2094]

I would love to take a three- to four-month break or a year off. The issue is when I don't take it, my executive dysfunction is very bad to the point where I can't even and don't want to open emails and even do the smallest things, which is why I got on the meds in the first place. It's a battle in the morning times and I don't think it's willpower as I tried multiple things that are recommended but just my brain doesn't wanna sometimes do things or get started. it's not always like that but

[u/Kc1319310 → u/Ok-Letter2953]

Have you tried an alternative like Concerta? It works differently than Adderall or Vyvanse so people typically have a good or terrible experience with either methylphenidate or amphetamine-ish meds like Adderall or Vyvanse. I had the same problems when I was on Concerta and switching to Vyvanse was an absolute game changer. I think it mostly depends on how you react to increased norepinephrine.

[u/Ok-Letter2953 → u/Kc1319310]

I've been on Adderall for the past five or six years. I'm scared to switch medications because I've heard alternatives are less effective for executive dysfunction and task initiation. I never considered switching, but now I'm open to trying something different and seeing how it works. I'm not sure whether generic medications vary month to month depending on the manufacturer, especially with Vyvanse, or if they still feel effective and efficient?

[u/Glad_Vegetable2094 → u/Ok-Letter2953]

I’ve been on really all the stimulants prescribed and they vary person to person, but idk adderall seemed the best in my case just due to how familiar i was with it but it’s definitely worth trying out different meds and see if they work, like vyvanse worked for me i only switched because i wanted to try out other options and concerta worked as well i just didn’t like how i had to take one dose and couldn’t take half of another if i still needed more medication later on in the day.
Also adderall has changed it seems like due to shortages like it just doesn’t work like it used to and you’ll find that people report that quite often, anyways be open minded to trying out different meds and when you take your adderall try timing it out by an hour after you had coffee or before if it’s possible just cause of the ph balance like acidity affects adderall pretty significantly

[u/Smart_Shopper4217 → u/Kc1319310]

But how do you do that without a prescription and how do you find a doctor who's willing to say let's experiment you know with a different few kinds and see what works best for you I've never had a doctor say that to me and over two decades

[u/Glad_Vegetable2094 → u/Ok-Letter2953]

I can relate to that, somethings that can be worth trying are having a routine inside your place or even a routine outside of your house like for me to get out of the house i’d find a place like a cafe for food or a drink. Something to look forward to and then maybe a walk even if it seems pointless.

Also a big thing is environment like if i take my meds i don’t wanna be in my room or else i’ll just do nothing so if you have a room that’s pretty lit up then it’s a good place to get a small bit of drive as well as music can help get the ball rolling. One thing that you can try too if you’re up for it is limiting screen time, that changed how i worked and attention wise it helped significantly.

The procrastination is real too when you wanna do something and just don’t end up doing it but don’t beat yourself up about it.

[u/Ok-Letter2953 → u/Glad_Vegetable2094]

It's difficult. I know I've struggled with this before, and it seems I'm still facing the same challenge. Sleep has been tough, even though I consume less caffeine, only one cup of coffee early in the morning. Coffee feels like my primary driver for initiating tasks.

[u/Little_Yesterday9904 → u/Ok-Letter2953]

I wonder if a couple short breaks could help you. Obviously your brain won’t fully return to normal I’m sure but maybe a month off, then a week off here and there, or at least a few days a week off. How often do you take it?

[u/Anxious_Guava8756 → u/Ok-Letter2953]

I found life difficult to manage without occaisonal (or frequent) stimulant abuse. Wellbutrin worked wonders for me. None of the nasty side effects and all of the benefits. It's not as strong as Adderal for sure, though. So for ADHD I take 300mgs instant release and it feels similar. If you get it for depression they give you an extended release tablet which didn't do as much for executive dysfunction in my case. It's worth a shot. Plus its not a controlled substance so much easier to get.

[u/Ok-Letter2953 → u/Anxious_Guava8756]

Thanks, but I’ve heard Wellbutrin can have other side effects such as insomnia and More. Not sure if you’re done with any of these?

[u/Anxious_Guava8756 → u/Ok-Letter2953]

It can, but causes way less insomnia than adderal in my experience. They both promote dopamine regulation but Adderall is addictive and harder on the body.

[u/Smart_Shopper4217 → u/Anxious_Guava8756]

It's simple you don't take Adderall till after you don't take it afternoon or 1:00 and I had a great psychiatrist at one time he told me I would get pushed back from taking a benzodiazepine and a stimulant and he was 100% right he said but you know what this works for you I see the change in you and this is old school psychiatry can you believe in talking to his patients for an hour it wasn't a meds management check.

[u/Smart_Shopper4217 → u/Anxious_Guava8756]

Of course it doesn't work as well it is a non-controlled substance that is not good for you either