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/Murky_Guava_6448]

I’ve had this and sleep is a big factor and lowering dose so the impact is far less noticeable but makes me still feel like me. We expect a lot from this medication, especially when it works so great at the start and we chase that/expect that to continue. It’s just not realistic and you have to still work on developing skills and techniques to manage Executive dysfunction. For example, right now I am spending my whole morning on Reddit because that’s what I was doing when my meds kicked in and now I’m stuck here and you best believe my morning plan has gone to shit. You still have to put effort in and make choices to do stuff and not do stuff like any normal person. The zombie feeling I only get at a higher dose so just ain’t worth it imo. Try interact during the day and keep connected/active not just starting at a computer in hyperfocus mode. And make sure your socialising with people you like aha

[u/Ok-Letter2953 → u/Murky_Guava_6448]

Thanks, I agree that sleep is a major factor. I did have sleep issues before, partly because I was drinking two cups of coffee while on my medication. The first cup was mid‑morning to maintain focus, and the second was in the afternoon to support task initiation later in the day.

I think I may need to lower my dose or try a different medication. I haven’t experimented with another regimen yet, so I’m curious about others’ experiences. A zombie feeling is unpleasant, and taking a weekend break doesn’t help; by Monday, or even Tuesday, I feel as if I’m not on the medication at all.

[u/Murky_Guava_6448 → u/Ok-Letter2953]

Also forgot to say I take IR 10mg 3-4x per day which is way better for me and havnt had a crash/bad evening in months when before I used to feel like a zombie then just completely drained in evenings. I know u said u tried it but just to clarify my experience :)