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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by amandaQ on September 19, 2008, at 10:36:32
Iv been searching everywhere to fine the right answer i need to be at ease right now. i have been taking adderal for about 3 months now. every week i seem to be taking more pills at a time because i dont feel it working anymore. I took 3 this morning about 6:30 am, another one at 7:30 and another one at about 9:00. thats makes it 5 pills all together and they are 10mg. I am affraid that mabe i have taking too much to close together in time, and im in a panic that i could die. i dont want to rush to the hospital if its all in my head, but dont want to take the risk either. someone please write soon, so i know what to do. its now 11:00
Posted by Nadezda on September 19, 2008, at 10:49:43
In reply to did i overdose?, posted by amandaQ on September 19, 2008, at 10:36:32
Are you having any adverse reactions, Amanda?
I don't think you'll die or even get sick. You may have some racing heartbeats and feel a strong up or a stronger down at the end, but I don't think you've taken anywhere enough to cause any health problems. You didn't take that much more than you're taking-- that is, it's quite a bit more, but not so much as to provoke an overdose reaction in most people.
Again, though, are you experiencing any physical effects?
Nadezda
Posted by desolationrower on September 19, 2008, at 10:53:13
In reply to did i overdose?, posted by amandaQ on September 19, 2008, at 10:36:32
50mg of adderall is a common therapeutic dose. Unless you have some heart problems (in which case you shouldn't be prescribed adderall to begin with) there is no risk. You are probably just experiencing anxiety and panic because of taking too much. However, increasing your dose can be a problem for the therepeutic benefit. Does your doctor know you are doing that?
-D/R
Posted by amandaQ on September 19, 2008, at 11:04:56
In reply to Re: did i overdose?, posted by desolationrower on September 19, 2008, at 10:53:13
thank you for responding. i am feeling a bit funny. my face kinda feels weird. it almost has a numb feeling. im extreemly jittery, and i am breathing a bit heavy as well. but i do have really bad anxity and tend to over react, even when taking over the counter meds. i feel that sometimes when i think im having bad symptoms, im really not, and its in my head. I just needed to hear from someone that its ok, and nothing bad will happen. it helps a lot. i have heard some bad stories about people having heart attacts from adderall, but dont know how much they took. so i guess thats why i got a bit scared.
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2008, at 12:38:11
In reply to Re: did i overdose?, posted by amandaQ on September 19, 2008, at 11:04:56
Check with you doctor to be sure. Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on September 19, 2008, at 19:46:09
In reply to Re: did i overdose? » amandaQ, posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2008, at 12:38:11
50mgs isn't an overdose of adderall; 50, 60, even 100+ mgs/day are used therapeutically.
The big problems with amphetamines are: 1) cardio problems 2) anxiety/panic reactions and
3) rage and psychotic reactions (which can happen at almost any dose in susceptible individuals, as can anxiety reactions)
If you're intensely anxious before you take an amphetamine, the amphetamine usually only makes things worse.If your current dose isn't doing the job, I think you should talk to your doc about upping it to an effective level (no point going to a doc and taking meds if they aren't going to do anything for you) or you should switch to a doc who will treat your problem(s) more aggressively.
I wouldn't tell your doc about what you've done; that's sure to make getting controlled substances harder for you. If your doc isn't cooperative, just find a new one.
Good luck.
Posted by Racer on September 19, 2008, at 19:54:19
In reply to did i overdose?, posted by amandaQ on September 19, 2008, at 10:36:32
I agree with DesolationRower, but I'm going to go a bit farther in explaining what worries me.
When you say you "don't feel it working anymore," you may actually be at a therapeutic dose without recognizing it. It's pretty common, on first taking stimulants, to feel a little "high." That's not a sign that it's working -- it's a sign of an adjustment phase. The goal is never to feel high, but to feel "normal" -- what that means for you depends in large part on what it's being prescribed for. If it's for ADHD, for example, you might only notice that you're better able to focus -- and you might only notice that if you think about it. The feeling of being a bit high, though, is not the feeling that you're supposed to have once you've adjusted to a therapeutic dose. At that point, typically, you'll be much more aware of what it's doing for you if you stop taking it for a day or two.
Raising your dose so much is a bad pattern to get into. It ups your risk of addiction, and you would do well to avoid that. What's more, taking another pill, and then another pill, is another dangerous pattern. It's well worth discussing this with your doctor, and making sure you're both on the same page about what you're looking for from it.
Best luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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