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Suggest Remedy For Hyperactivity When On Adderall

Posted on Sat, 28 Feb 2015

Question: I have adult adhd and taking adderall. It gives me the motivation to go but still can't stop feeling like I can't sit still. I would give anything if I could actuaLly sit down and play with my kids for more than five minutes. And very irretable

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
please raise adderal for this problem

Detailed Answer:

Hyperactivity is one of the components of adhd. This part of adhd makes one restless and on- the- go...and I can understand that it is very distressing for an adult...

With treatment the other components of adhd- lack of concentration etc.,get controlled ( they also resolve themselves with age)fast but hyperactivity is last to go...
So, you would have to increae the dosage of adderal to help this. To add one more drug would not be a good option..one must avoid polypharmacy untill there is no other choice.
Please meet your doctor and talk about raising the dosage of adderal.

Good luck and have speedy recovery!
Please fee free to ask more questions for clarification.

Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Manisha Gopal (16 minutes later)

I take 20 mg 3 times a day so u suggest raising dosage to what? It has been a gift for some of the symptoms but still kind of hard to sit still. Hat is polypharmacy. My dr also has me on zoloft 50 mg a day for what he thinks is anxiety. What ur opnion on this. I think it really dosent help just makes me tired so i stopped taking it. Also what do u recommend for sleep its not the adderall never could sleep. Thank u for ur input

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
can ↑adderal by5-10mg & see.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

1. Polypharmacy- using more than one drug to manage symptoms which could be handled by single drug.
So,adding another agent to treat what I think is not anxiety but hyperactivity in your case- will be polypharmacy.

2. You are taking 60mg adderal per day...its a good dose but you may try rasing it by another 5mg and see...
It will be wise to try with adderal first, by increasing it to 70mg..if that dosent work at all..it might be needing an anti anxiety molecule, like venelafaxine ..
You can discuss this with your doctor.

Sertraline didnt work - also points to the possible hyperactivity behind your restlessness and not anxiety.

To diffrentiate between anxiety and hyperactivity in adhd patients -(though it is best done only in personal interview with the client):-

In anxiety one cant even enjoy TV or movie sitting constantly.....while in hyperactivity one can do so..So, just check out if there are somethings which you can do constantly.

Also in anxiety- patient jumps from one place to other without any relevance and dosent find peace anywhere...while in hyperactivity one may do his work somehow and does not feel distressed all time..

3. Sleep- if adderal helps you in this, well and good.
If its only an on and off problem- zolpidem 10mg will be useful.
Otherwise we may look forward to increasing adderal will be useful is sleep too..
Use other measures apart from drugs to sleep..non- medicated measures..

Wish that the above explanation is useful for you.
Please feel free to ask more questions to clarify your doubts.

Dr. Manisha Gopal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Manisha Gopal (5 minutes later)

Thank u id like to ask u a few questions in the next couple days if u dont mind. U have been very helpful thanks for ur time

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
you are welcome.

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome to clarify any doubt at your convinence.

Good luck.
Dr. Manisha Gopal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Manisha Gopal (14 hours later)

Is hyperactivity a seperate condition or does it just go along with adhd and do i treat seperatly? I didnt mention this but i dont like social situations because of self esteem. They say that it is part of adhd. Im just trying to figure thing out. I just want to get better for kids. I have been on adderral for 6 yrs. my dr just prescribes adderral. I no they r not specilized in adhd. What would u recommend. The irretability is also there as well.

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes, it is part of adhd. no need to feel low

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Hyperactivity, lack of concentration and impulsivity are 3 components of adhd - both in kids and adults.

With treatment and with age- hyperactivity is late to go compared to other two.
You dont need to do anything separately for it. Same drug adderal should suffice ( at an increased dosage).

Irritability is due to your social or personal restrictions which you feel due to hyperactivity. You might be feeling less compared to other fellows around.

I think it is not justifiable to feel bad about oneself...everyone amongst us has one or the other faults..some of the faults are even self created; atleast itbis not so in your case...so it isnt your fault.
..moreover, I haveyself witnessed many creative and highly qualified and well accomplished people having this disorder..some of them coolly accept having hyperactivity as well...

So, treating an illness is one thing and accepting and moving forward in life is another..

May be you know- the guy who won so many olympic medals ( during last olymipcs) in swimming - XXXXXXX Phleph, has adhd...his parents just focussed on what good can come out of the situation..!

So, stop feeling low...raise your self esteem and of-course take treatment.

Good luck!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D