I am an adult female who was diagnosed as having ADHD after extensive testing in 2005. I was eventually found to do great on 15mg ER dextroamphetamine 3 x's daily. I had to stop my meds due to losing insurance. Now I am 39, have insurance again and just worked my way back to that same dosage daily. I do pretty good, but if I am sitting here dealing with paperwork or the computer, I tend to nod off as I am reading or even doing something... soo weird to be someone who can sit and fall asleep on an amphetamine. Also relevent, mother had bipolar/schizo effective disorder (paranoid type), father was terribly narcoleptic... I have the track record of a true add-er, paper trail and all to prove it. Any ideas why or what I should do? Thanks!
How can I be sitting here falling asleep and having just taken my morning 15mg dextroamphetamine??
Question posted by msconley922 on 24 Oct 2012
Last updated on 25 June 2023 by Lovbooks2reid
7 Answers
Lovbooks2reid
25 June 2023
Hi!! This happens to me as well. 47/F diagnosed at 13 medicated since 23. What my doctor explained to me was that if I am failing asleep is because having ADHD the medication is supposed to level/suppress/control the hyperactivity so falling asleep is a sign of over medicated. The people who don't have ADHD and take the meds will be jumping off the walls because it causes them the opposite effect. What my Doctor did was bring bring the dosage down and we started over, and from my part, I only take it during workdays and break from them on days that I don't need to focus. And yes it helps my depression I feel a pep on my step.
sonica
2 April 2019
When the govt reduced adderall prescriptions from 3× a day to only 2x a day, which meant a loss of 25 mg, from 155 to 130mgs, my body immediately reacted with narcolepsy related symptoms. I never, ever had a problem with "passing out" while driving, eating, or concentrating on multiple issues at the same time, being a handily multi tasked person.
I am unable to drive bec the conscious switch off happens without notice. I can't finish any type of meal bec I'll "come to" with dropped utensils or my dish or sandwich or anything held in my hands fallen on the table or floor or on me, like a cup of hot coffee spilling on me to jolt me awake.
I can't cook anything on the stove at all bec even while standing there being attentive as can be, the cut off switch finds me reeling in a horrible sensation to gain my balance. I've broken my shoulder and have had terrible bruisings and lumps from banging into things on the way to the stone marble floor. Everything is either microwaved now or ready to eat.
I'll start a crossword and as soon as my mind drifts to dwell on something unrelated, the cut off switch immediately enacts and I'll be unconscious for seconds or hours before I come to.
But I do have a faithful and loyal mini schnauzer who barks nastily at me whenever she senses I'm about to topple over, or nod out, or even been in the bathroom longer than 7 minutes-I've timed her on several occasions. Right now she's sleeping bec if she knew I was typing on this phone she'd have barked at me as soon as I picked it up, bec I can rarely stay in the now without it falling out of my hands several times and waking to the sensation of it falling. She has learned to alert me awake all on her own. I did not teach her, she just knows.
When I looked up the effects of a sudden reduction of normal adderall maintenance amounts, the 2 websites that had any info said it would possibly make one feel a bit sleepy. SLEEPY?! Feeling sleepy and being totally unconscious w/o warning are not even relatable to be compared as the same symptom.
Narcolepsy is a dangerous condition and it needs to be examined and treated along with the ADD/ADHD experience.
Nitro061
14 July 2018
Amphetamines will wear your body and minds chemicals and calories and eventually your body just makes up its mind up that it most likely needs something whether that would be more fluids, fiber, etc and a big side effect of Amphetamines is that they typically have your brain craving bad food or none at all that’s why ITS CRUCIAL took take a daily multivitamin, vitamin D, and pay more attention to your foods you are or are not getting so say maybe protein? but buy some protein powder and make a protein shake or stir it interest milk which is high in protein it’s self.
Just something I got wise to long time ago good luck
Falnick
3 May 2018
I think it’s insane the amount of people who agree to this
kellyme45
3 Jan 2018
Hi Miss Conley, I realize this is a few year old but I have the same problem although I am an adult male not sure if that relates physiologically. It is rather irritating that I can take my Adderall then pass out, it's not even a good sleep but I'm just to exhausted to stay awake, did you ever figure out what is wrong? I also was diagnosed BP but mine is depressive, the Venlafaxine takes care of that just fine but the Adderall I need for my ADD II or I can't focus, problem is the sleeping. ugh!
decaying
31 Oct 2012
Msconly922
first things first. there shouldn't be a reason that you're taking a 15 milligram adderall xr tib (3xday).
that typically is not heard of in the medical field. 90 + percentage of adult ADD/ADHD you given a higher dose of a non extended release amphetamine in the am.. what concerns me is that your taking a time release 12 hour pill tib. this should be a twice aday pill at the very most.
What I might suggest is to switch to a non time released adderal. so not XR adderall.
if you're falling asleep if you taking non XR adderall you may have some other underlining issues.
I personally would recommend dextro methanphetamine. they use to be called brown and clear or dexedrine. you can't take this up to 4 to 5 * a day and you can also take it PRN(as needed)
is there to bring a journal of how long you sleep every night. Android include your sleeping patterns as far as what time you fall asleep and how are you sleep for. you may even want to include how you feel the following day.
and actually shrine the makers of adderall xr have a Assistance Program to where you can get your medication for free if you qualify. I am in no way affiliated with that company Nor do I endorse nor oppose it.
I hope that helps you out if you have any questions please comment and I will respond promptly
WOLFMAN80
8 April 2015
I know this is an old post but apparently it pops up at the top when you Google this question of falling asleep.
I couldn't agree more with decaying and going to an IR dose. I have the same problem when I would take my 25XR in the morning. I will either take the XR and 5IR in the morning now or just take 10-15 of IR and take the XR around midday. I get prescribed 1 25XR and 1 IR20 to break up for the morning and later in the day. Works well.
Rena931945
25 Oct 2012
Sounds like you need your dosage increased or perhaps the doctor could try you on a different medication. Have you had a sleep study done? A lot of times with the narcolepsy you may also have sleep apnea. If your father had narcolepsy then you may have ADD and narcolepsy together.
I have ADD and narcolepsy. I am 67, female and I take 30 mg of Adderall in the morning and then 30 mg about 2 hours later and lots of times I could be asleep by 6 p.m. I what you are taking is ER then your beginning dose is going into your system gradually and may not be enough for you to be completely awake. It is a difficult combination, talk to your doctor and see what he suggests.
jlillilin
27 Oct 2012
Excellent Advice given by Rena. I have a similar situation. I nod off frequently after taking my Concerta and a 5 mg of IR Ritalin to get me going in the morning. I noticed that I feel myself very drowsy as soon as I start reading and editing(I am an editor at Dept of Community Services). I feel I may have Narcolepsy too. I think my grandmother had it. I feel for you. ADHD & Narcolepsy will take many trials with doses and like Rena said, maybe a different med may help more. I love my job. I don't want to lose it. Good Luck to you as well.
Related topics
narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), drowsiness, dextroamphetamine
Further information
- Dextroamphetamine uses and safety info
- Dextroamphetamine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Dextroamphetamine (detailed)
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