Adderall for Narcolepsy User Reviews

• tri...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 12, 2020

"Generic Adderall is not the same. I feel immediately awful when I realize they switched me to generic dextroamp (amp salts). Not sure what brand. I heard Teva might have moved distribution centers and have been alternating approved cheaper alternative ingredients. Well, guess what, they don’t work AT ALL. Check the generic brands when you get your script filled and see how you feel. The old generic brand I took worked just fine. I cannot get out of bed for weeks because whatever 'similar' generic cheap alternatives they are using do not make the cut. Welcome back debilitating fatigue!"

• Lau...
• January 5, 2020

"I have #IdiopathicHypersomnia & #narcolepsy. Not all generics are equal. 1. #Corepharma works. 2. Oval, peach #Teva does not. 3. Teva started carrying the same dark pink, round IR as #Corepharma. 4. In 2018, Teva started selling the oval, peach again. 5. I filled the Rx with #Sandoz (round, peach) which worked almost as well. 6. Corepharma was purchased by #Epic. 7. I have been relying on Sandoz since 2018. Every month I have to call pharmacies to see if Sandoz is in stock. Usually, they don't have it & can't order it. #JewelOsco is the ONLY pharmacy that places orders for me. Today (01/05/2020), JewelOsco does not have any & is unable to place an order; the supplier is out & the date available is TBD. Has anyone tried #Northstar? How does it compare to Sandoz? How is the pharmaceutical industry allowed to do this? If anyone reading this can point me in the direction to hold pharmaceutical companies legally accountable, please comment. *Aurobino does not work for me #NarcolepsyDiscrimination"

• Sle...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 11, 2023

"I take Adderall IR 10 mg twice a day for narcolepsy and ADHD. I use Walgreens and normally get generic Teva. The past few months I have noticed the meds have not been as effective. Dr. increased my dosage and still no difference. The last bottle I got felt like I hadn’t taken my meds at all. Something sketchy is definitely going on."

• Spa...
• June 26, 2022

"Been on Adderall IR for over 10 years. Noticed the effects of Teva and Sandoz are not the same. The new formulas remind me of a caffeine pill. Little energy, dizziness, eye blurriness, and brain fog. Also, pills look different. I believe all of the Adderall companies are using the same formula to wean people off. Why?"

• MPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2020

"This medicine is a godsend. I have been suffering from narcolepsy for about 5 years. I had no idea what I was doing wrong, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm talking about sleeping for 8-9 hours and then waking up and wanting to go back to sleep. I'm a public school teacher, and I had no choice but to be at work all day. It was a struggle, and I was embarrassed to even tell my coworkers. This summer, so many unpleasant events happened in my life, I decided to talk to my psychiatrist about my inability to concentrate and the excessive sleeping pattern. He suggested I try Adderall, and bam! I haven't taken a nap since August. I do not have any side effects, no jitteriness, no overworking, nothing. I'm just ready to start the day and get on with my life. I usually go to bed around 9:30 pm and sleep well. I take 20 mg twice a day. But if you miss a dose, it's back to square one. I religiously stick to a schedule and take them at the same time every day. I am in my mid-40s."

• Kan...
• November 20, 2019

"I was diagnosed with a sleep disorder/excessive daytime sleepiness, and my physician prescribed me Adderall. After I found the dose that worked best for me (30mg in the morning and 10-20mg in the afternoon), I felt like a new person. I usually sleep anywhere from 12-18 hours a day when I don’t have classes or work (I don’t have to force myself up on these days with 2 alarms). I can still nap, but they are not nearly as long as they used to be (3-8 hours). My grades have improved, and most importantly, my attendance of class has improved! I used to sleep through class, but now I can go because my body isn’t begging for sleep. Overall, it is an extremely helpful drug to treat narcolepsy/excessive daytime sleepiness. I finally feel like I have my life back! My only complaint is the dry mouth I experience every so often. I also still feel rather tired some days, but it is not as NEAR as torturous as it used to be. Overall, it is extremely helpful, and it has changed my life for the better."

• won...
• July 27, 2009

"This may be a little long, so I hope you took your medicines today. LOL. This is my 3rd month on Adderall, and it is absolutely a miracle drug for me. I have suffered from extreme fatigue and excessive sleepiness since I was a teenager. I'm 38 now. My doctors have tried me on everything from sleeping pills to antidepressants, but nothing worked. A friend suggested Adderall. I researched it, talked to my doctor about it, and we tried Provigil first, which did help, but I was still falling asleep while driving and reading, etc. I switched to Adderall. I was so happy I nearly cried when I told my doctor how much better I feel. I wish I had tried this years ago."

• Wor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2019

"I have been on D-Amphetamine Salt Combo, 30mg a day for a few months for narcolepsy and actually did great. But I recently picked up another prescription and noticed this brand is called Teva generic brand. I have noticed for 2 weeks I have become irritated, forgetting easily in what I was looking for or talking about, aggressive outbursts, stomach pain, migraines, generally not feeling good on this brand. I will be complaining over this!"

• Awa...
• April 14, 2014

"It makes a huge difference in my day! I hate having to take something every day to stay awake and alert, but better than living in the fog I was in the past 8 years of my life (6 of which I didn't even notice they were side effects of something bigger, haha). Things you may notice while taking Adderall with narcolepsy: 1. You stop being a shut-in. 2. You actually start calling your friends to do something instead of getting harassed till you finally cave and do something. 3. You're better at work and all of a sudden care about your job. 4. You are grinding your jaw. 5. Stop grinding your jaw, and finally 6. Work with your doctor for the right dosage! There will be a bit of dancing between cracked out and half asleep till you find it."

• Jwr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

"Adderall works exceptionally well for me with one caveat. Don't believe for one bit that all generics are the same. Before filling your script, call around and find out which brands the pharmacies carry. If it's Mallinckrodt, find another pharmacy to fill at. I can take any brand of Adderall and it works for me without many side effects EXCEPT Mallinckrodt. I don't know what they do to their pills, but they make me sick. They give me a severe headache, extreme nausea, and abdominal pain. If you look online, you will see that other people report the same. So shop around for something other than Mallinckrodt. Good luck."

• Drk...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 12, 2017

"The efficacy of Adderall in any condition that you take it over is dependent upon the quality of the generic brand that your pharmacy carries. Although a pharmacist will not want to tell you this, a generic product can vary plus or -20% variation from the brand-name drug. This was a result of the Hatch-Waxman Act. Moreover, and most disturbingly, only the generic company itself knows the results that they conducted and required for a generic manufacturer to manufacture a generic drug require bioequivalency testing. However, they, and I emphasize 'They' because it is only the generic company itself that conducts the test and knows the results besides the FDA. Only the generic firm and the FDA know the exact test results. Research different generic reviews, because this makes all the difference in your experience with generic Adderall IR."

• Fog...
• August 19, 2018

"Adderall has given me some of my life back. I can tell you this for certain. Without it, I was lost and on the brink of suicide. Now I can be a father, husband, and most importantly, a normal human being again! I take 20 mg, 3 times a day. It is still not enough to keep me from napping twice a day before 5 PM, but it helps. I still feel as if I’m in a fog for most of my morning and afternoon, but at least I'm not worried about crashing my car or falling asleep on the job. Personally, I have not suffered side effects. My blood pressure is very good, I don’t get jitters, and the medicine actually calms me tremendously. Without it, I was simply a mess! If you even think you may suffer from narcolepsy, take this medicine. I can’t say that enough. Take it, and find some happiness again!"

• jjh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2020

"I was switched to Adderall, but after 2 years, switched to Ritalin. Adderall seems to open up parts of your brain best left closed. I started to see a 12-year-old boy in the yard during the day, he would be gone when I went to talk with him. My neighbors told me that in the 1970s, he died here. You have to watch the dosage."

• Bio...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2013

"I've been on Adderall for six months for narcolepsy. It has given me a life back. It has helped my severe daytime sleepiness by about 80%. There are times if I'm really tired that I can tell the med doesn't help. But mostly it is excellent. The only thing I don't like about it is the crash after the med wears off. I can tell a huge difference. And it is also disappointing that I have to take meds to stay awake each day. But overall, I would say I'm very thankful for it."

• art...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 25, 2012

"I am a 69-year-old female who has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since I was in my 30s. The CFS came long after the FMS, but Adderall 20 mg 3 times daily has made my life bearable, enabled me to stay awake, boosted my energy (I also have Hashimoto's disease - hypothyroid), and has provided me with a feeling of normalcy. I see my doctor every 3 months for blood work and medical care. Got a new script today, but insurance wants a pre-authorization, which will take 3-4 days, and I am out of this medication. Guess it will be a sleepy weekend coming up! Adderall rocks!"

• we3...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 13, 2015

"I was diagnosed with narcolepsy in 1990. They started me on Ritalin, which did not work for me. Then Dexedrine. It did work but caused a lot of tension in my neck, shoulders, and back in the evenings. Then Provigil and Nuvigil. I have settled on Adderall, it wakes me up in the morning and keeps me awake in the afternoon. It's a godsend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 9, 2018

"I have had narcolepsy for 25 years, 5 of those years I went undiagnosed, another 5 figuring out a treatment that worked for me. Initially, treated with Ritalin and developed a tolerance. Tried non-amphetamines and they did absolutely nothing! Then started Adderall, I had become a new person again, had a life. Able to hold conversations, cook a meal, and drive a car again, all without falling asleep! I was even able to work and have been working for the past 15 years. The dosage increased over a period of time, but for the past 9 years I have been on 180 mg per day and it has controlled my narcolepsy without any side effects or need to increase the levels."

• Sun...
• September 4, 2015

"I was taking 40 mg of Adderall per day for ADD, before my narcolepsy diagnosis. At that point, the dose was raised to 30 mg, 2 times per day. That dose helped a bit more with the ADD symptoms, but I'm still exhausted and sleepwalking through my day. It does give me 4-5 hours to be productive and get my work/errands done before I crash again, around 3:30 PM. I've been on Adderall for several years, and at first, it seemed like a miracle drug. On 20 mg/day, I felt awake for the first time in my life. But now, about 8 years later, I think my tolerance is way up, as the 60 mg/day I take now is nowhere as effective as the 20 mg was years ago. Until there is better treatment for narcolepsy, Adderall is better than nothing."

• rar...
• October 4, 2009

"I have been on Adderall (60 mg) for 16 months (I am 21 years old). I was sleeping 16-20 hrs a day and when awake, I was lethargic and had a compulsion to sleep. I also have severe chronic pain, refractory depression, and panic disorder. So with so many problems, I could hardly do a thing. Adderall was ideal because it helped treat my narcolepsy, it reduced the sedation from the opioids I take, it actually treats pain when added to opioids, it helped my depression which did not respond to over 40 drugs, and feeling better, I started to conquer my agoraphobia. I can't say it is a 'cure' because I still struggle. I can still fall asleep, even when talking to a friend. Only problem was a little bruxism when I started and when the dose went up."

• Ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2013

"I just started Adderall 10 mg for a new diagnosis of narcolepsy. This is the first time I have ever stayed awake through a movie and been able to sit and read without nodding off. I am still my normal, calm self, but I just do not have the compulsion to sleep. Very helpful."

• Kld...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 22, 2013

"For 5 years, I suffered from hypothyroidism, which turned out to be Hashimoto's. I take thyroid (natural thyroid medication). Once my thyroid was under control, my doctor and I were confused about why I was so tired. I would have seizures when I was completely exhausted. Very scary! They thought I had panic attacks, but not so! The seizures were all part narcolepsy, which apparently can mask under hypothyroidism. I now take 30 mg of Adderall XR a day. It is not enough, but I'm just really happy I can get through the day without feeling like someone has given me a bottle of sleeping pills. Adderall is my wonder pill, and no side effects."

• Tay...
• February 1, 2017

"I was diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy about two years ago. I was always the friend in the group that was falling asleep in the car, movies, and the middle of class. I actually got voted 'most likely to be sleeping in class' for my senior year. Even though it was funny for others, it's not for me. It's so hard to live a normal life when you're constantly tired and all you want to do is sleep. I took Nuvigil for the first year and a half. It was working fine, but I grew a tolerance for it with adverse effects. I started Adderall half a year ago, and it's the best thing ever. I've never felt so normal before in my life. I take 10 mg XR when I wake up along with a 10 mg regular release tab and 10 mg later on in the day. Best choice ever by my doctor!!"

• Sei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2014

"I gave Adderall an 8 out of 10 because it is very effective. Anyone who is narcoleptic (which is why I use this medicine) will stay awake completely. Depending on the dosage, you can stay awake anywhere from 5 hours to even more than 12. The downside to this medicine, and let me be clear that it is just with my experience, is that it can make you jittery and excited. It also gave me 'false confidence' and just overall made me more outgoing than I usually am. Also, I found that the first time I used it, it gave me quite a high, which I eventually got used to. After several days, I started hallucinating things and got paranoid. There are definitely some psychological side effects even more than the ones that I've experienced."

• Dec...
• January 6, 2021

"I was diagnosed with a severe case of narcolepsy about a year ago. I always thought it was my chronic fatigue that made me feel so sleepy all the time. I was finally referred to a sleep specialist who ordered a night and daytime sleep study. When I received the results, he told me I was a very sleepy person, his worst case in many years. I have been taking 20 mg Adderall 3x a day. It does help, but I'm still extremely tired throughout the day. The sleep doctor advised me in September that there's a newer medication that can be added to my Adderall, but insurance didn't like to approve it and that in 6 months, hopefully, it will be easier to prescribe. I've seen somewhere that 60 mg a day is the max for treating ADHD, but that 90 mg is the max for treating narcolepsy. I'm curious if that dose would improve my symptoms. Overall, I'm happy with the medication as I never notice any side effects. I just want to feel more awake and less sleepy."

• Tho...
• May 10, 2015

"I'm a 52 yr. old male. I started taking Adderall about 14 months ago. For the first 2 weeks, I didn't notice much change, then I noticed that when I took the medication in the morning, suddenly I had a lot more energy and it seemed like I could concentrate better and not be as agitated about life in general. I take my 2nd dose at lunchtime. The increase in my energy level was keeping me moving more during the day, so it allowed me to rest better at night. Every morning when I wake, I go straight for the Adderall. Overall, I think Adderall has improved my quality of life, and I think Adderall should be prescribed to the aged for the same effects. It's not going to work the same for all, so close monitoring for 30 days on a 2 per day 15 mg dose."