Adderall and Dry Mouth: What Users Say

• Ayl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2025

For ADHD "At a dose of only 10 mg, Adderall XR has not only given me motivation and focus I have never had before, but I am significantly less anxious and emotional. My mind is quieter, I do not feel like giving up as soon as I feel a sense of failure or rejection, and overall, I am a lot happier. When I first started taking Adderall, I did experience side effects of dry mouth and a loss of appetite, but these went away after a week. I can no longer drink anything with more caffeine than black tea on this medication, though, as I get heart palpitations and jitters when I do so. One major word of advice I have is do not expect medication to magically fix all of your ADHD symptoms. Adderall does not know what tasks are important or not. If it kicks in while you are watching YouTube, you will be stuck on YouTube for the next 5 hours. You must teach yourself time management skills and work on your discipline in order to reach your full potential on Adderall, or any ADHD medication."

• Kan...
• November 20, 2019

For Narcolepsy "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."

• Epi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 24, 2022

For ADHD "The Teva that I normally take is on back order. Tried Epic brand. Immediately started feeling dizzy and a headache started. Pulse is racing, resting pulse is 67, and my current resting is 94. Feel like I am having an out-of-body experience, also paranoid. When talking, I felt like I was talking really fast, but my daughter said I was actually talking slowly. Everyone keeps looking at me really weird. My eyes are blinking uncontrollably. I keep crying for no reason. I hope this medication wears off very, very soon. Dry mouth, which is normal, but this was almost immediate and severe. My arm occasionally twitches, and I seem to now be shivering. If I took this brand normally, I would never want to take amphetamine/dextroamphetamine again."

• ski...
• October 6, 2013

For ADHD "I've taken Vyvanse extended-release and Adderall extended-release. I didn't like the mood swings and irritability I suffered when they would wear off. My doctor has since put me on Adderall immediate release 30-milligram tablets twice a day. I've taken these tablets for 2 years now and love that I can focus and I am not having mood swings or irritability at all. I have experienced dry mouth and some jitters as well as trouble sleeping. I take Ambien to sleep, and it is no longer an issue. I have to take a vitamin supplement due to a huge weight loss, though. I was overweight when I started Adderall and now am at a healthy weight and maintaining that weight without issue."

• jai...
• April 2, 2008

For ADHD "Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) immediate release has greatly (95%) improved my symptoms of ADHD including concentration, focus, memory, attention span, retention of information, and to some extent my energy and grades. It's a very strong stimulant, so it does have temporary side effects. Most will go away in two to four weeks, like euphoria, anxiety, and teeth grinding, but the dry mouth and insomnia if taken late will not subside for months. However, it has helped me A LOT."

• pnj...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 25, 2013

For ADHD "I've taken Adderall for 2 years. The first 6 months worked very well. Balanced me out, kept me focused & side effects were minimal. But, the efficiency of Adderall has really gone down in my experience. I often find myself hyper focusing on things I don't need to & the side effects have gotten much worse. Insomnia, horrible dry mouth (= more cavities), I get antsy & shaky at times & I also feel I've become dependent on it. Next doctor's appointment, I will be asking to switch out to something else. It's a good medicine at first, but understand that many of the great reviews are likely written by newer Adderall users."

• ker...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2024

For ADHD "I got diagnosed with ADHD at 26, however, I showed signs of the condition my entire life. I was put on Adderall, and yes, my entire life changed because I had an answer. The medication is a love-hate relationship. The side effects include no appetite, dry mouth, upset stomach (upon first taking the medicine), and cold hands and feet. However, the benefits are life-changing. I can focus on work/school, daily chores aren't impossible, and my impulse control has improved significantly. I take 15 mg IR in the morning and 10 mg IR in the afternoon (previously have been on combos of IR and XR as well). This medication is life-changing for those who truly struggle with ADHD."

• ElR...
• March 14, 2012

For ADHD "I would like to say that Adderall really works. It helps me concentrate and get things done. My mind doesn't race, and I am able to focus. I do experience dry mouth and loss of appetite. I was experiencing a lot of headaches when I first started taking it, and they would be migraines starting from my temple to the pressure in my eye. I did a self-experiment before I completely stopped taking the medicine and began to drink two glasses of water: one before my pill, then wait 10 minutes and drink another glass of water with the pill. Throughout the day, I kept drinking water, and I have no more headaches. Drink water all day!"

• Sha...
• August 10, 2016

For ADHD "My experience with Adderall: for one, it makes me poop like crazy. I'm super thirsty (dry mouth), and it KILLS my appetite. I don't eat for hours, and I didn't have a desire to. But while I was at work, I was on top of everything, as far as proofreading and catching errors. It does make you focus and more alert. I was multitasking, and the fact that I didn't feel overwhelmed was a plus."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2012

For ADHD "36-year-old female diagnosed with ADHD. Started on Concerta 30 mg daily (2 weeks), no therapeutic effect but had extreme dry mouth, a crash/grogginess in the evenings. Switched to Adderall XR 20 mg daily, no therapeutic effect; experienced dry mouth and slight loss of appetite during the day, made up for it in the evening. Just started 40 mg daily and I feel the therapeutic effect. Profound concentration at work, desire to tweak processes, love getting things done, a non-stop interest in being productive with everything. I have this sense of crystal-clear clarity of my surroundings, like HDTV sight. Around 5 pm, I still feel a crash and extreme tiredness. I will see if I can take a short-acting pill to get me through the evening. VERY PLEASED NOW."

• Mil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2017

For ADHD "This medication is absolutely amazing for those who really suffer from ADHD. You will experience side effects such as loss of appetite, loss of sleep, hyperactivity, dry mouth, and dehydration, but they go away with time. There is a right dosage for everyone. Try to find your dosage and genetic brand that works for you, and with proper nutrition, it will change your life! I've suffered from ADHD since I was a child. I was never able to focus or finish tasks. I would do so much better in life, in every aspect of it, if I had discovered this medication earlier in life! But like a lot of people on here say, better late than never! I am now on 15 mg IR twice a day. Give it a try, just do it right!"

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2008

For Narcolepsy "My stomach couldn't handle the normal Adderall, so I tried Adderall XR. It took a while for me to really enjoy the medication, but with the combination of Cymbalta, I don't have real ups and downs. I take 90 mg, I am a muscular 255-pound male. I would recommend Adderall: side effects, dependency, dry mouth, less hunger until you come down at night."

• Swe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 27, 2016

For ADHD "Side effects: dry mouth, anxiety (if used when tired), euphoria, hyperfocus (when dose too high). Adderall allows me to concentrate and study for a reasonable amount of time while also offering flexibility on when I use it; both XR and short-release are quick in-and-out drugs, unlike SSRIs. My performance improved dramatically with the use of Adderall, but there were definitely a few cons. Hyperfocus is a huge problem that eluded me for a few months. Because Adderall affects the brain, it distorts the user's reality. I felt that I was getting a lot done, and it wasn't until my colleagues at work told me that I was garbage at multitasking that I realized my dose was too high. Beware of this. Focus =/= productivity."

• Tkd...
• December 9, 2015

For ADHD "This drug was prescribed to me after Ritalin didn't work well. This medication helped my ADHD, but the side effects were unbearable: cotton mouth, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks. It seemed like the cons outweighed the pros. Much more successful than Ritalin, but not enough. My doctor decided to try Vyvanse, a new version of Adderall with fewer side effects and better outcomes for treatment, plus no crash after dinner."

• mom...
• August 8, 2010

For ADHD "I have been taking this for 3 months now, and I feel we are getting somewhere. I am taking 15 mg in the morning and 15 mg at 1 p.m. I feel I could have the dose increased, as I have only one side effect, which is dry mouth. No decreased appetite and no jitters. I have decreased my coffee intake and am much calmer than I have been in years. Before, I had trouble with focus and gnatting about. I know we are getting close to where I should be. I am 44 and have suffered too long, and so have my children, boss, friends, etc."

• Bac...
• January 16, 2010

For ADHD "I'm 25 years old, male, and I started taking Adderall for adult ADD 2 months ago. My physician and I decided to give it a shot because I was having a terrible time at work (4 years employed) doing the simple, but long-term tasks/projects that everybody else was doing on time/completed. Pros: productivity up 300%, more attention to detail, finishing tasks, major increase in focusing (easily!), major decrease in stress from cognitively/mentally draining myself in an attempt to 'stay focused,' more energy. Cons: severe initial 7-10 days side effects. Still experiencing severe dehydration, dry mouth, nausea, dead libido, moody, increase in tobacco smoking, loss of appetite. Fantastic benefits. Side effects are still mild, if anything."

• Xan...
• September 19, 2017

For ADHD "I was tried to be put on Ritalin when I was 5, and it simply wasn’t gonna happen with my parents. So I continued school and still had C and D grades. I went to a doctor, did all these tests, and they said I have ADD/ADHD with anxiety disorder, which was from all the MDMA abuse. So I am on 30 mg IR Adderall (the ones with the 30 on them), only ones that don’t make my mouth dry, and 2 mg Xanax 4 times a day. Let me say I wake up every day excited to go to work. I used to be a hardcore tablet junkie, and now since I take these two, I don’t drink and I don’t do illegal drugs. These two prescriptions were a match made in heaven. I take 2 green bars and 1 Adderall in the morning, and I’m flying at work in the IT/software field. These two have saved my life. Best combo."

• pea...
• December 8, 2009

For ADHD "I have taken Adderall for over a year and I have had great results. I take 20 mg twice a day. I stay on task and accomplish so much more in a day. Initially, I was shaky and jittery and not sure about Adderall, but it was stopped and I feel the full benefits of the drug. The only side effects I would tell someone about would be 1) dry mouth, 2) loss of appetite (good for me though), and 3) sometimes hard to get to sleep at night. These are trivial, given the amount of benefit I see from Adderall."

• Em4...
• January 26, 2018

For ADHD "I’m a 21-year-old female. Adderall helped me focus, be on time, stay organized. However, as time passed, I noticed the negative impact. I had weight loss, irritability, my anxiety was worse, dry skin, dry mouth, and was not feeling like myself. I developed insomnia too. This was only on 20 mg a day. I took it as prescribed. The worst part was when I tried to quit taking it after I was switched to Vyvanse, which I felt even worse on. I ended up in the hospital having a panic attack the first time I tried to stop taking it. The second time I tried to quit, I had even more withdrawal symptoms: paranoia, panic attacks, vomiting. Stimulants are not worth it."

• Rjo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2016

For ADHD "I have primarily inattentive ADHD and recently was diagnosed at 39 years old. I was on amphetamine salts IR 10 mg 2x a day as needed at first, which worked okay, but gave me some side effects I didn't appreciate, such as peeing so much it kept me awake at night. Also, it worked inconsistently per day and sometimes per hour. It gave me blurred vision. So I was switched to 20 mg amphetamine salts XR, which is much easier on my system. I don't have the urinary issues, and it works a bit more consistently, though I don't get the 'zeroed in' focus that I got with the IR, and I still get some blurred vision, but no issues that cause it. Also, with both, I have a mildly decreased appetite, which is fine since I'm overweight, and also a very dry mouth."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2016

For ADHD "I take the XR, and it allows me to focus throughout the day at work and in classes. I can actually sit down and complete a task, I can get something done (for once), and the only side effects I really experienced were a bit of dry mouth at first and some continued loss of appetite. Otherwise, completely effective. Unfortunately, my insurance company only covers the brand name. Otherwise, it would be much, much cheaper. It's the brunt of my monthly prescription costs."

• Del...
• August 16, 2017

For ADHD "I would like to first say that my experience with Adderall was overall successful, it most definitely helped my concentration and ability to focus. However, there are some side effects that I think are worth noting. I had minimal anxiety prior to taking this medication (only when traveling). My anxiety dramatically increased to the point where I was put in therapy and almost took a medical leave from work. (I quit taking the medication once I realized it was a significant contributing factor - although not completely to blame.) I had a very dry mouth while prescribed, which actually ended up leading to cavities according to my dentist. Noticeable lower back pain and problems sleeping (both are alleviated once you quit taking the meds)."

• ash...
• August 24, 2010

For ADHD "I have adult ADHD. I'm 21 now and have been on Adderall 20 mg 3 times a day for the past 4 years. It's really helped me, if you just take it responsibly, you don't have any real problems. The only thing I still get is dry mouth."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2010

For ADHD "I've been taking Adderall for 3 years and have experienced extreme nervousness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, dizziness, etc. Adderall is not for all."

• joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 12, 2013

For ADHD "Hyper focused, dry mouth. Both this and Strattera put me into a state of manic. Used Depakote 750 mg for mental balance."