Sorry for the random post, but today I(22) took Elvanse for the first time. Only 20mg (I‘m 60kg) and still my head feels quiet and able, the mental barriers to starting tasks are almost gone and I can switch my attention and thoughts around to what I want. Is this even possible on that dose?
Did anyone experience similar things on their first try? Somehow I‘m still doubting if the effects are real or just the novelty placebo.
But they are real OMG, I‘m not in sensory overwhelm and actually get things done, I feel like I turned on the cheat menu in a video game!
If you can relate, please let me know bc I am so used to doubting my reasoning that I would really appreciate to know if someone had similar experiences!
Thanks!
Definitely at that dose! I started with a 5 mg tolerance test at 80 kg, was at 15 mg for a while and slowly worked up to 50 mg over 9 months.
How it affected me is quite different, but just as stunning! Especially in the first 2 - 3 months, I was in a constant state of euphoria; it felt like a recreational stimulant drug you’d get at a rave. But the main ADHD symptom that was gone immediately was that I couldn’t get myself to start on a task.
Other advantages came slowly and more subtle at higher doses. It’s still mostly that I finally do what needs to be done. But I do that in a very confused, easily distracted way. I’m basically Joe Biden on speed.
Very much life changing, as the anxiety from missed deadlines and built-up problems is gone.
It’s OK for me. Less downsides than e.g. Strattera or Ritalin but I can only take 30mg per day or else it’ll mess with my ability to sleep.
That feeling of being tired but unable to shut off I guess? I noticed that too. Keeping the dose moderate is smart then.
Yeah I’m usually pretty good with falling asleep but when the dose is too high the gears keep turning even at 2 A.M.
I can relate to the experience, although I just take Adderall XR. It literally unlocked mental superpowers for me. Not only do I get stuff done now, but I’m able to make conceptual connections between things like I always suspected, but was never before able to execute on. And I can do it fast, and often without trying. My guess is this is related to my high score on the ‘Perceptual Reasoning’ portion of the Neuropsych testing I did before I got my meds. But yeah, it’s phenomenal.
Elvanse is my daily driver, initially started at 30mg and went down to 20, stayed on that for a few years, eventually back up to 30mg where I’m at now.
I have been on it something like 8 years total. And I think 66KG starting weight.
Remember everyone’s dosage is different.
You want the medication to be barely perceptable for long-term stability, you don’t want to chase any rush you have the first time you use it, as that will just end up being higher and higher doses.
Thanks for sharing! This “rush” I think happens when you take amphetamine for the first few times, and I agree it sounds not sustainable.
Cool to hear that you are doing fine with a “low” dose. My worries were that maxing out to 70mg would be inevitable without long breaks. Seems that‘s not the case for everyone.
Glad it helps you. I had a similar experience on the first few days. Same dose and I could focus better and sort auditory inputs better. I think it’s still the same but I realised that sensory overwhelm did happen still, maybe even more so. The process of determining the right dose for me is still ongoing though.
Attention and focus are improved the most for me too. Sensory overload was pretty intense when it happened, but much less distracting.
Overall it feels like caffeine if it actually was useful.
Good that elvanse helps you too, thanks for the insight!
