Adderall question!

koh19 · 12-04-2008, 01:06 PM

Does anyone take any? Are you planning to take some whilst in college?

I'm still in highschool (last year of it) and I'm thinking of going to the doctor to try and get some prescribed.

I don't think I have ADD per se but I do have a couple symptoms. I have a lot of trouble paying attention in class. Listening and concentrating for more than 4-5 minutes at a time is difficult, I get easily distracted by trivial things. During, for example, a 3 hour exam, I only concentrate and work for about 2h15; the rest of the time I'm either playing with my pens, looking out the window, getting distracted by stupid things. When I watch others, they're fully concentrated on the task, don't even stop working for 2 minutes while I'm daydreaming. I also often don't remember what I've just read. I know a lot of people say this but I literly have trouble making connections between the sentences (sometimes words!) while reading.

You might say that if I managed all these years without it, I don't need it today. This is where I'd say; up until now, I managed because I'm a smart guy (not bragging here) but now that it's becoming more difficult, I'm having trouble.

Adderall would at least help me for those really big ones (exams, essays, etc....) when you have to keep concentrated for an extended period of time.

Help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Shrinkrap · 12-04-2008, 01:08 PM

How common are 3 hour exams?

koh19 · 12-04-2008, 01:51 PM

about 5-6 times a year.

And this last year is the "Baccalauréat" year, where we're going to have 2-3 hour long exams in every subject (writing+oral)

Russell7 · 12-04-2008, 01:53 PM

I have some 30 mg XR. I crashed extremely bad when I used it. I'd only use it in emergency situations, but maybe if you take only 10 or 20 g you won't crash to bad.

Shrinkrap · 12-04-2008, 02:03 PM

And then there's that pesky research about sudden-death....

willmingtonwave · 12-04-2008, 02:04 PM

Meh, I think using it is cheating. Everyone has trouble focusing and concentrating, if you succumb its called laziness. If you are going to enter the workforce with prescription drugs being an aid for your work habits, you are in trouble.

Russell7 · 12-04-2008, 02:25 PM

It isn't cheating, because that would imply that a rule exists, which one doesn't.

chuy · 12-04-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Meh, I think using it is cheating. Everyone has trouble focusing and concentrating, if you succumb its called laziness. If you are going to enter the workforce with prescription drugs being an aid for your work habits, you are in trouble.

Yes. When a person has a recognized medical condition and then they take medication for it it is most certainly cheating. Around cold season I like to give the stink-eye to people popping cough drops. Cough like the rest of us!

leah377 · 12-04-2008, 03:12 PM

i've taken half of an IR pill a couple times..when i took a whole one it made me far too jittery. i know people who don't have ADHD who totally rely on adderall to concentrate, but i think that's pretty ridiculous..just make yourself focus.

NewStudent12 · 12-04-2008, 03:40 PM

You can't become dependent on medication, and that is exactly what taking Adderall would do. Oh, I can't concentrate on this test, better take some Adderall. Well that worked, so I might as well take it during class so that I can concentrate on that too. Oh, and that worked so well that when I'm out in the real world, I need to take it to work at my job. And then, I am going to the movies, so I might as well take it then too so that I can follow the story line, etc..... BAD NEWS! You don't want a drug to dictate how successful you'll be in life.

And I'm worse than you! For a 3 hour test, I can concentrate maybe 45 minutes (if I'm lucky). Do you know how I still manage to average 98-100% on all exams? I became efficient. If I can only concentrate for 45 minutes, then I better work my ass off to answer those questions in the 45 minutes I have.

willmingtonwave · 12-04-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Yes. When a person has a recognized medical condition and then they take medication for it it is most certainly cheating. Around cold season I like to give the stink-eye to people popping cough drops. Cough like the rest of us!

I wasn't talking about that. My brother raised his SAT's like 300 points just by taking ADD medication. I was talking about the people who are just lazy and who don't have ADD. You can't deny that ADD is over diagnosed, that is a fact. It is just an American mentality that I hate, "oh I have a problem--pills will fix it!", soon you start taking adderal to stay awake and sleeping pills to go to sleep. It is just a bad cycle.

Russell7 · 12-04-2008, 04:12 PM

Adderall makes people not lazy. I don't see how that's a problem. They're still putting in the work, it's just a lot easier. What you're saying is that since studying is hard for everyone, that making studying easier is cheating. That's stupid, there are no rules. I don't really care about many people. So go ahead and suffer; I'll take the "easy way out."

apumic · 12-04-2008, 04:49 PM

You are abusing a controlled substance. It is dangerous to your health in ways you likely do not understand (unless you've been through med school and/or have an MS in Pharm) and if you cannot succeed without meds, you're going to have a heck of a time in the workforce later. Work on your concentration now.

Russell7 · 12-04-2008, 05:16 PM

I don't consider it abuse. That's completely subjective. Occasional use is not dangerous. And it isn't about not being able to succeed without meds; it's just that if an easier situation presents itself, why not take it? You won't develop a dependence by taking it a few times a year during finals.

willmingtonwave · 12-04-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

I don't consider it abuse. That's completely subjective. Occasional use is not dangerous. And it isn't about not being able to succeed without meds; it's just that if an easier situation presents itself, why not take it? You won't develop a dependence by taking it a few times a year during finals.

That is the very definition of abuse, because if you aren't ADD any amount of ADD medication is in excess. You are just taking the easy way out, that's fine. I'll work hard and that will translate more effectively in the work place. I really don't care what other people do to their bodies, it's their own choice. I just don't like to take the easy way out of situations. Escapism can only get you so far.