<p>I’m a 23 year-old college graduate with a degree in Accounting. I started taking Ritalin at age 10 and switched to Adderall at age 12. I’ve been taking it ever since. I’ve taken Adderall and Adderall XR in different doses varying from 10 mg a day to 40 mg a day. I’ve spent years taking it religiously and I’ve spent years taking it irregularly. I have found that, while I am able to function without the meds, I’m so much more productive while I’m on them. For me, there is certainly a notable difference between my “adderall” self and my “normal” self but isn’t that the purpose of the drug?? Taking adderall is a concious decision I make SOLELY for the purpose of becoming less like my “normal” self and more like my more productive and efficient “adderall” self. I’ve gone through phases where I feel that I should be able to be productive without the meds and I’ll quit taking them for a few months. And inevitably there is a short period where your brain has to adjust but your brain quickly balances right back out. You have to maintain a balance between your “normal” self and the positive effects of the medication. Its a decision that each individual makes but you can’t expect to take a drug specifically designed to effect your brain and still feel like your old self. That being said, the difference is exactly as advertised. It doesn’t turn me into a zombie or make me a completely different person. It just makes me want to skip drinking with the guys and stay home to finish those expense reports. While the guys may say they liked the “old me” better… I know those reports have to get done and I use to best tool at my disposal to get the job done. Adderall. But trust me, you can take for a while, stop taking it for a while, and then start taking it all over again and you’ll just be fine. There might be short periods in between where your brain has to readjust, but hey… thats just the nature of the beast.</p>