HomeAnswersInternal MedicineamphetamineWhy am I not able to sleep while taking Adderall for ADD?

I am on Adderall for ADD and I am unable to sleep. Why?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. K. Shobana

Published At September 25, 2016
Reviewed AtFebruary 14, 2024

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have ADD and taking Adderall 20 mg twice daily. Usually, my sleep is good and rarely I may feel difficult to sleep. Also, I only take prescription when I am supposed to. But, for the past one week, I am unable to sleep. I took my sleeping pills and still just could not sleep. As till early morning I am not getting sleep, I started having the worst panic attacks. I kept thinking the worst thoughts and somehow ended up passing out. Then, I become normal after two hours and took my Adderall. If the same thing happens again, then what can I do to help myself?

Answered by Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. First of all, I would like to know how long have you been taking that dose of Adderall (combination of Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine)? It is important to note that the dose you are currently taking is relatively high. Typically, doses greater than 20 mg have been found to have less effect on attention deficit disorder (ADD) while increasing the likelihood of experiencing side effects such as insomnia, panic attacks, and hyperactivity. Have you considered trying a smaller dose, such as 20 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the evening, to see if it provides a better balance between effectiveness and side effects? In order to have a better understanding of your entire history of ADD treatment, it would be helpful to know when you started this treatment, the initial dose, and how rapidly it was increased to the current dose. Additionally, could you please provide more information about the "natural sleeping pills" you mentioned?

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am using Adderall for a month. I have not tried lowering the evening dose. I will give it a try. My psychiatrist told me just to take a half but if it does not work, then can boost to 20 mg. When I used 10 mg, my concentration was still really off. So, I just used 20 mg and it has been helping me stay on task. As for the natural sleeping pills, I am using a supplement called Natural Rest Plus. Normally, I do sleep well with 20 mg Adderall. I would say that the sleeping problem is more random than anything.

Answered by Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. Thank you for providing the detailed information. I would recommend reducing the dose of Adderall to 20 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the evening. It is important to avoid rapid changes in the Adderall dosage, so the rate of change should not exceed 10 mg per day per week. Rapidly increasing the dose can lead to feelings of panic and hyperactivity. I advise consulting your specialist doctor, discussing the dosage adjustment with them, and following their guidance. Regarding sleep supplements, it seems they are not working effectively for you. If the adjusted dose of Adderall does not improve your sleep, I suggest discussing with your psychiatrist the option of using Trazodone at bedtime on an as-needed basis. The recommended dosage for Trazodone is 50 mg to 100 mg. However, it is important to consult with your psychiatrist to determine the appropriate dose and usage for your specific situation.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sadaf Mustafa
Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Internal Medicine

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