Taking adderall after staying up all night

Sleep Deprivation and ADHD Adults: How to Rest Better

Q: “I have trouble getting to bed on time. There is always something that tempts me to stay up later. I average about five hours of sleep a night. Not until recently did I link my sleep shortage with other problems in my life — doing a poor job at work, doing a poor job in my marriage, and overreacting to life’s bumps in the road. Could poor sleep be the cause, and how do I overcome my inclination to stay up much later than I should?”

A: ADHD brains need more sleep, but find it doubly difficult to achieve restfulness. It is one of those ADHD double whammies: ADHD makes it harder to get enough sleep, and being sleep deprived makes it harder to manage your ADHD (or anything else).

In fact, research shows that sleep deprivation has a particularly detrimental effect on attention functioning among young adults with ADHD, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Attention Disorders. ¹Sleep deprived participants with ADHD experienced relatively worse omission errors, commission errors, and delayed reaction time. Additionally, lack of sleep will affect stimulant medication efficacy. You won’t get the full benefit from the medication because your tired brain is operating less than optimally before you take it. You will then perform worse at work (or school), especially on tasks that are tedious or that require complex thinking. And you will likely be more irritable and short-fused.

Sleep Deprivation Solution #1: Consistent Sleep

If you are sleep-deprived, sleeping late on Saturday and Sunday may not be enough to help you feel good. In fact, yo-yoing between short bouts of sleep during the week and long sleep on the weekends causes your sleep/wake cycle to become dysregulated, so your body doesn’t know if it’s time to be alert or to downshift into sleep mode. It may take a week or two of consistent sleep for your body to reset its clock, and for you to know what “rested” feels like. And, by contrast, how much worse you felt before you got steady sleep.

Sleep Deprivation Solution #2: Increase Hours

Ideally, you should get eight hours of sleep a night, but even going from five to five-and-a-half hours makes a difference in how you can feel. A night of five hours may not be so bad if you had a couple of seven-hour nights before it, since the benefits of sleep can be cumulative. So give yourself credit for the progress that you are making. And regardless of how you did with sleep last night, make tonight a good one.

[Better Than Counting Sheep! Your Free Guide to Sleeping Better]

Sleep Deprivation Solution #3: Set a Bedtime

Many of my clients who are sleep-deprived don’t have a set bedtime. It could be midnight or 2 a.m. This vagueness may be somewhat intentional, but it makes it impossible to manage time through the night, since there is no deadline to manage time against. Therefore, set a bedtime and think of it as you would a deadline at work. Count time backward from that time to plan your evening, and push yourself to honor it.

Sleep Deprivation Solution #4: Think About Tomorrow

Staying up too late is about enjoying the present and paying the price in the future. This is tempting, especially for folks with ADHD. To counter this temptation, take a moment to imagine what tomorrow will be like if you stay up too late. Think about how painful it is to drag yourself out of bed, how stressful it is to rush to work, how long the day feels when you’re tired and exhausted. Then think about how much better the day is when you get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep Deprivation Solution #5: Identify the Obstacles

Think about why you stay up too late and why that happens. Ask yourself, is it mostly about “near causes”—getting stuck hanging out on Facebook at the end of the night? Or is it mostly about “far causes” — getting to work late and having to stay late to finish up? What are the first dominoes to fall that set events in motion? What are those choice points that send the day or evening down one path rather than another? These are your effective points of intervention.

Sleep Deprivation Solution #6: Get Rid of Naps

Naps can recharge you for the rest of the day, but they can also become part of the problem. If you are doing more than a 15- or 30-minute power nap in the afternoon or early evening, you aren’t getting enough sleep at night. Long naps (one to two hours) definitely mean you aren’t getting enough sleep and also disrupt your sleep/wake cycle, making it impossible to fall asleep at a reasonable time. This sets you up to need another long nap tomorrow. Break the circle by slogging through the day without the nap, and go to bed at the right time — tonight will be bad, tomorrow will be better.

[Do I Have ADHD? Take This Test to Find Out]

Sleep Deprivation Solution #7: Stop Lying to Yourself

We all tell ourselves little lies to permit us to do what we know we probably shouldn’t. When it comes to sleep, you might say to yourself, “I don’t need that much sleep” or “I can make up for it on the weekend.” You might also misjudge how long an activity will take or, on an impulse, get involved in doing something that you know will take longer than you’re telling yourself: “I’ll just take a quick look at social media before I go to bed. ” These little lies may have some truth in them, but if we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that they are less true than we would want them to be. So remind yourself that such little lies are, at best, overly optimistic, and that you will predictably be unhappy later.

Sleep Deprivation Solution #8: Ask Yourself “Why”

Are you stealing time from sleep to do the things that you otherwise might not do? For example, is staying up late a way to get some private quiet time, or to have some fun after a day of hard work? These desires are valid, but are you unintentionally making your life harder by taking time from sleep? Perhaps you can find other times to make the trade-off. There probably won’t be any easy answers, so hang in there and think it through. What things do you need to change in your life, so that you feel fulfilled and well-rested?

Sleep Deprivation Solution #9: Revisit Medication

Extended-release stimulants can get you through a workday, but how far do they carry into your evening? If your day is going well, but you are off track at night, talk to your prescriber about adding a short-acting dose in the late afternoon. Some people have trouble falling asleep with too much medication in their system, but untreated ADHD can make it harder to manage the evening schedule and get into bed on time. See what works best for you.

Ari Tuckman, Psy.D., CST, is a psychologist, ADHD expert, and certified sex therapist. His fourth book is ADHD After Dark: Better Sex Life, Better Relationship (#CommissionsEarned).

View Article Sources

Dan, O., Cohen, A., Asraf, K., Saveliev, I., & Haimov, I. (2020). The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Continuous Performance Task Among Young Men With ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054719897811

[Guide: Stimulant Medications for the Treatment of ADHD]

#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication

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What to Know About Adderall and Sleepiness

Written by Nicole Hollimon

Why Sleepiness Can Happen With Adderall

Adderall is a stimulant that boosts your levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These are neurotransmitters in your brain that calm and relax you so you can focus better. They also affect sleep in different ways. That may be the reason the drug causes drowsiness in some but not others. In studies, 2% to 4% of kids who took the drug had low energy and sleepiness. For adults, it was 6%.

It might help to practice good sleep hygiene. That’s some steps you can take to help you snooze better. This may curb drowsiness. You should:

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
Don’t drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
Don’t eat heavy meals before bed.
Exercise.
Don’t watch TV or use your smartphone 30 minutes to 1 hour before bed.
Keep your room dark and quiet.

Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms

A more common cause of sleepiness related to Adderall is stopping the drug after you’ve used it for a long time or after you’ve been taking a high dose. Doing that suddenly instead of having a doctor slowly wean you off of it can make your sleepiness worse. This is known as an Adderall crash.

Adderall Alternatives

You should talk to your doctor if your sleepiness doesn’t get better after making a few lifestyle changes. It might help to change your dose. You could also try another ADHD drug, like Ritalin or Dexedrine. They might not affect you the same way. Other options include:

Nonstimulants like Strattera and Qelbree are selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs). They raise your levels of norepinephrine, a chemical messenger that’s important for focus and attention.

Blood pressure medications like Intuniv and Kapvay are other nonstimulants that are FDA-approved to treat ADHD.

Antidepressants. Some, like tricyclics and bupropion, have been shown to help with ADHD. Experts think it’s because most work on the same neurotransmitters as Adderall.

Possible side effects of tricyclics are:

Blurred vision
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Low blood pressure
Problems peeing or pooping
Sweating
Tremors or shaking
Upset stomach
Weight gain

Possible side effects of bupropion are:

Anxiety
Headaches
Rashes
Upset stomach

Blood pressure medication. Studies have shown that some may ease hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and aggression. But they don’t seem to help as much with attention. Also a downside: These might make you tired.

The doctor can help you figure out which medication works for you with the fewest side effects.

What you should know about antidepressants

Ekaterina Kushnir

treats anxiety disorder

I have generalized anxiety disorder.

For a long time I coped without pills and other help, but one day I got tired of constant anxiety and began to interfere with my normal life. As a result, I turned to a private psychiatrist.

The doctor prescribed an antidepressant from the SSRI group - these are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Such drugs are the first thing prescribed in the treatment of depression and a number of other conditions, including my illness.

The doctor immediately warned me about some peculiarities associated with taking the drug. Some of them I then felt on myself. I think everyone who plans to be treated with antidepressants should know about them.

At the same time, it should be taken into account that most of the negative effects of therapy are temporary and not dangerous, and if they do not go away, one medicine can be replaced with another. Antidepressants help many people with mental disorders and other illnesses get rid of their symptoms and return to a full life, so you definitely should not be afraid of them. The main thing is to take such drugs when they are really needed: as prescribed by a competent doctor and under his control.

See a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don't write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

Fact No. 1

Antidepressants may make symptoms worse at first

Antidepressants can increase anxiety in anxiety disorders, as well as cause irritability and agitation - this is the name for causeless motor arousal, the inability to sit still. It's not dangerous, but rather unpleasant. This condition is sometimes referred to as initial anxiety, that is, the anxiety of starting therapy. Up to 65% of people face it.

Antidepressant-induced anxiety syndrome - a systematic review in the British Journal of Psychiatry

There is also evidence that some classes of antidepressants, including SSRIs, may increase suicidal ideation in depression in young people aged 18 to 24 years. These data are not very reliable, and in older people, the risk of suicide no longer increases and even decreases.

Without treatment, depression is more likely to lead to suicidal thoughts, and in case of anxiety, you just need to prepare for such an effect, then it will be easier to survive the attacks.

The doctor told me that in the first two or three weeks there may be an increase in anxiety, but I did not take it too seriously.

Everything was fine for the first week. After about seven days, I became nervous and irritable. And then I woke up at night and after a while I felt an incomprehensible fear. My heartbeat increased, my head was spinning, my throat was constricted. Because of this, I felt a real panic - I spent the rest of the night fighting terrible thoughts, in the morning I got up completely broken.

/list/antidepressant-myths/

8 myths about antidepressants

I have never had such panic attacks before medication - my anxiety was background, general. I got scared and wrote to the doctor, who reassured me and said that it was not dangerous and would pass soon.

After that, I already expected these panic attacks, immediately tried to relax, calm down, remember that this was just a temporary effect of the drugs. And they ended faster, and then they completely disappeared.

My letter to a psychiatrist. I was scared: I expected an increase in background anxiety, but not panic attacks. I even thought about giving up the medicine

Fact No. 2

The effect of antidepressant treatment will not be immediate

Increase the dose of antidepressants gradually to reduce side effects. They usually start with the minimum, and then bring it up to the working one. For example, for SSRIs with the active ingredient "sertraline", the working dose is from 100 mg per day. I started taking such a drug with 25 mg, and then gradually, in several steps, under the supervision of a doctor, raised the dose to 100 mg.

SSRI dosage - NHS

What doses of antidepressants will be optimal - an article in The Lancet

The process of reaching a working dose can take from two weeks to a month or more. It depends on the drug and its tolerance. I turned out to be sensitive to the medicine, it was hard for me to survive every increase in dosage: anxiety increased again, there were other side effects that then stopped. However, this is not the case for everyone, sometimes the process goes faster.

The full therapeutic effect, that is, the disappearance or a strong improvement in the symptoms of the disease, occurs some time after reaching the working dosage. As a rule, this is a week or two, although some positive changes may be earlier. For some people, this process stretches for a longer period: 6-12 weeks. Minimum initial doses of drugs usually do not work.

It is better to prepare for the fact that the symptoms of the disease will not disappear in the first weeks of treatment. And remember - this does not always mean that the drug needs to be changed, sometimes you just need to wait or further increase the dosage under the supervision of a doctor.

Fact No. 3

Antidepressants are usually taken in combination with other drugs

Another way to mitigate the side effects of antidepressants is to prescribe an additional drug along with them: for example, from the group of tranquilizers. Such drugs may have their own side effects, they should not be taken for a long time. Unlike antidepressants, some of them can be addictive. They are usually appointed for a month, but this period may be shorter or longer.

Antidepressants together with benzodiazepines work better for depression - BMJ magazine

My doctor prescribed a rather mild drug for me. However, he did not suit me. At first, it caused increased drowsiness: during the period of increased anxiety, it went away for a while, but then returned - even with half a pill I turned off and could sleep all day. And if I drank at night, I woke up with difficulty in the morning. The psychiatrist prescribed another medicine, but I could not buy it: the drug was not available in any pharmacy nearby.

As a result, I simply endured all the side effects of therapy - they were unpleasant, but tolerable. When discussing with the doctor, she called this option acceptable if the side effects of the second medicine only worsen the situation.

My prescriptions for drugs. I never used one, because there was no such medicine in pharmacies

Fact No. 4

Side effects are not always, but they are

Modern antidepressants, including SSRIs, are mild and have almost no side effects. Older drugs - tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors - cause more side effects. Doctors usually use them when milder first-line drugs don't work or when they can't be prescribed.

Side effects of antidepressants - the National Health Service of the UK

Side effects of various antidepressants - Uptodate

Side effects of antidepressants and their impact on the treatment of a large depressive disorder - the journal NATURE

STRICTIC STRICTIC OF REDITION

. effects of antidepressants - advice from the Mayo Clinic staff

Choosing an SSRI drug does not guarantee the absence of side effects - many people tolerate treatment easily, but sometimes a change in drug may be necessary.

The first couple of weeks of taking there is a risk that the state of health will be so-so - it's worth thinking about. It may be worth scheduling the start of therapy on vacation.

I work remotely, and it was easier for me: the first pill was taken on Saturday, I slept through the weekend. Then she continued to work, but refused any additional loads: housework, part-time jobs, training and everything else.

It was hard work: I wanted to sleep, then I began to worry and get distracted. I also had diarrhea, nausea, headaches, tremors, i.e. hand trembling, hot flashes, sweating, palpitations. At night, panic attacks began, in the morning I had difficulty getting up because I was in pain and dizzy.

There are mixed data on how common the side effects of antidepressants are. If we summarize them, then the numbers look something like this:

nausea - about 25% feel it;
diarrhea - it happens in 15% of people, and 5%, on the contrary, will have constipation;
sweating and a feeling of heat occur in about 20% of people;
sexual dysfunction, decreased libido may occur in 80% of cases;
insomnia - in 11% of cases;
headache and dizziness - in about 10-11% of cases;
weight gain - not all drugs give this effect. Some, on the contrary, can reduce weight. On my medicine, I lost 2 kilograms in the first month, despite the fact that I quit training due to poor health. True, then they returned back.

It can be seen that most side effects occur in less than half of the cases. In addition, in most cases they pass in the first weeks and are not dangerous.

Side effects not listed above are very rare. I was "lucky", and I faced one such - a decrease in visual acuity. Once in the morning I noticed that I see worse without glasses. A little later, I realized that something was wrong with the glasses.

I wrote to the doctor, she replied that this happens, as a rule, is not dangerous and passes, but it is better to visit an ophthalmologist. I went to the ophthalmologist, everything was fine with my eyes, there was nothing terrible, but my vision really worsened - it was not a subjective feeling. On the right eye, it was -0.5 diopters, it became -0.75, and on the left eye it was -1. 5, and it became -3.5.

I was offered to try changing the drug, but I decided to wait. Vision was then restored. I have not yet gone to the doctor to have it measured, but according to subjective feelings, it is at the same level as before: I am comfortable again in my glasses.

Side effects should not be tolerated - if something greatly worries, scares or interferes with life, it is better to tell the doctor right away. The psychiatrist will be able to determine whether the side effect of the drug is dangerous and whether it is worth continuing to take it. There are several antidepressants of the SSRI group, in addition, there are groups of drugs with a slightly different mechanism of action. As a rule, doctors manage to find a medicine that gives a good effect without side effects.

If there is no danger, the doctor can adjust the dose or increase it more gradually - this often helps to cope with unpleasant effects.

I wrote to the doctor again when my visual acuity decreased

Fact No. 5

Antidepressants need to be taken long term

Antidepressants are not drugs that you can stop drinking as soon as you get better. They are taken for a long time: usually from several months, less often several years.

Anxiety Therapy - UpToDate

For example, for generalized anxiety disorder, the duration of treatment is at least a year. Moreover, the date is not counted from the very beginning, but from the moment when a lasting effect appeared from the pills. In fact, they will have to be drunk for about 1.5 years - it depends on how long it takes to reach the working dosage of the medicine.

The cost of a package of the most famous antidepressant "Zoloft" is about 700 R, enough for about a month. That is, a course of therapy will cost about 10,000 R - maybe more or less, depending on which drug is selected.

Psychotherapy review - UpToDate

Another drug of the same group already costs more than 2000 R per pack. Source: rigla.ru

The cost of an appointment with a good psychiatrist in Moscow is 3000-5000 R. At first, you will need to visit him about once every 1-1.5 months, then less often.

You can apply to the psycho-neurological dispensary at the place of residence under compulsory medical insurance - it's free. At the same time, they will not put you on psychiatric registration: it was canceled in 1993. People with disorders that do not threaten their lives or those around them are on consultative and diagnostic care. If you stop going to the doctor, he will not find out what happened: a person seeks help at will.

Psychotherapy, usually cognitive-behavioral, is also commonly prescribed to enhance and sustain the effects of antidepressants. In many cases, it improves the effectiveness of drugs, including depression and generalized anxiety disorder. An appointment with a psychotherapist in Moscow costs an average of 5000 R. For treatment, you will need about 10 sessions or more.

/psychotherapy/

How psychotherapy works

Fact No. 6

Antidepressants should not be stopped abruptly

Antidepressants do not develop dependence. However, if you abruptly stop drinking them, there will be a withdrawal syndrome. This is felt as electric current discharges while moving or turning the head, headaches, dizziness, insomnia. Many people experience symptoms similar to the flu or an intestinal virus: low fever, diarrhea, general malaise, chills. Often there is anxiety, there are intrusive images.

Withdrawal symptoms after taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

How difficult it is to stop taking antidepressants - American Psychological Association

Stopping antidepressants in adults - UpToDate

treatment, they should be canceled only under the supervision of a doctor.

Antidepressant withdrawal occurs as gradually as the start of treatment. The dosage is slowly reduced, usually at this time again a cover-up drug is prescribed to alleviate side effects. As a rule, this is the same medicine that was at the beginning of the intake.

Withdrawal is usually harmless and resolves within the first weeks of stopping the drug. Sometimes even within a few days - it still depends on which medicine was prescribed. If severely disturbing symptoms appear during the withdrawal period, you should consult a doctor.

Fact No. 7

If you need to change the drug, everything will start over

It is far from always possible to immediately find the right antidepressant - sometimes the side effects do not go away and you need to take a new one.

Changing antidepressants in adults - UpToDate

Serotonin syndrome - MSD

Most often, it is started again with a small dosage, this delays the process of obtaining the effect of treatment. The new drug may also have side effects - the same or different. We will have to wait again until they pass.

You won't be able to change the drug on your own, since all antidepressants are sold only by prescription - and that's good. Switching from one drug to another can be dangerous if you do not know the characteristics of different groups of drugs.

For example, taking SSRIs is possible only some time after the withdrawal of antidepressants from the group of monoamine oxidase inhibitors - due to the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. This is a potentially fatal condition, accompanied by a change in mental state, high fever, increased muscle tone and other symptoms.

If the drug is changed correctly, there will be no dangerous negative effects, so consultation with a doctor is required.

/psychotherapy-search/

How to choose a psychotherapist

Fact No. 8

Among antidepressants there are original drugs and generics

Preparations may be original or generic. Originals are medicines first released by some pharmaceutical company that have passed all clinical trials and checks. Generics are drugs with the same active ingredient from another pharmaceutical company, that is, copied from the original drug.

Theoretically, the action of generics should not differ from the action of original drugs. However, this is possible, since generics may contain other additional substances or the manufacturer may use other raw materials.

Due to my anxiety, I did not read anything in detail about specific drugs before I bought my first antidepressant in a pharmacy so as not to be scared and not think about taking it. I also didn’t think to ask the doctor about this question.

/list/covid-depression/

Psychoneurological complications after covid: memory problems and depression

As a result, I first bought a generic because it was in stock. Then it turned out that, after all, according to the experience of my psychiatrist, the original drug often gives fewer side effects and is better tolerated. As a result, I changed the generic to the original drug - and, indeed, the side effects softened.

In my subjective opinion, which is supported by some data, in the case of antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs, you should always choose the original medicine. Moreover, the cost of originals and generics is not always very different.

Originals and generics of some SSRIs

Active ingredient	Original	Original cost	Generics	Cost of generics
Sertraline	Zoloft	About 700 R, 100 mg tablets	Serenata, Sirlift	500-600 R 100mg tablets
Escitalopram	Cipralex	3000 R, tablets 10 mg	"Selektra", "Elycea"	500-1300 R 10 mg tablets
Fluoxetine	Prozac	About 350 R, 20 mg tablets	Profluzak, Fluoxetine	100-200 R, tablets 20 mg

CERTRALIN

Original

"Zoloft"

Original cost of the original

about 700 r, tablets 100 mg

Generies

"Serenata", "Cerelift"

The cost of Jeeneriki

9000 500-600 r.

, tablets 100 mg

Escitalopram

Original

Cipralex

Original cost

3000 r, tablets 10 mg

generics

“Chektra”, “Elice”

The cost of generics

500-1300 r, tablets 10 mg

Fluoxetine

“Przak”

cost

cost cost

Cost cost cost original

About 350 R, tablets 20 mg

Generics

Profluzak, Fluoxetine

Cost of generics

100—200 R, tablets 20 mg

one remained unclaimed

Fact No. 9

Do not take alcohol along with antidepressants

Drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants may exacerbate unpleasant side effects. Also, alcohol is a depressant, that is, it has the opposite effect, and its intake can adversely affect the results of treatment.

Why you shouldn't mix antidepressants and alcohol - Mayo Clinic

Alcohol is strictly forbidden to drink with some groups of antidepressants, for example, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors: combination with the latter, for example, can lead to an uncontrolled increase in pressure. MAO inhibitors in general require a special diet - it is unlikely that a doctor will prescribe such drugs as the first antidepressants, but if necessary, he will issue a list of what is allowed and prohibited.

With other antidepressants, moderate use may not be dangerous and may even pass without consequences, but doctors still recommend abstaining so as not to increase side effects and improve treatment outcome.

The main thing is not to temporarily stop taking the drug in order to drink. This can lead to the development of a withdrawal syndrome.

/trevoga/

How I Treated Generalized Anxiety Disorder under CHI

Fact No. 10

Antidepressants are incompatible with certain drugs and have contraindications

It is important to tell your doctor what medications you are taking and what chronic illnesses you have. For example, SSRIs may not be suitable for epilepsy and bleeding disorders, and tricyclic antidepressants are usually not prescribed for those who have recently had a heart attack, suffer from glaucoma, or porphyria.

Antidepressant Warnings - NHS

Drug Compatibility Test - Drugs.com

It is also important to be careful if you are about to take any over-the-counter medicine. For example, ibuprofen, which people often take on their own to relieve pain and reduce fever. It should not be taken with SSRIs as it increases the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

If it is not possible to consult a doctor before taking any medication, carefully read the instructions for it and your antidepressant. It is also worth informing all doctors who prescribe something to you during the therapy period about taking antidepressants.

Ministry of Health

Almost all of us in our life are taking any medications. The range of medicines is significant and is constantly expanding. Medications require special attention when using them. Many medicines should only be used as directed by a doctor, who will give you advice on how to use them. But there are general rules drugs, to name some of them.

If medicinal drugs prescribed to be taken several times a day, then calculate the interval between doses you need based on 24 hours:

- if medicine is needed take 2 times a day, then the interval between doses will be 12 hours (for example, at 8 am and 8 pm),

- if 3 times - then 8 hours (for example, at 7 o'clock morning, 3 pm and 11 pm)

- if 4 times - interval will be 6 hours (for example, 6 am, 12 noon, 6 pm and 24 nights).

- if an appointment is scheduled medicines 1 time per day, then you need to take the drug every day at the same time time.

Assortment of medicines varied and in some cases it is possible to use the same drug 1, 2 or 3 times a day, but it is important to observe the daily dosage. Therefore, at the appointment with the doctor, tell him how it is more convenient for you and / or your child. take medicine: 1, 2 or 3 times a day.

Any medicine needed taken correctly: on an empty stomach, before, after or with meals, as indicated in instructions.

Taking with food means taking medicine while eating,

on an empty stomach - this is about half an hour before breakfast,

before meals - this is at least 30 - 40 minutes before meals,

after eating is 1.5 - 2 hours after eating.

If you are treating your throat with aerosols/gargles and / or absorbable tablets, then within 1-2 hours after the procedure (or as indicated in the instructions) it is advisable not to drink or eat.

Wash down the majority drugs need clean non-carbonated water in a volume of at least 100 ml, that is half a glass. In some cases, the volume of water can be at least 200-250 ml (glass).

It is forbidden drink tablets/capsules with tea, coffee, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, sweet juices, soda, alcoholic drinks.

If a the instructions do not indicate when to take the drug and how to take it drink, it means that the reception is allowed at any time, but it would be more correct done with water at room temperature.

If the tablet needs to be sucked, then it can not be chewed, if it is indicated that you need to chew, then the pill is not worth it to swallow. Most often you can't to divide the coated tablet and dragee, because the shell protects the medicine from the action of the acidic environment of the stomach and / or protects the stomach from the action of the drug. If a there is no dividing strip on the tablet, then, most likely, it cannot be break apart.

Undesirable take several different pills at once. If it's necessary, then take your medicine with a break from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

At taking enterosorbents (for example, activated charcoal) and any other tablets the interval between their adoption should be at least 2 hours.

It is necessary to carry out full course of treatment. Often people, having felt improvement, stop taking drug. This is not true. But if you have any unwanted (side) effect, you should consult your doctor about the possibility of further its application.

Learn more