You don't need to get tolerance to zero as you might with addiction-level situations, just back to levels where it's no longer completely adapted.

I've been on adderall for 20 years and haven't ever had to increase my prescribed dose. I even usually reduce my dose in the summer after my week-long break. I bring it back up after subsequent holidays in the autumn.

The only times when I've thought it wasn't working, the med holidays brought it right back on track.

Could be placebo. Also n=1. There's very little lost in attempting (it assuming your dr is kosher with it).

Well, if it's worked for you I might as well give it a shot. Reaching now the 6 months mark, already took a a few days off here and there, I'll try a whole week off around Christmas.

What was good to know was that there doesn't seem to be any addiction potential for me at all. I hate being lazy and unmotivated without the meds, but there is no urge nor withdrawal whatsoever, which is fantastic, as someone that got addicted to half a dozen things in their life.

I was afraid I would start to enjoy the meds too much, but I am much more dependent on the cup of coffee I drink once a week (and every day during work I start craving a Coke) than amphetamine.

I thought it took at least 3 days for the medication to clear your system.

The lessened effect is due to your body getting used to having increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, so stops producing as much.

The fact that the medication is out doesn't make your dopaminergic system more sensitive by itself. It might take a while.

I've been on the medications for almost a decade now, so when I take a weekend off, then I am basically useless by Monday when I start them again. I swear it takes days from them to start working again every time I take a break.

So, my dopaminergic system probably has holes burned through it.

Yes, I have certainly noticed it takes a few days for the full effect to ramp up as well. And there seems to be residual effect for about 12 hours after the last dose, though in general the peak effect lasts about 4 hours for me (on lisdexamphetamine)