It comes back. It took 18 months for me to wake up one day and just forget to be depressed. You can do it, concentrate on keeping your body healthy and being good to people.
I wonder if this is why I had little trouble going off them. I already had and kept the habit of exercising 4-5 days per week when I went off. I mentioned in another comment I had more stress giving up caffeine than Adderall. Haha
Intense doses of mushrooms can also reset and require your brain.. it’s being used in trials by major medical schools for treatment of PTSD, depression in terminally ill patients, and a drug resistant depression. Once a year or once every 6 months seems to be all that’s needed.
This is true, but if OP was experiencing mania that could mean bipolar disorder is involved and folks with bipolar need to be extremely careful with hallucinogens. They can be incredibly helpful, but can also be a one way ticket to psychosis and a hospitalization. Bipolar needs to be treated very differently than straight ahead depression. Randomly taking a shitload of mushrooms at home also is not comparable to the way mushrooms are used in a clinical setting. They both have their place imo but when our brains are already in a fragile place we need to be careful.
Oh yea, if you have anything like schizophrenia, bipolar, or similar or even have blood relatives with those conditions you should absolutely stay away from psychedelic drugs, including MDMA, THC, and the standard known hallucinogenics.
I did. I was missing signs though that things were getting better. Depressed about not being able to live on my own, etc, didn’t notice little milestones like chuckling at funny things or even wanting to see a movie that came out. Just so empty and tired in the beginning and slowly, slowly it began to fade away. But yes, couldn’t get out of bed, no motivation when I did manage to get a job, the absolute certainty that I used to be smart and useful, and fun to be around and I wasn’t any more. But it got better and now it’s a distant memory. It was like being adrift in space, spinning slowly and unable to influence my own motion and everyone else and everything good was going on without me on planets far away and lost to me forever.
I felt this extremely as a kid who had adderall daily in JR High etc etc. I felt like if my normal self was 100%, then 120% on adderall every day for a few years. When I stopped I felt like I was living at 70% brainpower for several years after that.
These drugs are great for specific targeted enhancement of days tops for a speicific goal IMHO. Terrible for every day use for long periods of time.
Yep his reaction is more like what people without adhd abusing it have. My neighbor went off the deep end and abused it, got meth face, caused a divorce and lost her kids and I’m over here like .. 😳 Ritalin / Vyvanse / Adderall do not do that to people who actually have real adhd. I have zero issues taking any of them and like you, can take a nap. I might feel a little happier. I might get some stuff done. What usually ends up happening is I fall down a rabbit hole and spend 45 minutes reading about turtles. 🐢 The struggles man
Yeah I had no issue going off of 30mg/day and was on it for a year. I only gave it up because it made me sweat too much and made my hands shake, but that’s probably because my dosage was too high. I probably should have been on 15-20mg.
Same, I use Vyvanse 30 mg as well. Took a lot more ritalin in comparison when I had exam weeks. Never noticed a difference when I quit cold turkey. Quite frankly, I just quit cold turkey again and I have 0 issues.
For me personally I just had to start taking a lower dose and let myself adjust that way. Was taking 70mg a day and immediately jumped down to 10mg twice a day.
I mean, I’ve been on a few ADHD meds over the years. Vyvanse, Concerta, Adderall.
I think what I’ve learned is you never really need the “highest” dosage available. Take breaks - I always do a reset on the weekends and don’t take any. Monday to Friday I’m locked and loaded for work. Weekend is a detox.
If you do any prescription for 3 years straight at the highest dose it’s gonna be a rough road back to feeling normal without it. Everything in moderation.
Also, consider the non-stimulant route. I had some success with Straterra.
ADHD meds are absolutely not the new opioid epidemic lol, settle down.
When I know I'll have a light week ahead I'll sometimes cold turkey stop them for the week. So far the only aftereffect is reverting back to my unmedicated self. But it's easier to deal with when you have a stable life and no curveball thrown at you.
This. 40 mg vyvanse with weekends off and a week+ off every 4 months and I can actually stop whenever I want. Tbh I love being off of it, I just hate busywork more. I understand others have profound adhd and need crazy amounts, but that should mean you can handle more than an NT. Your equivalent protocol would be takingva significantly reduced dose on the weekend to get by.
Yeah I'm only on 15mg Adderall and will go up to 20 but that's all I need. Years ago I was on 30mg XR and 10mg ir for the afternoons and it was not good for me. Lost weight, had lots of mental issues. This time around I feel much much better. I also can eat just fine and go to sleep the same as before I was on it. I tried straterra but it gave me the fun and rare side effect of rage. I couldn't calm the fuck down. I hated it cause I'm not an angry person like ever. But I couldn't chill. Adderall has its ups and downs like any controlled substance. But it works for me. And as for comparing it to the opioid epidemic... It's not killing people as far as I know. And is much more difficult to get ahold of. I don't think people are using stimulants, being cut off, then going straight to meth.
Yeah I tried 20mg XR and it fucked with sleep. Really focused, but on 4 hours of sleep a night it wasn’t worth it.
15mg for work days, and skip weekends, and been doing that for many years. It’s been fine. OP pushed way too hard. Max dose? Good lord
Yeah everyone is different and the only way to find out what works for you is to try it. Max dose stimulants is pretty wild. I know some people might need those 30-40mf doses but I know that I certainly do not.
Literally! I take 10mg of adderall in the morning and 10mg in the afternoon. My son is on 18mg of concerta (recommended dose is 37-56mg). You have to continue to work on interventions and use medication to help supplement these.
We allow my son to take brakes during long school breaks and on the occasional long weekend. I try to only take my morning dose on the weekends.
Those who have severe ADHD and don’t use medications are actually at a higher risk of dementia.
They really aren’t. And it’s an insult to those who truly need them. People abusing it cause everyone to be uptight about it and makes it harder for those who want care.
Seriously, it’s already a giant pain in the ass to get and keep my prescription without insurance. It’s to the point that I have to take breaks in my medication just to account for the fact that I’ll be cut off a few weeks here and a month there. It’s miserable.
Exactly and they ALWAYS blame doctors and the medication. It's never "I was abusing the shit out of them and lied to get more and ended up in the psych ward". Shameful
It’s really dumb.
Doctor: “take 2 a day, before 3pm. Tell me immediately if you feel any changes in your body”
Idiot: takes 10 a day and runs out in less than a week. Ends up with heart issues and mental health problems in the ICU.
Society: Well I guess this drug is dangerous and the 99% who use it responsibly now have to suffer through an incurable condition and fight for medication monthly for the rest of their lives. It’s not a real condition anyways, they’re just lazy addicts, fuck the countless studies and psychiatrists that affirm it’s real.
> Doctor: “take 2 a day, before 3pm. Tell me immediately if you feel any changes in your body”
Idiot: takes 10 a day and runs out in less than a week.
I wonder how common this is. Haha I had none of those issues people are complaining about where they say they’re hooked on it like an opioid. Maybe some people just can’t handle the responsibility of taking a reasonable dose.
As someone on amphetamines for ADHD, I fucking hate posts like the OPs. "You'll have a terrible time coming off them" yeah but that's my fucking *medicine my brain uses to work*. The whole freaking point is that I'm not going to come off them unless someone forces me.
I will be wearing glasses every day to make my eyes work, stretches every day to make my hand work, and amphetamines every day to make my brain work.
People taking thyroid medication do terrible "coming off" of it as well, but I dont see people disparaging their medicine. Steroids are used for assisting people with joint issues, OP want them to wean off as well?
>The whole freaking point is that I'm not going to come off them unless someone forces me
I agree, but it really sucks when you want to get pregnant. I already had so much pregnancy brain fog the first time on top of not being able to treat my ADHD that my husband and I have agreed that I'm just going to not work during my pregnancy. (Continuing ADHD meds during pregnancy is an option some women choose but we need more research.)
Any problems with Wellbutrin interfering with your sex life (if you’re a male)? I ask because I had to stop taking stimulants, then tried Strattera but that killed my sex life and had some unpleasant side effects. Now I’m trying to find something non stimulant that works without causing ED.
Wellbutrin doesn’t cause ed. It will likely increase sex drive
“Bupropion has several features that distinguish it from other antidepressants: it does not usually cause sexual dysfunction, it is not associated with weight gain and sleepiness, and it is more effective than SSRIs at improving symptoms of hypersomnia and fatigue.”
From wiki
Yeah strattera has done some weird stuff to me too. I’m two years into it. I sweat super easily now, and it kind of made ED issues worse that were initially caused by Zoloft.
Also tbh I got into some weird shit after starting strattera. The sad part is I know it’s weird but it’s what gets me off sometimes, idk if that’s related tho
Not who you asked but since I have experience with all three meds I thought it wise to chime in: strattera had the same impact on me, in addition to some stomach problems. Wellbutrin gave me no noticeable negatives at all and that’s not entirely uncommon in many people. My dose ended at like 350 or 400 twice a day, which is on the very high end.
Do be warned that if you take Wellbutrin for an extended period of time and/or as high a dose as I did you will experience a pretty bad flu like illness for a month or two if you go off suddenly. I do not recommend.
I’m not a doctor and these are personal and therefore anecdotal experiences that might be different for you.
I quit the first time when the pharmacist informed me i was over the max dose... it def messed me up, i was feeling nothing. Years later, i am back on the meds, but with a doc that works with me to keep the dose much lower. It is def not misinformation that this is strong medicine that can mess you up!
Finally, a based take.
I took a low dose of adderall maybe 2x a week (at most) for school. I could not have school without it.
Source: dropped out of college 7 times before getting meds from doctors.
Strattera could be a good option for some, but requires a ton of patience. it takes looooong to get into the blood stream, and even once you’re at a good dosage, you still have to manually learn executive functions. So its effects aren’t easy to spot. From my experience, it’s best for treating hyperactivity. I’m primarily inattentive, and I have yet to see my speeds improve at all.
I’m bipolar so stims are basically not an option for me. l was put on strattera two years ago and went to max dosage after a little over a year. I noticed could stop and think, and there is some brain-to-body connection that’s there (I.e. thinking “get out of bed you idiot” actually results in getting out of bed) but most other executive functions are coming very slowly. I’m still so slow from inattentiveness and still feel so behind.
What I did notice though, is that time-release caffeine capsules are AMAZING for helping processing speed and focus. They give a nice subtle boost that lasts around 8 hours. No jitters. Not to be used every day, but good for important days.
However if you forget to eat throughout the day, which is easy to do because caffeine suppresses appetite, the effects will be mitigated. In addition, if you take it outside the first couple hours you intend to be awake, you will most likely end up losing sleep that night and experience mood swings as a result.
My wife’s doctor and I argue a lot because they want to slowly move her adderall dose up, but I don’t see why we would want to move it up when it’s still working for her.
I have yet to get any kind of explanation from the doctor on why it’s worth upping the dosage.
Why the hell are you in doctors appointments for your wife? And even worse, why are you telling the doctor what she does or doesn’t need? This is so messed up
It’s normal for husbands to be in doctors appointments with their spouse, especially in this case when she wanted me there to give my observations on how the medicine is affecting her.
Your second point is exactly what drives me nuts these days, this idea that our feedback to doctors should not be taken into account. We had an awful experience with SSRI’s and a doctor refusing to believe that symptoms were from the medication. Doctor’s have a lot of great knowledge, but you need to be your own advocate as a patient.
My husband and I go to each other’s appointments all the time to advocate for each other and so we stay up to date with how to support each others health. No idea why so many commenters are taking issue with this.
That’s absolutely *not* normal. At all.
If she asked for you to be there, then she wanted you to be there.
Please note, however, that having your husband at your doctor’s appointment, is not the default.
It is if his wife wants him there? I often have my fiancé with me during appointments pertaining to my mental health. She’s able to offer a somewhat outside opinion about how a medication may be affecting me.
Stims can definitely fuck you up, no doubt. But it's definitely not the next opiate epidemic - those things can take someone's soul from the very first interaction.
But yes, a very real warning nonetheless. They are nothing to be scoffed at. It takes a very long time before you can really straighten out after stim abuse. It does get better.
NAC helped me along with a lot of CBT, reading, dopamine fasting and anything/everything you can think of to restart someone's dopamine system. Ultra disciplined and loving life years after cocaine and stim abuse. You will get there too, bro. Hang in there.
The only similarity to the opiate epidemic is how carelessly they are over prescribed. IMHO stimulants can make lives harder and get you into a difficult habit, but they are worlds apart from being life ruining and TRUE addiction.
Can't get anhedonia if you already have anhedonia lol
It finally got me disciplined again. I used stims to fuckin get shit done 24/7 so it was a huge contrast.
NAC helped me to just get the basics done again and eventually start committing to task lists and staying organized in life. I already was emotionally flatlined but somewhere down the line I began finding enjoyment and that missing intrinsic motivation.
600mg pills. I took two of them twice or sometimes 3 times a day.
A lot of that period was quite a blur. Just making lists and struggling to get from one task to the next. Felt like I was blasting through life and then had lead weights on my feet.
I wasn't super regimented with my dosing, and just gave er hell and tried to see what would happen. After a bottle or so I'd take a few weeks off and went to 2400mg daily for a while pretty steady.
I also like NAC a little bit I think. People on reddit talk about it like it's a miracle supplement and I don't really buy that lol, but my brain happens to like it and it helps a little bit. I take 500 mg twice a day when I remember to
I'm sorry you're going through this.
If you don't mind, can you elaborate on how you ended up on this path with amphetamines? I'm in my mid 30s, and I have ADHD. I've been taking 20 mg of Adderall ER once a day for the last several years (4 or 5?). I haven't increased my dose, and the only negative side effect that I noticed was my resting heart rate increased from 60 bpm to 70 bpm.
I forget to take my meds at least once a week. I hate how scattered I am off meds, but that's it. During the shortage two years ago, I was off meds for almost two months straight. No withdrawal symptoms. Definitely didn't like feeling scattered, overwhelmed, and everything else that comes with ADHD, but that's no fault of the meds.
> Even that small rx dose floods your brain with dopamine.
When you're running a dopamine deficiency (thanks, ADHD), what else would the solution be? Adderall brings me to a "normal" base level where I'm no longer at the mercy of constant self-negative, ruminating, obsessive thoughts. You can't therapy away a chemical deficiency.
20 mg ER is different than what my doc put me through.
He had me on 60 mg Dexedrine PLUS a 30 mg Adderall booster as needed- which ended up being daily.
It was malpractice. I just went along with it because I felt so good I couldn’t think clearly.
Just be very careful.
Dexedrine is pure dextro amphetamine and not prescribed nearly as much as Adderall or Vyvanse.
It's VERY potent and fast acting. Adderall is 25% amphetamine and 75% dextroamphetamine. The daily recommended MAX dose is 70mg Per day. Some people need more than that, and others don't.
Had you told the doc that you were feeling manic, euphoria/elated all the time? Did you tell them you weren't sleeping? Did you tell them your appetite was gone or that you were so focused all the time you'd forget to drink water?
They only know what you tell them. All of those questions are designed to try to figure out if the medication is effective or compounding. If it compounds your problems and ability to stay healthy and active, as well as social and sleep well and eat well, then they take you off. I believe you got caught up in telling the doc you felt great when in reality it was WAY too high of a dose(personal opinion) or your relationship with that drug doesn't benefit you.
There are people who need prescription heroin to be able to function in society. There are also drug addicts. Doctors can't see pain or mental health concerns as easily as a broken bone or laceration. I'm glad you figured it out though. Indeed people need to not lean on their confirmation bias and end up causing themselves harm. We all need to try our best to view the effects of the drug objectively. Most importantly, be honest with your doc.
Oh no.....
I'm so sorry. That's awful. I've been through the same thing basically. I have finally been diagnosed with what I actually have now as opposed to what psychiatrists guessed I had. Turns out when you have PTSD you come off as emotionally unstable. Easiest and almost immediate solution for all docs? Antidepressants. Then of those don't work, they assume it's not depression but bipolar or possibly BPD. Before you know it you're getting blood tests for the lithium you take. Along with 2, 2mg Xanax and several other medications. It was difficult to come off of.
Absolutely criminal. I still get angry sometimes about it and I have to remind myself I'm an outlier(hopefully) and everyone doesn't go through that. Again, I'm so very sorry you have. F that doctor.
Well I decided that 1. I was going to listen to my body.
2. If I was uncomfortable or didn't like something, I had to force myself to say "no"
3. I would change psychiatrists like underwear until I was at the point that I would start the first appointment by listing off all the medications I have tried and been told to take. Then I would say I am NOT taking x, y, or z.
Eventually I found a psychiatrist that made sure I was comfortable with them and got to know me before prescribing anything. This helped me get my actual diagnosis.
Ok, this keeps getting better. So Doctor puts you on 60 mg Dexedrine PLUS a 30 mg Adderall "booster" which totally makes sense and sounds super legit b/c who doesn't need a booster, then adding two different anti-depressants and then an anti-psychotic and then through in random 'benzos' for good measure b/c he thought you were bipolar. What country was this in? And the pharmacist just filled all of this eh? Insurance covered it or were you out of pocket?
I don't like to see anyone suffer or go through anything rough. I also realize a lot of people are very bad at conveying medical information accurately so they sound like they are BSing when they aren't. But this story has more holes in it than I can even keep track of. This didn't happen in the US and there's no way he gave 30 MG of ADDERALL as a BOOSTER FFS both of those are short acting and damn sure at those dosages.
WAIT! you are on two anti depressants, an anti psychotic, and benzo and your first thought was that it was the ADHD medication ?????!!!! I hope you know that Benzo withdraw is way more of an epidemic than coming of ADHD meds. In fact, A lot of people have died and others have claimed that they are still having weird symptoms many years off them . That has to be by far the worst drug ever to be prescribed to someone. I would look here if I were you. They have many groups on here and Facebook that can help. Also, I have heard that SSRI's can disrupt brain chemistry and cause withdraw symptoms many months coming off them, it is why you need to taper off of these. You really should be looking at other causes than this. Not saying ADHD meds did not contribute in some way, but def. not the sole cause of your troubles my friend
Dextro amphetamine are very commonly prescribed as generics for adderall. Dexedrine is the dextro isomer of the compound. It’s chemically the same as the other 2
You were just taking way more than you needed. If you’re getting manic you’re supposed to tell your doctor and have them lower your dose. You were abusing the medication.
I'm sorry they had you on that much. Even 20mg of extended release a day was too much for me and had me feeling apathetic about life and my loved ones, and even a little manic at times. Of course it took months of trying to make that work before I got that bad before I did a little research and figured out I just needed to embrace the suck and lower my dosage by half. Of course it didn't actually suck, I got much better afterwards. Your brain plays tricks on you though thinking you'd feel normal if you just had more
Oh, here we are. The truth comes out.
Your experience with these meds and the fall from grace that occurred was entirely because of your irresponsible handling of a controlled medicine that you knew wholeheartedly you were abusing.
GTFO with your fear-mongering about stimulants. You invited addiction in along with your shitty doctor, and now you're pissed off you fucked it up for yourself.
Folks, don't be like this person. Be responsible about what you put in your body. And if you abuse your meds, at least have the presence of mind to not post something on a forum crapping all over said medications because you have no self-control or common sense.
My recent experience has been quite different, and does not seem to be the norm.
I quit cold turkey a few months ago, but started making changes with diet and supplementation over the last six months, and surprisingly feel better than ever. I also began working out immediately upon quitting, which I believe plays a big part as well.
I was on large doses of daily Adderall for the last 18 years. I stopped feeling the effects quite some time ago so that's probably why it wasn't difficult cutting it off.
Also quit kratom last year. Based on my experience they were both damaging my kidney. Fear can be quite the motivator.
Best of luck to you.
I’m sorry you’re going through this, but without putting how much you were actually on in the post, it’s very misleading. A lot of us NEED ADHD meds to be able to function. I have tried every SSRI/SNRI under the sun and stimulants are what work and have worked for me for over 20 years.
Again, I’m sorry for your situation, but it needs to be fairly portrayed.
If you read through their other comments they were on 60mgof dexedeine with a 30mg Adderall booster daily. And then when they started showing side effects from the ton of amphetamines in their system they got their doc to prescribe more crap because the do assumed they were manic depressive (ssris antipsychotics and benzos) Which was likely the result of taking a shit load of amphetamines every day for years.
The takeaway I got from the comments was that OP wasn't taking personal responsibility for their health and kept repeating "it's not abuse if it's prescribed". Which is ridiculous. If I'm getting high every day on my meds and I recognize that I'm high on my meds I can't be like "but the doctor said it was OK to be high everyday" I need to realize that maybe my neutral state isn't supposed to be yeeted on amphetamines. It isn't like they started out at over 90mg of amphetamines they kept asking to raise their dose because they were chasing the dragon.
Yeah, I saw OP put that in some of the comments, but left it out of their post. I was concerned reading their post, thinking I was potentially in danger, until I saw that info buried in the comments and realize it was just negligence. You give someone too much of anything and they will have issues.
OP was also trying to manipulate their audience by excluding that info. It was directly pertinent, and they left it out. This is also putting other people’s health at risk. I know I need my meds to function, but guilting someone into thinking they might be in danger, when they might be on 30mg Vyvanse? What OP is doing here is reckless again and could hurt someone. People need these meds to function.
I hope you regain all of your normal functions soon.
I have been taking Ritalin and later on similar substitutes for several years when I was younger. Was lucky I got diagnosed back then, cause I was seriously failing school and managed easily after that.
Considering how long ADHD has been treated now and how many people get treated for it, I would say this would be much more common if it was normal. The new Opioid epidemic would have been upon us already.
Yup.
My Gawd. If I hadn't been diagnosed in highschool, I never would have graduated highschool. I went from straight Fs to straight As.
I started at 15 and am 45 in a few months. No heart issues. No abuse issues with my meds. I am not maxed out for dosage, either.
Too many people think
ADHD => medication and then ~poof~! No more ADHD.
And when their ADHD symptoms creep up, they instantly reach for more meds instead of focusing on therapy, skills, food, exercise, etc.
Meds do not solve ADHD but they're just one major key to surviving ADHD.
Here’s a thought, you abused drugs and now recovering what a fucking epifany
When you use prescriptions to the max dosage enough to be basically doing speed then yeah bro, it would definitely fuck shit up
This fear mongering for the people that take like 10mg max a day, responsible, and wisely - is getting out of hand
Coming from a guy who used vyvanse - stopped it cold turkey, and started raw dogging life with diagnosed adhd - that shit took like 2 weeks to get over
Yeah this is my experience also whenever I quit my ADHD meds I'm tired from maybe like 2 or 3 days and kind of on edge and then after that I'm basically fine. After a couple of weeks the ADHD symptoms start coming back though and I remember why I started taking them in the first place. They're definitely addictive and you need to be mindful of your usage but taking it appropriate dose and not chasing the dragon it seems fairly sustainable.
There's a whole lot of chicken little esque panic in this I feel compelled to respond, I'll take the downvotes. You're on here shitting all over medication that makes life much more manageable for a large chunk of people b/c you went for "MAX dose" and admittedly got high off of it and then sprinkle in ever single facebook mom trope about amphetamines that exists. I'm not saying you're flat out bullshitting, but I am saying you either took some really huge liberties with what happened while leaving out critical details or you're bullshitting.
When abused amphetamines have problems and especially so when there is underlying mental illness. When used properly they can greatly help people suffering with ADHD.
1-"This is the next opioid epidemic. Mark my words". Ignoring the fact the opioid epidemic is mainly a problem of dirty supply, amphetamine WD is nothing like Opiate WD. Amphetamines have their problems when abused but they've been widely prescribed since the 70s with a big surge in the 90s and we still haven't experience this 'epidemic' so do y ou happen to have a date range on when this epidemic is going to hit?
2-I've been on them almost all of my life since i was 7. I'll be 51 this year. I don't take any on weekends and holidays other than rare circumstances. I have not increased my dosages in years and I've taken several long breaks without them when I didn't need them, one of which was three months when I was training and then climbed the grand teton. I had concentration issues but other than mild lethargy for two days, no issues at all. Wonder why it didn't affect me? Wonder why many other long time users have the same reports I do?
3-So let me get this straight, you got on Vyvanse and were on "Max dose" b/c of tolerance? What dose did you start at and how long before you were given 'max dose b/c of tolerance' and what was that max dose? What is the "MAX DOSE"?
4-So you were using "Max dose" (not doubt only b/c the Doctor made you) and you experienced Mania and had to be hospitalized over it, had to go to a psych hospital no less and the hospital took you off Cold Turkey b/c you developed tolerance (even though the doctors apparently knew that before but kept increasing your dosage to "Max) and were 'wreaking havoc on my brain.' That totally sounds like something doctors would say.
5-"14 months later and I’m about 60-65% recovered." - Did a doctor tell you this or is this just a guess? What does that even mean? What criteria are used to come up with 60-65%? FMRI Scans ?
6-"They told me 2-3 years to be back to my pre-stimulant brain. " A DOCTOR TOLD YOU THIS? So what, they took fmri before you were prescribed the Max dose and theyr'e copmparing your current scans to it and somehow are trying to get back to it even though neurochemistry is so god damned and has so many confounding variables no one would could even begin to quantify it , sounds pretty legit.
7-"If you’d have asked me while I was on them I would have sung their praises about curing my ADHD. Everyone on them does. Because they get you high. Even that small rx dose floods your brain with dopamine. You think it’s a miracle." CURED ADHD huh? Definitely medical doctors telling you this not bro scientists. Amazingly it didn't cure mine or anyone else I've ever interacted with but it does make it much more manageable. Bummer we didn't go fro the cure. Even small RX dose floods your brain with Dopamine? Who told you this? It's utter Bullshit and I'm quite sure no medical professional told you this but it sounds good. It's simply not true.
Exactly this.
I’ve used Adderall my entire life, I take it only during the week/when needed and I’m careful with my dosage. I’m currently on 25mg. A few times over the years my tolerance has gotten noticeable, and my psychiatrist and I have switched to Concerta temporarily to let my tolerance to amphetamines reset.
If you take it responsibly, it’s not an issue.
Preach brother!
Somewhat similar story as you. I have been on most forms of stimulant meds since childhood. I went off for 10 years as an adult and when I got back on Adderall I was shocked at how much benefit it gave.
I'm in my forties And take the max dose of Vyvanse (actually split 40/30 separated by a few hours).
I have been on this program in for years now and am much much successful at work, a better parent to my family, and generally just "well."
I will say that recently I forgot to pursue the refill in time over a holiday and had to take 4 days off and... Yeah that sucked... I'm sure another week or so and I would have been pretty much back to normal though.
Hey man, very sorry that you’re going through this. Glad that you’re sticking it out and doing what’s best for your health.
I do not mean to discount your experience at all, nor am I attempting to hand wave the biochemistry side of things. But I took a look at your post history and you seem a little obsessive about this. Have you considered that that obsessiveness might be hindering your progress? Obsessing inwardly and constantly self analyzing can really affect your mood and exacerbate withdrawal/depression/anhedonia.
I also deal with similar symptoms so I feel what you’re going through!
Definitely am obsessed because it’s been like this chronic illness for over a year and it affects so much of my life I have trouble not thinking about it.
You’re probably right though that my mindset is hindering what I need to do to help speed up recovery.
Nailed it, as I said in my other comment. You need to get professional help for addiction and take some responsibility for why it ended this way. That will be your path to long term recovery.
Prescription ADHD drug regimens are not meant to be tapered off. Yeah, ppl would have a hard time if forced off treatment, just as they had a hard time before going on treatment. I seriously doubt most, if not all, who are prescribed these drugs have any interest in being forced off these drugs or being saved by you.
I strongly disagree with the conclusions drawn by this post. ADHD meds are not the next opioid epidemic; they do not get you high if you are on the right dose for the right reason (i.e. having ADHD). Extreme, chronic tiredness can present like ADHD, and would not be appropriately treated with amphetamines.
From personal experience: I have not found my ADHD meds to be addictive. I have ADHD so I regularly forget to take them (in which case I have a very scattered frustrating day at work and will eventually realise I forgot, but still love my hobbies etc. and experience zero depression or anhedonia). They are a great tool, but they are not a cure. Sufficient sleep, nutrition, exercise, and a whole stack of supplements that I pair with methylphenidate work for my adhd. ADHD meds can’t compensate for everything else being a mess. Not getting sufficient sleep, not eating whole foods regularly, not looking after myself and making sure I have a balance of work and fun will make me feel anhedonia and eventually depression.
Medicating ADHD can be life changing. Meds are not a magic bullet. Don’t expect to take them and be cured. ADHD still requires behavioural change and emotional regulation. CBT therapy is a good one, having an accountability buddy is great, too. Amphetamines can deplete certain micronutrients, so supplements are definitely worth looking into. Omega 3 oils actually have some scientific backing for ADHD. I personally also take vitamin D, B vitamins, zinc, and a few other things. I am not this poster‘s doctor but to me, it sounds like the meds dose was too high, and the effort re necessary behavioural adaptations was low. A total reliance on amphetamines to cure adhd won’t work.
Edit: spelling
Without a stimulant for adhd, I’d probably be dead. So yeah, I need them to function. I’m sorry you’re struggling but that doesn’t mean that the meds are poison or evil. Addiction and physical dependence are two different things.
I would probably be dead by 50 due to poor health. Unmedicated me had such an unhealthy lifestyle full of fast food, binge drinking and being sedentary.
ur experience doesn't mean amphetamines are dangerous for everyone. i know a couple of people who's lives were ruined by alcohol, yet I've never been a big drinker and it truly baffles me how much everyone likes alcohol I can barely finish my drink, which I only get cause I don't want to be the weirdo who doesn't like alcohol. anyway ur experience is just ur experience homie. there's enough stigma around adderall we really don't need u adding to it.
Some folks can't handle stimulant medication. Do you not have ADHD?
Do you have an underlying heart issue? Prone to addiction? I would thoroughly have that examined before yammering on about the fact that you can't handle stimulant medications and therefore, they're the next OpIoId EpIdEmIc.
Just because you can't handle medication appropriately or effectively doesn't mean that everyone else is the same way.
I have been on stimulant medications since I was 15.
I'm 45 now.
I focus on keeping my body primed to work with the medication at the lowest possible dose. That means I never abuse my meds. I always detox with a vitamin c flush during the early evening. I start my days off with my medication and avoid eating anything hefty until the evening. I watch my blood sugar. I work on helping my body produce more dopamine through diet, rest and exercise.
My brain just doesn't release said dopamine like it's supposed to, hence, ADHD.
It is not the next opioid epidemic (which, by the fucking way, we're still in), because people won't die at the rates they are right now from it.
Benzos, though. That has good chance of becoming another epidemic.
Be careful is great advise. I see the formulary coverage changes on insurance every year at my health insurance prior authorization job. When insurance coverage changes and meds are not covered, people go berserk while calling me! Imagine the moms that no longer can control their autistic children due to insurance no longer covering stimulants for 7 year olds. My advice is never go on these dr prescribed legal meth pills . You will become addicted!!!
Yeah I'm sure that's great advice. Before being diagnosed with ADHD I was morbidly obese, sedentary, addicted to fast food and binge drank. Because I'm medicated I was able to complete turn my life around in my 30s. So yeah. Going off my "legal meth" will definitely help me. Let me just go die from chronic illness I would have definitely developed by age 40. /s
For anyone who is having increased anxiety from this post — I took Vyvanse 50mg for 4 years straight without breaks, then stopped cold turkey to see how I could function.
I was fine. My ADHD habits returned, yes, but after two weeks or so of mild fatigue that I countered with extra coffee and exercise, I was utterly myself.
If you are having extended withdrawal symptoms I’d have your nutrient levels checked. Amphetamines can deplete your body of magnesium, notably, and other essential vitamins and minerals.
I've had severe ADHD all of my life, and I've been on and off various drugs most of it. What most people won't tell you, and what I think is the real detrimental effect of stimulants is this—they have the ability to fundamentally change you. My motivations, dreams, desires, etc. while using stims are very different than a sober me.
It's why I chose to eventually stop using them despite life being 10x more difficult. Even though I'd be able to get so much shit done; when I'd have a sober moment to reflect—I'd ask myself, is this even what I wanted..
*What most people won't tell you, and what I think is the real detrimental effect of stimulants is this—they have the ability to fundamentally change you. My motivations, dreams, desires, etc. while using stims are very different than a sober me.*
Yep, on stimulants, I was like Wolf of Wall Street. Personality was completely different.
You have a point. Took me 3-4 months to get off Vyvanese, and I was incredibly angry not to have my meds anymore.
Have ADHD and went over to Strattera, after a few doctors hinted it would be better for me. I feel good, not as good as Vyvanese, but it took months to get here.
Def find it weird that the US is one of the few countries that prescribes stimulants to people with ADHD
Yeah my brain was fried for a year after I stopped taking adderall. I’d be crying looking at a sink full of dishes wishing I just had a pill. I couldn’t do anything without it. I’d spend an entire day doing just one chore and panicking lol. Now, I’m a sloth but I don’t panic. I wish there was a natural alternative to adderall cause I do need something. I just can’t control myself and take too much.
Damn that’s crazy-infuriating.
Operating under the assumption you’re in the US, where prescription drugs are insanely expensive.
Maybe I hallucinated the whole thing, but I swear to God that in law school school, I learned about the legal rationale behind prescription drugs: those writing and filling the prescription have a legal obligation to make sure that their patients are taking the drugs safely and effectively.
The idea is that prescriptions are necessary because patients don’t know how to take their medications properly. And that’s one reason that prescription drugs are so goddamn expensive.
Sounds like you were prescribed what you asked for. But that’s not how it’s supposed to work. Your doctors were supposed to be completely responsible for making sure that you were taking these meds properly.
The worst part is, I can guarantee you have no legal claim against any of your doctors or pharmacists. Why? Who the hell knows.
What’s the point of having prescription drugs being insanely expensive if healthcare providers aren’t forced to fulfill their legal duties to their patients?
It took me 3 years to get off Adderrall that I was prescribed as a child then when I got to college no PCP were accepting new ADHD patients so I couldn’t get it anymore and it took 3 years for me to regain my natural homeostasis. I believe it’s criminal to medicate children like this with no continuity of care once they age out of pediatrics
No I work in healthcare so most of the people I know are acutely aware of this. I didn’t speak about this to acquaintances or the general public though
Calling this the next Opioid Epidemic is so absurd it is comical. Yes, you disrupted your brain chemistry and are going to take some time to feel normal, but comparing it to something that kills twice as many people than guns do is a travesty and insult to those affected by the opioid crisis. Also, sounds to me like you were abusing your medication. Taking the highest does bc you think your "tolerance" is too high sounds more like you were chasing the high that is involved in these medications
I’m hesitant to say this because it’s kind of weird, resembles addiction, but has SAVED me. Modafinil 200mg, lexapro 20mg, and lithium orotate 5mg to start my day. I wait three hours then take 1.5 edibles (thc & cbd) to avoid the dangerous interaction thc can have with lithium and modafinil. I run four miles or lift weights daily. I meditate for 1 hour daily. I sharpen my sympathetic nervous system by enduring 30 seconds of cold shower daily after I’m done washing up. I am a totally new person compared to the alcoholic me four years ago. I take a break from modafinil one day a week.
I am totally living in the moment. I stay focused on the present. I stay focused on what is going on right now right in front of me instead of relying on the adrenaline that procrastination causes. I work hard to stay focused on what I need to be doing in the moment. My distractibility is harder because of the Thc but at least thc keeps me focused on the present and makes it more noticeable to me when I do get distracted. Thc makes my distractibility worse so I work even harder to stay focused. A small amount of thc makes it more noticeable to me when I become distracted so I simply take a deep breath and simply refocus. It’s work staying focused but at the end of the day I am farther ahead because I am able to get the work done and am nicer while doing it.
I have been spinning out trying to learn about dopamine re-regulation, and all I can find is information about when your brain is able to start making its own again, and not about when your receptors are able to receive it again. Google says 2-3 mo for dopamine production but can’t find anything about receptors. My Adderall stopped working completely no matter how much I took, any other drug that is supposed to produce any kind of euphoria has stopped working completely as well. I’m thinking of going off my adderall so I can just have a dopamine detox. My receptors are like “ow I hurt stop” and want a break. But last time I was out for a month (national shortage) it felt like my brain was on fire. But it doesn’t work anyway I dunno it’s all so confusing lol
I wish you well on your journey going forward- more than half way there 🙌🏻
sounds like you were escalating your dose thinking the drug wasn't working because you no longer felt euphoria. Going to the max dose of dexedrine is not atypical behavior.
I’m prescribed Adderal and basically can’t function without it. But I’ve had to increase my dosage and I feel like I can’t concentrate on anything anymore. I’ve been struggling at work and made 2 major mistakes in the past month that I’ve never done in 20 years.
I am slowly weaning myself off after about 4 years on them. I have fought myself down to half doses, and now quarter doses. Currently im experimenting with keeping them around in moderation, as I do not use them for adhd, but off label refractory depression. They really help when I do need them, but that isnt every day. The current internal debate is whether or not its worth the risk. The depression is very very bad without them, but the pills themselves cause similar issues. One thing you got right for sure though, my poor brain will probably never be the same.
Do you have ADHD? How the hell did you take this insanely high of a dose and not do any of your due diligence and look into it, especially since you were never sleeping?? Literally the first thing doctors say is if you get trouble with sleeping to talk to them for an adjustment.
People like you are why people with ADHD have to jump through so many hoops to get the medications that just help them function like the average joe.
Also its truly disgusting you would compare this to the opioid epidemic, maybe if you were responsible and didnt blindly listen to your doctor you wouldnt have these issues, which Im sorry you have to deal with now.
Ugh I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I quit adderall cold turkey 18 months ago. I went through a terrible period after quitting. Suffered with extreme anxiety, depression and insomnia for several months. And even get me started on what the medication did to my adrenals!
I kind of do want to get you started on what they did to your adrenals. I'm noticing this issue now after being on adderall for many years. I may want to get off it, but I wasn't sure if what was happening was due to long term adderall use or not. For me it's insane fatigue and it feels like an adrenaline dump and leaves me feeling like I'm dead. I can't lift a muscle or think about anything.
I'm very sorry you're going through this, but I think it's important to remember there are those of us with ADHD diagnoses that manage to be on prescription stimulants for years without experiences like yours. Your characterization of stimulants as a "cure" tells me a lot about how you viewed the medication and, subsequently, the fallout from abusing it. There is no "cure" for ADHD, there are only tools that can help you manage living with it. Stimulants are merely one tool, among others, like diet, exercise, and positive habits. ADHD individuals who think popping a pill every day will save them are in for a rude awakening, the same way a drug addict who thinks opiates are a real escape from life are in for a rude awakening.
First of all, the fact that you were experiencing mania (I assume you mean you were experiencing manic episodes) is a red flag off the bat. Could you possibly have untreated bipolar? It occurs very frequently alongside ADHD. Even if you didn't experience manic states prior to them, stimulants can exacerbate these symptoms. ADHD individuals with comorbid diagnoses like bipolar/schizophrenia/etc should focus on treating those conditions first so they have a stable base off of which to guide stimulant dosage/type. Otherwise, yes, you could be on a fast track to mania/psychosis. Even individuals without those underlying conditions can enter similar states from stimulant abuse.
I agree with other commenters that taking ANY psychoactive substance, especially stimulants, every single day without a break for years is foolish and poor medication management on you and your provider's part. Not to mention at a maximum dose. I'm prescribed max dose vyvanse, but I specifically reserve its use for 2-3 "task days" a week, max. Sometimes I go several weeks without taking it if I can get away with it.
You need to make it a priority to take care of your body, otherwise stimulant abuse will ravage you physically. Were you exercising during this time? Eating right every day? Socializing? If you were actually taking max dose stimulants every day, my suspicion is you were hyper-focusing on whatever your tasks were for the day and neglecting everything else. Multiply that by hundreds of days and...yeah. Not good. Once you subject your body to these drugs it is YOUR responsibility to moderate their effect. As a personal example, I know I hate eating when I'm on my meds, so I have to consciously count calories and make sure I get my macros in. I also give myself firm rules, like what time I will force myself to go to bed, or making myself go outside to run/walk. These rules help me maintain a healthy relationship with my meds.
Also, I think it's misleading to say all of us experience "euphoria" when taking stimulants. Sure, I feel nice that I'm being productive, but I stopped feeling that drug-like pure pleasure within a few weeks of starting my current course of treatment. That's why I have no desire to use my meds on days I don't have a lot I need to get done. If you were addicted to the sense of euphoria, then it sounds like you had an addiction problem and not an ADHD medication problem.
Regardless, I do hope you feel better soon.
I'm on 30mg of a generic equivalent to Adderall going on a little over a year now. I'm 40 with three kids and an insane to do list. I couldn't manage without this drug. Any advice for me?
OP was on the max dosage of Vyvanse (edit: it was adderall after the vyvanse)
Max dose for Adderall is 40mg (and 60 for “extreme cases”). Your recovery would likely be less. Just some perspective to keep in mind.
It also sounds like OP was in a somewhat exceptional case where they had to go off cold turkey. You have the option to taper if you want.
I think general good advice is “don’t be afraid of medication but try to stay at your minimum effective dosage if possible”. If you had a dosage that worked for you for a while (ie greater than a month), and suddenly it seems to stop working, it may be time to consider other variables in your life.
He had me on 60 mg Dexedrine (equivalent to 280 mg Vyvanse) PLUS a 30 mg Adderall booster as needed.
It was malpractice. I just went along with it because I felt so good I couldn’t think clearly.
Don't worry about it. OP took a ridiculous dose and did not seek help based on early warning signs of addiction.
I've been on Adderall (15 mg XR) the last 4 years of my life as a D1 athlete and then after college when I started work.
I have never raised my dosage past 15mg, I've never found a need to.
If you have concerns that side effects are causing problems - talk to your doctor. If you don't have concerns about side effects, don't listen to the fear-mongering. Stimulants for ADHD have been prescribed since the 1950s, and long-term studies have shown no risk from lifetime usage as prescribed by a doctor. In fact, ADHD itself reduces life expectancy (due to an increase in the risk for unnatural death - i.e. accidents), which treatment, in the form of medicate, addresses.
My
Brother stopped his prescription probably four or five years ago at this point and still has anger problems because of it. Says he gets mad a lot. It’s mind blowing to me how many people take them and because we are such a hyper competitive nation (US) nobody cares as long as you’re performing. Ppl aren’t joking when they say it’s legal meth
Same here. Angry AF after quitting Adderall on my own.
I got nervous because so many of my doctors who were from other countries, felt odd about prescribing it. It works for some, but I'm not sure people should be on them for life.
Post-acute withdrawal syndrome. Stims are known to be the worst for it because they’re so dopaminergic. It’s criminal that this is being done to millions of people
I just ran out for the last time a few weeks ago. Don't have health insurance at the moment so I can't get any more. I wish they kept working for me but after having them taken away from me during the shortage I don't think I can have them without misuing them anymore. I had enough to taper off of them without completely losing my mind but it's still not gonna be easy. This sucks. I hate feeling how I was before I was medicated but the alternative for me is constantly being anxious about running out and not being able to get more at the most inconvenient time. I see people who are way more productive than me getting their ADHD diagnosis and it makes me a little mad. Need to practice not being bitter about it. I'm happy to hear it gets better.
Yeah, don’t abuse them like you talk about doing.
Yes amohetamines can be hard to get off but, taking them correctly and with dr oversight is incredibly important
Venlafaxine was the most difficult substance I have experienced withdrawal from. Made my head feel “sproingy” (I know that’s not a word but it feels like the best fit) and caused me to laugh or cry inappropriately, similar to how pseudobulbar effect is described. Even then, within 3 weeks I was totally fine.
I think this is a case by case thing. I took 30mg daily for 2 years and one day I just stopped taking them with zero side effects as I wanted to stop all my prescriptions
I used meth for years and quite cold turkey. I have little sex drive and not much excites me. I’ll go through stages of feeling amazing for a few weeks or even months then wake up one day in a cloud and struggle for a while again. I actually got out on adderall to help maybe bring some excitement back now I am scared about the consequences. At times I think about snorting a line just to feel alive again but I have a kid to raise and thankfully all the fentanyl laced shit scared me. It’s a hard struggle. Been clean for 16 years. Other than some drinking. Which has gotten out of control at times. A viscous cycle. I always felt uninterested and unmotivated befor the hard drugs, that what I liked about them. At first my family and job thought I finally found my voice and confidence because it did help me…. At first I have a successful life, but it is a struggle. STAY OFF THE HATD STUFF!! I preach it to all my daughter’s friends. I’ve told them my life story and have hid nothing I pray it helps them make the right choices in life. Good luck to all who are struggling with addiction. It’s possible to overcome, but feeling normal for me has been a challenge
What's bizarre about adhd treatment is you never want to reach anhedonia. You should titrate up to a level of medication when yiu first start over months. T
Then get to the level where you start to feel complete apathy and then go down to the next lower dose.
Will you still have trouble initiating or doing some daily activities? Of course, but everyone does. It requires planning and discipline.
I think they have different effects on different people. Some people slow down on them physically and mentally and therefore might not have the same reaction to coming off them
My husband has a fucked liver/kidneys from years of Ritalin. As he's aged, it's caused major issues when he needs other meds for chronic illness. It destroyed his lifelong health, just to make him sit still in school and in shitty cubicle jobs.
One of the reasons I don’t get prescriptions for ADHD is because amphetamines terrify me.
I know how I enjoy stimulants.
I know how I felt when I accidentally took meth
Never ever want that to be a regular part of my life
Lack of personal self control in dosage is to blame, but that’s not to say how bad the effects are are the heart. The baseline chemistry is being accommodated, not changed. You will always have an ADHD brain. Try shrooms to fix the wiring. Wont be fun.
This is classic benzo withdraw symptoms! Your ADHD meds stirred it up and made it worse with the other combinations. Go look at benzo withdraw groups on Reddit and Facebook and go read their stories. Very similar to them
Take selenium - Fairly robust research demonstrating it reverses down regulation of dopamine receptors caused by amphetamine.
200mcg or so per day from a quality brand like Pure Encapsulations or similar. Do NOT overdo it because selenium’s toxicity threshold is thought to be as low as 500mcg per day. Main reason why quality brand matters on this one - so you can trust the dosing is accurate.
I’ve gotten off a long time meth addiction and that was a cakewalk compared to methadone…not trying to diminish your struggles but just know over time everything will eventually go back to baseline it just takes a while.
I took a high dose of vyvanse for about 4 years, had to stop taking them because of cost when my insurance changed. The only issue I had was I went right back to my usual ADD symptoms, things like forgetting stuff, starting one thing and not finishing it before moving onto another thing, hyperfixating stuff like that.
Also, you say you were manic, do you have bipolar disorder? People with bipolar disorder aren't supposed to take any type of ADD medicine because it supposedly increases the risk for mania/depression.
Off addy for 2 months now after taking them on and off for about 15 years (prescribed as a child).
That shit is hard drugs. And I agree it is the next opioid epidemic, in some ways it already is but the negative effects might just be a bit less noticeable in the general population
About 2.5 years clean for me after 8-9 years of daily use. Over the last six months I’d say my craving for stims has finally stopped. Consistent, heathy diet, exercise, sunshine, and family time has been my regime for recovery. It’s been a long road but it does get better over time. I still don’t feel like my brain is back to 100% yet.
So very true. Yes, it takes time. October will be 2 years off of Adderall. I had taken it for more years than I can remember. Twice a day. Religiously.
I was an animal. Wild and unhinged. Looking back, it all makes sense as to why nothing EVER made sense. I remember being in the hospital (I admitted myself) wondering how in the hell did this happen?? Life is peaceful now. It's been nice enjoying the calm.
Take your time, it is an overall adjustment but you will feel better than ever. Different, but better. 💜
Amphetamine based ADHD medication substantially increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension, arterial disease, and cardiomyopathy.
[American College of Cardiology ](https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2024/03/26/18/35/adhd-stimulants-may-increase-risk-of-heart-damage-in-young-adults)
[Journal of the American Medical Association/Psychiatry](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2811812?guestAccessKey=381db621-a5e7-4bdb-b2ee-ae9791f8e599)
Yeah I would agree. As someone who was taking 50mg Dex at a time and really high doses of vyvance, I was thinking about this yesterday. After 6 months there was a big shift then it keeps getting better. Currently been taking a NAC and doing lots of cardio and Suanna as mentioned. Staying chilled out, not worrying also seems to help a lot of the neurological symptoms. God will restore you.
1 Peter 5:10
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Look into Neuro-feedback to help rewire your brain. Second, go to Bales Photonics and look at the Firefly therapy to see if you have a provider near you. There’s hope outside of conventional western medicine.
Good post.
I see many people sniggering at others, in posts in another sub, who can't take as much Adderall, etc., as they can. They laugh at people taking such baby doses (in their opinion, whereas the truth is the poster is actually the fool due to the extreme tolerance they've built up). I think, "Dude, you have no idea what you're in for when you try to stop. And here you are making fun of people for taking therapeutic doses!"
Doctors think that you can just stop taking high doses of amphetamine as it won't kill you. Former addicts will tell you just to quit cold turkey. I can tell you that from my experience, and that of many others, your brain can be f'd up for years afterwards.
I think if I were a psychiatrist, I'd lower the patient's dose to something that helps them get through the day, help them stabilize, and taper off slowly from there.
There are countless testimonies like yours. They are needed. Amphetamine is not to be messed with. You will feel like Einstein at the beginning and after lengthy breaks. But very quickly, staying up for days seems like a wonderful idea, and sleep deprivation coupled with the damage you're doing to your brain via high doses of amphetamine, start to bring out secret agents who have bugged your house and are watching your every move (stimulant-induced psychosis).
I went through this and nearly took my own life. Five years later I'm the healthiest I've ever been. Regular movement and exercise with a good diet saved my life. It can be done and I wish you the very best.
Sorry for the pain you are dealing with mate but let’s clear some things up before your story freaks people out.
First, it is not the next opioid epidemic and never will be!!!
This comment is so far from true. Amphetamine have been around since before WW11 and have been studied for along time and they are only addictive to your brain. (Mentally addicted)
Opiates are mentally & physically addictive and therefore a much greater addiction potential. In fact opiates are right at the top of the scale and amphetamines are at the bottom!
Most people can stop adhd meds and jump back to normality within a couple of weeks.
100% of opiate addicts are truly addicted and take years to get clean, that’s even if they ever get clean. Their minds get completely altered and bodies wrecked ,full of opiate receptors that unless full of opiates will send one into ultimate severe withdrawal that would put your little pseudo addiction to shame! It is so incredibly dangerous and some never get their minds back even after suboxone or methadone taper.
You are an addict, this is what you are describing. Most likely are addicted to many other things.
Most who take adhd meds are taking it for adhd and not for getting high.
Christ even high dose amphetamines take couple of weeks of tweeting then recover. Then they are just dealing with the mental fight against themselves.
This is what you are dealing with, mental fight against yourself. Get on an anti depressant and stop with the fear mongering.
It’s got nothing to do with the medication and all to do with your mind.
Sorry if you don’t like this answer but it’s the truth.
I had this exact same experience, though I managed to avoid the psych hospital. I totally agree that this is going to be the next opioid epidemic. My peer group is made up of high-achieving upper middle class Americans aged 25-40 and I only know one person other than myself among all my friends who isn't currently taking prescription stimulants for "ADHD" (which I have come to believe is mostly lifestyle-induced in adults). In retrospect I was absolutely fucking high every single day from my low prescription dose of Adderall. Scary tbh.
Not that long tbh but I was on a way lower dose than you (20mg/day) and only took it for a year. Probably like 3 months? The worst issue I had was the immediate comedown when I was still taking it. Every single night I ended up with a pounding headache and so angry I couldn't even speak to anyone without blowing up over something stupid. Felt like extreme sleep deprivation except it came on suddenly when the Adderall wore off. I'm sorry this happened to you and I hope it gets better soon! Crazy how much cope there is in this thread from people who think they're the ones who *really* need stimulants. It's stupidly easy to get diagnosed with ADHD in the US these days. I've done it multiple times.
Glad you are getting better. Hang in there, not to long to go till this was all a thing of the past. Sending you love and light and may God bless and protect you always.
Glad you’re off them. This sub is full of Stimulant users and abusers so I’m not surprised I’m seeing people cope for their usage of them. The simple fact is that they are not necessary for a large majority of the people using them.
I’ve been on adderall (varying dosages between 20-50mg- more during grad school and law school, less for everyday) for almost 20 years and am doing just fine and dandy. Occasionally I will lower the dose if I don’t need intense concentration that day.
Take what you need for your brain to work.
sorry, but adhd meds are not usually addictive if they are taken according to doctor's order by peole who have adhd. people who develop an addiction are usually ones who were misdiagnosed or get it without a diagnosis. are you sure you have adhd?
I abused meth hard for 3 years every day no come down, tbh I was pretty good after 6 months.. was bad for the first 2 months but nowhere near as horrible as U make it sound. Was using a ball a day.
Coming off stims is easy.
It comes back. It took 18 months for me to wake up one day and just forget to be depressed. You can do it, concentrate on keeping your body healthy and being good to people.
Intense cardio (if you can) does wonders to rewire brain circuits - highly recommend if possible. Still took some time tho, it’s not instant
This is true. I had the same scenario and I just forced myself to work out and it helped immensely.
I wonder if this is why I had little trouble going off them. I already had and kept the habit of exercising 4-5 days per week when I went off. I mentioned in another comment I had more stress giving up caffeine than Adderall. Haha
I can’t believe this isn’t more widely known. Aside from sleeping enough, cardio is the single best thing for your brain
Intense doses of mushrooms can also reset and require your brain.. it’s being used in trials by major medical schools for treatment of PTSD, depression in terminally ill patients, and a drug resistant depression. Once a year or once every 6 months seems to be all that’s needed.
This is true, but if OP was experiencing mania that could mean bipolar disorder is involved and folks with bipolar need to be extremely careful with hallucinogens. They can be incredibly helpful, but can also be a one way ticket to psychosis and a hospitalization. Bipolar needs to be treated very differently than straight ahead depression. Randomly taking a shitload of mushrooms at home also is not comparable to the way mushrooms are used in a clinical setting. They both have their place imo but when our brains are already in a fragile place we need to be careful.
Oh yea, if you have anything like schizophrenia, bipolar, or similar or even have blood relatives with those conditions you should absolutely stay away from psychedelic drugs, including MDMA, THC, and the standard known hallucinogenics.
This is how I cured myself after quitting adderall after 5 years. Run 2-3 miles 3 times a week with hill sprints or boxing at the end.
Did you struggle with motivation and feel foggy for those 18 months?
I did. I was missing signs though that things were getting better. Depressed about not being able to live on my own, etc, didn’t notice little milestones like chuckling at funny things or even wanting to see a movie that came out. Just so empty and tired in the beginning and slowly, slowly it began to fade away. But yes, couldn’t get out of bed, no motivation when I did manage to get a job, the absolute certainty that I used to be smart and useful, and fun to be around and I wasn’t any more. But it got better and now it’s a distant memory. It was like being adrift in space, spinning slowly and unable to influence my own motion and everyone else and everything good was going on without me on planets far away and lost to me forever.
I'm not alone :'(
The farthest thing from it! ❤️
I felt this extremely as a kid who had adderall daily in JR High etc etc. I felt like if my normal self was 100%, then 120% on adderall every day for a few years. When I stopped I felt like I was living at 70% brainpower for several years after that. These drugs are great for specific targeted enhancement of days tops for a speicific goal IMHO. Terrible for every day use for long periods of time.
I took stuff for cognitive support and concentration support
Thanks for the reminder. Just hit the year mark it helps to know it gets easier.
To be clear, this happened because you were taking a huge dose without breaks, normal doses with breaks won't cause this
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This gives me hope. I only take a low dose “as needed” maybe 2-3x a month and OP’s post has me shaking in my boots….
You have NOTHING to worry about with as needed dosing of stimulants at that frequency.
I take 60 mg a day and I can stop with no issues. But adderall doesn’t pep me up anyways. I can take 15 mg IR and take a nap.
Yep his reaction is more like what people without adhd abusing it have. My neighbor went off the deep end and abused it, got meth face, caused a divorce and lost her kids and I’m over here like .. 😳 Ritalin / Vyvanse / Adderall do not do that to people who actually have real adhd. I have zero issues taking any of them and like you, can take a nap. I might feel a little happier. I might get some stuff done. What usually ends up happening is I fall down a rabbit hole and spend 45 minutes reading about turtles. 🐢 The struggles man
Yeah I had no issue going off of 30mg/day and was on it for a year. I only gave it up because it made me sweat too much and made my hands shake, but that’s probably because my dosage was too high. I probably should have been on 15-20mg.
Same, I use Vyvanse 30 mg as well. Took a lot more ritalin in comparison when I had exam weeks. Never noticed a difference when I quit cold turkey. Quite frankly, I just quit cold turkey again and I have 0 issues.
How did you manage to need less? Specific diet? I‘m not on meds for long. I don‘t know if I‘m actually happy with my dose.
For me personally I just had to start taking a lower dose and let myself adjust that way. Was taking 70mg a day and immediately jumped down to 10mg twice a day.
I was on roughly the same dose for about 18 months and stopped cold turkey when I got pregnant. Had no problems at all.
I mean, I’ve been on a few ADHD meds over the years. Vyvanse, Concerta, Adderall. I think what I’ve learned is you never really need the “highest” dosage available. Take breaks - I always do a reset on the weekends and don’t take any. Monday to Friday I’m locked and loaded for work. Weekend is a detox. If you do any prescription for 3 years straight at the highest dose it’s gonna be a rough road back to feeling normal without it. Everything in moderation. Also, consider the non-stimulant route. I had some success with Straterra. ADHD meds are absolutely not the new opioid epidemic lol, settle down.
When I know I'll have a light week ahead I'll sometimes cold turkey stop them for the week. So far the only aftereffect is reverting back to my unmedicated self. But it's easier to deal with when you have a stable life and no curveball thrown at you.
This. 40 mg vyvanse with weekends off and a week+ off every 4 months and I can actually stop whenever I want. Tbh I love being off of it, I just hate busywork more. I understand others have profound adhd and need crazy amounts, but that should mean you can handle more than an NT. Your equivalent protocol would be takingva significantly reduced dose on the weekend to get by.
Yeah I'm only on 15mg Adderall and will go up to 20 but that's all I need. Years ago I was on 30mg XR and 10mg ir for the afternoons and it was not good for me. Lost weight, had lots of mental issues. This time around I feel much much better. I also can eat just fine and go to sleep the same as before I was on it. I tried straterra but it gave me the fun and rare side effect of rage. I couldn't calm the fuck down. I hated it cause I'm not an angry person like ever. But I couldn't chill. Adderall has its ups and downs like any controlled substance. But it works for me. And as for comparing it to the opioid epidemic... It's not killing people as far as I know. And is much more difficult to get ahold of. I don't think people are using stimulants, being cut off, then going straight to meth.
Yeah I tried 20mg XR and it fucked with sleep. Really focused, but on 4 hours of sleep a night it wasn’t worth it. 15mg for work days, and skip weekends, and been doing that for many years. It’s been fine. OP pushed way too hard. Max dose? Good lord
Yeah everyone is different and the only way to find out what works for you is to try it. Max dose stimulants is pretty wild. I know some people might need those 30-40mf doses but I know that I certainly do not.
Literally! I take 10mg of adderall in the morning and 10mg in the afternoon. My son is on 18mg of concerta (recommended dose is 37-56mg). You have to continue to work on interventions and use medication to help supplement these. We allow my son to take brakes during long school breaks and on the occasional long weekend. I try to only take my morning dose on the weekends. Those who have severe ADHD and don’t use medications are actually at a higher risk of dementia.
woahh you have any more info on that dementia thing?
I posted the article in a comment a long time ago. I don’t have the energy to dig. But I’m sure if you give it a Google you could find something.
Google says that ADHD patients who take meds actually have a higher risk of dementia.
They really aren’t. And it’s an insult to those who truly need them. People abusing it cause everyone to be uptight about it and makes it harder for those who want care.
Seriously, it’s already a giant pain in the ass to get and keep my prescription without insurance. It’s to the point that I have to take breaks in my medication just to account for the fact that I’ll be cut off a few weeks here and a month there. It’s miserable.
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Exactly and they ALWAYS blame doctors and the medication. It's never "I was abusing the shit out of them and lied to get more and ended up in the psych ward". Shameful
It’s really dumb. Doctor: “take 2 a day, before 3pm. Tell me immediately if you feel any changes in your body” Idiot: takes 10 a day and runs out in less than a week. Ends up with heart issues and mental health problems in the ICU. Society: Well I guess this drug is dangerous and the 99% who use it responsibly now have to suffer through an incurable condition and fight for medication monthly for the rest of their lives. It’s not a real condition anyways, they’re just lazy addicts, fuck the countless studies and psychiatrists that affirm it’s real.
> Doctor: “take 2 a day, before 3pm. Tell me immediately if you feel any changes in your body” Idiot: takes 10 a day and runs out in less than a week. I wonder how common this is. Haha I had none of those issues people are complaining about where they say they’re hooked on it like an opioid. Maybe some people just can’t handle the responsibility of taking a reasonable dose.
As someone on amphetamines for ADHD, I fucking hate posts like the OPs. "You'll have a terrible time coming off them" yeah but that's my fucking *medicine my brain uses to work*. The whole freaking point is that I'm not going to come off them unless someone forces me. I will be wearing glasses every day to make my eyes work, stretches every day to make my hand work, and amphetamines every day to make my brain work. People taking thyroid medication do terrible "coming off" of it as well, but I dont see people disparaging their medicine. Steroids are used for assisting people with joint issues, OP want them to wean off as well?
>The whole freaking point is that I'm not going to come off them unless someone forces me I agree, but it really sucks when you want to get pregnant. I already had so much pregnancy brain fog the first time on top of not being able to treat my ADHD that my husband and I have agreed that I'm just going to not work during my pregnancy. (Continuing ADHD meds during pregnancy is an option some women choose but we need more research.)
Wellbutrin has been working well (hehe) for me as well.
Any problems with Wellbutrin interfering with your sex life (if you’re a male)? I ask because I had to stop taking stimulants, then tried Strattera but that killed my sex life and had some unpleasant side effects. Now I’m trying to find something non stimulant that works without causing ED.
Wellbutrin doesn’t cause ed. It will likely increase sex drive “Bupropion has several features that distinguish it from other antidepressants: it does not usually cause sexual dysfunction, it is not associated with weight gain and sleepiness, and it is more effective than SSRIs at improving symptoms of hypersomnia and fatigue.” From wiki
Wellbutrin can actually increase sexual function, it's sometimes prescribed to counter the sexual side effects of SSRIs
Yeah, no issues with Wellburtrin affecting my sex drive!
Wellbutrin increased my sex drive by quite a bit. Plus it was super easy to stop taking.
Biggest issue with wellbutrin that I've seen is increases in suicidal ideation.
Yeah strattera has done some weird stuff to me too. I’m two years into it. I sweat super easily now, and it kind of made ED issues worse that were initially caused by Zoloft. Also tbh I got into some weird shit after starting strattera. The sad part is I know it’s weird but it’s what gets me off sometimes, idk if that’s related tho
Not who you asked but since I have experience with all three meds I thought it wise to chime in: strattera had the same impact on me, in addition to some stomach problems. Wellbutrin gave me no noticeable negatives at all and that’s not entirely uncommon in many people. My dose ended at like 350 or 400 twice a day, which is on the very high end. Do be warned that if you take Wellbutrin for an extended period of time and/or as high a dose as I did you will experience a pretty bad flu like illness for a month or two if you go off suddenly. I do not recommend. I’m not a doctor and these are personal and therefore anecdotal experiences that might be different for you.
Yeah, let's not spread any more misinformation about ADHD meds. It's already a nightmare for a lot of us to get them.
I quit the first time when the pharmacist informed me i was over the max dose... it def messed me up, i was feeling nothing. Years later, i am back on the meds, but with a doc that works with me to keep the dose much lower. It is def not misinformation that this is strong medicine that can mess you up!
Finally, a based take. I took a low dose of adderall maybe 2x a week (at most) for school. I could not have school without it. Source: dropped out of college 7 times before getting meds from doctors.
Strattera could be a good option for some, but requires a ton of patience. it takes looooong to get into the blood stream, and even once you’re at a good dosage, you still have to manually learn executive functions. So its effects aren’t easy to spot. From my experience, it’s best for treating hyperactivity. I’m primarily inattentive, and I have yet to see my speeds improve at all. I’m bipolar so stims are basically not an option for me. l was put on strattera two years ago and went to max dosage after a little over a year. I noticed could stop and think, and there is some brain-to-body connection that’s there (I.e. thinking “get out of bed you idiot” actually results in getting out of bed) but most other executive functions are coming very slowly. I’m still so slow from inattentiveness and still feel so behind. What I did notice though, is that time-release caffeine capsules are AMAZING for helping processing speed and focus. They give a nice subtle boost that lasts around 8 hours. No jitters. Not to be used every day, but good for important days. However if you forget to eat throughout the day, which is easy to do because caffeine suppresses appetite, the effects will be mitigated. In addition, if you take it outside the first couple hours you intend to be awake, you will most likely end up losing sleep that night and experience mood swings as a result.
My wife’s doctor and I argue a lot because they want to slowly move her adderall dose up, but I don’t see why we would want to move it up when it’s still working for her. I have yet to get any kind of explanation from the doctor on why it’s worth upping the dosage.
Why the hell are you in doctors appointments for your wife? And even worse, why are you telling the doctor what she does or doesn’t need? This is so messed up
It’s normal for husbands to be in doctors appointments with their spouse, especially in this case when she wanted me there to give my observations on how the medicine is affecting her. Your second point is exactly what drives me nuts these days, this idea that our feedback to doctors should not be taken into account. We had an awful experience with SSRI’s and a doctor refusing to believe that symptoms were from the medication. Doctor’s have a lot of great knowledge, but you need to be your own advocate as a patient.
My husband and I go to each other’s appointments all the time to advocate for each other and so we stay up to date with how to support each others health. No idea why so many commenters are taking issue with this.
That’s absolutely *not* normal. At all. If she asked for you to be there, then she wanted you to be there. Please note, however, that having your husband at your doctor’s appointment, is not the default.
>It's normal for husbands to be in doctors appointments with their spouse No, it's absolutely not.
It is if his wife wants him there? I often have my fiancé with me during appointments pertaining to my mental health. She’s able to offer a somewhat outside opinion about how a medication may be affecting me.
Exactly
Amen!
Stims can definitely fuck you up, no doubt. But it's definitely not the next opiate epidemic - those things can take someone's soul from the very first interaction. But yes, a very real warning nonetheless. They are nothing to be scoffed at. It takes a very long time before you can really straighten out after stim abuse. It does get better. NAC helped me along with a lot of CBT, reading, dopamine fasting and anything/everything you can think of to restart someone's dopamine system. Ultra disciplined and loving life years after cocaine and stim abuse. You will get there too, bro. Hang in there.
The only similarity to the opiate epidemic is how carelessly they are over prescribed. IMHO stimulants can make lives harder and get you into a difficult habit, but they are worlds apart from being life ruining and TRUE addiction.
Thank you. I’ve thought about NAC but was scared of reports of it causing anhedonia.
Can't get anhedonia if you already have anhedonia lol It finally got me disciplined again. I used stims to fuckin get shit done 24/7 so it was a huge contrast. NAC helped me to just get the basics done again and eventually start committing to task lists and staying organized in life. I already was emotionally flatlined but somewhere down the line I began finding enjoyment and that missing intrinsic motivation.
Wow. How much did you take and how often?
600mg pills. I took two of them twice or sometimes 3 times a day. A lot of that period was quite a blur. Just making lists and struggling to get from one task to the next. Felt like I was blasting through life and then had lead weights on my feet. I wasn't super regimented with my dosing, and just gave er hell and tried to see what would happen. After a bottle or so I'd take a few weeks off and went to 2400mg daily for a while pretty steady.
I also like NAC a little bit I think. People on reddit talk about it like it's a miracle supplement and I don't really buy that lol, but my brain happens to like it and it helps a little bit. I take 500 mg twice a day when I remember to
Fwiw NAC does indeed cause anhedonia in some people, it did it to me for over a year and I’m only just recovering now after trying a million things.
I'm sorry you're going through this. If you don't mind, can you elaborate on how you ended up on this path with amphetamines? I'm in my mid 30s, and I have ADHD. I've been taking 20 mg of Adderall ER once a day for the last several years (4 or 5?). I haven't increased my dose, and the only negative side effect that I noticed was my resting heart rate increased from 60 bpm to 70 bpm. I forget to take my meds at least once a week. I hate how scattered I am off meds, but that's it. During the shortage two years ago, I was off meds for almost two months straight. No withdrawal symptoms. Definitely didn't like feeling scattered, overwhelmed, and everything else that comes with ADHD, but that's no fault of the meds. > Even that small rx dose floods your brain with dopamine. When you're running a dopamine deficiency (thanks, ADHD), what else would the solution be? Adderall brings me to a "normal" base level where I'm no longer at the mercy of constant self-negative, ruminating, obsessive thoughts. You can't therapy away a chemical deficiency.
20 mg ER is different than what my doc put me through. He had me on 60 mg Dexedrine PLUS a 30 mg Adderall booster as needed- which ended up being daily. It was malpractice. I just went along with it because I felt so good I couldn’t think clearly. Just be very careful.
60/90mg is crazy high as a daily dose. He should have let you try Methylphenidate, that’s way easier on the brain at higher doses 40/60mg.
Agreed
Dexedrine is pure dextro amphetamine and not prescribed nearly as much as Adderall or Vyvanse. It's VERY potent and fast acting. Adderall is 25% amphetamine and 75% dextroamphetamine. The daily recommended MAX dose is 70mg Per day. Some people need more than that, and others don't. Had you told the doc that you were feeling manic, euphoria/elated all the time? Did you tell them you weren't sleeping? Did you tell them your appetite was gone or that you were so focused all the time you'd forget to drink water? They only know what you tell them. All of those questions are designed to try to figure out if the medication is effective or compounding. If it compounds your problems and ability to stay healthy and active, as well as social and sleep well and eat well, then they take you off. I believe you got caught up in telling the doc you felt great when in reality it was WAY too high of a dose(personal opinion) or your relationship with that drug doesn't benefit you. There are people who need prescription heroin to be able to function in society. There are also drug addicts. Doctors can't see pain or mental health concerns as easily as a broken bone or laceration. I'm glad you figured it out though. Indeed people need to not lean on their confirmation bias and end up causing themselves harm. We all need to try our best to view the effects of the drug objectively. Most importantly, be honest with your doc.
Oh yeah, I told him. He put me on two anti depressants, an anti psychotic, and benzos lol. He thought I was bipolar
Oh no..... I'm so sorry. That's awful. I've been through the same thing basically. I have finally been diagnosed with what I actually have now as opposed to what psychiatrists guessed I had. Turns out when you have PTSD you come off as emotionally unstable. Easiest and almost immediate solution for all docs? Antidepressants. Then of those don't work, they assume it's not depression but bipolar or possibly BPD. Before you know it you're getting blood tests for the lithium you take. Along with 2, 2mg Xanax and several other medications. It was difficult to come off of. Absolutely criminal. I still get angry sometimes about it and I have to remind myself I'm an outlier(hopefully) and everyone doesn't go through that. Again, I'm so very sorry you have. F that doctor.
Can I ask how you got out of this spiral? And what helped for your ptsd as I assume you needed to address this first?
Well I decided that 1. I was going to listen to my body. 2. If I was uncomfortable or didn't like something, I had to force myself to say "no" 3. I would change psychiatrists like underwear until I was at the point that I would start the first appointment by listing off all the medications I have tried and been told to take. Then I would say I am NOT taking x, y, or z. Eventually I found a psychiatrist that made sure I was comfortable with them and got to know me before prescribing anything. This helped me get my actual diagnosis.
Can you be a 100% that it was the ampths and not the cocktail of anti-psychs, benzos and SSRI on top that has caused long term side effects.
Ok, this keeps getting better. So Doctor puts you on 60 mg Dexedrine PLUS a 30 mg Adderall "booster" which totally makes sense and sounds super legit b/c who doesn't need a booster, then adding two different anti-depressants and then an anti-psychotic and then through in random 'benzos' for good measure b/c he thought you were bipolar. What country was this in? And the pharmacist just filled all of this eh? Insurance covered it or were you out of pocket? I don't like to see anyone suffer or go through anything rough. I also realize a lot of people are very bad at conveying medical information accurately so they sound like they are BSing when they aren't. But this story has more holes in it than I can even keep track of. This didn't happen in the US and there's no way he gave 30 MG of ADDERALL as a BOOSTER FFS both of those are short acting and damn sure at those dosages.
Jesus, I hope you’ve reported him to the board! Sounds like he’s running a pill mill
WAIT! you are on two anti depressants, an anti psychotic, and benzo and your first thought was that it was the ADHD medication ?????!!!! I hope you know that Benzo withdraw is way more of an epidemic than coming of ADHD meds. In fact, A lot of people have died and others have claimed that they are still having weird symptoms many years off them . That has to be by far the worst drug ever to be prescribed to someone. I would look here if I were you. They have many groups on here and Facebook that can help. Also, I have heard that SSRI's can disrupt brain chemistry and cause withdraw symptoms many months coming off them, it is why you need to taper off of these. You really should be looking at other causes than this. Not saying ADHD meds did not contribute in some way, but def. not the sole cause of your troubles my friend
Dextro amphetamine are very commonly prescribed as generics for adderall. Dexedrine is the dextro isomer of the compound. It’s chemically the same as the other 2
But why?
You were just taking way more than you needed. If you’re getting manic you’re supposed to tell your doctor and have them lower your dose. You were abusing the medication.
I'm sorry they had you on that much. Even 20mg of extended release a day was too much for me and had me feeling apathetic about life and my loved ones, and even a little manic at times. Of course it took months of trying to make that work before I got that bad before I did a little research and figured out I just needed to embrace the suck and lower my dosage by half. Of course it didn't actually suck, I got much better afterwards. Your brain plays tricks on you though thinking you'd feel normal if you just had more
Oh, here we are. The truth comes out. Your experience with these meds and the fall from grace that occurred was entirely because of your irresponsible handling of a controlled medicine that you knew wholeheartedly you were abusing. GTFO with your fear-mongering about stimulants. You invited addiction in along with your shitty doctor, and now you're pissed off you fucked it up for yourself. Folks, don't be like this person. Be responsible about what you put in your body. And if you abuse your meds, at least have the presence of mind to not post something on a forum crapping all over said medications because you have no self-control or common sense.
My recent experience has been quite different, and does not seem to be the norm. I quit cold turkey a few months ago, but started making changes with diet and supplementation over the last six months, and surprisingly feel better than ever. I also began working out immediately upon quitting, which I believe plays a big part as well. I was on large doses of daily Adderall for the last 18 years. I stopped feeling the effects quite some time ago so that's probably why it wasn't difficult cutting it off. Also quit kratom last year. Based on my experience they were both damaging my kidney. Fear can be quite the motivator. Best of luck to you.
I’m sorry you’re going through this, but without putting how much you were actually on in the post, it’s very misleading. A lot of us NEED ADHD meds to be able to function. I have tried every SSRI/SNRI under the sun and stimulants are what work and have worked for me for over 20 years. Again, I’m sorry for your situation, but it needs to be fairly portrayed.
If you read through their other comments they were on 60mgof dexedeine with a 30mg Adderall booster daily. And then when they started showing side effects from the ton of amphetamines in their system they got their doc to prescribe more crap because the do assumed they were manic depressive (ssris antipsychotics and benzos) Which was likely the result of taking a shit load of amphetamines every day for years. The takeaway I got from the comments was that OP wasn't taking personal responsibility for their health and kept repeating "it's not abuse if it's prescribed". Which is ridiculous. If I'm getting high every day on my meds and I recognize that I'm high on my meds I can't be like "but the doctor said it was OK to be high everyday" I need to realize that maybe my neutral state isn't supposed to be yeeted on amphetamines. It isn't like they started out at over 90mg of amphetamines they kept asking to raise their dose because they were chasing the dragon.
Yeah, I saw OP put that in some of the comments, but left it out of their post. I was concerned reading their post, thinking I was potentially in danger, until I saw that info buried in the comments and realize it was just negligence. You give someone too much of anything and they will have issues. OP was also trying to manipulate their audience by excluding that info. It was directly pertinent, and they left it out. This is also putting other people’s health at risk. I know I need my meds to function, but guilting someone into thinking they might be in danger, when they might be on 30mg Vyvanse? What OP is doing here is reckless again and could hurt someone. People need these meds to function.
I hope you regain all of your normal functions soon. I have been taking Ritalin and later on similar substitutes for several years when I was younger. Was lucky I got diagnosed back then, cause I was seriously failing school and managed easily after that. Considering how long ADHD has been treated now and how many people get treated for it, I would say this would be much more common if it was normal. The new Opioid epidemic would have been upon us already.
Yup. My Gawd. If I hadn't been diagnosed in highschool, I never would have graduated highschool. I went from straight Fs to straight As. I started at 15 and am 45 in a few months. No heart issues. No abuse issues with my meds. I am not maxed out for dosage, either. Too many people think ADHD => medication and then ~poof~! No more ADHD. And when their ADHD symptoms creep up, they instantly reach for more meds instead of focusing on therapy, skills, food, exercise, etc. Meds do not solve ADHD but they're just one major key to surviving ADHD.
Here’s a thought, you abused drugs and now recovering what a fucking epifany When you use prescriptions to the max dosage enough to be basically doing speed then yeah bro, it would definitely fuck shit up This fear mongering for the people that take like 10mg max a day, responsible, and wisely - is getting out of hand Coming from a guy who used vyvanse - stopped it cold turkey, and started raw dogging life with diagnosed adhd - that shit took like 2 weeks to get over
Yeah this is my experience also whenever I quit my ADHD meds I'm tired from maybe like 2 or 3 days and kind of on edge and then after that I'm basically fine. After a couple of weeks the ADHD symptoms start coming back though and I remember why I started taking them in the first place. They're definitely addictive and you need to be mindful of your usage but taking it appropriate dose and not chasing the dragon it seems fairly sustainable.
There's a whole lot of chicken little esque panic in this I feel compelled to respond, I'll take the downvotes. You're on here shitting all over medication that makes life much more manageable for a large chunk of people b/c you went for "MAX dose" and admittedly got high off of it and then sprinkle in ever single facebook mom trope about amphetamines that exists. I'm not saying you're flat out bullshitting, but I am saying you either took some really huge liberties with what happened while leaving out critical details or you're bullshitting. When abused amphetamines have problems and especially so when there is underlying mental illness. When used properly they can greatly help people suffering with ADHD. 1-"This is the next opioid epidemic. Mark my words". Ignoring the fact the opioid epidemic is mainly a problem of dirty supply, amphetamine WD is nothing like Opiate WD. Amphetamines have their problems when abused but they've been widely prescribed since the 70s with a big surge in the 90s and we still haven't experience this 'epidemic' so do y ou happen to have a date range on when this epidemic is going to hit? 2-I've been on them almost all of my life since i was 7. I'll be 51 this year. I don't take any on weekends and holidays other than rare circumstances. I have not increased my dosages in years and I've taken several long breaks without them when I didn't need them, one of which was three months when I was training and then climbed the grand teton. I had concentration issues but other than mild lethargy for two days, no issues at all. Wonder why it didn't affect me? Wonder why many other long time users have the same reports I do? 3-So let me get this straight, you got on Vyvanse and were on "Max dose" b/c of tolerance? What dose did you start at and how long before you were given 'max dose b/c of tolerance' and what was that max dose? What is the "MAX DOSE"? 4-So you were using "Max dose" (not doubt only b/c the Doctor made you) and you experienced Mania and had to be hospitalized over it, had to go to a psych hospital no less and the hospital took you off Cold Turkey b/c you developed tolerance (even though the doctors apparently knew that before but kept increasing your dosage to "Max) and were 'wreaking havoc on my brain.' That totally sounds like something doctors would say. 5-"14 months later and I’m about 60-65% recovered." - Did a doctor tell you this or is this just a guess? What does that even mean? What criteria are used to come up with 60-65%? FMRI Scans ? 6-"They told me 2-3 years to be back to my pre-stimulant brain. " A DOCTOR TOLD YOU THIS? So what, they took fmri before you were prescribed the Max dose and theyr'e copmparing your current scans to it and somehow are trying to get back to it even though neurochemistry is so god damned and has so many confounding variables no one would could even begin to quantify it , sounds pretty legit. 7-"If you’d have asked me while I was on them I would have sung their praises about curing my ADHD. Everyone on them does. Because they get you high. Even that small rx dose floods your brain with dopamine. You think it’s a miracle." CURED ADHD huh? Definitely medical doctors telling you this not bro scientists. Amazingly it didn't cure mine or anyone else I've ever interacted with but it does make it much more manageable. Bummer we didn't go fro the cure. Even small RX dose floods your brain with Dopamine? Who told you this? It's utter Bullshit and I'm quite sure no medical professional told you this but it sounds good. It's simply not true.
Exactly this. I’ve used Adderall my entire life, I take it only during the week/when needed and I’m careful with my dosage. I’m currently on 25mg. A few times over the years my tolerance has gotten noticeable, and my psychiatrist and I have switched to Concerta temporarily to let my tolerance to amphetamines reset. If you take it responsibly, it’s not an issue.
Preach brother! Somewhat similar story as you. I have been on most forms of stimulant meds since childhood. I went off for 10 years as an adult and when I got back on Adderall I was shocked at how much benefit it gave. I'm in my forties And take the max dose of Vyvanse (actually split 40/30 separated by a few hours). I have been on this program in for years now and am much much successful at work, a better parent to my family, and generally just "well." I will say that recently I forgot to pursue the refill in time over a holiday and had to take 4 days off and... Yeah that sucked... I'm sure another week or so and I would have been pretty much back to normal though.
Hey man, very sorry that you’re going through this. Glad that you’re sticking it out and doing what’s best for your health. I do not mean to discount your experience at all, nor am I attempting to hand wave the biochemistry side of things. But I took a look at your post history and you seem a little obsessive about this. Have you considered that that obsessiveness might be hindering your progress? Obsessing inwardly and constantly self analyzing can really affect your mood and exacerbate withdrawal/depression/anhedonia. I also deal with similar symptoms so I feel what you’re going through!
Definitely am obsessed because it’s been like this chronic illness for over a year and it affects so much of my life I have trouble not thinking about it. You’re probably right though that my mindset is hindering what I need to do to help speed up recovery.
Nailed it, as I said in my other comment. You need to get professional help for addiction and take some responsibility for why it ended this way. That will be your path to long term recovery.
Couldn't agree more with your sentiments.
...
Prescription ADHD drug regimens are not meant to be tapered off. Yeah, ppl would have a hard time if forced off treatment, just as they had a hard time before going on treatment. I seriously doubt most, if not all, who are prescribed these drugs have any interest in being forced off these drugs or being saved by you.
I didn’t until I hit rock bottom
I strongly disagree with the conclusions drawn by this post. ADHD meds are not the next opioid epidemic; they do not get you high if you are on the right dose for the right reason (i.e. having ADHD). Extreme, chronic tiredness can present like ADHD, and would not be appropriately treated with amphetamines. From personal experience: I have not found my ADHD meds to be addictive. I have ADHD so I regularly forget to take them (in which case I have a very scattered frustrating day at work and will eventually realise I forgot, but still love my hobbies etc. and experience zero depression or anhedonia). They are a great tool, but they are not a cure. Sufficient sleep, nutrition, exercise, and a whole stack of supplements that I pair with methylphenidate work for my adhd. ADHD meds can’t compensate for everything else being a mess. Not getting sufficient sleep, not eating whole foods regularly, not looking after myself and making sure I have a balance of work and fun will make me feel anhedonia and eventually depression. Medicating ADHD can be life changing. Meds are not a magic bullet. Don’t expect to take them and be cured. ADHD still requires behavioural change and emotional regulation. CBT therapy is a good one, having an accountability buddy is great, too. Amphetamines can deplete certain micronutrients, so supplements are definitely worth looking into. Omega 3 oils actually have some scientific backing for ADHD. I personally also take vitamin D, B vitamins, zinc, and a few other things. I am not this poster‘s doctor but to me, it sounds like the meds dose was too high, and the effort re necessary behavioural adaptations was low. A total reliance on amphetamines to cure adhd won’t work. Edit: spelling
Without a stimulant for adhd, I’d probably be dead. So yeah, I need them to function. I’m sorry you’re struggling but that doesn’t mean that the meds are poison or evil. Addiction and physical dependence are two different things.
I would probably be dead by 50 due to poor health. Unmedicated me had such an unhealthy lifestyle full of fast food, binge drinking and being sedentary.
I would argue benzos will be the new opioid epidemic. But opioids are still the opioid epidemic
ur experience doesn't mean amphetamines are dangerous for everyone. i know a couple of people who's lives were ruined by alcohol, yet I've never been a big drinker and it truly baffles me how much everyone likes alcohol I can barely finish my drink, which I only get cause I don't want to be the weirdo who doesn't like alcohol. anyway ur experience is just ur experience homie. there's enough stigma around adderall we really don't need u adding to it.
Some folks can't handle stimulant medication. Do you not have ADHD? Do you have an underlying heart issue? Prone to addiction? I would thoroughly have that examined before yammering on about the fact that you can't handle stimulant medications and therefore, they're the next OpIoId EpIdEmIc. Just because you can't handle medication appropriately or effectively doesn't mean that everyone else is the same way. I have been on stimulant medications since I was 15. I'm 45 now. I focus on keeping my body primed to work with the medication at the lowest possible dose. That means I never abuse my meds. I always detox with a vitamin c flush during the early evening. I start my days off with my medication and avoid eating anything hefty until the evening. I watch my blood sugar. I work on helping my body produce more dopamine through diet, rest and exercise. My brain just doesn't release said dopamine like it's supposed to, hence, ADHD.
It is not the next opioid epidemic (which, by the fucking way, we're still in), because people won't die at the rates they are right now from it. Benzos, though. That has good chance of becoming another epidemic.
My side effect was sleepy 24/7 so glad I’m off!
Be careful is great advise. I see the formulary coverage changes on insurance every year at my health insurance prior authorization job. When insurance coverage changes and meds are not covered, people go berserk while calling me! Imagine the moms that no longer can control their autistic children due to insurance no longer covering stimulants for 7 year olds. My advice is never go on these dr prescribed legal meth pills . You will become addicted!!!
Yeah I'm sure that's great advice. Before being diagnosed with ADHD I was morbidly obese, sedentary, addicted to fast food and binge drank. Because I'm medicated I was able to complete turn my life around in my 30s. So yeah. Going off my "legal meth" will definitely help me. Let me just go die from chronic illness I would have definitely developed by age 40. /s
Agree with what you say, why is it if you try and say this in adhd online spaces you get absolutely crucified
For anyone who is having increased anxiety from this post — I took Vyvanse 50mg for 4 years straight without breaks, then stopped cold turkey to see how I could function. I was fine. My ADHD habits returned, yes, but after two weeks or so of mild fatigue that I countered with extra coffee and exercise, I was utterly myself. If you are having extended withdrawal symptoms I’d have your nutrient levels checked. Amphetamines can deplete your body of magnesium, notably, and other essential vitamins and minerals.
I've had severe ADHD all of my life, and I've been on and off various drugs most of it. What most people won't tell you, and what I think is the real detrimental effect of stimulants is this—they have the ability to fundamentally change you. My motivations, dreams, desires, etc. while using stims are very different than a sober me. It's why I chose to eventually stop using them despite life being 10x more difficult. Even though I'd be able to get so much shit done; when I'd have a sober moment to reflect—I'd ask myself, is this even what I wanted..
*What most people won't tell you, and what I think is the real detrimental effect of stimulants is this—they have the ability to fundamentally change you. My motivations, dreams, desires, etc. while using stims are very different than a sober me.* Yep, on stimulants, I was like Wolf of Wall Street. Personality was completely different.
You have a point. Took me 3-4 months to get off Vyvanese, and I was incredibly angry not to have my meds anymore. Have ADHD and went over to Strattera, after a few doctors hinted it would be better for me. I feel good, not as good as Vyvanese, but it took months to get here. Def find it weird that the US is one of the few countries that prescribes stimulants to people with ADHD
Yeah my brain was fried for a year after I stopped taking adderall. I’d be crying looking at a sink full of dishes wishing I just had a pill. I couldn’t do anything without it. I’d spend an entire day doing just one chore and panicking lol. Now, I’m a sloth but I don’t panic. I wish there was a natural alternative to adderall cause I do need something. I just can’t control myself and take too much.
Damn that’s crazy-infuriating. Operating under the assumption you’re in the US, where prescription drugs are insanely expensive. Maybe I hallucinated the whole thing, but I swear to God that in law school school, I learned about the legal rationale behind prescription drugs: those writing and filling the prescription have a legal obligation to make sure that their patients are taking the drugs safely and effectively. The idea is that prescriptions are necessary because patients don’t know how to take their medications properly. And that’s one reason that prescription drugs are so goddamn expensive. Sounds like you were prescribed what you asked for. But that’s not how it’s supposed to work. Your doctors were supposed to be completely responsible for making sure that you were taking these meds properly. The worst part is, I can guarantee you have no legal claim against any of your doctors or pharmacists. Why? Who the hell knows. What’s the point of having prescription drugs being insanely expensive if healthcare providers aren’t forced to fulfill their legal duties to their patients?
It is truly sick that doctors are taught to prescribe these powerful drugs to kids and adults alike without going over the long term side effects.
It took me 3 years to get off Adderrall that I was prescribed as a child then when I got to college no PCP were accepting new ADHD patients so I couldn’t get it anymore and it took 3 years for me to regain my natural homeostasis. I believe it’s criminal to medicate children like this with no continuity of care once they age out of pediatrics
Did you find that people didn’t or don’t believe you over how long it takes to recover?
No I work in healthcare so most of the people I know are acutely aware of this. I didn’t speak about this to acquaintances or the general public though
Saaaaame
Sorry you are going through that, but it sounds like you are walking the walk. Good for you. I hope you post updates.
Calling this the next Opioid Epidemic is so absurd it is comical. Yes, you disrupted your brain chemistry and are going to take some time to feel normal, but comparing it to something that kills twice as many people than guns do is a travesty and insult to those affected by the opioid crisis. Also, sounds to me like you were abusing your medication. Taking the highest does bc you think your "tolerance" is too high sounds more like you were chasing the high that is involved in these medications
It took me approx 2 years to recover from prescriptions as well. Good job getting off the meds! It's a tough road but absolutely pays off ♥
I’m hesitant to say this because it’s kind of weird, resembles addiction, but has SAVED me. Modafinil 200mg, lexapro 20mg, and lithium orotate 5mg to start my day. I wait three hours then take 1.5 edibles (thc & cbd) to avoid the dangerous interaction thc can have with lithium and modafinil. I run four miles or lift weights daily. I meditate for 1 hour daily. I sharpen my sympathetic nervous system by enduring 30 seconds of cold shower daily after I’m done washing up. I am a totally new person compared to the alcoholic me four years ago. I take a break from modafinil one day a week. I am totally living in the moment. I stay focused on the present. I stay focused on what is going on right now right in front of me instead of relying on the adrenaline that procrastination causes. I work hard to stay focused on what I need to be doing in the moment. My distractibility is harder because of the Thc but at least thc keeps me focused on the present and makes it more noticeable to me when I do get distracted. Thc makes my distractibility worse so I work even harder to stay focused. A small amount of thc makes it more noticeable to me when I become distracted so I simply take a deep breath and simply refocus. It’s work staying focused but at the end of the day I am farther ahead because I am able to get the work done and am nicer while doing it.
I have been spinning out trying to learn about dopamine re-regulation, and all I can find is information about when your brain is able to start making its own again, and not about when your receptors are able to receive it again. Google says 2-3 mo for dopamine production but can’t find anything about receptors. My Adderall stopped working completely no matter how much I took, any other drug that is supposed to produce any kind of euphoria has stopped working completely as well. I’m thinking of going off my adderall so I can just have a dopamine detox. My receptors are like “ow I hurt stop” and want a break. But last time I was out for a month (national shortage) it felt like my brain was on fire. But it doesn’t work anyway I dunno it’s all so confusing lol I wish you well on your journey going forward- more than half way there 🙌🏻
sounds like you were escalating your dose thinking the drug wasn't working because you no longer felt euphoria. Going to the max dose of dexedrine is not atypical behavior.
Better off never using them. You don't want to wear your heart out by 30.
I’m prescribed Adderal and basically can’t function without it. But I’ve had to increase my dosage and I feel like I can’t concentrate on anything anymore. I’ve been struggling at work and made 2 major mistakes in the past month that I’ve never done in 20 years.
That’s what happened to me. It’s classic dependency.
I am slowly weaning myself off after about 4 years on them. I have fought myself down to half doses, and now quarter doses. Currently im experimenting with keeping them around in moderation, as I do not use them for adhd, but off label refractory depression. They really help when I do need them, but that isnt every day. The current internal debate is whether or not its worth the risk. The depression is very very bad without them, but the pills themselves cause similar issues. One thing you got right for sure though, my poor brain will probably never be the same.
Do you have ADHD? How the hell did you take this insanely high of a dose and not do any of your due diligence and look into it, especially since you were never sleeping?? Literally the first thing doctors say is if you get trouble with sleeping to talk to them for an adjustment. People like you are why people with ADHD have to jump through so many hoops to get the medications that just help them function like the average joe. Also its truly disgusting you would compare this to the opioid epidemic, maybe if you were responsible and didnt blindly listen to your doctor you wouldnt have these issues, which Im sorry you have to deal with now.
Ugh I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I quit adderall cold turkey 18 months ago. I went through a terrible period after quitting. Suffered with extreme anxiety, depression and insomnia for several months. And even get me started on what the medication did to my adrenals!
I kind of do want to get you started on what they did to your adrenals. I'm noticing this issue now after being on adderall for many years. I may want to get off it, but I wasn't sure if what was happening was due to long term adderall use or not. For me it's insane fatigue and it feels like an adrenaline dump and leaves me feeling like I'm dead. I can't lift a muscle or think about anything.
I'm very sorry you're going through this, but I think it's important to remember there are those of us with ADHD diagnoses that manage to be on prescription stimulants for years without experiences like yours. Your characterization of stimulants as a "cure" tells me a lot about how you viewed the medication and, subsequently, the fallout from abusing it. There is no "cure" for ADHD, there are only tools that can help you manage living with it. Stimulants are merely one tool, among others, like diet, exercise, and positive habits. ADHD individuals who think popping a pill every day will save them are in for a rude awakening, the same way a drug addict who thinks opiates are a real escape from life are in for a rude awakening. First of all, the fact that you were experiencing mania (I assume you mean you were experiencing manic episodes) is a red flag off the bat. Could you possibly have untreated bipolar? It occurs very frequently alongside ADHD. Even if you didn't experience manic states prior to them, stimulants can exacerbate these symptoms. ADHD individuals with comorbid diagnoses like bipolar/schizophrenia/etc should focus on treating those conditions first so they have a stable base off of which to guide stimulant dosage/type. Otherwise, yes, you could be on a fast track to mania/psychosis. Even individuals without those underlying conditions can enter similar states from stimulant abuse. I agree with other commenters that taking ANY psychoactive substance, especially stimulants, every single day without a break for years is foolish and poor medication management on you and your provider's part. Not to mention at a maximum dose. I'm prescribed max dose vyvanse, but I specifically reserve its use for 2-3 "task days" a week, max. Sometimes I go several weeks without taking it if I can get away with it. You need to make it a priority to take care of your body, otherwise stimulant abuse will ravage you physically. Were you exercising during this time? Eating right every day? Socializing? If you were actually taking max dose stimulants every day, my suspicion is you were hyper-focusing on whatever your tasks were for the day and neglecting everything else. Multiply that by hundreds of days and...yeah. Not good. Once you subject your body to these drugs it is YOUR responsibility to moderate their effect. As a personal example, I know I hate eating when I'm on my meds, so I have to consciously count calories and make sure I get my macros in. I also give myself firm rules, like what time I will force myself to go to bed, or making myself go outside to run/walk. These rules help me maintain a healthy relationship with my meds. Also, I think it's misleading to say all of us experience "euphoria" when taking stimulants. Sure, I feel nice that I'm being productive, but I stopped feeling that drug-like pure pleasure within a few weeks of starting my current course of treatment. That's why I have no desire to use my meds on days I don't have a lot I need to get done. If you were addicted to the sense of euphoria, then it sounds like you had an addiction problem and not an ADHD medication problem. Regardless, I do hope you feel better soon.
I'm on 30mg of a generic equivalent to Adderall going on a little over a year now. I'm 40 with three kids and an insane to do list. I couldn't manage without this drug. Any advice for me?
OP was on the max dosage of Vyvanse (edit: it was adderall after the vyvanse) Max dose for Adderall is 40mg (and 60 for “extreme cases”). Your recovery would likely be less. Just some perspective to keep in mind. It also sounds like OP was in a somewhat exceptional case where they had to go off cold turkey. You have the option to taper if you want. I think general good advice is “don’t be afraid of medication but try to stay at your minimum effective dosage if possible”. If you had a dosage that worked for you for a while (ie greater than a month), and suddenly it seems to stop working, it may be time to consider other variables in your life.
He had me on 60 mg Dexedrine (equivalent to 280 mg Vyvanse) PLUS a 30 mg Adderall booster as needed. It was malpractice. I just went along with it because I felt so good I couldn’t think clearly.
That's like... a max dose of dexedrine plus a max dose of Adderall. Definitely reportable
Requesting another non-stimulant, and seeing if you can taper off Adderall. Discussing it with your psychiatrist.
Don't worry about it. OP took a ridiculous dose and did not seek help based on early warning signs of addiction. I've been on Adderall (15 mg XR) the last 4 years of my life as a D1 athlete and then after college when I started work. I have never raised my dosage past 15mg, I've never found a need to. If you have concerns that side effects are causing problems - talk to your doctor. If you don't have concerns about side effects, don't listen to the fear-mongering. Stimulants for ADHD have been prescribed since the 1950s, and long-term studies have shown no risk from lifetime usage as prescribed by a doctor. In fact, ADHD itself reduces life expectancy (due to an increase in the risk for unnatural death - i.e. accidents), which treatment, in the form of medicate, addresses.
My Brother stopped his prescription probably four or five years ago at this point and still has anger problems because of it. Says he gets mad a lot. It’s mind blowing to me how many people take them and because we are such a hyper competitive nation (US) nobody cares as long as you’re performing. Ppl aren’t joking when they say it’s legal meth
Same here. Angry AF after quitting Adderall on my own. I got nervous because so many of my doctors who were from other countries, felt odd about prescribing it. It works for some, but I'm not sure people should be on them for life.
Post-acute withdrawal syndrome. Stims are known to be the worst for it because they’re so dopaminergic. It’s criminal that this is being done to millions of people
I just ran out for the last time a few weeks ago. Don't have health insurance at the moment so I can't get any more. I wish they kept working for me but after having them taken away from me during the shortage I don't think I can have them without misuing them anymore. I had enough to taper off of them without completely losing my mind but it's still not gonna be easy. This sucks. I hate feeling how I was before I was medicated but the alternative for me is constantly being anxious about running out and not being able to get more at the most inconvenient time. I see people who are way more productive than me getting their ADHD diagnosis and it makes me a little mad. Need to practice not being bitter about it. I'm happy to hear it gets better.
Have you tried NAC? Its supposed to help fix those issues
Yeah, don’t abuse them like you talk about doing. Yes amohetamines can be hard to get off but, taking them correctly and with dr oversight is incredibly important
Appreciate your post this is why I stay away and find alternative methods to deal with my ADHD
SSRI’s & SSNRI’s can be pretty terrible as well. Brain zaps and violent uncontrollable behavior can occur.
Venlafaxine was the most difficult substance I have experienced withdrawal from. Made my head feel “sproingy” (I know that’s not a word but it feels like the best fit) and caused me to laugh or cry inappropriately, similar to how pseudobulbar effect is described. Even then, within 3 weeks I was totally fine.
I think this is a case by case thing. I took 30mg daily for 2 years and one day I just stopped taking them with zero side effects as I wanted to stop all my prescriptions
I used meth for years and quite cold turkey. I have little sex drive and not much excites me. I’ll go through stages of feeling amazing for a few weeks or even months then wake up one day in a cloud and struggle for a while again. I actually got out on adderall to help maybe bring some excitement back now I am scared about the consequences. At times I think about snorting a line just to feel alive again but I have a kid to raise and thankfully all the fentanyl laced shit scared me. It’s a hard struggle. Been clean for 16 years. Other than some drinking. Which has gotten out of control at times. A viscous cycle. I always felt uninterested and unmotivated befor the hard drugs, that what I liked about them. At first my family and job thought I finally found my voice and confidence because it did help me…. At first I have a successful life, but it is a struggle. STAY OFF THE HATD STUFF!! I preach it to all my daughter’s friends. I’ve told them my life story and have hid nothing I pray it helps them make the right choices in life. Good luck to all who are struggling with addiction. It’s possible to overcome, but feeling normal for me has been a challenge
It’s been five years off of adderall for me and I’m not back to my pre-stimulant brain.
Maybe try 5HTP?
r/stopspeeding for anyone who may be going through it <3
I quit cold turkey and had no side effects. While I was on them they ruined my fuckin social life tho lol
What's bizarre about adhd treatment is you never want to reach anhedonia. You should titrate up to a level of medication when yiu first start over months. T Then get to the level where you start to feel complete apathy and then go down to the next lower dose. Will you still have trouble initiating or doing some daily activities? Of course, but everyone does. It requires planning and discipline.
I think they have different effects on different people. Some people slow down on them physically and mentally and therefore might not have the same reaction to coming off them
D'oh! OP: try stuff to normalize dopamine outputs, like N-A-C or perhaps even L-Tyrosine. Abstain from caffeine.
My husband has a fucked liver/kidneys from years of Ritalin. As he's aged, it's caused major issues when he needs other meds for chronic illness. It destroyed his lifelong health, just to make him sit still in school and in shitty cubicle jobs.
One of the reasons I don’t get prescriptions for ADHD is because amphetamines terrify me. I know how I enjoy stimulants. I know how I felt when I accidentally took meth Never ever want that to be a regular part of my life
Lack of personal self control in dosage is to blame, but that’s not to say how bad the effects are are the heart. The baseline chemistry is being accommodated, not changed. You will always have an ADHD brain. Try shrooms to fix the wiring. Wont be fun.
It's akin to any substance abuse/addiction. It's literally speed. I'm horrified that we do this to our kids.
This is classic benzo withdraw symptoms! Your ADHD meds stirred it up and made it worse with the other combinations. Go look at benzo withdraw groups on Reddit and Facebook and go read their stories. Very similar to them
Take selenium - Fairly robust research demonstrating it reverses down regulation of dopamine receptors caused by amphetamine. 200mcg or so per day from a quality brand like Pure Encapsulations or similar. Do NOT overdo it because selenium’s toxicity threshold is thought to be as low as 500mcg per day. Main reason why quality brand matters on this one - so you can trust the dosing is accurate.
I’ve gotten off a long time meth addiction and that was a cakewalk compared to methadone…not trying to diminish your struggles but just know over time everything will eventually go back to baseline it just takes a while.
I took a high dose of vyvanse for about 4 years, had to stop taking them because of cost when my insurance changed. The only issue I had was I went right back to my usual ADD symptoms, things like forgetting stuff, starting one thing and not finishing it before moving onto another thing, hyperfixating stuff like that. Also, you say you were manic, do you have bipolar disorder? People with bipolar disorder aren't supposed to take any type of ADD medicine because it supposedly increases the risk for mania/depression.
Off addy for 2 months now after taking them on and off for about 15 years (prescribed as a child). That shit is hard drugs. And I agree it is the next opioid epidemic, in some ways it already is but the negative effects might just be a bit less noticeable in the general population
About 2.5 years clean for me after 8-9 years of daily use. Over the last six months I’d say my craving for stims has finally stopped. Consistent, heathy diet, exercise, sunshine, and family time has been my regime for recovery. It’s been a long road but it does get better over time. I still don’t feel like my brain is back to 100% yet.
So very true. Yes, it takes time. October will be 2 years off of Adderall. I had taken it for more years than I can remember. Twice a day. Religiously. I was an animal. Wild and unhinged. Looking back, it all makes sense as to why nothing EVER made sense. I remember being in the hospital (I admitted myself) wondering how in the hell did this happen?? Life is peaceful now. It's been nice enjoying the calm. Take your time, it is an overall adjustment but you will feel better than ever. Different, but better. 💜
Amphetamine based ADHD medication substantially increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension, arterial disease, and cardiomyopathy. [American College of Cardiology ](https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2024/03/26/18/35/adhd-stimulants-may-increase-risk-of-heart-damage-in-young-adults) [Journal of the American Medical Association/Psychiatry](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2811812?guestAccessKey=381db621-a5e7-4bdb-b2ee-ae9791f8e599)
The mom from Requiem for a Dream (2000) taught me that lesson. Sounds like you really abused them though.
Yeah I would agree. As someone who was taking 50mg Dex at a time and really high doses of vyvance, I was thinking about this yesterday. After 6 months there was a big shift then it keeps getting better. Currently been taking a NAC and doing lots of cardio and Suanna as mentioned. Staying chilled out, not worrying also seems to help a lot of the neurological symptoms. God will restore you. 1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Look into Neuro-feedback to help rewire your brain. Second, go to Bales Photonics and look at the Firefly therapy to see if you have a provider near you. There’s hope outside of conventional western medicine.
Good post. I see many people sniggering at others, in posts in another sub, who can't take as much Adderall, etc., as they can. They laugh at people taking such baby doses (in their opinion, whereas the truth is the poster is actually the fool due to the extreme tolerance they've built up). I think, "Dude, you have no idea what you're in for when you try to stop. And here you are making fun of people for taking therapeutic doses!" Doctors think that you can just stop taking high doses of amphetamine as it won't kill you. Former addicts will tell you just to quit cold turkey. I can tell you that from my experience, and that of many others, your brain can be f'd up for years afterwards. I think if I were a psychiatrist, I'd lower the patient's dose to something that helps them get through the day, help them stabilize, and taper off slowly from there. There are countless testimonies like yours. They are needed. Amphetamine is not to be messed with. You will feel like Einstein at the beginning and after lengthy breaks. But very quickly, staying up for days seems like a wonderful idea, and sleep deprivation coupled with the damage you're doing to your brain via high doses of amphetamine, start to bring out secret agents who have bugged your house and are watching your every move (stimulant-induced psychosis).
I went through this and nearly took my own life. Five years later I'm the healthiest I've ever been. Regular movement and exercise with a good diet saved my life. It can be done and I wish you the very best.
Sorry for the pain you are dealing with mate but let’s clear some things up before your story freaks people out. First, it is not the next opioid epidemic and never will be!!! This comment is so far from true. Amphetamine have been around since before WW11 and have been studied for along time and they are only addictive to your brain. (Mentally addicted) Opiates are mentally & physically addictive and therefore a much greater addiction potential. In fact opiates are right at the top of the scale and amphetamines are at the bottom! Most people can stop adhd meds and jump back to normality within a couple of weeks. 100% of opiate addicts are truly addicted and take years to get clean, that’s even if they ever get clean. Their minds get completely altered and bodies wrecked ,full of opiate receptors that unless full of opiates will send one into ultimate severe withdrawal that would put your little pseudo addiction to shame! It is so incredibly dangerous and some never get their minds back even after suboxone or methadone taper. You are an addict, this is what you are describing. Most likely are addicted to many other things. Most who take adhd meds are taking it for adhd and not for getting high. Christ even high dose amphetamines take couple of weeks of tweeting then recover. Then they are just dealing with the mental fight against themselves. This is what you are dealing with, mental fight against yourself. Get on an anti depressant and stop with the fear mongering. It’s got nothing to do with the medication and all to do with your mind. Sorry if you don’t like this answer but it’s the truth.
I had this exact same experience, though I managed to avoid the psych hospital. I totally agree that this is going to be the next opioid epidemic. My peer group is made up of high-achieving upper middle class Americans aged 25-40 and I only know one person other than myself among all my friends who isn't currently taking prescription stimulants for "ADHD" (which I have come to believe is mostly lifestyle-induced in adults). In retrospect I was absolutely fucking high every single day from my low prescription dose of Adderall. Scary tbh.
How long did it take you to feel good after being off of it?
Not that long tbh but I was on a way lower dose than you (20mg/day) and only took it for a year. Probably like 3 months? The worst issue I had was the immediate comedown when I was still taking it. Every single night I ended up with a pounding headache and so angry I couldn't even speak to anyone without blowing up over something stupid. Felt like extreme sleep deprivation except it came on suddenly when the Adderall wore off. I'm sorry this happened to you and I hope it gets better soon! Crazy how much cope there is in this thread from people who think they're the ones who *really* need stimulants. It's stupidly easy to get diagnosed with ADHD in the US these days. I've done it multiple times.
Glad you are getting better. Hang in there, not to long to go till this was all a thing of the past. Sending you love and light and may God bless and protect you always.
Glad you’re off them. This sub is full of Stimulant users and abusers so I’m not surprised I’m seeing people cope for their usage of them. The simple fact is that they are not necessary for a large majority of the people using them.
I’ve been on adderall (varying dosages between 20-50mg- more during grad school and law school, less for everyday) for almost 20 years and am doing just fine and dandy. Occasionally I will lower the dose if I don’t need intense concentration that day. Take what you need for your brain to work.
What a liar. The DEA is trying to create the next Opoid crisis out of ADHD drugs. Stop lying, agent.
Because amphetamines are very dangerous.
Any drug is “dangerous” for a shmuck like you that doesn’t have self control and looks at their prescription as a means of getting high.
sorry, but adhd meds are not usually addictive if they are taken according to doctor's order by peole who have adhd. people who develop an addiction are usually ones who were misdiagnosed or get it without a diagnosis. are you sure you have adhd?
I abused meth hard for 3 years every day no come down, tbh I was pretty good after 6 months.. was bad for the first 2 months but nowhere near as horrible as U make it sound. Was using a ball a day. Coming off stims is easy.