After 6 years of being on Adderall 40-60 MG a day I decided to stop because I felt like I was a slave to this drug for my energy . Well it is hell and the Dr.'s will tell you it is your ADD coming back ....... no this is someone who was addicted to a powerful Amphetamine and whose life is hell right now from the withdrawals . For me the morning pill was what got me going in the morning and defined who I was all day . My God I read all of these posts and no one seems to talk about the fact that this drug is what is giving them the edge they now need to function ... and not to control there ADD but to keep them high all day . Well for those who have only been on it for a few years well wait till about 5 years + and then try to function without it . I am not trying to scare anyone but I would love to hear from someone who has been on it for over 5 years like I was and then live life without it . I did not realize how much energy it was giving me .

Again I wish someone had told me years ago when I first started it that I would pay dearly for this wonder drug that made me feel so good when I had to get off of it . And yes I do not believe you can stay on it for life ... when you get up to needing about 60 + mg a day in your 4th or 5th year you start to understand the toll an Amphetamine takes on your health over a long period of time . Again this is just my experience and I am looking for someone who has been on it 5 or 6 years to tell me where they are at . As I read these posts I see most people have only got a few years if that on the stuff .

Mee, I'm an unmedicated ADD'er, apart from my caffeine intake, so I cannot add to what you ask, but I can say 100% that you have written the complete reason I would NEVER take any of these drugs.

My husband recently came off of Dexamphetamine after only 3 years, and that was extremely unpleasant to say the least. Now his body is returning to normal, and I hope he never goes near another Amphetamine again. It's his choice, but I want a healthy husband. I'd prefer him "foggy" :)

Anyone, ADD or Non ADD would feel good on an Amphetamine. I will be given the "chill" for saying this, but it's the truth.

My thoughts are with you. You've a long journey ahead, but I think you'll make it. You're too annoyed at the Dr's to not make it.

Take Care,
Viktoria

After three years on dexamphetamine, I am now off it. It was a hard time indeed but I'm glad that I made it.

Like you, I came to rely on the stimulant to wake me up in the morning and keep me going at work. Sometimes I would work all night to meet a deadline and my medication was being used to excess for the wrong reasons.

In retrospect, had I been given sufficient health warnings as to side effects and potential long term health damage of these stimulants, I never would have commenced taking them in the first place. I'm better off without them. (caffiene clears the fog eventually :rolleyes: )

Amphetamines are proven beyond all reasonable doubt, able to cause long term health damage and after having been down that path for three years, I wont ever go there again and would not advise anyone else to. Long term, learning new behaviour skills through CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) is a much safer health option.

Dex is supposed to be short acting (4-8hours), however my experience is that its effects on my body were continuing for days after ceasing taking the meds and much smaller doses than currently pescribed were effective.

The rush to prescribe stimulant medications appears to me, be driven by corporate greed with multi billions of dollars sales at stake, rather that the long term health interests of ADD'ers.

All my love and kisses to Viktoria :-x :-x :-x

Thanks you guys .... I only wish I had heard the other side to all of this years ago ... If the Dr.'s had told me I would have not needed them , I only kept going back to the Dr every month to get prescriptions . If they had told me about exercise and other ways of dealing with ADD besides drugs I would of had the information I needed and not had to keep coming back for those useless sessions that were nothing more than a necessity for the prescriptions.

My husband recently came off of Dexamphetamine after only 3 years, and that was extremely unpleasant to say the least. Now his body is returning to normal, and I hope he never goes near another Amphetamine again. It's his choice, but I want a healthy husband. I'd prefer him "foggy"

P.S. your husband is so lucky to have someone that will give him that kind of support and reinforcement . My girlfriend and I did not stay together becuase I became such another person after about 5 years on that stuff . What a loss to not have her in my life after being together for almost 10 years .. we just did not know what that stuff was doing to me .... It just turned me into another person and now that I am back to my old self she and so so much is gone .

I've been on ADDerall for 6 years - and am very careful with taking it. I rarely take it on the weekends and never when I'm on vacation.
I have never had a withdrawl symptom from ADDerall. Neither have I felt the "need" to take it (meaning addiction to it).

I think there is a difference to "feeling good" being on an amphetamine and understanding that you are taking it to help deal with ADD; to aid in everyday functional living.

Being a person with ADD also means being an advocate for yourself - and not relying on others to tell what else you can do to help yourself deal with ADD.

livinginchaos you give me hope

Mee: I'm interested to know the long term physical toll. Could you please share with us? See a separate thead I recently posted. This is a big concern of mine.

Being a person with ADD also means being an advocate for yourself - and not relying on others to tell what else you can do to help yourself deal with ADD.


Thas the best advice I've heard!!!! We all need to remember this, every day.

You are scaring me. I never heard that Adderall can cause tooth decay just like street meth users get. And the 'high'..I thought ADDers didn't feel that after the first few days of starting it because our brain's didn't react to it that way. My children just got put on Adderall XR, and one of them took his first pill yesterday. He was very happy all day until the 'crash' when he came down. He was angry at me and said that if the good feeling had to go away every day he didn't want to take them. He either wanted to feel good all the time or not. I assumed he was talking about the 'high' effects of the first few days, until his body adjusted to it.
I thought Adderall wasn't addictive to ADDers!!!!!
I have only been on Adderall XR for like 3 months, and was just upped to 60mgs because it doesn't seem to be helping me. But my oldest son - it makes such a difference for him. Quality of life is improved 100% for him. I was hoping the same for my other son. Am I doing him a terrible disservice by making him take the Adderall when he doesn't want to? (my younger son)
What bad health effects does it cause in the long run?

You are scaring me. I never heard that Adderall can cause tooth decay just like street meth users get. And the 'high'..I thought ADDers didn't feel that after the first few days of starting it because our brain's didn't react to it that way. My children just got put on Adderall XR, and one of them took his first pill yesterday. He was very happy all day until the 'crash' when he came down. He was angry at me and said that if the good feeling had to go away every day he didn't want to take them. He either wanted to feel good all the time or not. I assumed he was talking about the 'high' effects of the first few days, until his body adjusted to it.
I thought Adderall wasn't addictive to ADDers!!!!!
I have only been on Adderall XR for like 3 months, and was just upped to 60mgs because it doesn't seem to be helping me. But my oldest son - it makes such a difference for him. Quality of life is improved 100% for him. I was hoping the same for my other son. Am I doing him a terrible disservice by making him take the Adderall when he doesn't want to? (my younger son)
What bad health effects does it cause in the long run?

I think the tooth decay problem is with an issue any drug that causes dry mouth.

Addictive? I am beginning to think so. In addition to better productivity, I do feel a light euphoria. Its a very good feeling that fills one with positive emotions and proactive attitude. Not complaining about this, just worried about the possibilities of addiction. Thats why I take a holiday on the weekends - just to convince myself that it is not the case.

Years ago I tried speed, cocaine, and it had no effect on me. Everyone else was having a merry old time, but I never got any effect from it. Recently I found out that was because I am ADHD, so why are you all having the euphoric highs of Adderall if you're ADD? I never got that from my Adderall, but my youngest son did yesterday... My oldest didn't. I'm getting confused. Could the ones who get 'high' off Adderall (especially after the first 3 days) be misdiagnosed? But my youngest is the most ADD person I've ever seen. But maybe it's something else? Maybe he has something besides ADD that causes him to be so forgetful and addlebrained. He fits all the ADD criteria. But he sure was 'high' yesterday on his first dose.

Addictive? I am beginning to think so. In addition to better productivity, I do feel a light euphoria. Its a very good feeling that fills one with positive emotions and proactive attitude. Not complaining about this, just worried about the possibilities of addiction.

And I never felt that way - the euphoria, positive emotions and proactive attitude. I thought my dose just wasn't high enough or maybe Adderall just wouldn't work for me.
But I REALLY thought that ADDers did NOT get 'high' on methamphetamines. That it had the opposite effect on us. I thought that's why they use it on us.

I continue to be concerned about all the people who are venemently attacking these drugs. Just because something has the POTENTIAL for abuse, side effects and is heavily abused, is no reason to discount it. A healthy ADD'r who is getting GOOD care should never feel guilty or scared for taking adderral or any other amphetamine. I seriously think a lot of these people who feel "high" or need it for energy, either might not have ADD, or are taking too much. It takes a experienced doctor and patient experimentation to get to the right dosage. These drugs should make you feel normal or calmer, not hyped up. When are people going to start getting worked up over the incredible loss of productivity, confidence and damaged self-esteem and possibly even crimes that may be committed because of untreated ADD? Please no one ever let one scary post get you from getting treatment. These drugs have been used for over 50 years, most of the preservatives & chemicals we injest daily are newer. Just use a balanced approach to your health.

have only been on Adderall XR for like 3 months, and was just upped to 60mgs because it doesn't seem to be helping me.
chameleon .... my heart goes out to you I read some of your posts and threads ... you say that you drink coffee all day and night and you are on Klonopin 3 times a day and are up to 60 mg of Adderall and you are on Lexapro . You have so many drugs pulling you in so many direction it is no wonder that you can not tell if the Adderall is working . I suggest you get over to http://www.benzo.org.uk/ and get on that forum becuase you need some solid info on the Klonopin . I have been right where you are and it is a viscous cycle of drugs pulling you in different directions all day . Did you tell your Dr that you drink coffee all day and night on top of all the drugs he has you on . It sounds like you need a second opinion when it comes to Dr.'s and especially if you are taking your kids to the same Dr .

I continue to be concerned about all the people who are venemently attacking these drugs. Just because something has the POTENTIAL for abuse, side effects and is heavily abused, is no reason to discount it. A healthy ADD'r who is getting GOOD care should never feel guilty or scared for taking adderral or any other amphetamine.

I agree with moonlily, but cavaet emptor with amphetamines and Ritalin. If you take these drugs every day for years, then stop abruptly, you will probably experience discontinuance symptoms. These drugs affect your neurotransmitters, which need time to recalibrate after you stop. Tapering off is recommended.

Livinginchaos has a solution that I have been trying; drug holidays. But, if I decide to forgo drug holidays, I'm aware that stopping abruptly will be unpleasant.

Knowlege is good. We need to make our own choices.

Thank you Mee, I went to the site but it won't let me access the page to apply for registration to the forum...
Yes my doctor knows I drink coffee all day.
I didn't know Klonopin was addictive either... :(

chameleon .... my heart goes out to you I read some of your posts and threads ... you say that you drink coffee all day and night and you are on Klonopin 3 times a day and are up to 60 mg of Adderall and you are on Lexapro . You have so many drugs pulling you in so many direction it is no wonder that you can not tell if the Adderall is working . I suggest you get over to http://www.benzo.org.uk/ and get on that forum becuase you need some solid info on the Klonopin . I have been right where you are and it is a viscous cycle of drugs pulling you in different directions all day . Did you tell your Dr that you drink coffee all day and night on top of all the drugs he has you on . It sounds like you need a second opinion when it comes to Dr.'s and especially if you are taking your kids to the same Dr .

I didn't know Klonopin was addictive either

chameleon
Hard to believe your Dr would put you on this drug and not tell you that it is addictive . Benzodiazepines*are the most addictive substances on the earth*. Benzodiazepines are only meant to be taken for short periods of time , and can become ineffective and induce drug dependency when used for inappropriately long periods of time.

(NOTE: Links have been removed by moderator for the purposes of promoting safety and adherence to forum regulations.-KJ/C)

Your body gets used to most psychoactive drugs but that doesn't mean that you are addicted. Feeling withdrawl from Effexor or Prozac or whatever doesn't mean you are an addict. Addiction is more of a mental health issue as true addiction involves compulsive pursuit and preoccupation with a substance or activity, and personal disorganization and desperation after cessation.
Amphetamines and benzodiazipines can be addictive, if abused, but when used as directed there should be no physical withdrawl and depending on the person, only slight psychological withdrawl. I'd only be worried about addiction if you couldn't stop taking stimulants - if you find that you can't take a drug holiday of any kind, you may have a problem.
Earlier in the thread the issue of ADHDers feeling or not feeling "high" from stimulants was raised. I want to clarify this. Some people with ADHD find that they don't feel stimulated or "high" from the drug, but this is not universal and it is not an indication of whether or not a person "truely" has ADHD. Response to medication should never be used as a diagnositic tool for ADHD because it does not prove anything - Stimulants improve focus, etc. in people with and without ADHD, and they don't work the same way in everyone, so the response will be as variable as the people taking it.

Some people with ADHD find that they don't feel stimulated or "high" from the drug, but this is not universal and it is not an indication of whether or not a person "truely" has ADHD. Response to medication should never be used as a diagnositic tool for ADHD because it does not prove anything - Stimulants improve focus, etc. in people with and without ADHD, and they don't work the same way in everyone, so the response will be as variable as the people taking it.
Greg, two questions....did you mean to say that "some people with ADHD find that they DO feel stimulated or "high" from the drug, but this is not universal and is not an indication....." i only ask because i just read this thread, and the way i'm interpreting your comment here is that you're saying it's more common for people to FEEL somehow stimulated or "high." make sense? unless i'm reading that wrong, didn't you mean it the other way around??

also, i'm curious as to the comment that stimulants help "everyone" focus better. i've seen such the opposite and have read reports where those without adhd who were given stimulants had terrible reactions of severe anxiety, headache, etc.....i mean, obviously there are folks who have taken street drugs who aren't adhd and have gotten addicted to them. but do you really think it's the focus they're getting? i've always figured it was the euphoria, high, or lack of inhibition that got them.

i may be having a serious adhd moment here and just misread your post completely...but when free gets confused.....you know as well as anyone...she just raises her hand and says "QUESTION OVER HERE!!!":D

thanks.

So to recap you got 5 years of your life back, but now to pay for that 5 years you have to endure 2-3 weeks of unhappiness.

Just a thought:
If someone's mood has been depressed for some time, it becomes "normal" for that person. Someone else has a healthy feeling of well-being. Both take the same meds. The person with the depressed mood feels "euphoric", or a sense of well-being in response to the meds while the other person notices only a slight difference in mood.
L.

"Free",
I did mean to say that most people with ADHD do feel stimulated by stimulants - how stimulated depends on the dose. Some ADHDers have the opposite effect, but it's not the majority, as far as I can tell. And "normals" who take stimulants do get improved focus - if they take the right dose. Too much stimulant is worse than none at all, so those that are taking illegal drugs like methamphetamine aren't seeing any improvement in focus since they are usually taking several orders of magnitude more drug than we do - 5 g or methamphetamine a day is not unheard of - that's 5000 mg! For me about a 2 month supply.
Students who take Adderall illegally in order to "cram" for exams and such don't have a good idea about the best amount to take - so they probably take more figuring that more is always better - and they'll get the headaches, anxiety and insomnia that comes with taking too much if they aren't careful.

OK. I'm with you now. I was thinking you were referencing the street drug variety in doses far exceeding prescribed amounts. on the other thread where it was said to be a myth that stimulant meds affect both adhders the same as non-adhders, i got confused. but i was talking about children given adhd meds that were certainly too high for their bodies to handle and would essentially give them that headache, anxiety feeling. i've seen it in kids myself. so i think maybe by the end of that thread everyone was just misunderstanding each other or something. i definitely agree that in general, many nonadders and adders would see a similar reaction to stimulant meds.

sorry.....just in a state of mind fog!!!!!!!

free2bme has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her.

free2bme this is what I get when I try to return your message and question ... so I will put it here .
I would be happy to answer you under this thread on the board where everyone can learn something if you would like to ask the same question here .

Hello all, I am currently about 5 days into my titration off of adderall XR/adderall. I was taking anywhere from 60-80 mg/day, and am down to 20 XR now. Honestly, the combination of exhaustion and dependence has been really rough on my body. Even though I am a seventeen year old male, 6'2 and 180 pounds, I feel like a ragdoll that has been tossed in front of a speeding train. I took most of the last week off of school, honestly something I wouldn't have been able to get away with if I weren't class president, and spent most of that time in a conglomerate of insomnia/hypersomnia/stomach cramps/vomitting on night 1/nightmares/sweats etc. I have been on stimulant medications of various sorts for the past 5 years, and have experienced great success and powerful failures. Their seems to be no rhyme or reason for why my medicine will work effectively one month, and fail totally the next. It would appear that I am one of the relative majority for whom stimulant medication is not an effective long term solution. Before people start taking my example as the anti-adderall gospel, please remember how many people are helped by these medications. I would love to speak to someone else (or multiple others) who is/are of a similiar ADD-type (able to skate by on intellect, tried medication and experienced both wonderful and awful effects, etc). Honestly, I have no idea who I am at this point - and that scares me the most. Will my girlfriend and I still be the same once I am unmedicated? Will my teachers have the same respect and affection for me if I am a clearly different student in the coming months? Will I be able to keep up with the rigors of the colleges I applied to if I am unmedicated? Sorry if this seems like a crazy, incoherent ramble, but I am just more than a little confused right now. Thanks for any input, and this forum is an awesome resource! Keep it real,
Ben

I believe Gregster posted something quite a while ago regarding the matter of medications in discussion, what is appropriate, and what is not appropriate.

Giving pharmaceutical comments on a certain substance being the most addictive on earth is most certainly an inappropriate statement. In extremes it has been called practicing medicine without a license. All I can possibly hope is that Chameleon chose to speak to his or her licensed, certified, medical practitioner before taking action based on your commentary regarding this medication. It is also my hope that Chameleon had the good sense to ignore someone else's decision of her doctor's competency or lack thereof.

I will request and assume that you will, from now on, refrain from putting forth statements such as this in public forums. If not, further action may have to be taken. Should you require assistance with frustration or other upset having read this message, or simply deem it to be without merit, please feel free to contact the administration.

Chrys

chameleon
Hard to believe your Dr would put you on this drug and not tell you that it is addictive . Benzodiazepines*are the most addictive substances on the earth*. Benzodiazepines are only meant to be taken for short periods of time , and can become ineffective and induce drug dependency when used for inappropriately long periods of time.

(NOTE: Links have been removed by moderator for the purposes of promoting safety and adherence to forum regulations.-KJ/C)

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