If you are ignorant enough to believe that all prescription drugs are safe, do NOT start adderall. I am nineteen and have been taking adderall since i was 12. I started at 5mg extend release. Last appointment my Doc asked if I wanted to Up my prescription from 40mg to 60mg. I said no.

After taking adderall for so long I have experienced almost every side effect from it. It may seem like paradise for the first few weeks, but eventually you will find life becoming more and more bumpy.

Adderall IS a speed! I know ppl who sell thier adderall to tweakers. The only difference between the "amphetamine Salts" used in adderall and Crystal Methamphetamine, is that meth has an extra methyl molecule, which basically makes the drug break-down faster, and last longer. Adderall is a mixture of four various Levo and Dextro amphetamines, but it is still amphetamine, (speed).

I would recomend only using adderall if you plan to use it in the mornings, only a couple times per week. and if you force yourself to eat while using it. This drug messes with your judgement and rationability. It can make you a socializing genius, or a hermit. It can make you extremely emphathetic, or violent. It can make you smarter, or it can make you crazy!

So, I take it you are off Adderall, then?

No one said all prescription drugs are safe, but they're a hell of a lot safer than crystal meth; which isn't safe at all. It concerns me that you had all the different side effects yet they kept you on it. At some point I hope you got a "break" of some kind.

Meth is considered to be one of the most ,if not THE single most, addictive substance on earth. Virtually anyone and everyone who were to take it on a regular basis would become addicted.

Adderall is strictly for people with ADHD only. For someone to take it regularly and as prescribed the literature (research) doesn't support addiction at all. It's guaranteed with meth. Theres just no comparison.

Seriously, I hope that you can continue to be heard by your doc, now that you're over 18. I think it makes a difference when a person legally beocmes an adult and has more direct say so over their treatment.

There is contradictory information about "drug holidays," however, the data I've seen involved younger children and not teens or young adults. Taking time off from meds can sometimes be helpful,however, some people need them to drive, etc.

Either way, I'm not putting your experiences down as not being valid for you;because they are.

I also hope that the medication helped you during all those years. I was diagnosed in 1972.I was 22 yrs old at the time.I therefore went K thru undergrad college not knowing what the hell was wrong. Back then it was not called ADHD.My doc told me I had MBD (Minimal Brain Damage). I didn't like that, but it didnt really matter, cause I was about to start grad school in clinical psych, so I said wtf and began meds. They helped me in school, which is all I cared about.

Everyone has paid their own unique set of dues to get here to the Forum. I'm glad you found it and I hope things get better for you.

Take care

<!--StartFragment -->DRANSWORLD -
As mctavish said, your experience with Adderall is valid. It sucks that your experience with an ADD med was so negative. Did you experience side effects from the start? Or was it over time? If so, how long?

It's great hearing that you're being an advocate for yourself with your doc (telling him you don't want meds upped). No one should have to deal with a lot side effects. Plus there are a number of other ADD meds that could have helped you with having little to no difficulties.

Did you tell your parents of the side effects you were experiencing? Your doc?
Because that is concerning - if no one was being an advocate for you. Or if you weren't an advocate for yourself as you've gotten older.

There are many people who take Adderall for a long time (including me - over 6 years) without any problems.

The thing to realize is that not every med will work the same for every single person.
It's great that you shared your experience with Adderall, but to tell people that it's a horrible med and no one should take it is a bit extreme. For you, it sounds like it was horrible and that sucks (to say the least).

For me, it's helped so much, especially in school. However, I'm not going to go around to everyone saying it's the best med for ADD, just because it's the best ADD med for me.

Hopefully, what people can take from your experience it is that parents need to be an effective countercontrol for their kids and be aware of all possible side effects (on any med). The same goes for adults taking any med, be aware of all possibilities.

Best wishes to you, DRANSWORLD.

:faint: Why dont u get on something else thats why they make other fda approved drugs and ppl sell all sorts of things dont criminalize the rest of us I know where my med are by the way are u still taking it:cool:

From reading some of your other posts, DRANSWORLD, it sounds like you're still taking Adderall.
I find that interesting, because if you have "experienced almost every side effect from it" and life is "becoming more and more bumpy"

why would you still take it??

D.

For many Adderall has been a life saver. Sadly nobody can predict how ones body will react or break down a med which is generally a trial and error procedure. If your uncomfortable with the med you are currently on speak with your doctor about trying a non-stimulant or trying a new un-medicated route to see which works best for you personally.

But, your post does make me think deeply on one thing. And that is the importance in allowing my children to have a voice in their ADHD tx options. I've always tried to make them a part of their father's and my decisions as it is their bodies and they know more intimatly how they are reacting to a med and how comfortable they feel with a therapist, etc. WE have found more success working with our children rather then working for them.

Now that you are an adult I would hope that your doctor would respect your wishes and take the time to answer your questions. If not you may want to seek out a more friendly physician or therapist. Neither my doctor nor my therapist have any issues with discussing or answering my questions.

They are used to me questioning everything. I once was prescribed an antibiotic for a viral infection when I asked why I was being given the prescription when you cannot effectivly treat viral infections with antibiotics he honestly told me he was just tired of everyone asking for a miracle.

Its your life and you have the right to take a more active role in your treatments.
Cherity

First of all, TO everyone who responded, I said IF you are going to take adderall, which all of you clearly do, BE SMART. I hated adderall until I was about a junior in high school and hardly ever took it. I met my best friend in my English class that junior year, and he found my prescription and asked me about it.
He was very bored and wanted to get messed up on something. Anyways to make a long story short, I was stupid and gave him 40mgs instant, to give him a "taste". He fell in love with it, and together i gave adderall a second chance. I used to hate
english, but that year my friend and I transferred to Honors english class because of our "adderollin" or "orange blossum" times. We would show up to class, and be given a huge amount of great works to ponder on. We would then go to my best
friends backyard patio, pop a pill, talk about literature; smoke a pack of ciggarettes in the sun with shades on, and be very "bohemian". I found my bliss that year, and adderall was a very essential part of the mix. I hated everyone who
critisized the drug for fear of it being banned, but inside i knew quite well how potent and pleasurable it was; It was onlylater I realized just how dangerous a substance it could be.


The first three months were bliss, but after a time I experienced the Dark Side of my orange blossum.

in response to some questions;

McTavish. I have done Crystal before, and I don't think you have, so don't talk about it being the most addictive substance known to man, because it's not. That is called heroine (which i have NOT done). I tried
meth a few times, but never found it to be very enticing. I am fine now, plz don't patronize me again.

LivingChaos- Things are well for me now, thanks for asking. Best wishes to you as well man. OH... I only take adderall to
write music now. So, no I don't really take to often anymore.

Hellothere- I don't think the FDA is reading my post, or ever will. I care about the people on this forum, and want to help people who are unsure about the med.

I think everyone should study some Bi-partisan info about the chemical effect of this drug on human's at www.erowid.org

Best of wishes.

P.S. I don't really believe in a disorder "ADD". I just believe that certain people have
personality differences that make it harder for them to focus. I believe that meds only cover up the problem, and are a substitue for plain and simple disipline.

I've never taken Adderall. I take Ritalin LA. Your feedback about "being smart" was very clear and much appreciated. Mature insight based on experience not age. As for the drug abuse, I wish you well and hope that it has already stopped.

Good luck.


P.S.




We disagree on the "disorder" point but I've posted enough on that one to last a long time.

Tell you what..... I'll be glad to checkout your link..... if you'll please checkout the research article.....International Consensus 2002.......either at ...www.chadd.org .................or at Russell Barkley's site, which I don't have the link for;sorry.

The whole discipline notion was blown away years ago via research but I respect your opinion;just disagree.

haha that story about discussing literature wearing shades and smoking stogeys and being bohemian made me laugh :)

unfortunately, i'm not willing to give away my own supply just to have conversations, i need every last pill of my prescription. right now im at 20 mg XR and it's gotten to the point where I hardly feel a thing when it used to give me much needed energy.

This is the last post I'm going to make on this topic. I've proven my point more than once.If you don't get it then that's too bad.

This reminds me of the.... ADHD isn't "real "....discussion with drummergod35. I won't go there. You're not listening. But wait, someone already said that.

This is goes back to what I said earlier about your remarks being "misleading" and using "smoke and mirrors" to dodge a point.

The drug you named is indeed "legal" methamphetamine. You were talking about STREET DRUGS in the first round of postings.

It has NOTHING to do with Adderall.

I went by work to do some paperwork earlier. When I took a break to read some of the new posts, I saw your remarks.

I showed them to in order to (I also said I'm qouting you beforehand ): 1)one of our RN's... who said she's never heard of anyone using that for ADHD ;

2)our most experienced CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist-that requires a Masters level RN with both Medical & Nursing Board's (they're separate entities ) certifications to prescribe psychiatric medications under supervision of a psychiatrist.... who said..... "Oh for Christ's sake!"

She went on to say that she has NEVER seen that med used for ADHD and really hasn't heard of anyone using it for anything in over 20yrs.

3) I caught one of our psychiatrists in passing who wanted to know what the commotion was about. He quickly looked at me like I was crazy and said that he too had never heard of anyone using that specificallyfor ADHD, although it may have been somewhere by someone. You can never say never was his point.He's certainly not in favor of it.

What he said in effect was that the meds that have been traditionally used for years have an excellent track record for successfully treating ADHD and that the accepted standard of practice was to continue with what works.

I will grant you that it exists and that it could be used. The question would be, especially with kids, "Why would you?"

IT STILL ISN'T STREET METH, WHICH IS WHERE THE "SMOKE AND MIRRORS" COMES IN. I get what you're trying to say about these meds being serious drugs.We all know that.Once again, people with ADHD react differently.

BTW.... there's pharmaceutical grade cocaine;including liquid solution. You don't see anyone touting that for ADHD.

Just because it exists and/or you can get in the Phillipines, doesn't mean that its used as a front line (first line) treatment.

BTW....I also asked about using street drug meth for ADHD...I got a "Bull****" response, a "That's absurd" and a"You must be kidding," plus 2 eyerolls.

They did agree that the societal misperceptions of ADHD were an ongoing problem and that meth was an "epidemic" in our country.

My response was something along the lines of you don't prescribe an epidemic to treat anything.

Lastly, as I've said many times before................you change the method of delievery and everything about the efficacy of med goes right out the window. This is ALWAYS about taking it as prescribed, which includes the proper method of delivery.

In an earlier post, I stated that Russ Barkely said to me that the only way someone with ADHD could become addicted in using Ritalin is if you Grind It and Snort it.

The same applies with Adderall or any stimulant. No one is disputing that.

However, "I'm pretty sure" that this FORUM doesn't condone drug abuse, which is what you're talking about.

I'll respond to your remarks about whether I've ever used meth or anything else with an apology to the FORUM as a preface first .

I also apologize for breaking the Tradition of ...anonymity at the level of press, radio and film, but there comes a time when it serves a greater good. Like now.

I got my 17 year NA medallion in March. My recovery birthday (clean date) is 3-25-88.

A hyperactive addict is probably a real worst case scenario.

I'm more proud of that than my Diplomate in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy national board certification or being named to the 2001 International Who's Who of Profesionals. Everything else pales in comparison.

Having said that, none of it would have been possible wihout my Higher Power and my wife & family as well as and my NA family.

As far as my drug history goes, I don't want to condone it or brag or glorify it. I have done crystal many times.I always snorted it. It felt like I'd snorted TIDE. When I came down I felt like I'd been beaten with a rubber hose.

My drugs of choice were cocaine, any form of speed, marijuana and hallucinagens. I also drank on occasion, so Im an addict and an alcoholic ( 6 of one/1/2 doz of another).

I've never smoked tobacco. Never saw the point.:)

I have no idea how much pot I smoked but it was everyday, all day, for 5 years and then less frequently .We even rolled the Cheech & Chong Big Bambu paper in the album with a 1/4 lb and smoked it in 2 1/2 days.

My friends actually travelled to South America to bring things back.One of them was murdered there when a deal went bad.

I've done real peyote buds from Mexico and had to puke to get off. I was reading Castanada the time (early 70's). Seemed appropriate.

I've picked psilocybin mushrooms with the purple caps underneath in Georgia and Texas (they were bigger there actually);

I would estimate that I did acid about 20 times (including Orange Barrels, 2 and 4 way windowpane and one time...real LSD 25 (blotter) from California.

We went cliff diving twice doing that. I also tried to surf drunk in a hurricane in Daytona (the actual hurricane was in the Gulf but the Atlantic was pretty messed up...lol) in the 11th grade. I didnt know how to surf and I almost drowned.There are guardian angels and yes, I was a moron. You have to learn to laugh at yourself tho:)

Thats enough of that. I apologize again. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Son, that's the last I'm going to post on this .

I'll be 55 in Sept. I've been a practicing psychologist for 28years now.That's almost 1/2 my life. I'm grateful to be alive and happy that I've found the Forum.I'm glad you're here too.:) We've all paid our dues to be here;yourslef included.

Quite frankly, tho I think this thread needs to be locked down.
Your whole premise got sidetracked somewhere.

Adderall is heavy ****. It shouldn't be abused. I /we all know that.

Now, please don't ever talk to me again about using (unless it's recovery oriented) or I'll put you on ignore.

I do sincerely wish you luck and hope that things get better.

take care

mctavish23 (Robert)

can taking more than prescribed do anything to the brain???
I heard long term use of speed can cause brain decay that better
not be the same for Adderall something tells me that Adderall
like some drugs out there haven't been fully studied, should be pulled
from the market for safety reasons. Qoute me on this one
Adderall might work for you for awhile but down the road it can cause problems???
this is a serious issue, if this is the case Adderall should be banned, why???
quite simply I don't want anybody's brain getting hurt. Mine could have gotten hurt,
something isn't right but I'am going to find that out sooner or later.

P.S. I don't really believe in a disorder "ADD". I just believe that certain people have
personality differences that make it harder for them to focus. I believe that meds only cover up the problem, and are a substitue for plain and simple disipline.
If you don't believe that ADD is a disorder and that meds cover up the problem and are a substitute for discipline - why are you taking Adderall to write music?
Isn't that abusing the med??

If you don't think that ADD exists (which, to me, that's what you're saying when you speak of Tom Cruise and personality differences, rather than a disorder), then you don't need meds.

All right I've seen more then enough!!!!! :mad:

I'm going to cut the forum guidelines short so that there is no chance of misinterpretation.

*Please remember that ADD Forums is a place for support. All members should feel comfortable at ADD Forums!

*Treat your fellow members with courtesy (especially if you disagree with them).

*Avoid the use of foul language, flaming members, discrimination and spam. This includes posts and private messaging. If you choose not to follow the etiquette rules/guidelines, your posts may be edited or simply closed with warnings by the moderators. If warnings are not followed, it could lead to a permanent ban depending on the severity.

You don't have to be a saint to use the Forums. Simply use common sense, be respectful, and courteous.

* Avoid direct insults to any member of the forums. Everyone should be treated with the same degree of respect. The goal should be to give constructive criticism with source documentation given where possible to back up your opinions while using common sense, respect, and courtesy. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

* While forums are meant for debate, flaming or forcing your opinions on other members without regard to their feelings is uncalled for. This does not mean that you can't post sensitive issues or get into heated debates; it just means you have to use some common sense and courtesy when posting your opinions/views/debates. People intentionally posting to create flame wars will be dealt with by the moderators or administrators through warnings and bans as they see fit.

McTavish. I have done Crystal before, and I don't think you have, so don't talk about it being the most addictive substance known to man, because it's not. That is called heroine (which i have NOT done). I tried
meth a few times, but never found it to be very enticing. I am fine now, plz don't patronize me again.

Wow mctavish your a real champ huh? You did all those crazy things and now your an upstanding psychologist. Go ahead and try and get me busted with the site administrator for having a mature conversation.
These comments are flaming in nature and abusive in prose.

I have reported this thread to the moderator of this section until then I ask that all members treat each other respectfully and re-read the forum guidelines.

Quite frankly, tho I think this thread needs to be locked down.
So let it be written, so let it be done.

DRANSWORLD: Let this be your public notice. You are being watched, carefully. One more post like your last one in this thread, which I have trashed, and you are going to take a posting vacation, kapice? You were offered support and gave back venom. We don't tolerate that around here.

Thread closed.