I've been taking Adderall XR, 20 mg daily, for about two months now. It's working well for me, but there's one side effect that drives me nuts: I constantly bite/chew the inside of my mouth/lips. Like a nervous habit.

It's annoying and I'm aware that it looks very stupid when I'm doing it. I have to work really hard to make myself not do it in public.

I drink lots of water all day long... I chew gum frequently... neither of these seem to help. If I chew gum too much, then my jaw hurts.

I took Adderall for two years, several years ago, and had the same problem.
I also take Wellbutrin but I think this is an Adderall side effect because when I take a day off from the Adderall, it doesn't happen.

Anyone else have this side effect? Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

Thanks,
Gigi

I do that when stressed at all. With or without Adderall. I have to be really relaxed to not be doing that chewing and biting lips & inside of mouth thing. Just a quirk.

I do that REALLY bad on Adderall. When I'm studying for a test, for example, I'll often take XR along with IR... so the night or two before the test, the insides of my mouth and lips are CONSTANTLY being chewed on. After the test is over and I'm taking a break from Adderall, the insides of my mouth have sores on them and they are very sensitive from all the biting. I've never found anything to help really. Its just something I've learned to deal with. :eyebrow:

FYI: I've noticed that the more Adderall I take the worse it gets. Meaning that the higher the dose at one time, the more I'll bite for the day. So that might be something to just be aware of in the future.

If you're taking it intermittently, the teeth grinding/mouth chewing will probably remain a predictable side effect unfortunately :(. Its pretty common with any stimulant, and usually comes from either too high of a dose or from new introduction into your system (or, in the case of the break from it being in your system). I usually just chewed gum... I recall a time prior to being put on adderall, years and years ago before concerta even came out, my doc and I were trying to find an optimal dose of ritalin, and I would grind my jaw so hard it would cause severe jaw pain. Perhaps asking your doc if you could take a smaller dose regularly and up it when you have the need to buckle down harder.

lol I also have this side effect thou I didn't realize it until I click on this thread :P

It could either be the result of taking too much Adderall and getting stressed, therefore the behaviour is to self-pacify yourself. Or it could be a tic which is exacerbated by the Adderall, then you may need to switch meds if it's too much for you to take.

I now chew my nails....never did this before.

I do this, but I'm not sure it's adderall. I think I just do it when stressed.

I've noticed that, for many individuals, Adderall seems to have a tic enhancing effect. Things that would otherwise pass unnoticed increase in frequency until they can become problematic.

My personal experience with this comes from a slight tremor in my hands. It's always been there, but it was very mild. Now, with the Adderall, the tremor has become quite obvious, and from time to time it will illicit a Tourette-like spasm. This is just, unfortunately, a side affect of most amphetamine based psychoactives. Short of reducing your dosage, or switching to a new medication, there's really no way to counter it.

~Nathan

Just make yourself stop. Do or do not, there is no try.
MUST HAVE DISCIPRINE!

i do it too.... never did until i started adderall.

Just curious since I have just started Adderall - did this start right away for you from pill #1? Or was it something that slowly built-up over time? I'm trying to think if I have any tics that might be aggravated by Adderall, but so far other than talking out loud to organize my thoughts, I can't think of anything. :-)

When I was on ritalin my jaw was clenched and I looked very serious. On Adderall now i just have that chewing biting thing... and I agree, I think I've always done it, but now I just notice it more. My mouth never becomes sore, but I usually will suck on a sucker or eat things that take effort in chewing (salads). Doesn't always help but I think its just an oral fixation type thing.

i used to have that problem, but it went away. it still might for you too. now i just have dry mouth, especially when i talk, and i cant chew gum bc it does hurt my jaw, so i smoke instead, lol. :D

I have been on adderall since january and it started for me right off. It seems to start going away until my dosage increases and it comes back. Most of the time i don't bite or chew until i get stressed or feel caged up/bored. I got discouraged when initially reading that for a lot of people it doesn't get better, but I can tell personally that I just need to find the dose that works for me and stick with it.

As a cab driver, I have to be carefull in public to not don't do that