I think I'm about to give up the ship - no dose of Adderall seems to be cutting it and frankly - now after 8 months of it - its clear that (at least in me) Adderall is more harmful than helpful.

Given that I've averaged 60+ mg a day over this period of time, whats the best way to get off it. Since I am prone to depression, I want to do it as painlessly as possible.

I think I'm about to give up the ship - no dose of Adderall seems to be cutting it and frankly - now after 8 months of it - its clear that (at least in me) Adderall is more harmful than helpful.

Given that I've averaged 60+ mg a day over this period of time, whats the best way to get off it. Since I am prone to depression, I want to do it as painlessly as possible.I'd suggest asking your doctor or pharmacist how to gradually reduce the doses in the best way. You might also want to pick up your exercise level. I recently got off Concerta and Prozac and the things that seemed to help me were the Omega III fatty acids (which actually have some research indicating that they may help with depression) a few other supplements and lots of exercise. Good luck to you. I do encourage you to take it gradually, although the normal ADD thing is to want to just be done with it (at least that is how I felt). That lets your body adjust to the changes no neurotransmitters.

Scattered

I'll ask my dr. Thanks. I don't want to pick up my exercise level as I already do 3hrs cardio endurance per week and an hour or two of weight. In my 50's thats about all I can tolerate.

Its so strange in that the Adderall has caused more side effects over time. In the last 6 months I took it with no problems whatsoever. In the past month, however, even half the doseage produces heart palpitations and stress (and overall rapid heartbeat) - but only when it wears off. Given my age - i's probably time to put away the simulants. Given the side effects - I havent much choice.

BTW - my wife who is also in the same situation - 50's and taking adderall for several months seems to be having the same type of problems. Perhaps stimulants are just hard on us old farts.

The doses you were at were pretty high even for a youngin' like myself. Im kind of suprised your doc went to 80.

The doses you were at were pretty high even for a youngin' like myself. Im kind of suprised your doc went to 80.Yeah, I'm suprised now as well - evne though I'm in good shape. My body seemed to be OK with it for a while and then it got stressed.

I think I am going through withdrawl now as I've cut back to 30-40 from 60 in the past week. I seem to have lots of anxiety when not on Adderall (i.e. - when I wake up - so nothing is in my system).

Any way to avoid this?

Yeah, it sounds like you're getting plenty of exercise -- good for you!!!:) Several things that help me with the anxiety are a nice relaxing walk out in nature, play or listening to music (relaxing positive music that is), and deep breathing exercises (although there have also been times the deep breathing made things worse:eyebrow: ). I've heard repeatedly that meditation is suppose to be helpful, but I'm not really into that but do find that prayer and listening to the Bible on tape help me. That's kind of a personal thing I guess -- depending on what is a centering activity for you. I was having a lot of insominia problems when I went off my medication and listening to the tapes as I went to sleep really helped me get a better night's sleep. Do you schedule in time for you to do things you enjoy? It's easy to lose that time with all the things most ADDers are typically trying to catch up on (or maybe that's just me:rolleyes: ).

I started taking Omega III fatty acids as I was weaning off medication along with a calcium/magnisium/zinc supplement and grape seed extract. I have no proof that they helped, but things seemed to me to improve gradually. Maybe they would have anyway. In any case, they're good for me, so I figure no harm done in any case. I also cut pretty much all caffeine (including chocolate -- sniff,sniff). My body seemed to need a break any extra stimulation at least for the time being. When I veered from that I felt worse.

Good luck to you -- it may take a bit of time, but hopefully your anxiety will begin to ease as your body adjusts to the changes you're making.

Scattered

I think I'm about to give up the ship - no dose of Adderall seems to be cutting it and frankly - now after 8 months of it - its clear that (at least in me) Adderall is more harmful than helpful.

Given that I've averaged 60+ mg a day over this period of time, whats the best way to get off it. Since I am prone to depression, I want to do it as painlessly as possible.have you just tried stopping?
i will agree and say oyu might not be able to stop as easily since your at a high dose but have you tried stopping if not i HIGHLY recommend you SLOWLY stop taking it even if it takes over a month to stop take the full month trust me your body got use to the amphetmaine, it will get use to not having it if you can stick it out i would lower it down to about 45 olr so a day until your comfortable then about 30 then 20 10 5 then 0 but thats me, im no doc and have not had withdrawl problems but the biggest part in my point of view as i know a little about the body (a very interesting thing accually) but your body adjusted as you took it it will need to adjust back since you will stop let it adjust good luck

When I weened of of Adderall a year ago (consequently I am taking it again), I too suffered from anxiety, and I was also prone to depression. My doctor prescribed .5mg of Klonopin (clonazepam ?sp? I believe) to be taken two times a day or near bed time. It worked well in controlling the side effects of Aderall withdrawal and anxiety, unfortunatley it also increased my main complaint of being tired. I should note that I was also being treated for depression with 50mg of Paxil (which adds to my tiredness) and a slight case of sleep apnea.

After a year off Adderall with terrible results I am again taking it.

After a year off Adderall with terrible results I am again taking it.Hope it goes better for you!

Scattered

I'm being dead serious - does anyone else read these forums and really realize what a bunch of drug addicts we all are? I take 40mg a day, and I swear my life revolves around those 40 mg. Like to the point where I will panic if I run out before the month's end. Scary.....

Funny, kids at my school don't have that problem. They stop on weekends without a second thought.

Funny, kids at my school don't have that problem. They stop on weekends without a second thought.I'm not a kid. I'm a 26 year old man with a stressful job as an accountant (the absolute WORST profession for an ADHD victim to be in).

I'm being dead serious - does anyone else read these forums and really realize what a bunch of drug addicts we all are? I take 40mg a day, and I swear my life revolves around those 40 mg. Like to the point where I will panic if I run out before the month's end. Scary.....I understand what you are saying, but I don't feel that we are "drug addicts". Our chemistry is just off balance and missing something that people without our condition have normally. Or their brain an nervous system function differently without it. It's not as if you would call a diabetic a drug addict. And there life revolves around insulin.

I may have a combination of illnesses as in addtion to ADD I also am prone to depression, and chronic fatigue. I'm not 100% sure if they are seperate or related. For instance, living my life without being treated for the ADD leaves me feeling depressed and tired. But regardless, without Adderall in addition to myself not being able to stay-on-task, perform at work, take care of my family; My chronic fatigue would have me feeling the need to sleep 24-7. So far the only medication that allows me to function in a normal way, without nearly falling asleep is Adderall.

I also take Paxil to help with my serotonin levels. I don't necessarily feel like a drug addict because I need that pill to keep my serotonin levels at their normal state.

..does anyone else read these forums and really realize what a bunch of drug addicts we all are?

You used the proverbial "we", I simply used the first example that came to mind to suggest that your experience my not encompass all.

Well, I feel like a drug addict sometimes. Sometimes, when I give myself a break from the adderall, it's only to prove to myself that I will be able to function without it. Maybe the correct term is "dependent". Right now, I'm taking wellbutrin, so I haven't been taking too much adderall. When I didn't take it I could not clean, get organized, cook, work on my school work, and help my son with his school work. I WAS A STAY AT HOME MOM! I'm not perfect now, but damn, atleast functional!!!

I'm being dead serious - does anyone else read these forums and really realize what a bunch of drug addicts we all are? I take 40mg a day, and I swear my life revolves around those 40 mg. Like to the point where I will panic if I run out before the month's end. Scary.....Unmedicated i sleep 16 hours at a time then im awake for 3 or 4 hours and then ill sleep for 10 or 12 hours more, rinse repeat. (no this isnt narcolepsy its just the fun of having two conditions that make you fatigued combined!)

Unmedicated i sleep 16 hours at a time then im awake for 3 or 4 hours and then ill sleep for 10 or 12 hours more, rinse repeat. (no this isnt narcolepsy its just the fun of having two conditions that make you fatigued combined!)
@D.B Cooper, Pretty much the same thing for me. Besides all the orginization problems, I deal with chronic fatigue. Not sure why, as Docs have never been able to give me a solid reason on why I feel the need to sleep all day when not on Adderall. I've done a sleep study, and did find a slight case of apnea. But the CPAP machine had minimal results. Blood work doesn't show any other problems. I don't know if it's a symptom of depression or a result of Paxil. It just gets to be confusing and becomes a chicken and the egg problem.

Is it depression that causes my tiredness? Is it the medication for depression causing my tiredness? Was it the un-treated ADD that causes my depression and tiredness? Is it simply ADD that causes the severe tiredness?

I really just don't know at this point. The only thing that I do know is that I function fine with Paxil and Adderall.

This scares me quite frankly. I just started my daughter on focalin 10 mgs. and am worried about side affects. But in your case I would start decreasing my dosage and go down a dose once a week until you are on the lowest dose. then every other day for a couple of weeks until you are completely off of it. I have had to come off of antidepressants myself and that is how the dr.s tell me to do it.

What prob's have you had on adderal?