Hello. I'm new to this forum. I have bipolar disorder and ADHD. I have been taking Adderall for about 4-5 months. And each month my, usually not so bad to deal with at all, period has gotten worse and worse. It's now 10 days, involves heavy bleeding, horrible cramps, an awful mood, and incredible fatigue. All these syptoms are during not before and stop imediately when the period ends. Anyone else have this problem with Adderral? I am 30 and have never been pregnant.

Kelly

Sorry to hear that :( I'm not sure if amphetamines have much effect on menstrual symptoms, though? I've been on and off Adderall a few times over the years, and have never really noticed any change with my mine.

Can you go see your gyn sometime soon? It might help to have your hormone levels checked. Also, the right birth control pills can help with a lot of the symptoms you're experiencing.

My father was a gynecologist, so I know a bit about that field.

Did your doc mention 'Endo'? (endometriosis)

Approx 20% of menstruating women have it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis

If you did, you'd likely not know it, as most women are never diagnosed.

(They just cramp and bleed too much, and suffer.)

They can get terrible cramps, long and heavy bleeding, bowel symptoms that coincides with their menses, etc.

It often appears or worsens when a woman hits her 30s. (Hormonal storage is one reason.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis

Talk to your Doctor?

I have noticed that my period is much lighter and does not last as long as it did before I started taking adderall. I take Seroquel and just started Lamictal a few days ago as I am also bipolar and ADHD, but I started the Adderall before the other two meds, and I notice that it's definitely related to that. I also notice that I'm less bloated beforehand. However, I still get severe back pain for the first two days, so it hasn't helped in that area although it does in others.

I would definitely look into endometriosis, I have a few friends with it and what you're describing sounds like it could be related to that rather than to the adderall.

there's a link between stimulant meds and menstrual cycles.

see here: http://www.addvance.com/help/women/hormones.html

I don't think the Adderall will interfer with your period. Never has mine or any female I know taking it. I would talk to your general doctor or gyno about this, could be something else.

I had a similar problem when I started meds, and similarly thought it must be the meds. After two months, though, I was so miserable (and acutely aware of that misery, thanks to the interplay between monthly hormones & medication) that I finally went to see my OB/GYN. It turned out that an ovary had decided to grow a cyst, which just happened to start making my hormones go wacky at same time as I had started the meds.
e.g.--go see your doctor. your menstrual cycle impacts the effectiveness of the medication, but the medications don't much impact your cycle, so something else is probably going on.

don't know if it's adderall or not but I am having worse periods than before (I'm 33).

Now, I also had a baby in June, had in IUD in July, started adderall in August I think (maybe september), and finally, last month opted to start birth control because I was having periods lasting 10-14 days, and at least 6 or 7 of those days it was VERY heavy, and coincidentally, this started around Aug. (but because of having had baby, it's really hard to say for sure)

My regular doc said it was baby/IUD related, not Adderall. I didn't see my gyn so no thoughts there.

Couldn't hurt to at least have someone root around in there, check out the plumbing and what not. Unless you're opposed, birth control should take care of it, provided there's nothing wrong.

I don't notice any additional cramping, flow changes, etc. What I do notice is that my adderall feels like it is NOT working at all. :mad:

Since taking the XR, my period has gone missing. Was every 28 days...and now nothing.

Mine has changed also. I used to be on time to the date every month, now its late, its early, it comes for a couple days, stops for a day then comes back for a few more days....its a real pain!!!!

I'm 29 years old. I've noticed some big changes in the past 4 months with my cycle.
I've been on Adderall for about 9-10 months now.
Terrible mood swings, extremely heavy flow (soaking a "super plus" in less than an hour), the cramps are EXCRUCIATING!
I don't have a gyno that I can see, no insurance. I've not been to one in about 4 years now, though I would *love* to find one suitable for me.

Then changes I've had, aside from the heavy flow and cramps... About a week before I start I cramp quite a bit, but spot a very light fluid only. When I do start it is a "substance" that is much like if you get a scab wet and it comes off, black in color, almost "grainy" to the appearance. That happens for about a day and then it's onto the extremely heavy for for about 4 days, extremely heavy flow (as I've noted above), and then it just STOPS! There is nothing gradual about the cesation. I'm attributing the beginning of the flow to the sudden stop of my period, as it does resemble "old scabbing" being shed.

(sorry to be so graphic) I just wanted to know if anyone else experiences this at all... I don't feel that it's normal - especially for ME! I've generally had normal periods all of my life.
Thank you in advance!

My regular doc said it was baby/IUD related, not Adderall. I didn't see my gyn so no thoughts there

I would tend to agree




Have you had your thyroid checked lately?

The hyperlinked article is about the relationship between hormones and ADD a part from Adderall. I can see a slight changes maybe and only if it increases the metabolism - I have ADD and did not have any issue with my period until recently and it was due to my thyroid being low.

I have a sister and a daughter who are bipolar and ADD and they have alway had issues with thier monthly - like a little stress can mess with thier cycles - they seem more sensitive. Also metabolism disorders are higher among those with bipolar than they are with the general population.

I would tend to agree




Have you had your thyroid checked lately?





You know, I've been thinking a LOT lately about that possibility. Now that you've mentioned it, I'm definitely making a dr. appointment and telling her I want the full work up.

She's pretty easygoing about letting me call the shots (within reason, obviously) so I don't think she'll blow me off. I want a complete work up. lol I want to know EVERYTHING going on in my body.

I'm starting my fourth pack of birth control and the only thing that this pill has done is moved my cycle and only slightly decreased the heaviness. I swear I have to be anemic by now. I can't help wonder how much of my body is possibly being affected by thyroid.

You know, I've been thinking a LOT lately about that possibility. Now that you've mentioned it, I'm definitely making a dr. appointment and telling her I want the full work up.

She's pretty easygoing about letting me call the shots (within reason, obviously) so I don't think she'll blow me off. I want a complete work up. lol I want to know EVERYTHING going on in my body.

I'm starting my fourth pack of birth control and the only thing that this pill has done is moved my cycle and only slightly decreased the heaviness. I swear I have to be anemic by now. I can't help wonder how much of my body is possibly being affected by thyroid.



To the person with the IUD by the way: YES, that is likely your problem. speaking from experience here.

Now, in response to the above post... when I started Adderall 4 years ago, I had exactly the same problems. I had to go off birth control entirely after this, and I also was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I don't know if these issues were there all along, or if the Adderall triggered it, but at the very least it brought it all to my attention. 4 years later I'm trying stimulants again, but this time I'm going with Dexedrine. Hopefully I will have a better outcome, but I'm planning to chart my days for the next few months.... I might have to adjust my meds based on my cycle.

Let us know how your thyroid test comes out...

The awful moods you're having could be a side effect of the Adderall. Stimulants have been known to make people moody sometimes so if you combine that with your preiod it's a plausible explanation for why your mood feels so awful. Once I started taking Concerta, I noticed that I got VERY moody before and during my period. Before I started Concerta I never had any mood problems with my period.

But I agree with the other posters that the heavy bleeding is worrisome. I don't think that has anything to do with the Adderall. You should get it checked out by an ob/gyn.

I began taking Adderal xr in November, my next 2 periods were early (2 periods in december) afterwards they have come on a mostly regular schedulule (similar to pre adderal) but the pain has become worse with every cycle, not the flow though. I've had PMS for 10 years, I'm 24 years old, never have had children, and do not take any other medication, have a healthy diet and lifestyle. the period cramping and pain has become so severe that I've gone to the emergency room twice in the past 7 months, the doctor whom I spoke with suggested endometriosis and I'm awaiting my next appointment with a gynacologist to look into this more.

My question is ... why did this come on so suddenly? the time frame where pain increased so drastically was also one of a lot of stress, as I was finishing my diploma during that term. I can't help but feel like the adderal had some affect on my menstrual cycle and pain. my doc wrote this off without addressing the fact that hundreds of women complain of menstrul irregularities after using stimulants.

all I need is one doctor to tell me that there may be a link with my pain to the meds and I will stop them... anyone else have any insight?

Not to dismiss your theory, but maybe it's your age?

When I was 26 (10 yrs ago) my endo came on strong and sudden. The symptoms started (or became severe enough to notice) around August of that year. Like you, I had the overloaded, super-stressed schedule at the time. By June of the next year I was miserable enough to have the scope surgery.

It's been managed rather well since then with birth control pills. Some times of heavy periods, but the pain/discomfort has never hit that level again.

The only meds I took at that time were Wellbutrin SR and BCP.

Hope you find a satisfactory solution!

I am new to the forum and only found out that I had ADD about 2 months ago, I had docs tell me for years I was just depressed...

Since starting adderall 2 months ago, I have lost 13 lbs, I think this is the reason for my Menstrual changes...I have a very light flow almost just spotting for longer than normal, and the cramps that use to have me bed ridden and eating 800mg of motrin are gone, but I do get strange cramps inbetween my flow, ones that hurt from navel to tailbone all the way around and through...


I really would go to my OBGYN if I were you, Stimulants normal lighten a cycle, not increase it, but if there are unlyeing(sp) problems then I think they can make them worse, my IBS got worse at first, cramping very bad,and I couldn't stop them, but even that has regulated with the weight lose, and a healthyer diet...

Gotta go tot he Doc Girl to find out whats going on, everyone is different it could be the adderall for you but it doesn't seem likely...

Good Luck