Hello. I'm so mad at myself. I quit drinking and drugging for a year! When I take my adderall I do not crave substances but when it wears off I want "something". I strictly take my meds as directed and they help so much. I do not want to fall backwards when now I'm doing well. The only thing is the darned alcohol!Anyone else with this problem or advice? Thanks in advance.

I don't have experience with this, my apologies that my knowledge is limited. Do you still have a mentor? Someone from AA who can be called when this happens?

Do you smoke? When you smoke you always end up feeling like this.

I don't have experience with this, my apologies that my knowledge is limited. Do you still have a mentor? Someone from AA who can be called when this happens?


Don't have a mentor but considering AA again.

Bertrand.. No I haven't smoked. Not a bad question considering the paranoia involved. I just feel like I've been fighting a loosing battle and hope nothing horrible happens before I nip this in the bud (no pun intended). LOL I just need some prayers good NRG....Thanks

Just checking. (BTW meant cigarettes - not pot.) I've been off treatment for add for about ten years, and in that time I had trouble with both alcohol and cigarettes. When I quit smoking, I didn't have the same urges to drink.

However, having quit smoking, ADD has come back with a vengeance. I am a little concerned that stimulants may do the same thing as the nicotine and make me feel like drinking.

My guess is the urge to drink comes when the dopamine levels are dropping, either from being a long term smoker or from the stimulant wearing off during the day.

Best of luck.

Sorry yes I do smoke cigarettes. I really wanna quit though. Since I have started my meds I think they smell bad. Never noticed before or not as much.

I suspect that if you quit smoking you will find the urge to drink disappear. Since you have had problems in the past, you should know that not drinking at all will also make it less likely you start smoking again. At least, this has been my experience.

Apparently twice as many ADHD smoke as the general population, and they have half the success rate in quitting. I can understand why: when I quit, my ADHD became ten times worse - I hadn't really thought about treatment in a long time.

You might want to try reading Alan Carr's "The Only Way To Quit Smoking". It's a terrible read, and his politics seem to have come out of 1950s conservatism, but it worked for me. People say that it's a form of hypnosis because in his first book he is incredibly repetitive. However, it turns out that was just because he's a terrible writer: in this book it is far more structured. My view is that it uses cognitive therapy (rationally breaking down the reasons for smoking to show they are false.) It also has a chapter on alcoholism, which often accompanies smoking. (The first book, "The Easyway to quit smoking" does not have this.)

Hello. I'm so mad at myself. I quit drinking and drugging for a year! When I take my adderall I do not crave substances but when it wears off I want "something". I strictly take my meds as directed and they help so much. I do not want to fall backwards when now I'm doing well. The only thing is the darned alcohol!Anyone else with this problem or advice? Thanks in advance.

Your dopamine levels are dropping when the Adderall wears off, and your brain is falling back to it usual programming of seeking a fix. I'm assuming you're on the XR version, if so, consider getting an IR booster to ease the afternoon crash.

My other recommendations is a high-protein, low-carb lunch (protein helps produce dopamine, and low-carb gives sustained energy release, also helping to ease the crash). Another idea is to seek out a healthier source for a dopamine hit - exercise.

Fortunately, my meds make me sleepy.

If I got a "buzz," as a recovering addict, I couldn't take them.

I like the suggestions presented and hope you are able to fit them in your day.

I do a written 10th step as a daily inventory,along with reading a daily meditation .

I can't do it alone,so I continue turning it over,one day at a time.

Repititon beats repercussions any day.

Just as an FYI, there's data supporting the use of stimulants decreasing the risk of a substance use disorder ( by decreasing impulsivity).

Lastly, besides all of the above, try and find a way to put some regular excercise into your day, especially with the high protein diet, if you don't already do so.

Good luck

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

I am on IR actually Driver twice a day 10mgs. Shoulda mentioned that darned ADD...

I am on IR actually Driver twice a day 10mgs. Shoulda mentioned that darned ADD...

As I said before: just an afternoon shot and see if it helps.

Im very fortunate that my meds are working for my adhd, and combined with the tools I got from AA 15plus yrs ago keep me sober and sane for today

I thank my higher power everyday before I get out of bed

take care

Mu husband has ADHD and he is an alcoholic in recovery. His doctor placed under his skin a pill so he wont want to drink anymore. It will stay there in periods of 3 months. Ask your doctor about, for him is working good.

I am on IR actually Driver twice a day 10mgs. Shoulda mentioned that darned ADD...

I take the IR and it takes four doses to get me through the day (usually 7.5 mg apiece). They only last 3 to 4 hours apiece. IMHO, it is normal to crave "something" when it wears off because your dopamine levels are returning to their "normal" unsatisfactory levels. Sometimes if I'm up later than normal I get an urge for a drink too (or another pill, but I don't take more than prescribed and in any case it wouldn't be a good option because it would keep me up for hours).

Talk to your doc and just let him know that you're not getting full-day coverage. I'd leave out the alcoholism/addiction/wanting to drink part unless he's already aware. If you can get your dosing schedule to a point where it's only wearing off at bedtime, I think you'll find that this problem mostly goes away on its own.

I was never an alcoholic, but i did have some experience with lyrica. That stuff is addictive (i used it recreationally, not as prescribed) and every time i see it, hear about it, or talk about it, i get such a craving for it. I've been good and not taken it for almost 3 months. I do not know how addictive alcohol is from experience, but i suggest trying to get an apointment with your doctor. I think there is some medication that counter acts the addiction, or something like that. I dont really know, but its worth a try

I used to have a problem with alcohol, really bad actually. I kicked it about 5 years ago along with smoking when I got into running and exercising. Well, when I started ADHD meds a few weeks ago after finally being diagnosed...I started to crave alcohol in the evening like crazy! I have actually drank a few times and I am getting so depressed now. Why am I doing this to myself? Is this a dopamine thing and can it be fixed?

Adderhal and Concerta also make me crave other substances. Xannax, pot, cigs, booze, dip whatever. I think Concerta and Adderhal are very potent drugs that don't work well on me. They actuall cause me to want other substances.