I feel like I have become more obsessive with certain things that I do. Something as simple as typing an email takes me 10 times longer to do now. Before sending it I will proof read it over dozens of time, spell check everything, continuously rephrase/edit sentences until I feel I have everything down word for word. If I am reading something and I don't know a word I immediately look it up in the dictionary and find out what it means. I never cared if I knew things like that but now I have become practically obsessed with looking up definitions of words, and grammar. I am not suddenly interested in grammar and writing perfectly, actually I get really annoyed with myself about this. I feel like I cannot stop what I'm doing until I have everything worded perfectly. I had to go to the bathroom before and I wouldn't go until I was finished with my email. It took me about 30 minutes to type it! It wasn't even about a very important subject matter I am not in school either so this isn't something I am doing to get good grades or to pass a test. I am just SO focused on every little detail.


(I'm doing it right now with this very post.)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. I was diagnosed with it and have done everything you described.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. I was diagnosed with it and have done everything you described.


Can adderall cause this?

Can adderall cause this?

As far as I know, OCD is a coping mechanism one might develop to manage his/her undiagnosed AD/HD.

Yes, Adderall can make you nit-pick about things like that.
It's not really OCD, it's just something amphetamines do.
Perhaps you are on too high a dose of Adderall?

^ The dose seems fine to me and it is working effectively. I just never knew adderall could cause you do be so obsessed and nip picky with little details. Good to know.

Adderall can't cause OCD. It can make you a little more obsessive than you were before, but it can't give you a new disorder. OCD is a disorder and it often develops as a coping mechanism or just because a person has a genetic predisposition to it. But if this only started when you started Adderall, then it's not OCD. It's just a side effect of amphetamines. I experience this too and it's a right pain in the @ss. But no, you did not suddenly develop OCD.

I've found that Dex doesn't make me as obsessive as Adderall does. Might want to look into it.

I feel like I have become more obsessive with certain things that I do. Something as simple as typing an email takes me 10 times longer to do now. Before sending it I will proof read it over dozens of time, spell check everything, continuously rephrase/edit sentences until I feel I have everything down word for word. If I am reading something and I don't know a word I immediately look it up in the dictionary and find out what it means. I never cared if I knew things like that but now I have become practically obsessed with looking up definitions of words, and grammar. I am not suddenly interested in grammar and writing perfectly, actually I get really annoyed with myself about this. I feel like I cannot stop what I'm doing until I have everything worded perfectly. I had to go to the bathroom before and I wouldn't go until I was finished with my email. It took me about 30 minutes to type it! It wasn't even about a very important subject matter I am not in school either so this isn't something I am doing to get good grades or to pass a test. I am just SO focused on every little detail.


(I'm doing it right now with this very post.)

Yep, that's OCD behavior and I swear I could be writing this! You may not be actually be OCD but may have some of the behavior either developing or becoming more intense.

I have a dictionary and thesaurus on my browser and when I read in bed I have both on my bedside table. (Just in case). I also use them frequently to check spelling because things just "don't look right".

The bathroom thing is funny too, I often have to beat a path to the front of my building because I've either waited too long to finish reading something, researching something, emailing, writing down voicemail etc.

On the plus side, you are getting things done and your accuracy is probably increasing:) Seriously though since you are aware of this little eccentricity you can try to think your way out of it sometimes, kind of how you deal with your ADHD when you know it's causing trouble.

Yep, that's OCD behavior and I swear I could be writing this! You may not be actually be OCD but may have some of the behavior either developing or becoming more intense.

I have a dictionary and thesaurus on my browser and when I read in bed I have both on my bedside table. (Just in case). I also use them frequently to check spelling because things just "don't look right".

The bathroom thing is funny too, I often have to beat a path to the front of my building because I've either waited too long to finish reading something, researching something, emailing, writing down voicemail etc.

On the plus side, you are getting things done and your accuracy is probably increasing:) Seriously though since you are aware of this little eccentricity you can try to think your way out of it sometimes, kind of how you deal with your ADHD when you know it's causing trouble.

Thanks. I think I probably had an obsessive problem/disorder and maybe the Adderall just fueled it a bit. I don't think I'll go on meds though because I am pretty used to being obsessive with many things. lol

I have had the same problem. Over time though, you begin to be more careful and be patient with yourself so you don't have to do it over a dozen or so times.

I do the same when Im on adderall. Ive always had OCD tendencies and addy seems to make it worse.

To me, if your medication is causing such severe problems like you're describing it's probably not the right medication for you. Have you tried any other medications? If not, it might be wise to try some of the other medications out there. How would you know if you're getting the best symptom relief possible if you have nothing else to compare it to?

As you can see from my signature, I'm on my 3rd med. When I was on Vyvanse, I was obsessively focusing on things just like you're describing, but it wasn't hyperfocus. I tend to have bouts of hyperfocus when I'm not on medication and this was very different.

I honestly don't think you're hyperfocusing, I think you're overstimulated. I thought that the Vyvanse was actually sort of working. I felt good, I was getting things done, etc. I won't get into why I switched (very long story) but now that I've tried Adderall, I know that Vyvanse just wasn't the med for me.

On Adderall, I feel like me still, but much more aware. I don't feel like I'm on a drug at all. I think more clearly, can do things in an organized fashion and in a timely manner, my focus could be better, but I'm thinking a small dosage increase might help with that. I think, at first, I associated the euphoria and the drugged feeling with my medication working. BOY WAS I WRONG!

It never hurts to try something else and if you're not getting symptom relief with other medications, you can always try something else. I'll tell you what I've told a few other people...your meds are supposed to help, not hinder! From what you say in your posts, your meds are definitely hindering.

Good luck! The road to symptom relief can be a treacherous one, especially with such highly addictive medications.