how did it manifest?

I am currently on 40 mg of Adderall XR - 20 mg XR when I wake up, and another 20 mg about 5-6 hours later. I have been on 30 mg XR for a month, but my doc and I started the split dose this past week, as the 30 mg was wearing off too soon, and we're seeing good improvement. Back in August, I was originally taking 20 mg IR 2X/day, but switched to Vyvanse because it was wearing off too soon, and it was making me MEAN and irritable when it wore off. After taking Vyvanse for about 4 months, we realized it was turning me into a zombie, and my doc suggested the XR to help with the harsh comedowns. It's been exactly what I need, and now that we have the split dosage, I think we've hit on the right combo/dosage.

However, I've also been having a lot of health problems over the past six months - my gallbladder was removed in early December, as it had become diseased and was making me very ill. Around the same time my gallbladder symptoms began (in October), I began noticing very bad acne on my face that had started affecting my scalp. It was mainly just zits, and a little hair loss, but nothing major. A prescription shampoo did nothing, but once I had my surgery, it began to improve, so I thought things were related to my gallbladder.

However, about a month and a half ago (before beginning Adderall XR), it started to get very bad again. It started once again with the zits/acne on my head, but now I have large bald patches on my scalp, and my once-very-thick hair has thinned so much that I'm actually embarrassed by it :( . My PCP and I have been trying a prescription shampoo (different from the first), and a topical cream - which sometimes seems to make an improvement, but then it starts getting bad again.

I'm also having what I think are some hormonal issues, and suspect that it may be related to an ovarian cyst (and that some of my gallbladder symptoms were also related to that, so while a LOT of my general malaise went away for the most part, it shows up every once in awhile).

I've noticed there are several threads about hair loss being a rare side effect, and while I don't think the Adderall XR is the main cause, I think it might be contributing a little bit.

So I think my big question is if you've experienced hair loss from Adderall, how has it happened? Have you had acne on your scalp, resulting in the hair loss, or has your hair just fallen out? I'm going to try to get in with a gyno as soon as possible to get in and see if it's related to the hormonal issues, but I'm just curious as to how the hair loss affects others on Adderall or amphetamines. I'm very content with the regimen that we've come to, and I really hate to switch that now when I'm finally finding something that works.

I'm pretty sure the hair loss and acne issues are due to overstimulation of the adrenals... I am looking into a treatment for this as well and plan to ask my doc about using a low dose anti-androgenic medication to (HOPEFULLY) remedy my skin issues.

I've noticed thinning, especially toward the front of the head, and more gray hairs. Since my hair is medium-long and hair doesn't "turn" gray, the theory I've heard that makes sense is that the amp speeds up the normal process by which we lose hair constantly. This produces thinning, which makes the gray hairs that are present more noticeable.

As for acne, that's a common side effect, and I'd guess the amp is overstimulating something there, too.

I'm pretty sure the hair loss and acne issues are due to overstimulation of the adrenals... I am looking into a treatment for this as well and plan to ask my doc about using a low dose anti-androgenic medication to (HOPEFULLY) remedy my skin issues.

Interesting thanks, I thought my choices were simply hair or stimulants, so this is pretty good news :D


I too suffer from hairloss on Adderall XR. I see a white bulb at the end of the follical sometimes. I think it started when I was 19 or so. I'm hoping that it will be less prevalant on the IR. My dad was bald too, so it's hard to prove that it's the Adderall though.