Started taking ADD meds about 6 months ago and to avoid a very long story, the meds are only working against me and not for me. My doctor keeps changing the meds and really seems to want me to continue taking something but I am so DONE! I want to treat my ADD naturally now. I know these stimulant meds work wonders for so many people but not me!

I am currently on 20mg adderal 2X per day and I am done with the doctor...I just want to know the best way to stop taking the medication, how gradual? I am not taking any other medications.

Any advice will be appreciated!

Get a new doctor. Are you sure the meds don't help at all? Could it be that you take too much, or not enough? Would you be better on Vyvance, Concerta, or Strattera? I don't have much faith in the "natural treatments" for ADD.

Well I have tried almost all of those medications and I was better off than on any of them at varied doses. I don't want a new doctor, I just don't want to take stimulants anymore.

It's best to ask your doc how to go off of the med, 'cause we're not professionals here. I get that you don't want to talk with your doc anymore, but issues such as going off of a med really needs to be asked to a doc, not a community support forum.

I have already asked my doctor and he just talks me into taking another medication so it goes without saying that you telling me to talk to my doctor is SO helpful. THANKS! I am done with my doctor and I am done with stimulants! I thoughts someone here might be able to give some friendly advice.

I will probably just throw all of the medicine away and be done with it...thats that!

i have been off and on addreall for the past 10 yrs.and when you get to a certain point.i have realized that i need a break from the med ..so if you need a break fine,but i wouldn't throw them away so fast. :eek:

Another "long haul" medication user here. Taking a "medication break" is your right. You should keep your doctor in the loop, however. You need to be firm with him.

Basically the rule is to taper down and and then be ready to take a day off to recuperate. The XR form makes it a little more difficult to wind down. Depending on where you are at in your monthly prescription you may want your doctor to prescribe the IR form so you can more easily taper down.

i have been off and on addreall for the past 10 yrs.and when you get to a certain point.i have realized that i need a break from the med ..so if you need a break fine,but i wouldn't throw them away so fast. :eek:

Basically the rule is to taper down and and then be ready to take a day off to recuperate.

Just out of curiousity, how rapidly do you taper, in terms of mg you reduce by and after how many days, or what not?

I'm pretty sure you don't need to taper down. Sometimes I'll just stop taking them on a Saturday. Then I may sleep alot over the weekend. After a few days, I'm fine. Maybe it's different for you if you're taking massive doses of stimulants. And, of course, do what your doctor says.

I'm pretty sure you don't need to taper down. Sometimes I'll just stop taking them on a Saturday. Then I may sleep alot over the weekend. After a few days, I'm fine. Maybe it's different for you if you're taking massive doses of stimulants. And, of course, do what your doctor says.

Yeah, I don't get any physical symptoms, like headaches or nausea or anything, but if I stop cold turkey I am pretty much a waste of space for almost a week. I can barely keep my eyes open for at least 3 or 4 days, even if I "replace" with coffee throughout the day.

I taper down fairly quickly -- in a matter of days. Then again I routinely drink close to a liter of strong coffee every day -- without a headache if I skip a day or two. (I can go longer without -- but why?)

Another reason to consult your doctor.

Just out of curiousity, how rapidly do you taper, in terms of mg you reduce by and after how many days, or what not?

Well I have tried almost all of those medications and I was better off than on any of them at varied doses. I don't want a new doctor, I just don't want to take stimulants anymore.

Strattera isn't a stimulant. Maybe you would do better on that?

Started taking ADD meds about 6 months ago and to avoid a very long story, the meds are only working against me and not for me. My doctor keeps changing the meds and really seems to want me to continue taking something but I am so DONE! I want to treat my ADD naturally now. I know these stimulant meds work wonders for so many people but not me!

I am currently on 20mg adderal 2X per day and I am done with the doctor...I just want to know the best way to stop taking the medication, how gradual? I am not taking any other medications.

Any advice will be appreciated!

It doesn't work? Get Desoxyn (methamphetamine) I've heard great results from it but it can be hard to get, because of the taboo placed on the generic name.

Strattera isn't a stimulant. Maybe you would do better on that?

Non stimulants don't usually give good results.

It doesn't work? Get Desoxyn (methamphetamine) I've heard great results from it but it can be hard to get, because of the taboo placed on the generic name.

He says he's sick of stimulants, and you suggest he try methamphetamine? :P

Non stimulants don't usually give good results.

That is a gross over-simplification. Strattera has been shown to be effective for treating ADD. It is not as strong as stimulant medications, but that does not mean it is ineffective.

And then you could follow it with diacetylmorphine -- "to take the edge off".

There are days I really have doubts about the usefulness of forums...

It doesn't work? Get Desoxyn (methamphetamine) I've heard great results from it but it can be hard to get, because of the taboo placed on the generic name.

Strattera has been shown to be effective for treating ADD. It is not as strong as stimulant medications

huh? straterra hits on norepinephrine as a reuptake inhibitor, which oh by the way norepinephrine is all about stress hormones....i have never heard of any ADD medication which does not stimulate the CNS either directly or indirectly

to the OP....best of luck weaning off....but the key thing is not to go back after few months which many end up doing after they realize they got a problem (like me)

Care to clarify? After they realize they are still AD(H)D or that they have an amphetamine dependency?

I can't speak for you but I do not have a dependency issue. I am AD(H)D however. So periodically I buckle on the "harness". Right now I have been off for going on three weeks. But I have a prescription waiting for me at the pharmacy. Time to be moving on...

to the OP....best of luck weaning off....but the key thing is not to go back after few months which many end up doing after they realize they got a problem (like me)

get dr gary nulls book on foods and mood at the library. Maybe try attend by viaxa. Its suppose to be really good for adhd. But it takes up to 45 days maybe less to really notice, it rebuilds the synapses. Its way gentler, but the loading dose for adults will put you at $145/mo for 2 months then 72 from then on. They give your money back if you're not completely satisfied. I would not go cold turkey cut back 1/2 for a week, 1/4 the next week then 1/4 every other day for a week and then none. The neurotransmitters cant go all over the place as the sudden stop can cause major depression. You can try it it is up to you but the pharmacy recommendation is to taper slowly and under a dr's suprvision. Take high doses (1000 mg) of DHA/EPA for fatty acid supplementation. This will help with focus. Cut out all the foods you probably love, wheat, corn, all dairy, processed foods, sugars unless natural and then with protein not alone, artificial colors and preservatives,msg, ATTEND by Viaxa has all the amino acids and things that help with balancing the neurotransmitters so while diet and heavy exercise and supplementation to give our brains what we need can really help with adhd, the attend is designed to really help with adhd many people have really benefitted from it. I haven't tried it d/t cost but I really want to. But the health food store i go to cant keep it on the shelves.

huh? straterra hits on norepinephrine as a reuptake inhibitor, which oh by the way norepinephrine is all about stress hormones....i have never heard of any ADD medication which does not stimulate the CNS either directly or indirectly

Strattera has been scientifically demonstrated to be an effective ADD treatment. Here's an article for you. There are many more like it. Also, norepinephrine is suspected of playing a role in ADD.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14717619?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14717619?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP %20anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed)

I may try Strattera. Now that I have tried Vyvanse, Addereral, Concerta, and Adderal XR in many variations of dosages I have come to a conclusion. Stimulants do not work for me.
The negative side effects that I experience greatly outweigh the positive.
I am weaning myself down fast, but I have only been taking this medication for 6-7 months so, I am feeling okay. A little foggy, but great actually. I am starting to feel like "me" again and I actually like it. Now that I have a keen awareness of my ADD issues I am going to work on trying to be more aware, etc. I have also found that if I run or do some kind of heavy cardio first thing in the morning, it greatly reduces my ADD issues throughout the day. Funny thing was, over the last 6-7 months my pre- medication gym habit has dwindled away and I have almost completely lost my desire to do any running, when I used to run 35 miles a week (before starting meds). Now that I am going off stimulants, I hope that I can find my passion for running again and reclaim my personality. My husband dearly misses it, messes and all.

if you can get relief w/out the stims. GREAT i have had it all my life and tried every natural/working out/diet/.bla bla ........... i hope it works for you ,some people can go that way.

good luck:D

my psych has always told me i can stop and start stimulants as i please. for example, i'm taking a little break for the next couple days (i like to do that once in a while) and this morning i just didn't take my regular dose. stimulants, even the XR versions, have such short half-lives that you might feel off or tired for a day but you'll recover quickly. if you don't want to take your adderall just stop taking it. it would be in your best interest to at least mention what you are doing to your doctor if you can though.

caveat: i am not a doctor, nor do i play one on tv.

Some people prefer tapering off others like cold turkey. IT will depend on you and what you prefer.