Side affects of taking adderall

[Epic Jr.]

Hey guys,

this is my first post here, and I actually found out about this site while searching the web on side affects that can occur by taking Adderall in order to help with my ADHD. I am 14 years old, male, and am taking the once a day 20 mili grams.

I've been taking this medication for about 7 months, and before that I was taking ridalin. Ever since I started on adderall, I've noticed that my hands shake un-controllably...no matter how hard I try to stop them from shaking, they continue to shake. I'm not sure if this is being caused by the change of medication, or if it is a result of stress related events that have occured around my house.

If any of you that are currently taking, or used to take adderall, and are having the same side affects as me, and you know for a fact that it is due to this medication, or any information about why my hands have started shaking uncontrollably ever since I got on this medication would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks guys.

[domo-kun]

I have that plus "restless foot" syndrome.

[elSenor]

Are you eating enough? My hands shake uncontrollably when I go hypoglycemic. I experienced hypoglycemic episodes only very rarely before taking medication, but now with Adderall I frequently find I need to force myself to eat or my blood sugar drops.

Adderall also increases my heart rate and hypoglycemia makes this side-effect much, much worse.

-Mike

[Epic Jr.]

umm no, I don't seem to have a problem with eating...thanks for the replay though mike, I appreciate you taking the time!

Does anybody know as to if the adderall could be the reason why my hands shake uncontrolably? Thanks again guys!

[elSenor]

Termors are certianly one possible side effect of stimulants.

-Mike

[joanrdtobe]

Yes could be Epic....I had that experience with another drug....Lithium.....a doctor who had diagnosed me with bipolar disorder had me on lithium for awhile...and like you -- my hands shook constantly...all of the time....

I couldn't hold a pencil even....it was awful....

[douglasbrooker]

When I was a teenager I had a real problem with shaky hands, and this was in the late 60s and nobody was taking these drugs for ADD that I knew of. I was simply very hypersensitive and had a great deal of social anxiety. I have a feeling you are like I was and are prone to stress and nervousness, and the Adderall is making it a little worse. It's a controversial idea but you might want to ask your doctor about taking a low dose of Librium, which is something like Valium but less active. That would definitely stop the shakes. You don't want get too far out with combos though. The side effects can really multiply. Maybe switch to Concerta first. It's a very smooth version of Ritalin. It would probably be easier on your nervous system.

[Gregster]

I suspect a combination of anxiety from the "stress related events" which then get "amplified" by the Adderall - stimulants can definately make you more anxious if you are prone to it. So depending of the diagnosis of a doctor who knows you and the situation you are in, you may be prescribed an anti-anxiety drug or perhaps a "beta-blocker" like Inderall, which is more often used to treat high blood pressure, but is very effective at calming nervous "shakes" or tremors induced by stimulants.

[douglasbrooker]

I used Inderal for that exact reason in the 80s when I entered a profession where I had to make presentations or was in situations where speaking in front of people, regardless of the number, that triggered stagefright type symptoms, shaky hands, dry mouth, excessive perspiration, etc. I have also used 5 or 10 mg doses of Librium, the precursor to Valium, in similar situations. That always seemed to me like an overlooked drug for transient anxiety situations. I haven't used it for years now. Seems like I'm used to life now that I'm 52, and all I need is something to wake up my slightly dopamine starved brain to not just follow through on things, but think up things to do in the first place. My big problem in the last ten years has been basic lack of motivation and confidence, and an inability to feel pleasure and optimism.

[BenFoldsNerd]

IMPORTANT: it's not so much whether or not you eat enough , it's what you eat. You can pig out, and still become hypoglycemic if you eat the wrong stuff. Adderall speeds up your metabolism a lot, and burns your food that much faster. If you eat refined sugars (sweets, white bread, cereal, etc.), it's like pouring gasoline on a fire. You need to eat foods that will burn slowly, like beef jerky (a piece of beef jerky with every meal will help a lot!), bacon, nuts, cheese... just to name a few. To find out how quickly foods are burned...

http://members.tripod.com/pvdw/glycemic_index_lists.htm

...this should get you started. The lower the G.I. number, the better... for everyone, but it's essential if you're hypoglycemic (due to medication or other factors).

[douglasbrooker]

That's what I do. Fortunately I've never had a sweet tooth. My typical breakfast, which will sound very "single guy" and maybe even a little yuck, is some kind of crunchy high fiber bran type cereal with nonfat milk and a bowl of lowfat cottage cheese on the side. I also do throwback lunches, harkening my childhood: lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The peanut butter is slow to digest and has no cholesterol and even though it's a little high fat, it's okay when you're on stimulants.

[BenFoldsNerd]

My diet has become very "single guy" too. My typical breakfast has become a plate full of bacon and maybe some eggs if I'm feeling ambitious. I'm also a fan of peanut butter... I go through a 4 lb. tub of JIF every week or two!

[charlie]

oh BenFolds
ya gotta find the low sugar or natural peanut butter it's so much tastier.
Laura Scudder's makes one sold at most stores, Trader Joe's sells our favorite.

Thanks for the link I'll share with my fell-off-Atkin's-diet-eeks +20#s in-3-weeks-daughter
She's so hard on herself. I think she looks fantastic, but she MUST wear size 9 or less, size 11 pants depress her (she's prob 6' but won't measure since reaching 5'11").

sorry to sway off original post it does sound that your question had been answered and enhanced on and I jumped in on the diet issue.
Hope all is well with you now!

[BenFoldsNerd]

Originally Posted by charlie

oh BenFolds
ya gotta find the low sugar or natural peanut butter it's so much tastier.
Laura Scudder's makes one sold at most stores, Trader Joe's sells our favorite.

Thanks for the link I'll share with my fell-off-Atkin's-diet-eeks +20#s in-3-weeks-daughter
She's so hard on herself. I think she looks fantastic, but she MUST wear size 9 or less, size 11 pants depress her (she's prob 6' but won't measure since reaching 5'11").

Is natural peanut butter the kinda grainy kind? I hope so, I love that stuff... thanks for the tip!

...and 6' tall and size 9 or 11? that's skinny!

[GodxgurlJazzy]

Hey I'm Jasmine I have had ADD since I was 8, I am currently 14, and i am about to take ADDeral, I took ritlain when i was 8 but it made me throw up. Is there any advice that you could give me?? EDITED BY ADMIN