Adderall and anxiety

Rise Against

Well-known member
Two years ago i was prescribed adderall for ADD because my previous medications were noneffective. At first it was great, for the first time in my life i could concentrate, Even though didn't sleep at all for 7 days. My doctor had instructed me to take 90 mg a day (30 mg, 3 times daily) of adderall XR, i was 6' tall and weighed 160lbs at the time. It made me feel great! I felt more talkative, happy, wide awake, and full of energy, even though i couldn't sleep. The positive side effects gradually faded, I became depressed and my social anxiety got worst and worst until i was a zombie, at home and at school... even around my best friends.

About 6 weeks ago i became interested in what Adderall was doing to my body and decided to do some research on the internet. What i found out kind of shocked me. Adderall is basically a legalized form of cocaine. It is a hard core amphetamine and has been made illegal in some countries due to its high rate of abuse. I also found out the recommended maximum dose is 30mg per day for XR... in order to keep the user from developing a dependence to the drug. my doctor had me taking 90 mg per day:eek:. I learned that adderall is the most abused prescription on college campuses. So if your in college DON'T take adderall, it is horrible for social anxiety. Its been 6 weeks since i stopped taking it and im just starting to feel normal again... The first 2 weeks without it was terrible. I had horrible head aches, my arms shook, and i felt extremely depressed and fatigued. I had intense cravings but luckily I was able to avoid a relapse.

Just curious, does anyone else take adderall for ADD?
 
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90mg a day? what the hell? that is far too much. That's even above the maximum dosage, I believe. Because that's A LOT. What ever doctor you had is an idiot. I also take it for ADHD, been taking it for like 2 or 3years now. I only take 40mg once a day in the morning. Adderall is just the brand name for the generic amphetamine salts.
 

Noca

Banned
Adderall is awesome for my social anxiety. It makes me social and willing to face my fears head on. Im on 25mgs of Adderall XR. My gf is on 90mgs of Adderall IR and does fine on it. 90mgs is actually the limit for prescribing. Its best used with a sleep aid and not taken after 1pm in the afternoon.
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
I could be wrong, I dont think that 90mg is the limit for adderall XR. Anyways weather it was the limit or not, it was too much for me.
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
omg, i just took 30mg of adderall because i have to write a 10 page research paper for English today. Its been 7 weeks since i last took adderall. I am kind of freaking out because i don't want to relapse and have terrible withdraws again...
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
I meant 90mgs of IR

Yeah, i just looked up what the max dose for XR. It says "Adderall may be converted to once-daily dosing with Adderall-XR using an equivalent dosage of the extended-release form. However, the maximum recommended dosage is 30 mg/day with Adderall-XR."
http://www.psychatlanta.com/documents/adderall.pdf

Wow, i was taking 3 times the max dose, 30mg 3 times a day. My doctor is an idiot. No wonder why i got addicted.
 
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Rise Against

Well-known member
Ever since i took adderall this morning i have had a head ache. I have also been extremely anxious really for no reason and my OCD is going out of controll (i am starting to get really pissed because my OCD is extremely annoying)... at least im getting my schoolwork finished. lol.
 

Sure_whynot

Well-known member
Two years ago i was prescribed adderall for ADD because my previous medications were noneffective. At first it was great, for the first time in my life i could concentrate, Even though didn't sleep at all for 7 days. My doctor had instructed me to take 90 mg a day (30 mg, 3 times daily), i was 6' tall and weighed 160lbs at the time. It made me feel great! I felt more talkative, happy, wide awake, and full of energy, even though i couldn't sleep. The positive side effects gradually faded, I became depressed and my social anxiety got worst and worst until i was a zombie, at home and at school... even around my best friends.

About 6 weeks ago i became interested in what Adderall was doing to my body and decided to do some research on the internet. What i found out kind of shocked me. Adderall is basically a legalized form of cocaine. It is a hard core amphetamine and has been made illegal in some countries due to its high rate of abuse. I also found out the recommended maximum dose is 30mg per day... in order to keep the user from developing a dependence to the drug. my doctor had me taking 90 mg per day:eek:. I learned that adderall is the most abused prescription on college campuses. So if your in college DON'T take adderall, it is horrible for social anxiety. Its been 6 weeks since i stopped taking it and im just starting to feel normal again... The first 2 weeks without it was terrible. I had horrible head aches, my arms shook, and i felt extremely depressed and fatigued. I had intense cravings but luckily I was able to avoid a relapse.

Just curious, does anyone else take adderall for ADD?


I do, and with respect, some of your facts are a little faulty.

If a normal person takes add pills then its just like cocaine. But for an actual person who has ADD, the effects are the complete opposite. I take 52mg per day & I wouldn't be able to function without it. Or at least do school work.

When I dont take it randomly, vacations, weekends, etc. I feel no "relapse", i just feel all over the place and not focused. 30mg per day wouldn't be enough to have any actual effect on anyone moderately big, much less someone 6'.

All of the other facts sound very legitimate though, its possible you could have been misdiagnosed. Because if you had even moderate ADD/ADHD then 6 weeks without your pill's would have your grades down the toilet & your life slowly slipping away.
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
I do, and with respect, some of your facts are a little faulty.

If a normal person takes add pills then its just like cocaine. But for an actual person who has ADD, the effects are the complete opposite. I take 52mg per day & I wouldn't be able to function without it. Or at least do school work.

When I dont take it randomly, vacations, weekends, etc. I feel no "relapse", i just feel all over the place and not focused. 30mg per day wouldn't be enough to have any actual effect on anyone moderately big, much less someone 6'.

All of the other facts sound very legitimate though, its possible you could have been misdiagnosed. Because if you had even moderate ADD/ADHD then 6 weeks without your pill's would have your grades down the toilet & your life slowly slipping away.

I dont think you take Adderall XR (XR stands for extended release), you are probably taking Adderall IR (Immediate Release) or regular adderall. There is a big difference between the two, the max dose for XR is 30mg per day, while i believe that adderall IR's max dose is 90mg per day. This is a direct quote from Adderall's website... "Adderall may be converted to once-daily dosing with Adderall-XR using an equivalent dosage of the extended-release form. However, the maximum recommended dosage is 30 mg/day with Adderall-XR." Adderall IR is an immediate release so multiple, higher doses throughout the day is usually necessary. Its weird, Adderall speeds my body but slows my mind unless i take too much, then my thoughts zoom by at a billion miles per hour, if that makes any since. Anyone can become addicted to it, whether they have ADD or not, it's a schedule II controlled substance which is the the highst possible rating for a prescription. I was diagnosed with severe ADD, to the point where i could hardly function. The first semester I got all D's and F's my 7th grade year. My school counselor tried to put me in LD classes and she wanted to assign me my own personal learning assistant. but im older now and have learned better study habits so i can somewhat manage my grades, im not getting the straight A's i was getting before, but i am managing half A's and half B's, i have to work really hard though. You said that you have no relapses when you dont take it, thats because you weren't taking 3 times more than the maximum dose, lol. I hate adderall so much, ever since i developed a dependence and a tolerance, It completely changed my personality, everything was so Blah... it was literally a living hell for about 4 weeks... Here is a warning on Adderalls website "Abrupt cessation of Adderall and Adderall XR can cause extreme fatigue and severe, even suicidal, depression in adult patients." "It is possible to build up a tolerance to amphetamines, which means the person using the drug needs to take larger doses to achieve the same effect. Over time, the body might come to depend on amphetamines just to function normally. The person craves the drug and their psychological dependence makes them panic if access is denied, even temporarily." Read through this... Adderall Side Effects [Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine Composite] aka Aderol, Aderall and Aderal Sorry if it sounds like im mad... im just frustrated with adderall, because it really was the most terrible experience ive ever had.
 
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Rise Against

Well-known member
I also find this interesting because i have experienced these "speed crashes"

"When we are stressed or under threat, the central nervous system prepares us for physical action by creating particular physiological changes. Amphetamines prompt the brain to initiate this ‘fight or flight’ response. These changes include:

* The release of adrenalin and other stress hormones
* Increased heart rate and blood pressure
* Redirected blood flow into the muscles and away from the gut

In small doses amphetamines can banish tiredness and make the user feel alert and refreshed. However, the burst of energy comes at a price. A "speed crash" always follows the high and may leave the person feeling nauseous, irritable, depressed and extremely exhausted." - Adderall Side Effects [Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine Composite] aka Aderol, Aderall and Aderal

When i first started taking adderall xr i didn't sleep for 6 days, then i didn't take it on Saturday because i was so exhausted and i slept for almost 20 hours. After i lowered my dose from 90mg of XR per day to 60mg of XR i still had sleepless nights. Ever since i quit taking adderall on a regular basis i have been sleeping MUCH better.

"The release of adrenalin and other stress hormones" - i notice that too when i take it. I become very anxious and paranoid and my arms and hands tremble. i become very restless and "twitchy" like i have tourettes or something, lol.

"Increased heart rate and blood pressure" - I notice my heart pounding for about an hour after i take adderall, then it returns back to normal.
 

Sure_whynot

Well-known member
I dont think you take Adderall XR (XR stands for extended release), you are probably taking Adderall IR (Immediate Release) or regular adderall. There is a big difference between the two, the max dose for XR is 30mg per day, while i believe that adderall IR's max dose is 90mg per day. This is a direct quote from Adderall's website... "Adderall may be converted to once-daily dosing with Adderall-XR using an equivalent dosage of the extended-release form. However, the maximum recommended dosage is 30 mg/day with Adderall-XR." Adderall IR is an immediate release so multiple, higher doses throughout the day is usually necessary. Its weird, Adderall speeds my body but slows my mind unless i take too much, then my thoughts zoom by at a billion miles per hour, if that makes any since. Anyone can become addicted to it, whether they have ADD or not, it's a schedule II controlled substance which is the the highst possible rating for a prescription. I was diagnosed with severe ADD, to the point where i could hardly function. The first semester I got all D's and F's my 7th grade year. My school counselor tried to put me in LD classes and she wanted to assign me my own personal learning assistant. but im older now and have learned better study habits so i can somewhat manage my grades, im not getting the straight A's i was getting before, but i am managing half A's and half B's, i have to work really hard though. You said that you have no relapses when you dont take it, thats because you weren't taking 3 times more than the maximum dose, lol. I hate adderall so much, ever since i developed a dependence and a tolerance, It completely changed my personality, everything was so Blah... it was literally a living hell for about 4 weeks... Here is a warning on Adderalls website "Abrupt cessation of Adderall and Adderall XR can cause extreme fatigue and severe, even suicidal, depression in adult patients." "It is possible to build up a tolerance to amphetamines, which means the person using the drug needs to take larger doses to achieve the same effect. Over time, the body might come to depend on amphetamines just to function normally. The person craves the drug and their psychological dependence makes them panic if access is denied, even temporarily." Read through this... Adderall Side Effects [Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine Composite] aka Aderol, Aderall and Aderal Sorry if it sounds like im mad... im just frustrated with adderall, because it really was the most terrible experience ive ever had.

Ouch, Thats harsh bro. Im not sure exactly what im taking, but your explanation sounds correct. Although I only take 1 dose of 532mg a day. I do know how horrible add medications can be, I've tried practically all of them because I can never stand the side effects. Its a love hate relationship, because I love completing my thoughts (haha). But I hate feeling depressed and needing a stupid pill to function.

I share the frustration, and congrats on you still getting good grades without them! I'd like to try this eventually, im not sure If im capable though. =/
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
I've tried practically all of them because I can never stand the side effects. Its a love hate relationship, because I love completing my thoughts (haha). But I hate feeling depressed and needing a stupid pill to function. =/

Ive tried almost all of them too, lol... stratara, conserda, focalin, adderall... Im just giving up on meds now. Adderall was the only one that actually worked, but it didnt go so well...
 

Sure_whynot

Well-known member
Ive tried almost all of them too, lol... stratara, conserda, focalin, adderall... Im just giving up on meds now. Adderall was the only one that actually worked, but it didnt go so well...

Vyvanse worked the best for me, but unlike adderall the side effets didnt go away after a few weeks. =/

I cant take them at all when I need to be social though, or at least when I need to be good at it. haha.

Im not myself when i take it, no smiling, laughing, doing fun things. I just grind away school work. Its like i have two different personalities sometimes.
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
I cant take them at all when I need to be social though, or at least when I need to be good at it. haha.

Im not myself when i take it, no smiling, laughing, doing fun things. I just grind away school work. Its like i have two different personalities sometimes.

Thats exactly how i was when i took adderall. I wasnt really ever depressed but i definitely wasn't happy. Just kind of a zombie. I never really had any emotions, just numbness.
 

Sure_whynot

Well-known member
Thats exactly how i was when i took adderall. I wasnt really ever depressed but i definitely wasn't happy. Just kind of a zombie. I never really had any emotions, just numbness.

Haha you've taken the words right out of my mouth.
Wow I hate that expression.

Anyways, Thats the best description i've heard so far. No strong emotions regardless of whats happening around you.

Im a zombie 4-5 days out of a week, and the other days I get to enjoy myself.
Its a trade of... that obviously cant last forever. But its the best i've got right now.
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
. Its like i have two different personalities sometimes.

Same with me!

Me off meds (when im not going through withdraws, lol): creative, fun, energetic, crazy, unique, hyper, spontaneous, more outgoing (still a social phob though)
Me on meds: boring, OCD, paranoid, half dead (lol), nervous, logical, dull, speechless, Blah....
The only positive thing that i got from my meds was good grades, they completely screwed me over socially.

I will demonstrate my random creativeness by writing a poem, lol.

There was once a cat named Pat,
Pat liked to eat rats and bats,
Then one day Pat got old and fat
So he went home and slept on his mat.

Lol, i know im retarded...
 

Rise Against

Well-known member
Thats exactly how i was when i took adderall. I wasnt really ever depressed but i definitely wasn't happy. Just kind of a zombie. I never really had any emotions, just numbness.

When i first started adderall XR it was great, it actually made me much more outgoing and made me really, really, really happy, probably because i was taking 3 times the max dose, lol. But after about half of a year, the "good" side effects began to fade as my body was building a tolerance. Then i turned into a zombie and about 7 weeks ago i realized that i was a completely different person than i used to be. Like i said, i wasn't depressed or happy, just blah... until i decided that i needed to stop taking them. After a few days without them i felt extremely tired and depressed. I had a horrible headache and tremors (my hands and arms shook like i had Parkinson's Disease or something). After about 3 to 4 weeks i started to feel better, although i still got cravings for the adderall every now and then. I went 7 weeks without it until last night... I didn't give into cravings, basically i had to take the adderall or fail my English class because I had a 10 research paper due today. So i took my adderall and stayed up all night and wrote a decent paper. Now im freaking out that i will go through withdraws again because i probably took more adderall than what i should have, but i didn't want to fall asleep at school... I have a head ache right now but its possible that its caused from sleep deprivation since i haven't slept in about 42 hours, lol. O dear god, please, please, please! dont let me go through withdraws again. Sorry for writing my life story, im just venting a little stress.
 
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