I got a perscription for adderall to help
me study. I don't have add, I just have
so much work to do, and i've been stressed
out, which makes it harder to get it done.
The psychiatrist knew that I don't
really have add, but he gave me the
perscription anyway. It's really helpful
for getting my work done, but I seem to
need more and more every week, plus now I
want to take it sometimes, even when i'm
not just studying. I've been taking it
for about 6 weeks. Does it sound like
i'm gonna have a problem? Does anyone
have any tips for using it to get work
done, but stopping myself from wanting to
take it all the time?
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sarbear
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Posts: 2 Location: california
Adderall... Posted: 11-20-05 05:50am
I have been taking adderall for almost 5
years now, and I got perscribed to it by
pretending I had add. I was persrcibed to
take two 20 mg a day, which I did at
frist. But then after awhile it felt like
it wasn't working so I would take more and
more I think the most I have ever taken
was 8 or 9 pills in one day.(which made my
heart start beating so fast I thought I
was seriously going to die) it helped me
in school but then I started using it just
to party, so I could drink and not get
tired. Me and some of my freinds would go
to partys and we would go in the bathroom
and take halves of pills to give us more
energy to party longer. This whole
partying thing went on for about 4 years,
my friends would say I was always moody
and when I didnt have anymore, so I would
end up buying off other people. That was
all when was living in kansas. But about
4 months ago I moved to california and I
didn't have a psychiatrist out here plus I
dont have health insurance so I just
stopped cold turkey because I couldnt
afford it. It actually wasnt' hard for
me but after awhile I was extremely
depressed, I would sleep all the time and
I didn't feel like I had the energy to do
anything and I gained alot of weight. So
I decided to go to a psychiatrist out
here about 2 weeks ago and got another
bottle of it. Now basically im back to
my old habbits. When I moved out here I
didnt drink at all but once I started
taking adderall again the drinking started
back up I still cant take just 2 pills I
end up taking like 4. It is one of the
most addictive drugs on the market. I
know that it works for some people really
well but if it makes you feel like your
all cracked out and you dont have add like
you say your best bet is to get away from
it while you still can. I wish I never
had taken it, after this bottle is gone im
going to try my hardest to stop. I really
hope you choose to stop before you get
addicted like me. I havent really shared
this info with anyone before so if someone
else has advice please drop me a line
also.Best wishes and luck.
|
ohnotheydidnt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 1
Posted: 11-24-05 18:19pm
I found this forum while searching for
information about adderall dependency. I
read your other post (on general q&a)
and our situations are very similar.
I, too, am in a college student who
doesn't have add, but was prescribed
adderall to help me get through my last
year. I go to a top 25 private college
and have always done well in school, but
recently, mostly due to burn out, i've
been unable to meet deadlines, I get
distracted easily, am unable to focus,
etc.
I've only been on adderall for about a
month. My psychiatrist prescribed 15 mg
a day, but recently upped it to 25 mg
because 15 wasn't getting me through the
whole day. I knew it was habit-forming,
but figured if I didn't 'abuse' it, i'd be
fine. One week after taking it, I
decided to not take it on the weekend. I
slept the entire weekend! I wasn't
depressed, I just felt lathargic, and
physically drained, even though I had
gotten 8 hours of sleep every night that
week. Fast forward to last weekend when
I ran out of pills, and again I slept the
weekend away. I wanted to get up and be
productive, but I physically couldn't.
That's when I knew I was physically
dependent on adderall, after only a
month.
I'm not saying this is normal. But it
goes to show how addictive this drug can
be.
I can relate to wanting to take more even
when don't need it/aren't studying. I
don't believe I am psychologically
dependent adderall; I do, however, I crave
the feeling when it kicks in (ahhh!) and I
love how I feel when I am focused and
productive. It feels good to be on
adderall - it's my happy pill.
I wish I could be more help, but I think
your concerns are common among adderall
users. It's a great drug, but there are
severe consequences and side effects. It
scares me that I have become physically
dependent on the drug after such a short
period of time. I'm hoping more people
will respond because i'm always interested
in hearing about other people's
experiences with the drug, especially
those who don't have add.
|
DivineIntervention
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 30 Location: Remote cave in Iraq
Posted: 11-29-05 14:50pm
That stopping when the bottle is gone
routine doesnt work lol. Your going to
need to step it up a few ;)
|
macd
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 1
Posted: 12-27-05 23:35pm
Well, I am 31 and I was diagnosed with add
about 3 years ago. It was a relief when I
finally realized what I had to deal with
through my life up until then. I knew I
dealt with issues other people didn't have
- especially when it came to reading,
classes, attention... Etc. On the
opposite side of that, I was very
creative, started my own business... And
had a lot of fun using my creative
potential and wild-drifting mind.
At first I was put in concerta... And
while it seemed to give me a short time to
focus, maybe a few hours worth and I just
seemed to use it when I needed it for some
reason. So, I rarely took it. Then I was
notified my doc was moving and so I limped
along my 30 day prescption a full year.
Finally, I decided to visit a different
doc because I was out of the med and still
dealing with normal add issues. He put me
on adderall xr. It worked. I started on
20mg and that worked for awhile and all
was well in the world. For the first time
in my life, I was taking my meds daily and
focus was easy. I felt more relaxed.
Then... I go in for a regular visit to
the doc and I said 20mg just wasn't
cutting it. I didn't feel like it was
doing anything. So, I went to 30mg and
then that introduced me to higher blood
pressure and physical signs like racing
heart, even in the evening after I ate for
a few hours, or after lunch for a few
hours. In the last few months, it seems
like my heart is not beating steadily
during those racing times and honestly, im
scared to death this stuff is going to
kill me, while at the same time... The
30mg isn't helping me so much and I want
more.
I went to my health-care doc and asked
about bp. That day, for some odd reason,
I had normal bp and he said he had no
issue with me going to 40mg. So, I went
back to the other doc and said it was okay
and he up'd it to 40mg, 20mg twice per
day. That was only a few weeks ago. The
twice daily is nice... Because I am able
to take one in the morning and one before
I got to work around 1-2pm... Since I
work until midnight.
that is
all introduction and now to the reason of
my post. once I started to realize
I may have heart issues and bp issues
because of this med, I would do "testing"
to see what was the source. I'd stop for
a day or two, cold-turkey and my bp would
drop to almost normal levels and depending
on what I hate, i'd not notice any after
meal issues with a racing heart. But, I
was really tired and when I was off it for
3+ days (i went a week once) I was
irritable. Little things could set me
off. A pile of laundry here, or something
out of place there.
The reason i'd always go back on it, is
cause I knew I was having withdrawl
symptoms and I hated feeling those. I
could pretty much count myself worthless
those days I didn't take my pills at work.
Thankfully, I don't need a ton of
concentration there. The key to going
cold-turkey is realize what you are up
against. Bring back your old coping
mechanisms... Ipod in the ears... Write
down a list of things to get done for the
day... (or at least attempt) to provide
some direction and feeling of
accomplishment.
Realize you might visit a lot more
websites than what you did in the recent
history of taking adderall.
I have taken my last adderall pill. I
have a family and girls to watch after.
My grandfather passed away a month ago,
possible related to heart issues, my
grandma, just last night had a heart
attack (wife of my grandpa that died) and
while still alive, more testing is to be
done on why tomorrow.
Anyhow... My genetics obviously are not
well in the heart area. I want to live to
see my daughters grow up.
I told my wife what to expect and she is
cool with it. She says a little
crazyiness from me is fine, considering I
deal with her crazyiness since we got
married. (she is bipolar).
Im also going to start eating better and
limit my daily diet coke intake, although
I will probably need some good caffeine to
suppliment my cold-turkey phase.
I'll keep everyone posted. And yes, I am
going to the doc in a month or so for a
physical to investigate my heart issues
and hopefully I can say... "when I was
taking adderall, I had heart issues...
But since going off those, they have
subsided."
i am looking forward to getting my
creativity back. I haven't thought of an
idea for a business in a long time, and I
used to have a few each day. :)
|
Ujourn
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1
Curious Posted: 10-08-07 01:04am
Hi posters, I am student journalist doing
research for an investigative report
about the dangers of ADHD/ADD medication
and addiction(specifically students). I
was wondering if any of you would be
willing to talk about your experience in
depth. I think it would be really
beneficial and helpful to others that read
the report, and could expose a potentially
debilitating addiction. Your immediate
reponse is appriciated.
