Adderall Withdrawal
(Newest replies first)

Hi! I'm new to this forum, but not really new to mental health. I've struggled with OCD, depression, and anxiety my whole life and have taken many different meds for them in my 29 years. But this post isn't about me. It's about my boyfriend. We moved in together in March of this year. I knew he frequently had mood swings, but I wasn't sure why. But about a month after we moved in, he told me he has taken adderall for about 10 years for severe ADHD. He hadn't told me before because he was ashamed of it. Of course I was understanding, and assured him that it was nothing to be ashamed of, and that if I could help him in any way, to let me know. But it goes deeper. See, he gets prescribed 40mg a day. But he takes about 60 and breaks them in half, so he's taking it roughly 5 to 6 times a day. Because of that, he runs out every month for a week or two. Instead of going to his doctor to adjust his prescription, he quits cold turkey every month and just waits till it's time for a refill. Then starts the cycle over again. I didn't realize how bad it would get. But he's mean, paranoid, moody, tired, depressed, disconnected. It's like, I don't have my boyfriend anymore. He's a completely different person. He's finally starting to see that going on and off the meds aren't good for him, and that its ruining our would-be happy relationship. Everybody fights from time to time, but he's MEAN for no reason. It's not something I can handle every month. When we're good, we're great. But this drug is messing up a good man. He's going back to the doctor on Monday to adjust his prescription and talk to him about what he's been doing. But I'm afraid that by the time Monday rolls around, he's going to be so far down the rabbit hole is isn't going to want to talk to his doctor. I guess I'm going to have to wait and see. I am one of the most understanding people when it comes to mental illness, believe me. And I'm trying to be patient while he sorts it out. I love him too much not to be. But it's getting out of hand and it's hurting me. Does anyone have any advice for me in dealing with this? Thanks in advance!

REPLY

REPORT

Hi everyone, I have been diagnosed with ADD-PI since the 2nd grade for the past twenty years and I have been regularly taking adderall ir 2.5 - 5 mg/day every day since fall 2014, saved for a few weeks here and there when I ran out.

Ever since the 2022 shortage, I have been getting sick from the new sandoz and teva adderall (and I am very familiar with both brands since those were the only two I told my psychiatrist I could take). I dumped both bottles since then so the last time I took adderall (the new defective teva batch) was 12/8/22.

I didn't have any withdrawal side effects until 12/11/22 when I noticed I had "Brain zaps". It feels like an electrical pulsating in the back of my head/base of my neck and like a "Shake" like a mini-earthquake even though I know I am sitting completely still and not feeling dizzy. It's about to be a month and I am still experiencing these "Brain zaps" as the only lasting withdrawal effect.

Has anyone ever experienced this before? Thanks!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi. I have been on and off Adderall for 20 years. Lately the withdrawal if I run out has been horrible!! Shaking, panic attacks, oversleeping, anger. Well, I’m out again and I'm working at a new stressful job this week. If someone out there can help me with any advice I will be extremely generous in my thanks.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Wampus Cat (# 4)

You can change doctors. Of course there are no guarantees a new doctor will prescribe the amount you want. As Verwon stated. Taking more than prescribed is a sign of drug abuse and addiction.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I just read this from 2016. I wonder how her and the BF are doing with his Rx situation. Let us know! I take 2 - 30’s everyday and have run out the last week. It’s a horrible week trust me. Best advice is to take as prescribed. Be honest with yourself and your spouse. If you hide it from everyone, you will just hurt yourself by pushing them away every time. Also, if the doc does stop meds all together, it will be a rough 2 weeks after you stop but after that you WILL have energy again and may feel better than you have in years.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I plan ahead been prescribed addies for a year plus, two 30mg tabs a day, 60 pink tabs a month usually the last 10 days i use my calculator on cell to instead of 2 a day i do 1.5 a day cuz i mite here n there mhmm if you legit get a script anf run out every month KNOWING u will withdrawl, your simple not the sharpest tool in the shed period. I can see how its hard for ppl on like 5 or 10mg daily but damn....

CALCULATE YOUR DOSE TILL REFILLS TO AVOID SICKNESS PERIOD!!!! #ONPOINT

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Thank you, his Doctor's appointment is tomorrow, so I'm crossing my fingers that he actually has the courage to talk to him about it at length. We're okay for now. We had a decent day yesterday, but he had to go out of town today so I didn't see him. I'm hoping the good times will continue though. I can't handle it if he doesn't get the help he needs.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hello, Allison! How are you and your boyfriend doing?

You should be aware that many doctors are going to consider this behavior to be abuse and addiction, so his doctor may not continue to prescribe it, at all, then you may have a real angry mess on your hands. So, please don't be afraid to walk away for awhile, if you need to, in order to prevent anything from occurring, or to call for help, if needed, if his doctor takes this approach.

I don't think it's likely, but you can never know for sure, when it comes right down to reality.

What you've described, however, are typical withdrawal effects, as listed by the FDA. Psychosis may also occur.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I've been on xanax, tramadol, adderall and norcos for 10 years now. I called last week for my adderall refill n nurs...

2 REPLIES

I have taken 40mg of Adderall XR (20 mgx2) for over five years. Once in the past i had to stop taking the Adderall abrup...

5 REPLIES

My son had a terrible experience on wyvance. He has phyciatic systems to include halluciations. The doctor took him off ...

428 REPLIES

I have been in pain management for years, lost my doctor along with other patients, and primary won't fill or says s...

299 REPLIES

I have been on kolonopin 1 mg daily for 14 months now I am depressed and very anxious most of the time I want to get off...

292 REPLIES

How long before muscle aches and weakness subside after discontinuing Lipitor ## Had been on 10mg for 4 years. recently ...

204 REPLIES

I have been on Vyvanse for 4 weeks and I am now tapering off. I was going to quit cold turkey , but I wke up this mornin...

159 REPLIES

I have been on stelaine for 25 years with short breaks but I am trying to stop it and getting nasty withdrawal effects. ...

87 REPLIES

I have been prescribed oxycodone 30 MG's for about 4 years 1 to 2 a day. I decided on the 11th of this month enough ...

34 REPLIES

I've taken belviq twice a day for 3 months (i think- one bottle worth). I didn't refill the RX and now, 4 days l...

30 REPLIES