weighting4better

Bring it on baby, I can dish it out, but I can take it too! ;-)

Note that above post was not to discount any of the realness of the negative experiences anyone posting here as had (at all). I would be the last one to doubt you, believe me. But just as not everyone might have the same favorable response to a given drug (as is seen unfortunately many times in, for example, oncology trials), not everyone would respond negatively?

If Adderall were causing such problems (long-term) for everyone, why is it that this is the only forum? Why aren't more folks complaining to their doctor (and doctor finally getting sick of hearing their complaints recommends switching to non-stimulant?). Maybe because they changes are so subtle, over time that people don't realize what is happening? Or is the drug actually not effecting everyone the same way (being that our brains are all different and would therefore respond differently to the same drug?). All that said, the animal research on amphetamines is compelling and scary (in more ways than one).

Thanks so much everyone for the replies and tips, and I'm glad it was so helpful to start this thread!!! :-) But I don't agree about the statement re: women being more controlled by emotions at all, sorry JustinW! I do have another idea to share, specifically w/the difficulty of just really waking up in the AM without the help of Adderall: "light box" therapy. http://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Plus-Light-Therapy/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392118396&sr=8-1&keywords=light+therapy+boxes I've never been diagnosed w/SAD, but I know I am "light sensitive." After leaving the East Coast to spend a vacation in Southern CA (a large portion of which was spent on the road in the warm California sun, sigh), could actually feel my brain changing - difficult to describe how, but it was certainly real. And I know that the boost I got from taking this drug really helped me get going in the AM, so am now using a light box as a substitute. Lots of real trials have shown how well these devices work (and w/out the side effects of Adderall, yay!).

I'm not trying to say that it's easy for men at all to stop taking this (or any addictive drug, for that matter), just that it is probably a different experience for us gals quitting this particular drug.

Just wondering (ya'll may have discussed this already), but do any of the owners of these forums have special tips for women for dealing with side effects of drugs for women? Because women (in general) are the ones who are expected to clean house, take care of children, whilst also maintaining a perfectly fit and trim body with energetic, engaging demeanor, it almost seems as though the side effects of quitting this drug have a special "kick you when you're down" kind of flavor for us. For these reasons does it take extra motivation/tricks for women to quit and stay off of this drug? Making staying fit/cleaning (the two most important and favorite activities in women's lives, after all ;-) seems to be possible important strategies in facilitating stopping this drug (vs. the much more daunting task changing societal expectations??!!) Have any of the owners of this site tried using a Roomba? (or other, similar technological devices that are proven to do more help than harm?). Having a helpful, friendly robot in the house to help with getting things done when you're in recovery seems like a smart (and easy) way to manage the expectations of others whilst dealing w/the withdrawal side effects. Other things that have helped me personally is having a husband who doesn't focus on every minutiae of my body (as though looking for flaws), and who projects an aura (much) more of calm acceptance vs. non-acceptance, simple indifference, or "pseudo-acceptance". Any other tips from women who have taken this drug and stayed off of it (whilst living through that time as a woman)?