IFIHADKNOWN

Idontcare and Cassie - thank you. You both demonstrate my point regarding why I am searching for a doctor who understands the withdrawal process. When I first quit cold turkey, I was immediately put on Wellbutrin. A quick Google search indicated that was the primary drug prescribed - so it seems like it is the only drug that most doctors even know about prescribing for withdrawal. Unfortunately, Wellbutrin was not for me. I learned about an entire series of medicines like Provigil and was super dissappoited that I have seen 4 doctors and these medications were never even discussed (when they knew fatigue was my primary problem). Believe me - I am anti-medicine of any type (which is why I went cold turkey off Addy) but I do have to stay awake and keep a job in the meantime. People I spoke with directly regarding Provigil said exactly what Idontcare indicated. It keeps you awake but has no euphoria effect. As I struggle with this fatigue issue every day, I was just hoping to find a doctor who could at least suggest alternatives other than Wellbutrin. As a side note - I have taken all of the supplements recommended by others on the site. Most have almost zero impact. It sucks when a Redbull is the most effective supplement. Sorry for the rant - just trying to express my honest feelings. Take care everyone!

Thanks Cassie - your comments were very comforting to hear!

Good point Cassie - a counselor is also needed. I have seen 3 of them. Just like the doctors, they have no experience with withdrawal. Regarding the doctor, while I am fight taking any drugs (tooth and nail) my problem is - I don't know what I don't know. My biggest problem is the sustained fatigue, lack of motivation and focus. I do not miss any other elements of Adderall, I just need to be able to stay awake and alert for my job. I have heard about other medicinces like Provigil (simply one example). I would like a doctor you understands all of these medications (pros and cons). Continuing with my current fatigue level may result in an inability to continue working and having to quit to take a recovery break. I am ok with that - if that is the best option. Seems a combination of proper doctor and counselor could be a big help. Again - the best advice I have gotten anywhere to date is from this forum. While that is great, given the wide-use of this drug, it seems very odd. I appreciate any thoughts or recommendations.

I am wondering if anyone has every worked with a psych. who understands what Adderall withdrawal is all about? I live in a highly populated area and have seen no less than 4 docs regarding my withdrawal. Some of these doctors work for the most highly regarding Universities in the nation and others "specialize" in Adderall and ADHD medications. The lack of knowledge regarding withdrawal is shocking. Every useful thing I learned about withdrawal has come from this forum. The standard response I have gotten is "after one month it should be out of your system and you should be back to normal". Of course I am thinking - "are you kidding me?". I did have one doctor tell me "oh well" you now have permanent brain damage (after 18 months of use) - "sorry - nothing I can do to help". I would be willing to travel to another state if anyone could private message me a recommendation of a doctor who really understands Adderall withdrawal. It seems they are outstanding at prescribing it and yet have no idea how to deal with the long-term fallout should you decide to stop taking it. Any referrals (if they even exist) would be very helpful. Thanks!!!

I think that is a great question. I have a six-month adderall free anniversary coming up. I used to feel that if I made it to six-months, that was a major milestone. I was not an extremely heavy user (45 mg per day) and was on Addy for about 18 months. Yet, six-months in I am still really struggling with fatigue, motivation and irritability. Thankfully this forum has many great multi-year members who willingly provide guidance. Yet, I frequently read about the recovery spreading into years 2 and 3 and beyond. For a person at the six-month point this can be a hard fact to hear. Does this mean that even a year from now I will still be feeling notable negative symptoms (if it does, it does - life is not always fair or easy). Alternatively, if it means that after say "one-year" you may be at 90 percent and that the last 10 percent will come over an extended period of time, that is obviously an easier fact. Like blakery123 I don't think I have ever read anyone say they feel "fully recovered" even after many years. Does that mean that some damage is permanent? Although I have not read anyone say they are "fully recovered", I have read many say the quality of their life is the best it has even been (even as compared to pre-Addy). It can be hard to understand this contradiction. Any thoughts would be helpful - as you can probably tell, I am trying to keep my chin-up as I personally expected to be further along at this point. Thanks and good question blakery123.

I find myself checking it regularly for inspiration and to confirm that I am not alone. I hope the newbeis don't just drop out and return to Addy. That would be very sad for them.

Hi myfamilyiseverything: I truly do feel for you, your children and your entire family. I am not a professional by any stretch - just a guy trying to rid my self of the same very, very addictive drug your husband is on. It seems like you have 2 choices 1) Confront him regarding the substance and see if he can work with the proper doctor to taper down. When my wife confronted me, I immedatiatly went into a volunatary hospital for a one week stay. 2) If his condition is bad enough, you can talk to the hospital about the steps necessary to have him in-volunatarily committed to a hospital. Under either condition - you will get your husband back after he breaks free from the drug. Many men take adderall just to keep up in the workplace for their family without realizing how addictive the drug is. Recovery will be a long road but many have made it and I am sure your husband will as well. I am 5 months Adderall free now and I am sure I will never use it again - but I would not be where I am today if not for the love, committment and patience of my wife. God Bless you and your family!

Way to go! Having only been off of Adderall for about 5 months myself, I have quickly realized how important it is to truly appreciate and celebrate ever goal you obtain. 1 month, 2 month, 3 month, etc.. Everyday without that beast in our lifes is a major accomplishment. Keep it up and be sure to ask for help if you feel like you relapsing. I found the assistance I gained from others to be very powerful. Stay strong!

Hi - very sorry to hear about your relapse but I also understand why it happens. As quit-once indicated, this is the nature of the drug and why so many people cannot shake it once they start it. That said (and I by no means want to sound judgemental) but if you were able to go through a 1/2 month supply in 36 hours, you really should consider outside assistance. One problem that I quickly learned is that most doctors do not even understand the issues associated with quitting Adderall. I have had at least 4 doctors tell me "well, after 30 days it should be out of your system and you should be feeling fine". It's crazy! On Youtube there are some videos from a Clinic in New York that appears to understand the withdrawal process and the nature of why people take it. In their video they describe other medications (such as Wellbutrin or Provigil (for awakens) to take while you taper off. I found that information to be very useful and basically put together a formula with a local doctor that works for me (some Provigil for awakeness and a small amount of Xanax when needed for anxiety). It literally helped me prevent a relapse. All medications have negative side-effects and benzos or stimulants like Provigil or Xanax can create other serious additions - but for me - I have never had withdrawal from anything but Addy. Check out the video and see if it helps you any. At least you can take comfort that some experts understand this is greatly about the drug and not the person. Here is the video link - I watched many and this one seemed the best - but it is not an official endorsement as I am sure that others on the forum would be critical of some of his advice or methods for quitting. I hope it helps you - it did for me:

Thanks for the comments and support everyone - they really help a great deal! Right now, I am just taking it day by day.

I was on just about the same level of Adderall as you for two years. While I did not feel anxiety, I did start to feel that I was becoming more easily angry. I am sure the drug impacts everyone different. I have been off for 5 months now and I am starting to feel a whole lot better (but some fatigue still exists). For me, the really hard fatigue lasted about a month (where I would want to sleep all day) - after that, I did not want to sleep but I also did not want to do anything else (almost no motivation). I looked at (and continue to view everyday as a challenge). My family and friends are very supportive and that helps. One thing I know for sure, I would never go back to that Adderall hell again. Keep up the good fight, cut yourself a lot of slack and be as honest with those around you as you can. As each day passes, you will feel that much better. I just wish I could speed up the calendar for you! Keep the faith!

I am almost 5 months Adderall free and I am considering changing to a less stressfull job. I am thinking that my current high stress job may be slowing my recovery. I am wondering if any forum members can share experiences with me about how stress impacted their withdrawal recovery? It seems like my stress environment is causing me to remain fatigued. I appreciate any experiences people are willing to share. Thanks!

Hi - Unfortunately, what you are experiencing related to Adderall withdrawal happens to many people. I was taking 60 mg a day and stopped taking the prescription about 5 months ago. While the first two months were the worst for me (in terms of fatigue), I can still feel the fatigue to this day. In my own simple terms, Adderall attaches itself to your energy, mood, ability to focus and motivation. When the Adderall leaves your system, it takes those attributes with it. They do come back over time - but it can take many months or even years. It is a very dangerous drug and unfortunately it is diagnosed way too often. I hope that helps. Stay off it if you can. If you can't quit cold turkey (not recommended) get with a doctor and work out a long-term plan to reduce use over time. Best of luck!

Breathing

Hi Dangerbean and Quit-once. Thank you very much for your posts! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your comments and insight with me. It truly is a tremedous help! It is also nice to know that you are not alone (which is why this forum is so helpful). Thank you again for the sage advice!

Hi: Since quitting Adderall cold turkey about 3.5 months ago, this forum has been the best source of information I have found. Thank-you to everyone for sharing your experiences for others to learn from. In that same spirit, here is my story and where I am at right now: I am a professional in my mid-40's. About 8 years ago I was prescribed 10 mg (which I am told is a child size dose) of Prozac to help me with stress and intrusive catastrophic thoughts. The Prozac worked very well but had one side effect (it would make me yawn uncontrollably). With my doctor, we tried other alternatives but Prozac was the best. At one of my visits about two years ago, I complained to the doctor about the Prozac related yawning during my very busy work days. At that visit, he prescribed 10 mg tablets of Adderall for me to be taken 3 times a day. I had never heard of Adderall before that day. Nothing was said to me about any long-term negative impacts related to Adderall - simply "it should relieve the yawning and help my focus". At first, Adderall was bliss. My productivity went through the roof and I had a terrific sense of self-being. It wasn't long into the process that long days at work would require me to take 3 instead of the prescribed 4 pills on occasion. This frequently would cause me to fall two to three days short on supply at the end of the month. Without the Adderall, I could not even get out of bed. This was when I first realized the dangers of this drug. In fact, one weekend I slept right through the wedding of one of my best friends (haunts me to this day). After about a year, my doctor increased the dosage to 15 mg three times a day. At 10 mg the drug was starting to lose its effectiveness. I continued to have the same problem over the next 10 months of continually falling about 2 to 3 days short per month (constant sleep days) and I was starting to become more agitated all month long. After about 22 months on Adderall I made the decision to go cold turkey. My doctor warned me to wein off the drug (which I really should have) but I was too stubborn. My doctor suggested that I admit myself into a local hospital to be monitored for depression for the first 3 days. I took his advice - which turned out to be both good and bad. On the good side - during those three days I met a number of people with medication problems and learned that each person has to be their own medication advocate. In other words, it is ok to tell the doctors "no" when they attempt to prescribe medication. In the hospital, the doctor was concerned about my post Adderall crash and wanted to prescribe a pill to help with mood disorder (I was not even sure what the medication was). I turned him down as I did not feel I needed it. On the bad side - my time in the hospital made my private situation very public. The doctor required me to take a short-term disability leave of at least one-month from my job (thus, I had to tell my employer, colleagues, clients and friends). In a way, it was good because I did not need to keep my upcoming "hell" a secret. That said, my work and friends think I am all better now - and clearly I am far from it. The first month after quitting I was functional but tired (first 3 days were all sleep). The second and third month the fatigue really set in. I went back to work after 45 days and every day has been a major challenge ever since (just to get out of bed). I am at 3.5 months without the Adderall now and I am having an easier time getting going each day - but my motivation level is still at about 40%. As of now, I do not crave Adderall at all. Outside of the hospital, I got a new doctor who prescribed Wellbutrin for me. I took it for a month but it was clearly just adding to my tirednes - so I stopped taking it. This was a bummer as I understand that drug has helped a great number of people. For the past two-months I have found St. John's Wort and Sam-E to help prevent depression (fyi - I ended Prozac when I entered the hospital). I increased all the Alpha vitamins (B's, C, E) and I take 100 MG caffeine pills about 3 to 4 times a day for energy. I have tried working out (which clearly helps my energy level the most) but struggle to find time with my busy day. For those members who have been off Adderall for six-months plus, I have some questions I am really interested in your opinions/advice regarding: 1) What do you think I should expect over the next couple of months regarding my energy and motivation? How might I feel at the six-month and one-year mark? 2) Has anyone ever fully recovered from taking Adderall? 3) Any suggestions regarding supplements or ideas to help with energy and motivation in the short run? Since I was on Adderall for less than two-years, I am hoping that my recovery time may be a bit shorter. That said, I am prepared for the possibility that recovery may take two or more years. My wife is great (so no concern there) - but if I had to quit my job due to lack of energy in order to recover, I would do it. This experience has really helped me realize how important it is to put my health first. I appologize for the long thread. I just wanted to get all the facts out there for my benefit and the benefit of others in similar situations. Thanks for reading and I am really looking forward to any guidance or suggestions! "If I had only known".

Hi - I know the feeling. I have two children myself and felt the same way. Here are two things that helped me: 1) I explained to my children what I was going through and that it was going to cause to be very tired for sometime (months). They were very understanding and even helpful. 2) I simply accepted the fact that I would have low motivation and energy for many months (despite doing everything I could to counteract it) - but in the end quitting the medication was the right thing to do. I have been off Adderall for 3.5 months now and my motivation and energy is difinitly starting to return. Those were some difficult months but I would quit all over again even if it meant I lacked energy for a whole year. I have just viewed it all as "life happens" and I would rather have Adderall withdrawal than a permanetly dibilitating illness. Hang in there!!

Wow - great for you!! I felt the same way as you after reading the stories on this forum for the first time. This Adderall stuff is extremely alluring and easily results in most everyone taking more than prescribed or trying to obtain it from other sources. There is truly no shame in it. Best of luck of the next few months. If I can be of any help, don't hesitate to send me a Private Message. I am still figuring withdrawal out myself - but if I can help in anyway, I would be happy too. Take care!

Hi pdxpaul79: It seems like the real good news here is that you have only been taking Adderall for a few months - that should make it easier to stop taking it. Personally, I am in the exact same spot in life as you (age, children, job, etc..) and I took Addy for just shy of two years. Now that I know how dangerous the drug can be - I suggest that anyone run (not walk) from it. Youy should keep an eye out for increased irritability (after about 1.5 years at 45 MG I started to notice that in myself). I went off Adderall cold turkey and I have been clean for about 3.5 months. Cold turkey was definietly harder but I was concerned about having any kind of access to the drug. The easiest way is to wein off slowly but that requires a lot of discipline (I would still recommend tappering off the drug if possible). For me, the hardest part has been dealing with the lack of energy and motivation. While I am a little bit better know, I still have a long way to go. My best advice to you is be honest about the drug with your employer and friends. Everyone needs to understand that stuff like this happens in life to good people and that you are one of many who have tried this medication. My employer alllowed me to go on short-term disability for the first two months. I could have stayed on disability longer but I forced myself back to work. All of my friends and family have been understanding and they know why I have not be contacting them and my wife understands why I have not been tending to home projects. They all understand that I will be back to my old self at some point, it just takes time. To get a clean break, I voluntarily checked myself into a local hospital for 3 days. When I was in the hospital they prescribed Wellbutrin (but it made me more tired). I have since found that Guarana pills (100 MG of caffine), combined with Sam-e and St. John's Wort (both to ward against depression), vitamins B-6 and B-12 have helped the most. All can be purchased at any vitamin store. I also eat much healthier and shoot for 30 minutes of carido a day (the days I fail to do cardio are much harder to make it through). I take the Guarana pills about 3 to 4 times a day and the Sam-e about the same. In the end, be honest with everyone around you. You should not feel ashamed or embarrased in any way. You are just a man trying to do the best for your family. Once it is out in the open, it is so much easier to deal with. Best of luck - please update us and let us know how it goes.

Hi Lisa - thank you so much for taking the time with your post. I am new to the forum as of this morning and I am also approximately 100 days clean from Adderall. I was taking approximately 45 to 60 mg of the quick release version a day for about two years. In a bit, I will create a post with my full story. I have read some of your posts and agree with you that the impact of using Adderall is not taking seriously enough. My doctor prescribed it for me like he would Zantac and provided no coaching or warnings. As we all know, this stuff is very destructive. I realize you were on a high levels (and I can see how that can easily happen). How long before your engergy returned to acceptable levels? That is my biggest issue right now. I am not depressed but the lack of energy is casuing havoc in my life. Thanks again for being brave enough to reach out. Even with your legal troubles, you are still so much better off today! Congratulations on 485 days clean - you slayed the dragon and that should be celebrated.