70 Days Off Adderall And Psych Prescribes Concerta

[Rachel]

What do you do with someone who has ADHD, and then abuses their medication to the point of being 5150'd after two straight days in psychosis? How do you treat their ADHD after an incident like that? It seems very simple: Don't prescribe stimulant medication. If only it were.

This has been the most difficult time in my life, hands down. Adderall helped my ADHD symptoms tremendously, but then it became my coping mechanism for past trauma and, well, life in general. You all know the story. 

I am currently in an outpatient program for addiction, and have 70 days off of Adderall. My program ends in May, and while I am there, I am overseen by one of the resident psychs. I was put on Wellbutrin my second day there, mainly for depression. She wanted to wait to treat the ADHD, and after 30 days clean I was handed a script for Strattera. 305 dollars later, I am feeling the worst I ever have in my life. I see the psych and she goes back to just Wellbutrin, and wants me to do that for 3 weeks. In the meantime, I am told to go to a class for ADHD.

Please, if anyone has differing info on what I am about to share, tell me. I have learned the following so far:

I learn in the class that medication reduces 70-80 percent of ADHD symptoms. My teacher likens ADHD meds to insulin for a diabetic. The problem is the majority of research has been done on stimulants, and if course there are glowing reviews. Not good news for me. This may sound dumb, but I didn't know ADHD was a neurological disorder, and that I was born with it. When I was diagnosed, I was handed pills and told to go about my merry way. Anyway, the class has been interesting and informative, but I'm wondering what others have heard.

The three weeks come to an end. I see the psych, and am prescribed Concerta. However, it's for 14 pills and I am to get it filled weekly due to my addiction to Adderall. Concerta is thought to be safer because it's extended time release, and of course the heavy monitoring. We also get drug tested once a week, as I have mentioned in other posts. 

But here I am at 1:45 AM, wide awake. I have taken the medication as prescribed, and yet I am in this familiar scenario once again. My brain wants to stay up all night and catch up on all the lost time...my thesis project due next month, my final paper, laundry, the bathroom, the kitchen...you name it. I'm not high, but I can't shut down. I had this issue when I started Wellbutrin--I was up for an entire night, but after that it was fine. Am I too freaked out because I know Concerta is a stimulant like Adderall? I don't want to get back on that roller coaster ride from hell.

Where does the need for ADHD treatment and the potential for abuse find its common ground? ADHD symptoms are almost exclusively reduced through medication, according to my class. So here I am. 

This is supposed to be helping me...right?

Thnak you for listening. I would appreciate any thoughts.

 

 

[LILTEX41]

Rachel,

I started off on Ritalin, then Concerta, then to Adderall.  Yes, they are all stimulants and do the same thing.  Who gives a shit if they are extended release or not. They are speed.  Maybe the psychs should take these pills and see how it works for them before handing them out like candy to their patients.  I am not a psychiatrist, counselor, or have any formal training. However, I am someone that has taken all these drugs along with doing coke and guess what?  They all do the same thing.  They make you high and your brain becomes dependent on them to function.  Screw the psychs and all their medication b.s.  Get clean and you won't have to deal with this nightmare anymore.  No more depending on the pharmacy, scripts, doctor visits, and relying on pills.  I honestly can't believe you are in a program for addiction and they prescribed you yet another stimulant.  Mind blowing.  I was sober for 6 months back in 2003 when I was put on ritalin.  Then I switched to concerta.  These drugs triggered the urge for MORE.  I wanted to keep the high going.  6 months later I relapsed on alcohol and then switched to adderall.  My life fell apart.  Just get clean.  That is my best piece of advice. 

Best wishes

To further reiterate my point, this article sums it up.  Although Concerta might not be as strong as adderall, it is still speed.  The effects hit after 40--45 minutes and you get that initial euphoric high for the first hour.  Then it slowly wears off over the next 8-12 hours but you are still left in that robotic trance like zombie state.  Do you really want to live the rest of your life in that state?  Or having to fight urges and cravings for more of the drug?  Just break free from the trap of all of it and do not take any of them.  Find an ADD specialist that can help you find alternative ways to cope with concentration without drugs.

https://www.drugs.com/illicit/speed.html

[hyper_critical]

I am blown away that they prescribed you Concerta. Unfortunately most of the psych's I've looked at who are also addiction specialists don't take insurance. The gap between where the medical community and even the addiction community is and reality as it pertains to stimulants is baffling.

 

 

[KimR]

I tried Vyvanse because it's said to be a smoother with less abuse potential. 

Wrong. 

I know I may be in the minority here, but it was worse on me than Adderall. It really did last 12 hours, sometimes even felt like more. Sleeping after Vyvanse was impossible. My first day I took 30mg at 9 AM and couldnt sleep at all that night. That's only equal to 20mg adderall, which I could take and then have a nap three hours later. 

When I bumped up to 70mg I was sleeping less and less. Though I will say quitting Vyvanse is easier than Adderall. Less physical symptoms. 

The worst thing about Vyvanse was the anxiety it gave when coming down. Sure, Adderall does that, too, but no where near to that extent. 

My last bottle of Vyvanse I flushed 16 70mg down the toilet during a panic attack. I honestly thought I really might die from a heart attack. 

In my opinion all stimulants are going to do just what Adderall did — mess up your life.

[Rachel]

Thank you all for your responses. Right now I'm wondering where to trust my doctor and where I should take matters into my own hands. If my psych isn't doing what is best for me, that really scares me. My life is literally in their hands.

ADHD has been a struggle throughout my entire life. I know my doctors want to help as much as they can with that...I don't know. I'm confused about it all. The ADHD specialist I do work with told me medication is the most important part of the treatment, and like I said above, that's where I am in a bind bedside most of the treatment is addressed with stimulants.

I was finally able to get to sleep and felt much better today. I did take the prescribed dose today along with my Wellbutrin. But this is the second day on it, we all know this can progress.

I just want to make it clear that I do not suggest or support trying a different kind of stimulant for  anyone trying to quit Adderall, or who has quit Adderall. My medical team in my treatment center decided to do this, and I followed it. They have been with me since my first week out of the psych ward, so I of course assume they have my best interest at heart. But as I have stated in my posts, something doesn't feel right. 

I have a lot of thinking to do. Thank you again to all of you. 

[bluemoon]

All I can say is... what the hell?!?! That is so messed up that they prescribed you another stimulant while you're in treatment for addiction/abuse of adderall. I would take everyone's advice here and NOT take any more of that shit. It is the same thing as Adderall! It will pretty much put you back at square one 

[Frank B]

Well is this really a shock to people? I mean you get hooked on heroin they give you fucking methadone then your hooked on that. Truth is rehab is a money making business your best interest is not always really a concern. I recall when I had my breaking point and wanted to be seen  immediately I was denied by everybody. How do people actually think addicts going to get better if they have to wait a two weeks just to see someone. I even walked into a Salvation Army rehab I was desperate some rude ass lady over the intercom kept yelling "What you want!" People at a breaking point need help that day but it's not available I guess unless you go 5150 I felt like it but knew I could not afford a trip to the hospital. All this when Obama was president now shits only gonna get worse cutting funding for all programs to line the pockets of the rich. People who don't see how fucked we are just being blind . I mean seriously cutting off after school programs for inner city because grades aren't better? We are going to have more drug addicts in America soon shits hitting the fan glad I'm off addy I would probably be out of control with all this bs. 

[quit-once]

2 hours ago, bluemoon said:

All I can say is... what the hell?!?! That is so messed up that they prescribed you another stimulant while you're in treatment for addiction/abuse of adderall. I would take everyone's advice here and NOT take any more of that shit. It is the same thing as Adderall! It will pretty much put you back at square one 

 

13 hours ago, hyper_critical said:

I am blown away that they prescribed you Concerta. Unfortunately most of the psych's I've looked at who are also addiction specialists don't take insurance. The gap between where the medical community and even the addiction community is and reality as it pertains to stimulants is baffling.

 

 

 

15 hours ago, LILTEX41 said:

Rachel,

They are speed.  They all do the same thing.  They make you high and your brain becomes dependent on them to function.  Screw the psychs and all their medication b.s.  Get clean and you won't have to deal with this nightmare anymore.  No more depending on the pharmacy, scripts, doctor visits, and relying on pills.  I honestly can't believe you are in a program for addiction and they prescribed you yet another stimulant.  Mind blowing.  

  Although Concerta might not be as strong as adderall, it is still speed.  The effects hit after 40--45 minutes and you get that initial euphoric high for the first hour.  Then it slowly wears off over the next 8-12 hours but you are still left in that robotic trance like zombie state.  Do you really want to live the rest of your life in that state?  Or having to fight urges and cravings for more of the drug?  Just break free from the trap of all of it and do not take any of them.  

https://www.drugs.com/illicit/speed.html

I ,too, am shocked that addiction specialists would put you back on the class of drugs that you were addicted to.   The above three quotes are from members with a combined clean time of well over ten years and their responses are sincere and true

So, you have ADHD, and modern medicine says that drugs are 80% effective for treating it.  The problem is, you have already eaten that cookie and all similar cookies still contain sugar or lets say flour and you are allergic to wheat.  Since the allergic reaction is worse than your hunger for the cookie, you only have one option - and that is to abstain from cookies for the rest of your life.  Cookies just can't be made without using flour / sugar. 

I know, this is a stupid analogy but my point is that you have simply exhausted the option of using ANY stimulant drugs for treating your disorder.  There are other ways to cope and it will be up to YOU to solve that problem.   Please be patient and allow yourself the time it takes to recover from this addiction while finding other ways to address your ADHD.   I believe that stimulant abuse actually enhances ADHD so the longer you are away from the speed the better you will cope with life, no matter how chaotic it may seem.