Excessive fatigue

[Dclayton93]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if I am experiencing unusual amounts of fatigue quitting adderall?

I have taken adderal everyday for 10 years. I finished my dose at 30mg a day. I have been off it for about 60 days.

 

I still feel so exhausted. I spend most days on the couch. I usually have to take a nap after being awake for a few hours because I'm so exhausted. I don't know if it's depression or lack of motivation or just exhaustion from over exerting my body over the past decade. 

If anyone has had a similar experience quitting was there anything that helped this besides caffeine?

[Subtracterall]

Congrats in getting off this stuff. Welcome to the board. When I exercise first thing in the morning it makes a difference in my energy that lasts a day or two.  For me, It's easiest to exercise when I first wake up because that's when I feel most rested. For a while I took liquid B vitamins every morning before working out but had to stop because my B12 level got too high.  B12 gave me an immediate boost of energy to help me start the day.  Other than that, sleep well, eat healthy and take your vitamins is the only advice I have. I think time will be the best medicine for the fatigue unfortunately.  You're not alone in this. Hang in there. 

[Sunnie]

Ive also experienced a lot of fatigue and depression. at first i was just allowing myself to succumb to it but ive recently been pushing myself a little just to plan more activities and fill my days with things i love/ surround myself with positive people and that has helped tremendously. I strongly recommend that you take some steps to rewire youre brain and to get some natural flow of dopamine goin again. ❤❤❤

[inneedofhelpBP]

I know the feeling. I was in bed for a month, maybe longer when I first quit adderall. People keep telling me "be kind to yourself." It does take time.

I succumbed to stimulants again over the summer. This time, vyvance. I realized recently that I'm in it deep again, when I stole adderall from my best friend last week when I was visiting her in New York. I packed 8 50 mg vyvances for a five day trip and by day three they were gone. She didn't have many, so when I took all of them, it was noticeable. So I decided to get help and I tossed everything that I had. By day 3 I was a complete wreck and called my psychiatrist and told her everything. What did she do? She prescribed me 10 30mg vyvance pills to "wean me off" and what did I do? I blew through almost all of them and it's been two days. 

 

There are two things at play: our bodies need to adjust to not being on them- go easy on yourself, and we (or I) need to get used to the idea that we are good enough not on them. I'm wrapped up in feeling like I'm nothing without them. That's something I need to sit with.

 

i apologize for my rant and going off topic. I'm grateful for this platform where I can be honest about this struggle, because shit, it's real

[Dclayton93]

Thanks for the advice and support. I plan to start some physical exercise this week. I also picked up L phenylalanine and ginkgo recommended by the sales associate at my local gnc who also came off a large dose of adderall. It was pretty cool because he knew exactly what I was going through!

[NotToday]

While exericise, diet, and supplements can certainly help, I think the best advice when it comes to the fatigue is to just accept it as it is for awhile.

When I took away the pressure of trying to maintain my adderall fueled life and gave myself permission to do the bare minimum, it was much easier. 

[Once_Again_a_Dreamer]

Agreed. Lower your expectations for yourself. Each time I've taken an extended break from pills (this time I hope to make it lasting!) if I find myself chastising myself for laying around all day I say "hey, laying around daydreaming sober is still better than being active and taking drugs." It's 12:30pm here and I'm not dressed for the day yet.

Spending time with friends helps me a lot. I forget about being in withdrawal when I start laughing :-)