[Suing my Psychiatrist for overprescribing Adderall]

My only thought is if that amount was actually illegal why did the pharmacy fill your prescription? They would be held liable as well I would think. Also the insurance company should have seen a red flag also unless you paid all out of pocket.

I've been researching the drug and I don't see any laws around dosage limit, but I did read that you can sue if a psychiatrist practices out of normal ethical standards and if another psychiatrist can verify that he was prescribing way too much. my next psychiatrist after him was shocked by the dose and would only prescribe me 40mg a day (thank god! Because that was the only way I got to a low enough dose to quit and it was the first time I was informed that my dose of 160mg a day was insane).

The pharmacy would call him to preauthorize that it was the right dosage and he'd say yes and they'd give it to me. I thought a preauthorization was normal for controlled substances but from reading more I don't think it's always necessary unless the dose is ridiculously high.

The insurance company didn't say anything either and I went through insurance. My multiple therapists and internist thought it sounded high but they didn't say I should stop taking it. There was a long line of people involved in making this seem like an acceptable dose but I don't think any of them can be held liable because i don't think it's an illegal dose, I think it's just a really unethical dose.

[Suing my Psychiatrist for overprescribing Adderall]

I've never heard of any dr. legally prescribing more than 60 mg per day. I thought that was the maximum dosage (based on what I've read.)

In order to sue someone, you need to prove that their actions have caused permanent damage to you, whether it's your health or your property. (I sued someone years ago for a car accident that left me permanently disabled, so that's how I know. I will say that it took years, the lawyers took 1/3 of the money, I had to go to a deposition--NOT FUN-- and I had to keep pushing and pushing because the original settlement offer was super low.)

It sounds to me like you have a case. You will need to talk to a good attorney who specializes in medical malpractice suits. You'll need medical charts from before, during, and after your time on adderall to prove that this is what caused it. I have no doubt that it was the adderall, but I imagine that your psychiatrist and/or their insurance company has some cadillac lawyers who will go to the ends of the earth to deny your claims, say that it was a pre-existing condition, etc.

In other words, it's going to take some legwork on your part and it's going to take time, but I think you should go for it. Get a free consultation with a good attorney and see what they say. Usually, for lawsuits, they don't collect $$ until the case is settled.

Thank you for your help BeHereNow! I'm so sorry to hear about your car accident and how long it all took. I talked to one of the best mal-practice lawyers in Denver where I live who I was connected with by an acquaintance. He said the same thing and said the case could end up being much more expensive then their lawfirm can afford or risk. But he wants me to call him back when I know more about my heart because I'm still getting information back from tests done this week. Hopefully, the tests come back normal and healthy and I was misdiagnosed, but if there is expensive and extensive permanent heart damage, he wants me to call back. Anyway, thanks again for your help and sorry again about your car crash.

[2 yrs clean, but now with heart problems. Sad and in need of support]

I wish I had wise words of wisdom but LILTEX nailed it. We're all thinking of you. <3

Thank you, Doge! That definitely means a lot and makes me not feel alone.

[2 yrs clean, but now with heart problems. Sad and in need of support]

Omg, that would be an awesome book!! The before and after story. You should totally do that! But I hear you about just taking walks and doing the dishes. Not an easy process to go through by any means, but once you get over the hump it truly gets better and better. So glad to hear you are going to go back to school and do something so meaningful for others. I think that will be amazing.

That's so sweet of you to say that about my posts. It's hard to know sometimes if what you say on here reaches other people or not as so many come and go, but it is always so rewarding to hear if anything I've written has actually helped someone else. I often wonder if I send people the opposite direction by saying the wrong thing somehow, but for the most part I feel like it's been good. It's weird how much this site has become like my little home over the years and it's been amazing to watch people get clean and get better. I worry when people drift away though. But yeah, I will definitely take your idea into consideration. I think it's just a matter of getting the ball rolling and then momentum will come. There are a lot of people who need help with this and it's not an easy solution, but we are living proof it can be done so that just along in itself should at least let others know it possible to get through it.

Anyhow, hope your day is going well and have a good night!

I think you're definitely helping a lot of people and when people drift away, it can also be for good reasons. Since getting clean, I've only reached out to this site twice both of which when I've been super struggling. So when I wasn't writing I was doing better than when I did write. But I'm going to try to stay involved more with the boards now. Thanks for the support about finishing my book. I hope to do that and am going to try to let it come naturally this time instead of forcing it to get done by using Adderall.

Have a good night! 🌻

[2 yrs clean, but now with heart problems. Sad and in need of support]

Cool! Thanks for the suggestions. I was obsessed with writing and wrote half of a memoir while on Adderall that documented a lot of my struggles with the drug. But now that I'm off the drug, I haven't written to try to address what recovery is like or that it's possible. I've been too busy just trying to be able to do the dishes and take walks. Anyway, when you mentioned you want to write a book, it made me realize that I could try to write the second half of my book sober to try to help people. And I think you should start that book you've been wanting to write! You have so much amazing advice and wisdom. Seriously, reading some of your posts made me hope I can have such insight with clients someday when I'm a therapist which is the goal with the Buddhist Psych degree. You could even compile all of your posts on quititngadderall.com as a starting point for your book and then flesh out your ideas and the advice you've already thought of to help people on this site. Just my two cents.

[Suing my Psychiatrist for overprescribing Adderall]

Thank you for the support. I am really lucky I didn't have a heart attack! Everyday was like Russian roulette. I'm so glad that's over

[Suing my Psychiatrist for overprescribing Adderall]

Thank you, Frank B! That helps to know.

[2 yrs clean, but now with heart problems. Sad and in need of support]

LILTEX41,

Thank you so so much. I'm printing what you wrote and putting it on my fridge as a reminder of the silver linings in my situation. You are truly very wise and I am so grateful that you took the time to write all of this.

Even though I've been in bed most of today again, I haven't been beating myself up over it like I was yesterday because your words have reminded me of the bigger picture. Im also realizing it's not the end of the world that I haven't left the house much all week and am eating tons of pizza and cookies. My partner reminded me that I have to be proud of myself that that's all I'm doing and that at least I'm not relapsing on Adderall or something just as damaging.

Also, reading more about you on your profile, I'm so happy for you and how far you are in your recovery. That's amazing that you have done all of those marathons! That's very inspiring!

With what you were saying about helping others with my story, do you have any suggestions for where and how I could do so? I read your story in Self which is amazing. I can relate to the psychosis so much. How else do you share your story?

Thank you again! (((Hugs)))

[2 yrs clean, but now with heart problems. Sad and in need of support]

So, I just found out I have a serious heart arrhythmia from all of my years on Adderall. (I posted my back story in a past post last year http://bit.ly/2e1mO18).My biggest fear has come true and it's making me so depressed. I've felt paralyzed for the last few weeks since finding out. I'm scared for the long term probability of heart medicines, heart surgery or god forbid a heart transplant. And this is particularly jarring because I was feeling hopeful with natural energy just one month ago after two years of a torturous physical and psychological withdrawal process. Just before I got this news about my heart, I had started exercising and had decided to go to grad school for Buddhist psychology (the exact opposite mentality and psychological philosophy than Adderall promotes) and was getting out of the house more. But now I'm just laying around obsessively researching different heart problems associated with Adderall use, how to sue my old prescribing psychiatrist and feeling disassociated, hopeless and pissed off at my old psychiatrist, myself, my ignorance and of course- Adderall- the devil's drug. All of this anxiety, grief and paralysis is making me feel like I'm back in the first month after quitting, which is horrible as many of you know. I don't know what to do and how to feel hopeful again and get back on track. Can anyone help?

[Suing my Psychiatrist for overprescribing Adderall]

I was prescribed Adderall from 2000-2014 with the dose increasing to 160mg a day for the last 4 or 5 years (from 2009-2014). During those years I had psychosis, auditory hallucinations and OCD all of which have disappeared since being off the drug for two years. My primary reason for deciding to pursue action now after much deliberation is that this week I've been wearing a heart monitor 24 hours a day and the cardiologist just called to say I have severe palpitations (that I can feel and had felt for years on adderall). The electrophysiologist said I have Atrial Flutter and I have to go in next Thursday for a echocardiogram. The drug has such a high risk for heart problems and the dose he prescribed was toxic. The one difficulty with the research regarding heart problems and Adderall is that most research is based on normal doses of 20mg or high doses like 90mg. I don't think there are any studies of the effect of 160mg of Adderall a day for years. That amount is more similar to meth or cocaine (unbeknownst to me back then) from what I've learned recently. Also, I had high blood pressure while I was on Adderall and the psychiatrist insisted (to the point of an argument) that it was from weight gain rather than the 160mg he had me on. I have had normal blood pressure since going off even at a higher weight. Do I have a potential law case against my psychiatrist who prescribed me 160mg of Adderall a day? I was told that was 4x the recommended dose. (If anyone knows where I can verify that, please let me know.) Thank you for your help!

[One year later and struggling more and more]

Thank you Greg! Your advice is really helpful! I'm glad to at least know its going to be many more years until I feel better even though that feels like forever. It's good to have some sort of idea. And yes I am thankful everyday for no more psychosis. I can't believe I used to put up with so many more mental health problems than I needed too. Congrats on how far you've come and thanks again.

[One year later and struggling more and more]

Thanks Zerokewl! I don't drink alcohol, which I highly recommend to anyone with depression. I definitely need to exercise more for sure. Thanks for the reminder and support!

[One year later and struggling more and more]

Thank you Cassie and CarpeDiem!

@Cassie - thank you for letting me know that the more years on adderall the longer it will take to get my natural resources back. I thought that might be the case, but hadn't heard that specifically. Also, I agree on a job. I also need to pay back debt I accumulated while on speed. Ugh. I hate that drug! And congrats on being almost 4 years clean! Wow. I can't wait for that day!

@CarpeDiem - that's such a coincidence about our stories! Thanks for sharing about your journey! (I also drink a ton of sugar free red bull some days! Lol.) Congrats on 70 days and keep up the good work!

[One year later and struggling more and more]

Thank you Grumpycat!! That makes me feel better when you say it like that!

[One year later and struggling more and more]

Thank you for both of your responses! It helps me feel less alone to know that recovery isn't a perfect upward slope on a graph but has its ups and downs (bk whopper Wednesday's for example or pizza and cupcakes for me lol). I have therapy now so I'm going to go see what my therapist has to offer too. Thanks again!!

[One year later and struggling more and more]

I quit adderall a year and a month ago after a 15 year addiction. I decided to quit last year because I my doctor had me on 160mg a day. I finally quit because I was having heart palpitations, always thought I was about to die of a heart attack, was living with constant psychosis, such as hearing voices and seeing things, which I actually thought were worth it because of how much writing and art I could produce every day without sleep. I also had such bad OCD on Adderall that I would edit a paragraph of writing or a couple of photograph in Photoshop for 36 hours without a bathroom break or eating. i was so isolated without friends and ended up in the psychiatric ward a few times from psychosis but still thought it was worth these mental health problems because of how much writing and art I would get done and how successful I felt career wise.

I finally quit 13 months ago thought which I never thought I could do and though that's an achievement in and of itself, I can't help but still feel like the biggest failure because after a year I'm still sleeping all the time, I've gained 30 pounds, I haven't written creatively or done art since I quit and I get so much anxiety when I try to do stuff like volunteer and I don't have a job right now and don't feel like I could hold one down as of now with my low energy and motivation.

The positives are that my OCD is gone, my psychosis is gone and I've made new friends and have a loving partner who I love with so my social life is way more supportive than when I isolated and worked on my writing and art projects all the time.

I'm laying this all out on the table for you all and for myself so I can see the pros and cons of this all. I was on this website a lot when I quit last year and being on this website really helped me quit! And I'm back on now because I need help with understanding the trajectory of when I will feel better, have energy and internal motivation again, have my creativity and natural drive back. It just seems to be getting harder and worse and I'm more depressed now than all year. I've been taking tyrosine, adrenal health supplements and I just got on the antidepressant, Wellbutrin, so I'm trying to be proactive with getting my physical and mental health back to how it was 15 years ago but this is the hardest process ever.

If anyone who has been off of adderall a while had any advice about when and how I can push my recovery along faster that would be great!! Thank you!!