Kimber

Good for you on month 2. I just finish week 2 and feels like every hour is a mood change. And yes the tight clothes can always get me. I've got to start working out...never had to before, but would probably help with more than weight ... good luck to you also.

Hmmm....something else to add to the growing list of Adderall side effects I didn't know about... I've had tinnitus for a while. It is constantly with me....I guess I've actually gotten used to it. Didn't know this was Adderall too... 2 week quit and still ringing...

Whoever recommended the book The Mood Cure, thank you! First of all it has been 7 days since I decided to quit and had my last Adderall 8 days ago...after never even considering the idea a year ago. ( been on for 17 years) I know it ain't even close to being over and may never be over, HOWEVER...for me setting myself up to succeed was crucial. I knew if I continued to drink alcohol every night and eat like crap, that I'd feel like crap and that would be all I would need for an excuse to "just get back on Adderall". So for me it was paramount to make my new obsession only eating good for me stuff and not drinking alcohol. In a week, which feels like forever, it's been ups and downs, and like someone else also said on here...Adderall masked any of the "downs" and getting used to self motivating. But right now, (and yes, I know I'm still honeymooning-yesterday sucked) Just feeling a little bit better AND the feeling of accomplishment of doing it for one week, feels really good. I HATE having something control me and me getting mad at adderall AND being armed with the vitamins, etc from the Mood Cure book I feel I am setting myself up for success. Seriously a good read book! And I thought I'd never be able to read without Adderall! HA!...obviously today is a good day.

Yup. I told my new functional medicine doctor that has taken over my rx that my plan was to get off of it...I just wasn't sure when or how it was going to play out for me. The day before it was to be filled, of course, I was already out and...low and behold all day no "thyroid-y, adrenal" feelings. Adderall was physically making me feel really bad and wrecking havoc on my hormones. And not that there may not be flare up in the future, but cause and effect was definitely there and all fingers pointed to adderall, I just wasn't ready to see it. I'm pretty hard headed and determined when I want to be. I'm not mad at any one other than myself for not really seeing it sooner and mad enough that I don't want this shit to own another day of my life. Yup we'll see in a month, 2 months, 6 months, a year...but today I'm 100% done. Husband, family and friends know, so got some accountability with them too.

So at 12:30pm today I tore up my rx that was to be filled tomorrow. Screw Adderall. Screw doctors. Screw taking the last 17 years of my life. I am done with you Adderall. I will not be owned by you any more.

Ugh...that's what I'm going to see about getting. Just had genesight done to see what meds I can use with little or less side effects, to help me get off Adderall. I've been on 17 year and know it ain't gonna be easy....never seems like a good time.

That's one of the problems...I'm on Doctor #3 that I've told about this and no one is concerned. I've stopped taking supplements so I get an accurate reading and am going to order blood test on my own. How long, on average, has anyone been off adderall and started to see and feel an improvement in their health? I know the depression will be difficult, but just wondering about our bodies ability to rebound from this shit.

I've been attempting to quit for a couple of months. Down to 20-30 mg /day. Does anyone think Adderall causes thyroid and/or adrenal problems? I have over researched this to the point of confusion and am afraid from what I've read that I can make it worse. My neck/throat area sometimes feels like it has a pulsing heartbeat and is really sore when I wake up, plus my body is always really hot, but feet and hands sometime cold. Like temperature gauge is off. 1. If stop Adderall cold turkey can this possible cause irreparable damage? 2. Any books or website suggestions for a SIMPLE TO FOLLOW, step by step on how to safely heal, help and/or repair any thyroid and/or adrenal problems. Like I said I have over bombarded myself with information and feel stuck. This really is the pits. Tired of Adderall totally taking up my life...whether obsessing about not using it, then if I take it, obsessing and beat myself up for succumbing, then off to obsessively clean house and do more research! I've killed 100's of trees with all my printed info on this crap..

Told husband, also asked prescriber to take rx down to 30mg. I started going to a functional medicine dr. For help with hormone imbalance and she wanted to change me to Vyvance, which I knew nothing about until looking up afterwards... it does amaze me even the " healthy" medical community has NO IDEA how horrid this stuff is ...looked like Vyvance would just be a different version of the same. Not easy to try to get off when no one I've seen in the medical community thinks there is anything wrong with adderall.

Wow. Articulated well...

Hope you doing ok. I got through 5 days and caved. I am taking less than I was and am aware, which it sounds like you are as well. The thing that hit me about your post is when you said you feel more outgoing, sillier and laughing off the adderall. I didn't know Adderall would/could take that part away.... I definitely feel like my personality, "fun-ness". Is gone...I just never thought to blame it on adderall. It is encouraging to hear that you are getting some positives from quitting. I'm gonna try to set myself up to quit, again when my husband leaves in a week.....

Thanks all and sorry, my non adderall brain did not pick up on title of this particular forum and just mindlessly posted. I suspect just about every problem I am having can be attributed to adderall...It would certainly be "nice" if those problems would magically disappear to confirm that going through the horrid experience of quitting is a means to an end. Just some wishful thinking. I sooooo do not trust that Dr's really have a clue or else they would never rx this stuff. I'm gonna make an appt to see about getting rx for 10mg instead of 20mg. I did notice when first started 20mg I felt really "off".

Yes Subtracterall...age....I'm turning 50 this year, which in itself is extremely depressing. And yes, hormone issues that I've been trying to address with Bioidentical Hormones, which supposedly work wonders for others...me just more side effects. Started eating better which helps, except in the 4 days that I've quit I have reverted back to crap. It was the vanity stuff that 1st had me look at Adderall as a possible culprit. Funny....never heard of oxidative stress, but in looking at my face, that's what comes to mind. My face looks much older than women of my same age, not my body. I feel old and worn out. Even though shouldn't ...no kids, no real stress,... Some stupid song keeps repeating in my head today..."How do I live without you? I want to know" Vomit. How sad too, Doctors are really scary. I've told all that I take Adderall and never any suggestion to look at it... Sorry kind of all over the place, and just on sofa today...

I'm new to the entire concept of quitting Adderall. March 16th I "stumbled" upon this form, and is 1st day ever thought seriously about thinking about quitting. I am just starting to educating myself on the toxic effects of adderall. Been thinking it was hormonal, which definitely is part, but want to see what Adderall is contributing to the problems I'm having by removing it from the equation. Just am frustrated. And very alone.

What sucks is this is how I was pre-Adderall. Zero motivation, always tired, looking for next nap, always felt like my brain wasn't getting enough oxygen, foggy. And why Adderall seemed like a life saver. I don't want to go back to being a walking zombie, but don't like the seemingly recent side effects of Adderall I've been experiencing and petrified of the long term side effects I never let myself read about... Question? Is low dose (10mg) safer as far as long term side effects? And if you take breaks? Or is there a safer alternative? I've never taken anything but Adderall for ADD and have decided I am NOT going to be a slave to any drug. Adderall is the last prescription medication I am on. Took myself off everything else doctors have put me on years ago. Any comments on what's worked, hadn't worked, etc.

Don't know if I'm even allowed to respond since my quit date is March 27th. HOWEVER, one thing I learned when I stopped using anti-depressants, anti-anxiety and Ambien...Is you are not your thoughts. I don't know if this even makes sense, but I always thought this constant crazy thought stream in my head was wrong, bad, sick, and that it was me, until I read a little book The Untethered Soul. I realized All those thoughts are not me! And I don't need a therapist or drugs to make it stop. It will never stop. You just train yourself to distance your real self from those negative thoughts instead of believing them. REMIND ME OF THIS MARCH 28th!! Unreal job to be at 65 days THAT IS HUGE!

Uhhh WOW thank you all! I had NO idea others did the same stuff I've started "noticing" that I'm feeling bad about doing...using up rx before time for refill, planning ANY social commitments only if have full 40+mg dose, and canceling out any for last part of month when I'm out of rx. I've been blaming all of it on hormones. I've 180'ed my eating habits the past November and I am doing another reset detox, no sugars, carbs 3 weeks and forced myself to look at anything else that might be causing me to feel bad, age much worse than peers, and weird things like hot all the time but cold hands and feet led me to think adrenal stuff. Kills me because I was a pharmaceutical rep for years and got out b/c loved the $, but hated what I did and was supposed to promote, and took myself off all the crap doctors had put me on, and was diagnosed ADD and thought Adderall was the answer, no side effects (so I thought) or at least I could go without it and not want to kill myself or someone else! 15 years later here I am just starting to admit that its time to look at this stuff seriously. I feel even worse because back then I told my sister how great this stuff is, she's been on it for at least 10 yrs. Seriously, Thank you all, I've never thought I'd be thinking about doing this a week ago. But I can't not ....

This is the first day I have admitted I want to stop taking Adderall. I wouldn't be able to read this site, much less post without the 10mg I took this am. I have a prescription for 40mg for last 6 months, been on 20-30mg for 15+ years. It didn't feel like it became an issue until last 2-3 yrs with continued unresolved health issues. I've tried to address everything else that could be wrong, NEVER willing to look at Adderall or even let it be considered. I just never thought other people also had a problem even doing the basics without Adderall. When I run out which is every time, I can't won't even answer the phone and severely isolate. Thank God I have a huge dog that has to be walked, so I'm getting 2-3 miles a day. I petrified to tell my husband I am considering getting off this stuff for fear he'll hold me to it or be disappointed if I don't. Fortunately I have zero responsibilities (excluding the DOG!) and no excuses not to stop. I have started addressing nutritional health to combat hormonal issues, so I'm hoping this will help....I'm guessing we'll see.