EricP

Yeah mine was a blood test however doc wants me to wait two months and retake before considering anything. I notice some muscle and tone loss that many complain about after addy however I am sure for me and most this also has to do with out decreased physical drive.

I can relate to this on my stressful busy days. I just get to the point that I know I have to go to bed, even if we have company over I will excuse myself or sometimes at home family parties will end up getting to the bedroom unnoticed. Sometimes the tireness lingers the following day. I just feel like our brains don’t have the dopamine stores that we used to have and can’t be forced to “keep going” I also have difficulty with alertness and nodding while driving long distances which is something I have never has an issue with before. However not sure that is the same thing or related.

Just wondering if anyone check their Testosterone Levels after stopping Adderall? I had one test about 6mo before quitting and it was mid-range normal and my physical this week it came up near low. I do feel some of the symptoms related so will probably try replacement therapy if my next test in 2mo also comes back low. I have read some medical links about dopamine and testosterone somewhat affecting each other. Just wondering is this is common among the adderall withdrawal symptoms or if I am just having my own isolated hormonal issue?

I am finding results with most nootropics that if you feel anything it may last a few days then just becomes a new normal which really doesn't feel like anything... Stopping use would be the only way to define at that point if it is doing anything or not. I do still take lithium orotate in my daily cocktail however some days I will forget to take anything all together and make it thru the day without much change overall. Multiple days might be different.

I pray I get to sleep deeply again. At almost 8mo now and whatever reason I get less deep sleep now than I did on Adderall. Adderall I often had issues going to sleep however I would then sleep very well. Now I have no issues falling asleep and sleep pretty deep at first, I just usually awake around 3am like it’s time to get up and that can be frustrating. I think we are all different and this drug has effected some people’s brains differently than others. I also agree with sleepystupd’s comments.

BPC 157 sounds interesting. I am a little apprehensive in using needles however... Would have to get over that, from what I am reading I don't see much about it improving brain or cognitive health did it do much in that area for you? Does sound like good healer however. As for your question there seems to be no real "cheat" for the depression and anhedonia we all share. Many here say Welbutrin have helped them, I still use Tyrosine and 5HTP daily along with a number of vitamins. Exercise is also a huge help however very difficult to achieve when just getting of the couch is a problem.

I have never heard of DMT, reading sounds interesting. I did try shrooms and also Molly once, they were both when I was much younger however I do believe at the time they did change my perception of life for a good few months and I still recall the highlights I don't think I would try again at least not in this mental state. In fact if I was seeing big improvement I still don't think I would risk it at this point. Right now I am looking more for small remedy's for my bad days. I was on a streak of feeling pretty good for awhile and not sure what triggered my relapse. The brain is way more complicated than I ever gave it credit for. For now just reducing sugar, carbs, staying clear of alcohol and doing my best to get good sleep. Fell off my exercise routine a bit lately in this cold so need to pick back up as well.

Good insight Yes, I find myself fixated a bit lately, I came out of it for awhile then hit another low again and got sucked back in... Maybe I need to smoke a little! Lol

I have dabbled in smoking years ago and it always just made me sleepy and relaxed. I was surprised to read it triggers dopamine release. Anhedonia really sucks. I really have to push myself to do things... Anything "extra" that doesn't have to be done, forget about it. Cleaning my garage has been on the list for months lol... Then on days where I do push myself I get more forgetful like my brain only has so much capacity each day and there is little reward or feeling of pleasure even when I do good things. I have seen a little improvement however it is slow and mild... Stay strong!

Interesting article about Marijuana and its effect on dopamine. Such a different drug however is in alignment in ways to adderall in that the dopamine release reward over time from the drug strips the brain from the ability to feel pleasures from normal daily activities. Marijuana in Cali has recently become legal and I was tempted to buy some to help sleep/relax occasionally however the more I read just seems like any vice comes with the same problems. Darn! https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.inverse.com/amp/article/37438-long-term-marijuana-effects-brain

I hear ya, your probably right. I didn’t expect anyone to diagnose me, haha. Just like all the other weird symptoms many of us share I was just curious if I was not the only one. I probably do need to keep track of my water intake, however in general I am usually pretty hydrated. Stress is another issue as well.

Thanks for the input Cheeri0, yes I get my annual shot! Hope you feel better soon! This is not exactly new. I have had some weird headaches on and off for awhile now. I think some of my other worse symptoms have subsided and am now just pushing myself a bit more so noticing new things. I had an MRI awhile back so I guess that at least rules out some things. Just trying to figure out the trigger and best remedy as I don’t want to be popping 3 Advil a day. Could be increased by the season, allergies etc and as with everything else in recovery time will tell.

I’m finding along with my afternoon fatigue I get mild headaches. They are not migraines as I have had those unrelated to recovery. These are more of an observed feeling that turns to much less comfertable pressure somewhat behind my eyes and in the front above/near my temples of my head almost like my brain saying “I am tired give me a break!” Many times I find drinking extra water and doing just that “taking a break” helps it subside... Advil helps also however I only go to that if it gets worse and/or I have to keep working. I have also found stress makes them worse and sometimes when I get a little edgy I can trigger the beginning of one as well... More healing here to do, just sharing and hoping to hear others similar experiences.

Yes everything goes in waves! I am 6mo plus was feeling pretty good lately and just this week... Crash! Past two days I have been in a slump. As sleepystupid said "constantly examining and questioning your mental states" is one of the worst things I do and start mind fucking myself as to whats wrong with me. I personally would stay away from alternatives like sudafed... Its just going to catch up to you and add to the ups and downs you are having. I tries a few things like that and did the same with coffee for a few weeks until I realized how much I was drinking and it was doing nothing for me except adding to my mental frustrations. Now down to a cup a day and my days and emotions have been more consistent. Going to cut back to Tea soon... Good luck and keep posting! We all need each other!

Thank you for the reassurance! I was getting a little paranoid about it and even reading early onset alzheimer's symptoms! Yikes! I have always been a little forgetful of people’s names and places I put things like my keys even since I was young and pre adderall. However the loss of words and conversation (zoning out) has been tripping me out lately. I didn’t notice it much in early recovery as I was doing everything to avoid people and anything difficult. Looking forward to getting to my 20 months, wish I could fast forward!

Congrats to 20 months! Awesome to hear good things from those who have made it this long! Tom or anyone else I am wondering about your “improvement in communication” with time and what what were your symptoms or your obstacles with communicating were in the past? I am now well over 6 months now an while anxiety and depression are much better I fight energy levels which I know is common. The part that worries me more is how forgetful I feel. Short term memory seems worse than ever and I struggle in conversations for bigger words and also sometimes just draw a a blank of what I was just about to say. This gets worse on long days as I just mentally fade and a lot of this is most obvious in conversations trying to keep up with others. So just wondered if this is at all what you meant or anything you experienced?

I did try this once since quitting Adderall. It is basically Modafinil which in the US does require a prescription. You can order easily on line however. I read it is an alternative Med for ADHD however after taking it I fully agree with you. I had all the same symptoms you described plus was completely wiped out the following day. I would not advise anyone start taking this.

I can also say Straterra as I recently gave it a try as a "non-stimulant" supposedly non addictive ADHD alternative that works with your norephedrine uptake not with dopamine. First few days at 40mg gave me a little zing followed by a crash to where I felt very sleepy then a bit trouble sleeping at night. Doc said to try two and wow gave me a big zing however can't say super functional, a bit scatter brained honestly... Then bad insomnia and no libido whatsoever... I could see maybe this drug could work for someone who never tried Adderall and got the right dose figured out however definitely is not for me.

It’s not clear to me if you have quit adderall and lost libido after quitting or if you are still taking adderall? In any event if you are still on adderall and it went away my guess is you have gotten used to your dose and you would need to increase your dose to get that drive back that you had before. It is common to need to keep increasing adderall dose to gain the same effects... Thus why after time many of us end up here struggling to quit. If you have quit adderall many here have expressed loss of libido during our withdrawals. I still find desire is less after more than 6mo off now however it has improved.

5mo is still early, be as strong as you can... Its one day at a time literally. I am just a bit over 6mo and for me I just recently fought off the depression. Still waiting for more things to improve once I make it a year plus... it will get better just stay close to your support here and keep sharing your thoughts

WOW that's nuts! My aunt recently innocently stopped her abilify (also an antipsychotic) after it caused weight gain after only a few months of being on it. She got violently sick with major anxiety on top of it... She had no idea it was from abilify withdraws and went to ER had every test her docs could think of over a two week span until they finally related it to her stopping abilify!

Did they try to prescribe you Abilify?? I had 3 different docs reccomend it, read horrible things about it... there must be a kickback on that shit or something...

It’s all good, I understand your stance! Great video, Kelly Brogan is awesome. Well just like Joe Rogans friends had luck with ssri’s I did too however doesn’t solve the issues that she outlines especially the rare liver metabolism issue with some people.

Frank I know you have strong opinions on this. I do believe your experience is as you said, I also believe everyone’s potential neurotransmitter imbalance is different. I had suicidal thoughts (first time ever) before taking the Zoloft so had little to loose and had family support to monitor me. And... for me it worked and had zero side effects in getting off it. I still fight with energy and concentration like everyone else here however my depression is gone after a month and a half of using and a month now being off it. I’d agree to try the lithium orotate and any other supplements would be a good try first. I did a number of vitamin cocktails that gave me a little more energy and decreased anxiety however just did nothing worked for my depression.

If your struggling anything is better than adderall or other stims. I first tried Wellbutrin which only helped a little bit then really didn’t feel any benefit so I stopped. After much severe depression went on Zoloft only about a month and a half and it eliminated my depression, then on my own quickly tapered down and stopped just to see if the depression came back and it has not. Was very helpful besides made me a little tired while I was on it. Just remember everyone is different. A few here are agains SSRI’s as it made them feel worse. You have to pay close attention to how you feel while trying something new and if it works I would suggest keeping a goal of no more than 2-3 months and get off it.