EricP

I am not sure about Franks dose however I take two of these (link to brand below) in the morning and two in the afternoon. Frank had posted a video with recommendations as well that had dosing recommendations toward the end. I started taking it with a vitamin cocktail I began daily that helped me but it's direct effects were mixed with all the supplements however I can say since Frank posted I have tried it by itself during times of a little anxiety or uneasiness and it really helped stabilize me... https://www.amazon.com/NCI-Advanced-Research-Lithium-Orotate/dp/B000VHCU8M/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1513011889&sr=8-3&keywords=lithium%2Borotate&th=1

I can relate to the Sadness, I had lows where I would literally wake up fighting tears... Needless to say I tried Welbutrin first, it did help my motivation a bit for a few days however that quickly faded and it did nothing for the sadness. So I took my docs advice next and tried an antidepressant Zoloft. While I know a few here speak strongly against SSRI's for me it did help my overall mood and the "sadness" disappeared. I can say it did absolutely nothing for my motivation, maybe even slowed me down a bit however it really helped my mood and the sadness disappeared. After about a month and a half (that is all) I tapered down a couple days and stopped on my own just to see what happened... The sadness has not come back and my energy increased a bit... So maybe recommend trying something like this if you have not already. Everyone is different so you won't honestly know until you talk with your doctor a bit and try something like this. Until then just take it a day at a time, even in my lowest times good days would come in waves.

Yes always good to go to a doctor and rule things out. I actually went and pushed to have every test, CT scan, endoscopy and colonoscopy and many blood tests. They really didn't find anything... All they came up with was if I am constipated eat more fiber and take MiraLAX, if I have acid issues take anti acids, probiotics recommended also. I did get them to agree that possibly stopping adderall has my system out of sync and potentially affecting the proper release of acids and digestive enzymes. My diet changes I believe helped a lot and with time has gotten a lot better. Some stomach symptoms can also be caused by stress as the withdrawal for me made me a bit paraniod and anxious. It is very common for stress to cause ulcers and other stomach problems.

Meth and Adderall are very similar. Difference is that Big Pharma makes Adderall so that makes it safe right..? haha - In the end they are both Amphetamines! I have found many articles about Meth and Adderall. Adderall is consistent as at least we know that it's pure in its consistent form while Meth will be inconsistent in quality, can often have some harsh additional chemicals and cutting agents. Also Meth is almost always abused while Adderall users do have some limits in what they can be prescribed and most stick to some sort of dose, and even the binge users of adderall are at least consuming a pure substance and when the bottle runs out has to wait while Meth users just need some cash to go buy more... All bad stuff! In my opinion Meth and Adderall are quite the same. Reading about the effects of Meth are very close in related withdraw and recovery symptoms and you can find more information on Meth than Adderall since Meth is Illegal and Adderall is protected by Docs and Big Pharma.

I had some weird stomach issues in the last months of using that got substantially worse after quitting in month 1-4... I do know lack of dopamine affects digestion, it is common in early parkinsons to have bad digestion, constipation etc. I think basically the digestive track slows down with lower dopamine levels. With time hopefully everything will normalize for you. Symptoms can last up to 1.5-2yrs in the meantime all you can do is treat your symptoms with diet, tums or whatever helps.

Just curious as adderall and ritalin alter dopamine vs Strattera which works with norepinephrine for treating ADD and ADHD symptoms. Curious if anyone has had a good/bad experience or if it simply did nothing compared to the gold staple adderall? Not looking to jump on a new med or anything I just haven't seen this discussed much here and have read it to be a "safer" alternative.

Leslie, thank you so much for that touching sermon! Very Empowering. Sorry it took a few days to respond, I needed to find a peaceful time to watch it. God Bless

I searched reddit for neurotrophic to aid in PAWS and adderall withdrawals and did not find much. What neurotrophic did you use that helped you? Also curious how did you use a countdown timer? Set at 2yrs? Sounds a little depressing...

Congrats on coming to the site and embracing the challenge of quitting! I quit cold turkey as well and it was miserable however I cant say that tapering is any better as I didn't try that. If you can make it thru the first few weeks things will slowly get better, so slow you won't even realize the changes at first. At 6mo now for me I am feeling like I can see a future of feeling normal. I still have some pretty low/off days however the good ones really give hope. All of your withdraw symptoms are things I have experienced. Some come and go and others I still battle like the headaches and eye pressure you mentioned. However I question if it is just allergies. I also question if adderall speeds up our system then fights off allergies to some degree as I never really had allergies until I quit... Beyond that depression and low energy are the most common lingering symptoms. There is nothing good about this drug! Read all the posts here and simply google long term affects of adderall and amphetamines... Nothing good!! Use this site as a resource and post your challenges and progress, we all need each other here for support. Lurkers don't realize that their posts "do matter". Best of luck to you!

Who knows probably just the timing and age. I'm 45 now and always hear the 40"s is when it starts to hit you. I did get some reading glasses awhile back however its not so much being able to read as it is being able to read in low light is the part I recently notice the most.

Sounds wise that you tapered down your dose before stopping. You are still in the early stages however given that you tapered and also sounds like you may have skipped some days before stopping all together may have helped you. The biggest symptoms for myself (at 6mo) and just about everyone here is depression and fatigue/lack of modivation. Healing seems to go in waves. I now finally have some good weeks then suddenly ones that creep up and totally bum you out. Just take it one day at a time.

Among the long list of withdrawal symptoms of quitting has anyone noticed a decrease in vision and some eye discomfort after quitting? I feel like my eyes are almost sore/tired when I awake some days as well as noticing sensitivity to bright light such as walking from inside to a sunny outdoors as well as difficulty reading in low light. Wondering if the decrease in dopamine somehow is also affecting some sort of balance in neurotransmitters that affects vision. I have read some complain of blurred vision while on adderall however not a lot of detail about vision after quitting.

Everything you said so true.... Tough it out one day at a time. Watch out out for the psychiatrist! Most of them will try to talk you into getting back on it... if you accept anything a lot of people seem to like Wellbutrin as depression/mood aid in quitting. Didn’t really work much for me after the first week though.

Yeah the 5htp I was told would help with anxiety and sleep however easy to build a tolerance to it as well... I find a lot of vitamins help for a window then somewhat drop off. I tend to mix some things up if I run out of something I try to go a few days to see if I feel like I notice at all then substitute with something else and see if there is any noticeable change. With the lithium I currently take 2ea 120mg tablets. I have read 4 a day/ 2 in afternoon is good also

I have taken it for about 2-3 months now along with a long list of supplements that include Tyrosine and 5-htp. The Tyrosine is absolutely helpful as I find if need just a little more focus/energy in the afternoon and take about 1000mg I can often get myself off the couch. The lithium orotate is in my very first am vitamins cocktail along with D3, K1, a multi, B12, B Complex, Taurine, NADH, Lystine, NAC and that's about it. This cocktail overall helps my good days actually occur. On days I forget I realize around lunch time that I just feel like I am dragging a bit. So if I happen to be near home I will take before lunch and I do get a bit of my mojo back.

Once you quit you will find your anger outbursts diminish greatly in the matter of days! However you will be fatigued. Running will be a great tool no matter how unmotivated you are even running 1-2 mikes will help a lot. Tapering off will be likely a better option. Cut doses in half then slowly skip days would be what I wish I had done. Stopping cold turkey was really bad for me. Matter that it's just about making it one day at a time. The first 6mo are pretty hard, recovery is different for everybody however seems pretty consistent that people feel nearly back to Norma around a year of quitting. Please post your questions and progress even if you fail, this forum is very compassionate and helpful. Best of luck to you!

2.5 months of recovery after a year of use is still very early. I used about a year and a half however stayed near your first dose. I am now just past 6mo and my journey has been awful. I can say docs are for the most part idiots. I have communicated the affects of Adderall and it's withdrawl and they have told me "taking Adderall is as safe as driving a car" and withdrawals only last about 30 days. I have been to two general practitioners, 3 neurologists a psychologist and a psychiatrist and they all look at me like I am crazy and suggest I resume the medication and "we should up the dose". I finally got one Neuro to do some research as I asked him if he would read some links that I would email, he was very supportive on my next visit. Anyway at 6mo now I feel a lot better, last week I was very busy and I was pretty focused at work for the first time. This weekend a bit lazy again however I will know more once Monday begins tomorrow with the busyness it will be apparent quickly if it's going to be a good day or bad day. The good and bad days come and go in waves it seems and you just have to take things a day at a time. The best stories with positive news on this forum are all around the 1-2yr mark. Best of luck and feel free to post your progress and questions in your journey.

Good to hear your progress and so great that you did not relapse! 5mo is rough as it feels like it has been so long however the progress seems near non existent. I am at 6mo and can just now "maybe" feel a bit of progress. I have had a 4 day streak of feeling kind of normal this week; still a bit skeptical though as I have felt pretty good a few times before then crashed... However am hopeful as this time feels slightly different. Will see... I have heard from many that not much progress is felt until around the 10-12 month range however the recovery can take up to 2 yrs and everyone is different. Best of luck to you and keep posting your questions/frustrations/progress, it really helps to have support!

Sorry to hear that and glad you have found support here. Being in an unhealthy relationship can eat away at your soul. Life is too short to spend years waisted with someone that ultimately will not be long term. I don't know your specifics however if your not feeling 100% not to mention children, finances, combined assets etc. Sometimes life forces us to tolerate situations until we are strong enough to force change. Keep focused on your health and recovery, with time you'll have the strength to rise above your life situations.

Just 6mo.

If you simply google "amphetamine increases risk of Parkinson's" many credible articles come up. Mind you some are more related to the evil twin meth... still the same mechanisms however. I have read a lot about the down regulation we are all suffering from as well possible nerodegeneration (loss of dopamine cells) thus due to the fact that amphetamines are neuro toxic. While you can't measure the specific dopamine level in the brain you can get a PET or DAT scan typically used to aid Parkinson's diagnosis which often report 10-30% less dopamine function (symmetrically, meaning both sides of the brain) in known past amphetamine users. Even up to 50% in extreme cases. Parkinsons patients typically begin reporting mobility related complications around a 50-70% loss. And typically it only affects one side first. Even a patient with 10% loss on these scans have reported extreme depression, concentration and fatigue etc. If this does cause dopamine cell loss as suggested, most of us if scanned are likely a bit compromised "under normal". This does not mean we will all have Parkinsons just means our risk is higher. The causes of Parkinson's is wide spread and still unknown. One of the largest suspects is pesticides and chemicals/toxins. It think amphetamines are certainly in a toxin category however that is just an opinion. I have reviewed this information with my neurologist and he agrees there are potential links however simply there are not enough studies completed to know the effects 100%. Basically we would have had to had a DAT or PET scan before Adderall then 5-10years later have another after taking it for years and then quiting long enough for the brain the recover before scanning again. I have considered getting a scan myself however insurance won't cover all of it. If by 2yrs I still have symptoms like I have now maybe I would spend the money... However a scan would just be information as there is no real treatment for dopamine cell loss. Just a few links, there are many more you can google: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4295903/ https://www.hindawi.com/journals/pd/2013/308052/ https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/904

Congrats on the 1yr anniversary. I am only a quarter of the way to 2... Every day so far has been long especially when trying to function while others completely waisted and slipped away. I have also read in many places this is a 2yr process.

I knew you were joking! It did make me think though that if I could go back and choose coke over Addy maybe I'd been better off. Who knows. Yes most of us too old and/or mentally way past the days of experimenting with any substance.

Cocaine wold have likely been an easier and healthier addiction in ways. I have an old friend that got addicted to Meth and tried quitting many times. Wasn't until he followed the suggestion of someone at an NA meeting to try switching to coke for a few months then slowly taper off that he was able to quit everything 100%. He is 5yrs sober now. Not suggesting, just saying

I agree smaller less intimidating steps do help a lot! Also a lot more rewarding as there are things to do that can be easily crossed off the list. I do can relate to the fear part as well. I think there is often a fear of not performing thus you put itt off or avoid it all together. I am also finally getting to a place where I don't worry as much about having a low day on a day I have committed to something sizable. I seriously would avoid scheduling with people or certain jobs as I was afraid whatever day I chose could be one of the days I could barely get myself out of the house. While I still have low days they are a little less debilitating lately.