Myomancy ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism

Comments on: Adderall Side Effects

1. I take adderall and have really appreciated the differences and improvements it has made in my life. However, I work with teens in a residential treatment center and one of our patients started to experience auditory hallucinations after starting adderall. This was about five years ago. Now, at age 18, the hallucinations continue and she has been diagnosed schizophrenic. Should she try something besides the usual heavy doses of antipsychotics to treat her symptoms or is there nothing that can be done at this point? If anyone has any comments or feedback, it wold be greatly appreciated.

   Posted by: Polly March 27th, 2007 at 8:03 pm

2. all I can tell you is that I experienced hallucinations as well when i suddenly discontinued use, and severe panic attacks almost daily wich went away when my doc put me back on adderall

   Posted by: tim April 15th, 2007 at 2:08 am

3. i think adderall is the best thing that has happend to me in a long time!
   as well as being able to consentrate more i have lost heaps of weight! f**k yEaH!
   lol lurve yoohz xxx

   Posted by: amanda April 23rd, 2007 at 5:00 am

4. Has anyone heard of treatment for ADD without the use of medication?

   Posted by: Mary April 26th, 2007 at 6:57 pm

5. We have a doctor/surgeon friend who is self-prescribing Adderall because it helps him keep his weight under control and helps him stay “alert and focused” - and his inability to stay alert and focused is probably not because of ADD or ADHD, but because of long, strenuous hours. I’m glad I’m not one of his OB patients!

   Posted by: anonymouse April 28th, 2007 at 2:51 am

6. My son is 5 and has been on adderall xr for a while now he has ADHD, sensory integration dysfunction, and oppositional defiant disorder. He is now having trouble with very loose stools could this be caused by the adderall or the respirdal?

   Posted by: Caroline April 29th, 2007 at 6:23 pm

7. MARY,

   Was your last comment, a question or an attack? –> “Has anyone heard of treatment for ADD without the use of medication?”

   Ever since the brain injury, I have tried a variety of things to work around the attention problem. Nothing worked, nothing.

   I have tried ritalin, strattera, and adderall (in that order. Ritalin made me feel as if I was on a couple hour caffeine high, followed by a deep drop. Strattera worked, but it made me so tired all the time. I have been taking adderall for one year now and its great! By far, adderall is the greatest of all three medications, which I’ve taken. It gives me me a focus ability that I thought was no longer possible.

   But, I do suggest to everyone, including parents, that they try working around ADD without medication.

   Viva la ‘Adderall!

   Peace

   Posted by: Jason May 17th, 2007 at 9:49 pm

8. Caroline,

   Im not sure if your son needs to be put on adderall at the age of 5, its sounds a little ridiculous. Think about it, hes a kid, its his job to run around, play, be hyper and have loads of fun, this is his only opportunity, I remember my cousins being unbelievably hyper and not paying attention when they were younger and now do great in school. You have to at least give him a time to grow out of it, and any kind of long term medication seems like it might just impair his development.

   Posted by: Goose May 19th, 2007 at 6:19 pm

9. My son is 12 and he has been on adderall for maybe a year. I only give it to him on school days. Lately he has been having a lot of headaches. Could adderall be giving him the headaches?

   Posted by: Linda Gagnard May 22nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm

10. I’m very interested in the side effects of these drugs. My ex boyfriend was adhd meds for years and i think the meds has had a serious side effect on him. Has anyone else has a problem with the side effects of this kind of meds?

    Posted by: Misty Qualls May 24th, 2007 at 6:04 pm

11. I’ve been on adderall xr for at least the passed 5 years.
    30 mg. daily. I have noticed lately my heart races and I feel like I have to eat. Plus a taste in my mouth that I can’t describe. Is it time to go off this drug? I have tried to reduce the mg. but it’s hard for me to focus. Seems like I can’t remember.
    Can anyone help me with this?
    Thank You,
    Patricia

    Posted by: Patricia May 24th, 2007 at 10:09 pm

12. I just started taking Adderall. How long does it normally take for it to start doing its job?

    Posted by: Chris May 28th, 2007 at 9:04 am

13. I dont think that the age matters. If you need the help of a medication then you need the help. I also think that is a type of child abuse if your child needs the med. and you do not give it to him/her. All your child knows is that they are always the one getting in trouble or repermanded in school and they dont understand why! And in turn this can make a child withdraw and not be very out going. I also think that any med. side effects should be looked into before taking them. But by all means if a child needs the help then get it for them. It doesnt mean that the will have to be on it forever, my son and daughter both were on Adderal (not the time release) in their elementary years and it made a huge difference for them, they were both able to get their homework done in an hour or so after starting the med. where as befor it was 5 or 6 hours of homework every night and no child should have to deal with that, they should be able to go outside and play with the rest of the children after school. My children ended up out growing the ADD. and have happy healthy lives now.

    Posted by: Patricia June 3rd, 2007 at 3:44 am

14. i am 14 and i have been on adderall for about 2yrs now.i must admit it has helped me alot in the past but as i get older i have worse side affects with it.
    Mainly deppression. but with it for me also comes dizzines and heart arithmiea.
    I am meeting with my doctor on the 13 but after we talk i am NOT taking it.I no i have grown out of my ADD like my dad did

    Posted by: sam June 7th, 2007 at 10:41 pm

15. i hate taking adderal and when i take it i cant eat and i have this wierd taste in my mouth and i get like i day dream alot and my parents make me takei try to pretend to but i just hate it

    Posted by: mig welders June 9th, 2007 at 6:38 am

16. I started taking adderall a few weeks ago and it has changed my life. I get so much more done…and feel it has changed my attitude and confidence. I used to feel lazy and worthless, with all the talent in the world. Depressing. This has been a wonder drug for me.

    My only concern is my appetite suffering, and even moreso I feel a bit nausous(spell?) during the day. Why is this? Am I taking too much?

    Posted by: jake June 19th, 2007 at 2:34 pm

17. Meg, If you can’t talk with your parents about how you feel when you take addrall, can you talk with the doctor who is prescribing it?

    Patricia, sounds like your side effects are serious. There are a variey of meds for add/adhd that people experience differently…maybe time to ask your doctor about the differences and try a new one.

    My question: Has anyone experienced hair loss as a side effect of adderall? Or, do you know about wheter this has been researched?

    Posted by: lorie August 2nd, 2007 at 10:06 am

18. I started taking adderall xr 2 years ago, may of my senior year in high school. over the past 2 years i have experienced great feelings, horrible anxiety, new and liberating ways of seeing the nature of reality, depressing feelings that have sent me in a rut for days, as well as many more intense surges in the flow of my life.

    At some points I can remember feeling strung out, tired and unable to let my body do what it needed to do, like sleep and relax. (this is most likely from too much medicine)

    I can also think back to several joyous moments, experiencing eppifanys where every element of the world seemed in union with the working of my mind.

    Right now, I take Adderal xr one day, and live the next 5 days closely intuned with my mind and consiousness in order to identify what misenterpretations has my mind been making resulting in a slower output of physical energy into daily activity.

    ADHD seems to describe the event when the mind misperceives the reality going on right here and now. You cannot be fully conscious of the subtle communicative gesters given by your daughter/friend if your mind is full of thoughts about what exactly you want your boss to know when you go in to his/her office this morning to put in your 2 week notice…you will miss your opportunity to “get the real picture” if you continue dividing your mind up into fragments, none of which are sufficient enought to grasp the nature of the at hand.

    Adderall, side-effects and all, has helped shift the way that I internally process life as I flow through it. Adderall has been empowering for me, because I feel liberated from mental distractions. Realizing that these are distractions that can be let go of, I have been able to quit the seemingly automatic generatation of thoughts by my mind.
    Being on Adderall gave me the idea that the mental clutter, the negative things, like feelings of inadequacy, fear about the future, discontentment with my life situation, are not real, these dark clouds can be removed to uncover the free and spontanious me!

    Once I was able to detach from the “bad” stuff, like bad views of myself, of others, of my life situation, I realized that…I felt happy!!!

    Now, I spend my days without medication, contemplating the nature of my mind, interacting with my environment in a way that I try to understand the subtlest aspects of conversations, of my mental responses to events and overall, I feel like I can take a deep breath and process one activity at a time.

    Best of luck to each and every person who strives to let go of distraction and live on in peace!

    Erin

    Posted by: E August 3rd, 2007 at 7:49 am

19. How can I help my 9 year old with ADD WITHOUT using medications?

    Posted by: Dee August 7th, 2007 at 1:20 am

20. Dee - Have a look at ‘What Treatment Should I Get For My Child?’ - http://www.myomancy.com/2007/01/what_treatment_

    Chris

    Posted by: myomancy August 7th, 2007 at 9:48 am

21. Hi Everyone

    Here it goes, I took Adderall for about a year. I am in my 30’s and I am a counselor by profession. I always had a lot of energy and was easily distracted. I had a difficult time with organization as well as staying on task.

    I went to conference where the topic was Adult ADHD and my friend began taken Strattera and between the Conference and my friend I ended in a psychiatrist office who began prescribing this medication.

    I have never been on any psychiatric medication, or any medication what so ever. I never took recreational drugs nor did I smoke.
    No medical condition.

    I remember seen this Psychiatrist It took him about 5 minutes to diagnosed the condition after I explain my symptom’s. After that Visit it would take be about 1 minute for my visit he just wrote the prescription in front of me and call his next patient from the waiting room.

    I began taken the medication. I lost weight, if I took the medication too late I was not able to sleep, I was focus alright, too focus, I did not feel myself, but I was happy I was thin and able to feel smart and capable of taking additional work. I worked full time and found myself wanting to start a PHD program which I got accepted too. I worked from 8 to 4. When home took cook, clean, etc and then from 7PM to 2Pm I worked on my PHD assignments.

    Slowly when ever I felt that I needed to focus more I will take 10mg more. I began having heart palpitations as well as other minor symptoms.

    Then these symptoms kept on getting worse. Everything seem to connect in my head. I began to feel paranoid, depressed, auditory hallucinations, etc… I lost my mind.

    I was hospitalized at New York Presbyterian for about 3 weeks. Even thought my husband explain my condition. The hospital began to diagnosed my condition, Paranoid Schizophrenia, Depression, Bipolar, etc….

    Well they put me on more psychiatric medication. After 3 weeks I began to gain my sanity again. An I stop taken these medication on my own. I knew when I felt well enough what had happen to me. Although there was the fear that I would back to hearing voices and feeling like insane. But it never happen.

    For 5 months after hospitalization I was follow by a psychiatrist and for 2 years after hospitalization I was seen a psychologist.

    This is what happen to me. It was a very scary journey.

    Would I recommend this medication?

    Posted by: Sol August 10th, 2007 at 12:42 am

22. is adderall a dangerous drug for longterm effects, with 5 years of usage

    Posted by: bobbyw August 10th, 2007 at 1:09 pm

23. have you used it for 5 year and how have it effect you? I find that all the side effects vary. And that people that take this medication have different expereince with it. The people that mostly taking it are children. They are not able to communicate the long term effects that may have on them. This drug can also have long term heart effects.

    Posted by: Sol August 12th, 2007 at 9:11 pm

24. my 16 yr old son recently (2 wks) began taking adderall, after 2 weeks the dr increased the strength to 30 mg’s. since beginning the first dosage of adderall he has become irratable, has diarhea (sp), isn’t sleeping well, has racing heart all day, lost interest in sports, and is focusing all his strengths and energy on a failing relationship w/his girlfriend. My question is…do you think the adderall is the reason for these changes, are these changes something that will pass with the increased dosage, how much time will it take before positive will take the place of the negative? His psych’s office staff makes me feel stupid when I call and talk with them. Your input would really be helpful to me at this time in his treatment. Thanks…

    Posted by: Debbie August 16th, 2007 at 1:45 pm

25. honestly… ive done a lot of amphetamines this stuff keeps me going however. im not perscribed aderall but its close to the feeling of meth if (you use a high dose) i cant belive they give this stuff to children lol. i wanna see a doctor about getting a perscription to aderall because i do construction and it gives me the energy i need to get the job done

    Posted by: unknown user August 17th, 2007 at 9:40 pm

26. Hi
    I’m on 10 mg adderall and I’ve been having a lot of pain in my lower ab…also on my right side, (on my kidneys?). I’m on cymbalta as well. I’m wondering if the combo could lead to kidney damage?

    Posted by: Camila August 20th, 2007 at 8:33 pm

27. I have been on Aderall for about 6mths, and I have had to up my dosage. WIll this make me depended on the aderall?

    Posted by: dsortiz August 20th, 2007 at 10:44 pm

28. I haven’t noticed any side effects and I’ve taken adderall for 8 years now. Recently I was without for a few days…I could definitely notice. I ate all the time…was soooo tired and was unable to control myself with certain outbursts or actions. (not a lot, but a noticable few) strattera was awful for me…it magnified outbursts times ten and made me down(and i’m a really happy person)! I would like to not have to depend on this drug…but my body expects it now. Hopefully I won’t need it some day.

    Posted by: Crystal August 21st, 2007 at 9:28 am

29. I have been on adderall for over a year.I now get panic attacks and rapid heart beats,and my nerves can become so out of control from it,I will get an anxiety attack.When Im not on adderall i get a headace,I become lazy yet hyper,Like mkaing strange sounds really loud when Im home alone,Talking to my self.But when Im on it,I feel in controll and bla bla a o kay bla blaaa,But I doint want to be on this drug for the rest of my f*cking life,you know when Im an adult and such [im sixteen now] But when Im not on it,My add/adhd whatever they insisted my disorder was,Becomes rapid and more then I have ever had.I cant do naything,I cant even clean my room,I just sit and stare or act like a complete freak….It made me loose my mind,if im not on it however

    but like i said,i dont always want to be on it!!!

    PLEASE SOMEONE
    let me know how to get off it and become normal again,or better yet still be very concitrated,I just dont think perscription drugs are the way,But sadly im to deep in now,and welladdicitive to these pills,The other part of me does not want to give it up.

    so whats the advice?????????????????

    Posted by: Autumn August 22nd, 2007 at 11:59 pm

30. same as methamphemines same side effects i have detoxed off meth and it carrys the same

    Posted by: unknown user August 26th, 2007 at 12:51 am

31. yes it is pure hell to get off this stuff so be aware im not bullshitting you!

    Posted by: unknown user August 26th, 2007 at 12:54 am

32. I’m 21 years old. I take adderall = 30mg. To be honest I only started to take it to be able to concentrate and focus on anything. The weight loss became a plus too!… Although.. I’m reading more and more on adderall and its side effects. Reading about the “zombie” effect has really got me questioning this drug. It was perscribed to me no problem and now im wondering if the Doctor should of researched ME before letting me take this. I feel more awake, more concentrated, i’ve lost weight, but…. it made me somewhat bitchy at first. that is gone now…. now after reading various things… am i a victim of the zombie effect? at work i feel like so irritated with my boss CONSTANTLY and i hate talking to anyone when im here. this isnt the case anywhere else… I’m rambling on & Im sorry. Could anyone help me out?????? Advice? Guidance on this drug? Please.

    Posted by: Jessica September 4th, 2007 at 4:15 pm

33. I have recently figured that adderall may be causing my hair loss. I started taking it about 6 months ago (less than 10 mg/daily). At first I thought it was just a normal cycle of hair loss. This has continued now for about 5 months. After reading several comments, I believe I will stop taking adderall and see if I begin noticing a change. Note: I have been eating properly, so I’m not sure I buy that it’s lack of proper nutrition.

    Posted by: denise September 7th, 2007 at 1:37 pm

34. Hi, I just recently started taking Adderall about 4 days ago, One side effect that I got has had me a little edgy. Asthenia, where my left arm feels weak and I don’t want to or I feel like I cannot move it, But I have full strength.
    I am wondering if this drug can lead to some sort of Nerve damage and what this Asthenia can lead to. Has any one else had this symptom? I do not hear of others mentioning it too much.

    Posted by: Shawn September 11th, 2007 at 3:22 am

35. I started on Adderall about a year ago with my Wellbutrin. Everthing seemed fine, then I started getting these horrible muscle feelings in my neck and hips. I can’r really explain it, but I feel the need to always extend my neck to the left and right, like I am trying to stretch my neck muscles. My hip are the same way. I will be sitting down and I have to move my hips and stretch those muscles. I also have been popping my thumbs over and over and over to the point that when I wake up the next morning, I can hardly move my fingers. I went off the Wellbutrin thinking maybe that is what caused it and it seemed to get somewhat better. Well, lets just say that I really need to be on Wellbutrin and the Adderall so my doctor wanted me to try it again and see how it goes, and it started all over again!!! My neck, hips and fingers HURT SO BAD!!!! Also, I was on Wellbutrin before I started the Adderall, and then my doctor changed and put me on the generic called Buprion? spelling? Has anyone else had these problems? Also, I heard the taking Omega 3 with Fish Oil could help???? Any ideas PLEASE HELP!!!!

    Posted by: Angel September 13th, 2007 at 4:18 am

36. TO ALL PARENTS,

    I have been taking Adderall for 7 years now (started at the age of 18). I can tell you with complete certainty that medical doctors know little to nothing about this medication or they wouldn’t be giving this to children. This medication is grotesquely over prescribed. In addition the dosage is in many cases extremely over done. Seek several medical opinions before even considering solving your (the parents) problems.

    Ever wonder why giving speed to people who can’t stay still works? Most doctors will freely admit that they don’t know why it helps with addition deficit disorder.

    Caroline of April 29th
    Please take your child off this drug. What were you like when you were 5? Because the drug is new, the long term effects are not known.

    Here is what I believe is going to be discovered:

    LONG TERM SIDE EFFECTS OF ADDERALL:
    -Heart Complications
    (See long terms effects of cocaine)
    -Growth Stunts
    -Paranoid Schizophrenia, Depression, Bipolar (confirmed by Sol of August 10th)
    -Attention Deficit Disorder
    (Yes, Adderall leads to an increase in ADD after the patient stops taking it)
    -Digestive system complications

    My list is incomplete. Time will tell.

    After saying all of that, I still believe many people will benefit from this drug. If you want to know if your one of these people I suggest you don’t listen to ANY doctor that prescribes this medication without doing blood tests, doesn’t checks family history or does not refers the patient to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist should perform several mental exercises.

    To Angel of September 13th
    I understand your problem. First you should seek proper medical advice from several sources. Yes, several sources. If you want to get off of Adderall you should start by lowering your dosage. TIME will help with many of your adverse effect after you completely stop taking this type of speed.

    To Jessica of September 4th
    Your feelings of “zombie” effects are not uncommon. Receiving a medical degree doesn’t mean you know everything about medicine. If you received Adderall “no problem” than there diffidently is a problem. This is a malpractice. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malpractice)

    Seek alternative means.

    To EVERYONE,
    Get multiple opinions from doctors that actually deny some patients this medication.

    Posted by: Travis September 13th, 2007 at 6:33 pm

37. This adderall stuff is making my balls shrink to the point of pain and I’m angry!

    Posted by: Bryce Salazar September 14th, 2007 at 8:38 pm

38. I think that the best treatment for children is that parents should spent more time with them. PArents and children need to communicate better and love each other more. First I recommeded behavior therapy. This works find someone who is an expert in the field. Second maybe more physical activities like sports or something that the family can do together for your child.

    I believe that a lot of people look for medication to solve problems that at times can be solve by just taking the time to understand each other. Cognitive behavior therapy works because it changes the behavior through understanding the person.

    Sometimes we are prescribed medication that we don’t really need. Our bodies regulate naturally and sometimes we want to fix everything faster because at times we are pressured into doing things that we are not ready for. Before taking any medication that you are not sure of think and ask yourself do I really want to take this?

    Posted by: Sol September 15th, 2007 at 2:10 am

39. I have experienced mild hair loss, pain in all my joints, racing heart beat, dry mouth(including weird taste) insomnia, paranoya, and horrible anxiety attacts. Yeah I know your probably thinking”well then why am I taking it”. I think I have become addicted to the medication. I constantly feel anemic if I dont take it, I dont get anything done, my grades are horrible and I feel worthless. I feel lost, I dont know what to do. I love having my adderall, but the consequences suck. Does anyone know of any way I could fix this problem. Im concerned about my health, I have really changed as a person, but I have become dependent and cant even funtion withou it. Pleas help! Write me back. Thankyou
    Cortney

    Posted by: cortney September 17th, 2007 at 4:52 pm

40. You have to detox of this medication it will take about one month and after you do you will feel like yourself. You should get professional help. The same psychiatrist who prescribe the medication should be responsible to get you off the medication!!!

    Posted by: Sol September 19th, 2007 at 1:06 am

41. To Sol: I am so sorry to hear about everything you have gone through. I truly know how difficult it is to survive your experiences. You did absolutely the right thing by seeking therapy afterwards. I’ve been seeing mine for over four years, and she has helped tremendously. So you are not the only one, but you are one of the lucky few to come out alive and well. I wish you and your husband the best of happiness in the future.
    TO EVERYONE:
    Listen to your gut!
    If your gut is telling you something doesn’t seem right about your Adderall but you feel it’s necessary in order to function in the short-term, you are PROOF.
    If your gut is smirking because you have finally found a quick fix to help you in areas that would otherwise require more work on your part, you are PROOF.
    If your gut slapped in you the face soon enough so that you were able to rid yourself of the medication and you feel obliged to spread the news, you are PROOF.

    PROOF - that Adderall is perhaps one of the most detrimental yet easily available DRUGS on the market, physically, mentally, and irreversibly. Yes, capitalization of the word DRUG was intentional. Amphetamines - the drug of choice for many, and often preferred to cocaine.

    Q: Why do psychiatrists nowadays hand out prescriptions like candy?
    A: $$$.

    Think back to your parents, and your parents’ parents. How did they ever survive without a stimulant? How were they ever expected to lead a successful life without a synthesized cure-all compressed into capsule form? Guess what, life is SUPPOSED to be difficult. Children are supposed to want to play 26 hours a day; adults are supposed to prefer fun over monotonous 12 hour workdays; HUMANS are SUPPOSED to be adverted OFTEN, as we have been given such complex minds with a capacity to do so. Think about the “symptoms” of ADD. Ever list them off to someone undiagnosed and hear the response, “Wow, I think I have ADD too!”?
    Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder is a full out FABRICATION. And the only person who isn’t making a profit from this product is US - the consumers; the “ill”. We have been scammed, ladies and gentlemen.
    I am 20 years old, and have been diagnosed with depression and ADD since I was 11. I’ve also had the fortune of serving as spectator as well as subject to the short-term and long-term effects of Adderall. I have seen firsthand the development, progression, and the aftermath of psychosis as a direct result from the medication - not just in myself, but in my own mother.
    As a treated patient, I also have experienced many of the symptoms you all have referred to above: from headaches, hairloss, and anorexia to muscle/joint pain, health problems, and slight auditory hallucinations and paranoia. Have I mentioned I am only 20 years old? I have only been on Adderall (consistently) for 10 months, and within these past ten months I have been to the emergency room twice, the most recent being last Sunday (9/9/07) for what is said to be more painful than labor. I have kidney stones in both kidneys and finally passed another in my ureter a few days ago. Doc said kidney stones are hereditary. No one on either side of my family has ever had kidney stones, much less any urological problems whatsoever. I have lost 15 pounds this past year - some of my peers think I’m literally starving myself, while others seek me out to get me to consider selling. And for those who still refute the notion that Adderall is even remotely synonymous with cocaine (such as myself in the past) - I have actually been told by several “experimental” friends in college that they prefer partying on Adderall than on coke. It is even treated like coke; I’ve seen it, crushed up with the bottom of its vile, lined with Mommy and Daddy’s credit card, and snorted with a $20 bill.
    So why am I still stuck on Adderall? Because my psychiatrist prescribed me to 100 mg a day. I have been taking that amount for close to 7 months now, the first three being periods of adjustment. (Think that’s bad? My mother was/is on 120 mg.) I am in my third year of college, and with my already “downer” personality, weening off the Adderall while maintaining my grades, mental and emotional stability is something I do not have the strength for at this stage in my life. All I can do is hope that by the time I graduate in 2009 I won’t be too far from salvation. So in other words, because I am addicted.
    This is not a sob story. This is me hoping to convince SOMEBODY - even just ONE person - to either stop taking the medication themselves, stop giving it to their child, or to reconsider any propensity they had to explore the option altogether. This is the year 2007; thus far we have achieved (successful) implementation of government, vast industrialization, mass communication throughout the world and cloning of DNA. Is it really so questionable whether so many prescriptions today are as necessary as the drug companies like us to believe after how far we’ve come as a people without such??

    Think about it, guys. Think for yourselves.

    Posted by: Cristina September 19th, 2007 at 12:10 pm

42. This comment is sad:
    “honestly… ive done a lot of amphetamines this stuff keeps me going however. im not perscribed aderall but its close to the feeling of meth if (you use a high dose) i cant belive they give this stuff to children lol. i wanna see a doctor about getting a perscription to aderall because i do construction and it gives me the energy i need to get the job done

    Posted by: unknown user August 17th, 2007 at 9:40 pm ”

    I an 26 and just been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. I stuggled in school and always labeled as the trouble maker. I am now studying early childhood ed and it breaks my heart that teachers didn’t know how to handle me. instead I was sent out of the classroom and never recieved the opportunities as my peers recieved. Later in high school I had the same preoblems but they were internal distractions. It seemed like anytime I attemped to do school work I was interuped by racing thoughts (random thoughts. I continue to struggle with these issues until I finally sought help on campus and wow. I am so amazed at the results and control I have over my life now. I was percribed 20 mg a day or reg Adderall I split it in half-taking 10 mg early morning and the other 10 mg at lunch…This is the secret to control this medication by taking it in SMALL increments I don’t have to worry about over stimulation nor the ineffectivness…anyone who is worried about it just break it in half and your good.
    I hate that it has taken me so long to find relief but any SLIGHT side effects it has is tolerable compared to my previous side effects of life without the medicatoin.

    Posted by: finaly "normal" September 20th, 2007 at 5:55 pm

43. Chrisina,
    I am so sorry you have been going through all the medical “scary” stories of this medication. I honestly feel that you doctor started you out on way to high of a dosage. I started at 20 mg a day-10mg in the morning and 10mg at 12. This is the magic ticket. The XR is horbbile it leaves you feeling “high” all day long! but if you take half an half it really is a releif and then you can enjoy your evening at 6 or 7… I am also taking a low doages mild anxiety medication for my general anxiety disorder and that helps too… I take it at 9 and btwn these different combos. I have found sweet and enjoyable relief. I do have some of the side effect such at not wanting to eat, but I force myself to eat. I do get some mild head aches but nothing to intolerable. I would much rather deal with these MINUTE effects then ever go back to the blurry life I had before. I am 26 and JUST getting diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. My teachers always labled me as the “problem child” then sat me in the back of the class room. I am now studying to become an elem teacher and vow to myself I will bulid a partnership with parents to receive the best treatment for my students with the symptoms. I do not recomend this for younger children…percription:let them be a child!!! Age 12 should be the EARLIEST a child is given this medication. Also another important tool for recovery is therapy or as I call them “chat times”. This helps out so much because you have an observer able to help the patient with understandg (keyword: understanding) their diiferences from the world and I have been taught great strategies. I know I have gone on for way too long but so has underdiganosing AND overdiagnosing. Be very carefull and proactive but also have an open mind. My prayers any parents who are lots and feel hopeless….

    Posted by: finaly "normal" September 20th, 2007 at 6:15 pm

44. I have been on adderall xr for at least four weeks now and am generally very happy with it. However I am currently suffering a new side effect that I was not expecting…anger. I will have highs and they last about 4 hours but the next 4 hours (though they work the same way as the first 4) include intense irritability and anger that I have to be very careful in controlling. Often times I end up crying it out if I am unable to release the tension any other way. I also suffer with sever depression and am currently separated from my husband so I would like to believe that those two things are the biggest contributors to my anger. But just to be sure…has anyone else had trouble with this particular side effect?

    Posted by: Elizabeth September 21st, 2007 at 5:03 pm

45. This is a reply to Elizabeth; I suffered from depression until I was 48, though I tried medication for a couple of years was determined to get to the cause of it. I was able to end it by trying just about everything including healing therapy, extensive reading and meditation. It was a long and arduous journey yet worth it. Once the depression stopped I still was finding trouble functioning at home and work which surprised me since I thought my “zombie laziness” was due to depression. (Be patient with me, I will get to the anger part eventually…)My doctor prescribed adderall, telling me that some people don’t produce enough brain chemicals that keep them going and this is why those people are attracted to recreational drugs. This makes sense to me. At the moment the answer seems to be prescription drugs to boost production of those chemicals that many people seem to naturally produce in abundance(like seratonin). Some people are always on the go, productive and happy, most of us wish we could be like that naturally. Those people have many advantages other that those from functioning well, they also attract better, more mentally healthy people to them so their personal relationships are naturally better (this seems unfair to the rest of us). The whole thing feeds on itself and they then produce more good brain chemicals. I have found that adderall, which I take in small doses, (I open the granular pill and take about 5mg at 6am and 5mg at 10am) is helping me to focus at work and at home. I am getting my home in order after not having been able to do so for my entire life. I have increased confidence at work and the ability to deal with pressure and problems there that I didn’t used to have. Finally, I have to say, I have anger surfacing that I am having to cope with. I have always been an angry person and I think this drug magnifies it. At the moment I am taking a look at the things which anger me and finding them to be things one should be angry over. The next step for me is to see if I can resolve the anger and find a way to find peace with what is bothering me. I am trying to do this while on the drug. I have yet to see if this will work and eventually I want to stop taking adderall. For now, I am using it as a therapy for analyzing my thought processes and hoping that I will be able to resolve some of the issues that keep me underfunctioning and maybe start producing some of those “good” brain chemicals on my own. This could be too idealistic, from what I have been reading on this site. I will say that when I took antidepressants it was the first time that I felt good so I found out what other people felt like as well as I had a feeling I could aspire to. Without knowing what it feels like to feel good and functional how can you even begin know what you are shooting for? Since I have been on adderall I watch other functioning people and say to myself, “wow, so this is what you feel like most of the time, you have no idea how lucky you are!” OK,enough, I hope this helps. Let the search continue…

    Posted by: Alex September 23rd, 2007 at 3:35 pm

46. Hey guys. I just started adderral like a month ago but i have been on ritalin before. I recently discovered that my short term memory is very bad. Has anyone else experienced this?

    Posted by: AJ September 24th, 2007 at 6:59 pm

47. I am 18 and a freshman in collge. I’ve been on many different ADD medicines for 5 years now. I’ve taken Adderall (of all different dosages) and Straterra.
    I am currently on Vyvanse. It’s a brand new kind of Adderall. It lasts for 10 hours. When on Adderall, the initial “pop” of when it kicked in and the “coming off” were terrible times.
    I would have to plan my day around when I would come off my Adderall so I would not be around anyone due to the extreme irritability, tiredness and hunger.
    With the new medince Vyvanse, the coming and going are much smoother. The side effects that I was having with Adderall (diahrreah, irritability, loss of appetitie) where not with Vyvanse, but the good side effects of Adderall are there.

    Make sure that if you do take Adderall that you learn to know when you feel if you are hungry. Obviously you don’t feel like you want to eat, but you need to. I would never eat and never get the nutrients I needed and I ended up with 9 sinus infections, sinus surgery and vocal nodules all in one year due to the lack of nutrients.

    Posted by: MG September 27th, 2007 at 6:12 am

48. I have been diagnosed with ADD since I was a child in elementary school. I strongly recommend to mothers to wait until high school before you think about putting your children on any medication, which is only of course if your child is not in complete danger of failing out. What I recommend is that you or a teacher/tutor of some sort try to work with him/her on their learning skills as much as possible. This will keep the child from gaining dependency from any medication and could also help them to manage their ADD. It is possible, with some work, to manage ADD. If they are still struggling by high school I recommend starting them on a low dosage of medication and checking periodically to see whether or not they feel confident that they could go without it.
    I am speaking from personal experience. My parents worked with my teachers to make sure I was seated in the front of classrooms(away from distraction), given only standard yellow pencils , and even got me help from tutors. Once I was in high school and very aware of my ADD I worked harder to focus. Since this is a time where I found my high school sweetheart, everyone in the world seems to against you, and the pressure of knowing that my grades now will depend on where I go to college, you could say my mind was constantly on other things. I did my best to go without medication but, between the hormones and the stress I found it increasingly hard to concentrate. They started me on concerta, but I experienced painful migraines, one of the symptoms. My doctor had then prescribed me adderall. To this day I still take it during midterms and finals, when it is most stressful, and it has been very effective.
    I am however, not happy with the side-effects, Physically or psychologically. I am normally a vivacious person but the medicine makes me become dull and too serious. Physically, I find myself unable to eat, this makes my body very weak and makes me feel sick.

    Posted by: Laura October 4th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

49. I worry about people who say kids shouldn’t be on add/adhd drugs, instead “let them be kids”. I am 35 and JUST started taking ADHD medication a year ago. It has been a long year of getting the right medication/dose, but I can not explain how WONDERFUL my life has been since then! My parents knew I had ADHD but were against medication, and 25 years ago much less was known. I was raised on a farm worked before and after school ran around had lots of exercise and fun. WHAT people who don’t suffer form the disease don’t realize is I could run a marathon then try to do homework and not be able to concentrate. The interrupting people during conversations before I knew what I was doing then the geez I keep interrupting gilt is horrid. And there is also the whole people irritate me so much because my mind is racing and they don’t’ get what I’m trying to say and they are all moving too slow! Imagine being a child like this and not understanding why you feel this way. I’m a nurse (not that it matters so much) and I’d always caution people to take GREAT care when medicating a child or themselves for ANYTHING. But for people to say medicating a child is ridiculous, let your kid go and play is down right medically ignorant and not very compassionate. There is a HUGE difference between being a hyper, class clown, goof-ball, lazy video playing kid and having ADHD, please be respectful of parents choices. It is hard enough to cope with a child (or ones self) with untreated ADHD. The gut wrenching decision of treating vs not treating a child or yourself is hard enough with out people tell us were idiots for it!

    Posted by: coral October 5th, 2007 at 1:25 am

50. Ive been on adderall for about 2 weeks now.Im also having success and problems with this drug.Late in the day I get very snappy and emotional at times. I also enjoy the weight loss and energy boost,but I wonder if its worth the bad effects.I will continue to take this medication for the rest of the month. I hope the side-effects lessen or diminish.

    Posted by: Rachel L Ford October 7th, 2007 at 2:17 am

51. Adderal works, but is addictive. Grey-matter power is a good thing to have, but when you feel as if you need the drug in order to retain that power-it’s a problem.

    Posted by: Stephanie October 9th, 2007 at 3:01 pm

52. Hi all..
    I would like to write this comment to everyone who is taking Adderal XR or is a parent with a child on this drug. My son was diagnosed with ADHD at 5 years old..yes 5 and it was very upsetting but realized the drug would control his impulsive bahavior and his focus. During his years in school, we found his behavior erratic at times, and were recieving notes and calls from school. Grades were fine but the doctors increased his dosage with his age which didn’t help. My son is now 13 and within the last 3 years have had numerous behavior issues with him and had began couseling sessions to control his anger and increased impulsive behavior. We learned that Adderal XR was causing the problems! The drug is known to enhance moods, verbal outbursts, sadness, lack of confidence, self esteem, paranoia, aggressive behaviors, negative thoughts and hopelessness. We have taken him off the medication and decided we will not put our child through the pain the drug has caused. He is a different child, has friends, hasn’t gotten angry, his grades are good, no verbal outbursts, pays attention, interacts well, is positive, and is HAPPY. Please evaluate your child’s situation before your told to take Adderal XR…you may be doing more harm than good. I am not saying taking your child off medication for ADHD is the right thing to do, but proper therapy and proper parenting makes all the difference in the world!

    Posted by: Cathi October 12th, 2007 at 1:26 am

53. you parents who put your children on add pills are retarted. they were most likely normal children before you put them on the drug and when they get older they will feel like they need to take it even if they dont need it. the reason being that if they dont take it they will realize that they havent taken it and only after they realized that they havent taken it they will get the steriotypical add symptoms that the parents have beaten into there childs head for years and years. i know this because i have been taking it for about 10 years. and i am well aware that the effects of the drug dont last all day yet i still dont have a problem writing papers or doing my homework on the weedends when im not on the drug. it is something about the school setting that brings out the worst in me and probably others. its a placibo effect more than anything. and the add symptoms that you get only after you realize you have forgotten to take the medication only further proves my point about it being a placibo. also just because a child is not interested in what you have to say doesnt mean that he has a problem paying attention it meens that you have a problem keeping his attention you are probably boaring as hell. but on the upside for the parents you get a nice obediant zombie child and you save allot on lunch money. but when they grow up dont kid yourselves they will hate you. and there is nothing that will change that because it is already too late for apologies. even i your intention were pure there is no excuse for what you have put them through.

    Posted by: bryan October 14th, 2007 at 3:12 am

54. My 6yr old recently started taking adderall. He has improved so much, but now his temper or fustration has increased. Is this normal? Do you take the good with the bad?

    Posted by: Ross October 15th, 2007 at 10:32 pm

55. I am a Pharmacist and I have to tell you that I see alot of Adderall comming through the pharmacy and I think alot of parents do not realize how this medication works, so let me try to explain.. Children with ADHD need a stimulate and that is why they jitter around, cant sit still, etc.. Well Adderall is a stimulate and gives them that stimulate that they need to be able to concentrate in school to give them the edge that they need to be able to learn in school. IT IS NOT FOR THE BENEFIT FOR A PARENT TO CONTROL THEIR CHILD SO THEY BEHAVE! I have a child on this medication too.. and I know first hand, and I had to make a decision.. his education or my pride. One thing to keep in mind.. Dont give it to them after a certain time in the morning, If it is past 8am then it is TOO late! They wont be able to sleep.. and NO! Benadryl is not the Answer.. Adderall is a good medication if taken correctly by your physician .. it can be beneficial to helping your child learn and to succeed… Sincerely Kim

    Posted by: Kim October 18th, 2007 at 5:18 pm

56. To All Parents,

    I am a Psych PhD student and have studied child developmental disorders for years durring my MA. ADHA CAN NOT be accurately diagnosed prior to the age of 7 yrs. The criterian used for diagnosis are considered to be typical AND VERY NORMAL behavior under 7yrs old. Also most family physicians are not qualified to diagnosis mental/developmental disorders. They tend to only know what the drug companies teach them so they will prescribe their medication. ADHD is a chemical problem in the brain. Currently the stats for over dignosis are that ONLY 10% of the diagnosed population actually have the chemical imbalance of AHD. Many times other issues present similar symptoms. Children with higher intelligance that are bored in school appear to be ADHD. The symptoms are EXACTLY the same. Both problems are due to a lack of stimulation with the same symptoms but for very different reasons. One is boredom the other chemical imbalance. Children with learning disabilities who have difficulties understanding what is being taught have the same problem with boredom that gifted children do, they just stop paying attention.

    To make an accurate diagnosis more than just a parent’s interpretation of the child’s behavior is needed. The same symptoms need to be displayed in more than 2 settings. Not just school or just at home. If the behavior is isolated to just one enviromental location the problem is environment.

    Many parents do not like hearing their parenting, or the home environment may be the cause of their childs behavior, but many times it is. If ADHD type behavior is displayed only in the home it is a cry for attention from the child to the parents. More time just needs to be made for your kid.

    If the behavior only happens at school there is usually (99% of the time) no problem with the home life or the parents skills and the child is bored in shool for whatever reason and it would be more advantagous to contact a school psychologist for an evaluation.

    If your child does have ADHD it needs to be diagnosed by a mental health professional with specialized training. Just like depression, regular counseling and behavior therapy need to accompany medication. The ultimate goal of medication therapy is short term to control symptoms while behavior therapy is taking place prior to its effects. Medication should not be needed for more than 3-5 years.

    Improperly treated (meds only) ADHD can, and often does, develop into behavior disorders. Behavior modification needs to take place in an effort to prevent this. There are many directions the development of this disorder can take but without proper treatment it will not just stay ADHD.

    Remember ADHD can not be accurately diagnosed before 7 yrs old. After 7 yrs it is difficult to diagnosis because children are aware of what is socially acceptable and inacceptable behavior, they are able to use self control to cover symptoms for social reasons. After 12 symptoms may be exaggerated for the sake of diagnosis because the kid wants drugs for the high or to sell. The symptoms of ADHD are not that difficult to fake. 7 yrs old is the best and most accurate age to diagnosis ADHD. Remember this should be done by a mental health professional, not the family physican who is not qualifie to diagnosis or treat ADHD. If it really is ADHD you will, without a doubt be notified of problems at school very similar to the problems you are experiencing at home and that your child’s friends parents report when your child is at their house. The symptoms will occur in every environment your child enters, not just one. If your child is under 7 yrs they can not be properly diagnosised and have absolutely no reason to be on meds. If your Dr. is recomending them find a new Dr. because your is irresponsible. The drugs were not even tested on children under 6 because of the sheer impossibility of diagnosing a child under 6 years old. While 7 is the optimal age for diagnosis sometimes behavior is severe enough for a diagnosis at 6, younger than that is irresponsible. The drug companies back this statement on their websites and state the drugs should not be used on children 5 and under. Adderall doses over 10 mg are not recommended for children under 10 years, 7-8 years only 5 mgs should be taken a day.

    To Recently Diagnosed Adults,
    It is very unlikely you are ADHD and you need to examine factor in your environment for eplanations. The only way to accurately diagnos ADHD is across many environments; school, home, social, etc…. If work is the only place you currently have problems you are not ADHD and probably just need to reduce your caffiene.

    Posted by: Tina Grant October 23rd, 2007 at 8:08 am

57. One more thing. Adderall users MUST take drug holidays. This reduces the chance of addiction, slows tolerance increses keeping lower doses of the drug effective for longer period of time. There needs to be 2 days a week the drugis not taken every week. It is best to stagger these days if possible. If not the drug should not be taken on weekends and only used on work or school days. There should also be one week 2 times a year the drug is stopped. Again, this helps to negate some of the addictive long term effects of the drug and lessens withdrawl symptoms when the drug is stopped. Even if the drug is not giving a treatment effect and a new drug needs to be tried there still may be withdrawl symptoms. Only taking the drug for 2 or 3 days at a time instead of continually for long periods without a break almost eliminates withdrawl and makes drug changes more smoth. If there are withdrawl symptoms the current dose of the drug is too high.

    If there are symptoms of hedaches, diareaha (sp), stomach pains (not because of taking the drug on an empty stomach), or heart palpitations these are signs of an overdose and the dose of the drug should be lowered. The APA has the most reliable information on these drugs. They are independent of the drug companies yet govern the psychological indutry to ensure ethical guidelines are upheld and the best interest of the client is the primary focus. Drug company interest are not important because psychologists can not prescribe drugs, but they have a duty to refer lients to someone who can when they’ve diagnosed a disoreder which requires drug therapy, like ADHD.

    Posted by: Tina Grant October 23rd, 2007 at 8:31 am

58. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    I would just like to say thank you to Tina Grant.

    She knows what she is talking about because she has done the research, unlike many doctors that prescribe this medication.

    Drug holidays are a very important part of not becoming addicted to this substance.

    Posted by: Travis October 23rd, 2007 at 6:42 pm

59. After 3 yrs of denial, my husband finally convinced me to seek help b/c of not being able to stay focused, not being able to stay on task, being very unorganized, etc. I talked to my doc who recommended a psychiatrist. After going through some tests and taking an at-home questionaire (my mother & husband had to take one too), I was diagnosed ADD. I started taking Adderall about a month ago.
    Immediately I noticed the high that I got about 2 hours after taking a dose. But after about 4 days, I didn’t notice that high anymore.
    But just this week I’ve had a very interesting symptom appear. I don’t know if it’s b/c I’m 43 and have simply reached my sexual peak, or if this is something that the drug has caused. In either case, neither my husband or I are complaining. The only drawback is, well, the sexual peak is VERY high.
    I plan on talking to my doc about this at my next appt the 2nd week in November, but until then, has anyone else experienced this “symptom”? Or have I simply reached my sexual peak?

    Posted by: Cindy October 24th, 2007 at 5:20 pm

60. i have just started taking adderall for my add and take 10 mg 2x daily-my question is i get like a racing feeling and highs and lows the whole time the med is working-will this go away or get better the longer i’m on it?

    Posted by: krazymnd November 2nd, 2007 at 7:48 pm

61. My daughter has been taking Adderall for some time now.
    Since taking this drug, she has a poor apetite, doesnt like to sleep, complains about stomach aches, her eyes are sinking in and she is losing weight (she is 7 and only weighs 40 pounds).
    My ex has her living in his home for now until the court can change custody but he refuses to acknowledge anything I tell him about her side effects, he says the doctor says she is doing great and he sees great improvement in her.
    I have no idea who the last doctor he took her to was, a phone number or an address that had diagnosed her with the ADHD again or if he/she did.
    I have her on the weekends and each time I see these side effects and I dont like it and he wont listen or do anything to help her!
    He just wont discuss anything with me that is a concern about her most of the time.
    I am doing a research paper on Adderrall for my college class and I am also turning it into my lawyer so if anyone has any imput on my story please let me know so I can help my daughter out the only way I can, by getting information, giving it to my lawyer and him give it to the court.
    He has her on two Adderral pills, I think that her morning one is for 25 mgs and the one she takes at lunch is a smaller dose.

    Posted by: tracy November 5th, 2007 at 1:50 am

62. I can speak to those who feel they are addicted to adderall. My doctor put me on 30mg twice a day but eventually that didnt cut it. So what I would do is I would sometimes take up to 210mg a day!!! That’s 7 30mg pills. Since it was hard for me to get enough dosage to take this much the entire month, I would take the drug at high dosage for 15 or so days, then nothing for the next 15 until my prescription renewed. I am now dealing with chronic diarehha, nausea and stomach cramps. I dont process milk products well anymore either. Good news is I was able to overcome my addiction by myself but it took some work…very tired days, irritability, sexual issues, and severe weight gain.
    My message to parents is not necessarily keep you kids off this if they are ADHD, but to monitor very closely especially when receiving high dosage. Adderall played a very important part in becoming as successful as I am now, but was it worth it? I am starting to think not.

    Posted by: JB November 5th, 2007 at 6:46 pm

63. Has anyone heard of treatment for ADD without the use of medication?
    –Kill yourself.

    just kidding!…
    anyways…adderall is great but when i’m coming down I get so depressed and pissed at everything.

    Posted by: Anne November 5th, 2007 at 10:45 pm

64. Hi Tracy

    I think that a good family therapist would help you and your husband communicate better in general.

    Posted by: Sol November 6th, 2007 at 2:53 am

65. Im so and I took adderall for about 5 months and man was that stuff weird. I really liked it for awhile, i became very focused, i go things done, i became very clean(when im usually not), i wrote a 10 page paper for school in about 3 hours when it should have taken 8, i exercised ALOT, and i never had an appetite. After a few months though i began to bruise on my thighs alot, and im not sure if that was because i wasnt eating a whole lot or it was actually a side effect of the medication. I also had some hair loss, and my brother at a wedding said my eyes were sagging. Im not sure if thats all because i wasnt eating alot, or it was because of adderall.

    Posted by: Rachel November 11th, 2007 at 3:27 am

66. oops, im 20*

    Posted by: Rachel November 11th, 2007 at 3:28 am

67. I’ve tried the two-a day meds at 10mg each. That worked for my attention problem but made me very irritable and had a short fuse. When I switched to 20mg extended release, my short fuse grew but my attention span shortened. Lately, I’ve taken 20mg xr twice a day and my focus is much better. My fuse is not too short and my hrate, which was very high when I first started, is back to normal.

    I do worry about long term side effects and when I run out and don’t get a refill quickly enough, I definitely can feel it. I feel like my brain is going in 1000 different directions. I just don’t know if it is a withdrawal effect or just me needing it for attention.

    Posted by: Kevin November 13th, 2007 at 6:12 pm

68. adderall really works with me…it helps me keep on task and my thought process is more concentrated… but my creativity… well im just not as creative when im on it. one problem i’ve had was that last year i took it once every morning and i did’nt grow one inch and i was like the shortest guy at my highschool then this year i decided not to take it to see what would happen and i grew about 4.5 inches in 4 months. so i think its the adderall that was stunting my growth

    Posted by: Paco November 15th, 2007 at 4:58 pm

69. HI my daughter is 10 years old and she started taking adderall about 2weeks ago. My question is could the meds make her to something that she would normally not do early on. Or do she have to be on it along period of time. She was apart of something very seriously in school and I think the the meds really played a big part in it because this is not her and the thing that she was acused of doen’t make sense to me and its like this all happen after she started taking this med.

    Posted by: Tonya November 17th, 2007 at 6:06 pm

70. For anybody wanting to try alternative methods besides the meds, try www.feingold.org — it’s about eliminating preservatives, artifical colors, flavors dyes from the diet. Also try organic milk, omega 3 oils and there is a natural pill at Whole Foods called Sea Buddies Concentrate Focus Formula. I have tried most of these for my son and have gotten a little bit of relief for his ADHD. Next I am trying Focus a natural pill I found on-line.

    Posted by: Robin November 20th, 2007 at 10:18 pm

71. I was diagnosed with borderline ADD three years ago and was given 15 MG XR pills. I’m in college now and I had a really important paper due so I took thee pills on Sunday at about 1 PM. I was concentrated all day and I got my paper done. However, later that night something changed. It’s like I have constant discomfort in the whole chest area. It’s like I can’t take in full breaths and it’s just really uncomfortable. I just don’t understand it. I’ve taken this dose before and nothing of this sort happened. It’s Wednesday now. The effects of the adderall have long gone but the breathing complications still remain. I’ve been able to sleep but I’m just uncomfortable all day. I just don’t know what is going on. Will this ever stop?

    Posted by: John November 21st, 2007 at 10:53 am

72. my son was diagnosed with add in may..from the time he started preschool to now(he is in 3rd grade)he was suspended twice in the first week…and suspensions continued.he became well known starting from preschool til now. he would punch a kid in the stomache to scratch a teacher to throw a kid down to the ground , he was very arrogant,very sure of himself and from what his teachers say he showed no empathy for anything or anyone.although he was always told by everyone how goodlooking and even considered beautiful..he seemed to feel like he had something to live up to.i must say he has outgrown alot of it this past year..he was prescribed adderral and at first i couldnt bring myself to giving it to him. it had been about a month and he started up again so bad i decided to give him his dosage mixed in his yogurt and with him not knowing…he would never take it voluntarily. about 20 minutes later he said to me “I feel different” i sat with him and noticed his zombie look which broke my heart..then he started taking very deep breaths his chest tightened and him being a good eater he refused dinner saying he wasnt hungry afterall…let me tell you i never gave him another pill..the guilt i felt..I FELT LIKE I JUST GAVE MY SON POISON…this is just my experience …he continues his acting, he performs in musicals and such..he seems as if he outgrew some aggresivness..he’s still sure of himself just not too bad..i will pray and get other alt to meds..

    Posted by: michele November 21st, 2007 at 11:25 pm

73. To Angel,
    I have had BAD problems with my muscles. I feel like they are all contracting and I continually have stretch. I feel like my muscles have little rips or tears in them. I had to quit taking adderall because my entire body hurt so bad.

    Posted by: elizabeth November 26th, 2007 at 6:48 pm

74. Listen up people -

    Do NOT take this drug int eh high doses that a lot of people do. Do not get addicted and have the lack of control over yourself. You have to have the self control to be able to say “enugh is enough”.

    I used to take about 10-15 mg per day (I weight about 145 pounds”. The highs and lows were HORRIBLE and I felt like I couldn’t live without adderall. And THAT isn’t even considered a high dosage.

    So this is what I do. I take 3, count them, three, miligrams per day on average, if not slightly less. I take 1/8 (3.75 mg) or 1/16 (1.875 mg) probably 3-4 days a week, if that. The average only rises because there are some days where I have an extreme amount of work to do. But still, I work full time, go to school at night (architecture school - very hard) - and I do it all on 3mg per day or somewhere around there. The key is to get enough sleep and eat a blanced meal. Trust me. Sometimes you feel like you need adderall and what you really need is a grapefruit. When I am free of stress enough to get my 8+ hours of sleep, I only take 1 mg per day on average, meaning I take 3 mg once a week or so. Eat fruit and whole grains - take flax seed oil or some other form of Omega-3, and get your sleep.

    I do not trust the long term effects of adderall, and you shouldn’t either. What you should do is do everything else right and then use adderall when you need that extra boost. And for you people with kids that have ADD, give them even SMALLER amounts - and make sure they eat right. I am living proof - you are what you eat. Take adderall in small doses. My doses are so small that I actually HATE taking the drug - when you take more than 10mg per day, like I used to, you enjoy taking the drug. That is called dependence and it is dangerous.

    Good luck and be weary.

    Posted by: David November 26th, 2007 at 9:37 pm

75. I am a 19 year old student in college. Since I was a child I’ve been known as a troublemaker. In first grade my teacher (private school) had to tie me to my chair with a jump rope. (to all who are about to criticize her, shes my aunt) And at the time I didn’t understand because I didn’t do anything in particular that day, but I received a letter and was told to give it to my parents. On the ride home with my mom she opened the note and explained I wasn’t going to attend that school and I would be enrolled in public school. My first week in public school I was suspended twice. I remember 3rd grade I was suspended the first day. To be honest I recall being suspended every other week. ALL YEAR PEOPLE. My parents never let me take meds unless they were natural. I look back today and I’m so grateful. Today I’m told Ive got a great personality and I work hard in school and at my job. Ive gone through some dark times in my life, but in all I’ve just gotten smarter and stronger. Any kind of med just isn’t the answer. Its mind over matter people. At school my teacher told me she put her child on Ritalin, I’m talking about a 6 year old, I can’t explain how I felt and what I wanted to say. That child’s life is forEVER going to be effected and he’ll never be the same. I have plenty of friends in college from different country’s and they ALL have one thing in common. When I ask their opinion about Americans they call us fat, lazy and crazy. Sometimes they call us stupid. Giving a 6 year old adderal is guaranteeing they pick up a crystal meth pipe when their older, and ending up in rehab and/or committing suicide. And its legal???? the president doesn’t think their is something wrong here??? Of course he does, nobody other then bush has collected more money from drug companies. Its estimated hes collected over 700,000 dollars in 2007 from drug companies. And its a wonder why Osama Bin Laden spends his oil money on crashing plains into the twin towers? it doesn’t justify what he did but believe me, things only get worse before they get better. You have been warned.

    Posted by: Sami November 27th, 2007 at 9:52 am

76. I am a 16 year old sofmor in high school
    and i wass wondering if any of the side effects
    include sleep walking?

    Posted by: joseph November 27th, 2007 at 4:00 pm

77. i started taking the med when i was in elem scholl i am now 22 yrs old i suffered terrible migranes,weight loss and numerous of other side effects from the medication which led to me being diagnosed with eplipesy at the age of 13 was when i had my first seizure the migranes and lack of sleep are what trigured my seizures and since then i have had myclonic tonic eplipesy since then the doctors thought that the med will help me focus better in school but it didnt i never listened to the teacher and was rarely at school because i was always having headaches, stressing and my vision also became affected by the medication as well . My life has changed majorly due to this medication parents if your child is showing signs of adhd or add dont be quick to put them on meds actually see what there problems is in school it could be that they may need extra help in school not needing to see a doctor and be put on medication adderall can have a very negative affect on kids .

    Posted by: shawn November 28th, 2007 at 12:40 am

78. addrall sucks

    Posted by: amber November 29th, 2007 at 10:28 pm

79. My daughter (15) has had bad reactions to all of the stimulant medications. Although I have always hated putting something like that in her body, it makes the difference between struggling to pass in school and making 90’s. (Hey, I’d be happy with C’s, if that were her best on no medication). A few of my co-workers have tried something from a health food store called Sea Buddies Concentrate Focus Formula. Has anyone tried that? My co-workers had good response with their children, with no side effects. It is apparently an enzyme therapy.

    Posted by: Lori November 29th, 2007 at 11:24 pm

80. I’ve been on adderall since 1996 and my doctor(that i have been seening once a year to get script for the past 6 years)thinks i should have no probelm if i just stop taking it. well i stopped taking it for 6 months while i was pregnant i gained 100lbs i was depressed unmotivated and more tired then the normal pregnant women. i can’t enjoy my life with out it, it feels. another problem i’ve been having is pain in my jaw and i have a headache by 5pm usually everyday. i’m 24 years old and i need adderall…i think i am going to die form a heart attack anytime but i must take the adderall or i am useless. any body in the same boat i don’t care if its right or wrong Email me sanmaster05@aol.com

    Posted by: Adrienne December 2nd, 2007 at 2:14 am

81. I was told at the age of 10 that I was to over active and needed to be put on medicine to help me. Thanks to my parents they made the wise choice to refuse this. Ya, I was a little wild but thats why I was called a kid. At the age of 17 I started experement with drugs. I got hooked on Meth for about a year. It was a very hard time in my life that I take as a learning experence. After quiting meth I was very confused and at times it was hard to think. I went to see a doctor and was perscribed adderall. I started talking this for about a month. The first two weeks was good. I felt better and wanted to do more things. Then about the third week I started to feel almost exactly like I did on meth. I did some research and found out that it is very similer to meth. I stopped use right away. It took me another month before I felt right again, well not all methed up. I remember sleeping alot. It has been 5 years now and all I can say is every day that passes I fell that much further from meth and more clear headed. I can not believe they give this to children. They tried to say its for me, more then once.( I was the crazy kid that the teachers couldn’t handle) Now I am in school for my applied science degree. My friends say I am a very mellow person. My family cant believe how calm I am now. I grew out of it. I am just saying this to urge parents to wait until the child can make a real choice, and not to decide your kid is to active, maybe it is a good thing. Find something your child likes to do and let them learn for them self. Now some people might really need this but I think it is getting way out control and we are hurting our kids. I have a 2 year old daughter and I want to see all the children of the future to have future.

    Posted by: Zach December 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 am

82. Hi
    I’ve been taking adderall Xr for a week now, and i’m already seeing purple bags under my eyes which i never had before, specially my right eye, is that a adderall side effect? what can i do about it??

    Posted by: Dino December 4th, 2007 at 11:44 pm

83. I want to thank Tina & David for their input, I am currently diagnosed with ADD and am in my early 30s. I was taking less than 10mg a day and then increased my dose per doctor instruction. I immideatley noticed headaches and an increased irritability. I’ve since lowered my dose back to less than 10mg/day and notice the benefits w/out the side effects.

    To Tina’s point about Adults with ADHD “It is very unlikely you are ADHD and you need to examine factor in your environment for eplanations. The only way to accurately diagnos ADHD is across many environments; school, home, social, etc…. If work is the only place you currently have problems you are not ADHD and probably just need to reduce your caffiene.”

    This is exactly the reason I was diagnosed because of this is the one aspect in my life that I was having severe problems with. Measuring across multiple environments may not be feasible as most working adults do exactly that, work 50+ hours a week. This is where you may find the most problems and impact for medication. I would suggest to anyone before taking ANY medication to read Dr. Hallowell’s and Dr. Ratey’s book, “Delivered from Distraction”. This is a great start for anyone that even thinks they have ADHD/ADD and then progress with therapy and medication very conservatively.

    Posted by: Dave December 5th, 2007 at 1:01 am

84. Hi,
    I was on Adderall XR for years, but decided to go off all medications a few months ago. Since I quit Adderall, I’ve gained weight (20 lbs.!), yet I’ve also run 2 marathons. So I’m wondering, since a side effect of being on Adderral is “weight loss” (which, unfortunately, I never experienced), perhaps a withdrawal side effect is weight gain?? And if so, is this a transitional thing? And how long before I can expect to get back to normal? If anyone knows anything or can point me in the right direction for answers, that would be awesome!

    Posted by: Karla December 8th, 2007 at 9:05 pm

85. I am a 20 year old college student. I go to a very competitive college and am on 25mg twice a day of adderall xr. I was prescribed adderall about 8 months ago and have zero regrets. For about 3 years prior to that doctors thought I was depressed, but couldn’t do anything about it. Finally a neuropsychologist concluded that ADD/ADHD was causing my depression. Note: Prior to my depressed state I was an all A student, so this made a great deal of sense. My doctor prescribed me on Strattera, but that did not do anything for me, so he switched me to Adderall. Adderall does have many side effects but the benefits greatly outweigh the costs.

    A main side effect almost everyone experiences on Adderall is weight loss or loss of appetite, and there is a very simple solution to this: Eat. You have to make yourself eat even when you’re not hungry and get on a regimen of eating at or near certain times. Eventually this will just become routine and the loss of appetite will disappear.

    Adderall does produce similar effects to cocaine and other stimulant drugs. Whenever I feel my heart racing or hands trembling, I just take a big breath and hold it in for a while and let it out very slowly. I do this several times and it helps me relax and focus my energy toward whatever the task at hand is.

    Adderall is a stimulant for a reason. It is made you so can take it and feel immediate effects. This means that it does not have to be taken every single day. Not taking it everyday helps you to not become dependent on the drug. If you feel like you need it everyday, then you should get on a non-stimulant medication such as Wellbutrin or Strattera, both of which have far less side effects.

    Posted by: Dave December 9th, 2007 at 7:30 am

86. Adderall a weird drug. it keeps you awake and more “alive” and also will help concentrate better, but on the other hand it calms you down, gets you quiet and depression from time to time. im 15 and have been taking adderal for about a year now. wen i dont take adderall xr itmakes me very sleepy and very annoyed. another problem i am having is that i seam to be less attracted to girls and im not “turned on” like before taking the meds. it seams like i “shrink” as if im in some cold water. its hard getting “turned-on” now. even wen i try. i have no sexual feelings any more. i feel sexually uncomfortable with myself…and i feel uncomfortable talking to my doctor, especially wen my dad is with me. any suggestions? should i stop taking it? or what should i do?

    Advice?

    Posted by: kairi December 10th, 2007 at 3:13 am

87. Adderall causes me to lose appetite and get cotton mouth as well as become more nervous and anxious. The positive effects are the focusing which only happens if the right dose is given and you are feeling comfortable. I’ve been prescribed for over 7 years before that i was prescribed to ritalin in 6th grade which caused me to be anxious, nervous, paranoid, and anti-social as well as extreme loss of appetite. Is there a way to stop these side affects ? I know I have ADD and I can’t focus but in order to focus I have to sacrifice my appetite and comfort of being myself. I even take Adderal 10mg XR the Blue ones and it does that. My heart is beating 10x faster i feel like. Anyone feel the same ?

    Posted by: Con December 11th, 2007 at 4:59 am

88. I am 29 years old and I have been taking Adderall for 16 years for my ADHD and it has done wonders since the first day I took it. When I was young, I was obsessed with being the center of attention and making people laugh. I will admit, my parents spoiled me rotten (which might have been a cause for my disorder). At school, I was always getting into trouble. I would randomly yell out jokes, names, objects, etc. I had no idea why I was doing this but the other kids always thought I was funny for making the teacher mad, so I continued to do so. Principal recomended I see a doctor, then the doctor refered me to a specialist. Turns out I had ADHD - mild Turret’s Syndrome caused by low levels of Dopamine. The Adderall cured my hyperactivity and random outbursts the first day I started taking it. It did not cure my laziness, make me want to do my homework, or get me better grades…and its not supposed to. Adderall made me pay attention to everything and everyone else in my life, besides just my thoughts and actions. Please re-read that sentence…. Adderall will not make you smarter, more social, or act better…but it is amazing what happens when you stop just paying attention to yourself and take in the whole picture. From the sounds of the posts on this web site, not many other people have had the same experience. My only advice is to talk to your doctor (and your parents), be open with them, and ask as many questions as possible. I had to go through a 3 month consultation with my doctor and parents before they started me on medication. It sounds like some of you just walk into a doctor’s office every month and get your perscription without knowing why you are taking Adderall in the first place. I guess I would be pissed off at the medicine too. This medicine is DEA controlled substance and every pill that is made has to be accounted for at the end of the year. So I have to disagree with the comments about doctor’s handing out Adderall like it’s candy and not knowing what the medicine does. You can only get a 1 month supply of adderall because your dosage needs to be monitored and the doctor must send off their forms to the DEA. I really think with the right dosage, the right doctor, and communication, Adderall is very effective in treating ADHD. FYI - history of my dosage - I am taking 40mg day (2 * 20mg) for about 10 years. In high school I was up to 60 mg a day and the doctor reduced my dosage when I went to college. I hope the lady that was taking 100mg a day (Stephanie post from September 15th or so) is still alive. That is a near lethal dose of Adderall, and I would recomend that you take only what you feel comfortable taking. Hopefully this is advice for everyone else too, if you are jittery, irritable, and you can’t eat or sleep…then you need to lower your dosage or talk to your doctor about other meds. I only had two or three sleepless nights until my doctor got the correct dosage. No withdrawls, discharge, hair loss, shrinkage, or loss of coolness experienced on my end. I did just find out that I have a kidney stone, and although I don’t know whether or not its related to Aderall I thought you should know. I will reply back once they do examine my kidney stone and say if the stone was Adderall related.

    Posted by: Tom December 12th, 2007 at 11:40 am

89. We have three adopted children. the childern have been taking some sort of stimulant since first grade,starting with ritalin, then concerta, then adderal. the middle child (female) also has taken stratteria, focalin,triliptal and equetro.I wish they didn`t have to take these meds, its so much trouble keeping routines and appointments, basically comsumes my life and energy.We did try to take the children off these meds during the summer it was an interesting summer but on into 6-9 weeks of school beginning they were begging me to get them back on their meds r/t their grades attention span and behaviors worsened.I don`t understand why kids today have to be on drugs,I realize life is fast paced,the surrounding are different.I even wondered if their back ground (family Genes) beared the answer,well thats a long story and yes the family members are all in trouble and need more help than can be given.We love these kids as our own, I have to wonder what their children are going to be like and will they be healthy or how many generations will this control.

    Posted by: katherine woodward December 21st, 2007 at 3:30 pm

90. Tried vyvanse for a couple of weeks. Have developed an eye twitch (lower lid). Wondering if this is going to be a permanent condition, even though I have stopped the medication….

    Posted by: cee December 22nd, 2007 at 6:24 am

91. I am 44 years old and strongly suspect that I have ADD. I have struggled my entire life with concentration, attention span issues and am scatter-brained to the extreme (I have lost my passport 8 times). School was a huge struggle for me. My acting and artistic skills were high. I came last place in absolutely everything except music and drama. I was however very popular and always have been without having to try. The other members of my family are very well educated and intelligent. It has always been a mystery to me and to my parents. They would send me books at school which became more and more inane (since they deduced I must be stupid) which I found impossible to pay attention to. It wasn’t until I was about 12 that I happened to pick books from their library, which were ridiculously high brow for a girl of my age. Looking back I probably barely understood a lot of what I was reading but I knew these books were good and they captured my imagination intensely. From then I developed an appreciation for literature which I’ve kept (until quite recently). When I was about 15 the headmistress at my school threatened to expel me since there was no point in my staying on to do ‘O’ Levels (a set of exams taken in England of between 7 and 12 exams taken at about age 15 to 16). My grades were appalling and I was disrupting the rest of the class, so she said. I decided for the first time in my life to study as I didn’t want my life disrupted by having to leave school. Rather than risk the fear of the unkown, I almost killed myself studying every spare minute that I had and did fairly well considering. The headmistress insisted on sending the exams back for re-grading as she thought there must have been a mistake. For some reason I could not handle the whole experience and ensuing reaction of the people around me and I begged my parents to let me leave school at 16, which they agreed to. I think the whole experience left me feeling confused and like a fraud and I felt terrified that I would be exposed at any minute. Since then most of my life’s major choices have been driven by a need to hide my problems with concentration, memory and attention. Coupled with this I have always had a strong determination to succeed and rise to challenges. I had fairly successful career as a freelancer in the film industry until I turned 40 and started my own business. I have created a product that is very popular and has had an incredible amount of press and has grown by 60% every year since it started for years ago. HOWEVER, I am finally at my wits end with my issues. While I recognize that I have many talents and qualities, my organizational and management skills are SO bad that the business is teetering on the brink of collapse in spite of it’s popularity. I’ve also entered into a new very loving and supportive relationship with the most wonderful man I’ve every met. In many ways life is good and never have I wanted to run away from it all more than I do now. I have constant anxiety about what I haven’t managed to do, what I’ve forgotten to do and I feel paralyzed. When I was at school all my greatest friends were the most talented and intelligent. I got by because developed a persona that was both unthreatening and appealing. In spite of being “stupid” I managed to hold my own, in my own way, with the best of them. When I reached a certain level of achievement I ran as fast as I could and hid from the world. I feel that something similar is happening to me now and the pressure is making my ADD (if that is what I have) a hundred times worse. One of the reasons I am writing this and why I found this site, is I have just come back from spending Christmas in the States with my American family. I have a first cousin who, although I don’t know very very well, I have always recognized strong similarities when seeing her over the years.. She is an over achiever who lives in fear of what havoc she is causing or about to cause around her in spite of her best intentions and sense of responsibility. She has a three daughters one of which, the middle one, aged 18 (I haven’t seen in a long time), who was telling me about her problems at school (which the other 2 daughters do NOT have). It may as well have been me talking, I couldn’t believe my ears. She was diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Adderal when she was 14 and said that it has changed her life her self esteem. Her mother was diagnosed as well and they are both taking the drug. My cousins daughter said that now she in college she prefers only to take it when necessary which sounds absolutely right to me. I would really appreciate hearing similar stories and what life is like on Adderal for someone like me. Life is hell for me at the moment. I am finding it impossible to pay attention to anything and I believe that it is forcing a kind of depression, anxiety and fear on me. I would appreciate any comments

    Posted by: Kate January 5th, 2008 at 12:50 am

92. To Dave — who says that Wellbutrin is not a stimulant —- you need to understand that there are 2 types of medication for depression - one is considered an “upper” and one is considered a “downer” Wellbutrin falls in the upper (stimulant) catagory and Effexor falls in the downer catagory; Often Wellbutrin is presribed with Effexor and if the Wellbutrin is not effective, Adderall might be presribed. Anyone getting high from Adderall should not be on Adderall, or they should have their dosage examined. Adderall will make a person with ADD feel “normal” — education is the key to any medication; being HONEST with your doctor is key; keeping a daily journal of meds; food and any supplement is key; oft times, an herbal supplement can complicate the effects of medication, just like orange juice can reduce the effective of some meds —- everything needs to be balanced, in order for your body to be in balance.

    Posted by: lindsey January 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

93. I have been taking adderall with effexor for the past 3 months. I notice that I bite on the inside of my cheeks. Has anyone ever noticed anything like this?

    Posted by: barbara January 13th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

94. I’ve been taking adderall on and off for about a year. I wouldn’t say that I entirely need it but it does help when I am going to school. I’m in a very competitive university and once the semester started I decided to get back on it. I went off for 2 months. As far as withdrawals go the doctors are right I’ve talked to. With such a small dosage of amphetamines (for most people) it is not going to cause withdrawals like you would see with street drugs that are more addictive in nature like crystal meth. It’s all the same but different portions of different chemicals in different dosages. The bottom line is that they are all “uppers.” They are all stimulants on the central nervous system. That’s why you feel alert and so task-oriented. I take a 20 mg pill everyday now that school started. There are two types of adderall and two types of prescribed amphetamines in general- that is slow release and the normal amphetamine salt tablets. I have been prescribed with both. What works for me is the tablets because I am actually able to sleep at night as compared to the 12-hour slow release xr pills. On both however I have experienced headaches. I don’t know why that is and I have noticed that is a side effect for many adults. My opinion is that it is just a lack of nourishment during the day and when you “come down” from the pill your body isn’t being driven by the stimulants you took earlier in the day but now has to rely on the natural process of your metabolism. With me I’ve noticed that forcing myself to eat regularly like I do when I’m off my adderall lessens my side effects as far as headaches are concerned. As far as restlessness and not being able to sleep, I would recommend switching to a less potent form of amphetamine like dexadrin. Doctors know better than I do the difference and availability of other types. I guess your job is to find one that works best for you. If I were to recommend it to my family or friends I would say no. Decinately no. I don’t want a pill to be the reason I am more successful in school or more social or optimistic. I think the purpose of this life is to learn and grow and accomplish such things on your own without the help of a CNS stimulant. It seems anyone will have more will power and more drive with this pill it is just a matter of chemistry. But I believe it cheats us of what life is all about- and that’s to grow through your own self-will. To those of us that really believe that is unatainable without medications then this is the drug for you. I do warn that it is addictive. I haven’t let myself get to the point where I need to re-up my dosage or anything like that because I understand medicine to a degree and its effects. My doctor has said it shouldn’t have any long-term side effects but think about this people- it is a relatively new drug. How can anyone know the long-term side effects of this drug? And it is a gateway to illegal meth. People who enjoy the euphoria they feel while on this would certainly be tempted to try other more powerful stimulants. For me I’m off this once the semester ends. I just need to do good to get into my program I am studying for. Also, a side note, I am familiar with recreational drugs. I have seen friends become addicted and am quite knowledgable as far as those go. All Adderall is is a toned down, synthetic form of speed that is prescribed so that it is legal. It’s like crystal meth or cocaine, powder or rock form (crack). They are all uppers and when you are off it your nervous system is so used to having those chemicals bring you “up” that when you’re off it you’re “down” further than when you started taking it. When I got off it I just noticed I gained my weight back and had an apetite. To those who have formed psychotic symptoms it is not because of the drug but because of your genetic make-up! If you are prone to develop abnormal psychotic behavior it is because it is in your genes and usually it will come out with a stressful even in your life or with these mind-altering chemicals. The adderall kind of “sets off” what’s in you already. The same goes for a host of other drugs. Do the benefits outweight the side-effects? That’s for you to decide. For me I think it is what will help me for now but i definately don’t intend on staying on it. I’ve gotten off before and I will do it again. My advice is to keep the dosages down or else you’ll get “strung out.” Anyone interested in this topic should watch “Requiem for a Dream.” It displays a lady who took diet pills similar to adderall and innocently got addicted. It ruined her life. Just be careful people and learn about your body and what you think is best for you.

    Posted by: John January 15th, 2008 at 4:50 am

95. I’ve recently started to use it, and besides the few side effects (lack of sleep, curbed appetite, sweating?) I have been feeling great and thinking clearly, and I don’t have trouble focusing like I always do. I haven’t ever felt such a relief of my inability to concentrate. It’s a very powerful medication, though, and I would say use with caution.

    Posted by: John January 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm

96. Any mother who gives their five year old Adderal has problems of her own. Maybe she should try the pill first.

    Posted by: Jules January 29th, 2008 at 4:47 pm

97. I’ve been on Adderall for 4 years. I love everything this medication have done for me.
    All positive and very little negative to say.
    Just like any other thing respect it don’t abuse it and enjoy the benefits it brings.
    One other thing, I laugh when I hear how Adderall can make people crazy and how people can start hearing voices and see things on it…..lol
    MAN THIS IS ALL BUNCH OF CRABS, DON’T LISTEN.

    Posted by: WALTER January 30th, 2008 at 4:40 am

98. Hello everybody my name is Kenneth but everyone calls me. When I was a kid I was on riddelin. They had me on high doses. I was better but it made me quiet. Then they lowerd the doses.I was fine. They took off it when I was 12 they said I didn’t need anymore. Ever since then school became ten times harder. I couldn’t concerate. I had 15 things on mind. I just couldn’t concerate on one task. I started drinking. Getting high of of paint thinner. The older I got the worse it got. I knew needed help. I couldn’t say it. I lost jobs, girlfriends, friends. The last I had I lost it. My dad and mom said what is going on. I couldn’t concerate. Know I am on Adderall I been on it for about two weeks. The doctor increase it. I take it two days a day. I feel like a knew person. I can concerate know. I start my new job February 12, 2008. My mine is less full. I have some side effects from it. Like loss of appetite. I’m use to eating five a day and know it is only three. It hard for me to go to sleep. As before I was tire. But know it is hard for me to go to sleep. I do have some headaches. I am much better and that’s all that matter. Thanks for the site. And everybody who wrote comments I hope everybody is doing better or on there way to lifting a better life.

    Posted by: Kenneth Richards Jr January 30th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

99. my husband was prescribed Adderal two years ago and I swear his doctor was an idiot!!!!!! He had my husband on 80mg pills twice a day!!!!! It was a horrible expierence being around him while coming down, alot of the time I got the short end of the stick(abuse). Now he is on 25mg twice a day but he seems to be doing better than b4 but the days he doesn’t take it he is an a**. I hate to know what is going on in his body after all the use of this drug.

    Posted by: shawn January 31st, 2008 at 9:06 am

100. Britney Spears is all over the news. The news media reports indicated that she has been taken adderal. It is difficult to take medication when ultimally no one really can predict how these drugs effects the individual with their own other personal and emotional issues that surround the persons predispositions. The Public prior to jumping to any conclusions, or being influence by medical doctor recommedations really separate themself from others and understand the really reason that drives us to take a medication not just because it give us more energy, make us lose weight, makes us focus better. I do not dismiss that there are some children that really need to be on medication but children also have a lot of natural energy and a parent needs to differenciated the difference.
     It’s like falling in love. You fall in love with the idea that you will be happy for ever and that the person that makes your heart beat you will always feel the same way for that person. But after a few months the love changes, you get to know the person and understand that not everything is rose color. You learn and either work in that relationship or move on. What occurs in the beginning of the relationship is that the partner is first after a few months we make our demands. When we take Addreal we are in love with the idea that we are different and that this drug is a positive thing for people but after a few months we either become too depress, blame our doctors, our partners, our children and ultimatly is just that we have accepted a new variable into our life living with a medication. A negative an distructive relationship.

     Posted by: Sol February 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 am

101. If a person is taking adderall 30mg on a dailey basis, but it has not been their prescription in the last 4 yrs how can they stop tak