Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 201883

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Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » stjames

Posted by Craig Allen on February 19, 2003, at 16:10:32

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!, posted by stjames on February 19, 2003, at 15:43:27

my doctor, who i saw yesterday, didn't have a problem with me going off the adderall cold turkey. he was concerned about my level of depression caused by the sudden stop, but he didn't express any health concerns in relation to it. your points are well taken and appreciated however. i just took a 5mg dose and i will continue at this dose, gradually tapering again this weekend. thanks again.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!

Posted by jesus on February 19, 2003, at 16:33:45

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!, posted by stjames on February 19, 2003, at 15:43:27



> Sudden succession of this class of meds is known to cause:
> seziure, CNS shock, Cardiac events (stroke, heart
> attack, very high blood pressure)

really? I thought negative symptoms from amphetamine withdrawal were only psychological...are you sure?


 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » jesus

Posted by Hattree on February 19, 2003, at 18:49:53

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!, posted by jesus on February 19, 2003, at 16:33:45

I've cold turkeyed from pstims more than once...it sucks, but so does tapering in my experience. The depression sucks, but taking less than enough is just as uncomfortable (for me).

I have better luck with taking a couple of days off, until the jitters wear off and the depression and lethargy remain, and THEN take a much lower dose.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!

Posted by stjames on February 19, 2003, at 18:57:21

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » stjames, posted by Craig Allen on February 19, 2003, at 16:10:32

> my doctor, who i saw yesterday, didn't have a problem with me going off the adderall cold turkey. he was concerned about my level of depression caused by the sudden stop, but he didn't express any health concerns in relation to it. your points are well taken and appreciated however.

Well, I had to stop once as my HMO was being a pain, went to the ER with a splitting headache,
my BP was 225/155 !!!!!! Mind you this was 2 days after a stopped so no amphetamine was in my system,
this was the withdrawal effect.

Lots of docs say stop Effexor at once, this list knows better.

Trust this old speed freak, don't stop at once.
Some can, some cannot. The risks are real, as I mentioned. It does vary person to person.
Just like some people are fools and some are not.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » stjames

Posted by zenclear on February 19, 2003, at 19:11:25

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!, posted by stjames on February 19, 2003, at 18:57:21

> > my doctor, who i saw yesterday, didn't have a problem with me going off the adderall cold turkey. he was concerned about my level of depression caused by the sudden stop, but he didn't express any health concerns in relation to it. your points are well taken and appreciated however.
>
> Well, I had to stop once as my HMO was being a pain, went to the ER with a splitting headache,
> my BP was 225/155 !!!!!! Mind you this was 2 days after a stopped so no amphetamine was in my system,
> this was the withdrawal effect.
>
> Lots of docs say stop Effexor at once, this list knows better.
>
> Trust this old speed freak, don't stop at once.
> Some can, some cannot. The risks are real, as I mentioned. It does vary person to person.
> Just like some people are fools and some are not.
>
>

I find it VERY helpful to hear what others have experienced when going off stims. Thank you! Please tell more!

For example, the paradoxical effect of RAISED BP upon discontinuation is good to know about. One can become very confused about sdie effects when one is conflicted about whether to continue, raise a dose, or discontinue.

I tapered of dex a few months ago, but only stayed off a few days, and due to increased pressure at work, I resumed and increased my dose.

As a consequence, for months, I had a very hard time feeling normal on any dose! I either had constant elevated BP (felt like it!I did nor measure) or felt understimulated. All this because -- I think -- my body was not tolerating any dose well anymore.

I don't take much dex (5-12 mg/day), but tapering off this small amount turned out to be confusing on my body, because I'd get BP stress, and not know what to do etc. I'd like to taper (or go off) again, but this time I realize it's important to stay off a while, not just a week. So my body can truely adjust.

Any counsel? (No, I don't take other stuff)

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » Hattree

Posted by Craig Allen on February 19, 2003, at 19:11:58

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » jesus , posted by Hattree on February 19, 2003, at 18:49:53

thanks for your post. i was cold turkey for about 48 hours. a few hours ago, i took 5mg (my dose had been 20mg). it didn't give me much relief from the depression, maybe a little. i know what you mean about the unpleasantness of taking less than you need. i have to go back to work tomorrow and friday and i am going to go with the small dose. this weekend, i'll go off again and try to get done with this. how does this approach sound to you? this is a hellish thing to go through. thanks again for the feedback.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » Craig Allen

Posted by zenclear on February 19, 2003, at 23:09:11

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » Hattree, posted by Craig Allen on February 19, 2003, at 19:11:58

And of course, as everyone always says -- cause it's true -- exercise! Lights weights and aerobic together can do wonders.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by utopizen on February 20, 2003, at 0:16:46

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » stjames, posted by zenclear on February 19, 2003, at 19:11:25

Um, unless I'm mistaken here, isn't amphetamine withdrawl something more associated with amphetamine abuse? Obviously you didn't abuse anything, but 60mg/day is a rather high amount of Adderall. I thought my 20mg 2x/day was high, but at least I feel comfort in knowing many take this amount.

It may be that the high dose was too high, and that appears to have depleted your brain of neurotransmitters, which is what is responsible for amphetamine withdrawl. Such a depletion is associated more so with street use.

60mg is a ton, especially of an amphetamine mixture that clears the system so slowly... taking a lower dose as the second dose may be wiser- I do it all the time, take 20mg first dose, then 10mg PM dose. That's because your first dose is going to be in your system even when you go to sleep. It's that long. more than 12 hours is noticable in my veins without taking a second dose.

And goodness sakes, couldn't you have taken days off? It's Adderall, not anti-hypertensive! I realize depression may be rough, and sympathize, but hopefully you see some sense in what I say here?

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » utopizen

Posted by zenclear on February 20, 2003, at 11:22:23

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by utopizen on February 20, 2003, at 0:16:46

> Um, unless I'm mistaken here, isn't amphetamine withdrawl something more associated with amphetamine abuse? Obviously you didn't abuse anything, but 60mg/day is a rather high amount of Adderall. I thought my 20mg 2x/day was high, but at least I feel comfort in knowing many take this amount.
>
> It may be that the high dose was too high, and that appears to have depleted your brain of neurotransmitters, which is what is responsible for amphetamine withdrawl. Such a depletion is associated more so with street use.
>
> 60mg is a ton, especially of an amphetamine mixture that clears the system so slowly... taking a lower dose as the second dose may be wiser- I do it all the time, take 20mg first dose, then 10mg PM dose. That's because your first dose is going to be in your system even when you go to sleep. It's that long. more than 12 hours is noticable in my veins without taking a second dose.
>
> And goodness sakes, couldn't you have taken days off? It's Adderall, not anti-hypertensive! I realize depression may be rough, and sympathize, but hopefully you see some sense in what I say here?

FYI: People can experience these withdrawal feelings on dosages as low as 15 mg/day total.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » utopizen

Posted by Phil on February 20, 2003, at 18:48:32

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by utopizen on February 20, 2003, at 0:16:46

I recently stopped Adderall cold turkey so I could get Straterra a try. I'm sure I wasn't as happy because Straterra is not fast acting, it's more like an AD. But no other problems. My dose for about a year now is 90-120mg a day.
If I would have been aware of what St. James mentioned, I would have tapered.
I've taken high doses of every drug over the last 22 or so years. My doc seems to agree that I'm a fast metabolizer and that I need large doses of almost everything. I didn't miss a 'drug' rehearsal from '70-'85.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » Phil

Posted by Craig Allen on February 20, 2003, at 19:55:03

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » utopizen, posted by Phil on February 20, 2003, at 18:48:32

hey phil. what was that cold turkey experience like for you? did you have intense depression and lethargy set in? if so, how long did it last? i'm a few days into going off adderall and i'm still in ugly shape. let me know. thanks.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by Phil on February 20, 2003, at 21:19:55

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » Phil, posted by Craig Allen on February 20, 2003, at 19:55:03

I was dragging around for a few days maybe but no severe depression. But I still had four drugs in my combo.
I took Ritalin several years, 40-50mg a day, then switched to Adderall and I have no problen skipping the weekend if I want.
But! After a two week trial of Straterra I started back on Adderall and the first few days at the old dose had me buzzing, haha. It's probably not a bad idea to skip days occasionally but I have no intention of stopping it. It really helps.

If you really are hurting, you might taper real slow. Good luck, Craig.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » Craig Allen

Posted by wingedcat on February 22, 2003, at 19:38:50

In reply to Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!, posted by Craig Allen on February 19, 2003, at 14:27:13

I'm so sorry, amph withdrawal is the worst thing EVER.

NADH (sublingual) or otherwise helps a lot. Tyrosine/DLPA helps, fish oil. Go to the health food store and load up. Any of the stuff in the brain section (except St. John's Wort) that is sold to increase alertness will help you and take cravings away. It sounds really bad but popping 893783758 vitamins does keep you from going too low, and taking the vitamins is something that you are doing to make yourself feel better.

This also sounds bad, but ephedrine, caffeine or ginseng... it helps if you have to avoid the amph, it will help you get by for a little while.

IT WILL GET BETTER.

In response to your other post, I took 5mg of selegiline with 400mg DLPA. It did feel like taking Adderall as far as the attention and relieving depression. For right now I have stopped it because my anxiety is my primary concern and I need to get that treated.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by zenclear on February 22, 2003, at 21:52:29

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » Craig Allen, posted by wingedcat on February 22, 2003, at 19:38:50

Don't take the ephedrine!!! Bad stuff. Take of the recent Baltimore Orioles player's death.

By the way Craig, how's it going by now?

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by Festus on February 22, 2003, at 22:14:37

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by zenclear on February 22, 2003, at 21:52:29

There,s just no cut-and-dry answer to a question like this.Everyone is going to have different variables.We all react in different ways to start with so who,s to say what another is going to experience when they do cut out a med?Sure,I suppose to a degree,most would feel depressed and lethargic,sleepy,tired,etc.Then come the variables.What other meds are involved,conditions,situations,backgrounds,everybody,s gonna have a different answer.I,ve taken Adderrall at the 50-60mg a day doses and then stopped all at once,felt a bit crumby for a day or so,but I had other meds involved,so it didn,t hit me as hard as it might one who had no other meds.Also,how long of a run has the person been on?I found,for me,I did better if I took it for a few weeks,took 10-12 days off,then went back for a few more weeks.But that worked for ME!Others can,t do it that way.BTW,Ephedra has been used safely for thousands of years.There are always gonna be folks that have bad reactions to drugs,especially if they are misused!The "kids that go to the ER" from Ephedrine,they usually are found to have taken WAAAYYY to much or mixed it with something.Just try and see what works best for YOU as an individual,cause it,s when we try to mimic someone else,is when we can find ourselves in deep-doo-doo! festus

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!! » stjames

Posted by jane d on February 22, 2003, at 22:24:41

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!, posted by stjames on February 19, 2003, at 18:57:21

> Well, I had to stop once as my HMO was being a pain, went to the ER with a splitting headache,
> my BP was 225/155 !!!!!! Mind you this was 2 days after a stopped so no amphetamine was in my system,
> this was the withdrawal effect.
>

St James,

Was this with Adderall? Have you noticed your blood pressure varying to a lesser extent as a dose wears off near the end of the day? I'm new to stims and trying to figure out exactly how I am affected.

Thanks for the warning about withdrawal.

Jane

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » zenclear

Posted by Craig Allen on February 23, 2003, at 8:41:27

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by zenclear on February 22, 2003, at 21:52:29

withdrawal update: i'm still struggling. i'm sleeping like 14 hours per day, constantly tired. my mood is still odd; sad, withdrawn, just feeling out of it. i'm hoping this will lift soon. by the way, i'm on 225mg of effexor and i started on selegiline, 5mg twice per day, on tuesday. still waiting for my head to clear from the adderall.

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by MaTurtle on December 16, 2003, at 17:36:07

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » zenclear, posted by Craig Allen on February 23, 2003, at 8:41:27

I've quit adderall cold turkey with no problem... I know you probobly have gotten better becasue your last post was in feb... but to anyone who is experiencing withdrawl from adderall mabye this can help ---> After I stopped adderall I just made myself a cup of Yerba Mate tea mixed with some chamomile, and I was fine, but I am only 21 so maybe that has something to do with it... also make sure you eat 3 good meals, I think that can also help alot. Yerba Mate is great if not overdone... so maybe give it a try, sometimes yerba will give me outstanding concentration and it's never overstimulating... I hope this is of help to anyone who comes to this thread looking for help with adderall withdrawl... - love to ya all

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by Count Chocula on February 13, 2004, at 16:00:29

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by MaTurtle on December 16, 2003, at 17:36:07

You need not suffer anymore friend, I have been despising adderall withdrawal for about 4 years now. Alas, the weirdest drug in the world i have figured out. All I did was study the ill effects on me and how to counteract them every time I took it. Now I never feel the pain.

N E WAY #1 best cure= non-strenuous aerobic exercise with effective breathing always works. You barely even remember you take adderall after working out.

#1/2 best cure= b12--awesome healthy supplement. I take 1000 mcg timed release--rest of the b vitamins are a good idea too.

#1/2/3 best cure= vitamin E. good for everything.

#1/2/3/4 best cure= vitamin C. It can cause more pain though because it acidifies stuff and causes you to eliminate amphetamine quicker causing more of a plateau of pain you jump from.

#2 best cure=550 mg of naproxen sodium (Aleve). This works wonders for that aftermath of impending doom and unbound fear you get from withdrawal. I now take this dose every 6 hours on days when i take adderall. Almost equal to exercise.

#3 best cure= L glutamine. This helps relax you a lot but is expensive.

#4 best cure= ginko biloba--Pharmation brand--Helps out when you feel like you are about to die from anxiety and the whole left side of your body's circulatory system cramps up.

#5 best cure= ginseng--Pharmation brand--seems to regulate you into your normal state of mind instead of the dopamine hungry adderall psychosis state of mind. Seems to raise blood pressure a little though, just be careful.

#6 best cure= cayenne pepper-1200 mg 40000 heat unit. I didnt think it would do anything for me when I first tried it, but it relaxes you, helps you breathe, helps with circulation, gives you your saliva back, and inhibits the bacteria that causes acid reflux (due to skipping all those meals)

#7 best cure=garlic with high allicin yield (enteric coated to absorb in the intestine). Helps out with circulation.

#8 best cure= pynogenol and grape seed extracts (both have same active antioxidants). I recently started taking these sups and they seem to help with circulation, heartaches, and headaches but the quality supplements are aggrivatingly expensive.

#9 best cure= protein shake just to return energy to body and mind

#10 best cure= remember everything is okay and nothing is the end of the world. don't be afraid of the adderall. i dont want to take it before hand, but after i do take it i never regret it (except when I am around a bunch of people...this situation seems to have the power to freak me out).

P.S. remember to eat healthy food at least a little bit throughout the day

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by Mid-Life Crisis on February 13, 2004, at 22:16:52

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by Count Chocula on February 13, 2004, at 16:00:29

Count Chocula, I'm just curious. Why are you taking the Adderall?? If it's for ADD, have you considered trying anything else?

 

Redirect: alternative treatments

Posted by Dr. Bob on February 16, 2004, at 20:36:27

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by Count Chocula on February 13, 2004, at 16:00:29

> #1/2 best cure= b12--awesome healthy supplement...

I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding alternative treatments to Psycho-Babble Alternative. Here's a link:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040110/msgs/314319.html

Bob

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by Bullwinkle on November 8, 2005, at 14:39:05

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by Count Chocula on February 13, 2004, at 16:00:29

I had been taking Adderall for 3 months to treat ADD, but found that increasingly it was interfering with sleep. I was taking 2 benadryl plus a prescription sleep aid (Lunesta) just to get my zzz's. When I discovered I had to take 2 Lunesta tabs (4 mg. total) I decided to stop taking Adderall and let it clear my system.

I went cold turkey last Friday. I also decided to quit drinking coffee/caffeinated products at the same time, for the same reason, to improve my sleep.

I was moderately depressed for the first 2 days, very lethargic, and had massive headaches (thank you Mr. Coffee!), but now I have returned to normal sleep patterns. The Adderall is now out of my system, but it still feels like I'm taking it, very strange! I do not get the benefits, i just feel the lingering side effects. Mostly I just experience blurred vision. The depression has lifted and the headaches are disappearing.

So for me I guess cold turkey seems to be working, at least so far (4 days). My overall experience was comparable to heightened caffeine withdrawal (I normally go on caffeine fasts for 2 weeks whenever I feel the need to reduce my intake, a few times a year). I do not feel that Adderall is highly addictive for me either physically or psychologically, in that I have no craving for it, but I also think that all my symptoms would go away if I took the drug at even a moderate dosage (I was taking 2 20 mg XR tabs daily).

What I am wondering is how long does it take to get Adderall completely out of your body, i.e, your body goes back to its normal state. One of the postings indicated that this can be a period of 2 months, another suggested 6 months. Any advice?

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by paulbwell on November 9, 2005, at 21:43:00

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by Bullwinkle on November 8, 2005, at 14:39:05

> I had been taking Adderall for 3 months to treat ADD, but found that increasingly it was interfering with sleep. I was taking 2 benadryl plus a prescription sleep aid (Lunesta) just to get my zzz's. When I discovered I had to take 2 Lunesta tabs (4 mg. total) I decided to stop taking Adderall and let it clear my system.
>
> I went cold turkey last Friday. I also decided to quit drinking coffee/caffeinated products at the same time, for the same reason, to improve my sleep.
>
> I was moderately depressed for the first 2 days, very lethargic, and had massive headaches (thank you Mr. Coffee!), but now I have returned to normal sleep patterns. The Adderall is now out of my system, but it still feels like I'm taking it, very strange! I do not get the benefits, i just feel the lingering side effects. Mostly I just experience blurred vision. The depression has lifted and the headaches are disappearing.
>
> So for me I guess cold turkey seems to be working, at least so far (4 days). My overall experience was comparable to heightened caffeine withdrawal (I normally go on caffeine fasts for 2 weeks whenever I feel the need to reduce my intake, a few times a year). I do not feel that Adderall is highly addictive for me either physically or psychologically, in that I have no craving for it, but I also think that all my symptoms would go away if I took the drug at even a moderate dosage (I was taking 2 20 mg XR tabs daily).
>
> What I am wondering is how long does it take to get Adderall completely out of your body, i.e, your body goes back to its normal state. One of the postings indicated that this can be a period of 2 months, another suggested 6 months. Any advice?
>
>
>
>
>
> Believe a stimulant-user long term user =that the Adderalll will be gone by 1-2 days!-OK!

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!

Posted by s_mk on September 12, 2006, at 11:07:30

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!!!, posted by stjames on February 19, 2003, at 15:43:27

Hi,
This thread has been very helpful. I have stopped taking my Adderall XR 20mg for about 3 weeks now. I have seen a big jump in my blood pressure to 152/94 when before the medicine I was a solid 120/80. But the jump happened when I was on the drug, and now continues still. Strictly pertaining to the phsiological symptoms, how long should it take for the body to normalize after discontinuing the drug?

 

Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP! » s_mk

Posted by Oppycat on September 12, 2006, at 13:34:20

In reply to Re: Adderall Withdrawal - I'm In Bad Shape - HELP!, posted by s_mk on September 12, 2006, at 11:07:30

> Hi,
> This thread has been very helpful. I have stopped taking my Adderall XR 20mg for about 3 weeks now. I have seen a big jump in my blood pressure to 152/94 when before the medicine I was a solid 120/80. But the jump happened when I was on the drug, and now continues still. Strictly pertaining to the phsiological symptoms, how long should it take for the body to normalize after discontinuing the drug?


My understanding is that the drug is out of your system in about 4 days. I went from 40mg to 20mg of the XR about 3 weeks ago and discontinued completely 4 days ago. This is the first day I feel even remotely normal (except for being depressed). My blood pressure would occasionally run high during the 3 years or so I was on the drug, but has been in the 120/80 range the past 2 weeks.

It sounds like there may be some other factors at play here, perhaps other meds or diet. Do you take any other meds that could be playing a part or have there been changes to your diet? I am not an expert so hopefully there will be more responses in this thread.

Michael


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