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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by collegeadhdlil on June 11, 2003, at 15:46:01
So I have developed a allergic type reaction to adderall (my body has a complicated twisted and mean immune system)...i also have a test tomorrow. Adderall was faithful to me and my adhd, whether in the form of 20mg 3times a day or 30mgXR in the am - my adhd is the severe combined type - awful symptoms. My thought process is so delayed and i am inattentive, the hyperactivity is...well you get the point. My regular doc is gone for the summer, the guy i am seeing for the summer is out til fri, there was no one i could talk to in psych apparently - the receptionist didnt take me seriously - the internist i had an appt with today anyway told me he definately thought i was having a reaction, so to take the xr until i could talk to the other psych doc who was unavailable... however that psych doc gave me a prescription for ritalin that he DID NOT want me to take until after the test - because he didnt know how it would do with me. The doctor i saw today said that I shouldnt take the ritalin either ... question is - i HAVE to study - i have four chapters of hardcore economic theory to memorize for tomorrow at 9am - not a lot of work - but considering that when someone asks me a question, or i look at something - without the help of the medicines for this condition it takes a minimum of 30 seconds for me to even really recognize it. I am in trouble...someone help - my family doesnt even have any support - except to go get a cup of coffee.
Posted by Diana123 on June 12, 2003, at 19:25:59
In reply to ALLERGIC TO ADDERALL - ALL OF A SUDDEN - HELP!!!!, posted by collegeadhdlil on June 11, 2003, at 15:46:01
Make sure it isn't something else you might be having an allergic reaction to. I had a really similar experience a few months ago -- I've been on Adderall 20 mg. 2x/day for almost three years now, and all of a sudden, I developed what seemed like a serious allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, throat closing, and this pain/tingle in my fingertips). I called my doctor, who advised me to go right to the ER. When I got there, they took my medical history, and had pretty much concluded that it must be the Adderall (although the nurse said it was rare to see such a reaction with someone who had taken it for so long). I then remembered that two weeks earlier, I had been prescribed erthromycin (sorry about the spelling) for a gum infection -- and it was a real "eureka!" moment for them all. Apparently, some drugs (like erthromycin) can take a few weeks to show an allergy to. Strange, but a good lesson to learn.
I know how you're feeling without being able to take your meds -- I'm totally useless without my medication. I just posted about my situation, so please take a look ( see below: "grey market drugs? Diana123 6/12/03" )and let me know if you can help.
Posted by collegeadhdlil on June 13, 2003, at 11:57:08
In reply to Re: ALLERGIC TO ADDERALL - ALL OF A SUDDEN - HELP, posted by Diana123 on June 12, 2003, at 19:25:59
Yeah I asked that - b/c my doc is out of town and all...I have a huge history of becoming allergic or having adverse reactions to meds all of a sudden that have been affective for a long time - i had two anafalexic (spelling is not my strong pt!) to a treatment i had been getting for years - when my insurance made me go off it for a year, i went back on it and a month later - i had two of those it a row - and then ive had some of these basic medication problems, i cant even take zpacks anymore. problem is i am at school, not at stanford - these stupid doctors wont do anything (including read my file), cant & wont help me and my doc is out of town...and now i am off to flunk my test.
> Make sure it isn't something else you might be having an allergic reaction to. I had a really similar experience a few months ago -- I've been on Adderall 20 mg. 2x/day for almost three years now, and all of a sudden, I developed what seemed like a serious allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, throat closing, and this pain/tingle in my fingertips). I called my doctor, who advised me to go right to the ER. When I got there, they took my medical history, and had pretty much concluded that it must be the Adderall (although the nurse said it was rare to see such a reaction with someone who had taken it for so long). I then remembered that two weeks earlier, I had been prescribed erthromycin (sorry about the spelling) for a gum infection -- and it was a real "eureka!" moment for them all. Apparently, some drugs (like erthromycin) can take a few weeks to show an allergy to. Strange, but a good lesson to learn.
> I know how you're feeling without being able to take your meds -- I'm totally useless without my medication. I just posted about my situation, so please take a look ( see below: "grey market drugs? Diana123 6/12/03" )and let me know if you can help.
Posted by Zenclearer on June 13, 2003, at 17:30:29
In reply to adderall adverse reaction, posted by collegeadhdlil on June 13, 2003, at 11:57:08
I have been thinking that maybe I am developing allergy to Dexadrine. I get the closed throat and really swollen face syndorme afgter I take it. I mentioned to my doc, he had no response.
What are your Adderall allergy Sx?
Posted by collegeadhdlil on June 13, 2003, at 19:10:24
In reply to Re: adderall adverse reaction, posted by Zenclearer on June 13, 2003, at 17:30:29
i got sick to my stomach, very shaky, itchy, swallowing got very difficult, also - the observation was made - by a group of the fraternity boys no less - who had no idea what was going on that i looked like i was "stoned but i was acting like i had done a lot of something else" because all my adhd symptoms were really bad but as far as my face i couldnt really move my eyes and stuff it was weird - but my doctor of course didnt really have a response. I was a mess - i could barely talk - also it really hurt to move - my muscles, my joints...
Posted by Zenclearer on June 13, 2003, at 20:46:44
In reply to Re: adderall adverse reaction, posted by collegeadhdlil on June 13, 2003, at 19:10:24
Hm. I often feel that way on stims, but that part I would not attribute to an allergy. *L*
Posted by collegeadhdlil on June 13, 2003, at 21:53:37
In reply to Re: adderall adverse reaction » collegeadhdlil, posted by Zenclearer on June 13, 2003, at 20:46:44
on a full nights sleep, after eating etc there is no way they should make me feel like that - i had been off them for a while and having problems since i had been back on, it happens...the stims have always made me calm and able to focus...i felt so awful - i am a tough one when it comes to meds too...
Posted by Zenclearer on June 13, 2003, at 23:54:39
In reply to Re: adderall adverse reaction, posted by collegeadhdlil on June 13, 2003, at 21:53:37
Yes, I agree! Stims should not make someone feel that way. That's why I've been asking people here for a while if I'm the only on who finds the effects more and more unpredictable. Not just an off day, but really unpleasant feelings; and then some days are fine.
I suppose for some, taking any med on a daily basis for a long-enough time will cause some form of allergy.
But the frozen facial feeling you describe may be due to some other effect, related to the drugs MOA. Sometimes I feel as though the stims initiate more inhibitory effects than is helpful.
But as you describe, I too experience this negative effect after going off the drug (or taperng to a very low dose) and then going back up. It's the most unpleasant feeling I can imagine! A sort of torture. I end up feeling as though I'm poisoning my body!
In any case, it sounds as if you are absolutely right to discontinue. I had some very unpleasant experiences on Adderall, and to this day, I cannot tolerate it any more, after taking it for 2-3 years.
Posted by collegeadhdlil on June 14, 2003, at 1:03:02
In reply to Re: adderall adverse reaction » collegeadhdlil, posted by Zenclearer on June 13, 2003, at 23:54:39
Drug reactions and allergies all have to do with IgE antibodies - which are produced when you first introduce the drug - if the drug is there for a long time and then not there for a while and all these other factors, combined with the fact that I simply have problems with my IgG subclasses already - my IgA is known to not be doing its job so well in other areas, the IgE could be too. Thats what I find so troubling about this summer pdoc - he wont read my file. I am complicated yes, but I also DO NOT like the other pdoc around. My usual pdoc is a neurologist and psychologist - he is very respected and a great doc - this other guy i cant even communicate with
I am not even quite sure what you mean by the drugs MOA...
This is the end of the thread.
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