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Worried about long term effects of Adderall
I have been reading about the effects of Adderall. I have noticed in my son and step-son both that they have dispayed some signs of Autism. I was wondering if it was a possibility that it could be another long term adverse effect of the Adderall? They have become very nervous and fidgety, neither were before taking this medication. My step-son has the most severe sypmtoms.
I have ADHD and I have an 8 year old son that has Autism. He isn't medicated but I take Adderall 10mg 3x a day. If your sons are in the early stages of taking the medication they will show symptoms of nervousness until they are used to the effects. They will go away but autistic children on stimulants can be a good thing or a bad thing. If they were hyper or unable to focus before it should help in a few weeks or months but if they were perscribed Adderall for autism you should get a 2nd opinion by a Psychiarist or a Nerologist whom specialize in disorders of the mind.
Thanks for your feedback you guys...
The night that I wrote this entry like I had said, I was having really bad withdrawl symptoms after stopping taking my medication cold turkey...while usually being prescribed 20mg a day for about 2 yrs....I was only off of it for about a week or so, and as I know your not supposed to stop any medication you take long term like that cold turkey, but the prescribed tablet adderall I was prescribed to was on backorder and then just recently was taken off the market. Well I told my mom the feelings I was experiencing all the research I was reading about adderall that really freaked me out and made me even MORE ANXIOUS...Made me want to get off of it...well she took my script to the doc. and he put me on the XR instead which I guess I not off the market...and its still different then Im used too, and Im still feeling unbalanced...sometimes it works good and other times it doesnt or makes me anxious or cloudy...I don't know if its too high of a dosage..or Im not used to it or what??? Because I literally took my previously prescribed 20 mg adderall tablet once a day..and I usually would split it in half and take half in the morning and the other half later on in the day...so now that Im taking 20 mg XR is that why its making me feel like this? Also what is considered, "Long term Use?" Is two years Long term? Is it time I get off? Also I do not have health insurance so its expensivd as hell to go to the doctor every time, since I just recently moved back home and had to switch doctors my first visit was $100 and every additional visit will be $50! Im still thinking maybe I should just get off them all together, but Im scared and I don't know what to do...
The night that I wrote this entry like I had said, I was having really bad withdrawl symptoms after stopping taking my medication cold turkey...while usually being prescribed 20mg a day for about 2 yrs....I was only off of it for about a week or so, and as I know your not supposed to stop any medication you take long term like that cold turkey, but the prescribed tablet adderall I was prescribed to was on backorder and then just recently was taken off the market. Well I told my mom the feelings I was experiencing all the research I was reading about adderall that really freaked me out and made me even MORE ANXIOUS...Made me want to get off of it...well she took my script to the doc. and he put me on the XR instead which I guess I not off the market...and its still different then Im used too, and Im still feeling unbalanced...sometimes it works good and other times it doesnt or makes me anxious or cloudy...I don't know if its too high of a dosage..or Im not used to it or what??? Because I literally took my previously prescribed 20 mg adderall tablet once a day..and I usually would split it in half and take half in the morning and the other half later on in the day...so now that Im taking 20 mg XR is that why its making me feel like this? Also what is considered, "Long term Use?" Is two years Long term? Is it time I get off? Also I do not have health insurance so its expensivd as hell to go to the doctor every time, since I just recently moved back home and had to switch doctors my first visit was $100 and every additional visit will be $50! Im still thinking maybe I should just get off them all together, but Im scared and I don't know what to do...
Yes, if you're on the wrong meds and they're causing horrible effects, then by all means, get off of them, and if your providers won't listen to your desire to try other meds or other types of treatment, then get different ones who will.
That being said, stimulant therapy does help most children and adults with AD/HD. Some have other neuro issues in addition or other physiological reasons that stimulants might not work or might have intolerable side effects.
Remember that AD/HD is usually diagnosed behaviorally, that is, by a provider who observes the signs of it. Most providers aren't doing a full neuropsych testing battery, often because insurance won't pay for it. So, a lot of people are getting the AD/HD diagnosis when they actually have other issues that are causing AD/HD symptoms (could be an anxiety disorder, hormonal disorder, trauma symptoms, childhood depression, sensory processing disorder -- the list goes on and on). For these folks who don't actually have the biochemistry of AD/HD, stimulants help some of them manage their AD/HD-like symptoms, but for other folks, it doesn't help or makes things worse.
If you can find a way to pay for it, I would suggest doing ongoing therapy with a psychologist, counselor (expressive therapist if for a child), and/or an occupational therapist. Doing ongoing work with these folks and having them really get to know you will help you get a more accurate diagnosis as to whether it's really AD/HD or whether there are other issues. A psychiatric prescriber who sees you a few times for a short visit can often correctly diagnose you, but often also is missing part of the picture because s/he doesn't usually have the benefit of talking or playing with patients for an hour a week to get to really know them. Once you have a clearer diagnostic picture, then the ongoing therapist can report to the prescriber and get you on meds that more accurately target your issues.
That being said, stimulant therapy does help most children and adults with AD/HD. Some have other neuro issues in addition or other physiological reasons that stimulants might not work or might have intolerable side effects.
Remember that AD/HD is usually diagnosed behaviorally, that is, by a provider who observes the signs of it. Most providers aren't doing a full neuropsych testing battery, often because insurance won't pay for it. So, a lot of people are getting the AD/HD diagnosis when they actually have other issues that are causing AD/HD symptoms (could be an anxiety disorder, hormonal disorder, trauma symptoms, childhood depression, sensory processing disorder -- the list goes on and on). For these folks who don't actually have the biochemistry of AD/HD, stimulants help some of them manage their AD/HD-like symptoms, but for other folks, it doesn't help or makes things worse.
If you can find a way to pay for it, I would suggest doing ongoing therapy with a psychologist, counselor (expressive therapist if for a child), and/or an occupational therapist. Doing ongoing work with these folks and having them really get to know you will help you get a more accurate diagnosis as to whether it's really AD/HD or whether there are other issues. A psychiatric prescriber who sees you a few times for a short visit can often correctly diagnose you, but often also is missing part of the picture because s/he doesn't usually have the benefit of talking or playing with patients for an hour a week to get to really know them. Once you have a clearer diagnostic picture, then the ongoing therapist can report to the prescriber and get you on meds that more accurately target your issues.
you were being niave. Not everyone is the same. and it sounds to me you took extra and extra not because of the drug itself but because of the effects. the drug is not bad it helps people concentrate. people that see the drastic change in their work habits may take an extra fine liking to the drug and start to take more to further the effects. amphetamines when taken regularly block the recycling of dopemines in the brain causing them to be washed away instead of reused. this, in turn, lowers the amount of dopemine the brain has to release causing a person that is seeking that dramatic change to think that more is needed to get it. and it isnt because the brain simply cannot produce that stimulation. if taken properly and with self consciousness it is helpful for everyday tasks dealing with focus. obviously you have been mislead by you past doctors that are clearly abusing powers for money. i have had this happen and so have many others. it is not the doctors fault or the governments fault. it is in part but the responsibilty mostly falls on your shoulders and clearly you let it get the best of you. drug arent bad. people are bad. its kinda like how guns dont kill people, people kill people.
you were being niave. Not everyone is the same. and it sounds to me you took extra and extra not because of the drug itself but because of the effects. the drug is not bad it helps people concentrate. people that see the drastic change in their work habits may take an extra fine liking to the drug and start to take more to further the effects. amphetamines when taken regularly block the recycling of dopemines in the brain causing them to be washed away instead of reused. this, in turn, lowers the amount of dopemine the brain has to release causing a person that is seeking that dramatic change to think that more is needed to get it. and it isnt because the brain simply cannot produce that stimulation. if taken properly and with self consciousness it is helpful for everyday tasks dealing with focus. obviously you have been mislead by you past doctors that are clearly abusing powers for money. i have had this happen and so have many others. it is not the doctors fault or the governments fault. it is in part but the responsibilty mostly falls on your shoulders and clearly you let it get the best of you. drug arent bad. people are bad. its kinda like how guns dont kill people, people kill people.
After reading over half of these entries I decided I needed to post one of my own. I am 25/yr old female who has been diagnosed with ADD, and it also runs in my family. Not only do I have ADD, but I suffer from both anxiety/panic attacks. I realize that their is relationship with the medication of adderall and anxiety, but I was experiencing the severe anxiety way before I was medicated for adderall (20 mg). Now I am a strong believer that all Drugs/ Substances affect people differently! This is obvious to me because every person is different, our brain chemistry is different...no two people are identical. So even if their is a common disability such as ADD, and people are taking a common medication such as adderall...it doesnt mean it is going to effect them in the same exact way...and this goes for both the pro's and the con's. Ive been on my medication now for about two years and have been on the fence with attempting to get off it, but it is a struggle. I do have ADD, such as a VERY short attention span, impulsivness, scatterbrained, disorganization, overly social, get bored easily...etc etc.. Which can make life very difficult at times...especially with all the tasks "the man, and the world makes you do..." I find that the medicine does help me to focus better, put me in the zone, be more organized, attentive, quieter....which I mean there are pro's and cons to both sides of the spectrum. I am a musician/artist...I find most people that are in the artistic realm or creative mind commonly coincide with people that are ADD...so when I'm not taking my medication I am more outgoing, and free spirited and creative...and people/myself love this about me...But I guess with everything you have to take the BAD with the GOOD....Does the Good outweigh the BAD or does the BAD outweigh the GOOD??? I guess thats the main question...I also fear and worry the side effects and long term affects that it has on the brain and my brain chemistry. I currently have not taken my medication for about a week while used to taking 20 mg EVERY DAY..and Ive been on a mental emotional physical roller coaster...and not a good one. I have really bad anxiety, I feel off, I feel tired, unfocused, dislexic , "Darkclouded/detached" ...so I don't know...I have experienced these symptoms before as I have said I do suffer from anxiety/panic disorder....Sometimes I just want to get off EVERYTHING all together but I don't know if I can, should, what the negative outcomes will be....just writing this entry I already feel all over the place, so I hope it makes sense to some. Im also a very deep thinker, emotional, analytical, and spiritual.....so sometimes I wonder if it has anything to do with those factors. At the end of the day, I really just try to pray to God and hope he gives me an answer or supernaturally heals me. Now I know some people possibly "non christians" think Im off my rocker now because Ohhhh noo I mentioned God! But no...Im not crazy, and Im not knocking anyones beliefs...Sometimes it just all seems like such a tasks...ya know GUYS??? Its like we didn't pop out of the womb needing medication and doctors and all this stuff....and then WHAT HAPPEND??? Im still so unsure of it all, and what Im going to do about my situation...any questions, comments, concerns??? Would love to hear them! One Love and God Bless you All!
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