Worried about long term effects of Adderall

[LisaMary]

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.

[JennaLOVE]

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!  

[cootiebug]

my daughter is on adderall. 30mg.she has been on adhd medicine since she was 5...she is 14 now....it works great for her...with out it she is very hyper and cant really control her emotions...acts younger than she is..or she is very excited....but i did realize then sometimes she forgets her medicine..or theres a laps while waiting to get her presctiptions...she has withdrawl symptoms after about 3 days....on her second day she gets very sleepy...3rd day she gets shakey..headakes and pukes..she gets very sleepy...she also wants to eat all day long when not on her medicine..she has been on it for almost 10 yrs...she definitly withdrawls..i think anyone who will be taking there kids off this medicine who have been on it many years should ween them off it...not just stop cold turkey..but for my daughter this medicine does work..

[boohoohooboo]

LOL at all the long posts about adderall... go figure. I took adderall for 7/8 years and would not recommend this drug to anyone. Period. It's great at first and then you wake up one day and realize you're a speed freak. Definitely don't give this stuff to your children. Good Day.

[onelove24]

After reading everything written on here I'd figure I'd share my two cents. I'm a 26lot year old woman who has been on adderall for almost 6 years (given a month or so every year I wouldn't be on it just bc it was summer). I take 30mg of XR once a day. Of course it had nothing it's minor side affects, but nothing extreme. I'm not a person who gets addicted to drugs, but I started noticing a change in my behavior, my hands shaky, depressed at times, and here's what scared me, I starting taking 2 pills then up to 3 bc my body started to build a tolerance for the medication and the obvious addiction. I was never the type who would curse at my parents when in a disagreement. I don't call them names, I just curse and lash out. I started noticing that the smallest things annoy me. Here's what topped it off and scared the crap out of me, I not only have the issue of forgetting a simple word in a conversation I now have a minor stuttering problem. It's not all the time but it's an issue that bothers me and embarrassing at the same time. Any ideas on why/how I ended up with a slight stuttering problem? I'm very active in sports, gym, musical instruments, etc. My memory isn't like before, it's not that bad I'm noticing a decrease. I'm done with taking adderall, today is my last day. I can't sit here and blame anyone or thing, I just don't like what it's starting to do to me. I don't want to go through life depending on medication, granite I'm depressed at times but I refuse to take depression pills. I control myself, my mind, me. I used to meditate a lot (been doing so since I was 14) and will now make it a constant routine. It breaks my heart when I curse at my parents and can see the hurt in their eyes. I'm just adding frivolous stress to their life as well as my own. Sorry for the rant. I guess my main question is the stuttering. I've noticed after reading all the posts that I obviously don't have a severe ADD problem, if that was case I would've been diagnosed a long time ago. It was a great drug at the time but it slowly started to have adverse affects on me and got me hooked out of the blue. For those who haven't had any major side affects, I'm happy for you. But it's not for me, not anymore. Just keep an I eye on your child's behavior as time goes on, I would suggest natural supplements for young kids, not adderall.

[onelove24]

After reading everything written on here I'd figure I'd share my two cents. I'm a 26lot year old woman who has been on adderall for almost 6 years (given a month or so every year I wouldn't be on it just bc it was summer). I take 30mg of XR once a day. Of course it had nothing it's minor side affects, but nothing extreme. I'm not a person who gets addicted to drugs, but I started noticing a change in my behavior, my hands shaky, depressed at times, and here's what scared me, I starting taking 2 pills then up to 3 bc my body started to build a tolerance for the medication and the obvious addiction. I was never the type who would curse at my parents when in a disagreement. I don't call them names, I just curse and lash out. I started noticing that the smallest things annoy me. Here's what topped it off and scared the crap out of me, I not only have the issue of forgetting a simple word in a conversation I now have a minor stuttering problem. It's not all the time but it's an issue that bothers me and embarrassing at the same time. Any ideas on why/how I ended up with a slight stuttering problem? I'm very active in sports, gym, musical instruments, etc. My memory isn't like before, it's not that bad I'm noticing a decrease. I'm done with taking adderall, today is my last day. I can't sit here and blame anyone or thing, I just don't like what it's starting to do to me. I don't want to go through life depending on medication, granite I'm depressed at times but I refuse to take depression pills. I control myself, my mind, me. I used to meditate a lot (been doing so since I was 14) and will now make it a constant routine. It breaks my heart when I curse at my parents and can see the hurt in their eyes. I'm just adding frivolous stress to their life as well as my own. Sorry for the rant. I guess my main question is the stuttering. I've noticed after reading all the posts that I obviously don't have a severe ADD problem, if that was case I would've been diagnosed a long time ago. It was a great drug at the time but it slowly started to have adverse affects on me and got me hooked out of the blue. For those who haven't had any major side affects, I'm happy for you. But it's not for me, not anymore. Just keep an I eye on your child's behavior as time goes on, I would suggest natural supplements for young kids, not adderall.

[thisguyfi137]

I was given 30mg a day and used as directed by my doctor for about 5 years.  It was great for the first 3, everything was normal, I was doing better in school, I was more outgoin, and generally more responsible.  After year 4, however, I started noticing some negative side effect: anxiety, paranoia, mood swings, depression; all risks the doctors informed me of as did any information I read on the stuff.  I shrugged it off and told myself it was everything except the drug that was wrong and continued to take it for 2 more years until I just could handle the stress anymore.  It made me a zombie, I couldn't feel anything or from genuine thoughts, but I was still very alert in the sense of being awake but not able to concentrate.  I stopped taking it.  Withdrawl set in immediately coupled with depression and all the other negative crap that goes with it.  That lasted for the better part of 5 months and it tooke me another year and a half to really feel normal again and be able to feel happy.  I never abused it , rarely skipped a dosage, and get good tabs on its effects.  Some people just don't mix well with these substances.  I have friends who have taken it regularly for years and are fine, while I have other friends with experiences like mine.  
To sum it all up, starting out on a low doese, like a responsible doctor should advise, is fine for a few months.  See how you react with it and keep very good notes on its postive and negative effects.  All this talk about addiction is misleading.  You won't become physically dependant or mentally addicted on this substance after just a month of moderated usage, that's ridiculous.  But it can happen over the course of several months to a year, it really just depends on the individual and how you react to regular use of a mind altering substance.  And anyone who convinces themselves that taking a being on this drug is a "normal" way to feel is an idiot.  Its a stimulant and a powerful one at that.  Its designed to enhance neural activity beyond normal operating capacity so in my humble opinion its something that should not be used long term, or if it is, its not to be taken lightly.  There are risks, I and several others here are examples of that, but there can be great benefits to taking this drug.  And to all those going through that withdrawl phase, its awful but it does get better.  Your body and brain just need time to recover, it took me 2 years to start to feel like my old self again and even longer to remember what that meant but it did happen.  Just keep in mind that the way you're feeling is the result of a correction your brain is trying to make and not that the world is against you.  Good luck everyone