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Adderall addiction

AML
I recently discovered that my 49 year old wife has been taking my sons adderall for a year.  She has been taking 20mg. per day.  She also takes celexa for depression.  I am concerned that she is addicted and will have withdrawal problems.  I have hidden the adderall from her and she no longer has it available.  She relizes that she has a problem and has commited to quit.  What are the withdrawal symptoms, how soon after she has quit to they show, how long to they last and how can I help.

Thanks,
AML
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Avatar universal
I have been taking adderall-redylan (sp)  not long just for the past about two months. 30 mg. without a prescription. I tried to do vyvanse at 70 mg again without a pres. but that was just once and i was light headed. i am going to stick with the adderall but it makes me better at school, gymnastics, everything i try. I like it a lot. and also it makes me not eat, which is just a plus to loose some weight i am only 16 years old and can't tell my parents because like i said it is not a perscription, they would flip out. I even went up a level in gymnatics, started getting better grades in school and i feel like my whole life is finally coming together nicely. but after reading this and other web sites on this is scares me. I have been doing it about 4 days a week. whenever i go to gymnastics. and i do not have a clue what to do anymore because i would like to stay on it but the after effect scares me a lot (like in the long run) I kind of dont want to stop but i feel it can definitly become a problem in the future. My coaches say how good i have been and how much better not only i am as a gymnast but my attitude is and every little thing about me. but obviously they dont know what i have been doing. and also i am spending a lot of money that i do not have to spend. Please do not respond to me if you are going to mis-treat me i want help not someone telling me how bad it is for me. what do you think i should do. Since you all have been in my shoes before.
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Avatar universal
I have major concerns about the drug Adderall. My dog has been taking my son's Adderall for some time now. He's crapping all over the carpet unlike before, he use to go to the door and wait til we let him out. He hacked into my computer last week and deleted my system files, thats when I knew there was a drug problem (who would do such a thing if not on drugs?). Please give me any suggestions regarding this problem, he is a vicious dog - pitt bull, and its hard to take anything away from him without risking your arm or limb. Thank you.
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Avatar universal
I have major concerns about the drug Adderall. My dog has been taking my son's Adderall for some time now. He's crapping all over the carpet unlike before, he use to go to the door and wait til we let him out. He hacked into my computer last week and deleted my system files, thats when I knew there was a drug problem (who would do such a thing if not on drugs?). Please give me any suggestions regarding this problem, he is a vicious dog - pitt bull, and its hard to take anything away from him without risking your arm or limb. Thank you.
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Avatar universal
I was an addict of oxys and i a not any more so all you listen up
The trick is a step process. You need to try new things just not painkillers. what i did is started smoking weed first then starte some adderal. these helped me get my mind off of oxys. then i tried some other things lie nitrous oxide and others then fnnally ended on alcohol. also fill you time with things to help you keep your mindoff addiction. Some people might not agree with this but it worked for me.
also throw away all painkillers so you wont be tempted.


And for theguy who is worried about his wife, 20mg is nothing unless she is snorting it. there shouln't be any withdraw symtems. what i would do is give her some thing to do during the day be cause alot of addictions are caused by bordum and having easy access to the drug. but then again you are not me so do what you want.
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Avatar universal
i'm sure you mean well, but any info gathered at the zoloft website is probably going to be based on convincing people to try antidepressants. when you say no one is "naturally depressed," i'm not sure what you mean by that...depression is hereditary in which case it would mean that a person's emotions really have nothing to do with a chemical imbalance created.

as i've mentioned before, we are not dr.s....some may not value a professional's opinion, but this is exactly the type of situation where again, one person is trying to diagnose another person. although we may share the disease of addiction, we are all different.  let's just be here to support...
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Avatar universal
I appreciate your *opinion*.  I appreciate the fact that you believe you are helping me with your information. Until you have walked in my shoes, don't define me, please.
Yes, I am thankful for the blessings which abound around me.  I had a lovely upbringing, was well educated, was not harmed, was not "bored".  Until diagnosed with depression, however, I was unbearably sad .............  sorry, I don't need to explain my life to you.
I am content with it.

Thank you for your input.
Wren
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Avatar universal
I don't doubt for a second that you have a chemical imbalance in your brain due to depression.  When you get depressed your brain chemistry is going to change. It changes when you're happy too.  Emotions cause the chemical change.  You may not realize the reason yet, but my dear no one is naturally depressed.  I got all my info from the zoloft web site.  Their the ones who call it a chemical induced happiness.  The truth is though. Simply, life is what you make it.  If you believe you can't be genuinly happy,because god didn't make you that way,then all I can do is pray for you.  And hopfully you'll realize you cause your own unhappiness.  no one is willing to take responsibility for any thing anymore,pop a pill and be happy.  Do you ever just thank god you're alive, or that you're not starving in some disease infested third world country?  Do you ever feel lucky you have clean water to drink? Maybe you just need to realize what blessings you have,and quit blaming chemistry you created for your outlook.  Happiness is a choice.  Choose to be happy, and try looking at the bright side.  I should know I've been beaten molested raped abused in every way used addicted to many substances,and quit.  Hell and back, but that's ok and I blame no one and forgave everyone because I choose to not let those things determine who I am.  I choose to be happy.  sorry, this is a subject I get passionate about.  I've been on every anti-depressant on the market for "clinical depression" &hospitialized for it,  until I realized what was causing it.  For me it was all the anger and hate in my heart.  What cured me was the willingness to forgive and let go.  Life is short you really could die tomorrow, do you really want to look back at the short time we have here and only see depression?  go to your local arborietum and smell the flowers.
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Avatar universal
Post right up near the top, your eighteen threads down noone will
will see you down here. I don't even know what adderall is.
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Avatar universal
i've been taking adderall for only 6 weeks (30 mg/day) and i feel a significant difference when i try to skip just one day.  i'm irritable, tired and can't concentrate.  do people ever get off of this?  am i on it for life?
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Avatar universal
Pippi wrote:

Pharmacutical websites define anti-dep. as a chemical induced happiness. A pill to help you enjoy your boredom. They're a crock of caca!! Depression is caused by a repression of somekind.


This is *not* necessarily true.  I don't want to get into an argument about it; no fights, please.  I have clinical depression.  I am *not* bored.  I'm am *not* repressing anything.  I *do* have a chemical imbalance of the brain.  


Wren
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Avatar universal
If your husband is addicted to heroin, and now taking adderall, then he is what we always called speed balling.  The herion gives the euphoric, relaxed, and all is right feelings.  Add the speed and it increases his heroin effects and alters them into being able to get off the couch.  I do not have a lot of experience here.  I am a nurse who surrendered her license. Now, I'm speaking of myself in 3rd person, uh oh.  Anyway, it is not a good mixture.  If he is a heroin addict, the diagnosis is probably bogus.  The side effects of heroin could mimic the symptoms of adult ADD.
Good  Luck  -   I think you and your husband will need it.
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Avatar universal
I have a question, my husband is a herion addict and has been diagnosed with ADHD and is taking Adderral and is abusing it.  My question is can he overdose on this medication and can he inject it with a needle?? I am very concerned about him and what could happen?
Thanks Willhead
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Avatar universal
My daughter has been in therapy three times, because of my addiction.  Once the psychiatrist wanted to put her on an SSRI, and my ex-husband and I said no way.  She is too young for anyone to be messing with her brain chemistry.  I do not care how good the drug is.  She is much better today.  Depression is often situational instead of chemical.  There are bipolars who need these meds.  My child just is not one of them.
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Avatar universal
GOD
Hey, good post!


What you said about fear is SOOOOO true.

Most of us are afraid of die...
Some of us are afraid to LIVE.. THAT one is the one that gets us REALLY down. It took me a LONG time to realize that i was afraid to LIVE. You feel sooooo much better when you can look that particular fear down and stomp it into oblivion!

Keep up the good postings!
Jess

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Avatar universal
Is your wife the natural mother of your son?  ADD is a genetic neurological disorder, and if unrecognized and treated can lead to addiction and more.  Could your wife have ADD?  Has she ever been tested?  My 74yr.old grandma takes 20mg of adderrall.  My neurologist has me on 80mg a day,and since being properly diagnosed, and medicated I quit drinking cold turkey,smoking ciggerettes(after 12 yrs.) cold turkey, and no longer do any drugs. If you still don't like the med.idea there is a med. alternative to ADD now.  It's called neuro-feedback training.  It uses computer games and other tools to train theta waves to produce when you need them, as well as beta waves. Maybe that would get the adderrall out of your house completely.  As far as her depression;  those anti-depressants are the med. I would worry about most!!!!  Pharmacutical websites define anti-dep. as a chemical induced happiness.  A pill to help you enjoy your boredom. They're a crock of caca!!   Depression is caused by a repression of somekind.  She's repressing something. Happiness is a choice!!  In order to achieve natural true happiness, she needs to realize life is too short, & fear is a 4 letter word.  I learned the hard way that the only way to live is to have the balls to LIVE!!!   My motto in life is,"This is my movie,if you don't like the direction,exit stage left...
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Avatar universal
Thanks.  It is getting into the evening here.  Time to water plants, feed pets, and cook supper.  My kid came home today swearing she will not go back to her school.  She's in the fifth grade.  Someone started a rumor and she got blamed.  Now she is freaking out.  When they are young, something like that really works them up.  It is easy for me to stay calm and want to protect her.  It is not easy when someone wants to mess with my medications.  I get all worked up.  I hope everyone gets some rest tonight.  I'm worried about seeing the doctor tomorrow.  I want to take someone with me.  I'll probably go alone.  I have to get this straight about my xanax before his nurse has me out hunting xanax.  It will keep me up of a while.  Sometimes, I wish I had more faith.  I cannot seem to grasp the concept that everything is alright.  Angst is with me, more than my nickname.
this acute consciousness is a strange way to live.
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Avatar universal
be strong-and make lots af butterfly wishes ((((((U))))))) :)laura
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Avatar universal
Don't be so hard on yourself.  You were in pain, and if like me when I had vascular headaches, scared of the worsening pain.  I also doctor shopped.  When I was on stadol ns.  I would do anything to keep my supply.  I thought it was okay because my neurologist said it was okay to use as much as I needed.  I have little experience with oxy's.  Most of my junkie friends (ex-friends) shoot them.  I know they work like MSContin.  There is also oxy ir  for immediate pain.  No doctor should cut off a patient.  You could die from withdrawls.  I have seen doctors ridicule heavy diabetics.  I also had an acquaintance with multiple back surgeries, same m.d.  He cut this guy off of pain meds even though the guy had chronic pain.  the guy was admitted for an abscess in his gluteal muscle from giving himself inj of street drugs.  He was finally shown by another junkie how to shoot up.  He went to jail.  He got out and went back to using.  He got caught with a couple of parole violations and did not want to go back to jail.  They found him in a bath tub in a hotel with his rig in his arm, dead.  I can blame the medical field for partially causing his jail time and death.  It scares me.  I am just as addicted as he was.  If it weren't for the methadone and xanax, I'd be chasing the dope man myself.  I am strong today.  I hope I would try to get help first.  It is a progressive, fatal disease we all live with.  It is nothing to play with or romaticize.  I'm just venting.  All of us got here one way or another.  I just pray I do not end up like my acquaintance.
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Avatar universal
























































well heres my babble  your right I was the one who took extra not the doctor but doctors should be informed on side effects and limitations of medication.If were a anti depressant we were talking about the doctor who of been sympthtic to the signs of withdrawl and supported it.I also question why so many people on this board think there addicts when they have REAL medical conditions that require pain control for qualty of life.Why are people made to feel guilty when its a chemical fact that tolerance will devolop even if taken as precribed.I understand people like mrmichael who so strongly defend oxycotin,in his case he has cerebl palsy and i wouldnt wish that on a dog,he found something that gives him life back and its not fair that he has to worry that it will be discontuined because of people like who abuse it.And then there are people like me also having real pain issues,I have stills,, aform of Reumotoid arthrisis that is harding all my conective tissue,blood vessals,skin,lungs etc,it hurts somedays worse theni ever thought possable and some days not,Why am i wrong in telling my doctor i cant tolerate the oxy,that i want to see what its like without it,its been four years and im in a good remission so its a good time,so why should i suffer,how humane is it ,what lesson am i begin taught? When the stills was full blow I SHOULD OF HAD 200mg if thats what i needed,i shouldnt of had to sneak no one should .Narcotics are a good drug,giving good pain control with limited and treatable side effects,threre are people who will always take every thing to the limit but how many on this forum know that they can take one drug without that need to self medicate ans then theres that one you just cant control,shouldnt you be able to be honest with your doctor and not judged?I truly belive that most addicts like us would not be if when we had pain it was adressed,then we wouldnt of thougght to self medicate,we would of healed and moved on,no one should suffer and noone has the right to judge what is real to themselfs,I would never punish my 4 yr old for having a nightmare,its real to her and i dont think anyone should be punsihed for getting caught in one either There is nothing wrong with needing help.,Doctors have the oblgation when they treat a person not to judge,whould they taunght a 400 ld diabetic?not to their face ,it   would be thought ill off to make fun or torment them,everyone fucks up somehow,would you punsih the person who lost his leg because he was speeding by making him hop or crawl,of course not. ,if you did youd be an ass.sSO why are addicts who are asking for help out of a pit that a lot of time they didnt dig alone,I  can understand if their not trying to help themselfs,or worse hurting others but why torment someone who is looking for a hand up,not a hand out?
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Avatar universal
I tell all my physicians and dentist that I am a recovering addict on methadone.  I do not get the benefit of as much medication for pain following a surgery.  I have to tough out the headaches.  That is how I got hooked in the first place.  I had a happy neurologist who prescribed 6 bottles of stadol ns a week for me.  Thanks Doc!  I have an internist who takes care of my asthma.  He keeps me in xanax for now.  No one else will touch me.  Especially in Mississippi.  I have to go to alabama for methadone and to see the internist.  The ER is a good place to go in withdrawl for a few benzo's or something to help through the worst of it.  At least here, the hospitals are not so large.  I do not agree with the way the doctors discriminate against me because i'm a recoving addict on methadone.  But not everyone is enlightened.  They are afraid of the licensure boards.  I hope you are feeling better.
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Avatar universal
The fact is yes, they are the ones responsible for monitoring drugs, which is what they try and do, however, its you that is abusing his prescription, therefor, he is not at fault........ I'm in the same situation, however, I never admitted to my doc that I was an addict.........

GWH
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Avatar universal
Sometime life suprises me, although it is tenuous for me.  While washing the dishes, looking out the window at the bayou and porch, I saw a butterfly.  Not just any butterfly, and I am not hallucinating, it's wingspan as large as my hand.  It is blue, gray, white and orange.  It is so huge.  It does not act like a hummingbird moth.  I live in the Southeast USA on the Gulf of Mexico.  This is unusual.  I know most of the indigenous plants and animals, because I've been here all my life.  We have all kinds of huge colorful spiders, but this is something new and beautiful.  I had gone out and in once, without noticing it.  I hope it is well.  Gotta go.  I have more energy and nerves right now.  My mind is screaming more adrenalin, more adrenalin.  I know it will eventually wear itself out of this, but I have little control.  Hope  you get to feeling better.  Imodium was listed in that recipe, I hope, at least when you go out.  Angst
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Avatar universal
try calcium and st john wort for sleep_ yearsterday when i went to pick up the recipe i got them and they did give me a few hours sleep last night I got the calicum because all of those infomercials that ive seen for cCALSORB- all those people kept giving testermony on is vurtues so what could it hurt=do check about the st john wort for any drug intractions,I remember reading about some but I cant recall what they were well back to the john for me   see ya all later
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Avatar universal
I wonder if magnesium taken sublingual would help take the edge off my anxiety while tapering off the xanax.  I have to say that all anxiety wears my energy down to nil.  Try explaining that to a straight ex-husband and 11 year-old daughter.  They want a clean house and meals.  i just want to sleep through this somehow.  I can sleep during the day, but at night sleep evades me like the plague.  I read mysteries and watch true crime series.  That does not sound very relaxing.  Sometimes I try to draw, but I am too hyped up to much productive work.  i've got to get out of the house, but I'm terrified at the thought of leaving my haven.  I usually take trazadone at night, but I've been out for a few days.  Tuesday, I'll go to the doc.  I'm a nurse myself, and I get frustrated at their ignorance at times.  Really, it is his wife.  She is trying to detox me, and she does not know what she is doing.  I'll try to fix it Tuesday.  I'm also trying to change my career.  Hope to find a new job soon.
Thanks for the recipe.   Angst
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