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supplements to balance Adderall?

I am curious if there are any supplements that may balance the negative effects of Adderall.  The medication makes me anxious, irritable and tired - these side effects show up a few days after I take it and last for a day or so.  A little about me - I am pursuing a professional degree that entails many hours of studying.  I don't take Adderall every day; however, when I do take it, I take two to three 30 mgs within a twelve hour span. This is perhaps too much; however, the beneficial effects (focus, motivation) wear off in between two and three hours.  Any advice would be appreciated -
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3147776 tn?1549545810
Folks, this thread has been CLOSED by a moderator.  Once a discussion is closed, no further posts are permitted.
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Not sure whether or not you, or this post are still active. However, in my experience as an individual with ADHD, also struggling with pros and cons, I hope I can help.

Yes, adderal does mess your brain up pretty horribly, especially in the manner you have described. Taking 90mgs is an excessive dose, however considering that I spent two years on DAILY 80mg XR regimen, it's not so bad.

I would suggest investing in high grade ginko bilobae and ginseng tinctures ( make sure to dissolve with water so you don't ingest high amounts of ethanol.)

these herbs have been used for centuries to combat alzheimers and other neurological disorders. another excellent choice is soy lecthin which ("supposedly") aids in neuro-plasticity.

i have to put these things in quotes as few PhD's in medicine will vouch for their credibility.

as for the vascular issues resulting from adderal use, the ONLY thing I've ever found helpful was a bit of marijuana with primarily sativa genetics as those species tend to have a more physical effect rather than the mental rush of indicas.

Don't take aspirin unless you really feel like your heart is about to explode, no need to dump more drugs into your kidneys and liver.
if someone responds to this i Will try to post more information when not using a cell phone.
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Avatar universal
bc2
Because you seem to be dispensing medical advice, rather than giving your anecdotal experiences... Asking you to stop posting isn't censorship as much as it is trying to get feedback without your unqualified medical recommendation.
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Avatar universal
I use Boost  which is a protein shake that you can buy pretty much everywhere...

Another option i am currently working on is using whey protein.

Other things that i have noticed helping me with my  ANXIETY IRRITABILITY and RESTLESSNESS  are running regularly, eating smart, and making sure to stay hydrated.  

Good luck and i hope that this helped
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Avatar universal
our son is 18 took adderrall 3-5 grade today things don't seem quite right with him i am not sure if its later effects of drug or not he can't seem to make resposible choices or lack of judgement  he has no friends and a girlfriend that is a very bad relationship he lies all th e time even when confronted he still lies
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Avatar universal
Your 'study' and 'experience' are questionable considering your penchant for dishing out platitudes. Medications of any stripe will work on individuals with vastly different results, due to the incredible diversity in individual body chemistry.

Your emotions about drug abuse are valid, as are anyone's opinions...but making sweeping generalizations about medication use is just immature. Leave this kind of thing for the doctors.

As for the original question, I suggest you speak with the doctor who prescribed you Adderall and have him/her give you a metabolic panel. Then I would have him/her talk to you about adjusting the dosage.
Most importantly, stop abusing this medication. 90mg is too much. This is meant to be consistently, at the same dose, and as prescribed. If you are using this med. without having a clinical diagnosis of ADD, and without supervision from your doctor...you are risking heart failure, nervous system shock and permanent damage, and addiction; nevermind the jitteryness etc.

As with all prescribed medications, if the side-effects are outweighing the positive effects, speak with your doctor about switching meds or adjusting dosage.
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Avatar universal
I have an 11 year old daughter that has been on low doses of Adderall XR since 3rd grade.  Thanks for the recommendations of your supplements.  Now that my daughter is able to take pills without much hassle, I would like to try supplementing.  We already do the fish oil.  I have also tried Phosphatidylserine Complex.  It seems to help but now that she can take pills, we may give a real try again.
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Avatar universal
Hey, I realize this is pretty late but, the people on this thread seem to have had bad experiences. Adderrall is'nt going to kill you or harm you badly unless you have pre-existing conditions that you were unaware of. I've been on adderall for over a year now and have to say its definitely helpful. But to answer your question I'm not sure if there are drugs to counteract the negative effects completely or at all, but I do know of some supplements that my doctor has me take. The main reason he put me on these were for depression but I am sure that they can help other things as well. You'll have to do some research on your own but here's the list.

SAM-E
L-Theanine
Fish Oil
Inositol
N-acetylcysteine/NAC
Melatonin
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Avatar universal
I think you are taken me the wrong way,

I am telling you the same thing I would tell anyone else and what I would say to one of my own children who where your age and trying to make it threw Collage.

I did tell you a way ,witch is to stop slowly taken the other drug or drugs you are on.And start taken Vitamin B6 ,Vitamin B12, Vitamin C  and Omega 3-6-9. You might not sse right away what it is doing for you ,but give it some time.And think  positive  about taken them and that they are going to work . Not that there is something wrong with you it wont hurt for you to go see a Counselor.

And if you have not had a EEG done you should have one done,because I have seen where a person is having a hard time and a EEG was done and came back un-normal the person was never put on drugs because she was having a hard time learning .but is now on Seizure Medicine.And you would have never none this young girl was having Seizures, because you can't see them.Blood work should be done also to check things . But it should also be done to make sure the Adderall is not hurting your liver every 6 months.

I am only trying to help you as I am a Mother  and I believe God would want me to try and help everyone and I want to try and help if I can.
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Avatar universal
Once again, I have to say address the issue.  Reread my post; reread your post.  Who is making assumptions?  You are assuming that I am making assumptions and that I believe I am more educcated . . . .   In addition, I would love to read a response grounded in study, and or experience, but it would be helpful if that experience and study were related to the actual question.  P.S., is this a turing test?
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Avatar universal
just because they give it to people doesn't mean it is good for them. And from what I have read about narcolepsy there is no drug that can help it or stop it so why take drugs with all the back side effects makes know scene to me.

I have Medicine that was giving to me that I won't take because I saw the side effects and they are not worth it,I need to be around to take care of my children not in the Hospital or worse Dead. I will deal with the stress with out drugs because it won't kill me not to take them. Better to talk about things then to drug my self up.
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1211960 tn?1272974502
It is also important to remember that Adderall is prescribed for narcolepsy as well.
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Avatar universal
The only reason more children are being put on these drugs is because Doctor's and Teacher's and Parent's don't do there job.

There  is no test that can prove a child or  anyone has ADD or ADHD. But there are test for other thing's. But it is to easy for the Doctors to just give out drugs and say someone has ADD or ADHD if a person has a hard time learning, is hipper,if doesn't act like others do or the way they think they should.

I hope any pray you don't every have to go threw what my son has or ever have to see anyone go threw what we have.Because once it has happen it is to late to change what has been done.
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1211960 tn?1272974502
I am well aware of the studies and research on Adderall and stimulants. However, if a medication improves my quality of life and has been shown to be effective- I am going to take it.

As far as kids with ADD/ADHD, there  have been studies done that have proven that children that grew up in lead paint houses are more likely to have ADD/ADHD. This may explain the increase of prescribed medications for ADHD.
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757137 tn?1347196453
You are assuming you are more educated and knowledgeable than we are. Has it occurred to you that we may be speaking from both experience and study? You can call that a soapbox if you will, if that makes you feel better.
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Avatar universal
Thou you might want to read this.That I just found.


Criticism of Adderall

For several years, parents, doctors, and other citizens have expressed deep concern about Adderall use. Many critics claim that Adderall and similar medications are widely over-prescribed to children who may exhibit behavioral problems that mimic, but are not caused by, ADHD. Another major concern about Adderall and similar medications are their high potential for abuse and addiction.

On college campuses nationwide, Adderall and other ADHD medications are quickly becoming drugs of choice as popular study aids. It seems caffeine just does not cut it anymore for late night cram sessions. More and more young students are abusing Adderall, stating that the drug improves concentration and increases stamina during long hours of study. Many assume that because the drug is legal for prescription use, it must be relatively safe. According to recent studies, widely used—and abused— ADHD drugs may not be very safe at all.

What is Adderall?

Adderall (a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine) is a prescription stimulant used to treat adults and children (over the age of six) with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Adderall was the second drug to be approved to treat ADHD, following Ritalin’s already long stay on the market. The FDA approved Adderall in 1996 and later approved Adderall XR Extended-Release capsules in 2001. Shire Pharmaceuticals Group Plc manufactures this popular ADHD medication. Millions of people have taken this drug, with and without a prescription.



In February 2005, the Health Canada (the Canadian equivalent to our FDA) pulled Adderall off the market after receiving 20 reports of children who died suddenly while taking Adderall. According to the regulatory agency, they received safety information concerning the association of sudden deaths, heart-related deaths, and strokes in children and adults taking recommended doses of Adderall and Adderall XR. This risk of Adderall death seemed particularly high for individuals with structural heart abnormalities.

In response to these findings, the FDA issued an advisory warning about the possible risk of death, but allowed the drug to remain on the market. In August 2005, Health Canada allowed Adderall to re-enter the market because the agency was unable to prove (within that six-month period) that Adderall was more dangerous than other ADHD medications. While Adderall continues to be sold, there are serious risks associated with this popular medication.

Serious Adderall Side Effect Risks

According to Shire Pharmaceuticals and the FDA, there are serious Adderall side effect risks of which patients and healthcare professionals should be aware. These include:
# HIGH ABUSE POTENTIAL Adderall carries a black box warning—the strongest warning issued by the FDA short of a drug recall—informing consumers about the serious risk of Adderall abuse. This Adderall warning states that taking amphetamines for long periods may lead to Adderall addiction. The warning details the significant risks posed when Adderall is taken for non-therapeutic use or is distributed to others. The Adderall black box warning also states that misuse of Adderall can cause sudden death and serious cardiovascular events.

# SUDDEN DEATH According to February 2006 reports, at least 24 Adderall deaths were reported to the FDA between 1999 and 2003. Other cases of possible Adderall death were not counted because the deceased used other drugs, the deaths fell out of the parameters of the study, or the deaths were to non-US citizens. Thus, the number of Adderall deaths may be significantly underestimated.

# PSYCHOSIS Adderall side effects can aggravate or cause psychosis in patients with existing mental conditions. Patients with previous mental conditions should be carefully monitored for signs of Adderall psychosis. This Adderall risk can be significant given that a large percentage of people suffering from ADHD also suffer from co-morbid psychological disorders.

# CARDIOVASCULAR INJURY Evidence shows that Adderall may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and other serious conditions. This Adderall side effect risk appears to be greater in people with a history of cardiovascular conditions and those who misuse this drug.

# WORSENING TICS Adderall side effects can worsen tics and Tourette’s disorder.

# STUNTED GROWTH AND WEIGHT LOSS Particularly in children, Adderall can decrease growth and cause significant weight loss. Children who take Adderall for long periods should be carefully monitored for these Adderall side effects by having their height and weight measured regularly.

Other Adderall Side Effects
Other Adderall side effects can include significant loss of appetite, mood changes, insomnia, dry mouth, and headaches.

What is happening now?

The FDA convened an advisory panel to discuss how to evaluate Adderall safety and the safety of all ADHD medications in February 2006. Though this panel was not asked to make regulatory recommendations, the panel quickly ruled that a BLACK BOX WARNING, the strictest warning possible, should be added to Adderall and other ADHD medications to warn consumers about the serious risks of sudden death and adverse cardiovascular events. The FDA took no immediate action to add this warning to Adderall or similar ADHD drugs.

Have you suffered Adderall side effects?

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries you suspect were caused by Adderall, you may wish to confer with an attorney to learn more about your legal rights and options. The attorneys of Oshman & Mirisola are highly experienced in handling defective drug claims and are prepared to protect your legal rights. Please contact us today for a FREE CONSULTATION to learn more. You may be eligible to seek compensation for your medical expenses, other losses, and suffering.
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Avatar universal
I am sorry that happened to your son. Have you filed a lawsuit? Adderall is not a " drug" when prescribed for a diagnosis illness. THe people that use the medication as perscribed are not drug users. This medication has been used since the 1930's and is still used today by the military. Every medication has its side effects. Please do not judge anyone by the medication they are prescribed.

I will not file a lawsuit,I don't believe in doing that.I made a bad choice by putting my son on drugs for add and adhd and didin't know what I know now. And is just like speed and people are taken it the wrong way ,the side effects are bad and then when one takes more than they should that makes the risk even higher.   And Adderall is us to help people slow down so they can learn and if it is doing something else than you really don't need it.And to may people are being misdiagnosed these day's with out getting everything checked. And later in life when they get something from taken these drugs they will want to put a lawsuit when they new what they were taken had risk or took more than they should.

I myself had a hard time in School  and I turned out fine not taken any drugs.
and back then they didn't say if you are having a hard time learning that your child has add or adhd, I am glad they didn't  because I know my mom would have given me these drugs even thou I didn't need them.

yes ever medicine has side effects that is true , some you have to take to save your life. the drugs they use for add and adhd  you can live with out them because you won't die if you don't take them ,you might die if you do take them .

I believe other parents should know what there is out there to help them beside these drugs.And to make sure they are treated for the right things.

As for the military using these drugs,just because you think they us it means it is ok to do things that others do. That is like saying if one person jumps off a cliff  then it is ok for others to do so.

I hate to see people mess up there child's live  when they don't know anything about what they are doing to there kids,or they are doing it because they are told they have to by the School. And I don't want anyone to have to go threw what my son and family has gone there.So if I can safe some one the pain I will try and not give up.


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1211960 tn?1272974502
I am sorry that happened to your son. Have you filed a lawsuit? Adderall is not a " drug" when prescribed for a diagnosis illness. THe people that use the medication as perscribed are not drug users. This medication has been used since the 1930's and is still used today by the military. Every medication has its side effects. Please do not judge anyone by the medication they are prescribed.
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Avatar universal
Okay - just for fun.  
I wanted to say, "If you address this post, please address the question.  In addition, allmymarbles, it appears you are inferring censorship yourself.  The key word from your last post is help . . ."  Instead, I'll say this:  Neither of the responders have addressed the question.  I think many folks use this as a personal soapbox - which is completely acceptable, cathartic probably; however, this is probably the wrong forum for me.  Thank you, and good night!
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757137 tn?1347196453
When you ask dollyn not to post, you are exercising censorship. You wanted responses to your question. You got them from people concerned about you and your condition. It is up to you to act on, or not act on, our suggestions. If you don't want any input, then don't ask for our help.
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Avatar universal
I guess that these person just wants people to sugar goat it all.

Not wanting to here from someone who has been threw it all and knows what others have been threw.  

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Avatar universal
Dollyn,

I appreciate your concern; however, I would also like to ask you not to post to this thread.  
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Avatar universal
let me ask you this have you ever had a EEG or an MRI  to see if there is any damage to your brian,before you started taken adderall. because you have know way of knowing if there is anything wrong with your brain with out these testing. These Doctors can tell you anything with out doing these test.

you are in my mind using the Adderall  like all the drug users ,who think they need the high to make it in life.And really all you have and are doing is frying your brain,to the point where you could end up dead or having Seizures.  The way you are taken so many of them should have made you notice that you really don't need them.What I mean by this is if a person really needed them they wouldn't have to take as much as you do,if they don't work with the normal amount witch is to take 1 in morning and 1 early afternoon then you really don't need them. There is something else going on with you and your Doctor and you have not done your work to find out what it is,so you just keep popping the drugs to get buy in life for now.And now if you try to stop taken them you can hurt your self. you would have to ask your Doctor how to come off of them so you don't end up in the hospital or worse.
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