Adderall side effects/addiction?

[Calligirl]

I am writing because I am worried about my roomate.She is prescribed to 100mgs of adderall a day (which I think is way too much) and still runs about 2 weeks after she gets her prescription.The days after she gets her prescirpiton filled she doesnt sleep (when she does its usually for no longer than 2 hrs.).Even though she doesnt have a heavy schedule in school this semeser she stays up day and night in her room working on things and has stopped going out on the weekends completely (even though thats something she used to love to do and talks about never having fun).When she runs out she'll make up some story about giving some away or something else that doesn't make any sense so that she can borrow some from a friend.When she runs out of what she borrowed she'll keep baggering ppl for more until they have to firmly say no.When she cant get anymore she'll go to sleep early (around 10 pm) but wont get up until 1 or 2pm the next day.When she does get up she spends the majority of the day in bed.Her mood swings have been problematic for our relationship.When she's out of adderall she's social,but when she gets more I rarely see her leave her room unless she's going to smoke.Her behavior has become erratic, she'll talk about random things and switch topics often.Whenever I try to talk she interrupts me and starts talking about something entirely different.When i ask her to let me finish and then ask her opinion about what i said,she'll laugh and ask me to repeat b/c she wasnt paying attn.She'll go off on tangents about how the world is ending and is convinced that she knows everything even when she's saying something that is clearly untrue.When I attempt to correct her she talks to me in a very condescending manner, so I'll just walk away.And she will go from not talking to me to asking me if i'm ok repeatedly.Her behavior has gotten incredibly erratic and paranoid.She has been constantly ranting about how ppl are out to get her after she had a dream that her friend was trying to kill her.Her thoughts are very unorganized and she'll be worked up over something and look terrified and pale but wont be able to explain why in a way that is understandable, she'll just say someone's otu to get her.She's incredibly inconsiderate and makes loud noises all night,always piles her dishes in the sink and leaves them in there for days (they'll stay there a week if you dont ask her to clean them),and says rude things without thinking about how they sound to other ppl.To my understanding adderall is supposed to make a person more focused and driven,but she doesnt follow through on anything she says shes going to do.She hasnt had a job in 2 yrs and is constantly changing her career path (she's in grad school for something she hates and decided to do somethign completely different but is staying in this program).She never takes responsiblity for things, there's always some rationalization or excuse.I'm really concerned b/c she is very petite, 5' and under 90 pounds which is weird considering she's 27.I know some ppl are naturally thin,but this is unnatural. she has no body fat whatsoever, no breasts, no butt, and she wears a sz 12 in childrens jeans (and still wears sweatpants under those to appear bigger).I never see her eat meals, just snacking on yogart or fruit and drinking coffee.She smokes alot also.I was wondering if any of these symptoms sound familiar to anyone b/c I am worried about her.I care about her and know she's a good person, but her personality has completely changed from when I met her.Her symptoms appear to be bipolar or schizophernia, but I have a feeling its the amount of adderall she's taking.I am in therapy and I suggested she start going, but she told me that she doesnt need it.If anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it!

[bljury]

I do believe that she is addicted to adderall because adderall is like speed bc it is made of amphetamine. The adderall does supress your apetite, and it doesnt allow you to sleep. I used to take it along time ago for highschool and i realized that it helped me alot with paying attention and alert but i noticed alot of side effects and I definitely agree that she also has an eating disorder.

[Calligirl]

Thank you so much for your insights. I def agree with what you've said. I had never heard of amphetamine induced psychosis before.I've suspected she has an eating disorder for awhile now.She talks about being petite all the time and I can tell its something she takes pride in.But she's thin to the point where its unattractive, she has no curves or body parts and looks like a 10 year old. I've  asked her about her weight before and she said she likes being small and that she can be fat when she's older.But it was hard to tell bc when she does nibble on things its icecream or pizza.After living with her for awhile now though I see that she rarely eats and when she does she nibble, so i could see her having an eating disorder.I def need to talk to her. I'm just nervous to approach her b/c when our friend simply asked her how much she took every day she snapped at her. Apparently her friends in college were also concerned,so this has been going on for awhile.Thanks again for your insight, I'll let you know how it goes.

[ellua]

there is no limit on the amount a doctor can legally prescribe, however the maximum recommended daily dose is 40mg (some say 60mg).  it's not unheard of to take 100mg in a day, but if she's *actually* taking somewhere near 200mg as we will assume since she runs out in half the time, she's already hit the wall as far as theraputic effects from this medicine go.  

it sounds like she has an eating disorder and takes adderall compulsively to keep her appetite away, and it also seems like she may be experiencing amphetamine-induced psychosis, which would explain the paranoia and disconnected thoughts which are unlikely characteristics of someone of her age who's made it to grad school.  

she's addicted to these pills, and you won't be able to make her stop taking them, but you can let her know how you feel about it and urge her to get help, for the sake of her health.  good luck.

[Krissy28]

I'm not positive on this, but I think the maximum a doctor can legally prescribe is 60 mill per day. Also doctors can't give refills of adderall either. You have to go in every month to get a new script, this is so the doctor can monitor you. Sounds like her doc is not every responsible.