Adderall overdose? A bit concerned..

[noble6]

I'm sorry if this may be a little off topic, but this forum seemed to be the right place to go and I'm asking for someone to please hear me out.

I would like to say that I'm expecting to read things like "quit right now" or "see a doctor", but I'm looking for more details rather than advice.  If I believe I am putting my life at risk, please believe me that I will no longer take the medication.

I got perscribed Adderall (15 mgs/day) roughly 5 months ago, and although I have been using them slightly irresponsibly (some days take 40 mgs, some days take none, all depending on the day) I never suffered withdraws or SERIOUS addiction symptoms.  Please note also that I'd usualy run my perscription dry a week or two before my next refill, so Im used to going without.

Recently, however, (as in, the past 4 days) I seem to have reached a point where  a dose is either not enough (I'll wait an hour and it still does absolutely nothing) or far too much.  When I say far too much, I mean it will give me X amount of side effects but I won't see a single hint of a positive effect.  I'm very used to taking 15-40 mgs and recieving the side effects Im looking for:  Alertness, productivity, chipper mood, talkative, sweating, shaking..  However, recently I've come accross new side affects:  Lazyness (which I am usually), extreme weakness, paranoia, lack of motivation..
    The two most serious issues happened the past 48 hours.  I've begun to suffer a serious pain in the pelvic region, severe enough that I refuse to do anything but sit still until it feels better.  This happens maybe two hours after taking a dose, and it kills my productivity for the day.  

I'm used to having panic attacks, as I used to drink way too much (alcoholic) but twice now I've experienced an episode of discomfort in breath, panic, slight hallucination, basically it just skips to "ovredose" status.  Tonight my left arm/hand started to tingle, I had pain in my left shoulder and began to feel extremely light headed.  I was told by a psychologist and another person that it was a panic attack, which it didnt feel like to me.

We don't know each other, but I assure you I have no intentions of overdosing on this.  I obviously will not take as much as I've had today.  Previously, I thought you were clear for more after five or six hours. Lesson learned.  However, I am expecting for most replies to come from the extreme point of view:  talk to a doctor, go to the hospital, throw them in the toilet, ect.  Ok, that's very easy advice to give but if I was worried enough I would have done so already instead of posting on a forum.  If possible, Id like this to be seen from the opposing extreme.  No, Im not overdosing, but please rule out any thought of me calling a doctor, throwing them out, ect.  Im looking for very objective help, facts as opposed to opinions.

Can anyone shed some light on this?  Thank you so very, very much .

[burr_burr]

Touche is the simplest way to respond.. I have to agree with every word... Get out while you can..... You will only start coming up with better excuses and clever ways to avoid or  subdue the side affects vs the obvious solution of self control or just not taking the stuff.... "Theres got to be a better way" " Oh, I just had too much coffee." "I've been really busy with work or school. That's why I've lost weight", "Oh, I'm taking a break from the medication so I don't get addicted. That's why I'm so out of it for a week or so", etc the list goes on.. But honestly, the reason I say, get out now, is because I know the long term side affects.. And  coming from a Dr's child, the cover excuses for those side effects have to be educated and the effort becomes less desirable than that high the older I get...I have a degree, a house, a good(tolorant) man, average comfortable life, Managed to stay skinny( from well, ya know)... But I'm tiring of the addiction.. moreso the dealing with the crappy parts.. The older I get and the longer I stay an addict... The more I'd rather say **** it and just be a lazy *** that ******* about having to make myself get up and work..... Or just become fat, lazy, broke, bitchy, etc.. It's almost worth it just to stop arguing with my addiction and trying to cover it up.... It gets old and those who don't let it kill em young, have to suffer the long term affects.. Newton's Law.....

[burr_burr]

Just to apologize.....I am sorry for any confusion my lack of punctuation cuses with my previous post. I am definitely spoiled by auto correct and auto insert from my Ipad. But was using a keyboard with it and apparently it doesn't auto insert with the keyboard.. Good to know it's back to good ole education and paying attention when I use the bluetooth keyboard.. Especially glad I found this out before I sent any client related emails.. That would hurt..

[burr_burr]

I am 35 and have been taking this crappy medication for years about 6 now. I will admit I am dependent and do  misuse it at times. More often the longer I take it. My father is a Dr. so my medical knowledge is above average. Just to avoid a rather redundant question, NO he is not aware I am still taking it, the length, nor that I have a dependancy to it. That would not make great dinner conversation during visits.. Anyhow, the pain and any numbness in your left arm, chest, or even your back are a definite concern and should not be ignored. (in women, heart attack pain is more often in the back, shoulder and neck of the left side and most often heart attack symptoms are missed because this is not made more aware) Moving on... Panic attacks can also cause left sided pain and numbness but what you need to think of is this. Panic attacks do raise your heart rate and pressure. Also, a panic attack is just that. Panicing.. Which if you already have an elevated heart rate from the Adderall, and start having left side pain, what would most of us do? Panic... Which then leads to more panic and elevating your heartrate even more... Which becomes a back and forth chain reaction of panic and too much medication... This can in cases cause an actual problem.. If you are a young healthy active person with no previous heart problems, obesity, or diabetes concerns, try this next time you have a left side pain scare... Pay attention to your body of course, but tell yourself you are only adding to it by worrying. Look up the basic inner functions and movements of the heart. (It helps knowing what that muscle is doing when you feel certain sentations. As well as knowing your heart muscles can get a cramp like feeling when it's working overtime. Like a charlie horse per say) Anyhow, knowing a bit more about what you are feeling and that panicing only adds to it can help you to calm yourself down from panicing, causing your heartrate to slow, and get back to normal.. Or give you the calm awareness of any continued pain or numbness that you need to seek help for. Absolute red flag, 911 call signs: If you have settled the panic and are still having solid pain and numbness and you feel as if you could go to sleep... DON'T... Make that call.... Don't ignore a racing heart, pain, numbness, and the feeling of wanting to lay down and go to sleep. If you research more about how the body funtions on a few basic levels, you will understand that a racing heart effects other parts and usually never is associated with sleepiness.. That is a good sign of a bigger problem elsewhere.. Anyhow, if you can sit and tell yoursellf to calm down, you might easily notice those panicy pains subside within a few moments.. The abdominal cramping, as well as muscle cramping or weakness, is common with this med when its abused or the dosage changed.. If you notice dry mouth...and the fact that you prob haven't eaten much and sweating more than usual. ( more than the typical over sweating adderall causes.. Ughhh) Well, you are most likely dehydrated and that in itself will cause wide spread muscle cramping.. Like period cramps for women and bad food bowel cramp feelings in men.. Don't know a better way to describe it for men.. As period cramps don't help at all.. ha.. In short, the belly cramps are prob from needing water so try that.. I explained the left side pain possibilities best I can.... I mean ultimately the obvious solution would be to not abuse the medication.... But we addicts know this and there has to be another option...... Ya know

[Jmac881000]

I agree ^and chasing that high outweighs the negative side effects and addiction!! Even as a physically healthy 28 year old male, who has never had any heart problems, and even had a ekg to make sure I had non not that long ago....I've had such bad panic attacks brought on by an average 30mg dose of adderal I swore I was having one, and only thing that kept me from a hospital visit was knowing I was heart healthy and was having a bad panic attacks/ not much better mentally!! I eventually after trying to calm myself down and basically catch my breath had to take a xanax to get rid of it!!! Point is....know your body everyone is different and start low and take a lil by lil more even if it us just chasing that "high" I can't judge....but taking too much at one time can be dangerous or just down right not enjoyable!!!

[gnarly_1]

HI welcome to the forum.....well from what it sounds like your building up a tolerance to it and fast.....you take a given amount and expect a certain effect similar to how its been b/4 and can no longer achieve it.....us addicts call it ''chasing the high'' so like us addicts you take more thinking this should do it only to have the side effect of the higher dose ruin what your truly looking for...or as us addicts say.....''we can never quit get there anymore'' you get to the point where the amount your taking will cause anxiety physios even hallucinations
everything but what you want to cause....welcome to the world of the drug addict
you might not see yourself here yet its all nice and sterile I mean im getting it from a doctor and all.....the minute you deviated from the prescribed amount you entered into addictive behavior now you may only be in the early stages and my not even agree with me but I dont candy coat it your heading for deep water and addiction will su ck you in quicker then you thing adderall is a powerful stimulant taking it the way your taking it is like doing meth you just got a purer form of it...Im not going to tell you what to do because you already know you listed every good idea and told us not to tell them to you so I wont......I will tell you this get out wile your ahead b/4 it ***** you in any farther we have watched a lot of young kids start like you wind up with 100mg a day habits it only a short amount of time...trust this old hippie you dont want to go where I have been pills will take you places you say you would never go...dont know how old you are but that tingling in your arm is a sigh of a heart attack....there often brought on by speed
good luck and God bless.....Gnarly        

[noble6]

Please accept my apology that I may have come off as a bit of a knuckehead with my "dont say call the dr" remarks.  Im trying to say that I seek information/advice ASIDE from that which I already expect to hear.  Your concern is of course appreciated.

[noble6]

Basically to reiterate, Im seeking knowledge on the variables in this situation and their gravity.  Iv always had a weak appetite..would eating more be a certain solution?  I have previously been perscribed Propranolol and Neurotin and have plenty to spare in refills..would either of these, or any other medication help at all?  Once again, thank you so much for any insight.