How long can I expect this to last, and how much of it is withdrawal?

[Haddock_Entrap_Propulasion]

I've been off of adderall for about 6 days now.  I've been very depressed (literally lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling) and somewhat nauseated that entire time.  However, I am also 6 weeks pregnant, and I have chronic mild depression anyway.  I was using 10-20 mg per day (more than it sounds like, for someone my size) , for about a year.  So, how long can I expect the withdrawal symptoms to last, and how much of what I'm experiencing do you think is from withdrawal?  (as opposed to pregnancy or depression).  It's been very hard for me, especially the cravings for pain meds, (adderall isn't my only habit, just my only physical addiction)  and it would be comforting to know if this is gonna get better.  If the depression will stay this bad then there is no way I can get through the entire pregnancy.  

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

I would expect the 'withdrawal' (for a prescribed medication I prefer the term 'discontinuation emergent symptoms, or DES') for adderall to be ending about now-- the DES from the delayed release form of the medication may last a bit longer than from the fast-release, but in either case 6 days is about the limit of the symptoms.  Adderall is amphetamine, and the DES would include fatigue, low mood, mild body aches, trouble concentrating, increased appetite, and drowsiness.

You might want to do some research on 'PAWS' or 'post-acute withdrawal syndrome'.  This is seen most commonly after stopping opiates or alcohol;  after the acute withdrawal ends the person may have a 'honeymoon' where he/she feels optimistic and energized... then the person is hit with fatigue, depression, etc, usually coinciding with the return of reality and consequences from the addiction.  PAWS can continue for weeks, even months-- the 'treatment' is generally to reinforce recovery.  Understand that a person who simply stops using, without a recovery program, will feel miserable-- perhaps indefinitely.

For a person with multiple addictions, I would strongly recommend finding support and education from a recovery program;  the 12-step programs are a great resource in most areas, and can be found easily through a quick web search.  The mistake many people make is going to their first few meetings looking for things to dislike, rather than going with an open mind and looking for things to like.  I can't give you a clear mechanism for why it works, but I can tell you with confidence that the way you are feeling would respond to 'getting it' through the steps.

One last thought-- people with addictions often have trouble identifying their moods.  Sometimes it helps to break down 'feeling bad' to see what exactly the bad feelings consist of.  You can do this by trying on different feelings, and seeing which ones fit-- usually it will be multiple feelings at the same time.  Once you determine whether you are 'ashamed', for example, you can often realize WHY you are ashamed-- and hopefully move beyond the feelings.  The six 'core' feelings that work well for this exercise are:  mad, glad, sad, afraid, ashamed, and hurt.  Try 'checking in' each time you notice that you are low, and see which of the core feelings are responsible for how you are feeling.

[Haddock_Entrap_Propulasion]

Not my scrip, so it is in fact withdrawal, not discontinuation.  The thing about the 12 steps is that they require one to admit that ones life has become unmanageable.  Mine hasn't; I didn't quit because I had to, because my life was falling apart, I quit because I'm going to have a child, and I want the best life for him possible.   Additionally, I am already religious, in a disorganized sort of way, and my deities would just be confused if I tried to turn my will over to them.  I do not have PAWS, (no period of feeling optimistic and energized)  and I felt miserable for about 3 years before I got into drugs (I was 12 then, and I count caffeine as a drug, which is the only thing I used until I was 14), so I doubt a recovery program would help me much.  I have little tolerance for being mistrusted, and none for being told how I feel.  
I appreciate the input on how long the withdrawals are supposed to go on, but I really wasn't looking for advice on how to cope with the depression.