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Discussion

Adderall Concerns (Please Help)

Hi everyone,

I may be posting this in the wrong forum, so I apologize in advance. I am taking Adderall as prescribed by my doctor 10mg bid and I have a lot of worries and anxiety over this. For starters, I have suffered from ADHD my entire life (26 years) and have only recently gotten help. I was diagnosed as a child, but never was put on any medication because my mom didn't "believe" in it and I was "just lazy". I struggled all through elementary, middle school, and high school, and never understood what was wrong with me. I finally dropped out.

Fast foward 10 years and I have a GED, and got my CNA cert. shortly after. I didn't think I would like it or stay in it, but I absolutely love it. Becoming a CNA was my "Ah-Hah" moment. I realized this is where I wanna be. I worked to get accepted into an RN program and did. Up until now, I have managed the ADHD without meds. I've struggled and found ways to work around it, and in the process drove my co workers crazy with my attention span of a 3 year old.

Now here I am, struggling to keep up with all the coursework when I'm not even capable of reading half a page. I finally decided to suck it up and go see a physician for my ADHD. I explained my symptoms (I am a walking textbook version of ADHD) and he decided to start me out on Adderall. So far it has been working wonders for me, but it also has some adverse side effects- I can be happy one moment and overcome with pain and grief, crying hysterically, the next.

My main concern, and the reason I'm making this post, is because I have heard countless horror stories of addiction to this medication. This is one thing I refuse to allow happen to me. I have seen addiction first hand, and I am terrified of it. My ex husband was heavily addicted to meth and has been for 21 years. I might add that he beat the hell out of me for literally 3 years straight, and almost killed me and my daughter. I also have a stepmother who committed suicide in 2010 over a pill addiction (oxycodone). She was put on them for an injury, and slowly became addicted to them over a course of a year. She finally couldn't handle it anymore and put a shotgun to her head. My dad and I found her. That being said, you can understand my terror of this. I have a boyfriend and 3 year old daughter I have to live for.

I really don't know what to do and I'm just desperate for advice. I have worked so hard and come so far, I don't want to get kicked out of nursing school. However, I am afraid of the possible outcome if I continue taking Adderall. Am I being irrational? Is this really as powerful a medication as people claim? Or is if just hype? I desperately need advice. If anyone has personal or professional experience I would love to hear it.

So sorry if I rambled. This has been on my chest for awhile.

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    I have ADHD and was on Adderall for a while. Although it didn't work for me for physical reasons, it worked for my ADHD and I didn't become addicted to it.

    Addiction is when you are using a med to get high. Your body becomes used to having the drug and withdraws, causing awful symptoms, which you can only make go away when you get high again.

    You are using it correctly, so you are fine.

    The emotional component is one to be worried about, however. You need to see your doctor again and explain what is going on and be evaluated. Many people with ADHD have comorbidities, and a common one is bipolar disorder. Adderall can kickstart a manic state.

    Some of the symptoms you are describing sound like they feel awful, and maybe your practitioner can adjust your dose or tweak your meds.

    You don't have to suffer.

    As part of the terms of service, we can't offer medical advice. What I am telling you is just my personal opinion based on my own experience. Go get some help from a qualified practitioner.

    I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

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    If you are receiving Adderall from a physician, then what are you so worked up about, exactly? Your friend or family member's issue with addiction has nothing to do with your present circumstance. If you are medicated and still can't focus, then perhaps you need a dose increase.

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    My advice is to make an appointment with your doctor and talk about these concerns. They are valid worries considering your past but taking medication cautiously and as prescribed is not going to turn you into an addict. You need the meds to focus; you're not using them to get high.

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    • Author
    If you are receiving Adderall from a physician, then what are you so worked up about, exactly? Your friend or family member's issue with addiction has nothing to do with your present circumstance. If you are medicated and still can't focus, then perhaps you need a dose increase.

    Tex, I apologize if my post isn't clear. Let me clarify: I am on meds (Adderall) and I AM able to focus with this medication. The dose I'm on is working fine, so no, a dose increase is not necessary. I've been on this for about a month and this is the first time I've sought treatment. The reason I made this post is because I've known of people becoming hooked on this and I don't want it to happen to me. I have a very big phobia of taking prescription medication of any sort, based on personal experiences within my family and past relationships. That is why I brought that up, to help give people a better understanding of why I am so worried.

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    Tex, I apologize if my post isn't clear. Let me clarify: I am on meds (Adderall) and I AM able to focus with this medication. The dose I'm on is working fine, so no, a dose increase is not necessary. I've been on this for about a month and this is the first time I've sought treatment. The reason I made this post is because I've known of people becoming hooked on this and I don't want it to happen to me. I have a very big phobia of taking prescription medication of any sort, based on personal experiences within my family and past relationships. That is why I brought that up, to help give people a better understanding of why I am so worried.

    These are concerns you need to discuss with the prescriber because we cannot provide medical advice.

    Even if a persons becomes physically addicted, they presumably weren't functioning optimally without meds. Few medications can just be abruptly discontinued. Benzodiazepines are terribly addictive, but some people need to take them anyway to manage their conditions (and they become addicted), just as an example. Talk to your doctor.

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    Seek out the advice of a specialist. Not because you may become "addicted" to your medication.

    If the medication is helping you to focus and learn, then obviously you need it to function. But rather for the side effects, and obvious after effects of your past that your ability to focus has now managed to bring to the forefront.

    Go see a psychiatrist. Put a plan into place to help you to function now that you are able to take it down a notch. In my opinion, you can not possibly have long term untreated ADHD and untreated and unaddressed significant trauma issues that can be fixed with a medication that just assists your focus--you need to have a multi-discipline approach.

    And include your child (children) in this. The time to find out how the trauma affected them is not when they are older and have significant issues.

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