I was scripted it for the first time 11 months ago (last July) and started at just 5mgs twice a day but it escalated so that I couldn't really be sure how much I've taken for how long cause it went up but I was at 25mgs twice a day (so 50mgs a day) for the past 2 months or so, before that less, I mean you know, I couldn't be sure, that's been the range throughout a year.
I'm figuring it shouldn't be bad for more than a few weeks and that's what most people seem to say but we'll have to say.
How long were you prescribed it, at what doses and how long was your WD bad for?
And what antidepressant did you get on afterwards?
Cause I totally need a new antidepressant that REALLY works and I think most SSRIs/SNRIs are bullshit and my Lexapro doesn't work.
I want a med I can take and FEEL within an hour or so.
I just don't believe in meds that take weeks to work really having an effect on me.
More than anything I'd like to try Ketamine infusions but doubt I'll be able to get them.
Your timeline of use and abuse is very similar to what mine was. I quit Adderall last year in July so it's about to be a whole year clean from that crap.
Before that, I was on it for a lil' over a year. I was prescribed 12.5 mg IR (instant release) one time a day. At first, that was enough...until it wasn't. So I asked for a second dose a few months after that. I was in a (toxic) relationship during that entire year I was on Adderall. That drug became my lifeline for being the person I finally wanted to be, getting out of the house, doing things like a "normal" person, being social, able to finally be functional...so I thought.
The doses spiraled out of control because of tolerance. I started to run out of my script a week before refill, then 2 weeks before refill. When it came down to that last pill, I was tortured thinking of being without my medicine. It had taken over and by the time I realized it, it was too late. I took a step back and looked at my behavior, overtime I had become more isolated and aggravated at every fucking thing. It felt like my soul was gone. I would get my refill, the euphoria would last for a day or two, then I turned cold and angry inside like a monster and didn't want anything to do with people. Everything that miracle pill gave to me in the beginning, it took back in the end.
I came to the conclusion it had to be stopped. I told my psychiatrist at that time to cancel the rest of the scripts. I mentioned something about tolerance and she said "Adderall doesn't have a tolerance." HA! She had no clue what she was talking about.
Since I was using and abusing for a year, after I quit and canceled my scripts, it was hell, especially for the first 6 months, not gonna lie. Some days were better than others, but it was brutal. My brain was fried. I kept to myself because even trying to be social with family and think of words was difficult. I let family know I was going through PAWS from quitting. Luckily, I could take as much time as I needed to do nothing basically.
Are you able to have time off? You're going to need it if you're quitting for good. It's so worth it in the end. If you're stressed out with demands, you're going to want to use again. There is life beyond this horrible drug.
After 7 months of still going through PAWS, I found a new psychiatrist. The one who prescribed the Adderall wouldn't understand how much I was suffering with PAWS, she didn't even think there was a tolerance. This new psych put me on Effexor XR. I was willing to try anything. I won't tell you it's great by any means, but during the first week, I felt better. Maybe it triggered a lil' mania which was better than feeling dead inside. Effexor XR made me drowsy so I asked for the Concerta as a boost of energy and for ADHD. He said it would also help as an antidepressant.
Are you quitting Dexedrine for good? You're better off without it. If you go back to it and keep abusing it, it will lead to psychosis and all kinds of nasty health problems. It's really bad for the heart and toxic for the brain.
Concerta is like 24 hour Ritalin, it will help you feel better. That's probably your best bet if you want something that works quickly. It's not an amphetamine so don't expect euphoria and don't go chasing it. It helps for ADHD and to pull you out of a brain fog.
I still use kratom from time to time. If the Concerta makes me feel on edge, kratom comes in handy to level it out. I started on 20 mg tablets, now it's prescribed twice a day. You should try another antidepressant since Lexapro isn't working, then you can ask the doc to add Concerta to it.
I'm guessing your PAWS would last a year or more since mine was still present even at 7 months.
If you want to quit Dexedrine, I'd recommend you don't mention abusing it. Just say you don't like the way it makes you feel anymore and you want to cancel your scripts. If you don't cancel those scripts and still have access to them, you won't quit.
Sorry for the novel. lol Ask me anything and good luck! ❤
Edit: Forgot to mention I'm prescribed Gabapentin every month for anxiety along with Effexor XR for depression and Concerta for ADHD. Gabapentin would also be helpful for PAWS. It stabilizes mood.
