Adderall taper/discontinuation plan?

[23536]

Is there info anywhere on discontinuation of Adderall for depression?

I'm prescribed 30 mg a day of Adderall for depression (15 mg IR twice daily). I've been on the regimen since 2008. It's causing more harm than benefit and I want to try to kick it.

I must stress: a quitting strategy for people with depression, not ADD. Specifically: every time I try to kick the Adderall I become dysphoric, lethargic, anhedonic and otiose. It gets tedious to the point that I creep back to my doc for an new script after 10-20 days off the speed. This has happened to me at least 4 times over the past 2 years.

thanks

 

[datSTIMfreak]

Why don't you just switch to one 15 mg XR a day?
Used to self-medicate depression with a 15 mg a day and that worked pretty damn well, if your experiencing side effects from the Adderall why don't you switch to Dexedrine for depression? Less side effects way more efficient.

 

[Legerity]

This is news to me that they prescribe Adderall for depression. Are you currently in therapy or doing anything else to help with your depression? It seems that there are better long-term results when medication is combined with psychotherapy, otherwise many people go back to their original level of depression after stopping medication.

Going through an initial period of discomfort like you described may or may not be a necessary part of it. At the very least it can be minimized. Often the emotional pain experienced is not necessarily drug "withdrawal" in the typical sense, but rather caused by the potentially big contrast in how you experience your reality with and without the substance. So often when people quit a substance they think they are going through some sort of heavy withdrawal because of how miserable they are, but this is really more a psychological phenomenon of adjusting to a new state of consciousness.

So basically what I'm saying is if you can change some of your beliefs that are causing you to be depressed, getting off the meds should be much more gentle

 

[Eyes On the Roll]

it deffinately works for depression, i get it prescribed 40 mg a day, 2 20mgs ir, and i'm bipolar, but that's not why i'm prescribed it.
I'm starting to notice some of the side effects.. my face becomes really scaley and flakey.. and i just noticed how much thinner my hair has gotten, and it sucks because it isnt going to grow back either because i have genetic male pattern hair loss or whatever.
Also, i notice that when i don't take it i have a constant brain fog, where i just can't think and my thoughts race through my mind at the speed of light, and when i read i skim threw words extremely fast without registering it all

are you experniencing hair thinning as well?
and on your topic, getting off it for you is going to be difficult, because lethargy and brain fogs and all those side effects occur after discontinuing speed, and last quite a while. If you quit, you will most likely go back into depression and for quite a while too, i can't think of any advice to tell you except to just stop using it and ride out the depression, finding other ways to pick your spirits and motivation up

 

[Cohesion]

Hi

I need to quit,too. I started 8 months ago and have abused it every time. I have depression which is greatly relieved by Paxil since 12 months ago.

I quit pot 6 months ago, started with the K2 JWH-018 and on New Year's, smoked real (good) weed, and I believe I'm deciding that pot is WAY better. I've been forcing myself to try to think that Adderall + Klonopin are "medications" that help me. No.

How long have you been taking it? Do you binge on more than your prescribed dose /try to get a rush? Just wondering. Good luck. Let's keep in touch, see how things go.

I like what Legerity said.

 

[Lolie]

I'd definitely talk to your doctor about discontinuation. There's a very real chance that they'll want to switch your to another med in the short-term to minimise the shittiness of coming off the amps and limit the possibility of you suffering a major depressive episode.

 

[23536]

Legerity you nailed it. You been through this before? Yes it's exactly a psychological dilemma: whether the depression felt is part of the disease or is a chimera: a manifestation of drug craving.

I'd add "epistemological" to "psychological".

Hi

hi

I need to quit,too. I started 8 months ago and have abused it every time.

me too.

I've been forcing myself to try to think that Adderall + Klonopin are "medications" that help me. No.

I hear you. I wanna get off my benzos too.

Do you binge on more than your prescribed dose /try to get a rush?

yes

Let's keep in touch, see how things go.

let's

 

[Legerity]

Legerity you nailed it. You been through this before? Yes it's exactly a psychological dilemma: whether the depression felt is part of the disease or is a chimera: a manifestation of drug craving.

I'd add "epistemological" to "psychological".

Well I was using a lot of speed 6-7 years ago. When I stopped I had to deal with a lot of emotional issues that arose. I believe that my speed use was allowing me to avoid looking at these things, so it makes sense that stopping would make me experience them. But I don't consider this to be "drug withdrawal" in the sense that it is usually used.

Also from my experience with quitting smoking and caffeine, both of which I've done more times than I'd like to admit. Sometimes I was able to quit smoking without any patch quite easily without a craving and only slight discomfort. Other times quitting has thrown me into a chaotic period of emotional turmoil and high anxiety. With coffee...sometimes when I stopped drinking I was so tired that I could barely function for a week. Other times I could cut down and stop with far fewer symptoms. I can't help but feel that these differences are more psychological than physiological.

 

[Cohesion]

When do you get to the pharmacy/Dr again? My appt is on the 23rd... and I have a drug test then, too. (My ex called and snitched if you will.) I'm going to show for THC.

I'll tell the Dr. the truth in some way.. Yet I'm going to stay there depending on his opinion of smoking some pot. Bring in info on harm reduction + benefits of pot? Say, I do self-medicate with THC for Bipolar.

What does anyone think about this? A good Dr. IMO will still prescribe mild narcotics from time to time, as well as keeping Benzos & Adderall PRN (depending on job / school requirements & stage of Functioning) ?

The funny thing is - He never consulted with a Psych for approval for my meds -- I got them all on 1st walk-in. (klonopin + adderall + paxil). All of which explained that my previous Dr. wouldn't give enough of.. I digress..

 

[23536]

When do you get to the pharmacy/Dr again? My appt is on the 23rd . . . A good Dr. IMO will still prescribe mild narcotics from time to time, as well as keeping Benzos & Adderall PRN (depending on job / school requirements & stage of Functioning) ? . . .

out of curiosity, why do you want to get off the speed & clonazepam?

I haven't scheduled yet. I might not schedule at all. I have 4 more refills of Xanax and trazodone, so if I quit the speed and taper the Xanax I might not need to see him again until June or July (amphetamine is schedule II and can't be refilled in the US)

When I get my medical license I'll prescribe whatever I think the patient needs, regardless of whether or not it produces a high. I won't be a chump though: I won't feed anyone's addiction. I wish I could put my many years of drug use on my med school application. I think it increases the likelihood I'll be a good doctor.

I can't help but feel that these differences are more psychological than physiological.

yes but addiction is largely psychological too, and with amphetamine discontinuation there's so much overlap in symptoms with a major depressive episode. In fact, the most immediate symptom, the anhedonia, is identical. I currently have trouble enjoying myself without amp. I can force myself up and out and go through the motions of doing something I love to do, but because my reward circuitry is so sensitized to amphetamine, pleasure without amphetamine is untenable. This is precisely the way depressive anhedonia feels.

The central question is whether or not the disease--Major Depressive Disorder--has improved despite the amps, not just because of them. I can't find this out so long as I'm taking the amps because if the disease is still there, the amps are masking it

lol I'm typing all this with a little orange tab under my tongue

 

[severely etarded]

out of curiosity, why do you want to get off the speed & clonazepam?

I haven't scheduled yet. I might not schedule at all. I have 4 more refills of Xanax and trazodone, so if I quit the speed and taper the Xanax I might not need to see him again until June or July (amphetamine is schedule II and can't be refilled in the US)

I took adderall for years, made the switch to vyvanse. I liked it better, I guess it effects everyone differently. It's dextroamphetamine that has been molecularly bonded with the lysine to smooth the rate metabolism out. Comedown is kinda shitty like adderall, but not as intense. very expensive though.

I don't understand why they had you on adderall for depression though? Usually, here in the US anyway they will do SSRI's for depression. I've never heard of speed being used to treat depression though. I question your doctor's intent prescribing such a physically addictive substance for depression.

I also quit taking speed, I just stopped cold turkey and dealt with the shittyness. You should probably taper off, maybe get started on an SSRI to ease the symptoms. I've read some are mildly stimulating.

When I get my medical license I'll prescribe whatever I think the patient needs, regardless of whether or not it produces a high. I won't be a chump though: I won't feed anyone's addiction. I wish I could put my many years of drug use on my med school application. I think it increases the likelihood I'll be a good doctor.

I need to find a doctor like you!

yes but addiction is largely psychological too, and with amphetamine discontinuation there's so much overlap in symptoms with a major depressive episode. In fact, the most immediate symptom, the anhedonia, is identical. I currently have trouble enjoying myself without amp. I can force myself up and out and go through the motions of doing something I love to do, but because my reward circuitry is so sensitized to amphetamine, pleasure without amphetamine is untenable. This is precisely the way depressive anhedonia feels.

Well, I know some energy drinks that have TONS of caffeine, like NOS, and a few can get you a little buzz. I took speed for 8 years on and off, I will always have my caffeine if I don't have my speed.

Have you smoked marijuana? How does it effect you? Weed has greatly improved my depression.

 

[DexterMeth]

There is no way A D D er all is good for your mental or physical health to take everyday. I recently stopped a 40mg IR min habit myself. Strattera (even though it's chiefly prescribed for ADD) would probably get you out of your funk.

-Other than that, I personally wouldn't rely on any drugs myself.

 

[23536]

There is no way A D D er all is good for your mental or physical health to take everyday . . . I personally wouldn't rely on any drugs myself.

thanks for that. I mean, I need to find out whether or not there's still a need for daily psychotropics.

I don't understand why they had you on adderall for depression though? Usually, here in the US anyway they will do SSRI's for depression. I've never heard of speed being used to treat depression though. I question your doctor's intent prescribing such a physically addictive substance for depression.

He's in his seventies and got his medical license when Kennedy was president. The entire pharmacopoeia is at his disposal. I mean he came up at a time when imipramine and Thorazine were new drugs. I have to say that I have a lot of affection and respect for him. He's seen me through several heroin and methadone addictions and has remained objective, hasn't threatened to take my Xanax away and has tweaked my regimen many times (uh, Paxil, Wellbutrin + Lamictal, Zoloft + Lamictal, Lexapro + Lamictal, Wellbutrin + Remeron, Provigil + Remeron, Adderall + Remeron, Adderall + Trazodone). It would take 5000000 words to explain why the nuclear option had to be explored, but he came to it after exhausting many other options and it's worked: I mean, it's caused the depressive symptoms to remain in remission for over 2 years: something Wellbutrin and the SSRIs couldn't do.

nevertheless, I'll gladly fire him if I find out I can function without meds.

 

[Cohesion]

How goes it?

 

[Psychodelirium]

I was scripted 20mg Adderall for depression for 2-3 months but didn't like it and ended up buying deprenyl (which inhibits mao-b and has amphetamine metabolites) online instead and making a nootropic stack with it. Then I dropped the deprenyl from the stack cold turkey a few weeks later with no ill effects. I agree about Adderall being more harm than good.