Hi, I've been on adderall for a couple of weeks now, prescribed fir fatigue (very anemic and on iron shots now). I was prescribed 10 mg 3x a day but have only been taking 2x a day. It has kept me from having to sleep all day but no speediness, in fact it calms me down, makes my head quieter and has helped me not get so annoyed at things. But I always have weird reactions to drugs (things like percocet for example give me insomnia). Anyway all was fine until yesterday. I took my first dose a couple of hours later than usual then in the afternoon took the second a little earlier than usual (I had lost track of time plus read clock wrong). Thought it would be ok because not a big dose. I had also taken a perc (prescribed for cramps). About 1/2 hr later I started feeling funny. I wasn't doing anything but sitting around reading. Heart started beating fast, felt really hot, shalliw breathing like I couldn't get enough air, weird head rushes. I got a cool cloth and started cooling off face and back of neck as well as wrist points and started drinking a lot of water. Dudn't feel nauseated but started vimiting %more like reflux vimiting). Took a bunch of vit c and magnesium and kept drinjing water mixed with electrolyte mixture. Did slow breathing (though couldn't get enough air). Seemed to be improving after about an hour but kept cycling through although rapid heartbeat seemed better. Then my hands started ti go numb and face a bit. Definite vasoconstriction as elbows turned purple. Tried to stay calm and keep cooling off (although by now was getting a bit chilled) and drinking fluids. Wanted to call 911 but honestly didn't think I could even talk. After a couple if hoirs tried to take warm bath to increase circulation but got too dizzy. Eventually xanax kicked in and started feeling better but very tired. Also ni real heart pain just heaviness and an occassion twinge. Also had diarrhea a few times. The whole episode lasted about three hours. Spoke to dr today who says was just a panic attack but I've had them and never anything like this. Obviously today did not take adderall. Could it really be panic attacj, or taking doses too close together, or taking with percocet or is any amount adderall dangerous for some. Also U smoke cigarettes (trying to quit) and drank coffee yesterday but this is nothing different than what I've been doing. Dr says to start back with lowered dose but I'm really afraid will have a stroke or something. The adderall was really helping but is ut just too dangerous for some people to take? All day today have had extreme anxiery and had to take another xanax which I rarely use. Thanks for you help.
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BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards
Adderall - bad reactiin or panic attack?
- Thread starter julesy
- Start date
ErgicMergic
Bluelighter
Your scatterbrained post leads me to believe you are currently "tweaking" off of your Adderall, an unintended consequence of too much dopamine in the executive function control part of your brain, known as the prefrontal cortex. This is caused by a dosage too high for those with ADD (people with low prefrontal cortex DA levels), or a normal dosage for those with normal pf cortex DA levels (non-ADD).
Smoking cigarettes also increases pf cortex DA levels, which is just making you "tweak" harder. When DA is too high in the brain, panic and anxiety can definitely ensue, as can hyperfocusing on an activity or negative thought, among many other negative side effects.
Also, Adderall contains Levoamphetamine, a very potent releaser of norepinephrine, which naturally causes anxiety. For someone like you who is not suspected to have ADD, but rather is just fatigued, I would stick with pure dextroamphetamine, in the Dexedrine formulation. I would also stop taking Adderall immediately; what's the point of feeling relieved from fatigue if you are constantly in a state of panic from the fear of dying from a stroke?
Smoking cigarettes also increases pf cortex DA levels, which is just making you "tweak" harder. When DA is too high in the brain, panic and anxiety can definitely ensue, as can hyperfocusing on an activity or negative thought, among many other negative side effects.
Also, Adderall contains Levoamphetamine, a very potent releaser of norepinephrine, which naturally causes anxiety. For someone like you who is not suspected to have ADD, but rather is just fatigued, I would stick with pure dextroamphetamine, in the Dexedrine formulation. I would also stop taking Adderall immediately; what's the point of feeling relieved from fatigue if you are constantly in a state of panic from the fear of dying from a stroke?
XTC_fiend
Bluelighter
Well first off to address the not able to sleep aspect i would say maybe take it a bit earlier as adderall has a half life of 10 hours and can be affecting you for a longer period of time than you would like. You being calm and keeping your head quiet is the whole reason the drug is prescribed. Persons with ADD/ADHD like myself have racing thoughts and most of the time excess energy although i do not experience the energy. This is telling me that the drug is doing its job for what it is prescribe for which is a good thing. As for the the shortness of breath and fast heart rate that is a side effect that could be serious in some cases.
The following is taken from WebMD: Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, severe headache, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, jaw/left arm pain, seizures, swelling of the ankles/feet, extreme tiredness, blurred vision, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, confusion.
You also said something about head rushes? Is this to the point of being dizzy?
And another suggestion would be to not take the adderall, perc, and xanax too closely just to reduce any other harm or make the symptoms worse that you already have.
I wish you luck.
But tell your doctor about these symptoms. He most likely will have more to tell you that is quite accurate as im pretty sure not many of us on BL are doctors lol.
The following is taken from WebMD: Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, severe headache, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, jaw/left arm pain, seizures, swelling of the ankles/feet, extreme tiredness, blurred vision, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, confusion.
You also said something about head rushes? Is this to the point of being dizzy?
And another suggestion would be to not take the adderall, perc, and xanax too closely just to reduce any other harm or make the symptoms worse that you already have.
I wish you luck.
But tell your doctor about these symptoms. He most likely will have more to tell you that is quite accurate as im pretty sure not many of us on BL are doctors lol.
Hi thank you. Sorry for the scattered post. That is my brain,NOT on adderall. Of course I didn't take it after that happened! I still don't know what to think. I did talk to my dr and hw said panic attack bit I knpw that drug can be fatal. I cam't aee risking it again whoch is too bad becausr it's the only thing that's ever made me feel calm and quiet my head.
whippa craka
Bluelighter
This is why there are multiple formulations and isomers of amphetamine-based drugs. They seem work the best for you, but adderall (80%dextro/20%levo-amphetamine) is having some bad sides. Look into a cleaner formulation of just dextroamphetamine or see how methylphenidate (ritalin) may work for you. You never know until you try.
It could well be a panic attack. Your doctor is in a better position to assess and diagnose this than us, although I understanding you wanting an opinion from a drug-taking population and to see if anyone has had anything similar.
Stims can have side effects covering everything you mentioned, but if you took your normal dose it would be unusual for you to suddenly have such a severe reaction which is why panic attack sounds most likely. I won't expand further as tired and you've got some good info here already
Sorry you had such a bad time
Stims can have side effects covering everything you mentioned, but if you took your normal dose it would be unusual for you to suddenly have such a severe reaction which is why panic attack sounds most likely. I won't expand further as tired and you've got some good info here already
Sorry you had such a bad time