Adderall Binge

[Hiemakin]

I'm prescribed Adderall IR 10mg/ 4 times a day (40 mg total daily) for a couple of months now. I tried once in the past to take more than prescribed to feel the euphoric feeling. It never happened. I've been wondering why I can't seem to feel this euphoric feeling that everyone talks about. Yesterday I was feeling down and decided I wanted to try again. I started out with 30mg in the morning, then every 2 hours I took more. Some doses up to 50mg. By 7pm I lost track of how many I'd taken throughout the day but I'm pretty sure it was about 250mg. Never once feeling the euphoric feeling that everyone talks about. Yes, I was extremely focused, but not "high".

Here is my concern: The first time I took more than prescribed and ran out early, I suffered severe depression with crying spells. Not considering this yesterday, I am now horrified that's going to happen to me again.

Here is my question: I'm obviously going to run out early again this month. I have 21 pills left (10mg/ea). If I continue taking my normal daily dose of 40mg, I will run out approximately 2 weeks early. I would like some advice, if I should taper off as slow as possible with those 21 pills (and how many per each day), or should I just stop taking them cold turkey now? The only reason I would even consider picking up another refill is so that I could taper off slower as recommended.

Positive comments only please, preferably only from those who have experienced the same or are educated on the matter. I'd also like to avoid any lectures regarding addiction. Thank you for your support.

 

[michael_1992]

I have a lot of experience with this. I was prescribed adderall for many years. I would go on these "adderall benders" where id take 200-300mg everyday for several days -never sleeping or eating. I enjoyed throwing a fat lip in when i was on adderall- nicotine potentiates the effects very well. Id feel very depressed and too exhausted to even get out of bed when i finally crashed- it helped to sleep like 16 hours. It seemed that the longer I stood up on it- somehow made the comedown less intense. If I was awake more than like 48 hours-id just crash hard and id feel more tired when I woke up rather than depressed. It does seem to be true that you will feel "down" if you have been taking it for weeks and suddenly stop. I recommend to taper like this :40mg, 20mg, 20mg ,10mg,0mg. So when ur about to run out, only take 20mg (divided out throughout the day) for 2 days , then take take 10mg for one day , and then just stop . That should eliminate the depression.

A long time ago, before I started abusing it,my doctor told me to not take it on weekends as I was losing weight. I felt depressed when I suddenly stopped- but it wasnt that bad and eventually my body got used to taking frequent breaks from it. I really don't think the withdrawl from 40mg adderall is that bad to the point where you even need to taper. Actually, what would be even better -if you dont get too depressed- than the taper is to -when ur about to run out- stop taking it - and if you feel bad - just pop one 10mg pill. That should work fine.

21 pills should last you 5 days with one extra 10mg pill. If you cut down to 20mg a day - it should last you 10 days with 1 10mg left. If you never want to go without any adderall at all- you could take 20mg for 7 days and then 10mg for 7 days-maybe alternating between 20mg and 10mg depending on what needs to get done.

 

[rhun]

If you're prescribed Adderall for a legitimate reason, it's not surprising that you don't get high off of it. It's going to affect you differently than someone who does not have ADHD or ADD, the medication balances you out instead of adding something extra. I don't find amphetamines very euphoric anyway, though. Methamphetamine obviously is, but ROA is a factor... taken orally I only felt the stimulating effects but when smoked or uses intravenously it definitely produced euphoria (note: I am in no way advocating meth and/or IV use, just sharing my experience).

If you've experienced unpleasant symptoms previously when you ran out of your medication, I would suggest either tapering using what you have or taking half your dose (20mg) each day instead of your full dose so it lasts a full month. To taper, decrease your daily dose by a small amount until you reach 0. A third option would be a combination of the two, you can taper down more rapidly (go down 5mg every other day for example) until you reach a small enough dose that you can take it till your next refill.

All that being said, amphetamines are not physically addictive and you're not on a high dose. Ceasing use should not cause any major symptoms. But I also don't think anyone should suffer needlessly and everyone experiences things differently, I can definitely see how severe depression could be hard to go through. So do whatever makes things easier for you.

 

[Hiemakin]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to write back and give your advice and share your experiences!!!

 

[Hiemakin]

I read on a couple threads that tapering off adderall too quickly will just prolong the withdrawal. Have you heard of this? Is it accurate?

 

[rhun]

I read on a couple threads that tapering off adderall too quickly will just prolong the withdrawal. Have you heard of this? Is it accurate?

I posted above, but to answer your question no, that is not correct. For drugs that do cause dependency like opioids, a taper is only prolonging withdrawal (though it's worth it as it minimizes the symptoms). So a shorter taper would mean a shorter withdrawal, but the withdrawal symptoms themselves would be much more intense. Stimulants are not physically addictive and therefore there is no physical withdrawal, but there are definitely some mental side symptoms (and PAWS, though that depends on the amount of use). But honestly, you've been on a low dose for a couple months... it'll be minimal and I'd try not to think about it, you could easily make it worse simply by thinking it.

 

[Hiemakin]

Thank you for replying. Yea I'm only worried about being extremely depressed again like I was last time. And although my daily dosage is low, I am worried about my "binge" yesterday causing withdrawal. Thanks again!

 

[Dresden]

No amphetamine produces withdrawals, so you needn't worry about that and yes, you were high. It sometimes (with marijuana, for example) takes people a time or two to get a feel for a new high and then recognize that they are in fact high.

 

[SolidEther]

No amphetamine produces withdrawals, so you needn't worry about that and yes, you were high. It sometimes (with marijuana, for example) takes people a time or two to get a feel for a new high and then recognize that they are in fact high.

No withdrawal on amphetamine? I completely disagree. I have noticed substantial symptoms after using adderall for extended periods. If you binge on high doses, you effectively wash out your dopamine so it doesn't reuptake properly this cause terrible back and shoulder ache, stiffness, awful depression and anxiety. It is not active on pain receptors as is an opiate and while not as horribly physically addicting the withdrawal is subject to personal experience. Most long term users would agree amphetamine withdrawal can be a particularly hellish experience.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

If you're prescribed Adderall for a legitimate reason, it's not surprising that you don't get high off of it. It's going to affect you differently than someone who does not have ADHD or ADD, the medication balances you out instead of adding something extra. I don't find amphetamines very euphoric anyway, though. Methamphetamine obviously is, but ROA is a factor... taken orally I only felt the stimulating effects but when smoked or uses intravenously it definitely produced euphoria (note: I am in no way advocating meth and/or IV use, just sharing my experience).

If you've experienced unpleasant symptoms previously when you ran out of your medication, I would suggest either tapering using what you have or taking half your dose (20mg) each day instead of your full dose so it lasts a full month. To taper, decrease your daily dose by a small amount until you reach 0. A third option would be a combination of the two, you can taper down more rapidly (go down 5mg every other day for example) until you reach a small enough dose that you can take it till your next refill.

All that being said, amphetamines are not physically addictive and you're not on a high dose. Ceasing use should not cause any major symptoms. But I also don't think anyone should suffer needlessly and everyone experiences things differently, I can definitely see how severe depression could be hard to go through. So do whatever makes things easier for you.

This.

If you want to stop taking Adderall, or think that it stopped working, or change the dosage that you take, talk to your doctor that prescribes it.

When you took that very high dose of it, were you eating? Low blood sugar can make some people feel sad or depressed.

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

Adderall affects the mu opiate receptor, just not as directly as opiates/oids. There are many anecdotes about it relieving pain, as well as a study or two; I don't have the time to find it now but I'm pretty sure its accessible through pubmed.

The good thing about abusing stimulants is that you DO get a bad comedown. They are very hard on the body when used in this way. I know from experience.

I consider adderall physically and mentally addictive. I used to be prescribed it. When taken off it I slept a lot and had aches. Just my two cents.

 

[Xorkoth]

A good friend of mine was prescribed Adderall when he was younger. He was on it for years since he was a child, when one day he started to actually get interested in drugs and heard it could get you high. He took 360mg (12 of his 30mg ER tabs) and didn't feel anything. I suspect it's impossible for you to get a high from them... best to stick to your recommended dosage. Basically your mind and body are so used to the drug that it doesn't change your state of mind anymore, it just brings you to homeostasis. But if you don't take it, you won't reach homeostasis and you will suffer.

 

[SolidEther]

I have noticed that Adderall can actually replace an opiate in some cases and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. The problem is you may have a harsher withdrawal when you stop using the Adderall, . It depends on dosages of opiate per dosage of Adderall. I noticed I would skip dosages of opiates for days.

A good friend of mine was prescribed Adderall when he was younger. He was on it for years since he was a child, when one day he started to actually get interested in drugs and heard it could get you high. He took 360mg (12 of his 30mg ER tabs) and didn't feel anything. I suspect it's impossible for you to get a high from them... best to stick to your recommended dosage. Basically your mind and body are so used to the drug that it doesn't change your state of mind anymore, it just brings you to homeostasis. But if you don't take it, you won't reach homeostasis and you will suffer.

He must of built an incredible tolerance to the drug. I am prescribed it for ADHD and a Major Depressive Disorder and have been on it about 3 years and I still achieve recreational effects on increased dosages. (on very rare occasion I may indulge) I would really think that taking 12 of 30mg XR or IR tabs should really blast your CNS, PNS, CVS, to the point of extreme stress. It is true Adderall has different effects on people depending on tolerance along with state of mind and body. This is pertaining to the organic biological reactions based on previous interactions with the drug and changes it makes to your physiology. This is a result of the brain being constantly active balancing the equilibrium as a crucial role in homeostasis. If the brain requires you to feel normal on a certain dosage and increases don't change effect then tolerance has hit a plateau. I would think that most peoples minds would have to divert the drug in the synapse and make so many neurological modifications that trying doses at this state would eventually be nuerotoxic. I mean dumping more gas on a fire that is not going to burn any hotter but will make a blacker smog makes no sense. At this point if a recreational dose is desired then abstinence would be necessary, the brain would have to revert to a state of equilibrium that is void of amphetamine(s) to achieve any potential effect. The problem is (depending on time of use and dosage) you have to go through the potential hell of a withdrawal for many days to months or even years. It has been shown that Adderall use most often causes permanent changes in the brain especially in higher doses for extended periods. Some of these are actually beneficial in cases of moderated dosages. You must consider dosage to prevent yourself from as many negative effects as possible, because some of them are damaging to the longevity and wellness of your life. On the other hand (with proper consideration) it can have a very positive effect on focus, drive, mood and perception as well as potential improvement of desired personality traits. That is why I believe that Adderall is a drug of ultimate personal and societal responsibility as it can dramatically effect so many changes in your own system and to the way you interact with others.

 

[beastbox]

I've done so much adderall since I first started taking it when I was 16. Never in the way it is supposed to be taken. I go on adderall binges where I too, stay up for days and days. I've learned over the years how to seriously ease the comedown after 3 or 4 days off 400 to 500 mg.. You have to eat. Plain and simple, you have to force yourself to stomach something atleast twice a day. And stay hydrated, because you get so focused in on whatever you may be doing that you also dont stay hydrated.

What makes crashing from a binge so bad is that once you pass out and add another 16 hours to not having eaten for days that you have dangerously low blood sugar. And probably are severely dehydrated. You will never beat the exhaustion that will come as a price of being sped up on a binge.. There are solutions for that too.

Methadone is perfect for the after effects of a adderall binge. I've found.