Stimulants How long can I expect withdrawal to last?

[lifeinantarctica]

So I've been taking Adderall (both XR and IR) for 9 years. I was first prescribed 60mg a day, and took it as such for the better part of about 7 years. Two years ago I finally started abusing it (180-200mg a day), and now I more or less have a bad amphetamine dependence, borderline addiction. My question is: how long will withdrawal last in my case, being a habitual user?

I run out of my prescriptions quickly so I bounce between a week or two of using and then a couple of weeks of withdrawal (uncontrollable hunger, feeling really bored, feeling so sluggish and wanting to sleep all the time, etc.). Last year I went almost a month without taking amphetamine, and even then I never felt like I was back to "normal" (whatever that means anymore). Should I expect it to take a few months before my brain gets over withdrawal?

I know amphetamine withdrawal isn't the same as heroin, benzodiazepine, etc. withdrawal--I know it's not painful or dangerous, but it's still miserable as hell. So, a penny for your thoughts!

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

the worst should be over in 3-7 days in my opinion/ educated guess.
never gone through it but i have read it isn't as long as opiate w/d which i have a lot of personal experience with lol.
someone else will chime in with more experience with stims. (hopefully)

EDIT: i could be way off so someone correct me if im wrong because i would like to know the answer also so i can help people in the future who have this question.

 

[lifeinantarctica]

I'm tempted to say you're probably right about 3-7 days, but I do know that the length of withdrawal depends on how long you've used and how much. I've read that, to some extent, withdrawal can last a few weeks to a couple of months if you've used for a long time--and I'm assuming that my 9-year dependence, 2-year abuse qualifies for that.

Don't get me wrong--I still use amphetamine (and still love its effects) and as long as I continue to get the good stuff out of it without any cardiac or psychological problems, I'll continue to take it. But I know I need to prepare myself for going off of it and going through withdrawal once my tolerance is dangerously too high to take it anymore.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Amphetamine withdrawal is tricky, but I'm with HOOD in the 3-7 day range. It depends on how much you're taking, how often you're taking it and how well you're taking care of yourself during the withdrawal (and when you're on amphetamines as well).

 

[R(x)AGE]

Only a moment my dude. You can end the pain simply by taking more. The answer to your question, is that your symptoms are going to last however long you don't take beans; moreover you can expect the withdraw to last however long you are anticipating it to last, but my skullduggery aside notwithstanding your expectations: the things you do in the meanwhile mean (are) the difference between suffering unnecessarily for a few days (only a moment) or for months on end (woooooeee is me, woe is me--exhausted by self pity ), I cannot estimate how long your body's brain is going to be missing the speed, but I know something, I know that either you can sit around and feel like shit, and crave the fuck out of some chemical compound, but all that is mind over matter my dude, you should give yourself a pat on the back, because the first step to stopping or even taking a tolerance break is actually ceasing to consume speed, and doing other things that one doesn't normally do whilst held captive by amphetamine's effect, such as sleeping (like reeeeeaaaaalllyyyy sleeeping like a sloth, for as long as you can every night, and goto bed as soon as you feel it) and eat (don't eat shit, you can get fat as fuck, eat well, eat when you want, eat lots, fuck get fat, i know I'd rather be a fatty happy in his own skin then a skinny tweaker who cannot tolerate anything lol, and lives in hell) your quality of life is up to you, you can live like hell, or you can overcome the body and live like the heavens. The best advice one fellow can offer another, in a similar situation, is that the biggest obstacle is yourself and our own natural skullduggery can linger for infinity unless one realizes this moment that it is a biological phenomenon why one who was once very intimate with amphetamine is now brought to their knees by it's absence, by way of scientific elimination, the biggest obstruction or what you think of as withdraw pains is entirely biological, while that is a valid reason to take a break, it is also all the more reason to take this break free from the compound (pun aside) and get fat, sit around for a bit and be a person, amphetamine can at times overcome one's self, however the self can just the same overcome the amphetamine. Overcome the body. what i mean is find something to occupy your time besides sleep and food, maybe just tell your family you love them or walk your dog or pet your cat, but my dude for heavens sake just live. be a person. BE REAL. and when you eventually do take stuff again it will be winnn. ps, if you need some biological compromise why dont you try wellbutrin SL100 or methylphediate, or just be a man, and overcome it. The only reason I suggest either the former or the latter is only because of a chemical difference in structure which your body will recognize and if that supports your sobriety from amp, I think that's justifiable, however Amphetamine is no panacea: you are the key to your own serenity. Live your life, sometimes we forget to make time for leisure, go out side, smell the flowers, let the wind blow by you. Feel it

 

[madog11]

R(X)AGE - Perhaps some paragraphs might make your post a little easier to read.

 

[Miss Kirsty]

I have had only a minor usage of speed...Ive gone through the withdrawals a few times...They werent like benzos or opiates but they were withdrawals nuntheless..My (ex)partner and I got violent when we ran out..With each other that is..I spent a good year on the "crystal ice". I first heard of this drug when i was 17 and started it then..I started on speed..powder stuff, then all of a sudden there was nopowder anymore and this "crystal" was flooding the town...
This was 20 years ago...And I know the drug is much worse now.. I havent been addicted to the speed out there now..But mate, if you took it DAILY for 9 YEARS....Its gonna take you more than a month to get it outta your head..Give it more time...You WILL get there...Sorry i couldnt help more..

 

[lifeinantarctica]

ps, if you need some biological compromise why dont you try wellbutrin SL100 or methylphediate, or just be a man, and overcome it.

I was actually on Wellbutrin a few years ago, without much success, and more recently I was prescribed it again and had a TERRIBLE experience on it...I ended up in the ER with a severe panic attack (well, part of the problem was withdrawal from Klonopin, which I hadn't been taking much of and for only a short time...yikes). Anyway, I'm a girl, so next time I go off of amphetamine, I'll just be a WOman and overcome it

 

[lifeinantarctica]

I have had only a minor usage of speed...Ive gone through the withdrawals a few times...They werent like benzos or opiates but they were withdrawals nuntheless..My (ex)partner and I got violent when we ran out..With each other that is..I spent a good year on the "crystal ice". I first heard of this drug when i was 17 and started it then..I started on speed..powder stuff, then all of a sudden there was nopowder anymore and this "crystal" was flooding the town...
This was 20 years ago...And I know the drug is much worse now.. I havent been addicted to the speed out there now..But mate, if you took it DAILY for 9 YEARS....Its gonna take you more than a month to get it outta your head..Give it more time...You WILL get there...Sorry i couldnt help more..

You're talking about methamphetamine, though, right? Crystal meth? That's a hundred times more potent than what I'm talking about, and for the better part of those 9 years I was just taking a medicinal dose (i.e. the dose prescribed by my doctor).

 

[Miss Kirsty]

Yeah, thats what we got in the end...Most of my withdrawal were on the powder....But the bad ones were on the Meth..
I ment though no matter what the dose, you still took it daily for 9 years, so IMPO your withdrawal ( mentally) may last longer than a month..You may have to give it more time... Different drug im addicted to, but same with oxies, I am now on methadone but for the first three to four months it (oxycontin) was my first and last thought of the day...when i started MMT...Pathetic i was...On the bus on the way to dose, I would be staring at strangers in wheelchairs thinking they had some..Old people who looked sick..Im disgusted to say it, but ive wished for a fucking disease so i could have the rest of my life with my beloved oxies..I AM NOT NORMAL THOUGH!!.I was a disgusting human being...I NEVER approached people but i thought it ..

Point is, though the withdrawal you have are not really that physical, it could take months before you snap back in your way of thinking..Give it 3 mths..All the best..