Asparagus_Prince
Bluelighter
Oh my god I had a massive epiphany last night and I have this board to thank. I think it helped me realize that I’ve been struggling with Adderall withdrawals lately. It’s like a big light bulb went off. I’m sorry because I feel like I’ve been posting about Adderall and myself too much lately. I think this might be the last time.
For the last 4 or 5 months I’ve been in a routine of getting my Adderall refill, blasting through it in 12 days or so, and then waiting the next 18 days until the next refill. Those binges were usually around 70 mg per day (historically I’ve taken 15-30 per day). It was also around 4 or 5 months ago that I began feeling extremely exhausted during my Adderall breaks. Somehow my dumbass didn’t attribute it to Adderall. I thought the exhaustion was caused by something else and that it was simply smoothed over a little during my Adderall binges. My Adderall usage hadn’t changed on a per month average, so I don’t know… I was thinking the 18-day breaks were a good idea in their own way.
But my most recent break, which was throughout late November and early December, came after my most aggressive binge of all. I took about 100mg per day for a 7-day span and stopped. My follow-up “break” wasn’t just exhaustion this time, it was a little scary. I was feeling so tired and not in control of it. The scariest occasion was around Day 3 or 4 or so of that detox… I was almost nodding off in unsafe situations. The next day I stayed home and in bed all day. After that I never had any more “scary” moments to that extent, but for the next 3 weeks my exhaustion was on another level. It was nothing for me to sleep 12-14 hours, and then throughout the day take another 4 hours worth of naps before I’d go back to bed for another 12-14 hours. When I’d finally rouse it would take a while for me to get oriented. I’m not typically an energy drink person but I was drinking a lot of them. Nicotene gum and stackers too.
Then last night I was browsing this board and came across a fairly recent thread “Adderall Withdrawals- Please Help”. As I read what that guy was going through my jaw just about dropped… it sounded a lot like what I’ve been going through too! My heart almost beat out of my chest.
Now I’m afraid because I know another period of exhaustion is probably coming. I’m very concerned, actually. I have a few very important things coming up at work that could probably jeopardize my job if I’m feeling the way I did early on during the last detox. That last detox was the worst one yet, does that mean this one will be even worse? If so, I may be fucked.
I feverishly counted my pills and I have three 15mg left. I’ve been thinking about the best way to utilize them or stretch them. As I type now it’s been 16 hours since my last use, and I am starting to feel tired again but I’m functioning ok.
My next really important work day is Tuesday. That will be Day 4 and I need to be on my game for about a 5-hour span. I’m thinking about taking one 15mg then. I doubt it will make a massive difference but I’m thinking it’ll be just enough to prevent the scary stuff.
Then my next really important day is three days after that on Friday, followed by another important day 3 days later on Monday. The fact that these important days are all spaced 3-4 days apart might work out ideally, actually. I’m hoping.
During the last detox my only symptom was extreme exhaustion and lack of motivation. I can’t say I felt sick, exactly. In fact, the sleeps were always pleasant and it felt so good to stay in bed. So I’m not worried about alleviating any classic withdrawal symptoms like sickness. I just don’t want to be falling asleep on the job. I read through the other thread and I know I need to accept the restfulness, eat healthy, and try to stay active. But I absolutely have to make exceptions for those 3 days I referred to.
It’s not like I was “craving” Adderall during my previous detox periods. I think that’s why it never occurred to me that it was withdrawal. Doesn’t withdrawal always include an intense craving for whatever it is your body is wanting? I thought so, but perhaps not. My only experience with withdrawals was trying to quit cigarettes cold turkey and oh my god… I would have killed for a smoke. But I wasn’t feeling that way about Adderall. Don’t get me wrong, I would look forward to my next refill so maybe it would lift me up some. But it’s not like I ever thought that that was what my body was needing. This is the only thing that makes me think maybe it’s not Adderall withdrawal. Sleep apnea, perhaps? But surely not. Too coincidental.
What do you all think? Definitely Adderall withdrawal, right? Any suggestions? Does my plan for the final 3 pills seem about right?
I am prescribed Gabapentin and I only take it rarely. I was reading how it might help with Adderall withdrawal, but I can’t imagine it helping with the tiredness and nodding off. That’s the only thing I want to alleviate. But who knows… maybe? I feel like it’s too risky to “try”.
For the last 4 or 5 months I’ve been in a routine of getting my Adderall refill, blasting through it in 12 days or so, and then waiting the next 18 days until the next refill. Those binges were usually around 70 mg per day (historically I’ve taken 15-30 per day). It was also around 4 or 5 months ago that I began feeling extremely exhausted during my Adderall breaks. Somehow my dumbass didn’t attribute it to Adderall. I thought the exhaustion was caused by something else and that it was simply smoothed over a little during my Adderall binges. My Adderall usage hadn’t changed on a per month average, so I don’t know… I was thinking the 18-day breaks were a good idea in their own way.
But my most recent break, which was throughout late November and early December, came after my most aggressive binge of all. I took about 100mg per day for a 7-day span and stopped. My follow-up “break” wasn’t just exhaustion this time, it was a little scary. I was feeling so tired and not in control of it. The scariest occasion was around Day 3 or 4 or so of that detox… I was almost nodding off in unsafe situations. The next day I stayed home and in bed all day. After that I never had any more “scary” moments to that extent, but for the next 3 weeks my exhaustion was on another level. It was nothing for me to sleep 12-14 hours, and then throughout the day take another 4 hours worth of naps before I’d go back to bed for another 12-14 hours. When I’d finally rouse it would take a while for me to get oriented. I’m not typically an energy drink person but I was drinking a lot of them. Nicotene gum and stackers too.
Then last night I was browsing this board and came across a fairly recent thread “Adderall Withdrawals- Please Help”. As I read what that guy was going through my jaw just about dropped… it sounded a lot like what I’ve been going through too! My heart almost beat out of my chest.
Now I’m afraid because I know another period of exhaustion is probably coming. I’m very concerned, actually. I have a few very important things coming up at work that could probably jeopardize my job if I’m feeling the way I did early on during the last detox. That last detox was the worst one yet, does that mean this one will be even worse? If so, I may be fucked.
I feverishly counted my pills and I have three 15mg left. I’ve been thinking about the best way to utilize them or stretch them. As I type now it’s been 16 hours since my last use, and I am starting to feel tired again but I’m functioning ok.
My next really important work day is Tuesday. That will be Day 4 and I need to be on my game for about a 5-hour span. I’m thinking about taking one 15mg then. I doubt it will make a massive difference but I’m thinking it’ll be just enough to prevent the scary stuff.
Then my next really important day is three days after that on Friday, followed by another important day 3 days later on Monday. The fact that these important days are all spaced 3-4 days apart might work out ideally, actually. I’m hoping.
During the last detox my only symptom was extreme exhaustion and lack of motivation. I can’t say I felt sick, exactly. In fact, the sleeps were always pleasant and it felt so good to stay in bed. So I’m not worried about alleviating any classic withdrawal symptoms like sickness. I just don’t want to be falling asleep on the job. I read through the other thread and I know I need to accept the restfulness, eat healthy, and try to stay active. But I absolutely have to make exceptions for those 3 days I referred to.
It’s not like I was “craving” Adderall during my previous detox periods. I think that’s why it never occurred to me that it was withdrawal. Doesn’t withdrawal always include an intense craving for whatever it is your body is wanting? I thought so, but perhaps not. My only experience with withdrawals was trying to quit cigarettes cold turkey and oh my god… I would have killed for a smoke. But I wasn’t feeling that way about Adderall. Don’t get me wrong, I would look forward to my next refill so maybe it would lift me up some. But it’s not like I ever thought that that was what my body was needing. This is the only thing that makes me think maybe it’s not Adderall withdrawal. Sleep apnea, perhaps? But surely not. Too coincidental.
What do you all think? Definitely Adderall withdrawal, right? Any suggestions? Does my plan for the final 3 pills seem about right?
I am prescribed Gabapentin and I only take it rarely. I was reading how it might help with Adderall withdrawal, but I can’t imagine it helping with the tiredness and nodding off. That’s the only thing I want to alleviate. But who knows… maybe? I feel like it’s too risky to “try”.
