Not doing well since Adderall decrease :(

I posted 3-4 weeks ago that I wanted to try to get off of Adderall. It was prescribed to me five years ago for severe fatigue. So 3-4 weeks ago, I decreased my dose from 30 mg in the am and 15 mg at noon to just 30 mg daily, usually split in two doses. I wasn't too bad for maybe the first week but after that I began to have worsened depression. My doctor increased my Remeron dose and added Lamictal b/c my depression was flaring up. These changes have just made me tired and the Lamictal is giving me an upset stomach and insomnia. These changes haven't really helped.

It just occurred to me today that the root of my problem is probably the decrease in Adderall 3 -4 weeks ago. I think cutting out that 15 mg made me depressed. I am going to go back to my previous dose tomorrow and see how I feel. I hate the idea of being dependent on a stimulant. I know I'm not the only one who takes it off-label for fatigue and depression so I'll try not to beat myself up.

I take ritalin for seasonal depression. It really helps me. I take it about every other day in the hope that I won't become dependent on it. I know the danger that it could trigger a manic episode but nothing so far. I have been taking it for 3 years from September-April to help with SAD. The rest of the year I don't use it. So you are correct in saying that stimulants are being prescribed for off-label use and you are not the only one who "needs" them.

At least u know u tried... so technically ur not a drug attic. Idk if that helps :/

It is so hard to come off Adderall. I was on it for years in split daily doses. First, I took the long-acting, then I switched to the regular because it was a lot cheaper. I started having some potentially cardiac side effects and so we decided to just stop it, even though I had a stress test and it was fine.

I do not have ADHD, though I do have a couple traits of it. I was on Adderall mostly because of the relentless, crushing fatigue I got associated with my bipolar depression. It worked great. But we had to stop it. So, my pdoc, who is very smart, suggested that he didn't think I was going to do very well off Adderall. Honesty. He suggested we try adding Provigil (modafinil), originally approved for narcolepsy. Long story short, we did that and stopped the Adderall and I am doing great in terms of my fatigue symptoms. This all happened in 2011. It works now as it did then.

The only side effect I get is a bit of dry mouth, but I am also on Wellbutrin and lithium, so it's hard to say which drug is doing what in terms of that. There are two major differences between modafinil and Adderall for me. One is, there is no amphetamine euphoria with modafinil. So, if you kinda like that, it won't be there on this drug. You are just really, really awake and not tired at all. The second thing is, for me, it does work better in terms of wakefulness and lack of fatigue than Adderall. Just my experience.

So, anyway, just another patient's experience with Adderall. You might talk to your pdoc about it and see what she/he says. We actually started my modafinil before I was completely off the Adderall, so I wouldn't crash hard. It worked fairly well. And last and just for completeness sake, I am on 200 mg qAM.

All the best!!

hi. honestly, when one thinks about the adverse effects/side effects from so many Rx "standard treatment," etc...

adderall+the other amphetamine preparations, ritalin+focalin, also...seem practically benign, by comparison. i mean...amphetamine psychosis is real, so are dependence, dosage escalation, etc. etc. etc., but...you're not Judy Garland, obviously. :-)

back when I was on the uppers, I probably should have stuck with focalin. there's an xr. but dexedrine seemed to help my set of probs, too, without the tension I got from adderall. fun fact: way back when, adderall was a popular amphetamine mix for weight loss...it was called "Obetrol," and it included a lil bit of Rx methamphetamine (common, back in the day). it was one of Andy Warhol's favorite mood elevators. and now you know...

As with any drug decreasing doses is going to have an effect, factor in half life and then time for your brain to go back to function sans meds.. it can take weeks to months to level out.

I just wanted to share my thoughts on people getting so concerned and hung up on adderall and other stimulants for fatigue or adhd. People are always saying they do not want to be dependent on a stimulant. Well why not ? I am 100% dependent on my cymbalta and lamictal and in fact would have physical withdrawals if I stopped them. My mental illness is chronic, lifelong and debilitating and I need to do my best to manage it in a way that works for me. Just because something is a controlled substance with addiction potential doesn’t mean it’s any less necessary and valuable to someone’s health and well-being. Dependence is not addiction And drug abuse. When I ran out of cymbalta it wasn’t because I abused it it was because I forgot to refill it. But holy hell I think If someone on a street corner could have sold it to me before the weekend ended and I got to the pharmacy I might of considered it. Doctors write endless haphazard prescriptions for antipsychotics and antidepressants and mood stabilizers while patients get on the medication carousel. No one seems to question that. But talk about needing adderall and people perk up and have all kinds of opinions about why it’s bad.

Beth I hope you don’t feel bad one bit you need your adderall. And I hope you do not feel like you failed. You have a doctor willing to prescribe it and monitor you so you are not doing anything illegal.

Thanks! I will ask my dr about Provigil. I'm glad it's working for you; sounds promising!