My roommate is addicted to adderall. I
am really getting worried about her. She
is prescribed 40mg a day but takes way
more than that. We have been friends for
a long time but recently moved in
together. I had no idea how bad her
problem was. She rarely sleeps (maybe 2
hours a night if any at all). I've
walked into her room around midnight and
she is taking another 20mg adderall when
she has nothing to study for. She takes
them to wake her up before a night of
drinking. She drinks about a 12 pack of
coke a day and smokes about 2 packs of
cigarettes a day. She recently made a
comment to a friend saying that she was
phening for an adderall. She has gotten
about 6 months of prescriptions filled in
the last month and a half because she has
one doctor at home and one at school. And
believe it or not she runs out of a month
supply in about 2 weeks. She pays cash
for the prescriptions because her
insurance only covers one prescription
each month. Her personality has changed
and when she runs out and cant get a
refill she gets very emotional so she
borrows adderall from friends. I've
tried to confront her but she gets
irritated or lies and says most of her
pills get stolen. What should I do to
get her help? Do I call her parents or
notify a doctor?
|
acendaisy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Washington
Re: Adderall Addiction Posted: 09-29-04 02:08am
Yeah I can totally relate to that, from
your friend's point of view. I am a
recovering addict. I have been clean for
14 months. I am sure you want to help
your friend/roomate but the fact of the
matter is that she won't stop using unless
she wants too. Telling her parents would
only make her upset with you and cause her
to distance herself even more. A doctor
can't do anything for her without her
cooperation either. So honestly, in my
opinion, the best thing you could do for
your friend is to show her some tough
love. Unfortunately more often than not
for an addict to quit using it takes
something drastic to happen in their
lives, where either they force themselves
to stop or the law does, before they get
clean. That is the sad reality of the
disease. I wish you and your friend the
best of luck.
how did you quit? Did it take someone
saying something to you or did you
realized it on your own? I had read
another message where they said to let a
doctor know so that they can slowly take
you off of the medicine. I don't know if
this would really work because she would
just get more from friends. Its just
gotten to the point to where she takes it
for the first little anxious moment and
when that is over she takes another one.
It doesn't even help her in school
anymore. Some of our friends wouldn't
give her b/c they all know she has a
problem too but she is know to steel them
herself. She doesn't steel 1 or 2 pills
she steels 30 to 50 pills. It's getting
to the point where its messing up my life
having to deal with her being up all night
long making noises and then trying to make
it to class. And then I just worry about
her heart giving out. Sorry this is so
long but I just needed to get info from
people who have had this problem instead
of talking to my friends. Thanks for
your advice.
|
acendaisy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Washington
Re: Adderall Addiction Posted: 09-29-04 19:13pm
Tennessee,
many people told me how much I had changed
and how horrible I acted and looked, but
you know what I cared more about getting
high than I did about what anyone said or
thought about me. How I quit was I moved
to a differant state. I stopped talking
to everyone I knew that used. I didn't
know anyone and they didn't know me. It
has been great because it has allowed me
to discover myself sober, which is
something I don't ever remember being. I
had been using for 6 years. I didn't have
an identity outside of drugs. So anyways
back to your friend, maybe telling her Dr.
Would be a good thing because then she
would stop getting them prescribed to her,
but if she wants them bad enough she will
find a way to get them. Does she get
prescribed them because she has add?
I can understand how it is affecting your
life, that is where the tough love comes
in. If it is a big enough problem, kick
her out or move out. I know you are
probably thinking I can't do that it would
hurt her feelings. But you know what I
can guarantee she's not thinking about
your feelings when she's staying up all
night making noise? That's the thing with
addiction it is a selfish disease, the
only thing it cares about is the next fix.
I am sure you are really worried about
your friend but you know what this is a
problem she's going to have to work out on
her own. The best thing my true friends
and family did for me was let me go. I
mean they all just stopped talking to me
and seeing me. Sure I was mad at them
then, but I now realiize that they knew I
wouldn't stop unless I hit rock bottom,
and sure enough as most addicts do I did.
Well I hope that I helped you with some of
your questions if you have anymore just
let me know. I don't always know the
right answer but I know what worked for
me. Take care
|
DrewP
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1
How Does One Know If They Will Get Addicted to Adderall? Posted: 12-06-04 15:54pm
My son has adhd-inattentive type. When he
started taking adderall, it just kept him
awake is all. Although I will add, that
sometimes that is the issue. That being
that they are so lethargic. I am the same
way. If I sit down, I go to sleep. I
cannot stay alert and in those situations,
that is where all of my stress comes from-
from trying so hard to stay alert.
However, 10 mgs of adderallxr that I took
once, drove me nuts. I was speeding and
wanted it to stop. It was like being on a
fast ride at the fair and wanting to get
off of it. It was too intense, I had the
jitters from it.
I thought I was adhd - inattentive as
well. Ritalin seems to work better.
They say that if you really have adhd then
you cannot become addicted but I don't
know if I agree. I am concerned that it
can affect brain chemistry to the extent
that it can make one addicted to it.
How does one know if you will? What were
the signs that you were becoming
addicted?
Thanks
drew
|
acendaisy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Washington
Re: How Does One Know If They Will Get Addicted to Adderall? Posted: 12-08-04 20:59pm
I don't know if there is one specific way
to tell if you will become addicted to
anything. A lot of people will argue this
but addiction is a disease. So like with
most other diseases you can check your
family's history.Such as your parents
being addicts or alcoholics. Or if you
are a codependant person you are more
likely to become addicted. Neither of
these are 100% fool proof ways but in some
cases they might prove affective.
I have heard also that if you have add or
adhd you will not be affected the same way
by adderall as opposed to a person that
does not. I personally don't know because
I don't have add or adhd. I took it as a
party drug. That is why it blows my mind
to think that it would be able to help
people stay focused. It did everything
but that to me. I do have a friend that
has adhd and she just started taking
adderall and she says it does help her
concentrate on her homework. Since she
has started taking it I did notice a
change in her personality, she has become
very spacey and says she rarely feels
hungry. So I personally don't like the
drug...But who am I to say what it right
or wrong for another person. Well I
hope I helped a little. If you have any
other questions let me know.
Take care
|
chris4191976
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 2 Location: mass
Re: Adderall Addiction Posted: 06-24-07 02:08am
tennessee
wrote:
My roommate is addicted to
adderall. I am really getting worried
about her. She is prescribed 40mg a day
but takes way more than that. We have
been friends for a long time but recently
moved in together. I had no idea how bad
her problem was. She rarely sleeps
(maybe 2 hours a night if any at all).
I've walked into her room around midnight
and she is taking another 20mg adderall
when she has nothing to study for. She
takes them to wake her up before a night
of drinking. She drinks about a 12 pack
of coke a day and smokes about 2 packs of
cigarettes a day. She recently made a
comment to a friend saying that she was
phening for an adderall. She has gotten
about 6 months of prescriptions filled in
the last month and a half because she has
one doctor at home and one at school. And
believe it or not she runs out of a month
supply in about 2 weeks. She pays cash
for the prescriptions because her
insurance only covers one prescription
each month. Her personality has changed
and when she runs out and cant get a
refill she gets very emotional so she
borrows adderall from friends. I've
tried to confront her but she gets
irritated or lies and says most of her
pills get stolen. What should I do to
get her help? Do I call her parents or
notify a doctor?
|
chris4191976
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 2 Location: mass
Re: Adderall Addiction Posted: 06-24-07 02:15am
getting off aderall acan be tough i get
240 30 mg that's 9 aday no i don't need
that i sell180 a monthy at 10 each that
leases me 60 2 aday i'm cutting down to
half in the mornig and half at night extra
300 plan on getting off them soon and it
suck sometimes i sell to many and i cant
get outta bed for a week or to but after
that i;m fine altmost normal
chris4191976
wrote:
tennessee
wrote:
My roommate is addicted to
adderall. I am really getting worried
about her. She is prescribed 40mg a day
but takes way more than that. We have
been friends for a long time but recently
moved in together. I had no idea how bad
her problem was. She rarely sleeps
(maybe 2 hours a night if any at all).
I've walked into her room around midnight
and she is taking another 20mg adderall
when she has nothing to study for. She
takes them to wake her up before a night
of drinking. She drinks about a 12 pack
of coke a day and smokes about 2 packs of
cigarettes a day. She recently made a
comment to a friend saying that she was
phening for an adderall. She has gotten
about 6 months of prescriptions filled in
the last month and a half because she has
one doctor at home and one at school. And
believe it or not she runs out of a month
supply in about 2 weeks. She pays cash
for the prescriptions because her
insurance only covers one prescription
each month. Her personality has changed
and when she runs out and cant get a
refill she gets very emotional so she
borrows adderall from friends. I've
tried to confront her but she gets
irritated or lies and says most of her
pills get stolen. What should I do to
get her help? Do I call her parents or
notify a doctor?
|
sanmaster
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 1
Posted: 12-01-07 23:46pm
started taking Adderall in 1996 can't live
without it .i am addicted to adderall and
even after a 6 month break and gained a
100lbs and became depressed i had to go
back on. lost 80lbs with a trainer and the
adderall. i believe my death will be
from a heart attack i'm 24 will i live to
see 30 i doubt it but i'm addicted. i'll
keep seeing my dr. once a year so i can
continue to get my perscription. i wish i
had some friends on it so i wouldn't feel
alone. its going to make her crazy when
she stops hallucinations tellher to talkt
to me and i'll scare her i have lots of
problems due to a 11 year addiction
perscribed by my doctor
|
Megtastic
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 1
A familiar story to mine, I wanted to see 40 Posted: 01-18-08 18:20pm
Sandmaster, your story was like mine and I
see myself in all these posts.
I have recovered from Adderal abuse when
I entered treatment in 2005. It was the
hardest thing I ever had to do but the
weight gain and the intervention and
return to my family was so worth it. I was
brought up that appearances were
everything! I thought as long as this drug
is making me thinner, and I can go faster,
I must be getting better! I turned into a
monster, I was very narrcissistic,
isolated myself, was paraniod, sleep
deprived and had a huge personality
change. I didn't care about anything but
myself and going to get my prescription
felt like a kid going to the candy store.
Now THAT is an indicator of a problem! My
friend turned me onto it and then gave me
the number to her nurse and it was as good
as having a legal dealer. After 4 years on
it I felt like I was going crazy and
nearly lost my marriage, my family,
friends and my life. Yes I gained 38
pounds in rehab in a 3 week period, but I
was alive for my fortieth birthday ( I
will be 42 in March). After rehab there is
nothing like a friend looking at you and
stating "you're back" as in "I see the old
you, the REAL you", not the person who was
on Adderal.
I agree with your statement that " I have
problems with an 11 year addiction." I'd
like you to see thirty, forty, and fifty,
but you may not get there unless you want
to get help. I'ts your choice and you'll
need to be honest with yourself about what
you want and feel is more important, the
drug or your life. Denial is a powerful
thing that feeds our addicitons. You can
recover if you want to, If I can do it
others can too.
Good luck and God Bless
|
CarolDiane
Moderator
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2218 Location: Finally a picture to a name,
Thanks: 87
Thanked:121
Posted: 01-19-08 00:42am
I just saw where Canada has already put a
ban on Adderal. I have a funny feeling
that the FDA here in the states may follow
suit soon if they think it is getting out
of hand which it looks like it is.
|
tokyn313
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Nashville, TN SE
Adderal - post addiction Posted: 04-29-08 20:44pm
I am 42 y/o. I have used Adderal for the
last 6 years. During the last two years,
I started abusing the drug. I was
prescribed 90mg/day and took 4-5x that
dose per day. When I would run out before
the end of the month, I had my bestfriend
"supply" me with some of his extra Addys.
I was able to come off of it without a
choice b/c I was on the EMSAM patch for
depression and the two of those drugs DO
NOT mix well together. I started having
anxiety/panic attacks and was in the ER 7x
since January (this now April). I would
take Adderal to wake me up and keep me up.
I would then take Klonopin or Xanax to
help ease me down and to be able to go to
sleep.
I, too, was told that I had a major
personality change. My pupils were always
dialated; I was really thin; I had energy
out the waz-zoo; I participated in ALOT of
RISKY behaviors. I was constantly warned
by my "supplier" that I was going to
regret what I was doing with the drug
because of the known physical damage it
would eventually cause. However, at the
time, I was not "ready to hear" what my
supplier and other concerned friends were
saying to me.
I only became "ready" when I became
dependent upon the benzos and had to start
asking people for money to help me pay for
my scripts. To top it all off, my fool
psychiatrist just kept handing out the
scripts for both drugs and knew I had a
problem after I had told him several
months ago.
My main withdrawal problem was getting off
of the benzos. The w/d symptoms were (and
still are) EXTREMELY hard to endure. I
spent six days in a local hospital with
doctors who had no idea of how to bring
someone off of benzos. I was not able to
go into an official rehab center as I have
no insurance d/t no job. I am detoxing on
my own with no "official medical
supervision", however, a pharmacist friend
has been a tremendous help with advice. I
am six weeks post my last dose of benzos
and greater than 8 weeks post my last dose
of Adderal.
THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE... I, too, gained 40
lbs back after I quit taking the Adderal.
It really freaked me out to gain this much
weight b/c I'd had gastric by-pass surgery
in 2001 and wasn't supposed to gain any
weight back. The WORST physical damage is
in my teeth. They are literally starting
to decay - every one of them. I am so
embarrassed that I consciously will NOT
open into a wide grin when I laugh. With
God's help, I will get a job again soon
and will have dental insurance to fix the
ongoing damage to my teeth.
Seeing the physical damage is scaring me
to death b/c I worry about what other
damage is occuring in my body that I can't
SEE.
I can honestly say that for one to come
off of Adderal, they HAVE TO BE READY and
able to admit they have a problem. I am
currently working the 12-steps right now
and it's been a healthy change. I still
have my last script for Adderal in my car
that I never got filled. I keep it there
to remind me of how my entire life crashed
within one year due to my substance abuse.
I lost my job, my house, my money, my
car, my dogs, my friends, my family,
everything. However, for today, I am
taking it one day at a time and have
learned to turn everything over to God.
I have two close girlfriends from church
who have hung with me during the last six
weeks. They have seen the positive change
in me since coming home from the hospital
up till now. My brother has started
communicating with me again (after two
years) after seeing that I was taking
action to regain control over my life. I
want to see my nieces again, which is
making me work even harder to stick with
staying clean - I hate that term -
"staying clean".
Again, for one to come off of Adderal,
they must mentally be READY to ADMIT they
have a problem and their lives have become
unmanageable. I only hope that by sharing
my experience, I will help save someone
else from making the same mistakes I made
and losing their foothold in life.
|
CaringPerson
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 2
Help Please my daughter is taking adderall Posted: 05-01-08 18:08pm
My daughter has been taking this for
months. I just recently found out about
it, knowing something was wrong and she
was acting different. I got a call from
the doctor's office one day that she could
not be seen there anymore, only to find
out that her blood test came back with
other drugs in it besides the adderall
which he had been giving her. He told her
he could not give her anymore adderall due
to the blood test. She found another
doctor that will and she is still taking
it. She had 3 daughters of her own and a
step daughter........what do I do and how
do I help her get off of it. When I
mention it she says " I need it for ADD"
Well she doesn't have ADD, she pretends
and answers the questions so that she can
get the drug.
I am at lost for what to do, please help
me. she will not listen to anything I say
about it, even to the deaths that I have
found on here that it caused. I think she
is taking it to try to get off of
something else. But the person that is
doing the drugs such as cocaine is still
visiting her house. What can I do, I
can't try the tough love situation because
of the kids. PLEASE help me. I am so
worried I can't eat or sleep, and no I
dont do any type of drugs.
|
CaringPerson
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 2
RE: Please help Posted: 05-01-08 18:10pm
I meant she has 3 daughters, and a step
daughter, and she takes well care of them,
she just ignores a lot they do and lets
them go places instead of saying no, she
acts as though its easier to say yes.
|
sometimeinaugust
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 2
Adderall addiction Posted: 05-21-08 11:45am
I quit two months ago by moving like
Acendaisy. I dropped out of college and
moved to a new state. The best thing about
this is that it absorbed me in other stuff
and got me away from the dealers/ college
students I was buying from.
I wish I had advice to offer CaringPerson.
I've never tried to come off more than one
drug at a time, and I was almost put in
rehab when my psychiatrist got wind of
what was up. I think that might be the
best thing.
I'd like to ask people on the board what
they like for changing their
thought-processes after quitting. I still
have a lot of racing thoughts, compulsive
thoughts, and poor focus. I still have
sleep problems and chilling out is hard.
Especially in public. I don't know that
all of this is adderall withdrawal, but
are there any boarders who experienced
left-over hyper-ness like this? I
immediately slowed down on day one but it
seems to have been ingrained in my system,
it's bothersome.
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