This is all a very simplistic explanation,
but I think it will answer some of the
questions here about Adderall vs.
Depression.
Adderall increases levels of dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin in your
brain. I suppose everybody knows about
serotonin because we see the ads for
anti-depressants. All three of these
chemicals are manipulated by various
anti-depressants. Adderall increases all
three.
Serotonin makes you feel good. It
manipulates your mood. You feel happy with
more serotonin and not so happy with
less.
Norepinephrine controls your excitedness.
When something stresses you, it is
norepinephrine that makes your heart beat
faster and gives you that raised level of
excitement.
Dopamine has a lot to do with your ability
to think, process information and focus.
It also affects your reward senses, and
controls your mood.
So when you take Adderall, especially a
lot of Adderall, you are manipulating your
brain to have a lot more of those things
that it should naturally have in
appropriate quantities. So, of course, you
feel great!
This is just my theory from my own studies
on the subject. It seems that if you take
Adderall and get used to the increased
levels of those three biogenic amines then
you stop taking it, the decrease of those
chemicals in your brain will cause you to
feel depressed until you adjust to the
"normal" levels.
Now, I know Ecstasy increases serotonin
levels in your brain by "squeezing" the
serotonin out of the neurotransmitters,
releasing a huge burst of it all at once.
Once that serotonin is all used up you get
extremely depressed because those
neurotransmitters were emptied and can no
longer give the continual supply that your
brain needs.
Adderall doesn't work that way. Adderall
is believed to function by binding to
monoamine transporters. It keeps more of
those three chemicals in your brain rather
than allowing them to just get used up
wastefully.
I don't know specifically what causes
withdrawal effects of reuptake inhibitors,
but that is likely to be the cause of
depression from Adderall. I'm assuming
that depression while still taking
Adderall would be something like a mild
withdrawal effect from your body building
up some tolerance to the drug. Just a
guess.
With anti-depressants it is recommended
that you wean yourself from them, taking a
little less continually over a certain
period of time until you are off them.
That may be helpful with Adderall if
stopping it immediately is causing
depression.
On the other hand, there are plenty of
more reasonable ways to get just a little
extra burst of the chemicals your brain
needs. Eating increases dopamine. Eating
carbohydrates increases serotonin.
Exercise increases norepinephrine and
serotonin. Dopamine is also increased when
you accomplish something - it is the
reason you feel a sense of reward. Maybe
you could set some reachable goals for
yourself and celebrate when you reach
them. Maybe pick up a hobby, something
creative. Learning how to make or build
something can be very rewarding, which
just means that it can increase dopamine
levels in your brain.
If I learn anything more about this, I
will add it to this thread. It would be
interesting to hear how the people in the
previous posts are doing now. Please give
us an update!
|
randog
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Location: ,
Re: Adderall Vs. Depression Posted: 08-02-07 20:35pm
kosibar
wrote:
This is all a very
simplistic explanation, but I think it
will answer some of the questions here
about Adderall vs. Depression.
Adderall increases levels of dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin in your
brain. I suppose everybody knows about
serotonin because we see the ads for
anti-depressants. All three of these
chemicals are manipulated by various
anti-depressants. Adderall increases all
three.
Serotonin makes you feel good. It
manipulates your mood. You feel happy with
more serotonin and not so happy with
less.
Norepinephrine controls your excitedness.
When something stresses you, it is
norepinephrine that makes your heart beat
faster and gives you that raised level of
excitement.
Dopamine has a lot to do with your ability
to think, process information and focus.
It also affects your reward senses, and
controls your mood.
So when you take Adderall, especially a
lot of Adderall, you are manipulating your
brain to have a lot more of those things
that it should naturally have in
appropriate quantities. So, of course, you
feel great!
This is just my theory from my own studies
on the subject. It seems that if you take
Adderall and get used to the increased
levels of those three biogenic amines then
you stop taking it, the decrease of those
chemicals in your brain will cause you to
feel depressed until you adjust to the
"normal" levels.
Now, I know Ecstasy increases serotonin
levels in your brain by "squeezing" the
serotonin out of the neurotransmitters,
releasing a huge burst of it all at once.
Once that serotonin is all used up you get
extremely depressed because those
neurotransmitters were emptied and can no
longer give the continual supply that your
brain needs.
Adderall doesn't work that way. Adderall
is believed to function by binding to
monoamine transporters. It keeps more of
those three chemicals in your brain rather
than allowing them to just get used up
wastefully.
I don't know specifically what causes
withdrawal effects of reuptake inhibitors,
but that is likely to be the cause of
depression from Adderall. I'm assuming
that depression while still taking
Adderall would be something like a mild
withdrawal effect from your body building
up some tolerance to the drug. Just a
guess.
With anti-depressants it is recommended
that you wean yourself from them, taking a
little less continually over a certain
period of time until you are off them.
That may be helpful with Adderall if
stopping it immediately is causing
depression.
On the other hand, there are plenty of
more reasonable ways to get just a little
extra burst of the chemicals your brain
needs. Eating increases dopamine. Eating
carbohydrates increases serotonin.
Exercise increases norepinephrine and
serotonin. Dopamine is also increased when
you accomplish something - it is the
reason you feel a sense of reward. Maybe
you could set some reachable goals for
yourself and celebrate when you reach
them. Maybe pick up a hobby, something
creative. Learning how to make or build
something can be very rewarding, which
just means that it can increase dopamine
levels in your brain.
If I learn anything more about this, I
will add it to this thread. It would be
interesting to hear how the people in the
previous posts are doing now. Please give
us an update!
You can read my post on adderall worries
under user name Randog in the addiction
and recovery section. This is the best
explanation I have heard yet and I know
you did your research. I am off of this
now and getting better every day,. I want
to get back to working out and enjoying my
life. each day gets better, but it has
been an uphill struggle. This is day 18
and I feel I am getting my life back I
used to work out and have a good build i
have and the part about setting goals. You
have helped me a lot. I am going down to 1
xanax next week and I think with working
out, I may never need BP med again. But I
am determined to get my life back, You
post explains exactly how adderall works
and this what the doc told me. I had tried
Zolft and prozac and they made me feel
like a dying fish, or a zombie. First time
I took this, I thought it was the magic.
Not true. Also, I have a strong spirtual
connection again, not religion. The world
in my opinion doe not revolve around us,
and this drug/med over time made me get so
caught up in "self" that I could not see
the flowers for the trees. In fact, my
world became very small. God bless and
thanks for your sharing becoming
very happy again day by day. I have really
bad leg pain only when I am not on my feet
and my Nurse Practioner said this was
normal and would go away with time. Any
vitamin suggestions would be highly
appreciated. When I was younger, I was
really into taking lots of vitamins,
working out, and eating a great diet. I
would like to get back there to that place
again. Thanks and God bless you kosobar!
|
Kirsten6980
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 1
Adderall Xr Posted: 12-10-07 23:27pm
I believe everyone one is made up of
different hormones and that everyone has
their own chemical make up. I would say
that I have a middle case of attention
deficit, however my parents were firm
believers that medicine was not necessary.
They were some what correct, however as
an adult I have decided to try a medicine,
so my doctor has prescribed Adderall XR 15
MG. I hadn't heard of this medicine until
after he prescribed it. I researched it a
good bit and was a little hesitant to take
it. I can honestly say that I am glad I
decided to try and see how it worked. I
wish I could have had this while I was in
school. I truly believe I would have been
an A student instead of a B student and I
wouldn't have been in so much trouble
growing up. It has helped me focus 150%
better. On a scale of 1-10 I would give
it an 8. I have experienced a few side
effects, one I don't care so much about
which was weight loss. I don't have much
of an appetite these days and have lost
over 30 pounds in 8 months bringing my
weight down to 130 pounds. My doctor says
that I am not allowed to lose anymore
weight so I make myself eat more than my
stomach tells me I can. However, the next
side effect is one that I have not read
about being a major side effect and for me
it has become quite bothersome.
Hemorrhoids. I am only 27 years old and
never had children. When I experienced my
first hemorrhoid it was about 4 months
after I started Adderall. I asked my
doctor that prescribed the medicine and he
didn't seem to think it was a side effect,
but my mind and body are telling me that
it is. If it causes dry mouth, could it
not cause dry intestinal tracts? If
anyone is aware of this side effect and
could provide me with additional
information on this I would appreciate the
help.
|
Adderall_Advice
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
you are a liar Posted: 02-12-08 01:00am
"But 100 mgs was the lowest I did at least
2 days a week I would get 30 10 mgs n I
would do them all in 1 rail"
thats 300 mgs of adderall u would overdose
snorting or swallowing that nobody can
take that much you heart would fail 150
mgs of adderall can cause overdose.
one girl at my school died from overdose.
acouple girls took 1 oxycotton each and
drank but only 1 died. its sad because i
went to school with her from kindergarten
to 11th grade. all bodies are different
and they take drugs differently. you never
know
|
indecisive
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 2 Location: ,
Unsure Posted: 04-15-08 06:36am
Honestly, adderall has made a big impact
on my life. I'm still in high school and I
probably wouldn't be passing like I am if
I never got diagnosed with ADHD. I got
diagnosed late though, I was 15 years old
going into my sophmore year so I had alot
to make up for. My grades were nothing
about a C before I started taking adderall
and now I stress out if my grades are a
low B.
I've losing 43lbs in a course of a year
and a half, I thank adderall. I was always
the fattest girl and it was gross. I
thought I was going to weigh 176 forever,
but now I'm 133. My self-esteem has grown,
I attract guys now, and it's made me
happy.
On the other hand..adderall makes me
moody; I snap at everyone sometimes or I'm
just the biggest jerk to some people. It's
made me stress out more about little
things. It makes me smoke more cigarettes;
honestly on a day I don't take
adderall(which is rare) I don't smoke one
cigarette but one days I do(like everyday)
I can smoke up to a pack a day. I have
nervous breakdowns about nothihg. I don't
eat when I'm on adderall, I'll be hungry
but thinking about eating makes me want to
throw up so I just don't. I'm emotional on
adderall, I get irritated easily, I get
angry about dumb things, and it's just
kind of ridiculous. I always get headaches
or I'm dizzy and sometimes I get nausea
and I don't like it.
What I don't like the most is that, I'm
now dependent on it. If I don't take
adderall one day by accident I freak out.
I feel like I can't live without it or I
can't do anything without it. I'm not my
old self, before I started taking adderall
I was hyper, funny, outgoing, loud &
etc.. I would think when I don't take
adderall I'd be like that again but I'm
not. I seem sad and tired without it. It's
like it's my life now. I'm constantly
asking my doctor for a higher dose. I take
40mg a day. 30mg in the morning then a
10mg mid-day dose at school.
Adderall has helped alot. I'm 16yrs old
and with the adderall I stress about
things I should stress about when I'm 30
years old. Adderall is addicting, no
doubt. But sometimes I debate whether it
impacted my life a good way or a bad
one..I'm dumb-founded when it comes to
that question.
|
anonymous12345
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 2
Posted: 05-11-08 12:04pm
i've been abusing adderall for the past
ten or so years. i was prescribed it about
two years ago so have been legally taking
it since then. i can't seem to take it as
prescribed and instead take more than
needed and end up feeling like a zombie,
without the ability to smile or laugh and
overanalyzing EVERYTHING. i cause fights
and problems in my relationships because
of it and i find that i need to drink
alcohol to calm my nerves. i feel like
crap on it but continue to take it anyway.
i hate the stuff. im not taking it ever
again. i ran out yesterday (two weeks
early) and will not be calling for another
prescription. overall, it is just bad
stuff. i think add is bs. i think it is
caused by poor diet and not enough
exercise and even if it is a chemical
imbalance, i think we shoudl just accept
ourselves and our spacy ways. that makes
us who we are and creative. adderall and
stimulants are poison and unnatural. f
this.
|
lovbug028
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 2
HELP ME ANYONE, PLEASE.. I'M SO LOST.... Posted: 06-18-08 13:29pm
I cried when I found and read this forum
for a few reasons. First of all, I started
to think I was going crazy about my
Adderall side effects! Everyone told me
that I was imagining things, but now I
know that it wasn't all in my head.
Secondly, I realized that they aren't to
blame for their ignorance! I am. My
doctors and friends have been fed so many
lies by me, that they can't see the
warning signs right in front of their
faces... I'm addicted to Adderall...
I can't believe this. The FIRST question
that I asked my doctor when she prescribed
Adderall to me was, "I heard that it can
be addictive, is it?" WHY CAN'T I GO BACK
IN TIME AND JUST SAY YES IT IS! DON'T DO
IT! I guess the real problem is that I
don't even know if I would go back and
stop myself. All that I know right now is
that I need someone's help very badly.
My story is very complicated and strange,
which does not make matters any easier.
Overall, everything is a catch-22. I'm not
even sure what my main problem is anymore
or which problem causes the other. I've
shown obvious signs of ADD from a young
age. My mom and my sister are both
alcoholics (they had 5 DUI's between
them). My mom showing up at my private
school drunk a few years ago, caused the
school to give me a psych evaluation.
The only reason that I got to attend such
an expensive school was due to my
scholarships. I was an honors student,
broke school records in volleyball,
gatorade player of the year, all-state,
all-county, voted most popular, etc.
whatever.. and for YEARS I managed to hide
the fact that I lived in the poor section
of town with my alcoholic mom, party-girl
sister, and cockroaches. I told the
psychologist anything that I could just so
that she would leave me alone. She said
that I definitely show signs of anxiety
disorder. I ignored her, because I was
scared that she would make me go on
medication.
I switched schools after moving. Within
the first few months I was having major
academic problems. I already knew that I
couldn't focus and I was disorganized, but
I always managed to get by. They did kick
me out of honors after my grades dropped,
but my success in volleyball didn't let
them ever fail me. Every time I went to
class, I had a new problem! Either I
forgot my book, an assignment or something
else that everyone seemed to remember.
Whenever I would hand in my work, I would
get the best grade in the class.. minus
point for handing my work in late. Then
for the first time, I couldn't finish an
essay during one all-nighter. Normally,
this made me skip class to buy myself
time, but my attendance was too bad for
this option. I went to class and
completely had a panic attack (crying,
red, sweating, the whole nine yards). The
professor forced me to go to our
counselor. She diagnosed me with anxiety
and depression. I ignored her, because I
did not want anyone to give me medication.
My depression got severe, and I developed
an eating disorder for a year. I got into
a great college.. again thanks to
volleyball.
*first two years of college: I struggled,
did very poorly, and quit volleyball. I
gained any lost weight back and more.
Then, I lost it severely. My mom's
drinking got worse. She'd escape hospitals
to go drink, she had she second DUI, and
lost her newest month-long job, etc. My
sister had her second DUI, and was still
partying everyday. I realized how
co-dependent I was and knew I was enabling
them to drink, but I couldn't stop. At
this point, I never even used tylenol or
advil once in my life! I was so scared of
becoming addicted to a substance, like my
mom and sister. One day when my mom hit me
for the first time, I began smoking
cigarettes. I planned on getting
addicted.. how stupid am I? I was all
alone, hiding this entire portion of my
life from all of my friends and
hard-working Dad. My sister and my mom,
the two people who would understand, were
lost in a sea of alcohol. At my breaking
point, I had no other choice. I went to a
psychiatrist, got diagnosed with
depression, and was taking Zoloft. Zoloft
worked in making me happy for about two
weeks, but I still couldn't finish ANY of
my homework. Everyone, including my
psychiatrist, were always mad and
frustrated with me. My psychiatrist told
me I could not come back to him anymore,
because I was late too many times and
missed too many appointments. My zoloft
ran out, I thought I'd be fine.
Finally, this past May, I had an in-depth
psychological evaluation. I scored off the
charts for ADD, but that couldn't be
possible. I had anxiety and depression,
didn't I? She put me on Adderall, and my
whole life changed in a flash. I sat in
the library for hours catching up on all
of my lost work. I finally was organized
in my dorm, schoolwork, and social life. I
was given 10 MG of Adderall XR to take in
the morning and Amphetamine Salts (10MG)
to take in the evening.. as needed. The
first month was Heaven! I did all of my
work, and I was researching ADD self-help
tips. I even got a psychologist to help me
work with my ADD. My sister had her third
DUI and was facing possible jail time. My
mom started drinking worse then EVER, and
that is extreme for me to say. My sister
got out of going to jail, but is currently
in rehab. My mom is on the brink of death,
and refuses to get help. Little by little,
everything started piling up. All of the
sudden I noticed that I would run out of
my 30-day "take as needed" evening
medications. I am losing my hair. I lost
weight. I've been taking multi-vitamins,
and I have been trying to force myself to
eat. I cry a few times a day. I rarely
sleep, or I'll sleep 12 hours.
This is the most stressful time in my
life, because everything is at it's
breaking point. My sister, my best friend,
is truly an alcoholic. She is in rehab. My
mom is going to die very soon. I stay at
home alone a lot to take care of my mom,
since I am her unwise caretaker.. or is it
because Adderall makes me anti-social.. or
is it because I am in a depressing
situation and my depression is making me
anti-social.. or is it my anxiety over
exaggerating everything.. or do I not have
any of these and I am just in a rough
place? Out of all of the mental health
problems I have read about, I have every
symptom of ADD. When the medicine was
working, my anxiety subsided so much. I
thought I had figured it all out.... now
I'm addicted to Adderall. I am thinking I
should just stop my evening dose for a few
days, or just tell my best friend I am
having this problem. Everyone thinks I am
perfect, since I hold it together better
then my crazy family. My poor, hardworking
dad would NEVER understand ADD or why I
would be stupid enough to get addicted. I
can't let him down. I am his only hope for
a stable daughter. My mom is going to be
homeless if I do not continue to pay her
bills. I KNOW this is stupid.. but am I
REALLY supposed to let my mom become
homeless?! I don't even know how, but I
feel like Adderall is not even working in
the way that it used to. If I tell my
doctor to switch my medications, or stop
medication, will live get worse or better?
I can't imagine a world worse then the one
I am currently living in. My psychologists
don't help me, I've stopped going to my
last one a week ago. Self-help doesn't
help. Medicine was supposed to help, but
now I'm addicted. My mom and sister are
still alcoholics, and I am still suffering
with codependency after all of these
years. I AM IN A BLACK HOLE. WHAT SHOULD I
DO? Is this Adderall or just a reaction to
my current situation? How can I stop my
addiction, without telling my dad?
Help me, please... I've never been so lost
before..
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Schizophreniahealth
This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
becoming
very happy again day by day. I have really
bad leg pain only when I am not on my feet
and my Nurse Practioner said this was
normal and would go away with time. Any
vitamin suggestions would be highly
appreciated. When I was younger, I was
really into taking lots of vitamins,
working out, and eating a great diet. I
would like to get back there to that place
again. Thanks and God bless you kosobar!
