Turning to Adderall for Rapid Weight Loss: The Speed Diet

I told my kid early on that his meds, which are prepared for him to be able to use safely, have the same kind of medicine as street drugs, and he is to be careful who has access to them. I also told him when he was quite young that alcohol is effective when used medicinally, but if you mis-use it you have problems – so hopefully he can relate the two.

Sylrayj,
You are so smart to talk openly with your son about medication safety. Did you see the video on the same site? It is called, Students Using ADD Drugs to Study?

Below is the link.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25096622#25096622

Depending on your son’s age this video may be helpful for him to watch, as well. Thanks so much for posting.
Warmly
Keath

I am so disappointed about the irresponsibility of this article. I believe in a free press but come on, telling people that snorting it will give them “maximum appitite suppression”. Let’s just teach them how to abuse the drug. I am a 41 year old mother who has ADHD and am able to go back to school and actually read a textbook because of Adderall. It is so discouraging to have authors educating people on how to misuse it. Like people with ADHD need more negative press…………….

I’m a 51 yr old man and am on Adderall for my adhd. It really makes a difference. And yes, it does cut my appetite. Which has helped me drop about 15 lbs. The adderall also helps reduce the stress from being unorganized which would have me eating everything.
It is a shame that it is abused.

But as a society we send really bad messages to young women. But the ‘barbie’ discussion is for another forum!

I am embarressed to say this… I just started taking my sons OLD script for adderall hoping to lose some weight. I have no health insurance, I am below poverty, I eat as healthy as I can…I am almost 300lbs. My son couldn’t take Adderall b/c it gave him migraines, so he is now on Concerta. I saw on tv how Nicole Richey was taking it… I read online how it helped some teenage boy… I am at the bottom of the barrel. I walk alot, but no weight comes off. I am sorry that I am adding to the bad name of adderall, but I hate looking at myself. I hate myself sometimes. I just want to be a little smaller so that I can fit into clothes sold at WalMart, not have to buy from specialty stores online. Again, I don’t know what else to do…

I am a 28 year old woman with ADHD and my life has greatly improved with cognitive therapy AND the use of Adderall, however, since it has been brought to the public eye that Adderall is being abused I have been treated like a criminal when someone new hears I take it. I understand the security at the pharmacy, because it IS a controlled substance and should not be taken lightly. I practice the same safety once it is in my posession. I have discussed my diagnosis and medication with friends and family, in hopes to help them understand what a difference help can make, and I have not only been questioned but ACCUSED of abusing Adderall because I have a prescription. Interesting side note, no one questions my cognitive therapy when I mention that it is the biggest part of my improvement.

I am a 19-year-old sophomore in college and I was just recently diagnosed with ADHD. I will never forget the first time I took my prescription Adderall medication because my life has never been the same. My GPA climbed from a 2.4 to a 3.0, my social circle has doubled, and my weight is no longer a pressure I am constantly thinking about. In reality weight gain is a serious symptom of ADHD because we often have no conception of how much and what we are eating. It is a blessing to have a medication that can relieve me of ALL my symptoms, and Adderall is the only ADHD drug that is proven to do this. It has a 95% effective rate, which beats both Concerta and Strattera.

It is sad that people do any illegal drug, whether it is Adderall, Valume, Hydrocodone, or other perception drugs used out of context. However, this is not an excuse to bash these drugs and their purpose because they are playing a role in changing the lives of thousands of people FOR THE BETTER. If misusing is a concern, why not address the media and triggers that are causing people to misuse these drugs.

Please don’t take away my only hope for a normal lifestyle.

I am a 49 year old woman taking Adderall for ADD, I have gone all my life feeling like a misfit and generally having a miserable existence. Adderall has made a huge difference and given me a new lease on life. I didn’t realize how abused it is until reading this article. It makes me angry that people are so shallow that they resort to drug abuse so that they can fit into a mold created by the media. It makes those of us that actually need medication to function normally lumped into the same category as the abusers. It’s hard enough having ADHD, and the bad press that it gets from ignorant people only makes it harder to overcome the stigma.

Just a friendly little note,…thought you might like to know that strattera DOES in fact suppress your appetite. Google it before you open your mouth. I work for three doctors and no for a fact that it does, and ANY site you open about the drug will tell you. Fact of the matter is, stimulant or non stimulant, any of the drugs for ADD/ADHD seem to have that side effect. I have spoke to MANY parents every single day about having to switch their child’s medication for ADD/ADHD for the pure fact that it is upsetting their stomach, or they will not eat. Concerta, Strattera, Vyvanse, Adderall, Ritalin, you name it….they ALL suppress your appetite. That being said, I also have worked with MANY patients that are indeed abusing the medication and I too do not agree with that, but I will not go around spouting about ANY medication like I’m educated in it when I haven’t even done my own research.

I have pretty much known I had add for years but, because of the ADD, I could never manage to make it to any of my scheduled doctors appointments to get diagnosed for it. I finally did and was put on Straterra. Straterra DID NOT suppress my appetite despite the claims nor did it help with my ADD. I got really depressed and sleepy. I switched to adderall and I can finally study. I also have no appetite, even though that is not the reason I started taking the drug.

I am 48 & have been on adderall for about a year & it has improved my life 99%! I am back in college, getting my degree & doing well. It does help with weight management getting rid of the casual-grazing-munching on stuff out of idleness. I’ve been on strattera & vyvanse-those also suppressed my appetite-but with adderall my thinking is much more concise & focused. Also-I don’t have insurance now & adderall is the only of its type thats “generic”, costing $40 a month.strattera & vyvanse are upward of $150 w/out insurance! adderall (amphetamine) has been around for 50-60+ years,so there is less
risk of finding out a couple of years into taking it that it could kill you (think vioxx). I find it hard to beleive a young person can just walk into a Dr’s office & ask for adderall & get it on the spot. My Dr. had me try the other meds for months before she put me on adderall.

I will preface this by saying that I have never taken adderall and only heard about it recently. I know I am in the definite minority here but I don’t see what the big deal is. From what I understand Adderall was initially designed as a weight loss drug anyway. So if this drug helps kids focus in school or helps people lose weight/stay slim and isn’t causing terrible side effects like people dropping dead all the time what is the big deal with prescribing it more and letting these people take it under a doctors supervision so it doesnt have to purchased in the black market? I mean is it this ethical standard of this is the cheaters way to stay thin or do better in school? Somehow your grades count less if you took adderall and it helped you focus or your weight loss accomplishment is tarnished by drug use?

Certainly it helps those with ADHD but clearly its helping those who don’t have it as well. What is the big problem with it?

From my understanding it doesn’t get you drugged up or have a euphoric effect like narcotics so that you can’t function as a human being. So why all this high and mighty talk about how people shouldn’t take it because they have some sort of unfair advantage.

Right now we have an obesity epidemic in this country. I would think that medications that really work to suppress appetite shouldn’t be withheld from people because it has a more noble use.

I know that people will probably think that I am some drug abuser or who knows what for saying this but I am not. I just don’t see why its kept from people and why doctors don’t prescribe it more and just carefully monitor those who take it.

It’s really interesting to me that my dr. will prescribe adipex which is a stimulant but that Adderall is so controversial. For myself, and many people as well, my overeating is not because of physically being hungry, it is out of a psychological need to either soothe myself or because I “THINK” it’s fun.. it’s all in my head so why don’t the doctor’s treat obesity as a psychiatric disorder like obsessive/compulsiveness or hyperactivity (like wanting to run to the refridgerator all nite)

I take adderall because it feels wonderful and i can do whatever task i wish for as long as i wish. It isn’t quite as strong or intense as good methamphetamine is, but its a hop, skip, and a jump away.

I’ve been on Adderall for a full month now. I have lost 10 lbs. (I’m a 6′ tall male weighed 220). Addy has helped me become better engaged at work and it does wonders in helping me organize my thoughts and tasks at work. The weight loss is side effect of the drug. In my case, I attribute the weight loss to Adderall’s ability to help you become so focused and consumed with the task(s) at hand, you literally forget to eat sometimes. Essentially, eating becomes less of a priority. (This is not the way to lose weight!) And when I do get around to eating I gorge!!!!

My Dr. first started me on Straterra and I found this drug made me feel disconnected with everyone around me. It almost completely removed my personality. I remember that I had to make a conscience effort to be my normal witty self. And Straterra also took away my sex drive.

I will note, that Adderall also comes with sexual side effects. I am able to get excited easily BUT keeping excited is another story… Other side effects that I have experienced include: occasional excruciating headaches that last hours, extreme dry mouth, extreme dry lips, and heightened anxiety (social and otherwise).

Other side effects (that I have not experienced and hope to never experience) are:
Psychosis (going crazy!), heartburn, nausea, insomnia, diarrhea, heartburn, DEPENDENCY, and many more…

For those of you who are seeking a weight loss miracle, Adderall is not the solution. Many people lose a little weight at first, and gradually gain it back.

What a lot of people don’t know is that YOU CAN ASK your Dr. for weight loss medication and they can prescribe it to you. So for those of you who have trouble losing weight, talk to your Dr. about meds specifically designed for weight loss, not meds designed to stimulate your central nervous system, such as Adderall.

Good luck to those seeking to lose weight. And good luck to those looking to control their ADD.

I have been on amphetamine (generic for Adderall) for about two weeks, and it has been miraculous in regards to my schoolwork, organization and motivation. It is however wrecking havoc on my body. The first week I took the medication M-F and was only able to eat a few bites of food here and there. I slept on average 2hr each night, resulting in sleeping all weekend to recover from it. The second week was only slightly better. I am able to sleep about 4-5hrs a night now. What I cannot figure out is the eating! I try so hard. I bring small snacks like yogurt, almonds and string cheese to try to tempt my self during the day, but I’m lucky if I eat half of anything. I’m left with severe nausea for about an hour after each attempt. I won’t be one to judge if this is how people want to lose weight. I don’t recommend it. Aside from the alertness the medication provides, I am completely exhausted and already catching a cold. I get terrible hunger headaches that I can’t do anything about and feel terribly weak. I’m hoping these symptoms will wear off or at least lessen, because I would hate to stop treatment and lose the confidence I’m finally starting to gain in my school life. For those who want to use this for weight loss, don’t get to excited by my claims. Fortunately from what I have heard most people don’t have this sever of an appetite change.

Thanks,
Be safe and be healthy!

I am now 24 years old. I used Aderall when I was in 14 years old and a freshman in high school. While in middle school I was on ridalin. I found while switching over to aderall I became very withdown from my social life. I would cry and have no idea why I was crying or what was wrong with me. I know it effects everyone differently but just be aware if your children or you have a dramatic change in behavior it is most likley the drugs. I have since then been able to live without drugs and treatment for ADHD and have found that the older I get the better I am able to deal with the disorder. Just wanted to share my story. I am in no way bashing the drug. I know many people it has worked wonders for.

This article is very irresponsible. Adderall is serious, and it shouldn’t be used unless prescribed by a doctor. Snorting it is NEVER a good idea. If you need to lose weight, eat a healthy diet and exericse. It may be slow, but it’s safe.

“Why not strattera”

Let me explain strattera for you, i was diagnosed with adhd when i was 5 years old started off with ridalin which made me severely emotionaly crash when it wore off, then i went on adderall, which worked great and was one of the few pills that didnt make me feel so bad i would cheek it and flush it down the toilet, i went off that cause i was already very thin and it caused me to be unhealthy thin, then i went on concerta which worked at first but gave me HORRIBLE tics and side effects.

Then i tried strattera, i was on it for 3 months and in those three months my daily ruitine was wake up take strattera , stomach ache, diarreah, migrane, then id vomit for about an hour. Every other person I have met with adhd that has taken this had the same problem strattera is a HORRIBLE medicine.

I have been taking Adderall for about a month now. I am a 40 year old female. I was taking the medication Fastin to loose some weight and I also suffer from Fibromyalgia. I discovered that when I tried to wean off the Fastin I started to experience the Fibromyalgia symptoms horribly again. The Fastin gave me energy and helped me loose 30 pounds, but apperently a stimulant was helping my fibromyalgia also. I spoke with my doctor who called a fibromyalgia specialist and it is being found that patients with fibromyalgia are benefiting from a stimulant. I started taking the Adderall due to the many more risks associated with Fastin. I find that I am able to function normally and I experience less migraines while taking it. It is also helping me to be able to stay in the work force. I no longer worry about being able to perform my job in the coming years since it has helped to control the fibromyalgia symptoms so well. I also agree that the lowest dose that works is the best dose to take.

I am just starting on this journey. Six weeks in and I’ve already “failed” two meds. Concerta sent my BP sky hight; Strattera had some benefits but it messed up my vision to the point I couldn’t drive at night. I will say that while on Strattera, I lost all my anxiety-fueled cravings for carbs and alcohol. I lost 5 lbs. in a month, but once I went off it I was hungry ALL the time for about two weeks. Also the Strattera seemed to be good for my sex drive, maybe because of the less anxiety factor.

It’s amazing how the same medication affects individual people so dramatically.

For me as a male Strattera caused painful erections and ejaculations. Not too sure I would give this to my adolescent teen son… Just something to think about.

I’m in my 50’s. Don’t look it, because I work out. Anyway, my Dr. has been trying to get me to try something for my ADD for years. I don’t like taking pills, especially now that I’m in such great shape. However,I finally had to try something. It has been about a year and a half ( Adderall 20 mg.) and loved the reacion, physically and mentally. But as of a few weeks ago, I finally realized I am just plain exhausted. All the time!!! In fact I don’t work out as much and I’m eating tons at night (gaining 10 lbs.in one month) real good for my psych. huh?!)My 7 year old son is now taking it.I didn’t want to accept the fact that he too would need it, but it was sooo apparent. But since I liked it and was now open to it we decided to let him try it. WOW! Of course, we love what we’re seeing with his new focus. But now I, want to stop taking it. Is this something all meds. will do?

The weight-loss stigma with this drug is exaggerated and unwarranted. I’m 25 and I have ADHD. I’ve taken Adderall for several years now, after unsuccessful attempts to take Concerta and Strattera. Even though Add. DOES initially suppress one’s appetite, this side effect is minimal when taking the XR capsules. Even the normal tablets (the generic form) will eventually lose that effect. I’ve found that my body settles into a routine and it helps so much with organization and mental clarity. (There have been periods where I have not taken it, due to insurance costs and moving out of state, thus beginning the cycle of getting a new doctor/prescription and waiting times…so I can attest to the ‘newness’ of the drug after being off of it for weeks or months). If people are still losing weight with the drug after a couple of weeks, then either the dosage is too high or they do not need the medicine to treat ADHD. For those of us who actually have ADD/ADHD, I cannot tout this medication enough–from trivial tasks like bill-paying and grocery lists, to workplace assignments and college courses, even filing taxes–it simplifies things tenfold. Arduous tasks are easier to manage.

I was diagnosed with ADD late in high school.I took Adderall when i was a senior and i lost 60 pounds in a month. On top of the weight loss it gave me the chance to graduate. I suddenly was able to focus and did very well. As soon as i stopped taking it i gained my weight back plus some. Now i am a sophmore in college and i just started taking it again. Honestly, i take it to focus and to lose the weight. I exercise constantly, do belly dancing, and eat right. Nothing helps, but adderall basically solves two of my biggest problems in life. I don’t know what I’d do without it.

I am 45 and I was diagnosed with ADD and was put on Cymbalta for the depression I was having as a result of trouble with focusing and not being able to complete tasks at work, it helped for about 6 months when I changed job potitions and was almost unable to go to work as a result of panic attacks, with knowing I was going to failat some part of my job, I was put on Straterra and was immeditly taken off due to the conflicts with the Cymbalta, I am now on Adderall, sorry this is so long. Here is my point, if there is a drug out there that is going to make me feel “normal” and ablke to complete everyday things without having to leave sticky notes all over… I am taking it… I feel sorry for the people that are taking this to achive a high or to loose weight… don’t get me wrong if this drug allows me to also loose weight that in it self is a bonus but not the reason I am taking it.. I am hoping this will help bring the old me back

Stimulants have always been abused for weight loss. From Benzedrine to over-the-counter weightloss drugs to caffeine!

But it’s too bad that Sophy mistakenly offers Strattera as an equally effective treatment for ADHD. It’s a second-line treatment, at best, and it has its own side effect profile.

Does he not realize that there are two classes of stimulants: methylphenidate (MPH) and the amphetamines (AMP)? And that the MPH class of stimulant is less likely to create this desired effect for those who would abuse legitimate medication?

Does he also not realize that the newer delivery systems foil attempts to abuse?

These girls should not be taking Adderall if they don’t have ADHD and it’s not the right medication for them. They are risking extremely negative side effects that mean they could flunk classes, lose jobs, and in general, tick people off!

But warning of this abuse is no excuse for this guy to offer misinformation.

Of course one of the problems is that some insurance companies are unwilling to pay for the newer formulations, with the novel delivery systems. So, people are forced to take the immediate-release choices.

I take adderall and just took it this morning. That is the only reason this article is half interesting. Thanks bye.

Adderall is heavily abused and of course here is a list of only non-abusers who have never shared with a friend, parent, spouse, or other. I am a physician and I hear it all the time. Usually the way someone knows that Adderal works for them is because they tried a friends. Your grades may go up but do I want a doctor or a pilot or mechanic for that matter who was only able to get in his current position by taking a drug. What if he misses a dose or the drug is taken off the market? Then you have Jo Below Average working on or for you. If you’re not smart enough, go with the flow and do something you’re capable of doing.
Fibromyalgia by the way also responds to many other narcotics, benzos, and other controlled meds as well as placebos.
Is your life that bad that need the solace of a drug to get through?
Find a way to live drug free.
The desire for adults to take this comes directly from the plastic surgery society we live in. “Trick your friends and associates into believing you’re something you’re not!”

This comment is for Victoria, The drug itself does not give you an euphoric feeling. That feeling comes from finally being able to focus on tasks at hand, organize your home and not have piles of papers everywhere, piles of everything everywhere. Having ADD is very difficult as others have said it is often misdiagnosed. I know I was treated with prozac, lexapro etc and finally at 47 adderall. It works for me.

To Charles, at comment #29:

First, I doubt you really are a physician, because most doctors would at least check their spelling and grammar before finalizing a post. And even the most egotistical, narcissistic doctors are not as rude and insensitive as you.

Next, if you ARE a doctor, I hope and pray that I never, ever end up as your patient. You are an arrogant, condescending a**hole.

I am 47 years old, and on this board because after years of research and “what ifs” I am *finally* ready to do something about my ADD.

To address your inferences, I am not stupid. In fact, quite the opposite. My IQ tests in the mid-to-high 130s. I am not lazy. And I am not looking for a quick fix to my inability to focus, organize and complete ordinary and job-related tasks.

I am looking for a solution that will finally allow me to lead a normal life. I am looking for something that helps me avoid the personal, financial, marital and business crises that I have dealt with ALL MY ADULT LIFE because of my ADD. And, quite frankly, I have avoided pursuing pharmaceutical solutions partly because of the stigma, and partly because I don’t want to be dependent on a drug to be “normal.” I am also scared to death that a drug will stymie my creativity — As a publisher and writer/editor I make my living because of my ability to create with words and pictures.

If you knew anything at all about the condition that you deride and dismiss, you would know that it is not cured by simply “buckling down” or “getting serious.” (My emphasis.) Believe me…I have “recommitted” myself so many times that I have lost count.

In short, I am finally ready to give Adderall a try because it is my last hope to salvage my career, my finances…and my second marriage (my first one having gone down in flames because of my inability to understand and deal with my condition).

I am not trying to “trick” anyone. I am trying to deal with a condition that is very real, and, thanks to lazy parents, teachers, school administrators and doctors, VERY over-diagnosed — making life all the more difficult for those of us who do truly suffer from ADD. In addition, I am simply trying to find a way to bring a level of stability into my world that has heretofore remained out of my grasp. Again, this is not because I am “below average” or not capable. How insulting!

Finally, I find it ironic that a physician would recommend that anyone try to “find a way to live drug free.” In my experience, most physicians are like mechanics with Rx pads — if the first fix doesn’t work, we’ll write a new script and see if that works.

I have nothing but utter contempt for you and your remarks. I wish all others on this board well, and I am hopeful you find peace within, and outwardly organized, creative and on-task!

I wish adderall, and all drugs, were as available as a gumball in a twenty-five cent machine.

I thought this article was right on! I use adderall for the wrong reasons. As a mother, wife, housekeeper and i am starting my own business from home. Without the adderall there is no way i would be able to keep up with my life. I take it as the doctor told me to. Once in the morning and one at lunch. I went to the docotr and told him what was going on in my life and he gave me these pills. that is how easy it is. i didn’t have to have an adhd diagnosis. the doctors are not helping at all.

I take 30-40mg Adderall per day (20 upon waking, 10s approx 4 and 8 hours later). If I take more than that, I feel absolutely awful: edgy, anxious. In a year, I haven’t lost one pound on it.

See quotes below. It’s ridiculous to make a blanket statement that “it is unwise and dangerous to use a drug for a purpose other than Adderall for a purpose other than the use approved by the FDA. Search sources such as Wikipedia for “off-use.” It is a legal and accepted practice for doctors to prescribe medicine for use other than what is approved by the FDA.

Undoubtedly, there is an epidemic of Adderall abuse. That includes snorting, taking without prescription, and taking amounts more than prescribed. But this article conflates those issues with the notion that taking Adderall for weight loss is abuse.

The consequences of obesity can include a wide range of health problems, ultimately even diabetes or death. Bariatric surgery has become a more common treatment for obesity. Use of weight loss medication should not be thrown out the door.

It should not even be assumed, AUTOMATICALLY, that individuals who benefit from effects such as increased creativity and school performance are abusing the medication.

Doctors and patients simply need to weigh the pros and cons. For example:

Is the patient likely to abuse the drug (give it away to others, snort it, take doses that are higher than prescribed etc.)?

Is the drug not sufficiently beneficial to risk long-term side effects?

Would the patient be better off with behavioral therapy or some other way of improving their situation?

Or do the benefits outweigh the other concerns.

Given the value placed on industriousness in America, why does the government allow only caffeine and caffeine products as its one and only legal stimulant? However, such discussions will not come easy when the mantra of Just Say No makes it difficult for anyone to admit to any use. The epidemic of amphetamine use is perpetuated by the silence engendered by not being able to talk about something that is illegal to do. The epidemic of amphetamine use is a product of censorship about Amphetamines in general and the “good” ones like ADDERALL in particular… one of Paris Hilton’s favorite drugs.

I just started taking adderall and it was actually prescirbed to me by my doctor specifically for weightloss. So far so good – I am still eating as healthy as i can (veggies, fruit, no red meat) and excercise 3 times a week for about 30-45 mins. So far i have lost 10 lbs in 4 weeks. I am hoping that i wont gain the weight back…

I take aderall for Adult ADD and it does not make me loose weight. I depend on my meds to be able to stay focus and on task. It is a shame that people are selling their meds. This can be a problem for those who really need it.

I weighed 300 pounds at a height of 5-10 and was beginning to have health issues secondary to obesity at 27. I convinced my doctor to write me a prescription for adderall (for “ADHD”) and have now lost 140 pounds. I feel by far the best I have ever felt, and the adderall has contributed to my focus at work. It is, for me, a life-saving wonder drug.

Many, many people in my life have told me how unhealthy this is, how “proper diet and exercise” is the only way to lose weight. This advice is not only wrong, it is irresponsible. Most obese people are obese because their brains tell them to eat when they don’t need to, and their brains punish them with irrestible hunger pangs if they try to ignore the “Eat now!” command. That was exactly my situation. Now, with adderall, I am free from that lifestyle and am finally at a healthy weight.

The “proper diet and exercise” crowd is primarily made up of judgmental thin people who have never fought the hunger demon. Because proper diet and exercise is what works for them, they reason that it should work for everyone. Further, the ridiculous anti-drug bias in society contributes as well. Obese people who take adderall as a life-saving weight loss drug are in no way comparable to crack addicts on the street corner, and it is ridiculous that that point even has to be made.

If you need to lose weight, adderall will help you do it. Do some research on the dangers and side effects of adderall, but be sure to compare them to the dangers and side effects of obesity. Further, compare them as well to the social stigma associated with being fat. I can honestly say I’d rather be thing for 60 years and die of liver failure because of adderall use than be fat for 80 years and die of something else (even though, in all likelihood, the fat will kill me at 60 anyway).

Adderall is a life-saving weight loss drug, and I am living proof of that. If you are obese, my advice is to do what you have to do to get it, whether that means lying to your doctor about ADHD or getting it without a prescription.

Im a 26 year old guy and ive been on ADD meds since I was in 1st grade. I was on ritalin until my freshman year of high school an my grades tanked and I quit school but i got my GED an tried going to college an it was a nightmare because I didnt take my meds. Now that Im older and I look back I never should have stopped taking them because Im 26 unemployed an I have to start college all over again because I couldnt hack it due to my behavior and attitude without my meds. Those meds are lifelines for people like me. An if some speed junkie wants to abuse it or some californian uses it to drop a few pounds it go right ahead they will get caught eventually by the cops and pay the piper.

my son is prescribed Adderall & Clonidine. Adderall for ADD symptoms and the Clonidine for the anxiousness and to help calm him down. They work great together because the Clonidine calms him at night and helps him sleep.

Now, I took his meds to see what he feels like on them. The adderall makes you focus so much and almost feel like you need to be doing something constantly. Then I took the Clonidine at night and it knocked me out. It was nice. But so, the meds do work so well.

My ADHD story could go on for pages, as I’m sure many of your’s could too. Adderall has completely turned my life around. I’ll narrow it down to just a few comments relative to this story. I had weight issues. Nothing grossly obesse, just always overweight. I would often get so caught up, or hyperfocussed, on projects, hobbies etc that I would go hours without eating. Then it would suddenly occur to me that I’m ravenously hungry and would eat everything in sight. Adderall did give me diminished appetite at first but that effect quickly wore off. My weight loss came as a result of remembering to eat when I should and having the focus to stick to better eating habits. As far as sleep habits, I actually sleep better now than before I started taking adderall. Just like my improved eating habits, I can now say “its time to go to bed” and do it. No more late nights when my wife comes looking for me and tells me “its 3 am, have you been to bed yet?” I still have my “Dorey” moments(called so after Dorey the forgetfull fish from “Finding Nemo”), but overall life has been much better and hopefully will continue to improve.

I am a 26-year old female, and I was diagnosed with ADD at the age of 20, during my second year of college. I tried various drugs to help relieve the symptoms of ADD–Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera… I had problems with headaches with 1 or 2 of these, and eventually settled on Ritalin to help me through the rest of my college career. High academic pressure in my later college years led me to become somewhat addicted to Ritalin, justifying taking more doses with the fact that I was staying up later and the effects of earlier doses were wearing off. My life didn’t fall apart as a result of this or anything, however, when I realized what I’d been doing, I was pretty scared. I became resistant to medicating myself for ADD for a long time, afraid I’d get addicted as I’d started to before–or worse. After a while, I felt I needed some help managing my ADD again, so I reopened a prescription for Ritalin, and then for Adderall, but I typically used it only when I needed to do work. Periods of unemployment and temp jobs meant I was usually off the drug for a while, then I would take it for a day, or a week at a time, only. Finally, about 3 months ago, I started taking Adderall at what would be viewed by most as a very small, potentially ineffective dose: 2.5 mg/day. I just split my 5 mg tabs in half, and take one half pill at the beginning or in the middle of the day, and it works perfectly. I don’t get the same anxiety and jitteryness that I do if I take the full 5 mgs. An important part of the success of this is that I was consistent, not sporadic, in my dosing. With the consistent dosing of Adderall, I got used to my brain on Adderall, so I became better able to use my Adderall-ed brain. And, to keep on topic, I have lost a rather significant, but not terribly dramatic, amount of weight, I believe as a result of what taking Adderall has done to my brain. For me, Adderall helps me feel more focused and more in control of things, better able to think about the full picture, and more rationally and logically consider the consequences of my decisions. This is a HUGE shift from my non-Adderall ADD state of being so overwhelmed that I act impulsively without thinking much at all, just to get a decision made–get it over with so I’m not in a panic all the time, so my mind can be a little bit more clear. But when I do that, I usually end up regretting the decision later, which only adds to my anxiety and feeling out of control. This decision-making and impulsiveness DEFINITELY comes into play for me around food. With the dose of Adderall I take, I feel my appetite is more healthy–I am not eating to control emotions, or eating compulsively as much at all–in fact, I think I’ve cut back on it about 95%–which, I believe, is a big part of why I have lost weight. It also really helps to have someone supportive to hold you accountable as you try to take care of yourself, eat healthier, regulate your medication properly–whatever it may be. I am blessed to live with my partner who checks in with me about eating–when I start to get anxious about food, he supports me through it so I am not facing all the stress and compulsive feelings and out of control feelings alone. When I pull food out of the snack cabinet, or try to finish my plate when I’m not actually hungry, he calls me on it, asks if eating this food is something I really need or want to do. Supportive people in our lives who care about us are better than drugs–or at least better than drugs alone–in helping us accomplish our goals and stay accountable/maintain our integrity in healthy ways. Keep good friends and family like that close by and ask for their help and support. Please do be careful with Adderall, whatever you may be using it for, because it IS an impactful drug and may affect you in ways you don’t expect, perhaps especially if you do not have ADD. As a note to anyone who has trouble with getting headaches when taking Adderall: I get Adderall-related headaches almost exclusively when I eat an excessive amount of sugary foods and take Adderall in the same day. Take note of how different foods affect you, too. And did you know that certain foods have been found to aggravate ADD/ADHD? Do some research, online or elsewhere, and be conscious about how you’re managing your own ADD/ADHD or your child’s–a re-evaluation of your diet after reading up on this may show easier/more lasting fixes to ADD/ADHD symptoms than drugs can provide. Be well. Thanks.

Well, I am a junior in high school and I have been prescribed to Vivance, Concerta, Adderall, and a patch that sticks to your ass for my ADHD. When i started adderal on 20 mg’s about 8 months ago, I weighed around 180 pounds.. i now weigh 122 pounds… I noticed i would lose weight rapidly throughout the week because i wouldnt eat breakfast or lunch and sometimes dinner. This article is telling nothing but the truth about adderal. It makes me sick that some of you are trying to critisize this the author just because you don’t use adderall for the same reasons.. Excuse me, but this article isn’t shoving the pills in these readers mouths… ADDERALL WILL MAKE YOU LOSE WEIGHT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND I CAN SAY THAT FROM MY EXPERIENCE IT WILL NOT LEAD TO DEATH OR SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS IF YOU STAY ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF MEDICATION… now, thats better.

I am a nineteen year old freshman in college, and Adderall is saving me here. I was already medicated for my depression, but getting medicated for ADD made everything so much easier for me. I wish I had been on this earlier. Now I don’t watch mouths move and zone out in classes, but actually listen to what is being said. ADD in boys can be shown in their physical displays of acting out, but ADD in girls are usually all mental, all in their focus, so ADD wasn’t suspected at first when I was diagnosed for depression.
Apparently, depression can be caused by untreated ADD.

Of course, Adderall is bank at college. Someone finds out you got a consistent flow, such as a prescription, and it hits all over campus, but I would never give this up. I’m done with being a zombie in the back row trying desperately to keep up in class. Adderall was a blessing.

ADD can help people who really need it. It’s the bad apples that ruins it for all of us. I know doc, lawyers, soldiers, etc… that take adderall because they need it. Sure, even with your script you might have to take an extra one for a “critical situation, emergency” most people have, hell lets not BS around. BUT even so that doesn’t mean they’re a junkie, or anything of that matter. That’s like saying every single person who has tried it without a script has a drug problem, blah blah. For those that need it and you know if you do, it’s a great thing. For those who snort or shoot it, yes, you are a junkie. Put it under your tongue if you must, but snorting/shooting/even smoking is just dumb.

Okay everybody, let’s get real here. Honestly, adderalll is great. I have ADD and take adderall xr, which works magically, but I probably love it more for the side effects. Yes, it does give you a euphoric high, and no, not because your finally getting down to business with things you put off everyday. I’m 18 and started taking adderall junior year of highschool. I lost like 30 pounds rapidly, partly from the appetite suppression and partly because its seriously almost like straight up crack. I feel my metabolism burning while I’m sleeping no lie. I love people on here trying to say that adderall can lead to so many problems, because it won’t. Some people abuse this drug yes, but for everyone who knows limits, its a miracle. Senior year I stopped taking adderall in the summer. And I just started back on it a couple days ago. I love it. I’m producive, I have minor mood swings but what teenager doesn’t, and to be honest, things that used to really bother me, kind of jus don’t matter anymore. Adderall gives you a different perspective and a refreshing new way to see life. It gives you your confidence back, that would be otherwise masked by daily insecurities everyone has from time to time. When I went to my doctor before getting another prescription, she put me on vyvanse for a month. I HATED it. I can relate to the girls in the story about straight out asking for adderall, because I know that its tried and true. Why play around with other meds? I kind of felt like a druggy when I said “vyvanse sucked I need my adderall!” Because honestly, this is your life here! And if adderall compared to other things makes you feel great, just take it! It is often prescribed for weight loss, so anyone telling you it won’t work, is lying. I hope this helps a lot of people debating whether or not to look into it. I’m not gonna push my opinion on others, or try to prevent anyone from trying it. Just offering my story and helpful opinion!

I started taking Adderall XR in August 2009 for my ADD because I was going back to college and know I have had a hard time previously in school with concentration – easily distracted and always have been (I’m 32). Since June, I have lost 45 pounds – which is not all because of the Adderall since I obviously hadn’t started taking that til August. I feel great and got a 3.28 my first semester back in school in 5 years! I maintain the weight loss by eating like I am supposed to – drinking a lot of water and exercising, but I DO know people who abuse Adderall. A friend of mine took it right before a final last semester so he could concentrate better – he doesn’t have ADD, so of course it did the opposite and he was bouncing off the walls! That backfired. I recently asked my doctor about switching to something different because my prescription was costing me $50/month – he told me that Concerta and Strattera would cost me even more, so he kept me on the Adderall. It is an amazing medication if you NEED it – people who abuse it drive me insane. Most days when I don’t have school, I don’t take it because I don’t need it unless I’m doing schoolwork/papers etc. It just seems unnecessary to take it if I’m just relaxing at home. So – on that, Adderall has helped me a lot with concentration – the added bonus was the weight loss and better self-esteem – but school is what is important in my taking this medication.

I’m a 44 yr old man and my doctor switched me from Ritalin to Adderall recently. I lost 20+ pounds in just a month. While the weight loss was not my goal, I didn’t mind it. I also don’t understand why since this medication has been proven safe for long term use, it isn’t used for weight loss???? If that was its intended purpose and that is what the drug does, why isn’t it also used for that purpose as well?

I take Adderall XR for ADHD.
I had mild ADD all my life, but it never bothered me bad enough to see a doctor. At the age of 27 I went to a psychiatrist for depression. I was placed on a veriety of SSRI’s (Paxil, Cymbalta, Zoloft, etc). I took those drugs for 4 years in a wasted effort to help my depression. As a result, I wasted 4 years of my life, and put on 60 lbs of fat.
When I decided to come off of the SSRI’s I had difficulty paying attention, or sitting still, or managing my emotions. I was never this bad before the anti-depressants.
I figured I was going through an adjustment phase, but after 6 months of this, I realized whatever was wrong with me was permanent. I ended up getting a diagnosis of ADHD.

So a life with mild ADD became severe ADHD after going off of anti-depressants, I can’t figure how that happened other than saying “brain damage from the SSRI’s”

Anyhow, the first medication I was given for the ADHD was Strattera. Let me just say that in 33 years of my life, I have never been on a drug that made me as sick as Strattera. It gave me so many physical and mental side effects. I had practically every one of the side effects listed for that drug.

I was only on that garbage for a month. Then my psychiatrist put me on Adderall XR. Adderall, greatly helped me focus my mind, it took out a lot of the hyperactivity, it even helped me deeply on an emotional level. I am no longer an irritable, grumpy, mood swinging, person, and it works as a great anti-depressant. Which is funny, because anti-depressants ended up making my depression worse, just in a different way.

As for the weight loss: I lost 100 pounds in a year, and became way too thin. At 6′0 tall, I weighed 147 lbs!

I had to go off of it for a few months just to put some meat back on my bones.

I’ve been taking Adderall again for the past 3 months. I struggle to maintain weight (I am at 160 lbs). I eat a lot of foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates.

I would say it’s weight loss effect is amazingly powerful. For me it was a little too powerful. Also, I have noticed since the first month I started taking it that my acne got worse. My doctor swore that Adderall can’t cause acne to get worse, and I swear it does.

So I’ve had my ups and downs with Adderall.
I am still not comfortable with the amount of ADHD relief it has given me, and I know a higher dosage wouldn’t work. And the weight thing is an issue. It’s hard keeping on weight.
I asked my doctor for Ritalin/methylphenidate, but she declined. She doesn’t believe in prescribing short acting drugs like Ritalin or Xanax. So she’s an idiot, enough said.

On the topic of people “abusing” it for weight loss: That’s a joke, we the people have been abused by the pharmaceutical companies and doctors when we are told anti-depressants alleviate depression. As much as we are lied to about drugs/medicine by the pharmaceutical companies, especially in regards to psychiatric medicine, I can’t see how it’s possible for a patient to abuse a drug, when most of the drugs the doctor will prescribe a patient will abuse the patient.

As for the people who “abuse” Adderall and Ritalin to study for college: I thought the whole purpose of the drug was to help people focus their mind and attention on a subject? I thought the whole reason ADD/ADHD medicines were invented was originally to help children do better in school?

So if a “child” constantly performs bad in school, we “force” drugs down his throat so that he’ll get better grades and stop bothering the teacher with his rambunctious behavior. However, if an adult is failing college (that they sank a lot of money into) taking some of these pills here and there to help them study; that’s abuse?

And so what if some insecure teenage girl wants to use it to lose weight? Her alternatives are going to be: staying fat (which will make her insecure, possibly social avoidant, and possibly lead to social anxiety and depression). Or she could spend hundreds or thousands of dollars taking herbal weight loss crap that won’t work. Or she can develop an eating disorder and then we all get to ring our hands and cry about teenagers developing eating disorders and then point our finger at the fashion industry.

So if news columns aren’t griping about Adderall abuse for weight loss, they’d be griping about eating disorders.
And if it wasn’t for amphetamine abuse and eating disorders, the media will just reveal how shocking it is that American’s are so obese.

Can’t win for losing LOL

I hope this comment won’t make me sound like a stupid 20-something in college, but i would just like to give my own input.

My own personal experience is this: I am 22 years old and in my junior year of college. I remember when i was in elementary school i would have friends left and right being diagnosed as ADD/ADHD. I asked my mother what it was and she explained it to me and later on in life i was interested in the whole over-diagnosis of it. But Listening to those reports and hearing the symptoms i started to think of myself and recognized a great deal of similarities. I never brought this up to my parents because my parents is the type to shrug it off as bullshit and not really listen. And since i am in college and am fortunate enough to have parents that try their best to support my financially, i’m on their insurance. All doctor visit and prescriptions are paid for by them. This just isn’t an issue that they will feel is necessary to deal with, so i deal with it myself.

Now, i don’t consider myself a genius or a brain, but i know myself and i am an eager learner; i have an above average, smart head on my shoulders. When a task is placed in front of me, i’m excited to follow up and get an experience out of it. I like to do well. Everyone does. But more often than not, it becomes a huge struggle for me to be able to sit down and get things done. The atmosphere around my has to be in certain condition, and sometimes it could take hours for that to be accomplished. Once that is done, it could take another 1-2 hours for me to be able to organize my thoughts. The by the time these things are done, its late and i have to go through extreme motivational processes with myself to continue, in addition to staying awake (all day classes=late night study-parties with myself). Sometimes i might have to call my boyfriend for support and affirmation that i can do it. I don’t want to call myself crippled by the effects of ADD/ADHD, and i by no means want to use it as a crutch in my life, but it is a problem that i have to deal with. The extent of my exertion becomes debilitating, tiring and usually exacerbates matters because of the stress.

(apologies for length) I make due by struggling with myself for most assignments and obligations as a full-time student. Finding adderall, though, is a cinch on a college campus. I can’t take my own personal stress for, however long i’ll still be in college, so it’s nice to have friends who share. I take it when i’ll need it, and i keep an extra on hand for the next time. I might do it, say, 4 or 5 times a quarter.

As for its use for weight loss and the high feeling, i’m bulimic. I’ve been slowly overcoming this problem since high school and i eat fairly healthy now. To me, taking adderall at night instead of, say, smoking a fat bowl, has way better results for me. I can either get even more distracted, munch out, then puke it all up from all of my self-deprecating thoughts, or i can eat a decent dinner and feel satisfied the rest of my evening. Sometimes even into the next day.

Those are my thoughts. Just wanted to add another perspective.