Adderall® Withdrawal and Treatment

Dextroamphetamine – Adderall®, Biphetamine®, Dexotrostat®, and Dexedrine®.

Adderall is the trademark name of a combination amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These are powerful stimulants of the central nervous system. Most people would feel jittery and “over-caffeinated” if they took Adderall. However, Adderall has a paradoxical effect on children with Attention Deficit Disorder. The drug calms the children down, helping them to focus on their schoolwork and control their impulses.

In one 2008 study of 1,200 college freshmen done by the Center for Substance Abuse Research, researchers found that Adderall was the most popular drug used to enhance mental performance, and that many professors were abusing stimulants for the same reason. Allure magazine and other media have reported that Adderall abuse is increasing as a trend among women who want to lose weight and stay slim; a study from the University of Iowa indicates that 46% of stimulant abusers are females.

People who become dependent on Adderall and other products containing dextroamphetamine say the drugs make them feel strong and confident. They are able to go without sleep for days and accomplish everything on their to-do lists. According to a leading authority, Dr. Andrew Weil, Adderall appeals in particular to people who are depressed, neurotic and overweight. It also appeals to overly ambitious, highly driven people. 

The problem is that Adderall and other drugs containing dextroamphetamine “speed up” the human body. These drugs put people in a high-energy state, causing loss of appetite and fatigue. When the drug wears off, they “crash” and feel exhausted, craving more drugs to make them feel energetic again.

Usually, if a person has been taking Adderall at low levels, he or she can withdraw from the drug without experiencing many negative symptoms. However, those who have increased their dosage beyond medically recommended levels and who have been abusing amphetamines for more than a few months may experience withdrawal symptoms. The usual ones are extreme fatigue, insomnia, depression, unusual behaviors, irritability, loss of interest in daily activities, loss of appetite, and even thoughts of suicide. Some people have hallucinations and paranoia.

You can contact a trained counselor at 866.323.5613 any time you want to discuss your dependency on Adderall or other amphetamines. If you are using these drugs at high dosages and if you have become dependent on them, you may want to consider going through withdrawal under medical supervision.

Once you withdraw from the drug, you will need to face the underlying issues that drew you into stimulant abuse. These are often issues such as obesity, poor self-esteem, inability to live up to self-expectations, depression, and other problems. You can explore these issues with a trained therapist. Sometimes anti-depressant medications can help, too. Your phone counselor can help you locate a residential or outpatient program in your area to help you break your dependency on Adderall or other amphetamine drugs.