Adderall for both ADHD and eating disorders

erinnikita · Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

I am a 19 year old female who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. Both my psychiatrist and doctor have recomended straterra or adderall. Just started my first dose of 20 mg of adderall xr today. In conjunction with the ADHD I also have post traumatic stress (rape) which brought on anxiety and mild depression and have had anorexia (jan-sep 06) and bulimia (oct-present). I'm not sure if I'm just extremely hyped on the med, or if it is actually working this quickly. So far my productivity within the day has been incredible and I haven't binged once or even thought about it. I feel like I can actually get things done and my mind isn't going a million miles a hour. So far, for the sides: only a light headache, mild sweats and the jitters.

So my questions are: is anybody in the same boat being treated for both ADHD and other mood disorders? If so, what meds or combos are being used?
Does Adderall help with impulsivity? And has it ever been used to treat a disorder such as Bulimia?

Input or personl experience would be greatly appreciated!!

Guest · Guest

I have had ADD, depression and anorexia/bulimia (mostly bulimia) for a long time now. after getting prescribed adderall (20mg twice a day) for my ADD, my productivity increased tons (like yours) and my bingeing stopped completely. however, for me at least, i abused the appetite suppressing properties of the adderall in order to lose weight. in my opinion (even though i do it), using adderall when you have an eating disorder is a really BAD idea. if you still think the positives outweigh the negatives, just try eating healthy... i guess... LOL good luck if you're as food obsessed as i am.
to summarize this: DON'T use adderall if you have eating disorders/body image distortions. it can be VERY tempting and addictive. it was for me.

Guest · Guest

Im in the same boat, 19 year old male anorexia-bulimia-anorexia diagnosed with eating disorders, severe depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and the whole nine yards. adderall makes a lot of things worse and the only reason i was prescribed it was because i was taking advantage of my psychiatrist and wanted to get out of bulimia... and back into anorexia. in reality she was just the drug pusher and didn't care much about her patients and i was a textbook desperate eating disorder patient

my med combo was: 1 40mg prozac, 1 300 mg wellbutrin, 2 100 seroquel, 2 1mg klonopin, and 1 30 mg adderall. it was living with uppers to get me out of bed, and downers to bring me back down.

anyway

adderall makes impulsivity worse, you'll want to keep down what you eat long enough until you know the drug is in your body then you become a bulimic on crack. funny thing is being on adderall actually led me to learn how to puke without inducing so i could puke on demand.

i would say if you want to get better, take straterra. a non-stimuant drug for adhd. adderall seemed to work in the beginning but 6 months later i freaked out, took myself off everything (dumb move i know) didn't talk to anyone for around a month, and began recovering to find out that im starting to gain weight due and turning back to adderall to fix it.

now i am basically a prescription drug addict, taking klonopin to take away a lot of guilt and pain and taking adderall to suppress feeling hungry.

bottom line, find your right combination and remember there is no easy way out, it might seem good now but quit (with doctors help, learn from me) before you become another junkie.

Guest · Guest

Lets be careful not to bash adderall to heavily. If prescribed to someone with an eating disorder, it was my experience, after eight months in treatment, that docs especially those who are specialized to treat eating disorders, will most likely prescribe adderall after you have terminated the obbession with food and weight. YES, this is possible, so instead of using a stimulant, that can also cause weight loss, headaches...its beneficial to wait. It is addictive, otherwise it creates a signal in your brain that tells you that, you need adderall to function.
And lets just be honest here, I went to one of the best treatment centers in the world for my eating disorder, but it remains that people with ed, are treated like guinea pigs. I have "sampled" just about every med on the market, in addition to several doctors diagnoses'. Effexor took 9 months to ween off of, klonopin ( who knows at this point, but the side effects or withdrawl symptoms when its not in your system have by far been the worst for me. ) serequil as well. It sounds like we all have something in common-drugs they think should be used to treat eating disorders, maybe they think that by zoneing out the negative thoughts, enough to refeed the body, that we will think "normal" again.
Let me say though, its terrible to have gone through the treatment and work and years of therapy and support groups to find out that your psychiatrist has no idea what to do with you because nothing is working. Reduce the symptomolgy of your ed and I promise you will notice a change in the way your medicine affects you positivly, just be prepared to know more than your doc. Good luck!

Adderall for both ADHD and eating disorders

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