Is weight loss with Adderall normal?

I really appreciate this post! My own personal thoughts on adderall is this: I have ADD and adderall does help me to concentrate better and focus and understand this better. As for weightloss, I really don't mind this particular side effect because I would like to lose weight, and I feel that it does help me focus better on dieting and exercising when I take it. I do believe that the side effects are different for everyone and not everyone exerperiences are the same on the medication. For instance I don't think that is drug is addictive for me. I usually can go verylong periods of time without taking it and don't experience a thing (except the ADD kicks in) but on the other hand when I do decide to take it, I experience terrible migranes (what is up with that?) and the dry mouth thing is kindof irritating as well. All in all I'm perfectly happy with the meds and I'm glad I have something that can help me focus better.

Totally agree. And one more thing: DON'T DRINK COFFEE or other cafeinated beverages AFTER NOON!!!



ADD sufferers are particularly susceptible to this because most of us picked up the habit of using caffiene--or nicotine or other stimulants--when we wanted to concentrate on something or just feel less in a fog, particularly when attending parties, going on dates or other social functions. This is a habit that has to change. It is totally inappropriate when you're taking a powerful stimulant like Adderall or Dexedrine.



I made the mistake of drinking two iced coffees after dinner last night. I'm working on two hours of sleep right now. At least I got some work done last night though. ;-)







I really disagree with this one. Maybe it's different for people who don't have ADD, but I feel better because I don't get mad at myself for missing appointments, forgetting to do things I've promised to people who love and depend on me. All that destructive, self-directed anger is gone!



I also feel good because of the way people compliment me on how much calmer I am, how much more focused I am, how well I follow through on my commitments, and how much better I look since I've lost the extra 60 pounds I was carrying around.



But I'm absolutely out-of-my-mind thrilled that if I stay on course and continue losing weight and exercising as I am, I am actually going to be able to go surfing again--something I used to absolutely love more than life itself, and something I thought was gone from my life forever until just recently.



If that sounds like a drug-induced euphoria, or some kind of "unnatural high," then I'd like to hear your definition of true happiness, because I'm very sure I've never experienced it.



By the way, you want to see mood swings? You should have seen me before I got my ADD treated.







When you have ADD you're never "done." If you stop taking your meds for just a day, the fog comes back. You become more irritable. You are so preoccupied with the uncontrollable thoughts swirling inside your brain that you appear to withdraw inside your own head. People start asking you what's wrong, and you either mutter something or snap at them, and you don't even know which it's going to be until it happens. ADD isn't fun.



I'd also like to point out that it's a well-known fact that ADD sufferers are far more likely to abuse drugs if we go untreated. We know something's wrong with us, and we'll do anything to get out of pain, whether it's taking stimulants to feel sharper or depressants to get numb. And we engage in all kinds of high risk behaviors. We drive fast, take risks and push everything to the hairy edge, because we like the adrenaline. We need the stimulation. It's the only way we feel really alive. We also work better under pressure, so we leave everything to the last minute in order to create pressure, which is real pleasant for the people who have to work with us, and of course we can't sustain that kind of energy for long, so every now and then we say "f--- it!" and throw in the towel, and somebody else usually gets to pick up the pieces. So would you rather see us living like that or popping an Adderall and curling up with a good book?



I remember asking myself, when I first started taking Adderall, what if it burns me out? What if my system just can't take it? Well, I can answer that now, and the answer is that if I have to choose between living for ten years the way I feel now and living for another 40 years in a fog, I'll take the ten, but frankly, I don't think I have to make that choice. My weight's down; my blood pressure is way down; my cholesterol is lower and I'm taking lower doses of the statin drug I've been on, and I'm making better choices about what I eat and how I live, so I might just go on for another 40 or 50 years like this.







You forgot to mention that constipation is one of the cons--until you learn to make better food choices. For me that has become easy now that I choose food for what it can do for me instead of how it will taste or how I think it will make me feel.







The thing that always made exercise hard for me had nothing to do with the pain. It was the boredom. Now I find I can stick to it, just like I can stick to any other task I choose to undertake.



One word of caution, though: I think it does elevate your pain threshold a little. I sometimes find myself exercising to the point of exhaustion at times, where I'll actually find it difficult to remain standing. I almost fell when I was running steps because my leg muscles just stopped responding before I felt really tired. I've had to learn how to anticipate exhaustion and stop pushing myself so hard.







I've found work a lot more enjoyable now that I can focus. I'm starting to complete projects I'd started and moved to the back burner. Strangely, my television consumption has dwindled to next to nothing. It's just so much less interesting than all the other things I can do now that I can focus. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd probably think that all the anti-drug propaganda out there is being promoted by the broadcasting and entertainment industry. :-)







Yes, research is the key. It is also important to work with a physician who monitors your progress, behaviorally and physiologically, and constantly checks for any signs of side-effects, addiction or other adverse reactions and who has the expertise to prescribe a different medication at the first sign of trouble. It is also important to have a friend, a spouse or other loved one who is close to you and knows your emotional history intimately, who can stay vigilant to any changes in your mood or temperament and alert you and/or your physician if they see any that are not positive.

Guest wrote:

I've been on Adderall for several weeks now (to treat ADD) and it works miracles as far as my ability to organize and complete tasks, however, I haven't lost a pound! I was hoping for that side effect and still am. I'm on 40 mg a day (1 pill/2x/day). Does anybody have any insight for me?

By the way, I would not be taking this drug if I didn't have ADD because some of the side effects can be rather unpleasant.

This is pretty unusual. I have heard of people who've experienced weight loss with no improvement in attention disorders, but never the reverse!

I'm not sure what to suggest. Normally I recommend trying other medications (Dexedrine, Ritalin, Concerta or Focalin), but Adderall is the one that is most likely to cause weight loss. It still might be worth trying some of the others, but I am not too hopeful.

Perhaps you might respond to some counseling. My big issue was stress eating and other emotion-related eating, but this was pretty effectively resolved by getting rid of the source of my stress and self-directed anger: my ADD. You may have some other issues to work through.

Another possibility would be looking for signs of a metabolic disorder. Have you had any blood work done lately? Do you know what your TSH levels are like?

Good luck!

i have ADHD and when i was in 7th grade i took adderall and it really work. i was really skinny(100 pounds no i did not have a eating disortor) before i when on it and i didnt gain any weight while i was on it. so my mom took me off it i gain 40 pounds in less then 3 months i got really depressed . iam 18 now and iam back on it . i wouldnt go on it unless you have ADHD and are going to be on it forever because the effects of going off of it just isnt worth it.

I am 18 years old, I was prescribed 40mg of Adderall XR per day right before my senior year in high school started. During the first three days of using it I lost about 15 pounds (granted, I had that much extra weight to lose). After a few months I had lost almost 60 pounds. I quit taking Adderall everyday because I did, and still do, hate the way it makes me feel but I am glad I took it because of the weight loss. In my opinion though, Adderall should never be used strictly for weight loss. It just happened to be a nice side effect for me.

I'm 37 and recently officially been diagnosed with ADD-I have known since I was a teen that I had ADD. I decided to take adderall in Sept 07 after I realized that my lack of focus was jeopardizing my marriage(I'll spare you the long story). I take 20mgs of add xr in the morning. It has helped me with my attention and my marriage but I have lost weight since I started and it troubles me a bit. The first week I started, I didn't eat for 35 hours. I have started taking multi-vitamins and electrolyte drinks after consulting with my doctor and I feel a lot better. The weight loss in combination with the focus of the adderall has inspired me to do nightime yoga which not only helps stretch my body but also helps me get to sleep.

Good luck to all.

I took adderall all through highschool to treat my ADD, and then discontinued use when I graduated thinking that I would no longer need it for my studies. I quickly gained back the 50 lbs. I lost on it plus more. I sank into a deep depression and at times felt psychotic, and experienced symptoms very similar to that of a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Adderall will help you loose weight at a very fast rate, but the side effects on your body and mental health in my opinion are not worth it.

I use to be prescribed adderall, I am currently writting a paper on it right now. I feel that convincing your body that it isn't hungry is no different than starving yourself, which is extremely unhealthy. I also found that when I wouldn't eat all day the crash at around five would be horrible and I would become really angry and feel sick.

i took adderall for about 6 months for my ADD. It did help me to focus but the lack of ability to sleep was not worth the added focus. i am trying alternative ways to stay focused. i lost about 10 to 15 lbs but as soon as i stopped taking it, i gained that weight back and have had to kickstart my metabolism back with a special diet.

Ok, first off.
I've had a diagnosis for ADHD for 4 years now.
And my brother has had one for about hmmm...13 years.
Both he and I have been on Adderall multiple times, on and off.
It made me lose weight, I kept it off. My metabolism did NOT slow down, and I STILL continued to lose weight.
Amphetamine is a stimulant, it STIMULATES your central nervous system. As well as your metabolism. I've asked several physicians about this, including the top Endocrinologist and Psychologist in my state.
My brother took Adderall, lost a significant amount of weight, and has stayed skinny since.
As long as you don't eat like an id**t, take a walk every once in a while, and avoid late night snacking, you'll be just fine, after you stop taking the Adderall.
And if you try and get prescribed Adderall for weight loss, and you do not have ADD, sorry....but you need a bonified diagnosis nowadays. They're cracking down even harder on this stuff. Don't get your hopes up.

My friend gave me some Aderral and i took it for 3 days.

He gave me a 30mg pill which I split in 4 and took 1 of the 4 pieces a day.

thats a 7.5mg dose.

Man.

The first two times i took it I felt nothing.
The third day I took it my energy skyrocketed, I was like a Machine at work, and my appetite was gone.

BUT, then I would crash. At about 4pm I would be just so drained feeling. I usually work out 5 times per week but I did not work out the first half of this week because all I wanted to do was sleep.

I am just so surprised that such a small amoutn had such an effect on me.

It effected my mood as well...when I was off it I felt really BLAH.

Any thoughts?

I've been on Adderall for a little over a year now.

I'm 23, female... started taking a small dose (10mg twice a day) back in March of 2007. My dosage was increased to 20mg/2x a day a couple months later, and I have remained at that dosage ever since.

I lost the most weight around months 2-7, then it gradually tapered off. Currently, I'm around 120-125 lbs, which is a good 40 lbs less than what I weighed before I started adderall. Though it wasn't my sole intention for taking adderall, it has been a pleasant side effect. But I must mention that it wasn't the adderall alone- it helped and was a great start, but I also ate healthier too.

From personal experience, I believe it to be a wonder drug. HOWEVER, I have seen a very ugly side to it as well. To better educate people, I'd like to share both experiences.

My personal experience has been amazing. I have received all A's in my college courses since taking it. And not from "night cram sessions" that were adderall fueled.. but rather because I could pay attention in class, was more motivated, and could retain more from reading the dry material in our textbooks. My motivation level is so much higher... in many aspects. I am more productive at my job, as well as at home. I enjoy accomplishing tasks and keeping an orderly home. My mood is also slightly elevated while on adderall; not to the point where I am "out of it" or anything, just a little more pleasant overall. Also, the weight loss was a bonus. I have more energy, and feel much better about myself. Now that I am at a healthy weight (5'4" and 120), my concentration is on eating healthy and maintaining this weight... not losing any more.

The evil side of adderall.. my ex-boyfriend was on adderall before I was. Except, he abused it. 30mg/3 times a day was what we was prescribed; however, he usually went through his prescription in about half the time.. so I would say he took upwards of 90-120 mgs some days. He lost a lot of weight- to the point of being too thin. And he used the drug to stay awake longer and to work harder. His life and his prescription became devoted to his work... and that had serious consequences. Because he would binge on adderall, and then have to go without for several days, he would become EXTREMELY tired and irritable. I mean EXTREMELY. To the point he would sleep and eat all day, and became snappy and aggressive when he ran out of his prescription. I broke up with him because his abuse of adderall and stress had become too much. He became mean and almost bi-polar, and then he turned psychotic. Truly. He was not the same person when we broke up. It's very difficult to explain, but I truly feel that this change was because of the prolonged abuse, followed by the sudden stop of adderall.

That being said, adderall is good in moderation. People with true ADHD will benefit the most. But even if you want to take it for just weight loss, I wouldn't discourage it. Just know your limits, and stick with a low dosage. It will suppress your appetite significantly the first few months you take it, but your appetite will eventually return back to normal. The key is.. adderall helps with cravings, and you eat less with each meal. It also increases metabolism and energy, so those first few months will be fairly drastic. After that, it is your responsiblity not to increase the dose, but simply to continue a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and nutrition. Adderall is a great "nudge" for weight loss, but don't count on it alone and only use as prescribed.

A few negatives to keep in mind... adderall is known for causing constipation.. so be mindful and prepared for that (even more reason to eat healthier foods). Also, you'll have dry mouth... I got in the routine of taking a water bottle with me everywhere. And occasionally, when the medicine wears off, you may get tired or have a headache.. though I don't experience this frequently.

Bottom line: Great drug, if you can practice a little self-control. ;)

That is incorrect. I am prescribed to adderall and I have been on adhd medication since kindergarten...i am now a sophomore in college.



Adderall is not a suppressant or depressant. It is a Schedule II controlled substance, classified as a Psycho-Stimulant. It does not slow your metabolism, it just replaces a chemical imbalance in your brain to help you concentrate. With this said, the chemical balance can throw off you're appetite. I still eat when im on the medicine.



Thanks



-marty

I have benn taking adderoll off and on the past few months and have had both good and bad. Adderoll is a very powerful stimulant. It cause euphoria which means extreme rush. When I take it on an empty stomach the pill works in about half an hour. Anyway the good things I have noticed are as follows: focus and comprehension improve ten full. When the pill enters your brain the central nervous system becomes stimulated beyond belief. Your alert, focused, motivated, happy, and a little cocky. You can think and speak very inteligantly and spit out words very quickly. You become very good at debating because things come to mind so fast and things other people say do not effect you. I wonder if attornys use amphetamines LOL.

I do have to caution tho, if you have bi-polar disorder, DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE OR ANYTHING LIKE IT. For those who dont know you can go to webmd.com and look it up for a full def. Other bad things about the medicine are, irregular sleep patterns, suppressed appetite, racing heart, hedaches, toothaches, higher rate of sugar and water intake, phsycosis, hallucinations, and what I mean by hallucinations is that your memory's becaome very real. Its not like your doin shrooms or anything but your thoughts race. Your sex drive also becomes very active. No matter male or female your turned on as hell. Your always thirsty to. You can never quench your thirst. The cras sucks too. After about 8 hours the medicine wears off and you feel down in the dumps. If you do take this medicine and you crash, do not take another pill for this will cause it to become even worse. Talk to your doctor if you have those horrible feelings on this medicine. He will either perscribe you with a supplimental medicine or something different. This is just my epeirence with it and everyone is different so it all depends on what your chemistry is.

I am a 31 year old female who was just diagnosed today with Adult ADHD. I have been married just over a year and my husband and I fight over one thing... my inability to complete what I start. Okay to be truthful we fight about my lack of memory and my impulsive behavior too.

We actually got in a fight last week because I opened his birthday gift of expensive alchohal without asking or thinking. He was very upset and kept saying I was insensitive and asked why??? I couldn't give him an answer... I just did it. Not a thought crossed my mind before doing it... it was totally impulsive. This freaked me out a little because my mom had paranoia schizophrenia. Because of this I have always been a little freaked out by anything in the mental health field... I also had a bad experience as kid (that is a story for another time). However I am an adult now and I take responsibility for my actions and since schizophrenia can be genetic, I better look into now.

I started doing some research on symptoms and noticed that other than forgetting things none of the other schizophrenia symptoms happened to me. Under the symptom forgetting things it said to look at Adult ADHD... so I did. Talk about an eye opener, it was if they were describing my entire childhood and adulthood. I was a high functioning person with ADHD and had adapted things to get by, but had always felt like I was not living up to my potenital and now those adaptations were falling apart effecting my business, marriage and life. So I made an appointment with a recommended doctor in my area.

We met this morning and talked about everything going on and why I think I might be ADHD. I explained my life, marriage and work. She asked me a lot of questions about my family and if anyone else had ADD or ADHD. (my brother has severe ADD and was diagnosed at age 9... he use to take meds but no longer does. We talked about my mom and the doctor told me that I definatly don't have schizophrenia. Finally she said that this is quite common and that she thinks I have ADHD and probably always had it. She said it is common for it not to effect someone like me because until later in life when there are more responsibilites (husband, work, mortgage etc...). She gave me a prescritption for 10mg 2x of Adderall. I just took my first pill today... not sure if I feel a difference yet.

I tell you this story because if anyone else thinks they might have it, they should see a doctor. There is no shame in being healthy and getting help.