Adderral WTF? Killing my sister?

I'm not sure what is going on but I know that 6 months ago her psychiatrist put her on this drug. She is med-packed which means everyday a Nurse drops off her medication....or it could be once a week...I can't tell but I did see the packages the other day.

Her counselor had called me and told me she needed someone from her family to talk to..I hadn't seen her in 6 months.

OMG as soon as I walked in she started pulling me by the arm..telling me to hurry up and come in.

She insists she is being watched, bugged, picked on abused, chased by the "clown gang"...so immediately (I had forgotten she was on Adderall)...But immediately I knew this was drug induced psychosis.

She weighs about 80 lbs...she looks dead....I asked about the medication she was on and when she mentioned Adderall...I felt in my gut that is what it was..that is how she started freaking out on me and telling me she is not abusing drugs and that she is "med-packed"...for which I needed an explanation and I wanted to "see" the pills.

They were ALL there..she is NOT abusing Adderall...but I have to believe it is possible for this condition to be related to Adderall because I have never seen her in this bad of shape.

I called the counselor...that called me and told her my concerns...she told me that the Dr. was also thinking the same thing..this Dr. is new to her the other one was let go she was very helpful and has known my sister FOREVER...so ...So, I asked they stop that medication NOW...she agreed.

And then I saw my counselor and she said she should be hospitalized..So I called this counselor back and told her that since the center is responsible IMO of her condition someone needed to go there and see if she needs hospitalization.

I did not get a return call that time. So today I went there..hoping to see something different...and she was worse...and kicked me out in 2 minutes...cause she kept saying I don't believe her about all these people after her.

So, I know I can not talk to her rationally at this time. I felt like I should call the ambulance but the police and everyone think she is crazy and they have NOT sent her in for mandatory hold for psyche evaluation so I felt like I would hit a brick wall with them and now due to the holiday? I have to wait till Tues?

What would you do in this situation...I'm really beside myself.

Hi. I'm sorry you and your sister are going through this
Is she a danger to herself or others?

hi. good thing about amphetamine psychosis: if one can stop the amphetamine and get a good sleep+wake cycle going, it usually lifts. I don't know why on earth docs do stuff like this, honestly. Its not just your sister, either. amphetamines have been around since the 30s or so, and amphetamine psychosis has been in the literature since then. and yet...some doctors give rx speed to people and ignore obvious signs of psychosis (or simply do not care).

im not a doctor, but...usually, if you discontinue an amphetamine, there's some dysphoria, sometimes straight up depression. when there's multiple psych drugs invovled, things can get complicated. some docs will use amphetamines to counteract sedation from other drugs, so if you drop the upper you get a mega-crash, with amphetamine withdrawal+full on sedation from the other drugs.

sorry this is happening. makes me sick, in large part because ive been there myself, so i know how the "professionals" tend to handle these situations. they always blame the patient for the prescribing habits of the doctor. seriously. its...disgusting.

i hope you can get your sister some kind of help. i would say a hospital, but sometimes those can be rough, and it sounds like whoever is handling your sister's "care" really doesn't give a *****. "nothing personal..." seems to be about standard for Mental Health, Inc. in these united states.

hang in there. :-)

I would try to get her to the hospital. It sounds like she really needs to have 24/7 care at this point in time. Is there a hospital in the area that has a Mental Health Crisis Unit? We have one locally and they are very good about not turning away someone that really needs help.

I'm sorry that she is going through this. And sorry that you are too.

offthevalley - Thank you

Still Crazy...wow...I didn't know many Drs still prescribe Adderall so freely because i have trouble getting 2 small benzos a day!

reb - I thought the same thing as you but she will not be willing to go anywhere...and I think I need her case worker with me to convince her..I"m just hoping she lives till TUESDAY.

If it gets too bad call 911, especially if you fear for her life.

I'm sorry your sister is unwell. She sounds like she needs to be hospitalized and off the adderall immediately. Can you work with her tdoc and pdoc. It might be better coming from them. I wish you well. Good luck.

reb and jennifer..yea..I'm waiting for her therapy center to open and see if someone will go over there with me to convince her to go to hospitalization.

Since she is on a super paranoid spectrum...she is going to be very adamant about NOT going to the hospital..and I know me, myself and I can not convince her alone.