Adderall - Anxiety

I just started adderall 30 mgs; already on a cocktail of other meds lamictal 100 mgs, effexor 75 mgs (titrating up), lithium 50 mgs titrating down and trileptal 75 mgs (titrating down). I love the way it helps my cognitive thinking; I actually feel human, sort of. The other half of the story is the extreme anxiety it causes; from the moment I started it I was not able to sit down for more than 10 minutes, no sleep at all, when trying to sleep I can't stop playing with my tongue moving it around in my mouth, I constantly have to swallow, I am a social smoker very infrequently; the first day I smoked a half of pack and had extreme cravings for alcohol. Are these extreme effects normal?

Hi,
I take Adderal Xr and at first it did cause some anxiety. As far as the anxiety goes as well loolking at the 'Big Picture' of all the medications that are being adjusted at the same time I think that in itself may be causing anxiety in itself as you adjust to the increases and withdrawal from the decreases. As far as smoking and craving alcohol, I have not had those experiences with Adderal Xr.

If you had a history of self medicating anxiety with tobacco or alcolhol that history could possible contribute to the cravings for alcohol to ease the anxiety, which I would not suggest- chris

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~KRIS~

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

Chris,

Thanks for your insight. I agree that the adjusting from the ups and dowms of the meds is a factor. I just wonder to what degree is the anxiety going to wean off. Yes, I have had a past history of self medicating with alcohol and am trying very hard to fight the craving; I actually have fought it so that is a good sign. Have you had any issues with your anxiety causes any ulcers in your mouth? Since my mouth is my source of "pain" from my anxiety; always playing with my tongue I have developed apthous ulcers on my tongue. Also, how about nausea? I have it all day long and have tried all types of remedies nothing has helped.

Thanks
littlep

Littep,

I am sorry to hear of the pain in your mouth, I have not had that type of pain near any degree of what you have described. I do hope that the medications will even out soon, and that you will have less anxiety. I think it is great and very positive that you have been able to stay sober through this. My anxiety currently is high, and I tend to pick at my skin and blemishes it is almost as with your tongue, my fingers are constantly pinching and searching all over my body and it is a horrible thing. So seems my hands are doing to my skin what your tongue is doing to you.

I have nausea and have been taking a medication for acid reflux disease and it is called (brand name) Protonix. I take 40mg once a day and it has helped quite a bit, though expensive, is covered by my medicaid.

By the way with your tongue movements are they invoulentary, I have been on in the past some older medications like Haldol, Thorazine etc. they can cause the tongue to move invoulentary and there are side effect meds for it I take Artane, I used to take Cogentin.

Hope your anxiety levels out and becomes tolerable- Take it easy- Chris

______________
~KRIS~

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

When I was in the psychiatric hospital, they put me on adderall to "perk me up". I was up for two days straight! I obviously don't react well to stimulants. Perhaps you should talk to your doctor about the urge to smoke and drink. I'm pretty sure that isn't normal.

littlep,

I wouldn't call that 'normal' per se, but I can tell you that I had just about exactly the same reaction to Adderall - I was a social smoker, and I chain smoked like mad whenever I took it. It made me anxious, paranoid and very, very up and I ended up with mouth sores from chewing on my lip. This is probably due to the fact that Adderall is pure speed. Its chemical name is "Methamphetamine Salts" and it acts just like it sounds. For some people, the side effects are minimal but for others they can be pretty bad. If I were you, I'd talk to my psychiatrist about trying another kind of med. I take Concerta now with no icky side effects and it works just as well if not better than Adderall. Good luck!

some of it's magic
some of it's tragic
but i had a good life all the way......
~jimmy buffett

I am saying WOW at the 30 bit to start with. When I started on it it was 10 mg and then 20mg. 20 mg has me dancing round with sharp thoughts and the urge to totall clean my house, put the papers in order, cook dinner, clean the kids and run 20 miles.. LOL 10 on most day's is a pretty decent get going and keep it in the groove with an occasional 5mg through in at lunch time if things are still just not going right. BUT that's the only med I am on too. Don't know if that makes the difference or not.

Arlene