Medicines are life saviors when used in the right amount and at the right time. However, anything taken for the wrong reasons or without a prescription can be dangerous for the short-term and/or long-term.
The same is the case with artificial stimulants like Adderall. In 2022, research showed that 3.4% of 18-year-old students were taking Adderall to ease their symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy.
Adderall, a drug generally prescribed to patients suffering from symptoms of ADHD, fatigue, and sleeplessness, if taken without the prescription of a certified medical professional can be highly addictive and the Adderall withdrawal timeline can vary for different individuals.
Although the FDA has halted the production of Adderall.
There are many benefits of Adderall like increasing memory, focus, concentration, and the sharpness of the mind. However, this drug is to be taken with extreme caution as chronic usage can lead to Adderall addiction and there is no concrete research that can warn users about the Adderall withdrawal timeline.
During the entire Adderall withdrawal timeline, the individuals can suffer from episodes of mild or extreme depression, anxiety, or even insomnia. These symptoms can be suffered all at once and can affect the quality of life.
In this blog, we have compiled information on the Adderall withdrawal timeline and what to expect during this period.
Is Adderall Addictive?
Adderall is a prescription drug that is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These two drugs work towards increasing focus and energy by stimulating the central nervous system of an individual.
After taking Adderall, hormones like dopamine and norepinephrine are increased in the body. This is essential for patients with narcolepsy and ADHD as their brains do not produce enough of these two hormones naturally. Adderall provides relief from ADHD and narcolepsy by artificially stimulating the central nervous system by aiding the production and thus, releasing these hormones in the brain.
However, individuals who abuse the use of Adderall by taking this drug without a prescription may become dependent or even addicted to this drug. This drug is highly addictive as it boosts the energy, mood, and focus of an individual and they keep coming back to it for the kick or the intoxication.
Chronic misuse of this drug can lead to addiction and the Adderall withdrawal timeline is unpleasant once an individual is dependent or addicted.
Overview of Adderall Withdrawal Timeline
Once addicted, every individual may suffer from varying withdrawal symptoms during the Adderall withdrawal timeline. Symptoms of withdrawal and Adderall withdrawal timeline begin when the effects of the last dose begin to wear off. Adderall withdrawal timeline can be broadly classified into the following:
Within 24 hours
This is the period when the initial symptoms can be seen. The symptoms are mild at first and can increase throughout the Adderall withdrawal timeline. Some of the initial symptoms include irritability, anxiety, and inability to maintain focus and concentration.
Within 1 to 3 days of the last dosage of Adderall
This is the peak during the Adderall withdrawal timeline as the severity of the symptoms continues to grow and the patient might be tempted to take another dose of Adderall. If the patient can manage these symptoms, they will begin to subside after 3 days. Some individuals may also experience trouble or inability to fall asleep at night.
Within 3 to 5 days of the last dose taken
This is the declining phase of the Adderall withdrawal timeline as the patients begin to feel relief from the symptoms of withdrawal. However, in cases where an individual has been taking high doses of Adderall for longer periods, the withdrawal symptoms may last for some more time.
Week 2 onwards
After an individual has stopped taking Adderall for over 2 weeks, they might start experiencing that their sleep pattern is slowly returning to normal. However, they might continue to feel low and sad and crave another dose of Adderall. Fluctuation in the sleep schedule during withdrawal contributes to a low mood.
Week 3
By the third week of withdrawal, most patients feel relief from the withdrawal symptoms. However, in a few cases, some patients may continue craving for Adderall. They might feel fatigued and restless as well.
However, it is pertinent to mention that the above overview of the Adderall withdrawal timeline is not hard and fast. Different individuals might experience a different Adderall withdrawal timeline depending on the dosage of Adderall they took and the period of use or misuse. We will explain more about this aspect in the next section.
What are the factors that affect the Adderall withdrawal timeline?
As mentioned previously, the Adderall withdrawal timeline varies for every individual. Broadly, the following aspects may affect the Adderall withdrawal symptoms:
- Dosage of Adderall taken
- Frequency of Adderall taken
- The period of Adderall usage
- The age of the user and the mental health during and before taking Adderall
- Whether or not the user suffered from nutritional deficiencies before or during using Adderall
- Whether or not the user was misusing Adderall during the period of usage by taking it without a prescription mixing it with other intoxicants, or both
- The mental health condition of the user before taking Adderall
So now that you are aware of the factors affecting the Adderall withdrawal timeline, let us now discuss Adderall withdrawal symptoms in the next section.
Symptoms During The Adderall Withdrawal Timeline
Adderall withdrawal symptoms experienced during the Adderall withdrawal timeline can be mild or dangerous, depending on various factors discussed in the previous section. When an individual starts taking Adderall, their body adapts to it and starts functioning accordingly. When the usage of this drug is stopped, the body reacts unpleasantly. The following are the symptoms that may be felt during the entire Adderall withdrawal timeline:
- Anxiety disorder and panic attacks
- Episodes of depressive disorder
- Irritability and aggression
- Craving to take Adderall to ease their symptoms
- Insomnia, sleeplessness, or difficulty in sleeping
- Extreme drowsiness or lethargy
- Increased heart rate
- Increase in blood pressure
- Suicidal thoughts
- Difficulty in concentration, focus, and poor memory
- Headaches and migraines
On the brighter side, there is a solution for major unpleasant symptoms of Adderall withdrawal. While there is no particular medication that can be prescribed for Adderall withdrawal, doctors may prescribe medications to calm the patient’s nerves during the withdrawal phase.
If the patient is suffering from anxiety or depression as a withdrawal symptom, the doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety pills and antidepressants, or a combination of both to ease the discomfort of the patient. They may also encourage the use of psychotherapies like Talk therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help the patient without involving medications.
Additionally, practices like meditation, exercise, and mindfulness aid in regulating the sleep patterns of an individual over time.
FAQs: Adderall Withdrawal Timeline
1. How long does it take for the side effects of Adderall to subside?
If you are dependent on or addicted to Adderall, you might suffer from withdrawal symptoms during the Adderall withdrawal timeline. These symptoms typically start within 3 days and may last for 7 days. However, if an individual is taking Adderall after consulting a healthcare professional and in recommended doses, they may not experience any side effects.
2. What is an effective replacement for Adderall?
Broadly speaking, Vitamin B6 and magnesium is an effective replacement for Adderall. These supplements help in balancing the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine hormones in your brain that cause symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy.
3. How to get rid of anxiety caused by Adderall?
Anxiety disorder and panic attacks are some of the most common side effects of taking Adderall. These side effects can be managed with various techniques. Your doctor may prescribe you anti-anxiety medications or anti-depressants. If you do not want to take medication for the same, you can try psychotherapies like talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
4. Is it harmful if you take Adderall every day?
The short answer to this question is, yes. It can cause serious side effects and lead to dependency or addictions if you take Adderall every day. Chronic use of Adderall may lead to severe symptoms of withdrawal during the Adderall withdrawal timeline and take immense time and effort to recover from the addiction.
5. Does Adderall deplete Serotonin levels in your brain?
No, Adderall does not deplete the levels of Serotonin hormone in your brain. On the contrary, Adderall increases the levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in your brain and relieves you from the symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy.
Conclusion
Adderall is a highly potent drug that relieves patients from symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy. These mental health disorders affect the quality of life and impair the individuals from performing to their true potential.
However, since Adderall is an artificial stimulant, the chances of an individual getting dependent, or worse, addicted to Adderall are high. Therefore, Adderall should only be taken in recommended doses after consulting with a certified healthcare practitioner. This drug should never be taken after self-diagnosis or as a form of self-medication.
Adderall withdrawal timeline can differ for many people and may depend on various factors like an individual’s physical and mental health record, age, dosage, and frequency of taking Adderall.
Symptoms of Adderall withdrawal can include episodes of depressive disorder, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and mood swings. In some cases, the symptoms might be severe like suicidal thoughts, and paranoia. However, Adderall is considered a safe drug provided, it is taken after consulting with a certified medical professional and in the recommended dosage.
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