Adderall as a Weight Loss Drug
Adderall is an amphetamine used to treat ADD/ADHD. Like many pharmaceutical medications, some of the side effects include loss of appetite and weight loss (particularly in adolescents).
A CNN story has highlighted the ethical concerns surrounding a doctors decision to prescribe the drug for the purpose of weight loss.
Ziai's [pediatric endocrinologist[ approach to treating obesity -- he says he has prescribed Adderall for weight loss to about 800 children and teens -- raises an important ethical question: Has the obesity epidemic among children become so severe that it's OK to prescribe a drug not approved for weight loss when the drug can have serious, sometimes life-threatening side effects?
This is a question that needs to be asked. The article mentions a 17 year old boy who was on the drug from the age of 11 (followed by 18 months off the drug). His parents are happy with the results and would "give their son Adderall again".
Here we need to ask: What are the health problems that arise from obesity, and do they compare with potential risks or side effects from being on such a drug for years?
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Did you READ the post you quoted? It referred to using Adderal as a WEIGHT LOSS DRUG. You are not giving it to your kid because he is overweight, you are giving it to him because he has ADHD.
ReplyI agree that it does not make you stop eating, but it helps you eat more normally. There is no heart arythmia for me and no loss of sleep, in fact I sleep better taking it. Nicole has to be taking more than 50 mg a day, in my opinion. I am taking it so I have better focus, but the weight loss is a happy side effect.
ReplyThats not true, have you ever heard of metablic disorders, or overgrowth syndromes, or just plain ol glucose resistance? you are an uneducated fool. and i take adderall for ADHD but I have lost weight on it even tho I ate a normal diet before, I am glucose resistant. But this also supresses my appetite.
ReplyI love Adderall. Like Sarah wrote above, it has dramatically changed my life for the better. I'm calmer, I think more rationally, and best of all, my constant feelings of being overwhelmed that I have lived with for years, are finally gone. Now, not only only can I start projects, but I finish them effortlessly. My husband is amazed at the changes it has made in me and how it has improved my family's life as well.
And then, if all of that wasn't good enough, it suppresses my appetite. I'm surprised it hasn't helped Sarah losing weight. I have finally lost the 25 pounds I have struggled to lose for decades. Yet this time it was effortless. It also came off very slowly, no more than a pound or two a week, mainly as someone wrote above, because I now make rational choices about the food I eat. I am no longer an emotional eater. The weight loss has also helped me become self-confident.
Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones, but I haven't had any negative side effects except for being thirsty the first two weeks. My sleep is normal and I don't get the jitters unless I drink more than two cups of coffee.
I am 49 years old and have been taking it less than a year. I just wish my ADD diagnosis would have happened earlier in my life.
Adderall isn't for everyone and it's sad that people are misusing it, thus making others malign it unfairly. For those of us it has helped, I am very grateful it is available. If it can help improve the life of children, especially overweight ones, why not at least try it.
ReplyI need adderall sooo bad.
ReplyActually, the brain of a person with ADD/ADHD functions slower depending on the activities its engaged in. The reactions tend to be quicker because they have become automated. This is how my Dr. explained it to me. I was diagnosed with ADHD and I am currently on 30mg of adderall XR daily. Two in the morning and one mid day. This has made a substantial difference in my ability to accomplish tasks. Remember important events/errands ect.
I'm a 21 year old college student and I just finished my first full semester of college this spring. Before that I had simply given up on my classes and stopped going after getting very frustrated. I am also a recovered Bulimic with Anorexic tendencies. I currently weigh 118lbs @ 5'4" and since I have been on Adderall I have not purged once or lost any weight. Purging had been part of the controle issues I had. I couldn't get things done or remember the names of new friends/co-workers. I would blurt out personal information to just anyone and then regret it later. You know when you get up from the living room and go into the kitchen to get something... But you can't for the life of you remember what? You'll think about it and finally give up and leave. That would happen to me several times a day. Sometimes at work. "I was helping a customer?" This comes twenty minutes after I said I would be back from the stockroom with their item. I started organizing the stockroom. I didn't finish, mind you, Then I went on break.
Now I make decisions/choices about what I say. My thoughts are less scattered. I am able to write an essay for english that doesn't start out about my trip to the grocery store and end on quantum mechanics. Everything seems to flow smoothly.
As a side note. I feel this shouldn't be prescribed for weight loss. I eat normally. It makes me less hungry, yes, but if you have any sort of emotional eating issed. Ice cream when your sad. Any kind of food as a reward. You eat when your tummy isnt growling. Adderall won't help. My stomoch never growls. I don't feel hungry. There's no reminder to eat. I used to weigh about 180 when I was in gradeschool/beginning highschool. I remember eating enough that I forgot what actually being hungry felt like.. when I actually felt hunger pains I thought I was sick. Then I started working out and went on a diet and I was healthy( until I overcompensated after highschool and became obsessed) anyway... My point is if you eat when you are hungry you will lose weight because your body won't tell you you're hungry. If you eat because you "think" your hungry you will not lose weight on Adderall. At least if you are ADD/ADHD. I know that it can make people twitchy. So I'm guessing it might make you lose a bit because you're more active. This is worse in people who don't actually take it for ADD/ADHD. So in that way, yes, it will work a little for a bit. After those side effects wear off I think it will be ineffective.
ReplyWhat I intended to say after this is that "I make choices as to what I eat and when I eat it. I eat until I am full and when I get any kind of urge to throw up I have a much easier time weighing my options. "If you purge you are making yourself sick. Your destroying your teeth and possibly damaging your heart. You can also go workout. Make yourself feel better about what you just ate in a posetive way." So I do a few reps or take the dog for a walk around the block (something that used to find PAINFULLY boring.)and I feel better. Its been four months.
ReplyI am 34 and recently diagnosed with ADD. I am 5'1 1/2 and when i started taking Adderall I was 240 pounds. I have been heavy all my life, but not neccessarily fat. I have a greatly exaggerated hourglass shape and I was pretty okay with my body. After six months on the drug, I am now 160 pounds and I'm kind of stunned. I have struggled with my weight, mostly out of fear about health and not about getting a boyfriend. My ADD manifested in lots of ways, and I now understand this because those behaviors are gone.
I focus. I cry when I'm sad. I eat when I'm hungry and I don't pressure myself to do so when i'm not. I stopped drijnking everything but water (I used to drink like two 2 liters of Diet coke a day and iced coffee!) Now I am satified with water. Adderall took away the "everything I want is leaving the planet" feeling which has plagued me for most of my life. I was always in a hurry to do things because I worried that I would get distracted and not be able to finish.
I read stories all the time about people getting addicted to this drug and I don't understand how. I mean understand but I don't get it. My dose is 20 mgs 2X and it works well for me. I don't crave it (and there have been days when I've forgotten to take it and my world did not fall apart.) I was always active, but it's just totally different now. I am so confident, yet at the same time so vulnerable (which I like because the confidence actually feels authentic.). I just feel like I am able to deal with everything even when it's happening all at once without freaking out. I know, it's only been six months, but I think the meds have given me the tools (and notice I don't think it's a cure) to tackle the things in my life that were out of hand. It has also given me faith in my abilities to cope and to not let my disorder completely run me.
I haven't had any bad side effects (thank god) okay the dry mouth is annoying, but all the water I drink gives my skin this glow that people swear I got from a jar. There are days when I feel really depressed (I also have a depression diagnosis) but it feels contained so I'm not afraid to have a bad day where nothing gets done and I just cry and write angry things in my paper journal. I think sometimes people expect the drug to make it all go away and that's how they get into trouble with it. I just see it as one tool in my toolbox and I'm grateful to have it.
ReplyWow. So many good things to be said for Adderall. I am a 32 yr old who has just been diagnosed with Adult ADD and was prescribed 20mg of Adderall XR by my doctor/psychiatrist. I am currently waiting to have the prescription filled but am anxious to see the positive results will be on my life. I am also overweight (5'11" 250lbs). I love to run but my weight has hurt my knees and has kept me out of running long distances (ran a half marathon last summer though!). I will continue to run and exercise but I feel that this could help keep me active and less stress on my knees/joints, etc.
I'll keep you all posted...
ReplyADD, in my case, has been controllable through hard work. Hard Work my friends! It involves a moderately healthy diet, lots of outside activities (even in the snow) and quite a bit of alone time to just be me. However, now that I have a newborn, my baby comes first and I second. The ADD is uncontrollable at the moment, so I am taking Adderall to help me focus on daily tasks. And the baby weight coming off is sure nice...
ReplyAnd because I've learned to control my mood swings ( READ: LOW BLOOD SUGAR from not eating) I know that once I get into the swing of motherhood, medicine will no longer be necessary. As to my daughter being medicated is she shows ADD behavior- NO way! I am a firm believer that a healthy diet and lots of exercise are the VERY FIRST things to try in treating both ADD and Obesity.
Were you diagnosed with add?...or do you tHINK you have it so you're taking your daughters medicine?
ReplyMy problem is I work VERY hard but still get nothing accomplished. I guess everyone has different degrees of the illness and one mold does not fit all. I coped my whole life with this, but now I have two kids in school and I can longer do it on my own. Motherhood is not easy, and you may find that hard work is not enough. I wish you well.
ReplyThe off label use of a relatively safe (8 confirmed deaths, 80 million prescriptions written over 3 years. Five of those deaths involved pre-existing cardiac conditions, so any strenuous physical activity alone such as tennis or racquetball could have killed these 5) medication to treat obesity could potentially be a very useful tool in the right hands. I've read absurd suggestions like "military school" for fat children but lets be realistic, theres a hundred million fatassed kids and adults out there who are virtually inactive physically, except of course when it comes time to get up for food. It would be much easier, efficient and effective to take an appetite suppressant under a doctors supervision than a radical lifestyle change (and i'm not talking about just joining the local club or going for a walk now and then, thats not radical) There have been a lot more than 1 death per 10 million at military school come to think of it. Adderall is safe if your doctor monitors you, does regular blood work and EKG's and most importantly doses it correctly. The benifits outweigh the risks if your morbidly obese. End of story. These sort of knee-jerk reactionary types that think "speed for kids, oh my god!!" need to do the research, weigh the risks and make an informed decision. Which takes time I know, but it makes you not look like a dumbass. Better living threw chemistry. There are inherent risks in everything we do, simply getting in your car puts you more at risk for sudden death than taking 5mg of Adderall.
ReplyLuke where do you get your adderall if I may ask?
ReplyIm a recovered anorexic, and lemme tell you! it was the most well kept secret. It workd like amazingly.
ReplyOkay, first of all, the military school idea is ridiculous. You don't send your children to military school because of overeating, you send them there because of misbehavior with drugs or sex or breaking the law. And even then, the "results" are suspect.
Kids become more and more difficult to control as they get into their teen years, which is why it is ESSENTIAL that good habits are established as young as possible.
When children are very young, you get to say what and when they eat, how active they are, etc. Later on they'll be spending more time outside the home, have their own money, be able to make their own choices, and they're going to make those choices based on the habits YOU established for them. If their established habits are making them obese, there is no one to blame but the parents.
The biggest reason that obesity in children is skyrocketing in this country is because obesity in adults is doing the same. Obese adults are more likely to produce children with obesity problems in their childhood not because of genetics but because they live in the same household. The same food is in the fridge, they go out to eat together, and children see and mimic their parents' behavior.
Poor eating habits are easy to pick up from those around you even if you are already an adult--ask anyone who's been to college.
When my husband and I got married, he was overweight and I wasnt--I'd never had a difficult relationship with food, never dieted, etc. He had a very emotional relationship with food (had a bad day? lets eat to cheer up.. had a great day? lets eat to celebrate) and over our 4 years of marriage I saw myself starting to behave the same way.
The only way to ensure that our children have good eating habits and good physical activity habits is to have them ourselves! That's it.
Reply^^ I wanted to add that this is meant regarding the overweight-child epidemic in general.
There are alot of children whose bodies don't react to glucose properly, or have other medical conditions that result in obesity. In those cases the resolution definitely needs to be worked out with your doctor but habits always have a role, even in medical situations, and it's the parent's responsibility to establish the appropriate ones.
ReplyI really enjoyed reading all the posts. I just started taking Adderall XR about a month ago. I had been on Concerta (36mg once daily) for about three years. My grades in school have improved tremendously and haven't had any problems with the drug. I was on Concerta 54mg for a while and felt that my moods were too extreme and the lower dosage worked a lot better. But for the Adderall, when I was first diagnosed with ADHD that's what I went to the doctor to get, though as a college student I could never flat out ask for it because of so it being over prescribed and abused. I went three years before my doctor would let me switch for financial reasons (concerta was costing me $50 a month for 30 tablets, Adderall is $15 for 60). My appetite is almost gone, if I take the two 15 mg pills a day (as prescribed) I can live off a granola bar in the morning and like a yogurt at night. That's kinda scary. I'd really caution people from using it strictly as a weight loss drug, I've read reports that it can damage your liver and cause all sorts of bad things if you don't need it. My family, boyfriend and some friends hate the fact that I'm on it because they know the damages it can cause but to me, being on the Dean's list at a Big Ten University for the past 4 semesters is worth the risk. I can't imagine taking more than I take right now and those that don't need it and are taking more than 30mg a day, whoah you have to be whacked out of your mind. And also, to the people who don't need it. Thanks- because of you I have to call my doctor a week or more before I run out of pills and have them MAIL me a paper script at college. Then I get treated like a criminal having to give my drivers license or social security number to the pharmacist. Also I've been told by doctors to never let anyone know I'm taking it because people will break into your room for it. Sweet huh? Sorry so long : )
ReplyI have been reading all the comments on this site and have learned alot of information. I was diagnosed with Adult ADD this month and have started taking Adderall 10mg XR. My doctor wanted me to start out at that dose, and to be honest so far that dose has been very helpful. I was amazed the first day I started at how focused I was and how I did not feel overwhelmed with my job and home/family issues. I have noticed that it has affected my appetite quite a bit so I have had to make an effort to eat. Although i am a little on the heavy side so I will not complain about that. I have not noticed many other bad side effects, i do not feel jittery, I did have a headache the first two days, but I'm not sure if thats the drug?
I wanted to ask someone who is taking this for Adult ADD if the dosage I am taking will eventually need to be raised. The thought of some of the damaging side effects scares me a little but it has helped me function very well.
ReplyI cannot imagine taking such high doses that some people take to abuse this drug. And I would be scared to give this too my child for weight loss. We have the responsibility as parents to help and teach our children, and proper diet and excercise is the best way to help a child lose weight, but we do live in a society where when we want things we want them NOW!!
KL_Chicago, good luck, I too have been taking 20mg X2 a day and it has been very successful for me. I had the same results as sleepy.
ReplyI was diagnosed with ADHD when i was in 2nd grade and was put on Ritalin. I remember coming down from these meds and getting really angry and would start yelling at friends and family, which was something i normally wouldn't do. My parents and i made the decision to take me off of the Ritalin and to just work harder with my grades by getting me a tutor. It has been such a hard experience working so much harder than everyone you know and getting lower grades. I felt like i was always letting myself and people around me down. I actually flunked out of my expensive private school my freshman year of highschool and thought the hopes for going to college were no longer in my future. After going on Straterra for my sophmore year i went from flunking spanish, math, and physics to being bumpt up to honors gifted and taking AP classes. I just remember getting my grades and freaking out that i had a 107 in chemistry honors gifted. Basically by making straight A's in AP and Honors classes i went from a 2.3 to a 3.5 by graduation. I not only went to college but i graduated with a 3.9 from a top 5 school and with a full schlorship. I'm not saying this drug saved my life but in a way it kind of did. I was heading down a slippery slope and this medication lifted me back up. My suggestion to anyone taking these pills who have or had bad side effects should really see your doctor about switching to a new ADD drug. It took some trial and error to find the right medication that worked for me. In the issue of weight loss i actually gained weight but, before you read this and freak out it was because i was an extremely picky eater before and would actually forget to eat sometimes due to my scatterbrain. The medication got me making better choices with food and learning and developing better nutrition. I learned that it doesn't really matter what height or weight you are as long as you embrace a healthy lifestyle and in the end you feel healthy. Remember if your taking this medication to lose lbs and starve yourself skinny think for a second about your health and the long term effects. Your metabolism will actually suffer and make losing weight down the road extremely hard.
ReplyI was wondering if I am going to start taking adderall to loose weight and pay attention.. How much should i start off with? Im planning on taking it for a month to shed my weight,Starting november 3rd I will be excercising two times a day till febuary so I expect to keep it off and eat healthy.. Any suggestions??
ReplyThe idea of using Adderall just for weight loss seems scary. People here have been giving testimonials of how the drug decreases appetite, gives them energy, makes them accomplish everything they plan. Well, cocaine does that too. I started with small stuff like Adderall, then moved on to snorting cocaine. And why not? Its just like highly concentrated Adderall. So because we use drugs to function and not for party time its okay, right? In my opinion we shouldn't always be turning to medication to solve every problem. If someone needs Adderall for the real reason it was created for, that sounds fine. But people buy this drug on the streets. I have seen it sold in crack houses. People can get too easily dependent on substances just to function. I'm not trying to justify my drug use but people have been repeating this same routine for decades now. We try a substance, love how it enhances everything we do, and eventually become dependent on it. While not everyone becomes addicted, many will. Adderall abuse is quite common on college campuses these days so students can study harder and longer. I use cocaine to stay awake and not feel hungry on the job. If use of Adderall becomes out of control, it just might end up on the same list of bad things like coke.
ReplyHello there! I am 25 years old and have been in therapy for over 6 months with a diagnosis of depression, generalized anxiety disorder and binge-eating disorder with bulimic tendancies. Therapy definitely improved the depression and anxiety, but it did nothing for my eating disorder. I have struggled with weight problems for years, tried lots of diet plans and programs, and lived with the overwhelming amount of guilt that followed every failed attempt of becoming thin and "pretty." It never mattered how much I wanted to lose the weight; I ALWAYS failed. I began to believe that I was simply destined to be a failure! I shared these feeling with my therapist and explained how failing diets was like everything else in my life. Throughout my life, I had never finished ANYTHING! As a child, my bedroom was full of unfinished projects. I've always loved to write, but if anyone looked in my writing folder they would only see a lot of unfinished short stories. School tests, especially timed-tests, were impossible! I basically failed my ACT exam in high school because I didn't have enough time to finish it! I have tried three different colleges in hopes of my parents finally being proud of their fourth/youngest child which only resulted in failing grades, major debt(for ME), disappointment from my parents and the final robbery of my self-esteem!
ReplyAfter discussing this with my therapist, she believed I could be suffering from ADD. She referred me to a psychiatrist who confirmed that I was definitely an ADD sufferer. At the end of August(this year), I was prescribed Adderall XR 20mg, once a day. Adjusting to the medication was difficult at first. I had to actually force myself to eat, I had huge bursts of uncontrollable energy, and by the end of the day I felt the need to "crash" but was unable to sleep. This continued for less than two weeks, and now there are very few side effects(dry-mouth, loss of appetite). I CAN say it is possible for Adderall to help those with an addiction to food. I was an emotional binge-eater for basically my entire life, and now that part of me is dead! Before taking Adderall, I was unable to distinguish the difference between hunger and boredom or lonliness. Food was my life, my friend, my enemy! I could never bring myself to dispose of any food on my plate, no matter how full I felt. This sounds ridiculous, but if I was in the privacy of my own home I would lick my plate until there were absolutely no food particles left!! Anytime I ate, I would consume so much food that I would have to lie down afterwards from feeling so sick! It was difficult to even BREATHE after eating a meal! Now, with Adderall, I only eat when I am hungry(which isn't very often). I am able to view food as a source of fuel for my body and nothing more. I am 5'3", started out weighing 183 lbs, and now, after only five weeks, I weigh 163!!! Also, I am able to finish all the projects I start! I can give anyone my undivided attention, and actually process what they are saying to me! I can read a book, work diligently for hours, and concentrate in any environment. I can even read/search articles online while listening to music! I don't recognize the person I used to be, physically and emotionally. Adderall has completely changed my life! If my past sounds familiar to you, but you have yet to seek help, please choose today to make a change! Don't be afraid of taking the first step. Instead, be afraid of standing still in a life of endless chaos and confusion! Life is beautiful!
I am in the same position as Alisha, when it comes with food. I know am suffering from chronic depression and have most of the symtoms for ADD. I am waiting for my insurance to kick in, I am hoping I can see a doctor the first week of June. I really think Adderall will help me a ton with all my symtoms. In 2000 I was diaganosed with chronic depression and went to see a thearapist and it did help, but I only saw her for a month or so. Four years later I lost over a hundred pounds, by portion control and light excersize. Then a year and a half later my depression returned and my doctor prescribed me Prozac, huge mistake, being on that for about 9 months I gained 35 to 40 pounds. I weened myself off of the Prozac, but continued to gain weight and tried EVERYTHING to lose weight and have failed miserably and now I am at a 45 to 50 pounds gained. Because of my weight gain I have thrown my back our twice and am pain ALL the time. I really hope that my doctor sees from where I am coming from and hoping and prescribes Adderall for me so that I can get my life back and being able to fit into my clothes again. I would really want life to be beautiful again.
ReplyOMG - Alisha, your story sounds identical to mine, i have lived in silence with this condition for so many years and never knew what it was, the height the weight is identical to yours, im hoping and prayin that this will help me as it did you. i just started today adderall xr 2mg 1 x a day. im feeling a little weird now with tingling here and there, it probably takes a while to kick in. i have never in my life responded to apost before, but after reading your heartfelt story it just so mirrored mine its amazing.
Replyi love adderall it has helped me so very much,i have no side effects.my whole life i have had problems with focusing,on school work and now that im, 31yrs,i was having even more problems,with work,paying bills,shopping and having no care about what i was doing,but now i hold a job and such, i could go on for ever, about how muchit has helped me.oh when i started talking it i was also 175lbs and now im 140,so thats nice too.
Replyive been taking adderall for 2 years and i havnt lost much weight.... WHY ?
Reply"Adderall as a weight loss drug?"
See...this is what pisses me off.... There are people like "me" in the world that really need this stuff to concentrate and not feel like a failure....and then there's people that just wanna lose weight on it...I think it's absolutely ridiculous! If you need to lose weight change your lifestyle, eat right, and exercise... simple as that..it's not that hard...just start out slow and you will lose it gradually....no weight loss should happen fast anyway. Thanks!
Replyyou know the same things can and are being said to people with add/adhd, why do you need a pill, just focus and stop being lazy, it's really not that hard .... some people like "me" actually need a pill to help them lose weight...... (I'm being sarcastic ....) And then there are people like "ME" that hate reading forums looking for a real read on peoples reactions to a particular medication and have to sift through the irrelevant and often self centered irritating comments .... like yours and mine .....
Replyi took adderall when i was in 9th grade, i lost about 15 pounds. it helped with school and all but i really liked it cause i didnt eat much. BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTT the summer after school... i didnt take it, and i gained all my weight back plus 15 more pounds. now i take this new shit that last 12 hours, but i force myself to eat because i dont want to lose weight and then just gain it back. I GOT stretch marks from that shit
ReplyI want to thank all of the responders that went into detail with their experiences. I am apprehensive about taking it, because i suffer from Borderline Personality disorder as well. I just hope that this helps my ability to concentrate on my job, which has always been a HUGE issue for me. I am not taking it b/c I want to lose weight, but I have to admit that would be a nice side effect to have.
ReplyClaire S and others: Anyone who does decide to use Adderall as a weight loss drug, with some crazy doctor willing to prescribe it for such a use, should NOT stop taking it cold turkey. Adderall artificially increases levels of dopamine in the brain. Stopping suddenly can mean that the brain doesn't immediately adjust and produce a normal amount of dopamine on its own. Hence, Claire's inability to get out of bed. It would be wise to discuss slowly weaning yourself off the drug with your doctor.
Replysasecajon,
ReplyIt looks like you may also need to take some medication to help you concentrate... or maybe you need some discipline?
I was on Ritalin in elementary school because, as my Doc put it, I had the worst case of ADHD he had ever seen, and Ritalin worked well, but i lost waay too much weight. Lost 37pounds in 2.5 months, (i was a chunky kid when i was young, so it wasnt all bad). So, after that lost its effect ( I have an insanely high stimulant tolerance, always have) the doc put me on adderall, and i lost weight, but not too much. And i have to say that the positives outweighed the negatives of the medicine 10fold. To give you an idea of how well they worked/work for me, i am now in college, with an academic scholarship (not full, only a third).
I have to say that all of you out there that are bashing the meds, and the use on kids(or adults) are uninformed and need to do a bit of research into the meds and ADD/ADHD. You are making unsupported arguments that make no sense, and if you actually knew what you were talking about, you would realize just how idiotic these comments your making are. And the information you get from so called "guru's" on the internet, or internet doctors or "webmd" do not count, they are usually either misinformed, or just plain stupid.
By the way, ive been on these meds for 11.5 years, and i haave never had a serious side effect (weightloss not a serious side effect, its gonna happen no matter what). The only issues i have had are increase in sweating during physical activity, the occasional headache due to the mixing of OTC meds. (Pepto bismol and tums, do not take them when you take your meds, they will increase the absorption rate drastically and will give you a really big, and persistent headache.
ReplyI am currently on Adderall, It works wonderfully on me , I mean I feel more alert and I also feel alot more energy but I have alot of weird emotions aswell. I get angrier and more aggitated easily and my boyfriend says Im very paranoid. I always need to be doing domething or I feel like a sloth. Before Adderall (XR) I was always tired but had alot of anxiety and was diagnosed with ADHD, but Im just wondering why I keep losing weight, I eat ALOT but lose about 2-3 lbs a week and also I sleep about 4 hours a night , this pill is great dont get me wrong it has helped me in school tremendously but ... the side affects scare me at times.
ReplyIm 18. 6'3 and weight fluxuates from about 287-300 and took a adderal 20 today. I ate before i took it and i have no appetite now12 hors later. I did some research and found it was originally founded in the 20's as a weight loss pill. I do not have add or adhd and got t off of a friend, and now will continue to take it. I lift weights 5 days a week and thats enough exercise for my body so i feel comfortable to continue to take them. I want to get to t least 200 by june and stop, because like i said im tall and 200 looks normal for me. The only thing i read that scared me was its addictive highly, but readin the comment of that girl saying she stopped cleared my thoughts. Yes skinny people like you dont understand how hard it is to loose weight by exercise and eat healthy.
Replywell I dont really think the drug should be used as a weight loss pill but this is just my opinion, Ive been on many medications and this one finally works, I take it and aware of the consequences but I have to because of my ADHD but for weight loss, well that makes no sense to me , ur willing to get side affects just to be thin? that seems vain... I seriously, dont agree with that, and as for my weight problems trust me you cant just stop, Im at 105 and Im not all that content...so just think it through Randy...
ReplyI have been taking adderal xr 20 mg for about 7 months now. I used to weigh about 192 pounds at 5'2 and I am under the age of 18! I was in school when I learned about adderal and decided to research it. After researching about what it was for and what it did, I decided to ask my doctor about it. My doctor gave me an exam and after a few visits told me I did have ADHD. I can't focus that well in school or out of school. So I was prescribed with the adderal. I started right away with 20 mg by the way. About one month later I noticed weight loss. I probably lost about 15 pounds in just the first month. The adderal completely took my appetite away. I didn't even think about food. I do eat breakfast though, to give me energy up until dinner. I do sometimes get hungry during the day still, but not enough hunger to eat a lunch. I have a breakfast and a big dinner. I don't think I am addicted to it, I just feel like the weight loss is incredible and I do need it for that. The first few months I had some headaches. Those went away after the first few months. Also, if I miss a day I don't really have any symptoms. But the worse thing is that I do have shaking of the hands some times. Over all adderal to me is a wonder drug. It made my grades better, made me lose weight, and made me a more achieving person. I do have some mood swings from time to time though, but who doesn't? Also, the adderal may make your nerves really bad (you don't want to listen to someone chewing, believe me!)
So for the big news, after 7 months and weighing 192 at 5'2 feet before I AM NOW 130 POUNDS!!!!!
Replybad for you good for me
Replygood for you bad for me
good for you good for me
bad for me bad for you
Military school really does get kids back in line and gives many of these kids a great respect for authority. I developed that, as well as a 60mg/day habit, during my time in military school. Any private school seems to give kids more access to stronger drugs at an earlier age, and this type of action occuring in such a small setting has very bad results on those who enjoy taking prescription or other drugs for recreational use. Adderall, especially the tabs (not xR), really does stimulate great weight loss in most people. It seems to focus all of one's energy away from the thought of food, instead applying that energy towards academics; a highly addictive drug with many positive results.
ReplyI have to say be careful with this drug for whatever reason you are taking it for. " Hopefully ADD/ADHD."
I have suffered from ADD and OCD combination for ten years. In high school I took it for about three months, lost 40 pounds and amazingly broke a state record in Academic Decathalon after teaching myself calculus in two weeks. Well, my mother didn't like drugs and took me off. She suggested that I do the "right thing" and use diet and exersize to control my ticks, mood swings, and severe OCD/ADD. She thought that OCD/ADD is controllable. by yourself. "No way"
Well I got into a top college far from home where my grades started fall drastically and I became completely dependent on my roomate because of OCD and ADD. I also was missing classes because of anxiety - a symptom of ADD.
Now somehow I got through and I am a senior pre-med in college and I decided to get back on Adderall. I take 30 mg, because I have a very severe case. Try not to take this much if avoidable. It's makes me feel normal, but to normal people, it makes them freak out.
Now that I know more about the brain and the chemical make-up about the drug, I see that it is really not so bad.
--As for weight loss. Hell yes it works. Especially if you are an "Emotional eater." But don't take it just for weight loss. You will seriously flood and do damage to the synapses in your brain and liver if you are abusing it.
The side affects vary person to person obviously, but loss or at least "awareness of" appetite is by far the most common.
To parents considering this for children. I fully recommend it. This really is a miracle drug.
ADD/ADHD IS a REAL disorder. Not usually something that can be controlled. Although there is a possibility that some doctors are over prescibing this, if your kid does in fact have a severe case of it, there are actual chemicals lacking in the brain.
There are synapses not working fast enough, and neuro-transmitters mis-firing in the pre-frontal cortex, which causes ticks and rapid changes of thought. From previous experience, don't deny you or your child a tool to better thier lives. The risks, and/or side effects are leagues better than going through life like I did suffering or trying to go the "natural route." You have a serious chemical imbalance. Vegetables and taking a walk will not magically install what missing.
Also, as for people feeling jittery once on the medication probably do not have a severe enough case of ADD to be taking this drug, and are possibly on a small high. This feeling, not the medication itself is addictive.
********I know I have gotten off track and lengthy, and this forum is about weight loss, so I will add that for most people, once you start taking it, -
especially if you are overweight due to emotional eating, be prepared for drastic weight loss. I used to be bulemic and binge and purge everyday.
This drug makes you no longer engage in addictive habits. For me, it makes me sick to think about eating, especially anything heavy. I have to force myself to consume at least 600 calories a day. I have to drink those slim-fast shakes. For some reason, the idea of chewing food or at least a lot of it now makes me want to vomit. The rapid weight loss and lack of eating has made me a little weak so I'll have to keep a schedule telling me when to eat, or else I'll forget. I'm assuming that the higher the dosage, the more severe the side effects.
But in closing, I have never been happier, and I accomplish everyday tasks with complete ease. Also, for some reason, I am always very calm and happy in intense or difficult situations.
At least research it before you deny the thought of taking it. This could change your life completely - for the better.
Oh, also ------ never buy adderall from unknown or unreliable sources on the net or from junkies. Often it is not Adderall and a bunch of crap chemicals laced together made to look like it. Or most likely Illegal speed. Which will kill you. Go to a doctor please. Never buy this or "get it of someone." A doctor needs to asses how much you need. To little is ineffective. To much will kill you. Don't risk it.
Hope this helps someone - anyone!!!
ReplyGod Bless!