Answer Addiction

Tag: Adderall

  • What happens when you snort Adderall?

    What happens when you snort Adderall?

    Thinking about snorting Adderall?

    Or maybe you have been snorting Adderall and are worried about the effects it may have on your health. If so, then continue reading to understand what snorting Adderall will do to your body and the what potential adverse side effects can occur (including addiction and the need to treat addiction to Adderall). At the end, we invite any questions you may have about snorting Adderall at the end of the article.

    What does snorting Adderall do?

    When you snort Adderall, you release a large concentrated dose of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine into the bloodstream. This happens really quickly because Adderall is not being absorbed into the blood stream through the GI tract. Instead, Adderall is absorbed within in minutes through the mucus membrane of the sinus passes and hits the blood-brain barrier faster than if you were to take it orally. You can expect to feel a euphoric high within minutes of snorting Adderall. You may also feel extreme focus, high energy, and over excitement. However, snorting Adderall does not work as effectively for those with ADHD symptoms.  And snorting can increase the likelihood that you develop Adderall physical dependence, especially if you are snorting Adderall daily.  What are some of the other down sides?

    Is snorting Adderall bad for you?

    In all honesty, snorting Adderall is bad for you. You increase likelihood of experiencing advserse side effects of the medication since there is not controlled release of the medication. Possible side effects of snorting Adderall include:

    • aggression
    • chest pain
    • confusion
    • dizziness or faintness
    • difficulty in breathing
    • hallucinations
    • fears
    • mania
    • motor or verbal tics
    • muscle pain
    • rapid heart rate
    • suicidal thoughts
    • seizures

    Not only will you have to contend with negative side effects, you also run the risks of contracting infectious disease from sharing a snorting implement. You are also damaging your nasal cavities hindering your ability to make mucus and killing the sense of smell.

    Is snorting Adderall dangerous?

    Yes, snorting Adderall is dangerous. Not only can the negative side effects greatly impact your life, certain risks can actually put you in the hospital or worse even cause death. Because Adderall is a stimulant it not only has a quicker onset but negative consequences can also occur faster. Your increased risk of drug dependency can also make withdrawal harder. You can become addicted to Adderall, which will have a great impact on your life. Is the euphoric effect, the high, the concentration energy worth the risk of psychological disorder, infectious disease, or overdose? Look for these signs of overdose as danger signs after snorting Adderall:

    • cardiac arrest
    • coma
    • excessive sweating
    • psychosis
    • rapid heart rate
    • unusual change in behavior

    Is snorting Adderall effective?

    Nasal administration of Adderall may be effective, but it is not recommended. Adderall works as a stimulant and has similar reactions on the body as cocaine. tf can cause paranoia or dizziness, increasing the chances of infectious disease, cause permanent nasal damage, overdose and even death. The effects of snorting Adderall to get a high or even try to effects your symptoms better are not worth the damage it does to your body.

    Can you snort Adderall ?

    Snorting Adderall is more of a behavior that addicts engage in as they need to quickly get high. If this is you, you may want to treat the abuse of Adderall and explore the reasons you feel the need to snort Adderall rather than take it as prescribed. Yes, snorting Adderall acts quicker on the body. But, you also run the risk of overdose, damage to the nasal passages, and cardiac arrest. Plus, it is never recommended nor will a doctor ever prescribe that you snort Adderall.

    Questions about snorting Adderall

    Do you know someone who is snorting Adderall? Then they may be addicted to Adderall and may need to help Adderall addiction. Look for the signs of addiction and whether or not they need to withdrawal or seek out a treatment facility.

    Do you still have questions concerning snorting Adderall? Ask us anything and we will try to get back to you personally and promptly.

    Reference Sources: NCBI: Illicit Use of Specific Prescription Stimulants Among College Students: Prevalence, Motives, and Routes of Administration
    Drug Fact Sheet: Stimulants
    NCBI: Intracerebral haemorrhage in young adults: the emerging importance of drug misuse
    Maine: Central nervous system stimulants

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • How long does Adderall withdrawal last?

    How long does Adderall withdrawal last?

    Adderall, which is made of amphetamine salts, affects people differently depending on whether you use Adderall to treat ADD or ADHD vs. taking Adderall to get high. However, the general onset of withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Adderall occurs within a few hours after Adderall effects wear off. And the length of time until withdrawal stops can vary from weeks to months later. More here, with a section for your questions about Adderall withdrawal at the end.

    How long until Adderall withdrawal starts?

    Once you have decided to stop taking Adderall, withdrawal symptoms can start as early as a few hours after the effect of Adderall has worn off. Overall effects of immediate release Adderall lasts typically 4-8 hours, while residual effects can last up to 12 hours. Overall effects of extended release Adderall typically last for 12 hours, while residual effect can last up to 24 hours. The most common symptoms of withdrawal from Adderall include:

    • disorientation
    • fatigue
    • irritability
    • mental depression

    Adderall withdrawal timeline

    As mentioned earlier, Adderall affects people differently. Symptoms of withdrawing from Adderall will change from person to person. However, it can take days to weeks to completely remove Adderall from the system when you’ve developed physical dependence on Adderall. It is important to note that because Adderall is a stimulant, withdrawal symptoms can be delayed. Therefore, it may take several weeks to months to no longer feel the effects of withdrawal symptoms.

    24-72 hours Adderall withdrawal – General onset of symptoms can manifest shortly after the drug has worn off and linger for up to a few months after the medication is totally out of the system. Intense fatigue, uncontrollable sleepiness and catnapping, continuing stimulation, and drug craving are typical symptoms that occur during the first days after coming off Adderall. The worst onset of symptoms (fatigue, depression and disorientation) often occurs directly after withdrawal or coming off of Adderall. Many people report that the most common reaction to acute Adderall withdrawal is that of fatigue and oversleeping.

    Week 1 Adderall withdrawal – In the first week after stopping Adderall, symptoms of withdrawal tend to even out with an apparent return to “normalcy”, although drug craving may occur and disturbed sleeping patterns are common. During this phase of withdrawal symptoms can include the inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia), waves of intense craving, depression, exhaustion, extreme fatigue and excessive sleepiness.

    Week 2 Adderall withdrawal – After the first couple of weeks of stopping Adderall, characteristic symptoms of stimulant withdrawal may still be present including fatigue or exhaustion, depression, unpleasant and vivid dreams, insomnia or hypersomnia, increased appetite, slowed or quickened psychomotor response, and/or irritability.

    Weeks 3-4 Adderall withdrawal – During this phase of withdrawal, apathy, irritability, and depression may still be present. Additionally, long periods or disturbances in sleep are still reported.

    How long do Adderall withdrawal symptoms last?

    Symptoms of Adderall withdrawal can last anywhere between a few days to several months after you last take the medication. The harsher, acute effects of withdrawal should resolve within after about a month. However, people have reported still feeling fatigue and increased appetite long after the initial 30 days.

    Adderall withdrawal: how long?

    Adderall affects each person differently depending on the dosage and how long you have been taking Adderall. In other words, each withdrawal period is unique to the person taking Adderall. Various health concerns need to be taken into consideration. In general, however, if you taking Adderall for medical reasons in doses as prescribed, symptoms of withdrawal tend to be less intense than someone abusing the medication or taking higher doses than prescribed.

    Post-Acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is a set of symptoms that occur right after you stop taking Adderall and can last several months afterwards. Increased fatigue and having less energy are typical of Adderall use and these symptoms can linger for weeks to months after your last dose of Adderall. Additionally, people who withdraw from Adderall might experience sleeping issues for several months after they stop taking the medication as well as mental depression or emotions that they are not as used to. People suffering from depression are encouraged to seek help.

    How long Adderall withdrawal questions

    If you have any more questions regarding withdrawal from Adderall please ask. We do our best to respond to your questions personally and promptly.

    Reference Sources: PubMed: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy: Misuse of “study drugs:” prevalence, consequences, and implications for policy
    NIDA Drug Facts: Stimulant ADHD Medications – Methylphenidate and Amphetamines
    DailyMed: Archived Adderall label
    NHTSA: Amphetamines and Methamphetamine
    SAMHSA: Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory on Protracted Withdrawal
    SAMHSA: Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory on Prescription Medications: Misuse, Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction
    U.S. Department of Justice: Drugs of Abuse

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • How long does Adderall last?

    How long does Adderall last?

    Immediate release versions of Adderall last for 4-6 hours and require repeated dosing. Extended release Adderall XR lasts a full 12 hours but should be taken ONLY ONCE every 24 hours. More here on how Adderall affects the body and brain, and how long its effects last. Plus, a section for your questions about Adderall’s duration at the end.

    Adderall effects on the body and brain

    Adderall is made of amphetamine salts when are central nervous system stimulants, used to treat people with excessive sleepiness (narcolepsy) by stimulating the central nervous system. Adderall works by increasing the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.  When taken therapeutically, Adderall can help people maintain focus and concentration.  When taken to enhance performance, Adderall addictive properties include its strong effects on the central nervous system, including enhanced concentration as well as euphoric effect.

    Does Adderall work for everyone? No, the amphetamine salts contained in Adderall may not be the right treatment for you.  But, Adderall may also work wonders. In fact, Adderall  has a paradoxical effect when used to treat people diagnosed with ADHD, helping them focus and remain calm.  But as a stimulant, Adderall can cause:

    • difficulty with sleep
    • nervousness
    • restlessness

    How long do Adderall effects last?

    The effects of immediate release Adderall last anywhere for 4-6 hours. Tablets usually last about 6 hours, and should not be taken more frequently. Adderall XR’s effects will last a full 12 hours. However, Adderall XR should not be taken more frequently than once every 24 hours, to reduce the risk of potential overdose.

    How long does a Adderall high last?

    When people take Adderall get high, an Adderall high peaks after about 4 hours and will begin to decline unless another Adderall is taken at that point.

    Adderall high effects

    An Adderall high causes stimulant effects which may include:

    • increased alertness
    • excitement
    • fast/pounding heartbeat
    • mood or behavior changes

    Adderall is addictive, so abusing it to get high does carry risks. An Adderall addiction can result in powerful withdrawal symptoms, uncontrollable cravings for the drug, and compulsive use of the drug despite negative consequences.

    Adderall duration of action

    The half life for Adderall can vary widely between people based on diet and other factors, but is typically between 11-17 hours. However, the immediate release formula of Adderall needs to be taken throughout the day to continue to be effective. Adderall XR only needs to be taken once every 24 hours.

    Adderall time in the body

    Any type of Adderall takes a little while to completely leave the body. After two days, the immediately release is unlikely to show up on a urine drug test, but it may still show up in hair or saliva tests. The extended release version of Adderall may take 3-4 days to clear your system since it takes a full 24 hours before it begins to leave your body.

    How long Adderall lasts questions

    Do you still have questions about the effects or duration of action for Adderall? Please leave your Adderall questions or comments here. We are happy to respond to all legitimate queries with a personal and prompt response.

    Reference Sources: NHTSA Drug and Human Performance Fact Sheets: Methamphetamine (And Amphetamine)
    Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention: Prescription Stimulants: Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine:
    FDA Medication Guide: Adderall XR
    ToxNet: Amphetamine

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Tolerance to Adderall

    Tolerance to Adderall

    Do you still have ADHD symptoms after taking Adderall (amphetamine, dexamphetamine and mixed salts)? Does your doctor have to increase your Adderall prescription doses to increase its effectiveness?

    If yes, then you have or are developing a tolerance to Adderall. Tolerance doesn’t mean you are physically or mentally dependent on a drug, that you are addicted, or that you will necessarily experience Adderall withdrawal syndrome when you stop taking amphetamine salts. Note here that Adderall dependence withdrawal requires medical supervision.  However, if tolerance is occurring you want to watch out for Adderall withdrawal symptoms. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Adderall tolerance. We also look at how Adderall tolerance relates to amphetamine dependency and addiction. We invite any questions you may have about Adderall at the end of this article.

    Developing tolerance to Adderall

    Anyone can develop a tolerance to Adderall but it happens over a length of time. Adderall tolerance, in general, takes longer than other types of drugs. But those abusing Adderall for the euphoric effect will develop tolerance quicker than someone using it for therapeutic purposes. How does tolerance happen? And what does it mean?

    Tolerance to Adderall develops because the body “learns” the chemical makeup of amphetamine salts over time. After a while, the end of the nerves become resistant to Adderall effects on the body. Sometimes, developing a tolerance to Adderallcompletely renders the drug useless. Other time,s this tolerance can progress into in a physical dependence on Adderall. When you are physically dependent on Adderall and try to stop taking Adderall, your body experiences withdrawal symptoms which can be both dangerous and painful.

    Adderall tolerance symptoms

    In general, tolerance symptoms for amphetamines like Adderall include the following and are important to look out for.

    1) No longer feeling the focus Adderall provides.

    2) Needing higher doses of Adderall to feel its effects on ADHD symptoms.

    3) Only being able to maintain the effects of Adderall for a short time after taking it.

    Note here that Adderall has a high potential for developing physical dependency and can even trigger addiction in some cases. If you are worried this may be you, you can review our other articles for further information. But as you use Adderall over time, doctors expect that you will develop some form of tolerance to Adderall. Your doctor will work with you to observe which concentration of amphetamine salts works best for you to adjust for and work around Adderall tolerance.

    Adderall tolerance: How long?

    Amphetamines, in general, take longer to develop a tolerance when used for therapeutic purposes. Tolerance in this case develops more on a week to month basis sometimes taking up to 6 months before a doctor has to alter and change the concentration of the medication. But when Adderall is abused to get high, tolerance develops quickly. In fact, people can develop a tolerance to Adderall after using it just once. Many try to chase the first high with no success and will take more Adderall, thereby increasing their tolerance at the same time as they develop a dependence.

    High tolerance to Adderall

    There are different concentrations and potencies of Adderall for those prescribed amphetamines to treat ADHD. This varies because of the ADHD spectrum and the variations that exist. What may be a high tolerance for one may be low for someone else.

    Doctors are advised to start people out with the lowest possible dose of Adderall because of the high potential your body has of becoming dependent on amphetamines. This also allows room for doctors to tinker with the levels and dosage of Adderall which can works for you. In general, a high tolerance to Adderall exceeds 40mg a day. To even get to this Adderall dosage is considered rare and rather remarkable. If you are taking 30 to 40 mg of Adderall a day, you have a high tolerance to Adderall and may want to try another medication that can help mitigate ADHD symptoms.

    How to lower tolerance to Adderall

    Because of Adderall’s high dependency rate, it is considered a little more dangerous practice to lower your tolerance to Adderall. It is safe to lower your tolerance to Adderall as long as you have not developed a physical dependency on amphetamines salts. If you have become physically dependent on Adderall, you will then need to taper your Adderall doses slowly under the supervision of a doctor to compensate for withdrawal symptoms.

    The best way to lower tolerance is to stop taking Adderall. But when you do this , ADHD symptoms will once again occur. A couple of months should be good enough to lower tolerance enough to start taking it. If may be best to try an alternative drug to help with these symptoms. Talk to a doctor to see what would be your best option. Also, if you’re abusing Adderall and you stop taking it, you will never be able to reach level zero of when you started taking Adderall.

    Building up tolerance to Adderall questions

    Do you still have questions about Adderall tolerance? Please share your questions and experiences with Adderall in the comments below.

    Reference Sources: Pub Med Health: Adderall
    FDA: Adderall drug label
    National Institute of Drug Abuse: Pharmacology and Toxicology of Amphetamine and Related Designer Drugs

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • How Student Abuse of ADHD Meds Affects Peers With a Diagnosis

    How Student Abuse of ADHD Meds Affects Peers With a Diagnosis

    A UNC survey found that a majority of students have misused Adderall or other prescription stimulants. This is hurting their peers who have a real need for the medications.

    Various research in recent years has pointed to a growing problem on college campuses: the misuse of stimulants such as Adderall to aid in academic success.

    And the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is no exception, the student newspaper The Daily Tar Heel reports.

    According to the student paper, a recent survey of 145 students on campus found that more than one-third had used Adderall or other prescription stimulants in the past month. Of those students, 60.7% admitted they had used such medications without a prescription.

    UNC psychology professor Beth Kurtz-Costes tells the Daily Tar Heel that one reason for use of such medications may be that students feel pressure to keep up and perform well academically in college.

    “An amount of anxiety that is serious enough that it requires someone to go to CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) or to seek outside help will definitely hamper performance,” Kurtz-Costes said. “A moderate amount of anxiety is considered good. You’ll perform better on an exam or in giving a speech if you’re moderately aroused or anxious, but going beyond a certain point, certainly, is a deterrent to performance.”

    For some students, such as UNC sophomore Paige Masten, stimulants like Adderall are necessary. Masten tells the Daily Tar Heel that she has been diagnosed with ADHD, and as such, the medication affects her differently than it may for her peers without such diagnoses.

    “When I take my Adderall, I don’t have the same effects,” she said. “I don’t feel super productive and I don’t feel like I’m going to stay up all night the same way they do. I just feel kind of normal and able to function, whereas without it I can’t focus whatsoever.”

    For people with diagnoses like ADHD, medications like Adderall aid in lowering stimulation levels and returning them to a normal level of function, the Texas A&M University Health Science Center reports. But for those without, it can be dangerous and can even result in stroke or death.

    “People who take it for exams or just when they’re stressed, it kind of can mess with their brain because they’ll stay up way longer than they need to, they’ll be really jittery and hyper-attentive,” Masten added. “I think, ultimately, it does the opposite of what it’s supposed to be doing for them, whereas for me it makes me into a more normal person.”

    For Masten, seeing other students abuse the medication is frustrating, as access to it is already limited.

    “Obviously I have the luxury and the privilege of being able to go to the doctor when I need to and being able to afford it,” Masten said. “But there’s also some people who struggle with ADHD who may not have that same luxury, and making it even harder would make it even more difficult for them to obtain the drugs they need to be as productive as people without ADHD. I think that that further disadvantages them in a way that would be really unfair.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • "Apprentice" Contestant Claims Trump Snorted Adderall On Set

    "Apprentice" Contestant Claims Trump Snorted Adderall On Set

    Actor Tom Arnold took to Twitter to back up Celebrity Apprentice contestant Noel Casler’s allegations about Trump’s Adderall use.

    During a stand-up set earlier this month, comedian Noel Casler claimed President Donald Trump used to snort Adderall on the set of The Celebrity Apprentice.

    It’s not immediately clear that the comic actually worked on the show, but other comics – mostly ardent Trump opponents – quickly came to Casler’s defense on Twitter, calling him “professional” and “discreet.”

    The six-minute routine at the Gotham Comedy Club drew plenty of laughs on Dec. 1, but it didn’t start going viral until a few days later.

    “He’s a speed freak,” Casler told the crowd. “He crushes up his Adderall and he sniffs it, ’cause he can’t read, so he gets really nervous when he has to read cue cards. I’m not kidding. This is true.”

    He went on to describe a “24-page nondisclosure agreement” – then apparently dismiss it.

    “I didn’t know then he was becoming president,” he continued. “Now it’s, no way, dumbass. I’m telling you everything I know. So he gets nervous and he crushes up these pills, and that’s why he’s sniffing when you see him in debates and when you see him reading. It’s why he’s tweeting, you know, it’s like he’s out of his mind.”

    Riffing on the allegations, he continued.

    “It makes sense if you think about it,” he said, “methamphetamine was invented by the Nazis to keep the fighter pilots up all night on bombing runs, so it makes sense that Trump would use it to hate-tweet.”

    When HillReporter.com followed up to ask whether Casler was serious, he reportedly said he wouldn’t discuss his work off-stage or on the record.

    But actor Tom Arnold took to Twitter both to declare the statement accurate and to imply that the whole skit may have been a way to get around the alleged NDA.

    “Because First Amendment Mark Burnett MGM & Donald Trump cannot hold a stand up comic performing onstage in public to their BS 10 year $5 million NDA,” he wrote. “Finally figured out a way to tell these true stories. Tapes too. Noel Casler, American Hero. Funnyman with impeccable credentials.”

    It’s not the first time a comment about Trump’s alleged drug use has drawn widespread attention. Back before the 2016 election, former presidential candidate Howard Dean dinged Trump for sniffling his way through his first face-off with Hillary Clinton.

    “Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?” he tweeted. A few days later, Dean apologized.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Is It Hard To Quit Adderall?

    Is It Hard To Quit Adderall?

    ARTICLE SUMMARY: Yes, it can be hard to quit Adderall. Physical changes to brain function occur when you take Adderall daily. So, drug dependence makes quitting hard. Increased tolerance and brain chemistry also make it difficult to quit. This article reviews the main obstacles to quitting and how you can quit safely.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: 5-10 minutes.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Why Quitting is Hard

    Adderall is a psychoactive drug, which means that it changes brain chemistry. When you stop using it after a few weeks or more, your body goes through an adjustment period. This is because Adderall can cause both physical and psychological dependence. These are the main reasons it can be hard to stop using on your own.

    Because of the potentially intense and dangerous withdrawal symptoms, it is highly recommended that you seek medical help and supervision when you quit taking Adderall.

    Continue reading for more on safety protocols when quitting Adderall. We’ll discuss in detail the safety concerns and possible side effects. Then, we invite your comments and/or experiences in the section at the end. In fact, we try to respond personally and promptly to your real life questions.

    Addictiveness

    Adderall is faily addictive, especially when used to get high. Adderall – a mixture of amphetamine salts -is considered a schedule II drug under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), which describes this drug as:

    • Substance with high potential for abuse.
    • Substance with no current accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S.
    • Substance which can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

    Still, high school and university students who have easy access to Adderall take it as a study enhancer. Other professionals use Adderall for work performance. There have also been reports of stimulant abuse by individuals seeking weight loss, enhanced energy, sleep postponement (student “cramming”, long-distance driving), improved athletic performance, or simply enhancement of recreational social activities.

    Are these people at risk addiction?

    Yes.

    NIDA reports that PET scans of the brain show that Adderall can be just as addictive as crack or cocaine.

    Adderall can induce a pleasurable high.

    Brain Changes

    In short, Adderall is difficult to quit because of its effects on the brain. Stimulants increase the activity of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. In particular, the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine are stimulated by Adderall. Dopamine is involved with pleasure and rewarding behaviors. Norepinephrine affects blood vessels, blood pressure and heart rate, blood sugar, and breathing.

    This study explains how Adderall works:

    1. Adderall inhibits the reuptake of dopamine in nerve synapses.
    2. Adderall stimulates additional production of dopamine.

    According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prescription stimulants like Adderall can affect key pleasure centers within the brain. While people who are taking Adderall for ADHD usually do not experience a high, for others Adderall can cause an intensified euphoria. After a pattern of use, a compulsion to use can occur and a loss of control happens very quickly.

    The desire to reach that same pleasure point stimulates you to increase the amounts with each dose. As you lose your ability to experience any pleasure, you might attempt to stop, but unfortunately, you’ll experience strong cravings which will make quitting difficult. Amphetamines are considered a drug with high potential for relapse.

    Because the body develops physical dependence on Adderall, withdrawal symptoms occur when you lower doses or quit completely. If these symptoms are not properly managed, they can lead you to relapse during the first 30 DAYS of abstinence, as they progress and change, making you experience new symptoms each week.

    What Makes Stopping Dangerous?

    Adderall intoxication can make you behave in abnormal ways. Repeated misuse of prescription stimulants, even within a short period, can cause psychosis, anger, or paranoia. As mentioned earlier, chronic use of Adderall creates drug dependence, which makes it difficult to quit due to the following withdrawal symptoms:

    • Anxiety.
    • Difficulty concentrating.
    • Exhaustion.
    • Irritability.
    • Rapid mood changes.
    • Unpleasant dreams or insomnia.

    Withdrawal generally produces fatigue, depression, and social disability. Also, quitting Adderall can trigger ideas of suicide. For these reasons, always seek medical help when you want to discontinue use.

    Quitting Adderall on your own, or tapering without medical supervision are not recommended. Treatment centers and detox clinics offer a structured program of quitting that includes close monitoring and management of withdrawal, psychological, and emotional symptoms. Feelings of isolation and mourning at the loss of this stimulant, as well as dealing with stress can be real problems which could trigger relapse.

    Medications

    Medications can be prescribed during withdrawal that might also help you counteract uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. The following medicines are currently in use for stimulant disorders. You can ask for more information about the following:

    1. Baclofen prescribed to ease pain.
    2. Desipramine prescribed for the moderation of depression.
    3. Gabapentin prescribed to reduce withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and insomnia. This medication acts as a neutralizer of the neurological effects of an extended crack addiction until you are able to fully recover.
    4. Haloperidol prescribed to reduce symptoms such as: nausea and vomiting, delirium, agitation, acute psychosis, and hallucinations.
    5. Vigabatrin prescribed to control and reduce feelings of anxiety, which may help prevent relapse.

    Health & Safety

    Always seek medical supervision when you want to quit Adderall. Feelings of extreme dysphoria and depression can be overwhelming. However, these are expected and can be addressed. Your prescribing doctor, detox clinics, or addiction treatment centers are available to help you manage the difficulties of quitting Adderall, including:

    • Providing medications like antidepressants to address withdrawal symptoms.
    • Providing relapse prevention tools.
    • Treating mental health issues that may be related.

    If you get a clearance from doctor that you can withdraw from Adderall at home, only then you are permitted to do so. Your doctor should test you before and after you quit. S/he will also give you detailed guidelines during the process of quitting.

    Further…if you hink you’re the only one facing problems…you are not! According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, of the 17.2 million past year users of stimulants aged 12 or older, 11.3 million (or 4.2 percent of the population aged 12 or older) used amphetamine products.

    So, when you are ready for help…look for it!

    You don’t need to battle dependence on your own.

    Who Can Help

    Detox clinic professionals are trained to help ease withdrawal symptoms and provide you with psychological and emotional support. You can use SAMHSA online treatment locator to find the closest one in your area or ask for a referral from your physician refer you to one if needed.

    Plus, this SAMHSA Advisory on prescription drug misuse points out that people with Adderall problems can also look for help from:

    • Addiction counselors, social workers, and/or psychiatric nurses with experience and training in detox and addiction treatment.
    • Appropriate dose-tapering and detoxification services.
    • Physicians, physician’s assistants, or nurse practitioners with expertise in withdrawal.
    • Psychiatrists with expertise in psychotropic medication management.

    Further, inpatient rehab can be your gateway for maintaining long term sobriety!

    If you are addicted to Adderall, checking in a residential treatment center might be one of your best recovery options. Inpatient treatment facilities have structured programs designed to help you quit, remain sober, and succeed in maintaining your health and wellbeing.

    Rehab centers offer medical expertise and counseling that you might find extremely beneficial during treatment. Their experts will give you the proper nutrition and medications you need to detox, and allow you the time to rest and get healthy. There is not a precise length of residential stay, but programs usually last from 30 to 90 days, or for the more severe cases you can stay at the facility even for a year.

    Your Questions

    Do you still have questions about the difficulties and risks when quitting a stimulant medicine? Please leave your questions, comments or feedback here. We are happy to help answer your questions personally and promptly. And if we do not know the answer to your particular crack question, we will refer you to someone who does.

    Reference Sources: DEA: Drug Schedules
    Crack Prosecutor: Schedules of Selected Drugs

    View the original article at

  • "Biggest Loser" Weight-Loss Drug Allegations Investigated By NBC

    "Biggest Loser" Weight-Loss Drug Allegations Investigated By NBC

    “People were passing out in Dr. H’s office at the finale weigh-in. On my season, five people had to be rushed to the hospital,” one contestant claimed.

    Contestants on the NBC’s weight-loss reality show, The Biggest Loser, allege that they were given drugs and medications intended to help with weight loss by health experts on the show’s staff.

    In the show, a cast of overweight contestants are challenged to lose as much weight as possible over the length of the show’s season. The person who loses the highest percentage of weight wins money.

    However, several of the shows’ contestants revealed that they were told to abstain from eating and take pills to lose weight—and keep how they lost the weight a secret.

    “‘Take this drug, it’ll really help you,’” Joelle Gwynn said, repeating to The New York Post what one of the show’s assistants allegedly said to her.

    Gwynn claims the assistant, as well as her boss, trainer Bob Harper, were handing out Adderall and “yellow jackets,” a weight loss drug containing ephedra that does not have FDA approval.

    Gwynn reported it to “the sports medicine guy,” but alleges she was encouraged to take them by the show’s doctors.

    “Dr. H gave us some lame explanation of why they got added to our regimen and that it was up to us to take them,” she said.

    Another contestant, Suzanne Mendonca, said the doctor encouraged contestants to fight dehydration by using teaspoons of baking soda.

    The doctor in question, Dr. Robert Huizenga, sued The New York Post for defamation in 2016. He says the claims are untrue and are hurting his reputation.

    “Contestants are told at the start of the show that there is zero tolerance for any weight-loss drugs,” Dr. Huizenga said.

    However, the show has not continued since these accusations were leveled in 2016. Lawyers at The New York Post are looking into the connection between these accusations and whether they were the reason the show came to an end.

    “It is simply not plausible that NBC canceled a television show that ran for 17 seasons and that was, at one point, one of NBC’s highest-rated programs—all without a single individual sending a single email,” wrote New York Post attorney Steven Mintz to the New York federal judge.

    The contestants have an idea of why the show ended.

    “People were passing out in Dr. H’s office at the finale weigh-in,” Season 2’s Suzanne Mendonca said to the Post in 2016. “On my season, five people had to be rushed to the hospital. He knew exactly what we were doing and never tried to stop it.”

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, “NBCUniversal is the recipient of a subpoena exploring what it knows about Biggest Loser drug use, medical concerns, compensation and cancellation. Over the past two months, the two sides have been fighting over what documents must be produced.”

    An NBC spokesman says the network is unable to comment on ongoing legal matters. 

    View the original article at thefix.com