Eating a lot is one of the self-medicating methods a lot of ADDer use. It releases dopamine which is partly what ADDers lack. Though not many ADDers are obese because of it.
mental stimulants will cure the problems of snacking often, but also will kill your appetite. It is a side effect. You just have to discipline yourself to eat the amount you need. At least now, since you gotta force yourself to eat, at least, eat something healthy.
Also, that side effect slowly wears off, but never fully goes away.
For me, lindsss, the eating thing is my impulsivity problem--the don't know when to stop thing. Addiction, plain & simple. Frankly, before I started the Adderall XR, I was chronically bulimic: I'd be hungry, eat, not stop when I should have, wasn't paying attention, everyone else was still eating, etc., so then I'd be too full--a feeling I cannot tolerate because I breathe "from my stomach", so if I'm really full, I honestly experience an asthma attack, & let me tell ya', if you do not have an inhaler with you, first stop the toilet because you need to breathe! But after the bathroom run, you're hungry & definitely dehydrated, so if you're not completely anal about how much you put in your mouth the cycle goes on viciously. I literally portion out just enough, soup, vegetables, water so I don't risk feeling over-full. In fact, vegetables are the ONLY thing I can eat an endless amount of without the discomfort, so I do love salad bars, but that's it. I also fear the metabolism rebound--believe me. It was my first concern going on Adderall, but I'm trying to keep the habit of eating much less & occupying my time better like I do when I'm on the meds, so when I'm not, hopefully I'll have developed better more balanced habits. Not to mention I won't lose the rest of my teeth from puking everything up.many many moons ago when i was taking meds, i was extremely thin.. it seems like a lifetime ago now
hello, i am 17 years old and i just recently (about 5 months ago) began taking adderall xr 20 mg every morning. i absolutely love it because i finally have been able to focus in school, and i actually like going. i was able to get off all of my anxiety medications within a month. the only issue is, i lost about 15 pounds rather quickly, without exercise, and now that ive started swimming for my high school im worried i may lose more.
dont get me wrong, what teenage girl wouldnt love to be a 27 waist after being a 32. the only thing im worried about is that after i go off it, (which im not sure how i ever will unless i grow out of ADD) and my completely messed up metabolism catches up with me. i dont stress about eating now, and its not like i hold back. its just i stop when im full, where before it was really impulsive of me to keep eating everything i could until i felt so full i was going to pop.
is eating like that a symptom of ADD? and maybe the adderall xr corrected it? or is the adderall xr such an extreme appetite killer that its really actually unhealthy for me?
any experiences like this or advice is GREATLY appreciated.