safe to workout when taking ADDERAL XR? | ADHD Information
hello. i've just been recently prescribed adderall xr for adhd. i am a work-out fanatic and need to excercise everyday. i wasn't sure if it's safe to work out while your on the "high". is it safer to excersise before or after you take the pill? better working out morning or night? does continued use of the drug make it harder to excersise? i do all cardio. anyone?!??! I was told that you should not do cardio while you are on adderall. Since your heart rate is elevated on this drug, it is already doing a workout! Then to put your heart and body through a workout on top of that causes to much stress and does not allow your heart to rest. I work out on the weekends when I don't take my meds, but of course ask your doc.That's the trick - as Kim says always check with your doc!
Some people should certainly not use ADHD meds and exercise strenuously - the deaths from the meds where a defect in the heart is not a factor were all from people over exercising and taking them. Most also were taking diuretics and on a calorie reduced diet. So they were definitely doing all the wrong things.
I work hard at work physically while taking meds. But I am careful not to raise my heart rate too high and always drink plenty of water. No diet, no diuretics. I take the meds to feel normal not to gain a physical edge.
Doc will be able to assess your heart's health and tell you how much is too much.
thanks for your replys.
is it safe to to run when your not on the "high". like in the morning before you take it?
I would think that it would be ok since the medication is out of your system. BUT, even for someone not on stimulants it is always a good idea to check with your Doc before begining any excercise program... Gee, I sound like a health club commercial!
Sherry
[QUOTE=lady00]cpecially now that i've been on these meds. little annoying weight that i tried weeks & weeks to get rid of, POOF - 4 days after taking my meds & vanished.
[/QUOTE]
Lady - just don't think it will last ok? The reason they don't allow amphetamines for weight loss anymore is that to maintain loss you must increase the dose again and again. Ask many who have had heart attacks due to our meds and most will admit they kept upping their dose to keep weight off. Do it right or don't do it at all ok? I care about you and that's just not right for you.
You'll find you eat better and work out more sensibly when you get therapy and maintain your meds. Everything makes so much more sense!!
I'm getting a fitness pass at my local gym soon - which I never have done before. I want to be healthy as well as happy and I guarantee I will do it right the first time. Please take care of yourself as well - in all ways.
gee wolly! this forum rocks. not only do i find cures & answers for my *gift* aka add. but i also find out tons of new stuff.
point noted. i'll cut back on the cardio....
cpecially now that i've been on these meds. little annoying weight that i tried weeks & weeks to get rid of, POOF - 4 days after taking my meds & vanished.
Lady, working out before you take the meds wouldn't do you any harm. Preferably, I also work out on weekends when I don't take my meds just to be on the safe side. By the way, you're supposed to work out every other day, because your muscles needs at least 48hrs recovery time after a workout.YES, YOUR BODY NEEDS A BREAK EVEN FROM CARDIO!! Not only should you have a day or 2 off per week, but you should also vary your intensity throughout the weeks and months so that you have recovery workouts in there too.
even cardio? all i do is cardio. 7 days a week. 30-45 mins. no weight training what so ever. although i need to.... =/Amy - I too have always been a big cardio person and have been on Adderall XR for almost 2 yrs. I asked the pharmacist & then my doctor directly about exercising on the meds. I am told that as long as you are not doing more time wise or duration of your activity (ie; running at higher speeds or further distance), you should be fine. If you worked out before starting these meds then your body is probably fairly used to the exercise & heart well conditioned. Listen to your body & if you are overdoing it, you will know.
Of course, confirm with your doctor but I think it really helps to exercise when you start to feel sluggish or experience any side effects when the meds wear off at the end of the day. 25 mins of exercise can make a world of difference.
Hope this helps & let us know what your doc says!
Work-out Freak here too, work out five times per week, two hours per session (hour weights, hour elliptical), not a problem with either Adderall XR 30mg, Generic Adderall 15mg and Klonopin 3mg (3x per day).Hemmie
RIGHT ON! good to see i have some fellow adhd workoutaholics!
yes - i agree with you hbone about decreasing side effects when you get a work out in. i start each and every morning with a good sweat. i'm still waiting to talk to my dr. to confirm if this is a risk or not. i'm sure it wont be considering i was a cardioaholic far before starting my meds. PLUS, i work out in the morning b4 i take my meds. i'm a little scared working out while on them.
another question - have u guys found doing cardio becomes more difficult after you've been on the meds for a while? i've been working out for a while now, and have just recently in the past few months come to a point where it actully feels GOOD to run and not a CHORE. i'd just hate to loose that. didnt know if the meds played a factor on your body like that.
i sould like a complete fanatic! 
Amy - In response to your last post on exercise. I actually talked to my doctor today & asked him again about the cardio stuff and he confirmed it is not an issue as long as you are watching your heart rate/not overdoing it. He said the big concern with these stim meds is exercising in extreme heat which could cause some problems.
As far as running goes after being on the Adderall XR for almost 2 yrs.. The first 8 mths or so the running/jogging was almost easy (or not much of an effort/chore as you say). Lately, I am doing about 1/2 of what I did and it is harder which may have nothing to do with medicine & more of my body just needing to rest and take a break from exercise (something I have never been very good at).
Hope this helps. Again let us know what your doc says but I am fairly certain you will hear a similar statement about exercise if you have always been doing it.
talked to the dr
she confirmed that working out on adderall xr is not a risk at all. UNLESS i was born with a heart problem.
