Stimulants, ADD & Acne | ADHD Information

Hi there...

I'm nearly 32 and was just diagnosed with ADD & depression yesterday at the Amen Clinic.  My doctor prescribed Adderall and later plans to incorporate Effexor slowly.

I've never taken a stimulant med before and I'm a little concerned about it's influence on adult acne.  I've had a history of adult acne since the age of 28 and I've just recently gotten it under control.  I've invested a lot of time and money bringing my skin back into balance.  So, I'm curious to know how many people on Adderall developed skin issues once on a stimulant for adult ADD.  I'm not afraid of a few pimples (it would be worth it to calm my brain), but I really do not want a few blown explosion.

My doctor assured me that taking zinc, magnesium citrate, beta carotene and eating the Perricone Prescription diet should keep everything in check.  I use Tazorac and Spironolactone already for the acne...and I've had 10 sessions of Smoothbeam with great sucess.  Most likely, I'm thinking this is all my obsessive thoughts    However, I don't want to play whack-a-mole for the rest of my life...fix one problem and another pops up. 

I'd love to hear about anyone's experiences with adderall and if anything showed up regarding their skin once they began treatment. 

Thanks so much!

 

Hi aslan21154, my husband at 40 still has acne.  He just started on Adderall 2 months ago & it has not effected his skin in any way. 

Two weeks ago, I added Adderall to the Straterra i've been taking for a year --and yes, it has made my acne 5x worse!  I'm 19 years old, and have always had acne on my face, back, and chest--but this medication has made it so i do not even want to take my shirt off around my girlfriend.   It is really embarrasing and quite disgusting. ...Before I was on adderall, At about 16 i was given antibiotics along with two topical medications to help the acne and recently was able to stop the antibiotics and use only one of the topical creams. Now i think i might have to go back to the dermatologist to see what my options are.  I have always known that you can't mess with the human body-- it seems that if you can get rid of one disorder with medication, another will pop up (if not in the short term, sometime down the road).  However, I would have to drop out of school without Straterra and Adderall, so i'll deal with the acne if i have to. 

Trs02338426.3908564815I actually was interested in this topic as well, because I noticed I was much more oily than usual. The KEY is to drink ATLEAST the recommended intake of 8 cups of water a day. Other liquids will help too, but water will probably help the best. This way you will urinate the majority of the metabolized stimulants out of your body. The second very important thing you must do is shower daily, ESPECIALLY if you don't drink atleast 8 cups of water a day; you will stink. Currently I take 2 showers a day and drink atleast 3 or 4, 32-fluid ounce water bottles. So I do both, with showers in the evening and at night. If you do this, I wouldn't be suprised if your acne cleared up in a month or so, unless it has always been a recurring problem. Either way, I guarantee it will help. GOOD LUCK!! -joy

hmm... interesting. i've had a few more pimples than i'm used to in the past few months. i hadn't thought about it being related to my adderall. i wouldn't worry too much, though. for me it's just like there's like one a week, not like 20. it's a little annoying but it's not like an acne breakout. it's just a zit here and there