dehydration | ADHD Information

does anyone on meds(adderall) get dehydrated to the point that you wake up with dry hands and feet, chapped lips and your eyelids are stuck to your eyeballs? just curious

Although I NEVER let it get to that level yes I can become quite dehydrated.  Add together the fact that adderall is a diuretic (removes water through extra urine output) that you don't feel the need to fill the stomach with water or food as much, and typically your metabolism is higher, and we typically consume caffeinated beverages more than average - you are bound to dry up pretty fast.  Take into account the time of year as well - depending on where you live the humidity can be as much as half the norm during the colder months.

Drink plenty of non-caffeinated, non-sugar liquids (water is best).  Perhaps invest in a humidifier. 

 

Jerber

Actually Adderall is not a diuretic. However, Adderall will interact with urinary acidifying agents such as ammonium chloride which result in increased urinary excretion and lower the efficacy of Adderall. Unfortunately, ammonium chloride is used by some food manufacturers as an additive in a variety of food types. (See http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/additives/detail s.html?id=279)

My level of thirst didn't change after starting Adderall. However I did develop Raynaud’s Disease which results in painfully cold fingers and toes if I am exposed to cooler temperatures. You know how when you go outside in the winter, your body send more blood flow to the external organs to keep them warm so that your hands and feet will rapidly get cold. With Raynaud’s the theory is that your brain doesn't flip the switch back to normal blood flow and your extremities stay cold -- it's taken as long as 2 hours to get my fingers warmed up, although it hasn't been too bad during the summer.

The reason I mention this is that I am convinced that I am experiencing an Adderall side-effect that affects a brain function regulating blood flow under specific conditions. And, certain scenarios of blood flow can result a variety of skin related issues.

Having said that I wonder if some of your issues are blood flow related versus dehydration? However, it could also very well be dehydration if you are experiencing an interaction with a urinary acidifying agent.

MaxDad


[QUOTE=Maxdad]Jerber



My level of thirst didn't change after starting Adderall. However I did develop Raynaud’s Disease which results in painfully cold fingers and toes if I am exposed to cooler temperatures. You know how when you go outside in the winter, your body send more blood flow to the external organs to keep them warm so that your hands and feet will rapidly get cold. With Raynaud’s the theory is that your brain doesn't flip the switch back to normal blood flow and your extremities stay cold -- it's taken as long as 2 hours to get my fingers warmed up, although it hasn't been too bad during the summer.

The reason I mention this is that I am convinced that I am experiencing an Adderall side-effect that affects a brain function regulating blood flow under specific conditions. And, certain scenarios of blood flow can result a variety of skin related issues.

Having said that I wonder if some of your issues are blood flow related versus dehydration? However, it could also very well be dehydration if you are experiencing an interaction with a urinary acidifying agent.

MaxDad


[/QUOTE] i do have problems when i used to go jogging during the spring time. when it was about 55 degrees outside and i used to jog my hands felt like ice and i couldn't move my fingers for a few minutes after i ran, i also wake up with tingling in my hands sometimes! i also notice that when i sweat and some may get into my mouth it doesn't taste like salt like it should. when i get dehydrated my urine is very cloudy, the drier my skin, lips and eyes, the cloudier the urine! jerbear38928.5725462963

ok I must concur it's not a diuretic per se.  But adderall has listed side effects that affect urination such as painful or difficult urination, frequent urges to urinate and changes in flow.  It also is linked to antagonizing diuretics and is suggested not to take a diuretic in unison with it.  Probably due more to blood pressure changes though.

 

Oh - wierd sidebar in that I found several links with adderall and vocal coaches saying it's been seen to dry out the vocal folds so they recommend more water and spraying the vocal chords to lubricate.  I just thought that was interesting.I am definitely a lot more thirsty on the Adderall. I keep a bottle of water by my bed, and make sure to drink plenty of water during the day. Jerber

Yep, definitely sounds similar. I do believe that there are some side-effects that have not been clinically identified yet. It drives me nuts that the initial prescribing guidelines for Adderall are based on a four-week study. Heck, it took me two months just to find the right med and the right dose level.

Considering that I will be on ADD meds for the remainder of my life, it would be nice to see some studies on adults for longer periods like 6 months to a year.

MaxDad

[QUOTE=Maxdad]Jerber

Yep, definitely sounds similar. I do believe that there are some side-effects that have not been clinically identified yet. It drives me nuts that the initial prescribing guidelines for Adderall are based on a four-week study. Heck, it took me two months just to find the right med and the right dose level.

Considering that I will be on ADD meds for the remainder of my life, it would be nice to see some studies on adults for longer periods like 6 months to a year.

MaxDad
[/QUOTE]

when you say sounds familiar, was your urine cloudy also? i have an appointment with my psych. august eighth and i hope he tells me it's normal for that to happen

Jerber

I don't experience the cloudy thing. But I do the tingling hands at night and the cold fingers during cold. And now that I think about it, yesterday I worked outside all day in extreme heat and was dripping sweat for hours -- and I don't recall that salty taste either.

To cap it off, I collapsed from dehydration after I came in from outside. That surprised me.

Perhaps we need to start a new board section, "Men with ADD, Abnormal Urine and Dry as a Bone."      LOL

MaxDad