feeling very strange is it the adderall | ADHD Information

I am the same as you, I have always thought that i was just depressed or "different" It turns out i was diagnosed with the inattentive side of adult adhd my last semester in college. It helped me so much, and I know a lot of college students abuse adderall to study but I just took it as perscribed to get me through the day and complete my responsibilities. It was amazing my friends noticed a change in my whole attitude and way of life. But then, finals week came and I ended up in the hospital with sympoms : tight chest difficulty breathing, tingling sensations in my limbs, then parts of my body felt paralyzed too me, coldness, fever, rapid heart rate. It was enough to terrify my roomate and she took me to the ER bc I had convinced both her and myself I was having a heart attack due to an overdose of adderall because I had taken one extra pill to study for my final that I was worried about. I had never dont that before. It turns out that I had a Panic Attack as a result of the adderall. I read on medical websites that abuse of nicotine can onset a panic attack, and I know that I smoke more cigarettes when the adderal is in my system. Also low blood sugar and since adderall can decrease appetite that might play a factor. I was terrified and upset because I thought that I could no longer take it even though I had not experienced a panic attack within the first few months of taking it so my only logical reaction was i had taken too much. I had been weary of taking it again but i stuck to vry small dosages and since the first panic attack I have had 3 since then. A Klonopin seems to calm me down and reduce the effects (that is what I was given in the hospital) I notice that the panic attacks come along with the "come down" off of the drug. As long as I eat regularly, and im on the path to quitting smoking, the panic attacks should not continue. I was actually feeling the onset of one before I started reading other similar experiences within the forum and THAT is actually what calmed me down knowing that others have shared similar experiences. I asked my doctor to give me some more time to adjust to my lower dosage and consciousness to keep blood sugar levels up and quit smoking before we talk about switching medications. But many experience similar symptoms as you when they "come down" so you are not alone, you may need to consider changing medications or other aspects of your life that can be triggers for those feelings to onset.

Panic attacks suck. I have had a few bad ones and lots of little ones. I had a pretty bad cycle of my inability to work and function at home caused increase anxiety which made functioning even more difficult.

Since generalized anxiety is also in my diagnosis and stimulants can increase anxiety, my psychiatric nurse practitioner has me on a low extended release dose of proponanol for social and performance anxiety. I think it helps keep me from panic attacks but sometimes I do take a serax (like klonopin) when I am spinning too much.

[QUOTE=cinbad_21601]

Hi everyone....I am new to this sight. Was diagnosed with ADHD about a month ago. I am 36 and until being diagnosed I guess I thought I was stupid, crazy, depressed and insecure. Now that I have been taking Adderall things have changed for me.....Wish I had done this years ago. My question is I was taking Adderall XR 10mg for about a month. It was only working for 4 hours with very little side effects except after the 4 hours it was like someone turned off the engine and could not focus. My doctor increased the dose to 20mg and this is my second day taking it. Yesterday there were no side effects and my focus and positive attitude lasted the entire day. I woke up this morning at 4AM ready to go. Soon after taking the adderall (7:00am) I was experiencing pressure in my ear. As the day has progressed I have the pressure but now I have what feels like hot flashes and my face is flush. Has anyone had these side effects? Will they subside because my body is trying to get use to the new dose? I know with Welbutrin I felt these same side effects until it was in my system and they subsided. HELP!!

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Yeah, this should subside. This isn't unusual. I've been on Adderall 30mg XR for a year

LadyChaos, has the effect of adderall been consistant for the whole year you have been on it?

Hi cinbad,

I started taking adderall a few weeks ago. The only side effects I have experienced are some dry mouth and I get a little jittery if I drink too much coffee. I am taking 15-20 mg immediate release, 2x a day.