Hi,
I'm 21 and have been taking adderall on and off for about a year now, although I've only had my own perscription for the past few months. Until then, I took friends' meds when I had exams and stuff (which yes, I know, is highly illegal) because I knew I had ADD and felt I needed the medication, but had parents who were opposed to it. After reading about ADD and realizing how much it really affects every aspect of my life, I convinced my parents to let me see a doctor about it, and have been taking 20 mg (not XR) two times a day ever since. I'm so much happier, everything seems much more manageable, and things are better in school and at work. I don't notice much in the way of bad side effects - I don't sleep much, but I never did; I don't snack anymore, but I used to do that too much. Overall, things are great and I don't want to stop taking the meds.
My problem is that the adderall makes me want to smoke - - a lot. When I don't take adderall, cigarettes make me feel tired and kind of sick to my stomach, so I don't smoke at all or even feel like I want to. But once I take adderall, I'm at the store, buying cigarettes, and practically chain smoking. I told myself I would stop when I had my own perscription, because it seemed like if I didn't then, it was only going to get worse. Then I decided I'd quit after finals, and haven't been able to stick to that either.
I really need to stop, because I know I'm slowly killing myself, and I hate having to hide it from everyone who cares about me (who would kill me if they knew I was smoking). I've seriously tried, but it's really as if I can't control the craving once I'm on the medication. I realize how terribly weak that sounds, but I'm really struggling with it.
Has anyone quit smoking while on adderall or other stimulants? If anyone can relate or offer advice as to how you've dealt with this, I would really appreciate it.
thanks so much!
Hi there!
I'm also in my early 20's, I'm ADHD (hyperactive innatentive), and Adderal makes me want to chain smoke...I completely feel your pain!
My brother (he's 21 too) takes Adderal and has the same problem with smoking. I've personally been on Dexedrine, Adderal, and Ritalin....Adderal made me calmer and more organized but made me chain smoke!
My solution: I'm now taking Concerta, which I never thought would work for me because Ritalin doesn't. I also take Welbutrin. The Welbutrin initially helped my ADHD symptoms but then it plateaued and I got really depressed because I felt like my head, my room, and my life were a mess. With the Concerta, it works well. Plus, Wellbutrin is also marketed as "Zyban" which is a smoking cessation product. I found that once I started taking at least 300 MG in the morning, I didn't want to smoke. When I did smoke, it was NASTY! I kept thinking I wanted a cigarette and each one was gross.
Wellbutrin seems relatively safe, can help ADHD, and has had almost no side effects for me - no nausea, no headaches, no sexual side effects...only a weird taste in my mouth sometimes.
Hope this helps a little!