My experience w/ adderall and appetite | ADHD Information

It killed my appetite and I love it! I dropped about 25lbs on Adderall XR but I'm not complaining. I think of it as an added bonus. haha before Adderall, my life revolved around food....on Adderall, my life still revolves around food  What can I say? ...Eating is my favorite pastime! Many people are curious how Adderall effects appetite. Here is what I can tell you. First of all, I have experienced absolutely no nausea with Adderall.

Before taking adderall I guess I would have been classified as a food adict. The next thing on my mind after eating lunch was "what's for dinner?" I talked about food constantly and all of my social activities revolved around food. Adderall has eliminated the obsession, the constant craving, etc. Now, I understand how normal people feel. I eat now when I am hungry and I do not eat for entertainment. I have not lost my appetite, but it has been normalized to a great degree.
GoBigOrange38552.3406365741 [QUOTE=Master Mind]Shock:

I've thought about the drug response, that is, putting it out there, getting a laugh as a response and leaving it at that...on the other hand, it's the part where you truthfully tell them whats going on that I'm not comfortable with. You're much braver than I!

What sort of responses do you get when you tell people what the meds are for? Have you done this at work? If so, what sort of response have you gotten? Any problems b/c of it? Do you get asked what the meds are for often, or do you find that people generally back off before getting to that point?

A lot of posts here caution to avoid disclosure at work. My sense is to avoid it as well....I've heard people at work making negative comments about a gal there who they say has add. This individual comes off as being pretty high strung and I'm not sure if she really has add or not but people really avoid her and give her a bad rap by labeling her. I feel sorry for her and observing peoples responses to her and in general makes me shy away from discolsing anything to my peers. I save the gory stuff for those who I'm closest to, they accept me as I am. Fortunatley, I am of more of a quiter nature and can blend into the furniture so my sense is that I've been able to avoid the type of attention this other gal has gotten (that is, when my weight isn't the gossip of the day). If I ever got wind that someone was talking about me like that, it would only serve to make matters worse in terms of my comfort level with the whole thing.

How long have you known about your diagnosis? I like your response, a little humor can go a long way and it sounds like you are able to keep things in perspective and not let it get to you...that's inspiring since I'm not there yet.

Master Mind[/QUOTE]

September 2004, my family doctor mentioned that I might have it. I read everything I could about Adult ADD and I started taking the steps to reorganize my life. In April of 2005, I realized that I could organize my life but not control the craziness in my head. It was causing problems at work.
I was scared to tell anyone about my Adult ADD when I was diagnosed, however, my psychiatrist strongly urged me to tell the people I work with. She told me, "Adult ADD or ADD, is not an excuse...it's an explination." I told my main manager and he was very happy that I told him. He urged me to tell others, which I did in the form of an email complete with a list of ADD traits I got from CHADD.org. Everyone on my team was very supportive and somewhat relieved now that they knew why I did the things I did. Everything in life is soooooo much better now! Especially at work.
My main concern is that they would see it as an excuse, which NONE of them did. They completely understood and they were all very happy that I shared something so personal with them. It has really opened up my relationships with my coworkers.

Now, I wouldn't really tell anyone you don't know well or don't work closely with. Just tell the people you work closely with and your managers. Now it is up to you to read everything you can about ADD and take all the steps to overcome it as much as possible...including meds if needed. God knows they saved my life in many ways!

Bottom line, DON'T BE ASHAMED! It's not your fault that your brain is "wired" differently then others. Use your gift, which it is, to your advantage.

Have you read any books about ADD?


Shock:

I've thought about the drug response, that is, putting it out there, getting a laugh as a response and leaving it at that...on the other hand, it's the part where you truthfully tell them whats going on that I'm not comfortable with. You're much braver than I!

What sort of responses do you get when you tell people what the meds are for? Have you done this at work? If so, what sort of response have you gotten? Any problems b/c of it? Do you get asked what the meds are for often, or do you find that people generally back off before getting to that point?

A lot of posts here caution to avoid disclosure at work. My sense is to avoid it as well....I've heard people at work making negative comments about a gal there who they say has add. This individual comes off as being pretty high strung and I'm not sure if she really has add or not but people really avoid her and give her a bad rap by labeling her. I feel sorry for her and observing peoples responses to her and in general makes me shy away from discolsing anything to my peers. I save the gory stuff for those who I'm closest to, they accept me as I am. Fortunatley, I am of more of a quiter nature and can blend into the furniture so my sense is that I've been able to avoid the type of attention this other gal has gotten (that is, when my weight isn't the gossip of the day). If I ever got wind that someone was talking about me like that, it would only serve to make matters worse in terms of my comfort level with the whole thing.

How long have you known about your diagnosis? I like your response, a little humor can go a long way and it sounds like you are able to keep things in perspective and not let it get to you...that's inspiring since I'm not there yet. It's good that you stay focused on the added bonus

Master MindMaster Mind38553.3133796296[QUOTE=MicheleRW222]I have always been obsessed with eating also.  The Adderall has decreased my appetite greatly.  I've lost a lot of weight, and could probably lose more but shouldn't so I make sure I eat enough to stay where I am right now.  I think people are suspicious of my weight loss, and I find that a little embarrassing.  I feel great though!  [/QUOTE]

I have lost a lot of weight too and when people ask how, I say "drugs." They always laugh. Then I tell them I am on a medication prescribed by my doctor and it causes appetite suppression. If they ask what the drug is for, I tell them.
I have always been obsessed with eating also.  The Adderall has decreased my appetite greatly.  I've lost a lot of weight, and could probably lose more but shouldn't so I make sure I eat enough to stay where I am right now.  I think people are suspicious of my weight loss, and I find that a little embarrassing.  I feel great though!  It is so nice to hear MicheleRW222 say that...I'm sorry to hear that she had to suffer the embarassment of dealing with what other people think about the weight loss. I've had the same thing happen...people at work have been suspicious of my weight loss and you're right, it is very embarrassing. I was not overweight prior to starting on the meds and it is like everyone thinks I have an eating disorder or something like that. Little do they know, I can pack some serious calories b/c I am very active in my work and recreationally.

It really bothers me b/c people have no clue that I am the no where near to having an eating disorder. Years ago, I had two roommates in college with eating disorders and vowed that I never wanted that to happen to me. Since then, I have always strived to be accepting of myself with respect to my weight and I encourage others to do the same. My take on it is that there's nothing wrong with watching one's weight for health purposes but one needs to strive to keep a healthy perspective about it psychologically. So many people really beat themselves up over this sort of thing and I hate to see that. Although I work at maintaining a healthy weight range...I don't want to get caught up with berating myself or others regarding weight (or any other physical or mental difference for that matter), I've seen how difficult it can be for people with eating disorders and I try to keep a healthy mind and body and keep a balanced perspective. I think a lot of it boils down to accepting our bodies. I struggled as a teenager with accepting my own physical differences and it took a long time for me to work though it, I guess I decided afterwards that I didn't want to go there again.     

When I get comments about my weight, I wish I could tell people to back off...God only knows I don't need to be assigned another "dis" order. Of coarse, I have to bite my tounge b/c my add, etc. is nobody else's business but those who are closest to me and I don't share my personal life with people at work. In addition to the add that I was officially diagnosed with about a year ago, I also got the news that I had depression, anxiety, and a learning disorder...mind you, I had to overcome severe Scoliosis (a curvature of the spine) when I was 14...had major surgery for it and that was bad enough! Dealing with all my recent diagnoses of mental health issues has been a lot of grief for me and I just want to hide when I sense people getting all bent out of shape about my weight loss. It is really none of their business and it amazes me that people I don't even know that well at work come up to me and comment about it.

I don't think I look anorexic or anything like that but I think that b/c my weight was fine before people assume I must have been trying to lose weight and wig out about it b/c they wonder why I'd want to lose weight when I was fine before. There are other folks where I work who really look anorexic and I don't think I am anywhere near that...although I'm lean, I lift weights and have a good deal of muscle mass...in other words, I don't look like I would blow away or anything like that. I'm actually quite strong and if I had anorexia, I wouldn't be able to sustain the level of activity that I have. It's puzzling to me that other people can't figure that out, guess they are not educated about eating disorders....hell, I have to fuel the fire to keep an active lifestyle and have no intentions of not eating b/c I know my body and mind need food to sustain me and to perform well.

I don't get it...why all the attention from people who typically barely even know I exist? Oddly enough, I really wasn't even aware that the weight loss was happening to me...true to my add character, I was too engaged in thinking of other things. Sure, I noticed some clothes were loose, but I honestly thought that I needed some new clothes...that they must have been getting worn or something. It didn't really occur to me till people started saying things to me that my weight was dropping. It was a shocker when the manager where I work called my boyfriend about it to express his concern. It was nice but definitely embarrassing. I look back now though, and have to laugh at myself for not really being dialed into the whole thing...my mind was definitely somewhere else! Too much other heavy stuff going though my mind I guess.

Has anyone else had this kind of experience? I guess I need to co-misserate about it b/c I have not revealed anything to my co-workers about what is going on with me and so I just keep to myself but it is definitely a challenge. Sometimes, I'm not sure how to respond. My boyfriend said perhaps I should tell people I'm competing in race or something like that ....that was a good suggestion, I began fantasizing about the attention I might generate if I said I was headed for the Tour de Lance or something like that ...dream on, I may be active but I could never sit on a bike for that long!
    

I know I may be somewhat off kilter in saying some of the things I've written b/c many people are concerned about weight and I hope no one takes my response the wrong way, but it is always nice to know you are not alone inyour thoughts, feelings, and concerns! Thanks so much to all of you for being open about your experiences! I know it isn't easy, it is too bad our society gets so hung up on appearances and judgements about people who are different. I really apprciate having this "add community" of voices that I can relate to , it's been very helpful to read the posts over the past few months while I gathered up the courage to post my thoughts. I was very relieved to hear someone else voice the same concern about other peoples reactions to the weight loss.

Sounds like MicheleRW222 is keeping a healthy perspective on things...kudos to her, keep at it! I've had to make sure I eat enough too and it is hard for me b/c I ususally try not to worry too much about that sort of thing and don't want to add anything else that to my list of concerns! Does anyone else find that things have leveled off in terms of the weight loss with being mindful about eating enough?

I feel great too, so I guess that is all that matters...the whole add experience is enough to deal with without having to get too worried about too much weight loss. I'd rather focus my energies on learning effective ways to deal with all the other challenges that go along with add. Oh well, I guess dealing with the comments and such is worth it if it leads to finding a better way. Seems like I've been searching all my life for a better way, and that takes up enough energy. Thanks again for being frank about this issue - especially MicheleRW222 - weight can be a sensitive issue and I appreciate the courage it takes to open up about something like that.

I know I may be somewhat off kilter in saying some of the things I've written b/c many people are concerned about weight and I hope no one takes my response the wrong way, but it is always nice to know you are not alone inyour thoughts, feelings, and concerns! Thanks so much to all of you for being open about your experiences! I know it isn't easy, it is too bad our society gets so hung up on appearances and judgements about people who are different. I really apprciate having this "add community" of voices that I can relate to, it's been very helpful to read the posts over the past few months while I gathered up the courage to post my thoughts.

Hope you all don't mind my long response...it's been building up I guess. This turned out to be pretty long for my first post...though I'm sure everyone here understands how that goes!

Best to you all. Master Mind

Master Mind38553.0036574074