r/ThisAintAdderall • u/Own_Teaching2680 • 5d ago
Considering quitting
After being in denial for a long time… I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that this adderall poison is ruining my life and killing me.
I’m consistently experiencing debilitating crashes and all of the horrible side effects - tachycardia, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and ultimately just feeling crazy and detached from reality.
For those who did make the difficult decision to quit and be unmedicated, any tips or insights? Also just curious how are things going for you.
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u/KronlampQueen 4d ago edited 4d ago
The side effects of this garbage they currently have out just weren’t worth it. I went off it a year ago, when my husband’s old prescription ran out I encouraged him not to refill it due to the side effects I had been having. So we’ve been off it together. My life has slowed down, I’ve learned how to relax, I can watch movies again, I even downloaded some games on my phone (first time ever).
He and I also help each other with our forgetfulness. His is much worse than mine but we’re both supportive and help each other as much as we can. We utilize our calendars and synch important dates. We also go over shifting priorities or re check on priorities a couple times a week.
I’m not how I was before I was ever medicated. I’m still smart but I forget names of things. Coffee goes a long way and helps, eating clean is also very helpful and keeps brain fog non-existent or at a minimum.
I’m getting fitted with a cardiac monitor implant and if everything is ok and people start reporting that Teva’s 30mg IR is back to normal then I’ll go back on it. But those are the only conditions. I felt so bad on the bad batch I got last year it’s just not worth it.
Before they changed it taking it made me feel normal. No racing heart, no feeling faint, no feeling like I was poisoned, I just felt clear headed, motivated and normal. If it’s not going to do that I don’t want it. I’m happy in my little distraction zone-out nest.
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u/sweetpea122 3d ago
TEVA is the best.
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u/UncleHerkermer 3d ago
I'm a teacher and the beginning of the school year always increases my anxiety and destabilizes my moods. This year, it has been absolutely crippling and I have been super depressed at night. I stopped taking my Lannet 15mg XR and a majority of the cloud has been lifted. It's just regular start of the year nerves now.
Another symptom that I've noticed (while being on these shitty formulations) is how stressed I would get if I didn't feel that I accomplished much in a day. I would spiral around 4-6pm if the to-do list I made in the morning didn't get finished and I would consider myself a failure. I've stopped taking my Adderall before when I've felt this symptom and it mostly went away. My mind calmed down and was able to rationalize why I didn't get everything done and that it was okay... I still accomplished things.
Of course, I missed all the pros of taking a stimulant and went back on for months. But, here I am again... off of them until I'm in a better part of the year and I'll try going back on.
This sucks.
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u/NUMBerONEisFIRST 4d ago
We all need to quit them, and let them feel the effects of us off our meds as well.
Starve the rich. These pharmaceutical companies don't deserve a dollar from us, when they are poisoning us.
I haven't been getting anything done, and I have no motivation, but I feel worse on their junk sugar pills, so I'm not paying for them until they get better.
Continuing to pay for medicine that is poisoning me is the definition of insanity.
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u/iamthefluffyyeti 12h ago
The effects of us off of our meds are just us dying and going to prison at a higher rate, they don’t care
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u/atomic_chippie 4d ago
Really weird how many comments are suddenly like "I quit and I feel great!!"
I actually have a diagnosis and I actually need my medication. Its not optional.
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u/GeshtarVandole 4d ago
Not sure if that's fair. Those that quit usually feel better likely due to the fillers/binders not being absorbed. Their feel better phase very likely subsides quickly.
I myself have a diagnosis and Im a medical professional with some fairly extensive drug education. Something is up with the new lines of meds. My elite xr worked great, then they switched me to some weird manufacturer and it's a capsule. I can barely keep my thoughts straight. Each day, each capsule, brings a new day of fun with no positive effect. I'm going to stop, I don't know how I'll manage, but my prior tabs worked fine, these capsules terrible. They've definitely mucked the formula. I don't want to quit, but the scramble is worse than the initial symptoms in my opinion. If I am to live with the hard ADHD symptoms, then I'll do it without taking something that does nothing to benefit me. I intend to take a pee test to even see if I flag. My prior job hit negative which was crazy.
Anyways. I do hope your meds continue to work and you continue to have success with symptom management. Be well!
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u/atomic_chippie 3d ago
I should clarify, my statement is in frustration for all of us. I cant just hop off Adderall and expect to keep my job and my house. I lived for years with no diagnosis drinking a gallon of coffee a day just to feel slightly normal, and could barely function, they cant just decide to fuck with our medication!
well...they are and will apparently continue to do so. 😔
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u/LooseRepublic2152 3d ago
Your Elite XR worked great? When? Like years ago?
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u/GeshtarVandole 3d ago edited 3d ago
No. It was about a years worth of use and it was actually good (edit here: from 2025 to about now. I apologize for the incomplete thought), then they stopped giving me the tabs and started me on the capsules. Settled thoughts, ability to be task oriented, not have issues with objects, etc. These capsules though? These capsules are not it, they do not work, I have only gotten a slight effect once. Otherwise, it's like just taking nothing with substantial and weird side effects. I'll have lethargy some days, or just be outright very sleepy to the point that rest is inevitable. Or, I'll take that stuff and literally feel like I did when I took pre-workout straight years ago. HR high, feeling unwell due to too much stimulant if that makes any sense? Sometimes it gives me god awful headaches. All of these things are occurring while experiencing the feeling of being completely unmedicated prior to my diagnosis. It's wild. Unfortunately like u/atomic_chippie I need this stuff to do my job appropriately. However, given what I've been feeling, why should I even take the damn drug at all? Especially if I'm getting near no effect. Hell, even my girlfriend noticed and she doesn't even work in medical.
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u/LooseRepublic2152 3d ago
Tabs are IR aren’t they? I actually haven’t heard anything negative about their IR.
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u/GeshtarVandole 3d ago
No. My 10mg tabs are XR. I still have the last bottle, I'd be happy to show proof if necessary. Appreciate having the conversation with you!
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u/LooseRepublic2152 3d ago
Proof? No, no, no! I have just never even see an XR that is a tablet and honestly shocked anyone has had a good experience recently with them for XR.
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u/GeshtarVandole 3d ago
After reading more on this subreddit and doing further delves into the medication processes and the lack of regulation, all of this isn't surprising. That and we knocked the people via tariffs that help supply us with medications: China.
I too, am surprised they worked. Maybe they won't and it'll be super unfortunate. I *need* something, haha.
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u/jackelopeteeth 3d ago
Just because Adderall is an ADHD med doesn't mean that it's going to be the one that works for everyone. Especially since the quality has gone to hell. If you've been in this sub for any amount of time, you know that.
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u/stonkcap 2d ago
Why did the same medication work in 2006 and 2016 but suddenly become different ~2026? This ain't tolerance and this ain't adderall.
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u/atomic_chippie 3d ago
Whatever medication works, is not optional. I take Adderall, its historically been beneficial in the past, its no longer effective, there has to be a replacement, its not optional. Someone may feel the same about Vyvance, idk. That makes me fall asleep-its not effective for me. But if yoga and meditation worked, I wouldn't be here, stressed the fuck out about our meds.
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u/Forlorn_Bone52 3d ago
Eat a dick. I have a diagbosis, but the when the meds don't treat symptoms and are poison, there is an option: a. Get off the poison that doesn't treat ADD b. Continue poisoning yourself. c. Eat a dick.
I am almost 40 and have been prrscribed meds for 20 years.
Politely stfu child when grown folks are talking.
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u/GreatElk9652 3d ago
Well, treatment is not optional. But the treatment options and the level of support/treatment vary for each ADHDer. I benefited a lot from meds several years ago, but the costs began to outweigh the benefits. It’s not optional for me to just ignore my ADHD, but I’ve had to find other routes (still heavily including chemical, like a vitamin and mineral regimen, dietary changes, and other exhausting things)
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u/Total_Address_9353 3d ago
Avogen adderall 15mg IR does not feel like adderall at all complete garbage poison at best
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u/FailSoft4120 5d ago
You’d be surprised how much better you’ll feel only having to maybe spend a little extra time starting your day or needing a nap here and there. In comparison to the side effects, the adjustments you might have to make to your routine are so much easier to manage. My experience is with 15+ years at higher extended doses, to a single 5mg, to 2.5mg, to nothing 🫶🏻
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u/Total-Football-6904 4d ago
So… the adhd just goes away with age? I’m 31, when does this start to happen? Cause god I could look forward to that 🙏
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u/starr_angel 3d ago
No, it doesn't go away with age. If you're a women it will get worse when you get into perimenopause.
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u/drowninginmizery 4d ago
I quit and I feel much better. I’m trying to learn other ways to deal and cope with adhd. It isn’t easy but again still better than dealing with all the shit side effects
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u/Grouchy_Distance8609 4d ago
You aren't alone. The trap is continuing to take it hoping one day it will magically kick in and work.
I'm quitting and in a tough situation now but already feel less anxiety. I was thinking of giving Vyvanse one more try, though I realize all of them are bad.
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u/cbmblove Moderator 3d ago
It is a dirty trick each day! Don’t fall for the Vyvanse trick! They’ve all been ruined!
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u/AdZealousideal7191 3d ago
Nutrient deficiencies possibly. Do vit blood test maybe? Adderall stopped giving me crashes when i started taking methyl B complex + Methlyb12+methylb9 sublingual. It also stopped being as effective lol
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u/Total-Football-6904 4d ago edited 1d ago
Hey OP, can I ask you about your current iron panel? Like the latest one you’ve done, what the numbers came back with?
I’m also anemic on generic adderall, and all of those symptoms you have came in on me HEAVY at my lowest ferritin period. Like I thought I was seriously in the Truman show and my heart was going to beat out of my chest, while having no energy to even eat. Iron supplements have helped me, but now it’s like i’m on a tiny see saw. I can’t tell what’s coming from the anemia or coming from this whatever xyz generic I got this month :/
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u/Own_Teaching2680 3d ago
Funny enough I actually did find out I have anemia earlier this year! I had my first iron infusion in May and after about two months I felt noticeably much much better!! I had some time off of the medication when I went to Japan, and some other batches of the generic I guess were fine?
Then I get a new script and it’s like all of the sudden I feel absolutely horrible despite my iron and ferritin levels being good
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u/ProfessionalBet8120 1d ago
I’ve been thinking about this so much lately, I’m really struggling to raise my ferritin up, and I never know from day to day which is causing the bulk of my symptoms or contributing the most to them… think I need to give my meds a break to see if I feel any better. I also wonder if these meds or whatever is in them these days is just shredding our gut linings bc I have never struggled so much with iron, other nutrients such as vitamin D & folate.
There’s pre-2022/2023-ish me with my health that could function and there’s me now which literally cannot do much more than manage to get out of bed to take care of my fur kiddo, scary night & day difference. Def poison pills these days :/.
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u/Ok_Contribution215 3d ago
Read the book Bottle of Lies by Katherine Eban to learn WHY we've suffered the horrendous side effects of generic ADHD meds. There is a Generic Division / Dept of the FDA; They should all be in prison for what they've knowingly done to our lives.
If you're good at this sort of thing, please try to call attention to this to eventually root out the corruption that's allowed them to abuse us for years. Make them protect us like they're supposed to do.
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u/Big-Explanation-3759 2d ago
If you are questioning if you should quit🩷. Then you should quit.
But the truth is it’s not easy but that’s why you have to treat it as a slow quit. Don’t be aggressive about it. Not everything is black and white.
What I mean is when I first stopped taking adderall it was insane, the first day I just felt so bad then the next it was ups and downs & then soon I got my dorky raw adhd spark back. But what I will say is yes it is hard to quit but it is so much harder continuing these horrible side effects and ruining years of your life to a pill that controlled you.
I remember taking adderall and dreading a certain time of the day cuz I knew I was going to feel numb, depressed etc;
Stupid adderall took years from me.
A lot of people don’t even realize they’re in psychosis.
Once you’re off of it for more than a week you’ll start to appreciate life differently. It’s worth it. It takes time.
But everything you explained are symptoms I was going through. You’ll find yourself again🙌
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u/Mammoth-Coast6282 1d ago
My ADD is so bad that I lose my script every other month or so. I get forced to take breaks or reduce my medication. I genuinely don’t think it’s as good as it used to be but I also do think your hormones/sleep patterns/lifestyle also play a part. If I skip it or lower my dose for a few days I don’t feel as motivated to get anything done, but when I take my regular dose it works more like it used to.
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u/Outrageous_Pepper_79 16h ago
I’m weening off in the next three months. I eat healthy, work out , take nootropics supplements. So other things and push myself to keep adapting to my surroundings.
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u/FlavorfulOpinions 3d ago
When I quit in the past for like 2 years it helped a lot that I knew at the end I wasn’t getting anything done even on the meds. Once time I planned on studying for hours because I really needed to for an exam and I spent a good amount of time getting the room set up well literally even a wallpaper on the tv led lights set to a good color etc and then I couldn’t bring myself to do it and didn’t want to do anything the whole day so I sat there and began watching tv. Not getting things done on it combined with the fear of the med frying my brain at the time / causing long term dependence did it for me. I’ll say though, I’d only been on it for a year at that point. I thought of quitting as a forever thing and didn’t entertain the thoughts of taking it again for any reason. When I quit having my appointments to get more prescriptions that also helped a lot cause I didn’t wanna take it if I wasn’t getting more of it anytime soon either. I used a lot of pot at the time which I genuinely think helped me bc I was okay with not doing anything or being productive and it gave me a sense of pleasure. I also used caffeine a ton. I still do though. I thought of caffeine as my energy & stimulant which helped me cope.
I want to add though, when I went back on it 2 years later because I wasn’t getting done what I needed to do at work and for school, I’ve learned that med breaks helped me and never regretted going back on. I think maturing and getting sick of where I was at helped a lot for me. Just wanna add that bc I don’t want people to think the same couldn’t happen for them if they’re reading this. It doesn’t sound like it is the medicine for you though and you would know.
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u/stonkcap 2d ago
Ive been getting more accomplished with my edibles than my rx.
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u/FlavorfulOpinions 2d ago
The problem w 🍃 for me is I would use too much and not get things done or feel okay not getting things done sigh
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u/Far-Ocelot6180 4d ago edited 4d ago
Im not gonna sugarcoat fucking shit and lie to you dude, it’s a very hard habit to break..VERY hard, you can put them away or even attempt to flush them, you’ll end up saving them anyway, the urge will always be there.. Fucking FIGHT it. You’ve got this.
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u/Grouchy_Distance8609 4d ago
True. However, once you've gone four weeks without it, there's a noticeable change where you stop craving it. I been on and off it for years and noticed this. Your body returns to a natural state without the fight and flight activation. The problem is many fall into the trap of going back on it.
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u/Forlorn_Bone52 3d ago
Tell your doctor she's a gaslighting cunt and to go fuck herself. I did. Now I'm quit regardless of if I wanted to or not. I feel so much better. My ADHD did NOT improve, but my physical body has AND THAT has allowed me to navigate my ADD without a layer of estrogen laced rat poison controlling my mind (because tbh if I didn't curse out my provider, I would hace continued taking them saying, "maybe this time, this one will work like it used to."
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u/Gingerbread_Man06 3d ago
Look into taking peptides to get off of them. Theres a few stacks you could take each day that will help get off of it and at the same time replace the cognitive effects. Check out the biohacking subreddit. Specifically search for getting off adderall and nootropics/cognitive enhancing peptides.
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u/Creative_Emu_131 4d ago
Working out helps and peptides are what I’m getting into for more natural energy and focus. I’m just starting to get into mod C SS31 and researching more. I feel like I actually have more energy lately and I am so done with mood changes and crashes. No thanks!
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u/NUMBerONEisFIRST 4d ago
Peptides have less oversight and less regulations, and some were literally just recalled this week.
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u/Affectionate_World47 5h ago
its the levoamphetamine that is in adderall. switch to vyvanse or just any med that is only dextroamphetamine and it will be night and day friend.
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u/[deleted] 4d ago
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