AngelM
Senior Member
- Messages
- 150
- Location
- Oklahoma City
I’ve posted about Adderall before, but wondered about others’ experience with the drug. I feel that Adderall is my dirty little secret—even though there is absolutely no reason I know of that I should feel such guilt. Adderall has been used for decades, and I take it only as prescribed, never abuse it, and was diagnosed with AADD years before I was diagnosed with ME/CFS. And the drug works well, and has done for many years. However, I notice that I have gotten to a place after taking Adderall for more than 12 years where I literally cannot function without it—I feel too weak to get out of bed and my brain is useless until I have taken my morning dose. Even with the Adderall, I struggle with fatigue every day, but without it, I feel absolutely miserable. I assume my morning hangover is a common side effect of the drug exiting my system during the night. I understand Adderall has a short half life) and that if I stop taking it, my body will adjust to normal (whatever that is for a person with CFS?) within a week or two. I also understand that the first 24 to 48 hours without the drug can be difficult—and that I should expect some depression—a normal, though temporary, part of the withdrawal process.
I’ve researched Adderall at great length, and can find no serious clinical reason to discontinue it. There are, of course, horror stories, but those are mostly anecdotal and usually involve normal-functioning people (who do not need the drug) abusing it. Or people buying it on the street, where the chemicals and mgs per dose are anybody’s guess—then having a bad reaction.
But I remain conflicted because I hate having a dependence on any drug. I keep telling myself that people with Diabetes must take their medication daily in order to function, and that I am no different from them in taking Adderall daily—and as long as I act responsibly and am under a doctor’s care, I should be fine while taking it. So why do I feel so guilty? Is it because I am always having to justify to people who do not know I have both AADD and CFS that I take the drug because I need it? Anybody had a similar experience with CFS and stimulants?
I’ve researched Adderall at great length, and can find no serious clinical reason to discontinue it. There are, of course, horror stories, but those are mostly anecdotal and usually involve normal-functioning people (who do not need the drug) abusing it. Or people buying it on the street, where the chemicals and mgs per dose are anybody’s guess—then having a bad reaction.
But I remain conflicted because I hate having a dependence on any drug. I keep telling myself that people with Diabetes must take their medication daily in order to function, and that I am no different from them in taking Adderall daily—and as long as I act responsibly and am under a doctor’s care, I should be fine while taking it. So why do I feel so guilty? Is it because I am always having to justify to people who do not know I have both AADD and CFS that I take the drug because I need it? Anybody had a similar experience with CFS and stimulants?