Addicted to symptoms and conditions

I was prescribed adderall a few years ago for mild ADD, 10 mg once a day, and it was great at the time. My grades went up and everything else was good for about a year. I decided, though, that I wanted to go off of it, as I was sick of feeling like I relied on a pill.
Well, I went off of it, for the next couple of months I started getting panic attacks and depression more and more frequently until I reached my worst point-- for 5 days I couldn't eat, sleep, or even get off the couch. I couldn't recognize myself in the mirror and felt no joy at all whatsoever.

After that for about a year things were okay, but I wasn't quite myself. I didn't enjoy things like I once did, and I was plagued by constant worrying about things that I didn't need to worry about.
Soon I started taking it again, and became addicted again for a few months. Once again, went off of it, had a bad few months, things got a little better.
Then I started again. Now, for the past few months I go through weeks at a time when I take it and weeks I don't. I'm trying to quit once and for all.

My point is that this drug really had an enormous impact on my life. It changed me in a lot of ways I didn't like, made me sort of emotionally numb-- in fact, the only time I felt pleasure and joy was practically when I took the drug.
I am not the kind of person who gets addicted to things easily, and I'm not sneaky or secretive, but let me just tell you:
The other day (since I don't fill my perscription anymore), I wanted some adderall and I actually picked the lock on my mom's drawer to get to hers.

That's extremely out of character for me, and it freaked me out.

Nobody ever warned me about this drug, and people act like it's no big deal, but it almost made me kill myself.

Other than that, I have always been an honest, happy, motivated person.

I am weaning off Zoloft. I began taking it in Nov. 2001 because I knew I would have post-partum depression since I had it with my first two. Zoloft changed my life so much for the better. That was almost 6 years ago. The past year I have decided that I can do w/o Zoloft. One, because I’ve learned how to choose to be happy. Two, because I don’t like being addicted to a pill. I know I’m addicted (or somewhat addicted to) because if I forgot to take the pill, several hours later, I would get weird feelings, like when I turn my head and move my eyes at the same time, a weird slightly dizzy feeling.
Here’s how I did it. In May and June, I took a whole pill (50 mg) every other day and every other day I took half a pill. That’s 2 months of that. Then, July and August, I took a half a pill EVERY day. Now that it’s Sept., I’m taking a half a pill every other day and NO pill every other day. I must say, this has been the hardest. It’s just 4 days into Sept. and I’m having those weird sensations a lot. My toes and fingers are tingly, too. I was planning on doing this for 2 months but I'm on the 4th day (2nd day of no pill) and I'm having too many tingles and weird dizzy sensations. So, I guess I'll continue taking a half pill every day and take NO pill ONE day a week for this month of Sept. Then, in October, I will take NO pill TWO days a week (but not 2 days in a row). Then, in November, I'll go to THREE days a week of no pill (but not 3 days in a row). And so on. I had hoped to be off by Christmas or Jan. 2008, but I see that it won't work unless I wean to a NO pill gradually. I knew all along that it would have to be gradual, and that's what I've been doing, but I had no idea that just missing a mere 25 mg. for 2 days (but not in a row, mind you) would make such a difference.
Now, if I get too many really sad days, I will consider going back on. But I’ve done really well so far. I know that God is helping me. He can lick it; I can’t. I have had just a handful of occasions where I was told something slightly disturbing or something happened to me that was slightly upsetting and it got me down, but only for the rest of that day. AND, I gave it to God and let Him deal with it. He wants to take care of my problems; He doesn’t want me worrying about it. I know that medicine like Zoloft may be the answer and if that is what I ultimately do, then I’ll just continue leave it to Him. I hope this helps someone.

Hi,
I've been reading up on Toporal XL and read your posts, I too was put on med. about a year ago. They did all sorts of heart test and found nothing but an extra beat? I don't like taking medication unneccesaryly and after a few months stopped taking it. I slowly weaned mysefl off by streching the days, from one a day to every other day to every third day....I have no other health issues and I"m thinking if this is for heart and blood pressure , why am I taking it? .Not sure if I'm doing the right thing, but I'm afraid to get addicted to med. that I really don't need. I had a good Dr. for 30 yrs. and he retired. So I don't have much faith in a new Dr. Does he just want to run up my bill? Or do I need this? Test had run into the thousands, thank God I have insurance... So far I've been feeling fine. Sometimes I feel alittle dizzy. But the scarist thing was that I had passed out one day while working outside. Don't know if it was from the medication or heat stroke. I wasn't out to long and had plenty to drink, but then I hadn't ate yet...

My husband was on 80mg of Oxycontin 3 times a day and 40 mg twice per sometimes he would take three if the pain was really bad.
He had a hierniated disc and tried every drug under the sun.
He was on these amount for about a year and half and was well a different person, he dropped down to 80mg on his own ...........he had back surgery and after the surgery really wanted to get off them and be off this awful drugs he suffered withdrawl for about a month and could not drop any more on his own it was too much to bear so he did the methadone maintenace program and got off the oxy you stop the oxy the day you start the methadone, the methadone takes away the craving an need for oxy anyhow he did the methadone maintenace for 3 months he came down in large amounts on his own he started at 15mg and came down from there to 10 and then in singles coming off the methadone was also so brutal and he went through hell with it...........he is now pain free and drug free expect for the occasional anti inflamm he is so so grateful to be off the oxy and able to live a normal life he never wants to touch that drug again.
I want all those out there addicted to this drug to know you are not alone and there are groups and doctors that can help you get off this awful drug and live like a human being dependant only on oxygen food and water and not opiates you are sick and need help and my heart goes out to all of you and your families and I hope you can find the strength and courage to do what my husband did.

Hey,
My name is Krysten im 14 and im in the 8th grade. I'v been taking adderal for almost 4 months now. Before taking adderal I wasent doing good in school, I would always get into fights. My life was miserable. So I asked my doctor if I could try adderal agian. Before when I took adderall my stomach hurt and I wasent feeling the same. Then I wanted to give it a try. A week after I started to feel my self agian, my family and my teachers noticed a huge diffrence in my academics and my ADD. I went from getting E's and D's to getting on the honor role last quarter. I got the most improved in my grade and I was very happy. Now its the final quarter and now im feeling that adderal isant helping as much as it use to I'm worring about if I'm going to do as well as last quorter and im feeling a little anxiety. I went from taking 30 - 40mg in less than a month, Since I take 10mg after school. I also have been exeirencing weird things. When I get up from sitting down, I sometimes get a huge headach, I cant breath for about 30 seconds, I sometimes see stars and Its like a black out also, I get up then I cant see anything its all black, then slowy I can see agian. I would really like to know if i should raise my Mg higher for me to focus more and be happyer over time. I think adderal was a life changer for me. Please answer my question as soon as poosible!

I took Vicodin a couple of years ago for severe back pain. Since my accident three years ago I have taken Vicodin, Percocet, Morphine Sulphate and Oxycontin. Believe it or not the only one that I got addicted to was the Vicodin. I went through withdrawal symtoms one weekend when I ran out of it and my wife was holding me in her arms all night long like I was a heroin addict or something. It works but BE CAREFUL!

I'm sorry so many of you have bad experiences with Adderall. My side effects went away in about two weeks.

The amphetamines in Adderall have been used for 70 years, so if they were that dangerous, they would not be around today and one of the top 10 most prescribed pediatric drugs in America.

To Spoiled Rotten,
Apparently you can't read all that well or don't know how to do research, maybe you should have been on Adderall as a kid. RITALIN, CONCERTA, FOCALIN, DAYTRANA are all Methylphenidate, which IS NOT AN AMPHETAMINE.

Be a Big BOY/GIRL and do your own research about these drugs. Real research, not a side-effects website where people who know nothing about the drugs themselves hear something from someone, who knows someone's sisters friend who ABUSED their medication.

ALL DRUGS can be bad. You can die of an aspirin overdose. It's how they are used. Adderall and Ritalin are "very safe" when used properly" (Driven To Distraction).

I'm sure 99 percent of you don't even know what ADDICTION really is. This is a huge health problem in America. Yes, the addictions, but MORE so the ignorance and stereotypes of people with them.

African American 47,
You DON'T just get addicted to a drug. You can BE DEPENDENT on a drug, and not an addict. Cancer patients take very large amounts of NARCOTIC pain killers and THEY ARE DEPENDENT on them. For pain relief and physical dependence. They DON'T crave the drugs though.

So with SPOILED rotten's philosophy, the 20,000,000 people on Adderall or Ritalin (NOT AN AMPHETAMINE, similar, but not the same thing) who's quality of life has been improved 100 fold just like mine. I would have benefited GREATLY from medication but did not get diagnosed until 3 months ago at the age of 24.

Medication IS NOT for everyone, as "it doesn't work very well for about 80% of people who take it." (Driven To Distraction, Dr Edward Hallowell).

IF anyone has questions about ADD read "Driven To Distraction". The Author(s) both have ADD themselves and are psychiatrists.

Too many people with ADD refuse medication because they think "oh no, I will get addicted", which is 99 percent of the time not the case for ADD. They miss out on at least an option that could help them immensely.

I am so irritated with the ignorance and lack of knowledge from people who bad mouth things they know really nothing about. It didn't work for me so I am going to demonize the drugs and spread lies that they turn kids into zombies and cause them to shoot up schools..........C'mon, you're how old? I'm probably 1/2 your age and I have twice the common sense.
I'm not saying your a bad parent Spoiled, but your NAME IS Spoiled....you seem to be on a high and mighty chair, and you seemingly have a very self centered mind. Doesn't work for you then it must be the work of the devil.

Learn how to do research, form educated opinions, maybe read a book. Use your rights as a patient to see a different doctor if you don't agree with one. Do something productive.

I feel the same and guest 40431 if I skip a few days because I cant get to the pharmacy right away I start feeling dizzy and light headed. When I blink my eyes I feel this weird feeling of
electricity that goes all through my body. It happens when I
blink or swallow. It is the weirdest sensation and I dont like it
at all. If I miss a few day I begin to cry alot and feel a sense of wanting to kill myself. I take the effexor XL 75mg I just hope things will get better. This is very scarey. I dont want to be addicted to anything. When I go to my doctor in a few days I will have a serious chat with him reguarding this medication. I was told that it is very safe and not addicting.
God help us all in the world of medications.

Diazepam (and all the other benzodiazepines) are extremely addictive and dangerous drugs - beware!!!

I have had severe pain for the past 5 years, stemming from 3 herniated discs, and then a fractured thoracic in 2004. I became so addicted to the pain, ( narcotic), meds, and didn't even know it. The pain meds kept me "high", until I went through physical withdrawls ( aka DT's), and never got relief from the pain as I did with methylpred. Last year, I was prescribed 4 mg. in a 5 day pack. This was a very heavy dose, and my nerves were shot! Thanks to our phamacist, I was able to get a prescription in a bottle, rather than a heavy dose by the "pack". Being able to take it "as needed", took the pain completely away. Unfortunaltly, if you have liver problems, as I do, it can take it's toll on your body. After high liver enzymes were revealed, I knew I had to get off of them quick. It is a good alternative to narcotic meds, but then , we all have pain in different ways. I prefer to suffer it out, but if I need meds, I'll only take Methylpred.

i have been on 60 mg for 3 months and before that 20 mg since sept 05.. i have moon face, swollen tummy stretch marks all over my body, horrible heart burn, rapid heart beat, night sweats, insomnia, crazy hunger pains but cant seem to eat, mood swings, depression, fatigue, weak muscles, shaky, severe hot flashes, flushed face and i constantly feel sick to my tummy... you name it i got.. this drug is horrible, cant wait to be off which seems like an eternity :( and the worst is yet to come because i hear that your body becomes addicted to it and the side effects off being weaned off are just terrible and you end up being kept on just to flush out your system

I was put on Advair for extreme allergic reaction. I was coughing every night ( and it goot worse and I would cough days) and my lungs would fill up. I was tested for allergies and I came up allergic to EVERYTHING.

Recently I found out that I had roundworms ( intestinal parasites). The life cycle of the roundworm : egg is ingested- hatches in stomach - micro worm goes to heart then travels to lungs. The worm is then coughed up and swallowed- where it goes to the intestine and grows.

Could this be my unexplained "allergic to everythng?". I am still on Advair- but I am experiencing extreme muscle and joint pain. I feel like I am held together by rotton rubber bands.

I just did the search today on ADvair and I came up withthis thread- and I wonder how many other people have have parasites causing their asthma symptoms?

My next feat is egttig off Advair which I am addicted to....

Check out Dr Hulda Clark for parasite flushes. I will do this as soon as I stop nursing my baby....

Silke-

Thank you so much for your reply. It's encouraging. I wish there was a way to know what may be available here in the states thats a natural remedy for anxiety. I looked up the 'baldrian' on the internet and every site was in German. I may call a health food store here and see if there is anything equivalent.

I ended up taking the Xanax and I must admit for the first time in weeks; if only for a few hours that it may last I feel like ME again. I am very laid back and care-free. I guess after getting to this feeling of normalcy from a pill I guess I can see how people can become addicted to them. I plan to NOT get that way and I am going to soak up every bit of the relaxed demeanor I am experiencing right now.

My e-mail address is ******

Incidently, how long did you take Yasmin prior to getting off of it? I was on it for only 3 months.

Thank you again for your reply.
Denise

I had been able to sleep without any problems my whole life. I could sleep anywhere. Then about year ago, that changed. I wasn't able to sleep. I wasn't tired and could stay up all night. After about four months of this, I tried ambien. Started off with 10 mg for about four months. Then switched to 5mg. The 5 mg works just as great as the 10mg. I don't have all the side effects that everyone else has, but I do have some. I wake up with a "hangover" feeling. There is also the dizziness and headaches. And the depression is starting to really get to me. And I am really starting to have problems focusing. These side effects seem to increase the longer I take it. I know I am addicted to ambien...........I start to get panicky if I start to think of not taking it. I am going to try and break the ambien into smaller amounts..........I truly believe there is a toxic level with ambien.

The doctor gave me this medication after m wisdom teeth were pulled, they worked excellent for me, but i had a lot of them left over and i took at first just one a day just for kicks. the other day i had only 4 pills left and i took them all and it was one of the best trips ive ever been on. But, i am now addicted to the stuff and i really do want to break this habit, i have the shakes and feel the extreme urge for it every day. please e-mail me if u have any solutions

I have been taking adderall for 5 years now, 10 mg a day. I must say that it truly works when its comes to focusing. However, I hate the way my body feels when I am on it. I do not take my medication on weekends, over the summer, or anytime that I am not in school due to the fact that I would prefer not to be addicted to the medication. I can focus in class, and take notes, and study and do well in school because of it however, I always feel like crap. I have dry mouth, I can feel my heart beat, I get headaches, I am constantly tired, yet mentally aware. Sometimes I even get horrible stomache aches. My eyes always seem like there is a screen infront of them, and even on the occasion my body is tingly and itchy due to it. And I also tend to have a soar throat on a regular basis. I would not take the medication everyday, only when it is needed and that completely depends on your level of needing it. However, I would stay away from it if you can avoid taking the medication. Be Aware of whats going on around and inside you. It also has the effect of causing seizures, epilipse, ticks and tremors. Serious side effects come from this drug. Be informed and take this seriously. It is not a drug you should mess around with. Exspecially if you may have an eating disorder, this will only make it worse, considering the fact that it lowers your appetite. Good luck

I became addicted to this med. It's easy to get dependent on it, both psychologically and physically, is what I found.

Would take it while at work, to "reduce stress" but had total loss of memory while using it. Not good, if you are a nurse and can't remember whether or not you've taken care of something.
I hope to NEVER use this med again, especially since I drank with it, all the time.
Am now in AA and don't use mood altering chemicals. Thank God.
My sister is now hooked on Alprazolam and won't hear my warnings about it. I wish they'd take it off the market.

I am on day number 4 now for ambien,and i feel klutzy after taking it, so I go to bed within 15 or 20 minutes. I sleep very deep and snore, according to my husband. He shakes me and cannot wake me, so he goes out and sleeps on the sofa. I am going through menopause and have terible innsomnia. I do not plan on staying on this very long, as I do not want to become addicted to this or any other sleep dependent drug.

My father was first prescribed ambien in 1993 after the death of his wife to help with sleep. I have seen him go through the various stages of side effects from sleep walking to talking to people that weren't there to falling and hallicinating. This was all under the care and supervision of his doctor. It is now 2005 and I am writing this as he sits in a de-tox facility after building up a tolerance to this addictive drug of up to 20/10mg. pills per day. He couldn't let go of this drug and even the doctors are shocked at the amount his body has been able to sustain. I would beg anyone reading this that has been on this prescription to talk to their doctor if they feel that they are not able to sleep without it. My father was very close to dying and it is still possible while he is going through detox that he will die. No matter how many Ambien he takes he can't feel good enough and I have discovered he was mixing with pain killers. His doctor did NOT prescibe him enough to take 20 a day, but it is readily sold ILLEGALLY over the internet. These people are heartless, selling ILLEGAL PRESCRIPTIONS over the internet from manufacturers outside of the United States. I can't tell you how awful it has been as my father has gotton more and more addicted to this medication. I had started to question whether or not he had Alzheimers because of his actions under this drug. He gets up every night and goes to the kitchen to eat at night. He has let everything else go. He has not slept one night in 13 years without it. For anyone reading this who thinks this could not happen to them, please know that my fiance who took this drug to help him sleep had hallicinations with me in the room. I can tell you after watching him just in the initial stages of detox over the last three days that this is a PAINFUL and AWFUL process. It is an addiction just like any other street drug. I am writing this after three days/nights with no sleep while waiting to get him into a treatment facility and spending all day/all night vigils while he begged for this pill. If you start to suspect you have a problem with this prescription please get help before it is too late.

prednison is an evil drug but even that i have most of the side effects i still needed... i cant function without it. if i try to stop even reducing the dose order by the doc all the problems start. headaches, dizzines, swelling on arms, legs, ankles, shoulders and knees. i have been on prednasone since april 19,2005. i think im addicted to it, thanks god for this site i know now that im not alone and all of you have the same problems i have. now i hope all of u can cope with these med.
these side effects are not easy to deal with it but if the med is working hang in there. i try to quit just like that when i was on 60mg but believe me is not a good choice. god bless all of you and i wish you the best, by the way i dont know if the side effects are from the pred or the other 10 med i have to take daily, plaquenil, pred, methotraxate, folic acid, hydrocordone, prevacid, percoset, sulivanc, albuterol, etc... i dont wish my desease to no one... asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus....be patience and good luck.
nora from las vegas

Just diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity) and I am a 42 yr old male, married (8 yrs) with a 2 yr old daughter. Past problems and behavior fell under the "classic" AAD category and have been struggling to be functional my entire life. Just started taking Adderal 15 Mmg (twice daily) and the have experienced the following: DAY 1- fast HR, dry mouth, heighten hearing, sensitivity to touch (sexual), slight euphoric feelings and was not able to sleep that night. Day 2 - much better except for cotton mouth taste (Smoothies!) and loss of appetite - slept fine, not as intense. Day 3 - feeling pretty normal except much more focused and clear. Mind does not flit from thought to thought. It seems to place you "in the moment". I am not too interested in taking this long-term, but something was needed as I was in a downward spiral and headed for doom. I am 5'11'' and 190 lbs. I train as a triathlete and am quite able to workout and function with this medication so far. I have never taken a been addicted to anything or have taken Med's before so this is all new. If it's for your, child take precautions that this is the right path. If it were my daughter, I would certainly try all the alternatives I could before medicating, but speaking from experience - I know that this is something that has to be managed and confronted as ADD is a very real thing and not something that they will "grow out of". Most of all, give them your love and patience.

I started taking geodon a couple years ago when I had a "psychotic episode" so to speak. They diagnosed me with schizophrenia. They put me on geodon which did wonders for me and helped all my symptoms go away. I'm perfectly functioning and capable now. However, Geodon does have some side affects that I"m dealing with. It makes me tired all the time. I'm tired all day and can't sleep at night. It seems to be progressive as in the longer I'm on it the more I have to take. If I miss a pill I get very tense physcially like and my jaw clamps down. I also feel like I'm going crazy if I miss a pill. Thoughts start to race, however the natrue of the drug is that one pill missed shouldn't cause psychotic symptoms. I can't think as clearly because it makes it harder to think abstractly. I take it when I need the down feeling. Sometimes more then it's perscribed. I'm clearly addicted to it like somebody would be addicted beer or pot, perhaps psychological. I tried to switch to abilify and I couldn't function because of the hard with
drawl from geodon. Good luck at your venture with geodon

I am on 25mg once a day for migraines, I am a middle school teacher and I am also experiencing trouble with getting my words out. It is pretty frustrating when you are in front of a class of students and your mind goes completely blank. My biggest whine is I am addicted to Diet Coke and now it tastes awful I about died the first time I drank one after I took my medicine I was hoping it was the drink that was bad...... afraid not I miss them!!! I am also still waiting on the weight loss

I recently tore my ACL and my MCL in my knee, as well as having suffered some nerve and cartlisge damage. they prescribed me ULTRACET. I have found its side effects to be quite a problem, and it seems to already be habit forming. But it does make the pain go away. WHile on it i am experianceing VErtigo, Confusion, and Euphoria.... I was once addicted to sleeping meidcation and i beleive that this is triggering another addiction... in short, do not take if you have an addictive personality, but it is good for severe pain

My 21 year old son was a healthy,very handsome 5'10"tall and 220 pound body builder. He was a hilarious man with a great heart and the love of my life. He became addicted to xanax 4-6 bars a day. When he tryed to get off, my big precious son was sobbing like a baby, so afraid he coulnt beat this drug. Well xanax slam dunked him into the ground and killed him. I wish I had known more about the struggle he was having with xanax. It can get you in a strangle hold you cant get out of! BEWARE!