Addictive drug symptoms and conditions

Adderall has worked wonders for me. I was prescribed about a year and a half ago to 10mgs twice a day. When I first started using it, I thought it was great, but like others I hated the side effects. Through trial and error, I have found ways to mostly cut out the side effects. To avoid stomach aches, I never take it on an empty stomach. I always eat a good meal before I take it. I do eat slightly less than before I was prescribed, but I take a good multivitamin to make up for that. I only lost a little bit of weight, just less than 10 pounds. Another way to get rid of the stomach aches is to take a few puffs of some you know what. I rarely get headaches from adderall, but when I do I just take a few ibuprofen and its gone right away. Before I was prescribed, I had tried 20, 30, and 40 mgs of adderall and that was hell. Coming down made me want to kill myself. I feel bad that have severe enough ADD or ADHD to require that much. Overall, I think you have to look at individuals instead of just saying adderall in general is a terrible and addictive drug. Before I was prescribed, I didn't think I had the motivation or will power to make it through school. A year and a half later, my gpa has raised dramatically (2.2 to a 3.0) and I'm in the process of finding what grad schools I want to apply to.

In 1998, my father died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. I was only 33. This was devastating to me being a single daughter who still had aspirations of having him walk me down the aisle and all. I became extremely depressed and cried all the time. I was prescribed Paxil by my GP in this state of mind. No psychology or counseling offered first. And nothing was said to me about it being an addictive drug that would be next to impossible to stop taking. Nothing was mentioned about the long-lasting side effects. It was only a few weeks into it though that I realized if I missed a dose or didn't take it on a scheduled time each day, I would experience these "brain lapses" or "shock type feelings" in my head. I couldn't think a thought through without confusion. Having a conversation was like being a walking-talking robot that was short-circuiting. My other symptoms from this drug was the weight gain (about 30 lbs by the end) and the total absence of libido (not that I didn't want it but that I was totally numb in parts that I wasn't before), which was not normal for me. It was like many of you have stated... sort of a no-feeling zone ... and I decided this drug was NOT for me.

It took me at least 4 months to taper off 20 mg of Paxil. The side effects included severe trouble thinking or remembering things, anxiety attacks, more gain weight (which I attribute to low energy or enthusiasm for most things), angry outburst, easily tearful, then the feet swelling. At first it was just my left foot that would swell up and I attributed it to maybe a hereditary condition and dismissed it being any part a Paxil withdrawal symptom.

Another blessing I feel is a result of my Paxil is a very sensitive stomach. I have GERT (or acid reflux) most of the time. The GP put me on Protonix which helped the acid problems but then my hands and feet would go to sleep at night. I didn't think that was a good payoff so am not taking that either.

The edema increased to an almost daily occurrence for both feet. Sometimes they are so swollen I cannot bend my ankles and my hands and face are swollen too. Over the past 7 years, my GPs have prescribed varying kinds and doses of diuretics to help elevate the fluid in my system, which at first helped some, but now it doesn't even effect the edema in my feet. The only thing that helps really is to wear a closed shoe (like a tennis shoe) or -- which instead forces the fluid up into my ankles. Just yesterday I was told that compression hosiery is the only fix beyond maybe losing weight (I am not obese but am about 45 lbs overweight at 185) and that the diuretics were really not necessary.

When I exercise on an elliptical machine both feet go to sleep after only 15 minutes. I am much more active now and play tennis 3-4 times a week and when playing my hands and feet get numb.

Ten years later, I have chronic (almost daily) edema in both my feet and in my hands and face sometimes. I am way more active and exercise regularly by participating in sports (tennis and other running sports) but I do not lose weight. I still get the numbness in my hands and feet when I exercise for any length of time.

In the past 3 months I have had my blood tested for any and all problems - diabetes, low B12, high sodium, cholesterol, heart Doppler exam, CT of abdomen, and more. I am healthy as a horse from the results, but I am still having daily edema in my feet. I was told by a friend living in Italy that they prescribe a drug called Daflon for circulatory improvement. It seems this drug is not available in the U.S., probably because it is known for having no adverse side effects. I did find that a natural plant extract called Pycnogenol is supposed to help with circulation and other inflammation. It is also known as a Vitamin C "action-helper."

The reason I am sharing my side effects from Paxil, is that before I took this drug, I had no known problems with my circulation and I feel it is what caused it. I also have the ongoing trouble of remembering things. I feel this drug did a number on my body and I was only on it maybe 8 months. I can't imagine what someone on it for years will face. Thing is, I was sad about my father; I wasn't suicidal. They prescribe something that has long lasting results to someone that is in a weak state of mind and then don't warn you that there are so many serious repercussions -- no. 1 being that this drug is chemically addictive to your body's delicately balanced system. NOW because of deaths and Paxil-related murders the FDA has questioned this drug's safety.

You have to wonder if the doctors are really thinking about the patient or if they are just promoting the latest new drug for some personal gain of their own. I feel like a live guinea pig and there's no solution to the side effects I'm left with.

I want to encourage those that are thinking of getting off this drug that the side effects will wane some over time -- you can't do it cold turkey or you will pay the price -- but don't take it any longer than you have to because the long-term effects are not worth it. Better to learn how to deal with your emotions and find something that will be a boost for you in a healthy, non-drug related way (or at least natural), than let this Paxil industry continue.

I loved this drug after I had knee surgery, I was of course kidding myself because I was delusional. I was so high all the time I to this day do not remember too much of what I did. The high is not worth the low ladies and gentlemen. I thought everything was fine and I was very happy until I almost burned the house down because I did not care what happened to me or anyone else as long as I had this drug. I would stay up late at night every night and do things I had never done, like watch tv until the wee hours. This is a very addictive drug, stay away from it because when you have to stop taking it you almost go crazy. It is dangerous and should have a scull and crossbones on the side of the bottle.

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.

I have been on Lortab for about a year, only taking a max. of two pills a day and most of the time only taking one a day. I started seeing a new Dr. due to the fact that I am terrified of surgery. I am starting physical therapy now and my Dr. has put me on Ultracet in the mean time. I took one pill yesterday afternoon, an hour later I felt very disoriented, much the same as when I stared taking Lortab. I did seem to have alot of energy, again the same as when I take Lortab. I took one more about 4 hours later because it did not seem to help with the pain in my lower back. I then began to itch like crazy, mainly my nose, I thought I was going to rub it right off my face. I did not have any problems sleeping, but this morning I felt like crap. My head hurt and my eyeballs hurt (if that makes any sense at all). I felt a lot of tension in my back and neck so I took an Alieve; did not even touch the headache. I was scared of taking another Ultracet so I took a Lortab this afternoon. Headache and tension are now gone, I will try to take another Ultracet this evening. I know they say this not an addictive drug, but the euphoria it gives you is great. For people who are addictive type people, this would be an easy drug to become dependent on. Be careful.