Amphetamine symptoms and conditions

A brief note about "Adderall": this is the trade name of an amphetamines product. It consists of four different amphetamines, such as amphetamine sulfate and amphetamine lactate. However, the "sulfate" and the "lactate" parts are NOT important. The only thing that is important is AMPHETAMINE, regardless of which form. 100% of the effects of Adderall are because of its content of amphetamine, NOT the specific forms of the amphetamine (called, chemically, "salts"). You can get the same effects from generic amphetamine (typically dextroamphetamine sulfate) as from Adderall. The company that makes it claims that Adderall works quicker and lasts longer, but this is mostly bullshit. It is really not significant, and in fact plain old generic dextroamphetamine is generally considered superior to the other forms, including the forms in Adderall. (See the en.wikipedia.org writeup on Adderall for details.)

Incidentally, the Adderall company, facing patent expiration on Adderall and thus more generic competition, is now heavily pushing its new "Vyvanse" -- another amphetamine product with very dubious if any advantages, and indeed probably MORE side effects than Adderall or other amphetamines, and, of course, a much higher price. More pharmaceutical company bullshit! Don't buy it.

Anyway, to return to the main point: Adderall or generic amphetamine makes no difference, except this one big one: The PRICE! Adderall is ridiculously expensive -- typically $1-4 per pill, sometimes even more. This is a total ripoff, since amphetamine is a CHEAP old drug, and the actual cost of 10 or 20 or 30 mgs of it (as in one typical tablet) is negligible, well under a penny. In other words, they ought to sell for, say, $10 or $15 per hundred -- enough to cover the cost of the drug itself (perhaps 10 cents or so) plus all the costs of tableting, bottling, distribution and so forth, with room for the pharmacy's markup. The idea of paying $100 or $200 or even $400 for a dime worth of a cheap old drug is outrageous -- but it happens. It is the greed of the pharmaceutical company combined with the greed of the individual pharmacist that causes this. Pharmacies vary a great deal in pricing, but the producing company also grossly overcharges.

Bottom line: INSIST ON THE GENERIC. Even if insurance covers it and you only have a $5 co-pay. Why? Because the health care system of the U.S. is driving the country bankrupt, and super-high drug costs is one of the reasons. This is one way you can make a contribution, however small, to solving the problem of a medical-academic-industrial-pharmaceutical complex that costs the U.S. well over $2 trillion per year (far larger than the military-industrial complex, and far more per capita than any other developed country). Part of the problem is prescriptions that cost $300 for 50-cents worth of a drug. Be part of the solution.

End of rant. Be well!

I've been on Phentermine on and off for about 12 years. Phentermine does work really well but as with any change in eating habits or diet, you must continue to eat well when you are off of it. Because Phentermine is classified as an Amphetamine, you will gain the weight back when you get off of it and possibly gain more. Just like a drug addict who is taking Meth-Amphetamines is usually super skinny, but when they get off of the drug, they gain alot of weight back. It works great in the beginning but Phentermine is a short term diet pill and after about 3 months of taking, you should get off it for a while because your body starts to become immune to it. You may want to take more of it and the more you take, the more dangerous it could become. I read on here where someone had high blood pressure because of it. Phentermine can definitely do that. As far as the girl with the menstrual cycle problems, I have never heard of Phentermine doing that, so you might want to check to make sure something else isn't wrong. Phentermine is the generic for Adipex. Adipex actually works ALOT better but your doctor actually has to write you the prescription for Adipex. Most doctors write Phentermine on the prescription and you cannot request Adipex. Your doctor actually has to prescribe it for you. I used to get my prescription filled out Walgreens or CVS and I was paying $54 a month for it. Then I heard Costco or Sam's Club sells it "at cost". Now I only pay $13.88 a month for it. I think I mostly just take Phentermine now to stay awake when I don't get enough sleep. Also, I had read on here where someone was breaking the 37.5 mg tablets in half and just taking a half a pill. I read in a drug insert on Phentermine that you should not break or crush them because it decreases the pill's effect significantly.

I've been taking Adderall XR 30mg per day for two years. I've gained 20 pounds and feel terrible. My doctor keeps telling me he doesn't know why I'm gaining weight. That is making me feel even worse!!! Can anyone tell me what's going on??? I also take Wellburtin & Lexapro. Before I took any of these medications, I asked the doctor if I could gain weight from them. He told me that these particular drugs do not cause weight gain. The thing that's so frustrating is, I was put on these drugs for anxiety and depression (results of an abusive marriage). How can I begin to feel better about myself if I'm gaining lots of weight? That just kills it for me. Can anyone out there offer some advice? My doctor won't even let me take an appetite suppressant. I take Adderall in the A.M. If I want, I can go right back to bed and sleep again. I also get hunger pains about 2 hours later!!! Help!!

im 12 years old, and i didn't start on adderall, but on a generic of prozac.
ive been on both for over a year now, but i just noticed that ive lost my appetite, i don't eat school lunch, im reluctant to eat dinner, i just feel horrible.

im scared please i want to know whats going on!

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'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 cannot take metoprolol (Toprol) because of its devastating side effect of sleepiness. It's greatly exacerbated my lifelong neurological condition called narcolepsy, which brings sleep attacks at unpredicted times. I'm unable to make doctors' appts or do very much at all because of the sleepiness. I explained this to the doctor, but I believe he does not understand CNS disorders.Willpower does not work for the attacks are sudden and uncontrollable- - it is not ordinary sleep, which I believe he's confused it with. I've had similar responses to drugs with CNS side effects, so I've had to avoid them.

The doc has added three more drugs that can potentially cause added sleepiness. Since I'm unable to communicate how nonfunctional my life is since hypertension control, until I can find another doctor less rigid than mine (a long process due to doctor shortage here), my only option is to substitute atenolol, the previous beta blocker I was on, at therapeutic equivalence. I'm a week completely exchanged, and so far so good, but nolocal replacement doctor is yet available, but I may be sufficiently awake to be capable of driving to the medical school far away where the doctors are.

I believe my doctor is highly technically capable at treating hypertension, but my rare narcolepsy and the impact of Toprol, are not taken seriously.

The standard treatment has been a central stimulant such as amphetamine. More recently, I've switched to a new drug Provigil (modafinil), and I'm maxed out on thatl

I developed high blood pressure last summer after 71 yrs of normal pressure. I do not have heart disease other than chronic atrial fibrillation that's been with me for 50 yrs. To date, no structural heart problems, no artery disease other than pulmonary hypertension that accompanies my rare lung disease IPF.

Oh my God, it's the drug from Hell. I started taking prednisone yesterday for the very firt time to treat severe inflamation of the bronchial airways due to pnemonia. I now now what an asthma attack must feel like. It was like breathing through a cocktail straw; frightening and unpleasant in the extreme. The good news is, within a couple of hours of taking prednisone, I was breathing easily without difficulty and severe wheezing; nice deeep full healthy breaths. The bad news is, I have been experiencing almost intolerable pressure in my skull along with headache, restlessness and insomnia. The worst part is, my heart started beating at an extremely abnormal accelerated rate, as if had injested a large amount of amphetamine such as cocaine or liquid adrenaline. Absolutely horrendous! My heart has been beating so rapidly that I suffered a pretty severe anxiety attack and felt as though my heart might pop right out through my chest cavity. I looked this drug up in the Physicians Desk Reference and the side effects are not ones I care to experience; insomnia, restlessness, anxiety and possible psychotic delusions. Good Lord, this stuff is poison as far as I'm concerned. I'm only supposed to take it for one week, but I'm going to contact my physician and see if its ok to discontinue. My reaction to this drug has been a nightmare. Although I'm breathing easyily and normally, the side effects do not, for me, outweigh the benefits.

I am a 25 year old man who was diagnosed with ADD about a year ago. My Doc put me on adderall xr 10 mg one per day. We then upped to 20 mg, and then 30 mg. I must say the drug is wonderful! I only wish I was diagnosed and put on this when I was a kid. I never could concentrate or finish anything in school. I would hear words from people and teachers but they just did not register. I would drift from thought to thought but still hear the words. I truely belive that ADD has been a huge factor in me never finishing school and also loosing a long term relationship. In the relationship I had same thing. I would hear her speak, and want to listen but something literally would not let me!!! So, to her, i just was "Not wanting to listen". We broke up over it! Two years later I told my doctor about my concentration problems. Since being placed on Adderall this has disappeared. I can totally listen and concentrate. My life has totally been improved. I have been promoted twice at my job now since being diagnosed. The only side affects i have experienced so far is for the first 2 days a headache and yes i was restless. Its IS an amphetamine. That dissapeared in two to three days. Also, dry mouth is a problem. To me the benefits totally out weigh the side effects. To the parents of younger children or teens, this drug is widely abused. Please keep it away from them and only administer it to them by recommended dosage. I feel most of the negative comments on this drug are from the EFFECTS OF ABUSE!

I started taking Singulair for moderate to severe nasal allergies about 2 to 3 weeks ago. I found this site because I googled "Singulair" and "dreams." For the past week or so, I've been having some of the most bizaare dreams I've ever had. I wouldn't really call them nightmares, though. Also, last night, I felt odd all night, couldn't sleep well - atea half a bagel in the middle of the night, reminding myself to really chew and swallow (since I was half a sleep) so I wouldn't choke- felt like I'd taken Sudafed or a lot of caffeine or some amphetamine or other mind-altering drug...or like I was in the middle of a high fever and not myself....

So far, I haven't seen any effect with the allergies, but I've heard it could take a month. I take Zyrtec daily, but it makes me drowsy, so I was looking for something else. Did the shots for years and years...last time was probably 5 or 6 years ago. Probably helped, but now I need antihistamine every day again...The nasal steroid sprays make my nose bleed...

I think all these central nervous system affects mentioned on this site are really scary....Anything that messes with my head like that..I don't want...Thanks for posting, everyone.

2/6/05 4:06 am
l am astonished. For my physiology, they have tweaked a molecule that is unsurpassed in its ability to produce pathological insomnia. ADHD is my tag and I have a need for larger than average doses of stimulants: either dextroamphetamine (note applicable ladies and gents that if you're taking Adderall the following: pharmaceuticals are more commercially driven than ever now and the producer of Adderall have, amongst a few companies that pursued this tactic, have found a loop hole or a method they believe can foil the patent system: Shire Richwood. They re-issued a drug 'combo' and imply it is their creation when it was sold by several companies going back to the '60's. It's a strange mixture of different 'versions'; I'll call it, of amphetamine.). or Desoxyn (I hesitate to use its generic name methamphetamine: it has been so demonized by the media. If you go into a pharmacy in a large city, the only places that would carry a small supply, and present the Rx; a sudden aura of hell enshrouds the vicinity. Pharmacists retreat and discuss what should be done... another error in our (usually wise and valuable) system of checks & balances: a pharmacist has the right to in effect second GUESS the prescription holders malady, which they have no professional or personal knowledge of. Presenting a doctor's (and if you're going to a quality doctor who follow science rather than popularisms- there are fewer of the former than the latter.. they will know the truth of such things as Desoxyn®. Their duty and knowledge should not be permitted to be judged by the redundant cook that spoils the soup)

Back to Adderall. This is called a 'branded generic", and the pricing of same follows of course the former words characteristics. As mentioned, this is an EXACT copy of the combo sold before as diet pills. Shire Richwood did no research, rather did a few studies and then wiggled their way through the FDA/DEA to secure approval to manufacture an old recipe and be permitted to get it branded with attendant pricing.
Amphetamine was sythsized in 1888. Way before unless you are allergic to it, the safest and most true & tried drug Aspirin. Time (real non theoretical, laboratorial) is the most reliable source of information
The dextro part of the drug is the part that is safest and more specific in reaching the deficiencies present with the condition.

To close and reveal this designer drug's characteristics: bupropion (Wellbutrin). You see the patent holder pulls fast ones in desperation to keep that patent from expiring at which time the drug has been known to decrease 50 TIMES overnight. Wellbutrin had to shuffle. The SR version could no longer be protected from patent protection so they really go out on a limb and sell XR as a brand.
This designer molecule has somehow been developed, at least for this body something that, amongst whatever good may come of its use, specifically makes sleep almost impossible. All the others mentioned are much more powerful in their CNS effects but none: even a still sold but probably not the answer to weight loss diethyPROPION does not hold a candle to the effect on sleep as buPROPION. I am dumping the stuff which WAS being taken as a trial alternate to dextroamphetamine (for the sole reason by the way that I would entertain switching from something that is safer (time), cheaper, and supremely efficacious, is because it is a Schedule ll drug meaning that a new Rx must be obtained as a physical document (nation-wide not permitted to be refilled nor ordered by telephone: MD to Pharmacy). I am 48 and I am certain, pending more revealing info on the disorder that being a life long incurable but symptomatically treated condition, I am looking at an enormous amount of time and money spent over the next 30-50 years- however long I last. Unwellbutrin

)

Hmm... but for me the ethex brand guaifenex perscribed to me has been like speed, i forst got it on a wednesday night took 2, which was recomended by my doctor, and i didnt sleep or eat a full meal until friday night when i didnt take the second dose of medication, and also drank a little that night. During those few days however i did continue taking my medicine, but sometimes not 2 twice a day. Basicaly i felt like i was on some amphetamine or speed for about 2 days straight. However i did not find the experience to be of any nuicance. But now about 4 days after starting the medicine, i have a rash on my hands and feet and the symptoms comply with hand foot and mouth disease, but actualy i think this is the real sickness i was prescribed to guaifinexe for, since the doctor never gave me an actual name for the virus

Yes, I developed a severe sore throat when I started the Welbutrin. I failed to mention the other side effects that I noticed while I was on Welbutrin XL 300mg. Dizziness, nausea, HEADACHES EVERY DAY!, sore throat, neck pain, back pain, very sore muscles, tunnel vision, I became anxious and nervous, and I think the worst one that I could not handle was this wierd "electrical" feeling that would pulsate throughout my body. It would make me tense up and it felt like my teeth were tingling all the way down to my feet. I am back over to Lexapro 20mg a day and will just have to put up with the weight gain.

If first you don't succeed, try again. I couldn't tolerate the wellbutrin XL (extended release version) but did very well on the regular wellbutrin at a low dose (75 mg once a day).

While taking a trial of wellbutrin XL, I felt unusually tired, but I had insomnia to the point I had to go to wallmart to purchase generic brand sleeping pills, which I'd never taken before. This did not go away even after several days. I felt like I did when I first popped a psuedoephedrine 24 hour release pill for allergies when I didn't fall asleep until a half hour before I was due to get up. Ever since then, I laugh about how fucked up psuedoephedrine 24 hour release is and how it make me feel as high as a kite. I didn't feel high on wellbutrin, but I tossed and turned uncomfortably even though I was more tired than usual and only wanted to catch some shut eye.

Furthermore, on wellbutrin XL, I felt anxious for no reason, a weird sort of amphetamine addict or drugged up shake that I couldn't tolerate. I never do well on extended release versions of medications, however, because I experience more side effects for whatever reason. I'm glad I decided to try a lower dose that isn't an extended or sustained release because it worked well.

I like wellbutrin in general. Other positive effects are feeling slightly less depressed (not overwhelmingly so though), and feeling more intelligent and consequently, more self-confident. I also have more energy to do daily tasks, and am much more organized. I also notice I'm more logical minded and less impulsive. I think my thoughts are clearer and consequently, I feel more stable, which is all good.

Negative side effects are, especially when I first started taking it, unusually greater hyperactivity. First, it effected me in such a way that I felt even manic and like an ADHD little kid who runs around before bedtime and acts silly and hyperactive. This diminished after taking a lower dose and also after several days after it had been in my system. Now, I'm not troubled by hyperactivity.

Also, when I added this to my prescribed zoloft, I feel like in a fog from hell. Especially this was true after I ran out of ritalin and had to rough it for two weeks on just wellbutrin and zoloft. For example, at the convenience store, I look like I'm a vicodin addict as simple choices becomes overwhelming and I'm inundated by a baffling array or options, such as whether to buy sunchips or pretzels and lollying and looking lost as I wander the isles to the point the salesclerk probably thought I was going to steal something. Especially after I dropped my purse on the ground and started rummaging around to see how much money I had, also increasing my options because I could buy alcohol too, only I couldn't decide which kind, the raspberry zodka or plain, or should I just buy a bottle or wine since all they had were 6 packs or smirnoff ice? Luckily, the salesclerk looked like she was stoned so she probably didn't notice, although when I said "and I'm the red car on that pump", I couldn't remember which number it was, she said, "so that's YOUR red car" as if there was a huge discussion amongst the two on who owned the red car parked at the pump for so long.

I decided not to take zoloft with wellbutrin and that wellbutrin is no substitute for ritalin. I like wellbutrin better than zoloft, however, because althought it doesn't help my OCD or anxiety, and I think makes them worse, it still makes me feel more capable simply because I do better at work and in life - organizing things and the like.

Lastly, since I'm more anxious on the wellbutrin/ritalin combination, I'm currently looking for a medication to go with the two to treat my anxiety and OCD without making me feel like I'm in a fog. However, I feel very pleased with wellbutrin because it helps my depression and ADD and the side effects are mild, and even less noticeable at a lower dose for me.