Adderall XR and dexedrine

I have had really bad anxiety and panic disorder for a year now from being a former pot smoker. My doctor prescribed me adderall xr 20mg after I asked her to. I'm in college and I have a friend I go to school with who takes it. I found out about it from her and she gave me a few. When I took it I was fine. Even the come down wasn't as bad as what I am experiencing now. I took the first pill out of the bottle yesterday. The first 5 hours were great. I was focus on what I was doing and I had no anxiety or weird side affects what so ever. Around 2am I started feeling dizzy, fatigue, parts of my body was going numb, my limbs were getting weak and they hurt, i got massive migraines, chest pains, weird shots of pain that felt like lightning going up my spine to my neck, blurred vision, and my speech was slurred. I did not want to wake my parents up because I thought maybe i was just having a panic attack. My doctor put me on metadate prior to adderall and I had some panic disorders with it, but this was far worse. Then I realized that all of these horrible feelings couldn't be from anxiety. I usually just get the rapid heart beat, short breath, numbness due to hypertension, and chest pains. This was far worse! I felt like a thousand needles were poking into my chest, at time I felt so weak I thought I was going to faint, if I got up too fast I got dizzy spells and everything became a blur to me. I was so scared that I felt like I was going to die. I had read the papers given with the drug and it said to seek medical attention immediately with the symptoms that I had. I didn't want to do anything drastic like call 911, because thats what I did with the metadate and over time i felt fine, so instead I called the poison control hotline on the pamphlet. The woman over the phone said that what I was experiencing was normal and that everything only seems more intense because its late and i'm tired but I can't get any sleep. Her voice and assurance made me feel slightly better, but afterwards things just got worse. I don't understand why this drug had these effects on me when I took the same thing before with no problem! During that time I had anxiety as well, and I still did not have any issues. I love the fact that this drug helps me to remain focus, but the after affects are so horrible. Does anyone know if I can just sprinkle half of the pill in some food or something and I won't have these problems, or if there is something equivalent to adderall without those horrid side effect?

My beautiful 11 year old daughter was on Adderall XR 20 mg per day for 4 years. After about 2 years she started to develop some minor facial tics. After 3 years the facial tics were worse along with severe head shaking and she also started to develop trichotillomania (obsessive compulsive hair pulling). The hair pulling continued until she was almost bald. Her grades began to drop and she withdrew herself from her friends and family. Finally, we took her off the medication in October 2007 at age 12 and she immediately stopped the tics and hair pulling. We have found 3 other families whose daughters have developed these same symptoms after being on this medication for at least 2 years. We have filed a report with the FDA as our own doctor had no idea that this medication was causing the hair pulling. Now 5 months later her hair is growing and the tics are approximately 97% gone. We have taken her to a homeopathic doctor and she is doing absolutely great now. Marks have gone up and she is smiling and socializing. I am so happy we have our daughter back. The side effects of this drug was definitely not work it.

I hated this medication. I had been on Dexedrine for 1 year and Adderall XR was given to me by a new doctor to try instead. I was told this medication was the same, but it was a world of difference when it came to things such as insomnia. The worst insomnia I have ever had. Not to mention the severe panic attacks, shifting eyes that could not focus. I could not be focused enough on anything very long. I kept trying to do multiple things at once and would find myself asking what was I doing. I became extremely agitated and angered very easily. I mood could shift as fast as snapping your fingers. My right eye begun to twitch and would become worse and tear when I was more tired, but would not be able to relieve it without shutting my eye because I suffered from such horrible insomnia.
I would not advise this medication to any one that has a mood disorder because it seems to make the mood swings skyrocket through the roof and that can end up being a terrible mistake.

I have been taking adderall for over a year, but for about 10 months ago, I started taking wellbutrin also and since have had chronic problems with my ears, It's actually getting worse. Not so much ear infections, but the pressure is actually pushing inward. So i feel light headed just funky all day. Kind of like a head cold without the cold. I can't figure out which one is causing (i think wellbutrin) since that's when it began. But it could be the combination. Just wanted to know if anyone else is experiencing this. I am 35 female.
thanks pam

I have been taking Dexedrine (same as Adderall) for 15 years and it causes severe anxiety for me which causes nexk pain and muscles to knot up. What relieves the anxiety and tightening of muscles and spasms is Valium or Attivan. Some doctors don't understand why you would need a downer with an upper. I can't be in perfect harmony without the two together unless you like tweaking