Is it safe to stop adderall cold turkey?
March 3, 2021 5:22 PM Subscribe
I skipped my adderall today to catch up on sleep and surprisingly felt the best I have in weeks. I'd been planning to taper off, but now I want to just stop completely. Are there physical risks with that?
I've been taking 20 mg Adderall XR for ~5-6 months since being diagnosed with ADHD. I think my dose may be too high or maybe my diagnosis is wrong, but it's no longer helping me focus and I'm having bad mood swings and sleep issues. I thought I would be super depressed today based on how I feel in the evenings when the adderall wears off, but instead I feel great, just a mild headache (and I did nap a ton).
I'm also in an insurance transition so I have no access to a psychiatrist or doctor (they can't even schedule me without proof of insurance and then there would be a long wait for a new patient appointment).
I was planning to gradually taper off the adderall anyway since I don't know when I can be prescribed more (have some 5 mg tablets from when I started), but what's the point if I already feel okay? Are there other risks to stopping abruptly?
I've been taking 20 mg Adderall XR for ~5-6 months since being diagnosed with ADHD. I think my dose may be too high or maybe my diagnosis is wrong, but it's no longer helping me focus and I'm having bad mood swings and sleep issues. I thought I would be super depressed today based on how I feel in the evenings when the adderall wears off, but instead I feel great, just a mild headache (and I did nap a ton).
I'm also in an insurance transition so I have no access to a psychiatrist or doctor (they can't even schedule me without proof of insurance and then there would be a long wait for a new patient appointment).
I was planning to gradually taper off the adderall anyway since I don't know when I can be prescribed more (have some 5 mg tablets from when I started), but what's the point if I already feel okay? Are there other risks to stopping abruptly?
No risk as far as I know. My normal dose is 40mg Adderall XR and sometimes skip days over the weekend or on vacation with no ill effects. I never take it when I have a cold or something because I feel like it would be a waste when I’m not going to be particularly functional and I don’t like the idea of mixing it with Mucinex D or other cold medicines. No physical effects for me (sadly, skipping it does not help my sleep).
posted by Kriesa at 6:29 PM on March 3, 2021
posted by Kriesa at 6:29 PM on March 3, 2021
I don't think you need to taper. I occasionally take breaks, and sometimes extended breaks, from Adderall, and I've never had any trouble with stopping abruptly.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:35 PM on March 3, 2021
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:35 PM on March 3, 2021
Yep, totally fine for me at least. I tend to take adderall pretty sporadically in the first place.
posted by CarolynG at 6:51 PM on March 3, 2021
posted by CarolynG at 6:51 PM on March 3, 2021
My psychiatrist actually recommends taking breaks from it, on weekends and vacations and when I don’t need it at work, because it helps combat developing a tolerance. It sounds like this could have happened to you, so if you do start taking it again, it may be more effective than it is now. But yeah, no issues with stopping as I understand it.
posted by sillysally at 8:09 PM on March 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by sillysally at 8:09 PM on March 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
I quit taking it cold turkey 6 years ago (35mg, my doctor told me that was considered a "low dose", kids are often prescribed much high doses supposedly) - no ill effects.
posted by rozcakj at 4:01 AM on March 4, 2021
posted by rozcakj at 4:01 AM on March 4, 2021
Breaks on weekends and longer breaks on vacations were encouraged by my psychiatrist. There didn't seem to be any concerns about going on and off of it.
For what it's worth, I found Adderall XR made me get irritable and just wasn't great for me. I've done really well on Vyvanse. Or maybe a non stimulant medication like Strattera might be something to consider. Or maybe no medication at all if you do better without one. Of course, YMMV, IANAD/IANYD, etc.
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:39 AM on March 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
For what it's worth, I found Adderall XR made me get irritable and just wasn't great for me. I've done really well on Vyvanse. Or maybe a non stimulant medication like Strattera might be something to consider. Or maybe no medication at all if you do better without one. Of course, YMMV, IANAD/IANYD, etc.
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:39 AM on March 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I stopped 30mg/day cold turkey with no problems apart from psychological(?) withdrawal.
posted by ToddBurson at 4:47 AM on March 4, 2021
posted by ToddBurson at 4:47 AM on March 4, 2021
The worst-case scenario is that you may find quitting unpleasant, the way quitting cigarettes or coffee is unpleasant. Anecdotally, this seems to hit some people harder than others. (If I ever skipped a day, I was miserable and useless, while others skip days regularly and are fine.)
It sounds like you're having a good time of it, but don't be startled if the sluggishness lingers for a week or two, or if you find yourself craving it now and then. You're not going to feel that way forever, you're just having some withdrawal symptoms.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:45 AM on March 4, 2021
It sounds like you're having a good time of it, but don't be startled if the sluggishness lingers for a week or two, or if you find yourself craving it now and then. You're not going to feel that way forever, you're just having some withdrawal symptoms.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:45 AM on March 4, 2021
Just adding another data point that I stopped cold turkey with no ill effects.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:53 AM on March 4, 2021
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:53 AM on March 4, 2021
Response by poster: Thanks for all the reassurances from everyone. I did feel awful for a few days just for 1-2 hours in the morning when I normally took the dose, but otherwise fine.
posted by Gravel at 12:14 PM on March 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Gravel at 12:14 PM on March 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gemutlichkeit at 5:48 PM on March 3, 2021 [1 favorite]