If you have Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chances are you’ve been prescribed Adderall, but for many people the side effects are too much to manage and the possibility of addiction is too real.
So how do you quit Adderall safely without the adverse effects and anxiety?
In this article, we’ll show you what to expect during Adderall withdrawal, and what the options are when it comes to relief so you can avoid the crash.
Key Takeaways: Adderall Crash
- Adderall withdrawal symptoms can be so distressing that they turn a difficult semester or recreational experimentation into long-term substance abuse.
- Common "crash" and post-acute withdrawal symptoms include depression, fatigue, and hypersomnia (excessive sleep), with psychosis being a more serious manifestation.
- Managing withdrawal symptoms can involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication such as antidepressants, and slowly tapering off the drug.
- Long-term consequences of substance abuse with Adderall may include damage to the neurotransmitter pathways and brain shrinkage.
- Some supplements marketed as nootropics may help by supporting dopamine production.
What Is Adderall Withdrawal?
Adderall withdrawal is the effect of your body no longer relying on the drug for neurological support or stimulation. Similar to other types of amphetamine withdrawal, it generally involves dysphoria (sadness or other unpleasant moods), sleeping too much or too little, fatigue, increased appetite, and impaired motor function. More severe cases can include paranoia and intense cravings for Adderall.
The Adderall crash is the acute phase of your withdrawal period, which appears in 24 hours and unfortunately lasts for around a week. Poor sleep quality with a longer sleep duration by two to three hours, and brain fog are common issues [1]. These withdrawal symptoms are a significant reason why Adderall addiction is difficult to beat.
What Causes Adderall Withdrawal?
Adderall works by increasing the release of the neurotransmitters, dopamine and noradrenaline and slows the reabsorption process. Because Adderall keeps the neurotransmitter levels up, the body doesn’t produce much on its own. However, when you stop taking the drug, you’re faced with a significant drop in dopamine and noradrenaline, and the body must readjust causing Adderall withdrawal symptoms [2].
Dopamine plays an essential role in motor function and keeping you motivated. With enough dopamine, you generally feel more inspired to take action. It also helps to reinforce learning new information, strengthening memory with revised information, and improving knowledge on a particular topic [3].
The body’s physiological processes are kept in balance by negative feedback loops. For example, when you have sufficiently high levels of dopamine, your neurons will turn down their rate of dopamine production. Once levels fall again, production resumes [4].
Withdrawal Symptoms: What To Expect
The symptoms of Adderall withdrawal are both physical and psychological. Even though they are very unpleasant, knowing what to expect can help you ride the wave to an Adderall-free life.
Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms
Adderall improves your endurance, energy, reaction times, mood, and motivation, making it easier to achieve your goals. Psychological and emotional symptoms of withdrawal from Adderall involve a sudden loss of this support as your body has likely become physically dependent on it.
Quitting Adderall cold turkey can be frightening and even dangerous, especially if you have been taking higher doses for an extended period or have a history of mental disorders. Panic attacks, psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, mood swings, and even suicidal thoughts are the most serious psychological withdrawal symptoms [5].
These psychological symptoms are why it is important for you to quit Adderall under the supervision of a doctor.
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms
Muscle tremors are the main physical symptoms of withdrawal from Adderall. As your dopamine levels fall, it’s understandable that this happens, but it’s only temporary.
Perceived reductions in athletic performance are other common physical symptoms as the hyper-focused state wears off. For athletes, abusing Adderall can be very dangerous, because it can cause muscle mass to break down and raise your body temperature [5].
Adderall Withdrawal Timeline
You may start to notice symptoms of Adderall withdrawal as soon as your last dose. Here’s an example of a typical Adderall withdrawal timeline:
- Day 1-7: Fatigue, sometimes to the point of exhaustion; increased sleep and depression during the first week, otherwise known as the “Adderall crash” phase. You’re likely to have light, broken sleep that doesn’t leave you feeling refreshed [6].
- Day 7-10: Continued symptoms of withdrawal after the initial crash feature poor ability to focus; insomnia; mood swings; headaches; body aches; dysregulated appetite; and sometimes paranoia [7].
- Day 21: Sleep disturbances, where you either can’t sleep or sleep too much, and increased appetite are common symptoms that generally dissipate in a few weeks [8].
- Day 90: A gradual resolution of all symptoms.
The time it takes for the two active substances of Adderall to leave the body is measured by half-lives. A half-life is the length of time for half of the drug to reduce and be eliminated from your system. The average half-life of d-amphetamine is nine to 11 hours, while l-amphetamine has a half-life of 11-13 hours [9].
After you stop taking Adderall, you could experience withdrawal symptoms from as long as several weeks or just a few days. However, you can expect mood symptoms such as depression to end within the first week [10].
How To Manage Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms
You don’t have to suffer in silence; you can find relief from the symptoms of Adderall withdrawal with pharmaceutical and natural treatment. Some work by supporting the now-deficient neurotransmitter pathways, while others provide symptomatic relief.
Medications To Help You Cope
Some medications can help you cope with Adderall withdrawal symptoms, including antidepressants to manage depression. These have also been specifically tested for amphetamine withdrawal.
However, there is still limited evidence for the efficacy of these medications. The one that’s proven the most effective, Amineptine, is not approved by the FDA and has been withdrawn in France [11].
Severe cases of stimulant withdrawal can call for certain antipsychotics, with an example being Aripiprazole. This medication directly compensates for the severe drop in dopamine you can experience with sudden withdrawal from Adderall after years of dependency.
In milder situations, antianxiety and antidepressant medications are often used alongside psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [12]. Of course, if you have a headache or full-body aches, over-the-counter pain medication could help you too.
Adderall Detox
Detoxification is the process of getting a substance out of your body so you can recover from drug addiction. In the case of Adderall detox, both cold turkey and tapering options are possible depending on how reliant your body has become on taking the drug.
While a cold-turkey Adderall detox may sound like a way to get over it all faster, it is unfortunately linked to more intense withdrawal symptoms.
Some examples of tapering with a secondary drug involve using the stimulant at a full dose for one week, then half dose for the next week before leaving it completely. The new treatment is first taken at a lower dose, then at the full dose [13].
Another example of a taper is a gradual reduction every three days, such as the 10mg reductions given in one case study of a man with adult ADHD [14].
Long-Term Treatment of Adderall Abuse
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is sometimes used alongside medication for the long-term treatment of Adderall and other stimulant drug abuse. The aim of CBT is to change negative thinking patterns. For example, a belief that you cannot succeed without a stimulant helper or that success only comes from a level of overwork that requires stimulants may drive your Adderall misuse.
Research from Australia and Thailand finds that CBT significantly improves the rate of long-term abstinence from amphetamines. This is maintained even six months after therapy has ended. Overall mental health and rates of other drug use are improved too [15].
Dangers of Adderall Abuse
Adderall abuse can have long-term neurological consequences if you’re taking it for anything other than medical needs. However, many students and people in demanding careers turn to the drug to improve focus. 5-35% of college students use ADHD drugs to improve academic performance [16].
Adderall dependence has both short and long-term effects, from anxiety to brain damage. Common side effects of Adderall include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Indifference
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Loss of appetite.
Over time, the elevated levels of dopamine that Adderall induces can eventually be toxic to the neuronal systems that naturally produce and use dopamine. Nerve terminals and transporters for dopamine and other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, may be lower after long-term amphetamine use [17].
An occasional Adderall binge or abusing Adderall intermittently may be even worse than smaller, frequent doses. Withdrawal could increase corticosterone levels in the brain, which is the main stress hormone [18]. High brain levels of glucocorticoids are linked to a greater risk of age-related cognitive decline and a faster loss of memory performance.
Cycling on and off Adderall or using it to pull all-nighters doesn’t do you any favors either. On top of the damaging effects of glucocorticoid elevation are the dangers of sleep deprivation. Inflammation and oxidative stress go up, causing more harm to your brain. As glucocorticoids kill off new neurons, brain shrinkage can appear over time [19].
Study Pill Alternatives: Nootropics
Nootropic supplements can be a safe, effective alternative to Adderall for demanding careers or studies. The best nootropics for kicking Adderall addiction or similar stimulant drugs are those that boost dopamine, as they have similar wanted effects such as increased mental energy and focus.
What Are Nootropics?
Nootropics are supplements, herbal remedies, and pharmaceutical drugs that aim to enhance neurological function.
Dopamine-boosting nootropics include the herb Rhodiola, which can slow the breakdown of dopamine [20]. Other nootropic examples are Tyrosine, the backbone of dopamine that provides direct support, and acetyl-l-carnitine which helps to protect the neurons that produce dopamine [21] [22].
Mind Lab Pro is a nootropic supplement that includes N-acetyl-tyrosine, lion’s mane mushroom, and L-theanine. N-acetyl-tyrosine can be efficiently converted into dopamine. Lion’s mane provides support by boosting the growth of new neurons, while L-theanine may provide a relaxing effect [23] [24].
To learn more, read the full Mind Lab Pro review.
Another nootropic supplement we recommend is Performance Lab, and like Mind Lab Pro, it contains tyrosine for direct dopamine production support.
Other ingredients of Performance Lab include a safe form of choline, which our bodies use to make the stimulating neurotransmitter acetylcholine and cell membranes, and Maritime pine bark extract which provides protective antioxidant support [25] [26].
Read the full Performance Lab review here.
However, nootropic supplements are not a substitute for medical support. If you’re experiencing severe psychological Adderall withdrawal symptoms, seek professional help immediately.
FAQ
In a nutshell, what are the most important things we need to know about Adderall withdrawal?
How Long Do the Withdrawal Symptoms of Adderall Last?
How long Adderall withdrawal symptoms last depends on how long you’ve been taking the drug and the doses used. Generally, the most serious symptoms disappear in the first week, but you can have residual symptoms such as insomnia for three weeks or even several months.
How Long Are You Tired After Stopping Adderall?
The Adderall crash features fatigue to the point of exhaustion, which usually resolves in a week. However, poor sleep may leave you feeling tired for several months after stopping Adderall.
How Long Does Depression Last After Quitting Adderall?
You can expect depressive symptoms from quitting Adderall to self-resolve before the end of the first week.
Why Does Adderall Wear Off so Quickly?
Adderall doesn’t spend a long time in your body, so you typically start to experience withdrawal symptoms within hours of your last dose. It only takes nine to 11 hours for half of a D-amphetamine dose to be removed from the body, while half of the more durable L-form leaves in 11-13 hours.
Conclusion
Drug abuse is hard to kick, especially with Adderall withdrawal symptoms getting in the way. Fatigue, poor concentration, and sleep are some common symptoms and are the most severe in the “crash” phase.
However, there are treatment options including medication to lessen the physical and psychological effects such as cognitive behavioral therapy, tapering programs, and nootropic supplements.
If you’re on medication to treat adhd and concerned about the adverse effects of Adderall crash, consult your doctor or any healthcare provider.
References
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- Easton, Neil et al. “Effects of amphetamine isomers, methylphenidate and atomoxetine on synaptosomal and synaptic vesicle accumulation and release of dopamine and noradrenaline in vitro in the rat brain.” Neuropharmacology vol. 52,2 (2007): 405-14. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2006.07.035
- Berke, Joshua D. “What does dopamine mean?.” Nature neuroscience vol. 21,6 (2018): 787-793. doi:10.1038/s41593-018-0152-y
- Tortora, Gerald J. & Derrickson, B. “Principles of anatomy & physiology.” Wiley (2011).
- Kerna, Nicholas et al. “Adderall: On the Razor’s Edge of ADHD Treatment, Enhanced Academic and Physical Performance, Addiction, Psychosis, and Death.” 9 (2020): 65–71. doi:10.31080/ecpp.2020.09.00801.
- Shoptaw, Steven J et al. “Treatment for amphetamine withdrawal.” The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 2009,2 CD003021. 15 Apr. 2009, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003021.pub2
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). 2013.
- Shoptaw, Steven J et al. “Treatment for amphetamine withdrawal.” The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 2009,2 CD003021. 15 Apr. 2009, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003021.pub2
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Adderall.” (2017) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/011522s043lbl.pdf
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). 2013
- Khoramizadeh, Mansour et al. “Treatment of amphetamine abuse/use disorder: a systematic review of a recent health concern.” Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences vol. 27,2 (2019): 743-753. doi:10.1007/s40199-019-00282-3
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). 2013.
- Quintana, Humberto et al. “Transition from methylphenidate or amphetamine to atomoxetine in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder–a preliminary tolerability and efficacy study.” Clinical therapeutics vol. 29,6 (2007): 1168-77. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2007.06.017
- Chu, Robert Karoly, et al. “ Adult ADHD: Questioning Diagnosis and Treatment in a Patient with Multiple Psychiatric Comorbidities.” Case Reports in Psychiatry, (2017): 1–7. doi:10.1155/2017/1364894
- Khoramizadeh, Mansour et al. “Treatment of amphetamine abuse/use disorder: a systematic review of a recent health concern.” Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences vol. 27,2 (2019): 743-753. doi:10.1007/s40199-019-00282-3
- Kerna, Nicholas et al. “Adderall: On the Razor’s Edge of ADHD Treatment, Enhanced Academic and Physical Performance, Addiction, Psychosis, and Death.” 9 (2020): 65–71. doi:10.31080/ecpp.2020.09.00801.
- Berman, S M et al. “Potential adverse effects of amphetamine treatment on brain and behavior: a review.” Molecular psychiatry vol. 14,2 (2009): 123-42. doi:10.1038/mp.2008.90
- Bray, Brenna, et al. “Amphetamine withdrawal differentially affects hippocampal and peripheral corticosterone levels in response to stress.” Brain Research, 1644, (2016): 278–287. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2016.05.030
- de Souza-Talarico, Juliana Nery et al. “Effects of stress hormones on the brain and cognition: Evidence from normal to pathological aging.” Dementia & neuropsychologia vol. 5,1 (2011): 8-16. doi:10.1590/S1980-57642011DN05010003
- Panossian, A et al. “Rosenroot (Rhodiola rosea): traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology and clinical efficacy.” Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology vol. 17,7 (2010): 481-93. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2010.02.002
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- Singh, Sonu et al. “Acetyl-L-Carnitine via Upegulating Dopamine D1 Receptor and Attenuating Microglial Activation Prevents Neuronal Loss and Improves Memory Functions in Parkinsonian Rats.” Molecular neurobiology vol. 55,1 (2018): 583-602. doi:10.1007/s12035-016-0293-5
- Friedman, Mendel. “Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) Mushroom Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia and Their Bioactive Compounds.” Journal of agricultural and food chemistry vol. 63,32 (2015): 7108-23. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b02914
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- Synoradzki, Kamil, and Paweł Grieb. “Citicoline: A Superior Form of Choline?.” Nutrients vol. 11,7 1569. 12 Jul. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11071569
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