Adderall For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Adderall Statistics & Use In The United States

This represents an almost 40 percent rise in these prescriptions since 2007, the Drug Enforcement Agency states. ADHD is one of the most common childhood neurobiological disorders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of July 2015, almost 10 percent, or close to 6 million, American children between the ages of 4 and 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lifetimes.

As prescriptions for Adderall rise, so may its potential for diversion and nonmedical use, which increases its health risks too. Adderall is abused as a smart drug across college campuses. It may be abused by students to combat pressures of higher education, as students perceive it will help them get better grades because they can stay up and study for longer.

A study at the University of Kentucky found that 30 percent of its students had abused an ADHD stimulant drug like Adderall at some point as a possible study enhancer, CNN reports.

Adderall also suppresses the appetite and may also be abused as a weight loss drug. Other times it may be used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol recreationally, or to get high. Mixing Adderall with other substances can be very dangerous and may more easily result in a life-threatening overdose or negative interaction between the substances.

Adderalls side effects include: physical damage to the brain, internal systems, and organs.

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Alternatives To Adderall For Fatigue

September 22, 2018 · By: Michele Ross, PhD · In: Symptoms

Adderall, generic name dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, is prescribed as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Adderall is a stimulant, which helps people with ADHD focus and control symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. A side effect is that Adderall increases wakefulness and can cause insomnia.

Adderall can be used off-label to combat fatigue, but there are other prescription drugs that can treat fatigue. Fatigue can be caused by many things, including multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, cancer , and infections.

Fibromyalgia And Substance Abuse

There are numerous studies that have documented a significant relationship between opioid and alcohol abuse in individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia. If you have it, you are likely to be prescribed prescription pain medication and/or other medications that have the potential for abuse .

Because people diagnosed with fibromyalgia have a litany of emotional issues associated with the disorder, they are often at an increased risk of abuse of prescription medications, alcohol, and other substances. Although the majority of people who are prescribed stimulant medications do not abuse them, people with fibromyalgia may be at an increased risk to abuse Adderall.

If you have fibromyalgia and begin using a psychostimulant like Adderall without a prescription from a physician, you are at an even higher risk to abuse the drug. Most people who abuse Adderall do not have a prescription for it.

While substance abuse appears to occur at an elevated rate in people diagnosed with fibromyalgia, there are no reliable estimates of the prevalence of psychostimulant abuse in those who have the condition.

Recommended Reading: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Vs Fibromyalgia

Adderall Dosage For Adults

Adderall is taken one to three times a day to treat ADHD or daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy. There is no single standard dose. Instead, the goal is to find the lowest possible effective dose, so doses will be adjusted based on a persons needs and responsiveness to Adderall.

• Standard dosage for adults: 5-40 mg or 5-60 mg taken as one dose or divided into two or three doses given every four to six hours

• Maximum dosage for adults: Not specified

Prescription Stimulants For Me/cfs

Some healthcare providers prescribe attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs for their patients with ME/CFS and say they’ve seen positive results. There is a growing body of evidence to back this up, although more research is needed.

These drugs are classified as neurostimulators, which means that they stimulate brain activity. They’re used for ADD/ADHD because, paradoxically, they have a calming effect on ADD/ADHD brains. Given that, it makes more sense that they’d be helpful in a condition defined by fatigue.

The most popular stimulants prescribed for chronic fatigue syndrome include:

• Ritalin and Concerta, which contain methylphenidate
• Dexedrine, which contains dextroamphetamine
• Adderall, which contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine
• Vyvanse, which contains lisdexamfetamine

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Christina Wood Ms Lmft Laadc

Licensed Clinical Therapist

Christina has been practicing in the field of addiction and mental health since 2003. She is currently a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Her credentials include Certified Domestic Violence Counselor, Certified Anger Resolution Therapist, Certified Co-occurring Disorder Specialist and currently practices as a trained EMDR therapist. Christina has extensive experience working with adults, adolescents, couples and families, with an emphasis on addiction and trauma experiences or exposure. She is also a military veteran and has grown up in a military family. As a result, she lends her understanding, experience, and expertise as our Trauma Informed Therapist, with a specific focus on the emotional and psychological health of military veterans and first responders in their recovery journey. Christina received a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University in 2012, as well as a Masters degree in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy from University of Phoenix in 2016. She is currently working towards attaining her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with the goal of conducting psychological testing for continued treatment enhancements and increased treatment efficacy.

Director of Clinical Services RN, Board Certified Holistic Nurse

Memory And Concentration Problems

Memory aids, like organizers and calendars, can help with memory problems. For people with ME/CFS who have concentration problems, some doctors have prescribed stimulant medications, like those typically used to treat Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder . While stimulants might help improve concentration for some patients with ME/CFS, they might lead to the push-and-crash cycle and worsen symptoms. Push-and-crash cycles are when someone with ME/CFS is having a good day and tries to push to do more than they would normally attempt .

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I Still Dont Have The Answers

Ive had sleep issues since I was 12 years old, before I even had my first drink .

Growing up, I never had any stimulants prescribed to me, I kept away from cups of Kona coffee, and I was even light on the sugar. But insomnia still manifested.

Eventually, it became something I would use to justify my exhaustion, my rage, my propensity to addiction. The worst part is: It still haunts me, even when I do everything right.

Unfortunately, even if you lighten your workload and perform self-massage every night, managing chronic fatigue is a life-long process for many people.

How Long Does It Take Adderall To Work

Adderall is readily absorbed through the gut into the bloodstream, so its effects should be noticed about 30 minutes after taking it. Adderall hits its peak effectiveness in about one to three hours.

Adderall can be taken with or without food, although there is no research on how food affects the absorption of Adderall.

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What To Expect At Your Provider’s Office

There is no laboratory test for chronic fatigue syndrome. But your health care provider may use tests to rule out other illnesses. Your provider will go over your symptoms, check your medical history, and do a physical examination.

If you have CFS, your provider may prescribe drugs to treat your symptoms, or suggest herbs, vitamins, or dietary changes to help you. Get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, and learn to pace yourself. Often this combination of treatments will help you get better.

If the usual treatments do not work, your provider may check for other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to those of CFS.

Stimulating The Central Nervous System For More Energy Alertness And Even Calmness In Me/cfs And Fm

Most of the pharmaceuticals used to increase energy in chronic fatigue syndrome are amphetamines or have amphetamine-like structures. Amphetamines have been used in the past to elevate mood, reduce feelings of fatigue and increase alertness, concentration and motivation.

They cardiovascular effects have lead them, at times, to be used in orthostatic intolerance as well. In general they constrict the blood vessels and increase blood pressure and heart rates. They may also increase blood glucose levels.

Historically, amphetamines were used to treat everything from asthma to obesity to hyperactivity to neurological disorders, but abuse problems have restricted their use today to conditions such as attention deficit disorder. When taken correctly the risk of addiction is reportedly very low but taking large doses of stimulants over a long period of time can cause addiction. Sleep and energy levels can be negatively effected in ME/CFS and FM in some patients.

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Central Nervous System Stimulants May Be Helpful

in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia because they increase alertness, concentration, motivation and energy and can assist with circulatory problems. One study suggests they may be able to help with fatigue and pain as well.

Plus, the disorder stimulants are most commonly used in attention hyperactivity deficit disorder appears to be common in fibromyalgia and probably ME/CFS. One study which employed an ADHD self-test found that almost 50% of FM patients tested positive for ADHD.

Psychiatrist Pens Book That Suggests Adhd Medications

Many people pre-coronavirus pandemic were used to going at a nonstop pace, bustling to and from work and/or school, getting involved in religious and social activities as well as jumping the daily hurdles that life inevitably throws a persons way.

Some people, however, have a very difficult time dealing with everyday stress, often finding it challenging to get out of bed. Not only do they live with unrelenting fatigue not ameliorated by 10-12 hours of sleep, they feel emotionally overwhelmed and deal with brain fog. They also may have physical pain that could be linked to fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and migraine.

Joel L. Young, M.D., founder and director of the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine, who has done studies in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , has a message for these individuals:

To patients with ME/CFS, I know youre out there, and I know you need help, he said. We get how much you suffer. You deserve better than what youve gotten.

Young, who has conducted research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for approximately 30 years, has recently published a book titled Understanding and Treating Chronic Fatigue: A Practical Guide for Patients and Practitioners. The book was published by Praeger Press and sells for $39. It is available in hardcover and in electronic book format on Amazon and from Praeger.

Link to ADHD?

Longstanding Fatigue

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Support Your Immune System

Chronic infections may be an underlying cause of chronic fatigue, but they are widely undiagnosed.

What to do: In addition to getting tested for underlying infections, consider blends of Siberian ginseng, samento, sarsaparilla, guaiacum, astragalus, resveratrol, and cat’s claw for their immune-strengthening properties.

Melinda Kuykendall Rn Bsn

Clinical Nurse Manager

As the Clinical Nurse Manager for Hemet Valley Recovery Center & Sage Retreat since 2013, Melindas nursing career began when she graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelors Degree in Nursing in 2003. Relocating to Hemet in 2006, Melinda took a position on the Telemetry Unit at Hemet Valley Medical Center, as well as a Per Diem position at Hemet Valley Recovery Center. Having a limited understanding of Substance Use Disorder, Melinda gained valuable experience caring for those seeking treatment for the abuse of alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates, amphetamines, and the combinations of these and many more. She also developed an understanding of various detox protocols, and the ability to identify the withdrawal symptoms unique to each substance. Understanding the value of individualized treatment approaches, Melinda and her team ensure that they form the basis of each patients Treatment Plan, as the disease of addiction and the consequences of use are frequently accompanied by severe medical comorbidities, chronic pain, psychological stressors, underlying trauma, grief, and depression. She also supports a holistic philosophy through her understanding that recovery requires care for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of each patient. Assuming leadership responsibility in 2013 as the Clinical Nurse Manager, addiction treatment has become Melindas passion.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Physicians Report

Dr. Bateman uses both Ritalin and Adderall but prefers Adderall. She reports Adderall also helps with pain and has been a drug that has enabled some patients return to work. On the other hand others cant stand it. She reports that acute onset patients with flu-like symptoms dont seem to do as well on Adderall.

How Do I Stop Taking Adderall

Adderall can cause physical dependence when taking it in high doses for a prolonged period of time. Because of its potential for abuse and dependency, the Drug Enforcement Agency labels Adderall a Schedule II controlled substance. For people taking chronic high doses, suddenly stopping Adderall can cause fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. A prescriber will use a tapering dose to discontinue any patient taking prolonged high doses.

A healthcare provider should always be consulted if Adderall needs to be discontinued in order to find the best titration regimen or alternative medication. There are, however, a few circumstances that will require the medicine to be immediately discontinued and medical help pursued. These include:

• Any emergent or worsening symptom of an underlying or undetected mental health problem including psychosis, bipolar disorder, or Tourettes syndrome

• Any sign of serotonin syndrome such as confusion, hallucinations, dizziness, tremor, muscle twitching, fast heartbeat, excessive sweating, or muscle rigidity

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction

People taking Adderall will be regularly monitored for cardiovascular changes, aggression, and growth rate . If there are problems, treatment with Adderall may need to be interrupted or discontinued. For those who need to discontinue amphetamines, alternatives include methylphenidate , dexmethylphenidate , atomoxetine , modafinil , and armodafinil

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Adderall Dosage For Adhd

Adderall is FDA approved to treat hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms in adults and children 3 years and older with clinically significant impairment due to an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis.

• Adults and children 6 years and older: 540 mg by mouth divided into one to three daily doses taken every four to six hours

• Children 35 years old: 2.540 mg by mouth divided into one to three daily doses taken every four to six hours

• Renally impaired patients: Not defined

• Hepatically impaired patients: Not defined

The first dose should be taken in the morning.

Adderall Dosage For Narcolepsy

Adderall is taken to relieve daytime sleepiness in adults and children 6 years and older who have been diagnosed with narcolepsy, a condition characterized by daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations, which occur right before falling asleep.

• Adults and children 6 years and older: 560 mg divided into one to three daily doses taken every four to six hours

• Renally impaired patients: Not defined

• Hepatically impaired patients: Not defined

Again, the first dose should always be taken in the morning.

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What Interacts With Adderall

Amphetamines can be taken with or without food because food does not change the effect of them. However, they have several potential drug interactions.

As a general rule, drugs like Adderall that change the chemistry of the brain are going to have a number of drug interactions.

• Adderall may interact with drugs that also alter the central nervous system , such as antidepressants, other stimulants, and seizure medications.

• Benzodiazepines, sleep medications, and other medications that cause drowsiness may counteract the effects of Adderall and make it less effective.

• Amphetamines should not be taken within 14 days of discontinuing monoamine oxidase inhibitors , a small class of drugs that treat depression, bacterial infections, cancer, and Parkinsons disease. The combination of these two drug classes may cause serotonin syndrome or a hypertensive crisis.

• CYP2D6 inhibitors, such as some antidepressants and may delay the rate of elimination of Adderall through the liver and therefore, increase the amount of Adderall in the body.

• Some medications that reduce stomach acid, such as sodium bicarbonate, can increase the absorption of Adderall.