Gaining a real sense of what it feels like when Adderall wears off is stressful for anyone struggling with an addiction to Adderall. Adderall’s waning effect is often described as an intense “crash.” Those who experience an Adderall crash often wonder what will happen to their body when they stop completely after prolonged use. You may experience your body entering a state of exhaustion while the mind stays wired. Long-term effects of Adderall for ADHD can complicate the recovery timeline.
The psychological impact is often the most daunting part of the process. Serious complications like Adderall withdrawal psychosis can occur and leave individuals feeling detached from reality. When you begin asking can Adderall make you dissociate, the answer is usually found in the brain’s struggle to recalibrate. Quickly stopping use also can trigger physical fight-or-flight response symptoms like a racing heart or cold sweats. This is especially true when dealing with persistent nausea when Adderall wears off.
While it is a stimulant used in clinical settings to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, the actual risk for abuse remains incredibly high. You can explore local Tennessee resources near you to understand how this tolerance develops and why professional oversight is the safest path forward. Our Apex Recovery Tennessee facilities can provide the stabilization necessary to manage these overwhelming physical shifts from our nearby facilities for those near the Nashville area and also residents in Knoxville and the surrounding communities. Choosing a luxury Nashville rehab experience in our nearby Brentwood clinic will set you up to have a comfortable environment where you can handle any gastrointestinal and emotional stressors that arise.
If you are ready to take that first step, please reach out today to learn more about our specific treatment protocols at Apex Addiction Recovery.
What is Adderall?
When you combine amphetamine and dextroamphetamine you get the medicine Adderall, a stimulant used to treat various neurotypes. A vast majority of prescriptions for Adderall are for ADHD because the stimulant properties of Adderall can allow an individual with this neurodiversity to filter through the noise in their head and focus. Adderall itself has a reduced level of risk when taken as prescribed. But in reality, there is a high probability of abuse potential for anyone who takes Adderall. Regularly taking any drug can be habit-forming, and with Adderall the result can end up in the development of chemical dependence.
Adderall’s effect, and the purpose for why it is used by many medical professionals, is boosting the activity of two important neurotransmitters. One is dopamine, which is a key component of how our body regulates pleasure and emotion. When Adderall is introduced it influences the reward system by increasing the activity of dopamine in the brain and producing a “high” or feeling of euphoria when abused. The other neurotransmitter that is affected by Adderall is norepinephrine which stimulates our body to action during a fight-or-flight response, fight-or-flight meaning how the human body reacts to situations that are perceived as life-threatening. During fight-or-flight your body preps for defense or any possible physical exertion by heightening all of your senses, thus increasing your focus.
Adderall Withdrawal Timeline
Withdrawing from an Adderall addiction will occur within 24 hours after the last dose, and will result in the onset of both physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. In most individuals, physical withdrawal symptoms will subside by the end of the second week, while mental withdrawal symptoms may continue for some time after this period. One thing you should recognize is that there is a high degree of variability in how different individuals experience withdrawal from Adderall. How intense and difficult withdrawal is, what types of symptoms you experience, and how long those symptoms last can all vary substantially from person to person. Factors that influence how you experience Adderall withdrawal include:
- The length of time you have been abusing Adderall;
- Your current dosage and tolerance to the drug;
- Your metabolism;
- Your underlying physical health.
It can also be the case that a person who is prescribed Adderall will not experience withdrawal. Many people have been prescribed Adderall, and take the drug exactly as prescribed. Typically, when individuals who are prescribed Adderall are going to cease using the drug they will go through an extended tapering process where their dosage is reduced to low enough levels that it can be safely eliminated. In this type of situation, any withdrawal symptoms for the prescription would be mild and the withdrawal process would be largely avoided. For individuals that have developed a strong tolerance to the drug and abuse it at high doses, the onset of withdrawal symptoms within 24 hours of the last dose is nearly inevitable. With stimulants like Adderall, withdrawal is often referred to as a “crash”, which is a reference to the lethargy, low energy, and lack of motivation that is characteristic of Adderall withdrawal. Let’s explore the most common signs of Adderall withdrawal.
Physical Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms
Most stimulants including Adderall have similar physical withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Profound fatigue
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Powerful hunger
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
One of the most common long-term effects of stimulants like Adderall is appetite suppression. In the middle of an Adderall binge, most people will eat only sparingly or won’t eat at all. Once the use of Adderall has stopped hunger comes back in full force. It is not uncommon for individuals to eat far more than they would regularly need to eat to feel satiated during early withdrawal.
Stomach problems, like frequent bowel movements, nausea, and vomiting are all fairly common and possible during withdrawal. For this reason, people experiencing withdrawal must make sure to pay attention to their levels of hydration in spite of any stomach issues caused by their symptoms.
Most commonly, individuals may find themselves in a deep state of fatigue during the days and weeks after they have stopped taking Adderall. Even taking Adderall at all has the possible side effect of fatigue, so it makes sense that once an individual stops taking the drug they will experience the onset of fatigue. In many cases, the level of fatigue a person experiences is quite substantial. Some people recount barely being able to get out of bed in the days immediately following cessation. Over time this fatigue will fade as your body begins to return to a normal state of energy regulation.
Mental Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms
While most people tend to think of the physical symptoms when they are looking forward to the withdrawal process, many individuals recovering from an Adderall addiction will experience powerful mental withdrawal symptoms as well. These mental symptoms are unseen yet no less important to plan for and treat. Common mental withdrawal symptoms include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability and mood swings
- Difficulty focusing and concentrating
- Suicidal thoughts and ideation
- Difficulty sleeping / insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Desire to use again
While physical withdrawal symptoms are usually completely gone by the end of the second week, mental withdrawal symptoms can persist for weeks or even months after cessation. Many people experience depression during Adderall withdrawal. This depression can result in suicidal thoughts as well. Some people may experience auditory and visual hallucinations during the initial period coming down after an extended Adderall binge. While these symptoms can occur, they are very rare during the days and weeks after an individual has quit the use of Adderall. Difficulties while focusing and concentrating are both very common in the days following quitting Adderall. Being unable to focus is difficult for people who have to immediately return to a normal routine after they have quit. The reality of the situation is that it takes the body and mind time to achieve a state of balance once again. Although this period of time can be frustrating, it is an important component of the healing process.
Treatment Options for Adderall Withdrawal
The most common recommendation for treatments for Adderall addiction and withdrawal is to enter an inpatient treatment program. Inpatient treatment programs offer with a combination of security, 24-hour care, and resources, can give you or your loved one a better chance at a successful recovery than going it alone. There are also outpatient treatment programs available for Adderall addiction. Understanding the difference between these two can help you make an informed decision about the level of care you will require to achieve sobriety. Many people who regularly abuse Adderall attempt to quit on their own one or more times before they ever enter a treatment program. They are unsuccessful because during the withdrawal process most people will experience a strong desire to begin using Adderall again. Withdrawal from Adderall is an uncomfortable process, so it can be very appealing to return to using Adderall again so withdrawal symptoms will subside.
Detox from Adderall
Most inpatient programs address the withdrawal process before you actually begin prescription drug rehab. This period of time is known as detox. The Adderall detox timeline typically lasts up to a week, and the purpose of this period is to rid your body of any remaining traces of the drug while also allowing you to overcome the physical Adderall withdrawal symptoms you will experience. Once the majority of withdrawal symptoms have subsided, you’ll be ready to fully engage with the recovery process.
Detoxing off of Adderall within a Tennessee clinical setting has a number of important differences from quitting on your own. The first is you will be monitored for any complications that might arise. Although withdrawal from Adderall is uncomfortable and difficult, it isn’t usually dangerous. However, during the course of drug addiction, it is possible for individuals to develop underlying health conditions that go unnoticed. The stress withdrawal places on the body can cause these conditions to manifest, so it is important that they are quickly identified and treated.
Detoxing with an inpatient setting will also allow for medical management of withdrawal symptoms. Many people experience the onset of depression and anxiety when they are withdrawing from Adderall. These can be identified early on in the withdrawal process and medications such as antidepressants can be administered to help. Many people also have difficulty sleeping during the first couple of weeks after they stop taking Adderall. Medical professionals can administer medications that allow the individual in recovery to achieve a more normal sleep schedule, which can make the entire process much more comfortable and bearable.
Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment
Once you have successfully navigated the withdrawal process you will transition to the remainder of the treatment program. The two main options for withdrawal treatment programs are inpatient and outpatient treatment. The basic difference between these two treatment options is that inpatient programs require you to reside in the facility for the duration of your program while outpatient treatment allows you to return home during the evening. There are different levels of care that you will receive from an inpatient and outpatient treatment program, so it is important to choose the appropriate program for the level of care you require.
While both programs will give you access to the counseling and therapy sessions that can help you uncover and address the roots of your addiction, inpatient treatment programs offer an additional level of security over outpatient programs. Inpatient treatment programs are a more secure option appropriate for individuals that will struggle with returning to Adderall abuse when they are outside of the treatment facility. Inpatient programs typically last from 30 – 90 days, so they represent a significant investment of time on the part of the patient. During that time, access to Adderall will be limited by the very nature of the program, making this the most effective choice for individuals that have struggled to get clean and failed in the past.
Outpatient treatment programs tend to be ideal for people that have responsibilities that don’t allow them to reside in a treatment facility. People who have to care for children or other family members may decide that an outpatient treatment program is more appropriate for their living situation. These types of programs are best suited for individuals whose lifestyle and the social group won’t place pressure on them to return to using Adderall again when they return home.
Navigating Professional Help for Adderall Withdrawal
Quitting Adderall on your own can be an immense struggle. Once you have a tolerance and stop suddenly, the physical and mental backlash typically hits within 24 hours. Many find themselves searching for answers after feeling what it feels like when Adderall does wear off. They may especially feel in need while dealing with persistent nausea when Adderall wears off. Checking into a 30-day rehab program will provide the stabilization needed to clear these initial hurdles.
The psychological weight of this transition is often the most dangerous part. Serious complications like Adderall withdrawal psychosis can occur, leaving many to wonder whether Adderall can make you dissociate as your brain attempts to recalibrate. These experiences frequently trigger physical fight-or-flight response symptoms that are much safer to manage in a specialized clinical setting. We provide a luxury rehab experience for Nashville residents looking for high-end care, alongside connections to Christian rehab programs for individuals who want to integrate faith into their healing process.
Addressing the long-term effects of Adderall for ADHD requires an expert and compassionate team. While we focus on our core inpatient services, we can facilitate vital connections to elderly addiction treatment and specialized rehab for mothers to ensure every individual finds the right path forward. Let our admissions team help you navigate rehab cost factors for your long-term success. In our Tennessee treatment facility, the most difficult symptoms are identified and treated through medical intervention before they lead to a relapse. To learn more about navigating the withdrawal process, call Apex Recovery at (877) 881-2689 today.
