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Adderall Detox Symptoms, Timeline, Medications and Treatment

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  1. Why is Detox Necessary for Recovery?
  2. Is Detox from Adderall Dangerous?
  3. Why Detoxing at Home Can Be Harmful
  4. Medically Assisted Detox and Withdrawal
  5. What to Expect During Adderall Detoxification
  6. How Long Does Detox Last?
  7. Adderall Detox Treatment
  8. Choosing the Best Adderall Detox Center

What is Adderall?

Adderall is one of the most popular and widely abused prescription drugs in the world, with more than 6% of college students using it weekly, without a prescription.
What is Adderall?

Why is Detox Necessary for Recovery?

Detox is necessary because it brings the body back to its normal, drug-free state, allowing you to think more clearly while avoiding the physical effects of Adderall addiction. Every addict in the world would love it if he or she could press a button that transitions him or her from addiction to sober living. Addiction to Adderall, though, is the result of a complex array of chemical processes.

Adderall is a stimulant, which means it increases activity in your brain and central nervous system. It also acts on dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating motivation and pleasure.

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When you use Adderall long enough, your body becomes both psychologically and physically dependent on it. You may feel "slow" after experiencing months of Adderall's stimulating effects, or you may struggle to find motivation to do much of anything.

This is the natural result of attempting to withdraw from a drug on which you've grown dependent. While the process may not be pleasant, it won't last forever--though when it's happening, you might feel like withdrawal is permanent.

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Is Detox from Adderall Dangerous?

Many medical professionals talk about the "crash" that stopping Adderall can cause. When your brain goes from being highly stimulated by a powerful drug to operating without any help, it's easy to feel slow and miserable.

For some users, these sensations lead to thoughts of suicide or aggression toward others. Because Adderall is a stimulant, it also affects your heart, digestive system, and brain activity.

For some users, this means suffering heart palpitations, intense nausea, or panic attacks as they withdraw.

It's uncommon to experience serious health problems due to Adderall withdrawal. Taking Adderall simultaneously with other drugs or with a history of cardiovascular or other serious health issues places you at risk of Adderall withdrawal-related illnesses.

Adderall dependency is a manageable condition - Adderall detox programs can offer guided assistance so that one needn't suffer alone.

Please call 1-888-993-3112Who Answers? to find out about Adderall detox programs and facilities near you.

Why Detoxing at Home Can Be Harmful

When you detox alone, you face a number of risks, including:

  • Psychological distress that can cause you to harm yourself.
  • Aggression and mood changes that may cause you to lash out at those you love.
  • Physical side effects that, if left untreated or when compounded on top of other serious medical conditions, can turn dangerous. (For instance, a person with an arrythmia or pre-existing heart valve condition may experience dangerous heart rate changes as he or she goes through withdrawal.)

Medically Assisted Detox and Withdrawal

Get Help Today Enroll in a treatment program today and start your road to recovery. Medically assisted detox can spare you the pain of navigating Adderall withdrawal alone. Unfortunately, there's no specific medication that can reduce or eliminate your withdrawal symptoms. Instead, the goal of medically assisted detox is to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible.

Your doctor may prescribe intravenous fluids to keep you hydrated, or recommend a sedative or anti-anxiety drug if withdrawal leaves you feeling anxious or aggressive. Rarely, and especially if you have used Adderall for many years, your provider may recommend gradually tapering down your dosage rather than quitting cold turkey.

If you take Adderall because you have ADHD, your doctor can help you discern your next treatment steps. These might include switching to a less addictive drug, making lifestyle changes, or trying therapy.

What to Expect During Adderall Detoxification

Because Adderall is a stimulant, suddenly ceasing your use can leave you feeling slow and sluggish. You can experience the following symptoms:

  • Constipation.
  • Disordered thinking.
  • Exhaustion.
  • Restlessness.
  • Mood swings.
  • Depression.
  • Tremors and a rapid heart rate.

If you suffer from any underlying health conditions, Adderall withdrawal may exacerbate these. For instance, an addict prone to insomnia will likely continue to experience an even more intense insomnia as he goes through the withdrawal process.

How Long Does Detox Last?

The length of detox is somewhat dependent on the variant of Adderall you use.

  • Extended release formulations usually take slightly longer to detox from, exiting your body at about the 72-hour mark.
  • Controlled release versions, by contrast, usually take about 60 hours to get out of your bloodstream.

Expect your symptoms to get steadily stronger as Adderall leaves your body, peaking by about day 3 or 4. From there, your symptoms will slowly diminish.

Within 1 week, your cravings should taper off somewhat, and your physical withdrawal symptoms should become less intensive.

Though your cravings may continue for quite some time--and your ADHD symptoms will likely continue indefinitely if you don't find another treatment--they will be much less severe when you're done detoxing.

Adderall Detox Treatment

Adderall detox treatment usually lasts less than 1 week.Detox treatment, it's important to know, is different from long-term addiction treatment. Adderall detox focuses solely on helping you stay sober as Adderall exits your body. It usually lasts less than a week, though it can take place on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

If you want to stay sober, you'll need to develop a host of new skills for coping with stress and resisting temptation. If you take Adderall because of ADHD, you'll have to find alternative options for managing your symptoms.

Inpatient rehab, outpatient treatment in the form of therapy or 12-step programs, and a host of other treatment options, can help you maintain your sobriety after you've successfully detoxed.

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Choosing the Best Adderall Detox Center

When choosing an Adderall detox center, don't select a one-size-fits-all option. You deserve a place that understands and specializes in the challenges of prescription drug addiction. If you have a prescription for Adderall, you'll need to select a place that is equipped to help you find better treatment, and this may mean pursuing detox through an inpatient addiction recovery center.

No matter what option you choose, you'll need to closely work with a doctor to find the right approach to managing and recovering from your addiction.

It's easy to feel hopeless when you're in the throes of addiction, and especially when you're suffering with symptoms of withdrawal. But millions recover every year, and you can, too.

If you need a path out of Adderall addiction for yourself or a loved one, call 1-888-993-3112Who Answers? to find the right Adderall detox and treatment program.

Additional Resources

As advocates of mental health and wellness, we take great pride in educating our readers on the various online therapy providers available. MentalHelp has partnered with several thought leaders in the mental health and wellness space, so we can help you make informed decisions on your wellness journey. MentalHelp may receive marketing compensation from these companies should you choose to use their services.

MentalHelp may receive marketing compensation from the above-listed companies should you choose to use their services.

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