Adderall has a strong potential to make the brain depend on its impact on the body and this makes withdrawal extremely challenging. As soon as a person attempts to flush out Adderall in one’s system, the normal function of the brain is distorted and eventually fails to support the body with the right physical and mental state.

In using Adderall, the dopamine levels are heightened, resulting in improved strength of concentration, and if used excessively, can lead to an intense euphoric experience. When withdrawal begins, these desirable instances become unattainable, leaving the body struggling physically, mentally, and psychologically.

The Adderall Crash

The Adderall crash is the initial result of the withdrawal where a person experiences the peak of withdrawal discomfort. The severity of the conditions varies among different individuals and usually, those who have engaged with Adderall abuse are likely to feel a variety of negative experiences.

Meanwhile, individuals who have underlying physical and mental health problems are also at great risk of experiencing twice the intensity of their health problems. Specifically, when a person has a history of mental health disorder, these conditions can come out at a more severe or complex level during withdrawal.

Typically, after a full day of taking the last dose, the crash kicks in and this can last for days and slowly subsides in the following weeks. However, symptoms can continue to swing up and down for months as experts emphasize that one can only reach a stable condition between one and three months.

The symptoms of an Adderall crash can be classified into physical, mental, and psychological categories. The crash may appear differently among individuals as it all depends on the degree of tolerance one has developed on the drug, the duration and amount of dosage one has taken, as well as one’s overall health condition.

Physical Symptoms

Fatigue, muscle pain, and insomnia – are the most common physical symptoms of a withdrawal crash. With these conditions, it is likely for a person to feel extremely exhausted and weak. Being deprived of good quality sleep can make the crash more overwhelming and difficult to endure.

On top of that, others may experience an increase in appetite, finding themselves extremely hungry most of the time. Others are also prone to dehydration and experiencing dry mouth, a common cause for mouth sores and tooth decay. For this reason, drinking lots of water and keeping a nutritious diet can help one cope with withdrawal discomfort.

Mental Symptoms

Some mental skills are prone to decline by getting rid of the substance in the body. This is because Adderall withdrawal results in opposite experiences to what one has while taking it. So when a person feels more focused while taking the drug, you may likely see them be the opposite during withdrawal.

You can expect patients to act restless and agitated most of the time. They cannot sit still and may appear confused or easily distracted. This behavior may also manifest from other mental health disorders that are likely to kick in during withdrawal. When this happens, patients must be closely observed and guided on the important things they need to do.

Psychological Symptoms

Mental health disorders are common during withdrawal. Feeling extra anxious, panicky, and depressed are few to name. When a person reaches one of these points, psychological interventions must be included in the withdrawal treatment plan. Mood swings and irritability are also conditions that can uncomfortably affect the way patients relate with others.

The most common symptom that needs to be constantly monitored is the intense craving for the substance. This can be very strong at the onset of withdrawal and can show up at times throughout the treatment. Some prescriptions are provided to decrease the cravings for the substance and this is important since this is where most people fail in their treatment.

Timeline for Adderall Withdrawal

These are the expected duration of symptoms that may likely appear among individuals. For a safer and more manageable withdrawal experience, it is highly encouraged to taper one’s dosage with the supervision of a medical expert. Although withdrawal to Adderall rarely poses fatal effects, suicidal ideation remains inevitable when stimulants are involved.

The First Three Days

A patient may appear to be in an extremely exhausted physical and psychological state. A combination of fatigue, insomnia, and depression may put a person lying in bed immovable most of the time. This image could only be the worst case. It is also likely that some may only experience one of the three conditions previously mentioned.

Physicians may prescribe sleeping aids to alleviate insomnia and antidepressants for depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also recommended to attend to the needs of someone who experiences depression.

Day 4 to 7

The symptoms on the first three days are likely to continue through the entire week or a couple of days more. Some may subside especially with medical intervention, however; the onset of another set of symptoms may also start to kick in. Body pain and headaches may begin to affect one and the lack of concentration may also seem to emerge.

Mood swings are also pretty common during this time. Individuals may appear extremely anxious or restless and sometimes feel paranoid about how other people relate to them. This is when patience and understanding from loved ones must be essentially extended to patients since they usually experience out-of-sorts during this phase of their treatment.

The Second Week

The symptoms are expected to improve during the first week. Quality sleep may become more achievable although occasions of insomnia may still bother one a few times. Fatigue, depression, and cravings would still linger but with continuous medical intervention, things will be more bearable as time progresses.

The Third Week and Beyond

Normally, most individuals feel more stabilized at this point although the symptoms may continue to appear. However, those who have a history of addiction and other health problems are very much vulnerable to experiencing the symptoms long-term. The conditions are expected to fluctuate for a few more months.