Does Adderall Make Anxiety Worse?

Understanding the “Adderall Crash”

An Adderall crash can cause intense feelings of anxiety. As it is with most drugs, the effects of Adderall wear off with time. As the effects of Adderall wear off, an individual might go through an “Adderall crash,” where they deal with unpleasant symptoms.

Although extended-release versions reduce the chance of this happening, many individuals take immediate-release tablets.

Adderall is also known to speed up the heart and raise blood pressure because of the flight-or-fight response lasting longer due to the drug. When patients stop taking Adderall, they can reduce or possibly avoid withdrawal symptoms. A healthy and stable withdrawal can happen slowly, coming off the drug over multiple months.

However, if you come off of it quickly or quit cold turkey, then other symptoms may be noticed, such as;

• Having intense cravings for the Adderall
• Being agitated or irritable easier
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Fatigue
• Having feelings of depression
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
• Vivid and or unpleasant dreams or nightmares

If you take Adderall or larger doses for a long period, you are more prone to these experiences.

Timeline of Adderall Withdrawal

Please remember that some patients may not experience these or may have different symptoms. Within the first 1 to 3 days of withdrawal, certain symptoms start. These can be exhaustion, fatigue, feelings of depression, and increased sleep but of poor quality.

After that, you may notice more symptoms linked to the Adderall crash. The following symptoms may last from 7 to 10 days. Body aches and pains, headaches, increased appetite, mood swings going from anxious to agitated, then fatigued and worn out.

Paranoia- feeling like they are being judged or someone is out to get them, trouble concentrating, and trouble sleeping. If you stop taking Adderall suddenly, there can be some longer-term or lingering symptoms due to the withdrawal.

Usually, you will start to see improvements in mood and activity within 1 to 3 months of stopping the drug.

Coping With an Adderall Crash

The following tips from the guide could help you cope with an Adderall crash.

• “Assure yourself that cravings are only temporary. The longer a person spends without taking the drug, the better they can resist cravings.
• 
  
• Create an environment that fosters better sleep. An example is a cool, dark room with quiet or white noise. People should instruct others not to disturb them and refrain from distractions, such as using their smartphones.
• 
  
• Stay hydrated and nourished. Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Teas, such as chamomile or drinking warm milk may also help.
• 
  
• Stay relaxed. Do activities that do not involve too much concentration. Examples can include deep breathing or listening to music.
• 
  
• Avoid other stimulants. Anything else that acts as a stimulant could make sleeping and resting harder to achieve. These substances include caffeine and cigarettes.”

Use of Adderall and Xanax

Xanax is used to treat generalized anxiety disorders and panic disorder. It can make you feel more calm, relaxed, and tired. Researching these two drugs together is important because it can be dangerous and ultimately ineffective long-term.

Xanax is only supposed to be used as a short-term drug, though many individuals do end up using it long-term. Using Xanax long-term can create dependency, addiction, and very complex and painful physical withdrawal.

Taking Xanax and Adderall medications together can make both drugs less effective in their goal. This means each drug may not work as well to treat what it is prescribed.

Adderall is a stimulant that makes you feel more focused and awake, and Xanax is essentially the exact opposite. Xanax is designed to create feelings of calmness, peace, and comfort.

Adderall can increase panic attacks and worry. Adderall can also make it difficult to sleep.

Taking both Adderall and Xanax puts the body in a difficult position where it handles two different types of chemicals designed to do the opposite.

One is trying to help you stay calm and sleep while the other keeps you awake and focused.

Adderall Can Bring About Psychosis

Psychosis is a serious psychiatric condition where a person’s thinking becomes disorganized to losing touch with reality.

Symptoms of Adderall Psychosis

• Seeing or hearing things that aren’t real or aren’t there- hallucinations
• Delusions, fully believing things that aren’t true
• Paranoia, or feeling extremely suspicious of things and people.

There is a theory that some common side effects of Adderall could add to psychotic symptoms.

Other side effects include the following

• Headaches
• Nervousness
• Trouble sleeping

A continued lack of sleep or not having a good sleep quality can worsen symptoms like headaches and extreme nervousness. These symptoms could turn into paranoia that has been linked to psychosis.

Also, if you have a history of mental illness, you could be more likely to develop psychosis from using Adderall. However, the reason for this is still a bit of a mystery.

One of the theories is that your body responds differently due to increased chemicals in the brain. The increase in chemicals is caused by the use of Adderall. Those with amphetamine-induced psychosis usually have higher rates of norepinephrine in their blood.

Compared to amphetamine users without psychosis.

Norepinephrine is a chemical that Adderall increases in the brain. This means that those in an induced psychosis typically take a drug like Adderall versus those using amphetamines and don’t have psychosis.

How to Get Help for An Adderall Addiction

Adderall can worsen your anxiety, but there are ways to deal with it. The drug can cause anxiety to be brought on as well. Talking to your doctor can help alleviate these symptoms. Switching the medication to a doctor’s recommendation is also helpful.

Suppose you have concerns or questions about yourself or a loved one. Please feel free to contact us. We are always available to help you with anything you may need.

Addicted to Adderall and looking for a way out? Our helpline is free. No obligations, ask the questions you want about drug rehab treatment options. Dial (888) 906-0952 and press 1.

Sources

[1] Medical News Today: Adderall Guide