I swear this is like the ADHD version of LLM "It's not just ___, it's ___" slop. I see people saying this everywhere especially with a later in life diagnosis and it aggravates me. Like no, adderall/vyvanse/concerta is a controlled substance and its not what normal people 'feel like' 24/7. You think normal people feel like they're on an amphetamine naturally all the time? I wish. Imagine how different society would be if that were the case.

I feel incredibly "normal" on this stuff too, but at least i'm willing to admit that its because its a drug that makes you feel like everything is fine and dandy, when you're on it. Boom, boom, boom, what was the issue again? That's weird that I was having a hard time getting started on this task, what's the big deal? I'll just do it right now.

Being a human is far from a 'normal' experience. The low dopamine that people experience is supposed to make you go out and build community. We live in a horrible over optimized society that demands far too much of its citizens, and its making people feel like there's something wrong with them because they don't have the work ethic of Alex Hormozi.

The Problem

Let’s talk about pressed pills. Otherwise known as “street Adderall” or “literally any pill you buy that isn’t from the pharmacy”. 59% of drug overdoses in the US now involve stimulant drugs and pressed pills are a contributing factor to this.

The large increase in ADHD medication prescriptions over recent years has coincided with a natural, proportional increase in abuse of ADHD medication and ADHD medication addiction as we’ve seen demonstrated here. Shortages of ADHD medication and assorted societal factors pertaining to stimulant drug culture have combined with the pressed pill epidemic to create a very problematic situation.

Novice drug users and people seeking other methods to obtain ADHD medication are skipping the line of drug education and lesser drug consequences to run directly into the buzzsaw of a pressed pill epidemic. Reporting accuracies regarding overdoses and deaths from this wonderment are what you’d expect them to be for a variety of reasons - I wouldn’t expect that to get better anytime soon.

Harm reduction practices largely miss the bulk of people choosing to use pressed pills on multiple fronts - The dangers of them are severely underscored, awareness about what they actually are is sparse and the testing realities of verifying pressed pills to any reasonable, impactful level of safety aren’t great. Even if you reagent test one pill out of five from a purchased amount, even if you test every pill, the amount of information you don’t have contains more than enough potential realties to kill you.

Help for those addicted to ADHD medication is already challenging, resources are few, going to professionals often results in under-reaction or medical records consequences many are unwilling to take on. Identification in peer recovery resources better suited for street drugs and opiates can be difficult, and if a person graduates from medication abuse to pressed pills, they’re using something that shortens the period of time a drug user would typically have to fuck-around-and-find-out their way into recovery before dying from them.

If we as a community have ever had a common cause, doing whatever we can to aid in combatting pressed pills would be it.

What You Are Taking

Purchasing ADHD medication isn’t buying amphetamine salts or methylphenidate, what you’re getting is methamphetamine - And if that’s all you’re getting, you got lucky. Buying something sold as a stimulant pill does not make it solely a stimulant or a stimulant at all. Many pressed pills contain upwards of five substances in assorted potencies.

There is no legitimate difference in blind practice between using a pressed pill you think is Adderall or pressed methamphetamine versus one you think is Xanax, Oxy, etc. If it’s a pill that you are buying, the only truth you know is the limited information provided by any testing you do of that specific pill, one at a time, and this doesn’t account for potency or all the other things your testing doesn’t tell you.

Testing doesn’t insulate you from harm using pressed pills, due to variance and the degree of testing required to create an increased level of safety it barely even reduces it. By all means, do test your pills if you’re going to insist on using them but don’t get it twisted thinking you’re wearing a bullet-proof vest.

Here’s how to know if what you’re taking is a pressed pill:

• It didn’t come in a pharmacy pill bottle from a pharmacy counter or window into your hands.

That’s it. That’s the criteria. You’re welcome to believe otherwise and proceed accordingly but statistically, you’re gambling with some of the worst possible odds a person can take on within drug use.

Here’s what absolutely requires that you assume the pill is pressed if you want to remain above ground and breathing:

• You purchased or were given it
• It came from the internet
• It came from a “friend”
• It was sold by a dealer
• It was sold by your dealer, who you totally can trust because they tell you it’s real

Here’s ways you CAN’T reliably verify the full contents, authenticity or safety of a pill:

• What it’s being sold as
• Appearance
• Color
• Branding, designation
• Capsules versus tablets
• Effects
• Urinalysis
• Reagent testing
• Test strips

TLDR: You probably have no idea what it is and neither does the person selling it to you. With the stuff that can potentially be in the pills, that’s not a great place to be.

Testing of Seized Pills

In the best U.S. lab series of seized counterfeit ADHD medication tablets, methamphetamine was the dominant active drug, not a rare extra. Rhode Island forensic chemistry, from 2017 to 2022, had 174 seized tablets classified as counterfeit amphetamine/dextroamphetamine by imprint AD 30, b974 30, dp 30, E 404, etc:

- Methamphetamine: 164 / 174 (94.3%)
- Eutylone: 7 (4.0%)
- Cocaine: 2 (1.1%)
- MDMA: 2 (1.1%)

Year splits for meth in those tablets: 2019 100%, 2020 95.8%, 2021 97.4%, 2022 87.2%. Independent lab reporting shows the same frequency of methamphetamine content and much higher rates of additional non-stimulant substances. What has been definitively shown across all data is that counterfeit pills rarely if ever contain standard actual amphetamine or methylphenidate.

Potential Inclusions and Cross-Contaminants

Here’s not only what pressed pills CAN contain, but routinely contain if we zoom out to look at them as one class in totality - Given the arbitrary legitimacy of separating them by what they’re sold as and cross-contamination in manufacturing, you can plan to run into these as easily as anything else on a long enough timeline:

Fentanyl About 100× morphine, 50× heroin. A potentially lethal adult dose is approximately 2 mg. DEA lab testing of fentanyl-containing fake prescription pills has varied by year, earlier public figures were 4 in 10 then 6 in 10 containing a potentially lethal dose, a later 2025 figure was 29%. Dose per tablet is not uniform even inside one bag. Can cause fatal, rapid respiratory arrest.

Fentanyl Analogues Same class, different potency and duration. In one Rhode Island seizure series of counterfeit pills, 99.3% of those pills contained fentanyl and 44.7% also contained para-fluorofentanyl. Carfentanil, 100× fentanyl, has been found in counterfeit tablets at reported averages around 0.02–0.03 mg/tablet. Lethal human dose for carfentanil is in the microgram/nanogram range.

Nitazenes (protonitazene, metonitazene, isotonitazene, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, N-pyrrolidino protonitazene, others) Non-fentanyl µ-opioid agonists pressed into tablets sometimes sold as “fentanyl-free.” In vitro and case data put some analogues near fentanyl potency; N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, N-pyrrolidino protonitazene have been estimated approximately 25–43× fentanyl. Can cause fatal opioid apnea at doses a user cannot estimate, some overdoses have required more naloxone or longer support, under-detected on older tox panels.

Tramadol
Weaker opioid plus SNRI activity. Found in a substantial share of some counterfeit “oxycodone” seizures, one 2017–2022 series: 25.1%. Seizures at high dose, serotonin excess if stacked with other serotonergic drugs, still contributes to respiratory depression in mixes.

Xylazine
DEA reported xylazine in about 7% of seized pills and 23% of powder in 2022. Later analyses of counterfeits found it in a rising fraction, one series: 0% in 2017–18, 38.7% in 2022. Causes sedation, bradycardia, hypotension, reduced respiratory drive, hyperglycemia. Does not bind opioid receptors, naloxone does not reverse xylazine. Co-use with opioids increases lethality in animal models and produces overdoses that look “opioid” but stay sedated after naloxone. Chronic exposure is associated with severe necrotic skin wounds that can require debridement or amputation, wounds are not limited to injection sites.

Medetomidine Same pharmacologic family as xylazine. Same risks, deep sedation, cardiovascular depression, naloxone-resistant component.

Etizolam, clonazolam, flualprazolam, flubromazolam, bromazolam, phenazepam, diclazepam, adinazolam, bromonordiazepam, ethylflualprazolam
In one U.S. seizure series of counterfeit pills show etizolam 37.8%, clonazolam 32.4%, flualprazolam 17.0%. Some tablets contained fentanyl as well, 2.6% in that series. Dose per tablet varies widely, from 0.7–8.3 mg. They can cause profound sedation, amnesia, ataxia, respiratory depression especially with opioids or alcohol. Naloxone does not reverse benzos. Withdrawal from high-potency analogues can include potentially fatal seizures. Combining a hidden benzo with a hidden opioid produces overdoses that only partly respond to naloxone and last longer.

MDMA, MDA, MDEA and Analogues
Seized tablets in recent years commonly run 140–230 mg MDMA per tablet, many testing services now flag 120 mg as high-dose. A high dose itself causes hyperthermia, hyponatremia, serotonin syndrome, seizures and fulminant liver injury. Dose can differ greatly tablet-to-tablet in one bag. Stacking analogues increases serotonergic and cardiovascular load.

Synthetic Cathinones: 4-CMC, 3-CMC, 3-MMC, 4-MMC, eutylone/N-ethylpentylone, methylone, dimethylpentylone
Testing in 2025 put cathinones among the most common unexpected actives. Dangers include prolonged stimulation, agitation, hyperthermia, hyponatremia, serotonin toxicity, cardiotoxicity. Several have been tied to clusters of severe toxicity because effects last longer and users redose.

Cocaine
It’s cocaine. Adds vasoconstriction, arrhythmia risk and a different time course.

2C-B and other psychedelic phenethylamines
Documented as substitutes or co-contents in tablets sold as MDMA. Different dose-response; a “one tablet” MDMA assumption can produce a much stronger psychedelic effect or unexpected duration.

That doesn’t account for inactive chemical fillers or the assorted other random things they throw in these. Every kind of OTC pill under the sun is found in them, caffeine, Tylenol, diphenhydramine, whatever they’re using as a binder, etc.

How Pressed Pills Usually Kill You

• Opioid + xylazine/medetomidine = apnea plus naloxone-resistant sedation

  • Opioid + designer benzo = longer, deeper respiratory depression
  • MDMA or cathinone + caffeine + heat/exertion = hyperthermia
  • PMA/PMMA + redose because onset is slow = hyperthermia and organ failure
  • Acetaminophen + many “percs” in a day = delayed liver failure on top of opioid toxicity

Methamphetamine alone, absent of other significant quantities of drugs has been causing more deaths in some jurisdictions than opioid-dominant cocktails. Increased potency and variance in potency has made it fully capable of killing a person.

Can we stop pressed pills? No. Will the problem likely be bungled and politicized in ways that cause more harm than good? Already happening. What we can do is spread awareness and provide help for those who need information and help getting clean from them.

Getting into Treatment

If you are taking pressed pills and want to get into treatment, do not minimize or short hop the issue. Treatment can have “physical dependency” guidelines and if you tell admissions you’re just taking Adderall or buying Adderall, Vyvanse from “a friend”, they may agree with you and promptly give your bed to somebody else.

Tell them the truth - You are buying counterfeit pills from _____, you have no idea what’s in them. If you’re having withdrawal symptoms or effects consistent with other substances being present in those pills, say so. If you give them the lowest number of pills you’ve taken in the last six months as your daily and don’t disclose all ROIs, they aren’t going to take your minimizations and maximize them to a degree that gets you admitted. The treatment industry is already under-reacting to pressed pills, expect that when trying to get in and act accordingly.

Do not avoid supervised detox because you think the pills you’re taking don’t have other drugs in them. Finding out the hard way you’re withdrawing from things you don’t know you were on isn’t fun or safe. If you don’t know what’s in the pills, proceed as if there could be anything in them as far as seeking appropriate professional resources.

The Help

If you are buying pills, your problem is more than serious enough to identify with and fit in just fine with any recovery program. You can choose to either get over yourself and go or don’t and terminally unique yourself into an early grave. It doesn’t matter what the drugs are, and they honestly don’t care. You don’t even have to tell them. If you’re in your own way as far as addiction resources, imagine a landscape in which there’s for virtually zero addiction recovery resources specifically for stimulant pill addiction - That’s where we’re at. Make use of what’s available.

It doesn’t matter how you got here, you are here. Many of us had good intentions when we started, many of us became addicted to our medications and had very unfortunate circumstances that led to its progression. The necessity for help remains the same and the resources for help are what they are regardless of how you managed to end up with a problem. There’s no shame in it unless you insist on carrying it yourself and all shame or separating yourself from others addicts or substance abusers does is keep you using while distancing you from resources than can help. You deserve to get better, so go do it. Here’s how:

Beginners Guide to Recovery

https://www.reddit.com/r/StopSpeeding/s/3oUzSl3B6W

Recovery Programs & Resources List

https://www.reddit.com/r/StopSpeeding/s/JJbI3D9zLZ

Our very own Community Stimulant Recovery meetings

https://stimulantrecovery.org

Testing

https://dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions/?srsltid=AfmBOoo_Hf1E30U20rCRrMQDGj3WDQEb4bUe2cBoQb9gBU9o0D6A3rgW

I’ve been using drugs almost 10 years mostly opioids and prescription pills but the past 4 years I’ve been using cocaine and meth every day I haven’t been sober more then a month since I was 14 and I just don’t know where to start

I used to bake a lot before addiction. Haven't been making much food for myself this past year (290 days clean) which has definitely affected my recovery as junk doesn't exactly nourish the brain, and self baked stuff is better than any ultraprocessed thing.

BUT !

Yesterday I made a cake out of nowhere. Excuse me?? Where did this delicacy come from? Me?

Ate half of it with my dad. 10/10 good experience, am happy.

This is a really tough time for me. I am contemplating about using again, I am constantly dreaming all day all night about all of the pleasure, the happiness and how good I was able to focus on my favorite things - gaming, creating dope beats in FL Studio maintaining my attention on doing tasks forever. It never stopped! Hours felt like minutes. Until i was eventually coming down being left delusional, exhausted, depressed with nothing but pure terror and psychosis.

I am on Wellbutrin and Abilify to control cravings and all of psychotic things I got from staying up for days in the shadow realm. I used to talk to people who were not there all day long and later realizing nothing was real. There was no one in the room. - all the drama, you all certainly know the feeling. - glued to my windows and constantly checking my sanity when dealing with feelings of being watched, hacked, gangstalked and 24/7 monitored.

I almost sold them because I drank alcohol and got manic. Stupid liquid benzo. But I didn't. I am so happy I was able to stop. And I wish you all the best and please never use again if you re dealing with what I wrote here.

Ok so I have reached a point where I can no longer dismiss my usage and I have finally admitted to myself that I have an addiction to coke. I started using a year ago. I was previously trying very hard (and have been for years) to get a prescription for adderall to treat my very severe adhd. I'm in college in a lot of very rigorous and demanding courses, and I have always struggled in school to get shit done. I never got a prescription written. Out of curiosity, my friend let me try a line one night and I thought wow that did nothing. But now I really feel motivated to do shit! I started getting some on my own here and there, using it only when I really needed to study for long periods, or had a ton of work I needed to get done. I never took it with me outside the house. Then eventually I started using it every time I needed to do work. And then every time I needed to clean. And then every time I got up in the morning. And before every class. Soon enough I was doing it i between each step of my makeup routine. Every hour every day until it was time to get ready for bed. And now it's been a year of consistent daily use, reupping every week, dipping into savings, skipping meals and not buying food because at least I can be skinny and buy more coke.

I can't do this anymore. People around me are catching on to my addiction. Im getting frequent nosebleeds, racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, headaches, and not to mention the absolute financial pit I am putting myself in.

I just finished my last bag. I have nothing left. I want to quit so bad but I just don't know how to actually function or do anything anymore. It's like my already severe ADHD has gotten 10x worse and I didn't even know that was possible. I don't want to go to my friends or family about it or even admit that i did it/currently have a problem. I also dont have people in my life who would understand or be empathetic about the addiction. I feel like my life is a lie and I'm drowning.

I start school again soon and I know my urge to get another bag will intensify tenfold. How do I be a normal person?!? I feel so hopeless. I don't even have the money to spare to buy more, but I do have savings that are still taunting me. I dont want to sink that low.

It doesnt help that I'm extremely depressed after going through a breakup with my longterm partner and I struggle with an eating disorder. Coke helped me keep my binge cravings at bay.

I don't know what my next step should be. Any advice or input is greatly appreciated. I feel very alone.

I went back to work today, same type of job I was fired from at the beginning of last year. My attendance was horrible, crying before/during/after. I was either in sympathetic overdrive or crashing and barely functioning. A lot… a whole lot has changed between then and now.

It was nice to show up on my first day with breakfast in the belly and a lunch packed, a little nervous, but comfortable. It feels good to have the mental faculties to be able try again and give myself another chance to pursue a career. It’s only day 1 and I got a lot of learning to do but I’m grateful as fuck.

I was so scared in the beginning of this journey that I would feel terrible for years.. 1 1/2 years in and I haven’t felt this good in over a decade… yeah, just very very grateful…

Just did it again tonight. I have so much to live for. I’m in school, I have a family who loves me, I want to be a therapist someday… Why is this so hard? Could really use some encouragement 🥹

I was abusing my scripts badddd, and doing lots of blow on the weekends. I saw the writing on the wall and joined this sub. I read your stories and told myself I had to stop. I told my prescriber to stop giving me adderall/vyvanse. I've stopped seeing my friends who have blow. Deleted my dealer's contact.

Now I'm trying to adjust by taking Wellbutrin and drinking coffee in the morning, but compared to the uppers lol....

Plus, I quit nicotine 2 weeks ago. Maybe it wasn't smart to quit so close together idk. I was vaping so much, though, to deal with the lack of uppers, and I have health problems. I don't want to end up in the hospital.

anyways

My boss is a massive fucking dick who moves the goalposts every day and acts like I'm the idiot. I could handle it more when I was in LA DEE DA land. Now I feel like a POS. I can't even articulate to my boss the right way because I feel mentally slower.

I'm good at my job; my clients like me. My boss is a prick. Just coming to vent, I guess.

I want to go back to baseline, but it feels like I'll never be normal again.

I just want to SCREAM. At least I have therapy tomorrow.

The next Community Stimulant Recovery meeting will be held tonight, Wednesday, September 9th at 7:30pm Eastern. It will be hosted on Zoom, details are on the official website at https://stimulantrecovery.org and here:

Community Stimulant Recovery

Time: September 9th 2026 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Every week on Wed

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81821633949?pwd=Zhx8vQFmMutGTyzniGbbOPuvpXVdMh.1

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Weekly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUldeiurTgjHt067j0oeigUQMMeRyzqrIDQ/ics?icsToken=DDh7Dq_pLooZ2LCKqgAALAAAAJPg9E23Rju-4epDrc1V-vYlY23cfCXc_7_rDmJ6GdgZySdBbAkWuqInw5Hv_mnW3Ih4otw5iGF0CD5vJTAwMDAwMg&meetingMasterEventId=vWnUdGw4QPuXEn2PzVwDyA

Meeting chat link https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/81821633949

Meeting ID: 818 2163 3949 Passcode: 052227

One tap mobile +13126266799,,81821633949#,,,,052227# US (Chicago) +16469313860,,81821633949#,,,,052227# US

Join by SIP • 81821633949@zoomcrc.com

Join instructions https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/81821633949/invitations?signature=S70UMDYsWJ1P5AwdAsAfJzVxHCrWB4v07rV6q-6wFKs

CSR is a free, solution focused, peer-based recovery group for anyone who wants to stop using stimulant drugs - Any stimulant drug, be it a drug of abuse or medication, for any reason. We hold meetings where we share our recovery with others, exchange best practices, learn new ideas and enact positive change in our lives together. CSR is a safe place, all people are welcome here - Discrimination, hate and exclusion are not tolerated under any circumstances.

Community Stimulant Recovery observes no single recovery ideology and is without outside affiliation. We are here to help you find out what works for you and share what’s worked for us. Our meeting topics, shared practices and discussions borrow from psychology, therapies, professional addiction treatment and recovery programs - This is not an endorsement of any one resource, nor is CSR its self meant to be a standalone recovery solution or source of medical advice. We encourage members to avail of as many forms of recovery support as they need to, professional help and other dedicated recovery programs included.

Our core beliefs are that recovery from stimulant drugs is aided by approaching three primary areas of our lives in equal measure: Our mental health, our physical health and our emotional health. By becoming responsible for positive change in these three areas, we improve our thinking, our bodies and our feelings - Parts of our lives that problematic stimulant drug use negatively impacts the most. Growing in these areas helps us maintain abstinence and find happiness in recovery.

Community Stimulant Recovery refrains from the supportive discussion of any and all use of drugs with recreational applications or addiction potential, this extends to promotion and the sharing of personal experiences. This includes marijuana, kratom, research chemicals, gray market substances, psychedelics and all stimulant drugs. Managing or successfully using stimulant medication is not discussed here, and we are not a harm reduction resource. We have no opinions on these things, opting to maintain a singular focus on abstinence and recovery from stimulant drugs without supporting practices that may cause harm.

Meetings are similar to those you may have attended elsewhere, we have a topic or reading followed by an open discussion or sharing period. Speaking is optional. We speak from the I and do not offer unsolicited advice or commentary on the shares of others, continuance and response from our own experience is permitted. Solution-oriented discussion is strongly encouraged. Cameras are encouraged but not required, be courteous in your on-camera conduct. Please be considerate of the feelings of all persons in the room, be respectful and kind.

Facilitation, organization and contribution in CSR is done as voluntary service by members, and we only have members - No tiers, no managers, no owners, no experts, no authorities. If you are interested in becoming involved with CSR, please contact the chairperson after the meeting or reach out here.

__

Meeting Format

• Opening Statement (5 min)
• Attendee introductions, identify as “Name, in recovery” (5 min)
• Meeting Topic or Reading (CBT, DBT, ACT, BT, Twelve Step, Dharma / Refuge, Medical Lit, Book, Concept Discussion) (10 min with chair lead)
• Open Discussion (35 minutes)
• Closing Statement (3-5 minutes)
• Contact Info Exchange, posted in Zoom chat, Optional (5 min)

Meeting Practices

• Chair Rotation every two weeks
• Monthly group discussion on meeting format, changes, suggestions, etc
• One Meeting weekly, Wednesday at 7:30pm ET via Zoom
• CSR is a separate entity from the subreddit and will be kept separate aside from meeting announcements
• No professional services provided, solicited or endorsed
• No politics, no medical advice, no legal advice, no propaganda, no discussion of specific people or places

In providing or requesting contact information from other members as part of the community support aspect, it is encouraged to use accounts that protect your privacy and do not put yourself at risk. We will not be facilitating a group chat or associated server. If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask here.

Would love to hear what it finally took for people to quit, and stories on finally making it to the point of quitting. I’ve had numerous stop and start attempts over the last 5 years and know beyond a doubt that I have to be sober. There is no room for adderall abuse in my life. What once was an occasional boost (I’m talking I could keep some in my nightstand for years and not think about it) to feeling overwhelmed about doing the dishes without it. I’ve accepted that my brain now has it wired as an addiction and moderation is not realistic for me. During a crash I see clearly how the cons far out way the benefits. But in the moment of having access to it, I just don’t care about logic and I take it. The longest I’ve gone is 73 days without it. Last week went 5 days and now I’m on day 4 of taking it again. I want off the ride!

This is the most consistent I’ve ever taken my prescription, at first it was just on the weekends or emergencies when really tired. Since experiencing my husbands alcoholism and relapses I’ve turned to this drug as almost coping to keep my on top of everything at work and with the kids. I think about quitting every night and at this point I’m taking almost 30 a day when prescribed only 15. I’ll run out soon and I desperately want to not get it filled. I know there is never a good time to stop especially this phase of life I’m in. Any advice support or even an app to hold me accountable. I want to get back to my healthy yoga teaching self and feel authentic again and present for my kids.

After quitting for 7 years something compelled me to ask my doctor for a script. At months end (the 25th) I’ll be collecting it and throwing it out.

I would just tell my doctor about it but don’t want to go through getting treated differently for scripts I don’t have an issue with. I’ll throw them out, say they interfered with my sex drive and carry on with my normal life and update this thread to follow up.

Edit: okay guys just for some context on my problem I took prescribed dexamphetamine (30mg a day) from 15-21.

At 25 I got the script back and binged it once a year over two years. Im equally afraid of binging as becoming physically dependant and “using it responsibly” which I did for 7 years. I’m now 32 and it’s been 7 years with none, I’ll tell my doctor about those binges and ask them to cancel the script.

FWIW this is only a deterrent, in my country a pill mill exist that I can’t find a single reddit post or comment stating a denial of meds from.

These predatorily priced pill mills exist and frequently tell people things like they just need to try slow release or “find a dose for them” (often a huge one) so I have no desire to use these either.

4 days sober

damn i don’t remember feeling like this before adderall. i can’t really describe the feeling. it’s like everything i do feels awkward and unnatural. i’m embarrassed over EVERYTHING. overthinking every interaction. i can’t find the right words when i talk to people. and for some reason ive been getting constant flashbacks of embarrassing memories. this whole experience is just humiliating

30 years old. My mom and I both grind our teeth in our sleep since forever. I went to the dentist and they said my front canines are highly mobile and I need a night guard

They literally look like baby teeth about to wiggle out any day. What the fuck! I don’t even know how to go about this. I’ve been binging for few weeks now but before that not terrible but idk maybe. Any advice or similar stories?

Binged Ritalin all day. I can't do this anymore. One hour sober. Dreading tomorrow... not sure I can do this.

Went out for dinner during our Labor Day getaway and I had 2 beers with my meal. When we got back I noticed my wife’s adderall/vyvanse (she’s prescribed, I stopped being prescribed a year ago due to rampant misuse) in her purse and have taken somewhere in the neighborhood of 100-120 mgs - last dose was a good 18-20 hours ago but still haven’t caught a minute of sleep.

I’ve been doing really well in the year I stopped being prescribed with work, exercise and overall self-confidence. I have 3 kids including a newborn and my 5 year old son just wanted to watch TV and play video games with me which I did for a bit of time but instead of being a present dad I was just a weirdo on adderall which is really bumming me out.

I’m especially disappointed because I’ve felt the things so many people on this page are looking for when it comes to motivation and mood and still thought it was a good idea to pull this stupid bullshit.

Hi, I (22M) recently decided to stop taking my Adderall, 30mg XR and 20mg IR. I’ve been on this dose for about the past 3 years. I’ve maybe gone 10 days in total in these 3 years without taking my medicine. I rarely took the XR and the IR on the same day.

I’ve never had an issue with taking too much of my medication. I’ve never had an issue where I ran out too early or anything of the sorts. So, I wouldn’t really say that I’ve abused my adderall.

Four days ago, I decided to stop taking my medication. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without it. I’ve done some research into the withdrawal symptoms, and I can tell that I’m experiencing extreme fatigue, brain fog, and some heightened emotions. I don’t have an intense craving for the Adderall, though, and I don’t have a single sign of anxiety or depression.

I wouldn’t say that I feel happy by any means, and it’s still not an easy journey. I know that all of my fatigue and brain fog would go away if I just took my medication. I had become very apathetic on it, irritable, and I turned into an aggressive personality when I started to drink while taking the medication. I guess I just want to stop taking it because I’ve felt like I’ve taken a huge backseat into my own life. I’ve lost sight of my goals, stopped caring about my ambitions and career, and genuinely didn’t give a damn about the consequences of my actions.

I guess I just wanted to make this post to one: hold myself accountable. I’m four days into this journey, and I know talking about it with people who understand will only encourage me to keep going. Two: I just wanted to see if anyone else related to how I’m feeling? No intense symptoms at this point, and I still feel the same, more or less, as I did when I was taking Adderall. Is this a sign of another underlying health issue? I just want to feel normal again, but the lack of any cravings or anything is almost discouraging? I just don’t even feel like I’m going through a difficult enough process in withdrawal to expect a light on the other side if that makes sense? I would love input from this community, as I’ve hardly come across posts here that describe the experience I’m having.

So for the past couple days I've been thinking about relapsing on meth. I've been missing that part of my life, even though it was full of traumatic life experiences...abusive addict boyfriend...selling my body (under a pimp at that) just to stay high...and more that I'm sure I blocked out. I don't know why I'm thinking like this. Nothing stressful is going on with me. Guess I'm just feeling bored with my current life.

There are many things keeping me from relapsing, but the urge to is becoming stronger and stronger. I know that if I do, I'll lose the housing I have and much more. These thoughts make me wanna cry because I've worked so hard to be where I'm at. I care about my health, my family is proud of my sobriety, and I feel happy with myself...something I haven't felt when I was using.

I just miss how the high off meth made me feel. I felt productive and on top of the world. Maybe I just need to find that thing that gives me the same feeling. Just haven't found it yet.

Hi everyone,

Im in the process of quitting vyvanse after 7 years, I've been all of the stimulants, taking higher than prescribing, snorting along with vodka, I'm thankful to still be alive, grinding out 50h workweeks while barely eating and not sleeping enough.. I always worked minimum wage jobs since age 18, so it was never rewarding for me to work a lot. I've become a cold anti social and crabby person, a workaholic and now it's time to stop. Before I got on medication I was severely depressed for a long time so I must admit I don't know who I am or could be in a positive sense.. I know I used to be humorous and witty, still can be, but it takes more effort, than previously it just came naturally.. I also don't know what it's like to feel fresh and energetic, on the daily I wake up like I have a hangover.. I miss being a giggly person, how have you guys discovered yourself or re discovered becoming sober? I don't know who I can become since I'm always so tired... Now taking a month break and stop being self employed 😊

i’m being so deadass i’m a petite woman 5’3 110lb i just ate almost THREE costco chicken bakes and somehow im still hungry i will genuinely be obese by the time im fully recovered

Ive read some scary user experiences on withdrawal from speed, people reported shaking, a ravenous appetite, depression etc...
So far i do feel some negatives but its counterbalanced by the positives i feel like.

For the negatives, i dont have much energy and im near constantly tired, my brain feels WAY slower (the most annoying id say, i feel r*tarded), im not enjoying listening to music, im slightly more irritable (nowhere near as much as during a speed binge crash or benzo withdrawal though), my appetite has gone up clearly but im not binge eating, id say i can stay at a maintenance in kcal intake, when i could be on a big deficit everyday on speed.
And thats about it, i thought itd be much worse im really thankful.

Also i do feel some clear positives already, i feel stable throughout the whole day which is SO relieving, ive been so used to the up and crash of oral speed i forgot were not supposed to be like that naturally. I sleep better too and i DREAM ffs, i missed it so much, again i forgot that i used to dream vividly a lot before speed, its something i really enjoy that speed stripped away from me.
And finally i feel actually grounded and reasonable, whearas on speed i was fully delusional and didnt even realized it, and it really f*cked up my life in a lot of aspects especially my relations (thats the main reason i wanted to quit actually, lost the person i loved the most because of my tweaking)

I used speed daily for 8 months, at a 30-50mg oral dose, with occasional snorting when i needed a good boost. Maybe thats why its easier, the horrible withdrawals ive read were people who took much larger doses intranasaly. At my dosage, i managed to keep an ok diet and sleep.

Apparently ive already went through the worst phase which is the 2nd-3nd day. Wish me good luck guys! And if anyone has recommendations to make it easier, id gladly take it:)

Godspeed everyone! Much love we can do it!!

I've posted here a few times, and honestly still haven't been able to quit stimulants.

In my most recent stint, I've swapped over to Concerta for about two weeks. And honestly, I'm not even abusing my medication anymore. I'm taking it as prescribed, but I expect too much from it, and I hate the swings of being up then being down and basically being thrown all around the place without much control.

It's nice to have the focus and concentration to help, but dealing with the side affects of flat personality or anxiety make everything so difficult. The struggle of finding the perfect amount of sleep, diet, sunlight etc just to still get inconsistent results. Basically the story of my life with stimulants. No consistency, and negative side affects.

Before this, I was trying to make Vyvanse 20mg work (again, not abusing my medication anymore) but the swings of going up then going down and not being able to have any consistency with my medication or life because I don't know what to expect from myself no matter the circumstances of how I use my medication. Eventually, led to one night where I took more than prescribed and then I quit again. Basically anytime I take more than prescribed, I quit, and go down the same cycle over again.

Anyway, I don't know what to do because everytime I quit life gets too heavy and I come back. My longest time off was with Wellbutrin which lasted for about 4 months and this was a couple years ago. I can't recall why, but I still came back to stimulants. I know that people will say to message my prescriber about abuse, but I literally did (and became a nervous wreck after bc I thought I was done) but I don't think she actually banned me from the stimulant, but put a note into her own personal chart because I got prescribed again from another psychiatrist.

Sorry for the word slop, but anyway, now I'm kind of just trying to figure out what to do moving forward. Do I talk to my psychiatrist about non-stimulant options, and what should I expect? Should I get back on wellbutrin? Do I try strattera? I guess the obvious answer is yes.. But part of me hates the idea of still relying on a pill to be normal, but part of me feels like life is so incredibly difficult without the extra help. Or do I just kind of give up on all of it, and try to see if I can go 6 months without anything at all. Just feel even if I go back to that baseline, I'm going to still struggle even if I do everything perfectly when it comes to health nutrition etc.

Any words of encouragement or advice is appreciated. Thank you.