Adderall and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Sue...
• August 10, 2019

For ADHD "First prescribed it in grad school for ADD & depression. Worked wonders. Only downside is I became very reliant on it. Was stuck between the two evils of being a depressed zombie (w/o taking it) and feeling like a happy, motivated, focused person (on Adderall). Eventually stopped taking and failed out of grad school. Work was hard, always late, made stupid mistakes, & couldn’t complete tasks. 3 years & 3 jobs later, I broke down and went back to a doctor who rediagnosed me with ADD, Anxiety, & Depression. I was reluctant to start back on Adderall and tried a few alternatives first. Everything made me feel even MORE exhausted, back on Adderall 30mg day, feel normal again. I have the motivation, energy, & focus to complete tasks. Only complaint is anxiety which I resolve w/ a low benzo & exercise. Remember, there’s no reason to be miserable if there’s a pill out there that can change your life."

• Joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 10, 2023

For ADHD "Adderall (amphetamine salts, generic Teva) has always worked well for me. Recently, I had to start taking the Lannett generic due to the shortage, and it has been HORRIBLE. I’m jittery, anxious, and depressed. This stuff is like poison. Please write a complaint to the FDA MedWatch if you or anyone you know is having issues as well. It’s so frustrating."

• Joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 10, 2023

For ADHD "Adderall (amphetamine salts, generic Teva) has always worked well for me. Recently, I had to start taking the Lannett generic due to the shortage, and it has been HORRIBLE. I’m jittery, anxious, and depressed. This stuff is like poison. Please write a complaint to the FDA MedWatch if you or anyone you know is having issues as well. It’s so frustrating."

• ADH...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 10, 2023

For ADHD "I've been on Adderall for 9 years, and this shortage has made life miserable. For people who need it to get through daily life, we're the people suffering the most. Teva was always the best generic, but I haven't been able to find Teva for a year or more. The Rhodes kind and the Lannett kind are both terrible! The efficacy of both of those brands is extremely low, like they are just sugar pills. Plus, they've increased my anxiety and increased my number of regular headaches. The powers that be need to get this situation under control, or lots of us who struggle with ADHD and other comorbidities aren't going to make it out alive. Literally. The depression I've struggled with for most of my life has been more severe for the last year, even though I'm still treated for it by my psychiatrist! We are real people with prescriptions from real doctors who deserve consideration! And our meds!"

• pKd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 19, 2015

For ADHD "Adderall has totally brought my life into focus. I started taking it about 6 months ago. I'm 39 now and really wish I had this medicine as a kid. In addition to ADD, I had severe anxiety and depression as a child/teenager. Adderall has given me focus, lifted my general mood, taken my anxiety away, and made me a productive human being. I'm actually starting my own business! The only bad thing is that you really have to be careful of how much you take because it can have the opposite effect, i.e., severe anxiety and no focus, but if you take it the right way, it will change your life! One other bad thing is the stigma surrounding the medicine and being treated like an addict by some pharmacists."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2022

For ADHD "DO NOT TAKE THE LANNETT, ELI-515. If you struggle with anxiety, depression, I wouldn't recommend this. I was given it, it is not Adderall. It’s a therapeutic equivalent. My other meds stayed the same, my routine, diet, except for getting this. It has rendered me completely hopeless, crippling depression, lethargic, overwhelmingly anxious, my stomach is churning non-stop, so I cannot even eat on it without getting violently ill. I saw my psych after a week on it, for 6 days, thinking it was Adderall and I was just doing something wrong. I told my psych the pill description and how it made me feel, he looked it up and said, “No, you’re not making any of this up, this isn’t the correct medication, but unfortunately, the pharmacy input it as Adderall, so legally we can’t do much about it.” I have flushed it down the toilet. If you receive these at a pharmacy, please speak to the pharmacist directly about it."

• ceg...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 17, 2025

For ADHD "Was prescribed when I was nine for ADD and ADHD. Personal opinions aside, I’ve noticed that when taken in the recommended dosage, you feel a lot more productive during work hours. During this period of productivity, I experienced some side effects such as nail biting, lip/mouth biting, anxiety, panic, and increased bowel movement. Overall, I think it can really help those who struggle with getting their work done, but these side effects can get really bad. Please be careful."

• bre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 21, 2024

For ADHD "I have suffered severe ADHD my entire life. I barely graduated high school. I was scared to take Adderall because I was scared I would lose my personality and be a shell of a person. That did not happen, I am the best version of myself I've ever been. Don't expect this to make everything in your life easy, you still need to put in effort. This is simply a tool to help you focus. This isn't a tool for motivation. School was still hard for me. For those with severe ADHD, this medication does not make you feel cracked out. If anything, I might be too calm. I haven't noticed anxiety either. This has been a game changer, just don't abuse it and be realistic. This isn't magic."

• Blo...
• October 3, 2012

For ADHD "I've been taking 60mg of Adderall a day for 14 years now. It's a miracle! I don't think I would have made it through high school or college without it. I started when I was 14 and starting high school. I loathed getting up early, but shortly after taking my pills, I was awake and motivated to get ready and go about my day. It made boring classes seem more interesting. It gives you this focus and drive to be productive. I don't feel like myself without them. I'm cranky, unmotivated, eat and sleep a lot if I don't take it. Just be cautious with dosage. You do develop a tolerance to it over time. If your blood pressure goes way up and you feel jittery or shaky, you're taking too high of a mg. People should start with 10 or 20mg at first."

• jai...
• April 2, 2008

For ADHD "Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) immediate release has greatly (95%) improved my symptoms of ADHD including concentration, focus, memory, attention span, retention of information, and to some extent my energy and grades. It's a very strong stimulant, so it does have temporary side effects. Most will go away in two to four weeks, like euphoria, anxiety, and teeth grinding, but the dry mouth and insomnia if taken late will not subside for months. However, it has helped me A LOT."

• EF1...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 28, 2021

For ADHD "I know that the same medication can affect people very differently. I have been on Adderall for years (started as a kid, and I'm 24 now), and it is so, so helpful for me. Don't get scared off by all the bad reviews, I feel for those people, and I'm sorry they had a bad experience, and I hope they have a good medicine that works best for them now, but not everyone has bad experiences. It helps me focus and actually HELPS me socially to interact better with people, feel more confident, listen better, but most importantly, impulse control, to slow down and think before I speak. I don't feel jittery on it at all. It helps me relax and take better control of my thoughts and think clearly. I have anxiety, and Adderall helps me feel a lot less anxious too!"

• EF1...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 28, 2021

For ADHD "I know that the same medication can affect people very differently. I have been on Adderall for years (started as a kid, and I'm 24 now), and it is so, so helpful for me. Don't get scared off by all the bad reviews, I feel for those people, and I'm sorry they had a bad experience, and I hope they have a good medicine that works best for them now, but not everyone has bad experiences. It helps me focus and actually HELPS me socially to interact better with people, feel more confident, listen better, but most importantly, impulse control, to slow down and think before I speak. I don't feel jittery on it at all. It helps me relax and take better control of my thoughts and think clearly. I have anxiety, and Adderall helps me feel a lot less anxious too!"

• Abb...
• October 23, 2016

For ADHD "I was recently put on Adderall for ADD. I have suffered ever since I can remember with not being able to focus on anything, having a wandering mind, and doing very poorly in school. I began to just think school wasn't for me. I had heard many negatives on Adderall, and that is why I never asked my doctor if it would be an option for me. He suggested I give it a try, and now I am on 10 mg every day/as needed, and I feel better than I have in years. It has helped my depression/anxiety as well. I am happy to learn now and attend school. Wonderful drug for me."

• Sei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2014

For Narcolepsy "I gave Adderall an 8 out of 10 because it is very effective. Anyone who is narcoleptic (which is why I use this medicine) will stay awake completely. Depending on the dosage, you can stay awake anywhere from 5 hours to even more than 12. The downside to this medicine, and let me be clear that it is just with my experience, is that it can make you jittery and excited. It also gave me 'false confidence' and just overall made me more outgoing than I usually am. Also, I found that the first time I used it, it gave me quite a high, which I eventually got used to. After several days, I started hallucinating things and got paranoid. There are definitely some psychological side effects even more than the ones that I've experienced."

• Sei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2014

For Narcolepsy "I gave Adderall an 8 out of 10 because it is very effective. Anyone who is narcoleptic (which is why I use this medicine) will stay awake completely. Depending on the dosage, you can stay awake anywhere from 5 hours to even more than 12. The downside to this medicine, and let me be clear that it is just with my experience, is that it can make you jittery and excited. It also gave me 'false confidence' and just overall made me more outgoing than I usually am. Also, I found that the first time I used it, it gave me quite a high, which I eventually got used to. After several days, I started hallucinating things and got paranoid. There are definitely some psychological side effects even more than the ones that I've experienced."

• Par...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 17, 2016

For ADHD "I started taking Adderall in 2012 to 2015 with a 15-month break in 2014 due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. I was diagnosed with ADD as a child but held off on taking medication until I was 26. Adderall immediately helped with focus and even energy and motivation. I excelled at work and finally was able to complete tasks instead of starting them and trailing off to something else. In 2015, when I discontinued Adderall, I was taking a pretty high prescribed dose of 30 mg twice a day. I started noticing the cons of the come downs were outweighing the pros of when the medication was working. I had anxiety, irritability, and extreme fatigue. They switched me to Dex, which was much smoother but has increased my BP. I try Vyvanse tomorrow."

• Swe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 27, 2016

For ADHD "Side effects: dry mouth, anxiety (if used when tired), euphoria, hyperfocus (when dose too high). Adderall allows me to concentrate and study for a reasonable amount of time while also offering flexibility on when I use it; both XR and short-release are quick in-and-out drugs, unlike SSRIs. My performance improved dramatically with the use of Adderall, but there were definitely a few cons. Hyperfocus is a huge problem that eluded me for a few months. Because Adderall affects the brain, it distorts the user's reality. I felt that I was getting a lot done, and it wasn't until my colleagues at work told me that I was garbage at multitasking that I realized my dose was too high. Beware of this. Focus =/= productivity."

• jus...
• April 25, 2012

For ADHD "This medication has completely changed my life. Without it, I feel like I am not complete. Twisted, I feel like I can accomplish anything. Without it, I sleep and have no motivation, suffer from depression, anxiety, no social skills. With it, my whole social outlook changed, I am no longer shy and not shying away from social encounters. It is definitely a miracle."

• ska...
• July 20, 2018

For Narcolepsy "I was diagnosed with narcolepsy after about 5 years-1995 to 2000. A sleep study doctor diagnosed me as having this disorder. After trying methylphenidate and then Provigil, I still had EDS. I even had a doctor prescribe Desoxyn, which didn't help. Adderall XR also was not effective enough, so I was prescribed 30 mg of Adderall I.R. once a day. Narcolepsy causes sleep deprivation, causing anxiety, depression, and nights of no sleep at all. Most doctors hesitate to prescribe medication for these side effects. I finally found that Belsomra helps on those sleepless nights. Adderall is not the 'magic bullet' by itself, and the stigma of having to take Adderall, Klonopin, Wellbutrin, and Belsomra gives narcoleptics anxiety and fear to ask physicians to prescribe medications that almost make us feel normal."

• Tkd...
• December 9, 2015

For ADHD "This drug was prescribed to me after Ritalin didn't work well. This medication helped my ADHD, but the side effects were unbearable: cotton mouth, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks. It seemed like the cons outweighed the pros. Much more successful than Ritalin, but not enough. My doctor decided to try Vyvanse, a new version of Adderall with fewer side effects and better outcomes for treatment, plus no crash after dinner."

• kay...
• March 19, 2010

For ADHD "I'm 16 and not diagnosed with ADD, but have struggled my entire life in school and am constantly failing. I have trouble paying attention, staying focused, and devoting time towards school and homework. Starting around last year, I would come home from school every day very tired and go to sleep till 7 or 8 PM. I got prescribed Adderall this year, and it's made a drastic improvement. I have all A's and B's now. But the downfalls are I talk a lot (no, I'm not on it right now), and sometimes I focus but on pointless things, and after it wears off, I get irritable, anxious, and emotional. I wish it lasted longer also. The medicine has kind of taken a slight turn on me and I am acting different, and my parents have noticed a change in me."

• RyG...
• May 14, 2014

For ADHD "When I was diagnosed with ADHD in the 3rd grade, they put me on Adderall, and then I became a person I was not. I had social anxiety but got exceptionally good grades in school where others failed. Adderall changes your personality and was the worst 12 years of my life. I had no friends because engaging in conversation was nearly impossible. It traps your thoughts in a prison of your mind and suppresses any creativity."

• Tob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2017

For ADHD "When I first started taking it, it helped me immensely with my ADHD. Pretty quickly, however, it stopped working. For one thing, it gives me crazy mood swings. It really amps me up at first, and I get super euphoric and happy for two hours, and then I feel awful and anxious and depressed. It actually potentiates my ADHD symptoms. It makes me extremely thirsty all the time, so I keep having to leave class to go use the bathroom or fill up my water bottle. Adderall makes it harder for me to appreciate the beauty of nature. I feel less in touch with my emotions when I take it. I understand that Adderall helps people a lot of the time, so it's worth a shot. But it didn't help me at all. In fact, it probably made things worse."

• Fig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2019

For ADHD "This medicine initially seemed to work very well for me with improved concentration, but after taking it for only 6 months, I discontinued it due to anxiety levels being through the roof, to the point where I couldn’t function. This was enhanced during social interactions, which is ironic because I know many people say they experience an increased desire for social activities. A month after stopping the medicine, I started experiencing psychotic symptoms, which have not subsided. I do not suggest this medicine."

• Anonymous
• February 23, 2012

For ADHD "When I began taking Adderall in my early 20s, from dose one I could say I feel 'normal' for the first time in my life since I was a young boy. I was happy, and life had meaning and a reason. It allowed me to become productive, and I loved this new feeling of well-being in both mind and body. It came after a decade of severe depression, anxiety, and panic states, and a multitude of psych issues, and I was like a person on the outside but inside a disease of agonizing mental anguish, and physically I hurt from severe pain but had no physical evidence that I was like a 20-year-old young man who was only alive because I would not die. A tablet of Adderall changed my life, and it is my key to a life worth living."