Adderall and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Kim...
• April 9, 2021

For ADHD "If anyone else is having a terrible time with the new Lannett generic Adderall, you can report this to the FDA. I have been having crippling headaches, stomach aches, and the medication doesn’t even feel like it works!!! I get tired after I take it and then can’t sleep all night because of it. HORRIBLE. Google FDA MedWatch online reporting to fill in the form."

• Lau...
• April 1, 2013

For ADHD "Adderall is effective, but it comes with consequences. Both to your physical and mental health. I am 27 years old, I have taken Adderall on and off for about 10 years. Started it my freshman year of college. It was AMAZING at first! Lost that freshman 15, got straight A's, actually ENJOYED my work. Then I started noticing the crash symptoms. Tired, withdrawn, emotionless, sleepless. I stopped taking it because I hated the way it made me feel, but I realized how much more productive I am when taking it. When I start taking it again my immune system is shot, I'm constantly sick with something, I get super irritable. When I don't take it I can barely get out of bed and I always gain weight, which always sucks. It's a vicious cycle."

• Bee...
• March 22, 2015

For ADHD "Once getting on Adderall, I found it gave me just enough euphoria to put down everything from alcohol to opiates, while giving me the drive and ambition to seek an engineering degree. I must warn people Adderall is a stimulant. It's out of your body rather quickly (1-2 days), so addiction in the 'physical withdrawal' sense is not much, although years of taking it will keep you relying on it - that's a PROMISE. Depending on the dosage, you'll be severely lethargic and wind up sleeping for a few days. Beware of the day's end - you'll likely need something to sleep or relax, which can cause problems. Despite the caution, you'll be a morning person and love it. Just remember the word 'moderation,' and you'll be a new you!"

• ski...
• October 6, 2013

For ADHD "I've taken Vyvanse extended-release and Adderall extended-release. I didn't like the mood swings and irritability I suffered when they would wear off. My doctor has since put me on Adderall immediate release 30-milligram tablets twice a day. I've taken these tablets for 2 years now and love that I can focus and I am not having mood swings or irritability at all. I have experienced dry mouth and some jitters as well as trouble sleeping. I take Ambien to sleep, and it is no longer an issue. I have to take a vitamin supplement due to a huge weight loss, though. I was overweight when I started Adderall and now am at a healthy weight and maintaining that weight without issue."

• 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."

• Mat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 3, 2016

For ADHD "ADD is NOT a made-up condition. I'm 26. Without Adderall/Vyvanse, I have no mental energy or focus to do anything. And it has been this way my entire life. School has gone from being an F and D student to being an A and B student. It has nothing to do with 'being lazy' and everything to do with having a real chemical imbalance in the brain. Anyways, I have been full-time for 2 years until 7 weeks ago. I convinced myself it wasn't working anymore and I didn't need it. Big mistake! I am ready to start up again next week. I can feel the old me coming back, the me I hated. If you truly have ADD/ADHD, this will change your life for the better. Some negatives are sleeping less, decreased appetite, and often weak erections on it (despite high libido)."

• pnj...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 25, 2013

For ADHD "I've taken Adderall for 2 years. The first 6 months worked very well. Balanced me out, kept me focused & side effects were minimal. But, the efficiency of Adderall has really gone down in my experience. I often find myself hyper focusing on things I don't need to & the side effects have gotten much worse. Insomnia, horrible dry mouth (= more cavities), I get antsy & shaky at times & I also feel I've become dependent on it. Next doctor's appointment, I will be asking to switch out to something else. It's a good medicine at first, but understand that many of the great reviews are likely written by newer Adderall users."

• Mud...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 13, 2015

For ADHD "I was once a procrastinating, underemployed, muscular 18-year-old who was unsure of his future. My ADHD made it impossible to focus, my motivation was terrible, and I snapped on anyone over the smallest thing. I knew about Ritalin... also knew its excess side effects. I heard about Adderall and decided maybe I should speak with my PCP. He prescribed me Adderall, a pill that can either make or break you. If you have had ANY history of drug abuse, AVOID IT. It took me a month to realize I was abusing it. I lost sleep, weight, and gained a tolerance. When I decided I'd better let my wife handle my medication, she gave me my two IRs per day and still does. It helped a lot. The medication is wonderful for ADHD but can very easily kill you if you abuse it."

• Mil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 15, 2016

For ADHD "What a genius medication! It changed my life completely. I strongly believe, based on my experiences using it for over a year, that Adderall is extremely helpful for those who really suffer from ADHD. I'm much more focused, happy, and I get a lot accomplished each day, my emotions are in place. It helps me keep my weight down. There are some side effects, my main concern is trouble sleeping, but that can be controlled with meditation and other methods. I wish I had gotten diagnosed earlier, my life would have been much different. But it's never too late. Grateful for this medicine."

• bam...
• October 22, 2015

For ADHD "I've been taking Adderall for roughly two years now. I could honestly say it has helped me so much. Having A.D.D. my whole life, it completely made my life out of control. I only realized how much of my issues were connected to having A.D.D. until I took my medication, I cannot even explain. It's insane sometimes, it even got me emotional thinking about it because I would say to everyone around me, 'Is this how people without A.D.D. feel?' and think, 'Wow, I missed out on so much.' Luckily, I can say everything has changed. I graduated high school, found myself a job, totally different group of friends, even the way I interact and feel about myself has totally changed. I would have given it a 10/10, but my loss of appetite and inability to sleep sucks, but pros outweigh the cons."

• Van...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2015

For ADHD "For me, Adderall is a dream and a nightmare all wrapped in one pill. When I wake up, I need the Adderall just to be productive in my day, it works like a charm and makes me more creative and motivated. But I find that I need more and more to keep going. Eventually, when the day is over and it's too late to take any more pills, I feel zoned out and unable to sleep. If Adderall came with a powerful sleep medicine, it would be a perfect drug. Although I don't like the anti-social aspect that comes with it. You get so concentrated that you become socially awkward and don't want to talk with anybody. Also, when I drink on Adderall, I can become crazy aggressive at times. But other than that, I love Adderall, I've done some of my best work on it."

• Jef...
• February 26, 2015

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD at eight. I was put on Ritalin then. Awful stuff. That turned me away from taking anything for years. I started taking Adderall XL at the age of twenty-seven. I didn't notice a change until my doc raised my dosage from 20 to 25 mg. My work was better. Heck, my life turned around. I finished projects I started. I paid attention. I remembered little things that used to evade me. Like names, where I put things, and what I was just doing. I also noticed I wasn't as depressed. I could sleep better. Just do not take XL late or sleeping may be difficult. One thing, and I can't stress enough. If you have a loved one who is on or going to be on Adderall. It is addictive. Watch for the signs of abuse. Monitor teens."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2016

For Narcolepsy "I had been on Adderall for a couple of years. I was finally, after being out of it most of the time during my life, able to get things done, and even if I did not get enough sleep at night (I still have that problem). I was fine just taking 20 mg in the morning and sometimes (rarely) 10 mg around 11:00 am. I did not gain nor lose weight. I did have enough energy, though, to go to the gym and not worry about driving any time of the day. All was good until Medicare said NO, I could not have it anymore. I am now on Ritalin 30 mg in the morning. It helps a little, but I don’t ever want to drive far, 5 miles is my limit before I get sleepy. My sleep is very restless, and I wake up many times, averaging around 4 hours sleep out of 9 hours in bed."

• Anonymous
• June 27, 2008

For Narcolepsy "Adderall has really helped me stay alert and concentrate, as I have chronic pain issues which leave me sleepy and unfocused. I have the energy to enjoy life again. I do have difficulty sleeping, and also since I do not take XR, I can 'crush' it if I forget my second dose. I have noticed it makes me most irritable and difficult to be around. This side effect seems to have waned over time, but I am still occasionally cranky when it wears off."

• Mil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2017

For ADHD "This medication is absolutely amazing for those who really suffer from ADHD. You will experience side effects such as loss of appetite, loss of sleep, hyperactivity, dry mouth, and dehydration, but they go away with time. There is a right dosage for everyone. Try to find your dosage and genetic brand that works for you, and with proper nutrition, it will change your life! I've suffered from ADHD since I was a child. I was never able to focus or finish tasks. I would do so much better in life, in every aspect of it, if I had discovered this medication earlier in life! But like a lot of people on here say, better late than never! I am now on 15 mg IR twice a day. Give it a try, just do it right!"

• Anonymous
• September 28, 2009

For ADHD "I have benefited a lot with this medication. Only problem I have is taking it too late in the day and having insomnia side effects. Like right now it's 3:30 a.m. on a school night, and I can't sleep! Do not take Adderall after a certain hour."

• ADD...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 11, 2017

For ADHD "I started taking Adderall when I was 26 y/o, and it was AMAZING for about 2 years. My dose started out at 30 mg/day in the beginning, and after 2 years was up to 60 mg/day (30 mg IR twice daily). I started getting increasingly paranoid, losing what seemed like more and more sleep with each passing month. I kept thinking that I was seeing red and blue lights on my walls at night, which made me think the cops were after me outside, even though I didn't do anything that would require police assistance. Until one day when I lost my mind, literally. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital and put on a 72-hour psychiatric hold, for which I ended up staying at the hospital almost 2 weeks. Diagnosed with amphetamine-induced schizoaffective disorder!!!"

• Em4...
• January 26, 2018

For ADHD "I’m a 21-year-old female. Adderall helped me focus, be on time, stay organized. However, as time passed, I noticed the negative impact. I had weight loss, irritability, my anxiety was worse, dry skin, dry mouth, and was not feeling like myself. I developed insomnia too. This was only on 20 mg a day. I took it as prescribed. The worst part was when I tried to quit taking it after I was switched to Vyvanse, which I felt even worse on. I ended up in the hospital having a panic attack the first time I tried to stop taking it. The second time I tried to quit, I had even more withdrawal symptoms: paranoia, panic attacks, vomiting. Stimulants are not worth it."

• CJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2019

For ADHD "Adderall seemed to really help me at first. After about six months, though, I ran into problems. I started to feel nervous, had sleeping issues, loose stool, sweaty pits, and ultimately gained a dependency where I craved for me to always be on it and feared the comedown. The final straw was when I fell into my seasonal depression, and it made it worse. I started to feel like an emotionless robot and knew I had to leave it. Overall, the negative side effects far outweighed the positive ones. I'll also note it has been several months since my last dose, and I still don't feel completely like myself. Sometimes, it is harder for me to get up and going than it has ever been, and my seasonal depression didn't end in March like usual, this is the first sunny June I've been depressed like this. I suggest other alternatives to your ADHD, this drug is toxic, very addictive, and can change you. I never felt right taking it, I'll do anything else to combat my ADHD after experiencing it long-term."

• Jas...
• September 20, 2013

For ADHD "I am prescribed Adderall XRs. I am only on 30 mg once a day, and my Dr won't increase it. The medication definitely makes me motivated, have energy, and feel a nice sense of well-being. I am concerned with a few side effects I get almost every time. I get numb on the left side of my neck and in my shoulder. I also get really cold feet, and my toes look purple with very slow capillary refill. I also already had a sleep problem before all this, so my nights are always pretty restless."

• MJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 8, 2021

For ADHD "Right now I take 50 mg Lamictal for my Bipolar and 7.5 mg twice a day Adderall for ADHD. At first, I wasn't sure Adderall was going to work for me, I was initially prescribed 20 mg twice a day. That dose ended up being way too high for me. It made me become manic, and I felt really wired all the time. I now take 7.5 mg twice a day and have found it to be much better. I feel alert and focused throughout the day. Some of the side effects I have had are weight loss, jaw clenching, and mild insomnia (I usually just take melatonin). Overall, Adderall has helped me a lot, I just had to find the right dosage."

• Del...
• August 16, 2017

For ADHD "I would like to first say that my experience with Adderall was overall successful, it most definitely helped my concentration and ability to focus. However, there are some side effects that I think are worth noting. I had minimal anxiety prior to taking this medication (only when traveling). My anxiety dramatically increased to the point where I was put in therapy and almost took a medical leave from work. (I quit taking the medication once I realized it was a significant contributing factor - although not completely to blame.) I had a very dry mouth while prescribed, which actually ended up leading to cavities according to my dentist. Noticeable lower back pain and problems sleeping (both are alleviated once you quit taking the meds)."

• NHM...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 13, 2021

For ADHD "I have been taking Adderall since 2005, it is now 2021. I've taken about every brand there is. In my opinion, the best Adderall is a generic manufactured by IMPAX, although I've heard good things about SANDOZ, and currently pay the full price to take the name brand SHIRE, because since COVID, I can't get any more of my beloved IMPAX, and I could only find two brands, TEVA (which is medical malpractice in pill form), and PAR (ironic brand name since that is about all I can say for their Adderall, but anything is better than TEVA). I would rather not take anything at all and face the challenges of being ADHD, such as inability to stay focused at work, sleep deprivation, and the like, rather than take a TEVA ever again. I threw my last bottle out and waited a month."

• Anonymous
• January 22, 2011

"I am a 46-year-old female and have taken Adderall XR 10 mg for over a year now. Adderall has helped me tremendously. Before starting it, I could barely get out of bed. Had no interest in anything, not even living. Couldn't focus; nearly a zombie. As long as I take it, I'm a happy, functional person. Some issues with insomnia, but nothing unmanageable. Don't take it on my days off to avoid building a tolerance. However, I have become totally dependent on this medicine. Recently tried to stop taking it. On the second day without it, I was useless, and by the third day, I was like a zombie."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2016

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD in '06, and I found out in order to have ADHD as an adult, you had to have it as a child. So I look back on my childhood in real life, I did have ADHD as a kid but never got treatment for it because my mom didn't believe in any mental illness. So I didn't start treatment for ADHD until 2006. I was placed on Ritalin, but I found it to be ineffective, and then I stopped treatment. I started treatment up again a few months ago, and I was given Adderall, and I found it to be very effective working, but with two major side effects: it keeps me awake and causes constipation. But outside of those two, it works wonderfully."