Adderall and Irritability: What Users Say

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2023

For ADHD "Since being switched to the generic version of Adderall, Dextroamp-Amphetamine manufactured by Alvogen, I have been experiencing negative side effects for the past three days. I have become irritable, emotional, and easily agitated by noises, including music that I previously enjoyed. I have also been experiencing fatigue, lack of motivation, and difficulty reading. My speech has become slurred and confused, and I have developed tension headaches. I want my sparkle back, and I couldn't care less about anything. I’m surprised I’m writing this review as I am currently feeling scattered and embarrassed."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2023

For ADHD "Since being switched to the generic version of Adderall, Dextroamp-Amphetamine manufactured by Alvogen, I have been experiencing negative side effects for the past three days. I have become irritable, emotional, and easily agitated by noises, including music that I previously enjoyed. I have also been experiencing fatigue, lack of motivation, and difficulty reading. My speech has become slurred and confused, and I have developed tension headaches. I want my sparkle back, and I couldn't care less about anything. I’m surprised I’m writing this review as I am currently feeling scattered and embarrassed."

• Foc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 21, 2020

For ADHD "If you're taking for ADHD please note there are a lot of side effects, having said this, they are sometimes serious so take note to talk to your doctor. If you get cold fingers or toes, make sure to consult your doctor as it's a syndrome that can be prevented. It does help with focus, it helps with impulse control, it helps with a general overall euphoric feeling and it can cause you to lose a lot of weight. Be sure to eat, EAT, don't shake your head, you know I'm talking to you. Eat and stay hydrated it causes you to urinate a LOT, make sure to supplement what you are losing. It will cause tremors, shakes, and irritability, again, eat food. Make sure to stick to a 2000 calorie diet AT LEAST. May cause muscle fatigue and extreme soreness, stay hydrated, make sure of this. Some say it causes better grades in school, well, to an extent. It just makes you write a lot. Eat Eat Hydrate And maybe take melatonin to help promote rest. I warned and entertained you."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2008

For ADHD "I have been taking Adderall for 2 years now (3 of the 30mg tablets a day). It's a great way to get your work done in school and anything else you may need motivation to do. It also makes me more social and interested in things I wouldn't normally be interested in. The bad thing about it is that if you go even one day without it you eat 3 times more than you usually would and you feel irritable and agitated. Overall, couldn't live without it."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2008

For ADHD "I have been taking Adderall for 2 years now (3 of the 30mg tablets a day). It's a great way to get your work done in school and anything else you may need motivation to do. It also makes me more social and interested in things I wouldn't normally be interested in. The bad thing about it is that if you go even one day without it you eat 3 times more than you usually would and you feel irritable and agitated. Overall, couldn't live without it."

• tim...
• April 2, 2008

For ADHD "Against the advice of my teachers, my mom decided not to medicate me as a kid since my grades were fine. As I got older, I got worse, concentrating was impossible for me, and my grades dropped... my mind never stopped! I have been on Adderall for almost 9 years now. This drug saved me, it worked great! The downside... after this long, I have built a tolerance, get very irritable, and feel kinda foggy or dazed by the end of the day. I'm going to try something new for a while and see what happens."

• Tho...
• May 10, 2015

For Narcolepsy "I'm a 52 yr. old male. I started taking Adderall about 14 months ago. For the first 2 weeks, I didn't notice much change, then I noticed that when I took the medication in the morning, suddenly I had a lot more energy and it seemed like I could concentrate better and not be as agitated about life in general. I take my 2nd dose at lunchtime. The increase in my energy level was keeping me moving more during the day, so it allowed me to rest better at night. Every morning when I wake, I go straight for the Adderall. Overall, I think Adderall has improved my quality of life, and I think Adderall should be prescribed to the aged for the same effects. It's not going to work the same for all, so close monitoring for 30 days on a 2 per day 15 mg dose."

• jen...
• May 24, 2009

For ADHD "I have ADHD, and this medication helps with everyday life. I can focus on what I'm doing. The only real problem I have with this medication is the fact that it affects how I treat others. In other words, I get agitated a lot faster. I don't want to be angry, and before I took this medication, I would always turn the other cheek, but now, unfortunately, I get really angry really fast."

• hef...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 4, 2016

For ADHD "I'm a 31-year-old female, 5'4", 115 lbs. I was first prescribed Adderall in 2012, so I've taken it about 3 1/2 years. Within that time, there's been a few situations that forced me to go without meds for a week or more, which reminded me how much it helps! Without it, I could sleep 18 hours for days and still be wanting to sleep an hour or so after getting up! I can sleep while taking it, but don't have the strong compulsion to. On the first day taking it, I've learned to only take half because if not, it feels like I'm on cocaine, even after just a week of not having it. But the second day and thereafter is fine. I never experienced any 'comedown' like some people. The only negative is, without it, I get agitated easily and get on my own nerves when it comes to lack of concentration, forgetfulness, and sleeping too much."

• 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."

• squ...
• August 28, 2019

For ADHD "I had taken Adderall for many years and was slowly on the decline. I was deeply depressed and had an absolute hopeless and helpless outlook on life with no relief. I had psychosis, delusions, and impulsive behavior, which I never had. I began having issues with memory, thinking, reasoning, decision-making, tasks, and concentration. I would become very agitated if interrupted. I was very aggressive and agitated constantly, it was at least 98% of the time in 10 years. I read horror stories about stimulants, namely the amphetamine line of them. I subsequently tapered off of them and feel 100% better than before. I have no depressive symptoms, delusions, memory problems, agitation, or aggressiveness. I was not happy with life, and my personal relationships were very toxic. I wasted almost 10 years of my life feeling like this and have other personal complications that resulted from the use of these toxic drugs."

• 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."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2017

For ADHD "I have been taking 2-10mg IR tablets each day for about a month. I have noticed a significant difference in how well I perform at school since I've been on Adderall. I have many honors and AP classes, which always have a big workload. Each day I had to struggle with my ADD and having to look over the material numerous times. I am now able to focus and have confidence in my classes. Usually, I am the last person taking a test, and now I am one of the first people done because I am finally able to focus. Negatives: as Adderall wears off, I feel antisocial, weak, agitated, and slightly depressed, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. ADD is hard to deal with, and finally being able to focus means so much to me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 18, 2014

"I started Adderall at age 17. I've been taking it for about 3 years. I have slight to moderate ADD and chronic fatigue syndrome/narcolepsy. Adderall helped me be productive, get back to work and school, and maintain a social life. I often try to do too many things at once and get overwhelmed. The 'high' is great, you feel on top of the world. But the crash is horrible! If I miss a dose, I can't get out of bed that day. On normal days, I can function well until the dose wears off. The loss of appetite isn't good, and it takes a while to get it back. I lost 40 lbs in my first two months, which caused dizziness, fainting, agitation, and all that other great stuff that happens when you can't eat. I started off on 5 mg, then 10 mg, then 25 mg."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2012

For ADHD "I'm a full-time college student in my mid-20s. I've been on Adderall for 3 months now. I cut my 15 mg IR in half and take it in the morning and the other half 3 hours later (and another half after 3-4 hours if needed). I don't take it every day, I probably only take it 4x a week. If you don't have an addictive personality, you won't be addicted to it. I have to say it works really well with my ADD. I'm able to study for hours at a time. I don't necessarily think it makes you smarter. It just lets you focus on a task without getting distracted. I think my only complaint is sudden mood swings and agitation. I definitely noticed a difference in my personality the days I'm not on it. I get angry very easily and irritable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2012

For ADHD "I'm a full-time college student in my mid-20s. I've been on Adderall for 3 months now. I cut my 15 mg IR in half and take it in the morning and the other half 3 hours later (and another half after 3-4 hours if needed). I don't take it every day, I probably only take it 4x a week. If you don't have an addictive personality, you won't be addicted to it. I have to say it works really well with my ADD. I'm able to study for hours at a time. I don't necessarily think it makes you smarter. It just lets you focus on a task without getting distracted. I think my only complaint is sudden mood swings and agitation. I definitely noticed a difference in my personality the days I'm not on it. I get angry very easily and irritable."

• 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."

• All...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 23, 2019

For ADHD "Diagnosed ADD at 18 y/o, on and off Adderall IR since then. Too high a dose causes psychosis...be forewarned. I used to be on 30 mg 3x/day, now I'm leery of taking more than 2.5 mg 2x/day. Maybe it builds up in the brain, so be sure to take breaks from it often. I notice the side effects outweigh the benefits at higher doses... irritability, zombie-like come-down. My insurance only covers this and Ritalin, so I'm stuck with bad side effects."

• 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."

• jup...
• June 30, 2009

For ADHD "I was taking Adderall for nearly 3 years when my insurance would no longer cover it. I started taking it when I enrolled in college. It helped me achieve the honor roll every term I was taking it. I felt more confident and focused, whereas in high school I was unable to do such tasks and received D's and F's. I wish that I was taking Adderall again. I've taken Ritalin, methamphetamine, and now Dexedrine, which doesn't compare to Adderall. I have been taking this for 6 months now, and I am no longer on the honor roll. No matter how hard I try, my focus isn't where I need it to be. On the other hand, I don't have the side effects of severe irritability or quick anger that Adderall tends to cause."

• Shi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 9, 2023

For ADHD "Seems to take hours for the extended-release formulation to have noticeable results. Helps dispel the brain fog, minimizes my inattention, and helps me maintain concentration. I still manage to do things in a circuitous fashion because my distractibility is severe, and I will abandon a task when anything else catches my attention. I still have problems endlessly procrastinating and seldom manage to be on time. Overall, it is moderately helpful for my symptoms. The only side effect is irritability later in the afternoon, which affects my sociability. However, I'm rather misanthropic anyway, having few acquaintances, and they will avoid me when I get annoyed."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2011

For ADHD "I was on Adderall for about 10 years after I lost too much weight on Dexatrim. I began when I was about 10 and went all the way up to 40-60 mg a day, depending on how I felt. I was great for focus, but I definitely had sweaty pits, which I find really annoying. After Adderall stopped working, I switched to Concerta for 3 years, then to Vyvanse, which was incredible. All of these medications, though, made me feel like a schizo. Because I started so young, I got used to the feelings, but I would be a robot when I was on them, and coming down, irritable until I ate, then crazy hyper. Adderall did everything it was supposed to do, and because of it, I was able to get into a great boarding school, great college, and now grad school."

• rus...
• March 28, 2021

For ADHD "I’ve been on Adderall immediate release for at least 8 years, probably more. At first, Adderall gave me an intense high and made me very talkative. Very talkative. That lasted for a few days, and after that, each morning when I took it, it gave me a euphoric feeling for about half the day. I wasn’t making impulsive decisions like I had in the past, and my focus was razor-sharp. I really enjoyed this drug for some time, but the last 3-5 years it’s just been the same old same old. I take it in the morning and have somewhat of a boost in energy and focus, but after around 11 a.m., the effects of the medication just wear off. I wind up feeling irritable, decent focus if I’m busy at work, and just downright not very social with people. This week I’m going to see my P.A. and hopefully get on Vyvanse, which I was encouraged by many to try before jumping on Adderall. Vyvanse is more expensive, but I’m ready to feel more focused and more like myself."