Adderall and Weight Loss: What Users Say

• 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."

• hzi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2019

For ADHD "I got diagnosed with ADHD at the beginning of this school year, being my senior year of high school. Since 8th grade, I've struggled in school, been incredibly impulsive, had very strange eating habits, overthought everything, and could never contain my anger or anxiety. Once prescribed, my life has changed. My grades went up, and in 3 months I've lost almost 30 pounds (I am still in the normal BMI range). I can control myself. I finally believe in myself because of Adderall."

• 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."

• 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."

• Old...
• January 13, 2019

For ADHD "Read all the comments about Adderall being an amphetamine. It's a mixed bag. Everyone who has ADHD has different levels. Talking too much or losing weight, lower dosage. Comments about generic differences are true. I have ADHD, panic attacks, agoraphobia, chronic fatigue. Started in 1991 with anxiety. Tried every medication. I had developed a chemical imbalance. I'd rather have lost both legs. People have zero compassion for mental health issues. On Adderall XR 30 mg daily for 12 years. I'm 64. I wanted to try 10 mg IR so I can manage it better. Use less. For 2 years, no insurance and generics didn't exist. Cost $475 a month. Another script cost me $900! It was either bankruptcy or sell my house. Don't believe in bankruptcy; sold house. When you're paying $940 a month in child support, $1,000 in house payments, $1,400 a month in meds with no insurance, what else can you do? And I detest deadbeat parents. It truly helps. Go with the lowest dose that works for you."

• Anonymous
• July 23, 2009

For ADHD "I take Adderall for ADHD. Simply put, my GPA in college has literally doubled to 3.5. School is easy now. This medicine is like night and day. I'm glad it only lasts for a certain time, 6-8 hours. I have zero appetite on the medicine and lost 15 lbs in two weeks when I started these pills. Aggression is increased. Adderall is amazing. Listen to your doctor and do not take more than you are supposed to."

• Anonymous
• August 16, 2009

For ADHD "I'm a mid-20s female who should have been on ADD medicines years ago. This is the only one I've tried, so nothing to compare it to. Love Adderall because of the obvious side effects: take it in the morning and can get out of bed in 30 minutes without feeling the normal exhaustion I've felt my whole life the first few hours of the day, no appetite, so in the beginning, weight loss and now weight maintenance, and energy throughout the day (until it wears off), almost like an extreme diet pill. Even though I have energy to run around and could get stuff done, I seem to just run around aimlessly, not doing anything with a point. I snap and have a temper that I never used to have."

• dis...
• December 11, 2010

For ADHD "My wife started taking Adderall 5 months ago. It completely changed her for the worse. Sure, she might be able to complete tasks and feels energized, but the side effects are ruining our family. She goes from talking to screaming in mid-sentence. Violent behavior is now the norm. Zero sex drive. Total lack of regard for others. I have talked to her about these issues, but the responses are 'shut up.' She has lost 20 lbs and looks terrible. By the way, she was bulimic as a teen and into college. So the weight loss is appealing to her. I contacted the first nurse vacationer that prescribed it for her. He cut her off."

• 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."

• Aal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 22, 2021

For ADHD "Adderall is the most dangerous drug on the market. I started taking it at 22 years old. I was taking 3 5 mg pills a day as prescribed. Initially, I lost 10 pounds, and I enjoyed the focus it caused. Then I started to notice I was craving smoking and drinking alcohol more. I began behaving very differently, and with time, it affected my life and relationships. I started breaking out and was constantly in a state of fight or flight. I was addicted to the drug after a few months on it and didn’t get off it till I was around 27. I believe it rewired my brain and caused me extreme health issues. I have extreme health issues now-mainly with my adrenal glands, which are vital organs in your body. My sister also used the drug in her early 20s, and she did not have physical health issues-unfortunately, she had mental issues and became a paranoid schizophrenic. I’m writing this to say please be careful with this drug, it is very dangerous, and they will not tell you that."

• Oli...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 2, 2021

For ADHD "This medication can make your life significantly better or completely ruin it. You have to be very self-aware when taking it. The main problem I have faced is the detrimental side effect of weight loss. I am currently on 20 mg pills, taking one twice a day. I am an 18-year-old girl who was around 115 lbs, and since I started taking Adderall, my weight has dropped to 90 lbs. I am also anemic and have really low iron as a result. I am currently struggling with my health and weight, and I am at my physical and emotional lowest I have ever been. Be warned that your appetite will be suppressed for a good amount of the day, so eating before you take it and after it wears off is crucial. Overall, maintaining a healthy and consistent meal plan every day is SO important when taking this medication. Please be safe and smart with it! It can be a very helpful drug if it’s used correctly."

• kar...
• July 1, 2010

For ADHD "I started this when I was 27 years old, diagnosed with ADHD. I have had problems my entire life with struggling to stay awake (in general), excessive daydreaming, and socializing. This medicine turned my life around. Not only was I able to stop daydreaming, finish a task and make a list (for the first time ever), I felt more confident carrying on group conversations. I also lost a lot of weight, which I did need to do."

• 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."

• grn...
• January 3, 2011

For ADHD "Well, I have been on Adderall for about 5 months, 20 mg daily. I wish I would have taken it sooner, though. I am a single mom of twin 5-year-olds, and I noticed that I needed this birth control. I couldn't even get out of bed, focus, complete daily normal functions, daydream, etc. I finally realized it was needed after my mother had her heart attack, and I could not focus, not even at work. I went to my doctor's, and he put me on this, and I feel great 95% of the time. Weight loss? Great! I recommend this to anyone that needs something to really save them from spiraling down and not being able to be 'normal.' Great!"

• Pop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2022

For Narcolepsy "I'm from the UK, and it's called Elvanse, but it is the same medication. I first started on the lowest dose and worked my way up: 20mg, 30mg, 50mg, and then 70mg. For a long time, I was on 70mg, trying to figure out what works best for me to stay awake. And it did keep me awake for school, however, I was still very tired afterward and would often nap, so my doctors decided to start giving me sodium oxybate (Xyrem). Whilst on sodium oxybate, I lost a lot of weight, going from 10.6 stone (67kg) to 8.13 stone (51kg). This meant that the 70mg Elvanse I was taking was making my body work too well, and I kept getting a fast heart rate while resting. It was quite worrisome since I've never had symptoms like this before. My doctors have taken me down to 50mg, however, my heart rate still goes up for no reason. For example, today I was sitting at my computer with 60 bpm when my heart rate started going up to 132 bpm, which lasted for minutes. It's definitely something I am looking into, but I assume it's the stimulants."

• Gle...
• June 9, 2010

"My son was 7 when he started taking Adderall for his Asperger's syndrome. He was overweight, but after taking the medication for 1.5 years, he lost a lot of weight. He is not a picky eater, but his appetite was non-existent. There was nothing I could do to get him to eat. We did have to change his medicines, and he has since put some weight back on. The medicine did do for us what we needed it to do, which was help with his impulsivity."