Dexedrine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Hum...
• August 30, 2013

For ADHD "This is a wonderful medication. I am so happy I switched from Adderall. I find the focus and concentration to be awesome. Without a doubt, it is the cleanest feeling ADHD medication on the market. If you have co-morbid anxiety disorders, this is the medicine to go for. I always felt anxious on Adderall or Ritalin, but the Dexedrine is so smooth that I find my anxiety is being helped! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has ADHD, especially when others have caused increased agitation. I believe this is the best ADHD medicine on the market."

• Rad...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2014

For ADHD "I have taken pretty much every type of medication for ADHD. Dextroamphetamine, by far, works best for me. While Adderall contains dextroamphetamine, the l-amphetamine, and it gives me very bad anxiety. Dextroamphetamine helps me focus without causing extra anxiety, and I prefer the instant release, which allows me to fall asleep. Ritalin caused anxiety even worse than Adderall did. One thing I recommend is to take a day or two off every week or so. If not, your tolerance might build up, and you might find the medication is not working. Also, you need to learn to pay attention to your body's other signals telling you when to eat. You probably will not feel hungry, and your stomach. This does not mean you don't need food, however."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2022

For ADHD "The very best ADHD medicine I’ve tried! I started out on methylphenidate, which did absolutely nothing for me, then switched to Adderall, which worked but caused me anxiety quite often. After being on Adderall for a while, I did my own research and came across Dexedrine/dextroamphetamine and how tons of people who struggled with anxiety on other ADHD meds loved it. I asked my doctor to switch, and I am so thankful that I did!! With Dexedrine, I don’t feel anxious or jittery, but have tons of drive and focus to get things done! I have to point out, for those of you who like Adderall and the “speedy“ feeling you get from it, then Dexedrine may not be for you. However, if you are like me and don’t like feeling like you’ve taken a narcotic stimulant, then you should certainly try Dexedrine/dextroamphetamine… You won’t regret it!! It feels far more natural for me personally than Adderall ever did. I am so thankful for this medication!"

• Web...
• March 14, 2008

For ADHD "Tried Adderall, Ritalin, etc. Since I have co-morbid anxiety, they made me 'tweak'. Very anxiety-provoking. Dexedrine, however, proved to be the exception. Its feel is more relaxed and focused. I take less of my Klonopin and Xanax because of the feeling of control and the ability to finish tasks. I am glad I researched and suggested it to my doctor, who by the way now is a believer in Dexedrine for patients who do not respond to Adderall and Ritalin."

• 62...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2015

For ADHD "I have been taking Dexedrine for about seven days now, and it has definitely helped with my chronic feelings of anxiety - that painful feeling in your chest. This, in turn, has allowed me to concentrate better on the daily issues at hand rather than constantly having that feeling of fight or flight regarding any number of daily life issues. Thus far, very helpful, and I hope to continue down this path - I wish I had tried this drug years ago."

• ele...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 14, 2015

For Narcolepsy "I've been taking Dexedrine spansules 15 mg, 2 pills at a time, 2-3 times a day for about 30 years for narcolepsy. I'm currently 57 years old. If it weren't for this Rx, I would probably never leave my house. Through the years, I have tried various alternative meds only to find they don't work as well. Among the alternatives tried are Adderall (made me actually violent); Provigil (absolutely ineffective); and Nuvigil was worse than ineffective...because it gave me the sensation of being high. So I thought it was working and I got behind the wheel of a car...bad idea. Changed back ASAP. Been on the same dosage for 20 years. Side effects: for 10 minutes every day, I get a bad dry mouth and feel anxious. Cost is prohibitive."

• Ric...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 16, 2023

For ADHD "I have a positive experience. I was running around with anxiety, depression, and panic attack. I was on all kinds of antidepressants, then my doctor put me on Dexedrine, the best thing that ever happened to me."

• Dav...
• December 22, 2019

For ADHD "This medication is very good. I take it first thing in the morning, 2 capsules of 10 mg and one around noon. In exactly one hour, I feel that hit, dopamine increasing in my brain, me being able to focus on everything and multitask at one time. I was just diagnosed with ADHD. Before Dexedrine, I just could not concentrate on anything, it was so, so bad. But I can't explain in words the FLASH or hit you feel after one hour, it is tremendous. I feel so happy, everything I see, I see with happy eyes. Besides all the positive facts I mentioned, I really have to say it has severe side effects. The first day I took only a 10 mg capsule, after a few hours that it kicks off, I had an anxiety attack like I have never had in my life. I felt like my chest was going to explode, that feeling was so strong that I had to take Xanax. Besides that, I have problems falling asleep, some nights I don't even sleep at all. As well, my hands start shaking, and I feel disturbed and nervous."

• Eva...
• November 16, 2011

For ADHD "I have ADHD and bulimia. I read through everyone's comments, and I couldn't agree more. I am a 21-year-old model living in New York City and suffered from chronic ADHD/ADD and bulimia. Ritalin would make me so jittery I couldn't even try to do anything. One hour of euphoria that led nowhere. (Focalin *is new* did the same thing, just paid more!) So they tried everything in every batch: Daytrana, Focalin, and Ritalin, then Vyvanse with Adderall IR or AddXR with ADD IR. Anyway, I looked up online and saw how Dexedrine is what makes up half of Adderall. I asked my doctor, he was like 'ehh,' but he went for it. I've been on it ever since. I think it is the most undercredited ADHD/stimulant medicine on the market. I have no anxiety and clean concentration!"

• Eva...
• November 16, 2011

For ADHD "I have ADHD and bulimia. I read through everyone's comments, and I couldn't agree more. I am a 21-year-old model living in New York City and suffered from chronic ADHD/ADD and bulimia. Ritalin would make me so jittery I couldn't even try to do anything. One hour of euphoria that led nowhere. (Focalin *is new* did the same thing, just paid more!) So they tried everything in every batch: Daytrana, Focalin, and Ritalin, then Vyvanse with Adderall IR or AddXR with ADD IR. Anyway, I looked up online and saw how Dexedrine is what makes up half of Adderall. I asked my doctor, he was like 'ehh,' but he went for it. I've been on it ever since. I think it is the most undercredited ADHD/stimulant medicine on the market. I have no anxiety and clean concentration!"

• jac...
• May 25, 2008

For Narcolepsy "Helps a great deal with daytime sleepiness, which I had all my adult life until Dexedrine. No side effects at 5 to 7.5 mg a day. At 10 mg sometimes anxiety or tension, but not always. No rebound effect or depression if I stop taking it. Not the dangerous drug some people would have you think."

• Fiz...
• October 13, 2010

For ADHD "By far the best medication I have tried for ADHD. It is great for someone who also has social anxiety or anxiety in general. With Ritalin, I had many negative side effects, one of which is anxiety. Dexedrine is great. I do not even need to take my clonazepam (Klonopin) during the day because Dexedrine is so smooth."

• riL...
• March 4, 2011

For Narcolepsy "Dexedrine is great, aside from the increased anxiety. I currently take 90 mg daily - both the 5 mg tabs and the 15 mg spansules. I require two 20-min naps/day but will still have sleep attacks if I'm inactive. It may not sound overly great, but without Dexedrine, I'd never leave my bed/couch, as I fall asleep every 10 mins. So essentially, it does a world of difference."

• avi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

For ADHD "I have struggled with ADD for years and was put on a moderate dosage of Ritalin in high school. But it gave me anxiety like you wouldn't believe. I ignored my ADD after high school and started Dexedrine in college. What a difference! It helps me to focus much better and gives me the energy to finish what I start. My procrastination has never been lower. I only give it a 9 because I sometimes need to make myself focus when the meds are an hour or two from wearing off."

• the...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2021

For ADHD "This is AMAZING!!! I don't think I've ever felt this good. Dexedrine makes me feel completely calm, clear-headed, and motivated. I used to be so tired and foggy-brained, and many days were lost to 'recovering' from, well, life. Now I feel like I can do anything I want. I can hardly believe it. I tried Ritalin first and found it to be rubbish - it gave me headaches, insomnia, and mild anxiety, and seemed very unpredictable in terms of effects too. Dexedrine is nothing like that. I have zero side effects - except for some interference with my period. I highly, highly recommend this miracle medication."

• Bli...
• February 14, 2012

For ADHD "Well, this medication has worked VERY well for my ADHD! It helps me concentrate and makes my mood overall more lifted! I notice energy and a desire to do work and complete tasks instead of being a lazy couch potato like before. Side effects: anxiety, depersonalization, and derealization on this medication sometimes makes you feel like a robot! And heart rate goes up also! But it worked much better than Adderall. Adderall gave me bad anxiety and a higher heart rate! Much stronger and more positive mood from Dexedrine."

• Ale...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 21, 2023

For ADHD "I have been on Dexedrine since 2nd grade, I am now 53. Dexedrine was available since the 60s, that's why I was put on it at the time. Adderall and Ritalin came out in the 90s, and as brand name marketing was intense, prescribers switched over to prescribing these medications instead of Dexedrine. Newer is not necessarily more effective or better. As the prescribing of Adderall and Ritalin became increasingly dominant, it became challenging to find pharmacies that carried Dexedrine in stock, often they would have to special order it, and this process would take several days. Due to this difficulty, my doctor persuaded me to try first Ritalin and then Adderall. In comparison to Dexedrine, I found these two newer medications not nearly as effective and unpleasant to take. If you've ever taken Adderall or Ritalin, they obviously work as stimulants, like coffee, but a lot less 'jittery'. To me, comparing Dexedrine to Adderall is like comparing Adderall to coffee: far less jittery. Try it."

• Hus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2023

For ADHD "I have been on Vyvanse, prescribed for over 8 years prior to taking Dexedrine, and it does have a plethora of side effects. Vyvanse caused intense anger and anxiety, and it made me feel different and just zombied out. Dexedrine, to me, is the cleaner version of Adderall and Vyvanse. It is not as intense as both of them and just seems a lot better."

• Tre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2022

For ADHD "It sort of worked for me. I have been using Dexedrine 20 mg, prescribed in two 10 mg pills. Before that, 15 mg, one pill. Before that, one 10 mg pill. A problem I've had is with how my body metabolizes it. Rather than a smooth and consistent maintenance of focus, I experience peaks and valleys of it. It takes effect after 45 min, then it lasts for about 1-2 hours before I get incredibly sleepy for 1-2 hours, then it takes effect again, then I get sleepy again, then it takes effect again. I've talked with my psyche, and with the 20 mg split I take the first dose, then the second 10 mg dose 45 minutes later, and this has mostly, but not completely, solved the issue. Also, (consistent with all of the stimulant medications I've tried, though) is that it stops having any effect after about 3-4 days of usage straight. So I need to calculate for a day or two where I can't take the medication in order to allow for it to work later. Side effects: dry mouth, less hunger, nervousness."

• rbw...
• November 12, 2011

For ADHD "I have ADHD and mild-to-moderate anxiety. Dexedrine 20 mg (2 x 10 mg) taken in the morning allows me to focus for about 8 hours, but I experience negative side effects including increased anxiety, raised blood pressure, and difficulty sleeping. I used to experience moderate-to-severe depression at the end of the day when it would wear off, but I've been able to avoid this using buspirone 5 mg (taken once an hour for 4 hours starting 7.5 hours after I take the Dexedrine). Also, I take trazodone 12.5 mg before bed to help me sleep. Due to the side effects, I only take Dexedrine once or twice a week when I need to get lots of work done. Adderall made me more anxious, and methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) didn't help me."

• Dog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2020

For Narcolepsy "I have never had a worse experience on a medication. After having limited success on modafinil, armodafinil, Sunosi, and Adderall, my doctor prescribed me this Dexedrine dose at 10 mg, and it is terrible. I go two- to three-day stretches without sleeping, have had the most debilitating anxiety of my entire life, and feel like I am going insane. Yes, I’m staying awake, but it has been the worst time of my entire life."

• Lco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2016

For ADHD "Dexedrine is okay! When I first took it, I was excited and hoped to feel something. I was instantly in a good mood, more focused, and patient. However, the come down off this drug is horrible. The depression and sadness start to come back, and it's just discouraging that only a medication can band-aid those emotions. I have felt overstimulated as well. I had a gastric bypass four years ago, so my doc said no XR, but he put me on four 10 mg a day, which I feel is too much. I become agitated, irritable, paranoid, panicky, crying, etc. I decreased it to two a day. I feel that this might be too strong of a stimulant for me. I want to try Adderall since it's cheaper on my insurance and it has less dex. We'll see what he says at my next visit."

• ADH...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 23, 2022

For ADHD "Hands down, the best medication for me, no questions asked. Very little anxiety, super smooth, and super effective."