Adderall is a stimulant that is prescribed to treat conditions like narcolepsy, which is a sleep disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also known as ADHD.
Adderall is a powerful drug that is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Adderall was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States in the year 1960.
It became famous and was used as a “study drug” because people mistakenly believed that it increased learning abilities.
This led to misuse and currently, many people are still struggling with addiction. Here are some of the ways that you can wean off Adderall without side effects.
Steps in Adderall Detox.
- Come up with a weaning program.
You need to look for a good medical doctor to guide you through the weaning process. It is not recommended to stop taking a powerful drug like Adderall suddenly.
This is because of the withdrawal symptoms that you are likely to experience. Instead, you need to come up with a weaning program with your doctor slowly reducing the dosage gradually.
- Go for regular counseling.
During your detox program, it is also important to engage the services of a professional mental health professional.
This will give you emotional support and guide you through the phase. A professional mental health counselor will help you to manage the emotional trauma that is expected as you gradually stop taking Adderall.
- Keep yourself busy.
It is very easy to revert back to abusing Adderall, therefore, you are advised to keep yourself distracted from drug cravings.
Go to work and engage yourself in your usual daily activities. This will help to keep your mind occupied and reduce the chances of falling into temptations. This will help you wean off Adderall smoothly without any risks of side effects.
- Eat a balanced diet.
One of the most common withdrawal symptoms of Adderall is increased appetite. You need to make sure that you eat a balanced diet that will also help you maintain a good physique. A good balanced diet will also help to improve your overall health.
- Engage in low-impact exercise.
Exercise is a very important aspect of weaning off Adderall without side effects. Low-impact exercise can help you to improve blood-flow and circulation, physical strength and also general flexibility.
Exercise such as yoga and simple walks may be quite useful in helping you to wean off Adderall without adverse side effects.
- Get enough sleep.
Doctors recommend that you need to get enough hours of rest to effectively wean off Adderall. Stimulants like Adderall generally increase energy levels hence may disrupt your regular sleep patterns.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms of Adderall include oversleeping or experiencing bouts of insomnia.
In order to make sure that you get good sleep, you can create simple routines before going to bed like avoiding the computer, sleeping at the same time every day, reading a book among others.
- Take your medication.
In order to successfully wean off Adderall, you need to take the prescribed medication as advised by your doctor.
You doctor may also prescribe some nutritional supplements to help you through the weaning process. These you need to take religiously.
- Get involved in community support groups.
Involve yourself in community support groups and attend their meetings. This will help you and meet other people who are also weaning off Adderall addiction. Support groups are great because you get motivated and inspired by success stories and mentorship from professionals.
What are some of the withdrawal symptoms of Adderall?
One of the brain’s neurotransmitters is Dopamine, which is usually involved in feelings of pleasure. This is usually stimulated by certain stimuli like the smell of your favourite food or perfume.
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for making a person experience pleasure.
How therefore can you be able to tell that you are addicted or dependent on Adderall? Adderall generally causes your Dopamine levels to surge up and your brain may begin to rely on it.
Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms of Adderall include:
- Insomnia
- Change in appetite
- Fatigue and depression
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Headache
- Lack of motivation
- Drug cravings
Conclusion
The best way to wean off Adderall without side effects is through the help of a qualified medical doctor that will take you through detox.
A qualified medical professional will be able to assess the level of dependency on the drug and come up with an individualised weaning program.
The doctor may also be able to analyse the extent of the effect of withdrawal symptoms and prescribe medicine accordingly. Other complementary treatment steps like counseling, therapy, and aftercare programs are essential in order to avoid relapse.