Anybody who has used Adderall or other stimulants knows that the crash that occurs when the effects dwindle can be terrible, regardless of whether you use it as a prescribed medication, a study drug, or nootropic.
Dealing with the common symptoms associated with the decreased effects of taking Adderall can be difficult, especially if you need to remain productive or maintain alertness.
This article covers workable solutions for the temporary symptoms of an Adderall crash and symptoms of withdrawal, which can be similar.
These coping options can be helpful for occasional stimulant use or if you plan on reducing or discontinuing Adderall use.
Contents
What Causes Adderall Crash?
Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant made of amphetamine salts and dextroamphetamine. It increases energy, improves focus, boosts concentration, and helps with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) narcolepsy symptoms.
When someone abuses Adderall, it can cause euphoria and pleasure, and college students often use it as one of their study drugs. However, you may find that the crash is more unpleasant than expected.
When the drug begins to wear off, the high levels of energy that the controlled substance provides drop drastically, leaving feelings of exhaustion, depression, and fatigue.
Adderall works by regulating and increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine systems.
Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine all influence cognition, energy, and mood, so when these chemical messengers suddenly drop from a heightened level, we experience an Adderall crash.
When Does Adderall Comedown Occur?
The initial sign will begin as soon as Adderall’s effects decrease, especially with a low dose. The crash can last as long as 3 or 4 days, with the most severe symptoms happening in the first 24 hours after the dose wears off.
Adderall XR lasts around 12 hours, and instant release Adderall lasts 4 to 6 hours, so the comedown will only start after that period.
Sometimes Adderall withdrawal symptoms are categorized as a crash because they are similar to the acute comedown of stimulant drugs.
However, the withdrawal period will last longer, up to 10 days after the last use. Amphetamine withdrawal only happens during Adderall addiction, resulting in dependence on the drug.
Your biology, tolerance, nutrition, and other factors can alter the timeline of the Adderall crash as well.
Additionally, higher doses of amphetamines are more likely to cause a more severe comedown. Still, it takes longer to onset the symptoms because the body breaks down slower the drug with high doses.
What Are The Symptoms Of Adderall Crash?
Not everyone will experience the same symptoms when you stop taking Adderall, and the results can vary between individuals.
Regardless, there are some typical manifestations associated with an Adderall crash. In addition, the symptoms of Adderall crash without withdrawal from Adderall will only last 24 to 48 hours.
The crash symptoms and other side effects include mental health issues like irritability, frustration, anger, despair, mood swings, panic attacks, and feelings of worthlessness. These symptoms sometimes correlate with the onset of severe depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
This can also coincide with a loss of interest in hobbies and other enjoyable activities. As a result, you may not feel like socializing and may even avoid human contact when possible.
Therefore, this can take a toll on mental health and increase stress. You may also have drug cravings, especially if you took part in Adderall abuse.
Other symptoms include circadian interruptions or a sleep disorder like insomnia, trouble falling or staying asleep, or excessive sleeping.
It can also contribute to difficulty concentrating, fatigue, intense hunger or loss of appetite, lack of emotion or extreme emotion, and restlessness.
Some reactions can also mimic attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially if Adderall was medication intended to treat ADHD. High doses of amphetamine that are suddenly reduced can lead to thoughts of suicide.
If you are depressed, have thoughts, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts, you should only decrease usage under a doctor’s supervision.
This is particularly important if you experience any severe side effects, and you should not stop taking Adderall on your own, even if you are addicted or abuse Adderall.
Adderall Withdrawal Timeline
While amphetamine withdrawal causes some similar traits as an acute comedown, the timeline is different because of the Adderall addiction. These withdrawal symptoms can happen after called chronic intoxication, especially when stopping Adderall suddenly.
The first 1 to 3 days after you stop taking Adderall will often cause intense Adderall cravings, fatigue, exhaustion, depression, and excessive sleep.
In addition, you may experience sluggishness, increased stress, irritability, agitation, increased appetite, and other unpleasant psychological and emotional effects.
Then, days 7 through 10 are more likely to cause physical withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea, and body aches and pains.
Psychological effects include drastic changes in appetite, mood swings, paranoia, inability to rest, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
In extreme cases, abusing and stopping Adderall can cause temporary psychosis and psychotic behavior, including hallucinations, delusion, and difficulty understanding what is real and what is not.
People with existing mental illnesses have a high risk of this compared to others.
Typically, withdrawal symptoms will cease after a few weeks, but sometimes, an individual will experience reactions to discontinued Adderall abuse for several weeks or even several months.
The long-term impact usually results in anxious thoughts and feelings, poor sleep, and low energy.
How To Deal With Adderall Comedown: Tips and Remedies
Whatever your reason for using and discontinuing Adderall, you probably dread the impact that the decreased usage can have on your well-being and livelihood.
Learning how to manage a distressing combination of a lower dose or cease symptoms can help you improve your well-being and make it through the crash unscathed.
Check out these tips that you can expect to help your system recover.
Get Doctor’s Treatment
While there is no approved professional treatment option or diagnosis for the Adderall crash, a doctor may help if you are struggling with dosage reduction or discontinuation.
Therefore, the addiction treatment process, behavioral therapy, and other medications or supplements may be helpful to treat specific battles that you face (1).
A doctor may prescribe antidepressants that can help with repressed emotions and help you remain vigilant and productive.
Another option is benzodiazepines, like Xanax or Valium, a common medication for anxiety that can help with many of the symptoms of Adderall crash and withdrawal, including trouble sleeping, restlessness, and poor focus caused by anxious thoughts.
In addition, you can talk to a doctor to help you safely decrease the prescription dosages or quit substance abuse by tapering pills. This enables you to avoid the most difficult and uncomfortable issues that arise with Adderall addiction treatment and crashes.
Remember That The Comedown Is Temporary
You may feel run-down, have brain fog, lack motivation or interest in your daily activities, but remember that just like Adderall itself, the way you feel will dissipate within the next day or two, or a few more days if you are withdrawing.
Keeping this in mind can help you push away the anxiety about how you will get by and help you concentrate on doing the things you can help with the immediate issues you face.
Not only that, but after each day, you will probably feel much better. Commonly, you may crave Adderall or other stimulants as a substitute for Adderall, but remember that using again will only prolong the negative aspects.
You have to face comedown at some point if you do not want to continue using the drug forever.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Nutritious Foods
The impact of taking the drug and the rapid reduction in effects can make you feel horrible. Still, dehydration and a lack of healthy nutrition can exponentially increase the negative qualities.
You may not feel like eating or drinking water after you begin to come down off the high dose of Adderall, but it is essential to take care of your needs. Even with a decreased or increased appetite, it is crucial for brain health to continue to eat healthy choices.
Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid skipping too many meals. When dehydrated, we are more likely to be tired.
The same goes for not eating enough because our body will not have the vitamins and resources necessary for creating energy. Consequently, this can make us more prone to some of the negative aspects of coming down off Adderall.
Eating healthy foods can affect how we feel and find relief for many of the symptoms of crashing from stimulant use.
In addition, long-term recovery from withdrawal and comedown requires a healthy immune system and sufficient calories. It will help you feel normal even during the worst part of the amphetamine comedown.
Prioritize Sleep
Generally, coming off of stimulants can harm our sleeping habits. Therefore, Adderall can disrupt sleep patterns and make you feel super tired, but the sleep you get may be of poor quality.
Keeping the room temperature, bedtime habits, lighting, and noise levels optimal to ensure better rest is essential.
Also, you do not want to oversleep because getting out and doing regular things will help get your body and mind back.
As a result, it would be best if you try to sleep and wake up simultaneously every day, including the weekend, to put yourself back on track.
Avoid Other Stimulants
Other drugs and stimulants can prolong the crash and make it more difficult to cope with the symptoms that you are experiencing.
Not only that, but it can impact the ability to find a gradual reduction in the results of taking the drug and can cause worry, rapid heart rate, and make it harder to rest.
This includes any medications you may have prescribed by a doctor for various health problems.
Nicotine is a common stimulant, and you may crave cigarettes or a vape when coming down off the drug, but it is best to wait until you feel better. The same goes for caffeine, and it may be best to skip the morning coffee for a few days. If you have to have some caffeine, try to limit the amount and only use it when you have to.
Finally, even though alcohol is not stimulating, it is also best not to drink because it can worsen many symptoms and lead to other troubles like dehydration, poor mood, and excessive sleeping. It can also make night insomnia worse and negatively impact the nervous system.
Relax and Take a Mental Break
While you may be stressing about getting enough done without the stimulating properties of Adderall, the intense feelings of worry can lead to panic attacks.
Sometimes it is more productive to take a break and come back to a task later when you are more alert and productive. This can also help you manage stress levels and reduce your worrisome thoughts.
Try to take a day or two off of work if you can. If you cannot, allow yourself to take breaks regularly throughout the day. You may even find it helpful to close your eyes and participate in mindfulness meditation (2).
Try to concentrate on your breathing and watch the thoughts flow through your mind without judging them, and remain grounded on your breath.
Just doing 5 to 10 minutes of this practice each day can help with many mental and emotional problems associated with coming off a stimulating drug.
Exercise Regularly
Getting enough physical activity is critical for overall health, and it should not be any different when you are coming down from a drug.
Exercising can help balance out the chemicals, like dopamine, in your brain that may be depleted from drug abuse.
The benefits for adults include a better state of mind, less worry, more motivation, and improved outlook (3).
Not only that, but if you take too much Adderall, then the physical activity can help you sweat it out and burn it through your body for detox.
As a result, this may help you speed up the necessary recovery process before you feel better again. Just make sure you choose an exercise form that works for you.
Use Your Support System
You may find that speaking to others about your situation or unrelated topics can boost your mood.
However, if you do not have much emotional support, you should seek help from a doctor, groups, or meet people with similar interests in groups, classes, and events around your city. People may also offer tips that can lead to an improvement in symptoms.
Just being around other people can distract us from the issues we face when coming down from amphetamine or if we want to discontinue Adderall use.
Of course, a support system is a critical part of treatment for addictive people, but talking to someone can also help you deal with your struggles.
Conclusion
Adderall is a common medicine used to treat ADHD that many people, including college students, use for boosting cognitive awareness.
While it can be beneficial for many reasons, it can also be abused and lead to uncomfortable crashes or withdrawal symptoms after regular use.
If you want to attempt to make it through Adderall withdrawal, then remember that the distressing symptoms are merely temporary.
You may also find that it helps to talk with other people and make sure that you treat insomnia or other acute problems.
Stay hydrated and well-fed. Then, if you are still struggling, a doctor may be able to offer treatment for some of the most bothersome ailments you are experiencing.