Adderall/ADHD and Weight

kriyo87

I've been prescribed Adderal since I was 12 years old to help with my ADHD. I've seen a lot of posts lately on Adderall concerning weight loss as a side effect, and it seems that every time it's brought up, everyone gets up in arms about the fact that it causes the user to have difficulty eating throughout the day. I'd like to bring up some points about the drug that I have learned from experience.

Adderall suppresses one's appetite. Massively. I've gone days without eating before. Nearly a whole week in fact. I didn't mind the weight loss. I just ate when I felt hungry or faint. I never "forced" myself to eat. I'm not anorexic, I just listened to my body.

My appetite came back after a couple of weeks, but never returned to normal. Though I could eat more as the drug's side effects lessened, I still made relatively smart food choices. I had less cravings for crappy food and was motivated to stay active, clean my house, and work out.

That being said, while on the medication, my weight fluctuated. And eventually, my weight normalized. But in the few months, I have been off the medication because my insurance is rejecting my doctor's authorization. Despite having 16 years of charts and diagnosises from different doctors through the years, they are refusing to cover it.

Two months off the drug, and I have gained over 25 pounds!!! Despite a sensible diet and exercise program, I've ballooned. It's horrible. I'm eating well, staying within calorie and macronutrient goals and it's just piling on.

I'm hoping my doctor will be able to appeal the claim, because not only am I a disaster of a person without this medication, but I'm also putting my health at a huge risk by gaining so much in so little time.

What's causing this? I believe years of appetite suppression and a jacked up metabolism and heart rate due to constant stimulation via Adderall, and without it, my body's metabolism and caloric needs have reduced greatly.

Bottom line, if you have ADHD, take Adderall. But if you just want it for the weight loss and maintenance, then you're fooling yourself. There is no miracle drug. Sure, Adderall will help you lose in the short run, but if you stop taking it, you'll have the same results that you would see if you stopped a crash diet. And then some.

Does this deter me from not taking it? HELL NO! I need it. It helps me at work, keeps me organized, awake, alert, functioning...and most of all I know that when I start taking it again, this weight will come off. That's super messed up, but it's reality.

I'm posting this because I want to hear other's talk about their love/hate relationship with this medication in an open and non judgmental environment.

mkakids

Im currently on vyvanse for ADD, inattentive type. Tried adderall about 2 years ago and had some nasty side effects.

Vyvanse is supposed to supress hunger as well, but I have never noticed it happening to me. Im almost always hungry, lol. My nephew, who is on vyvanse as well, has gone 2-3 days without eating before and he has to set his phone timer to remind him to eat. Everyone reacts differently to meds.

Taking a non prescribed medication is never a good thing, especially a controlled substance.

Vyvanse is actually prescribed, off label, for binge eating disorder as well as ADD/ADHD.

mitch16

Actually Vyvanse is now the first drug approved for B.E.D. in adults--it's no longer off-label.

HutchA12

Just putting it out there that not being on the meds didn't magic weight onto you. Your eating more or being less active. That's how you gain weight.

blues4miles

kriyo87 wrote: »

I'm hoping my doctor will be able to appeal the claim, because not only am I a disaster of a person without this medication, but I'm also putting my health at a huge risk by gaining so much in so little time.

What's causing this? I believe years of appetite suppression and a jacked up metabolism and heart rate due to constant stimulation via Adderall, and without it, my body's metabolism and caloric needs have reduced greatly.

Have you had your thyroid checked? It's unlikely going off the medication would have a substantial effect on your metabolism. Even outliers tend to be within 50-100 calories a day difference from the standards predicted by weight and height. However, having an effective appetite suppressant for 12 years and then losing that can be very devastating. A good friend of mine had to go off while she was pregnant. After she stopped breast feeding she went back on again and lost the weight really fast. It was obvious it was because it was curtailing her eating. In fact, she was very inactive overall.

Just like Adderall isn't a magic pill for weight loss, nothing is really. Just hard work, logging and weighing food, being accurate in your calorie counts and accurate in your exercise calories. Many of us struggle with that every day regardless of issues with medication. I agree though that no one should go on it for weight loss. As others have posted, it can affect different people differently. Much like running. People see it as an easy way out. But it doesn't burn as many calories as people think, and it can sometimes increase your appetite. I hope you get your medication sorted out, I know my friend really struggled mentally when she was off it.

azulvioleta6

Adderall can have some AWFUL side effects. My SO recently tried it for adult ADHD and became a paranoid beast. I think that he may have been having some hallucinations too. It was bad.

Anyone taking it just for weight loss should be aware that it can cause serious issues for some people.

CoffeeNCardio

"Two months off the drug, and I have gained over 25 pounds!!! Despite a sensible diet and exercise program, I've ballooned. It's horrible. I'm eating well, staying within calorie and macronutrient goals and it's just piling on."


If you were staying within your calorie goal, and presuming that goal is accurate, you wouldn't be gaining weight. Yes, adderall as well as other drugs can have an affect on weight gain/loss, perhaps even metabolism, but not so drastic as to cause a 25 lb weight gain in 2 months. I suggest you make your diary public, buy a food scale so you're eating exactly what you're logging and not being derailed by inaccurate measurements, and consider how you're logging your exercise/eating back exercise calories. It simply isn't thermodynamically possible to be gaining like you are if you're truly eating at maintenance. 5lbs here or there from water? Sure, but 25 lbs is a sure sign that you are intaking more calories than you are using. There are a number of medical conditions that might (heavy on the might) cause this by changing your output factor, but coming off Adderall isn't one.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time with your insurance company over this. I firmly believe in a law that would require them to pay for it until this is all sorted out so people don't have to do without while the red tape is fought over. I hope you get that worked out soon.

kriyo87

CoffeeNCardio wrote: »

"Two months off the drug, and I have gained over 25 pounds!!! Despite a sensible diet and exercise program, I've ballooned. It's horrible. I'm eating well, staying within calorie and macronutrient goals and it's just piling on."


If you were staying within your calorie goal, and presuming that goal is accurate, you wouldn't be gaining weight. Yes, adderall as well as other drugs can have an affect on weight gain/loss, perhaps even metabolism, but not so drastic as to cause a 25 lb weight gain in 2 months. I suggest you make your diary public, buy a food scale so you're eating exactly what you're logging and not being derailed by inaccurate measurements, and consider how you're logging your exercise/eating back exercise calories. It simply isn't thermodynamically possible to be gaining like you are if you're truly eating at maintenance. 5lbs here or there from water? Sure, but 25 lbs is a sure sign that you are intaking more calories than you are using. There are a number of medical conditions that might (heavy on the might) cause this by changing your output factor, but coming off Adderall isn't one.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time with your insurance company over this. I firmly believe in a law that would require them to pay for it until this is all sorted out so people don't have to do without while the red tape is fought over. I hope you get that worked out soon.

25 lbs is an exaggeration. It's really been about 10 or 12. But I feel enormous. I'm a chef, and so I feel like my estimates on portion size have been fairly accurate, as I follow recipes and portion for a living. But I did buy a food scale to be more accurate.

I'm currently following a ketogenic diet and the pounds have been coming off. And I'm eating about 1200 cals a day. But the initial weight gain off the meds was fast and brutal. Sure, that had to do mostly with the fact that I had been relying on an appetite suppressant for 16 years and then all of a sudden had to feel hunger pangs again. The last couple months have been a struggle trying to relearn how to distinguish between hunger, thirst, and straight boredom. But I am getting there.

Thanks for all the advice. But I feel I'm getting it under control. I do go to the gym about 3-4 days a week with my coworkers. And being a chef, I'm highly active at work. (14 hr days, lots of lifting, constantly on my feet, and I don't snack at the restaurant).

kriyo87

HutchA12 wrote: »

Just putting it out there that not being on the meds didn't magic weight onto you. Your eating more or being less active. That's how you gain weight.

I think we all know how weight comes on. My activity level hasn't changed. I work out 3-4 days a week and I work on my feet all day 4-5 days a week for 12-14 hrs at a time. The vast difference is that I was probably eating 800-1000 cals a day and maintaining because of the drug, and without it I'm closer to 15-1700. Being that I was maintaining on such few calories, I believe my metabolism had slowed to a halt. But I'm no expert. It's just a hunch.

ClosetBayesian

kriyo87 wrote: »

HutchA12 wrote: »

Just putting it out there that not being on the meds didn't magic weight onto you. Your eating more or being less active. That's how you gain weight.

I think we all know how weight comes on. My activity level hasn't changed. I work out 3-4 days a week and I work on my feet all day 4-5 days a week for 12-14 hrs at a time. The vast difference is that I was probably eating 800-1000 cals a day and maintaining because of the drug, and without it I'm closer to 15-1700. Being that I was maintaining on such few calories, I believe my metabolism had slowed to a halt. But I'm no expert. It's just a hunch.

An extra 700 calories a day will add up to a pound and a bit a week. It's not your metabolism, it's the calories.

HutchA12

kriyo87 wrote: »

HutchA12 wrote: »

Just putting it out there that not being on the meds didn't magic weight onto you. Your eating more or being less active. That's how you gain weight.

I think we all know how weight comes on. My activity level hasn't changed. I work out 3-4 days a week and I work on my feet all day 4-5 days a week for 12-14 hrs at a time. The vast difference is that I was probably eating 800-1000 cals a day and maintaining because of the drug, and without it I'm closer to 15-1700. Being that I was maintaining on such few calories, I believe my metabolism had slowed to a halt. But I'm no expert. It's just a hunch.

OK so you still ate more. We don't know your stats but I have trouble believing you maintained on a 1000 cals a day while being active unless you are exceptionally small or have a serious medical condition. Getting a food scale like you say you are is good. Chef or not it would be good for you to have more accurate portions as your estimates seem very off.

Also your metabolism isn't an organ that gets sick or messed up. It's the amount of energy your body uses to run. It increases with size and activity level and decreases with the loss of either. A few conditions can affect it but it's not going to just sling up and down rapidly without lots of activity. If you put on weight your metabolism is actually higher than it was before.

You will be fine and adjust. Good luck on getting insurance sorted out.

tnm7760

I had a similar experience. I got off Adderall when I found out I was pregnant. Within a month I was up 8lbs (I'm 5'4", was barely 115lbs at the time).

I think I was so used to being able to eat whatever I wanted (because I rarely wanted much) that I never paid attention to portions, types of food, appropriate meal times, etc. I didn't even find food as enjoyable or pleasurable when I was on it. When I quit taking it and actually experienced hunger pains and really ENJOYED food, I was still eating whatever and whenever, but in huge amounts. It was awful.

I've struggled to lose weight and my OB mentioned that perhaps it was like those with an eating disorder--my metabolism really had lowered because my caloric intake had been so low for so long. He wasn't certain, suggested it like maybe it was something to consider, but told me to feed myself healthy foods and stay active and that I'd be fine. I lose about .25lbs on 1200 calories per day. Pretty slow. Annoying. Whether or not it's because of Adderall/metabolism slowing, I have no idea. Doesn't really matter to me. But it's slow. Luckily I only have about 25lbs to lose.

I'd not recommend Adderall to anyone unless they really need it to function. People who take it to get skinny are crazy.

mjwarbeck

mkakids wrote: »

Im currently on vyvanse for ADD, inattentive type. Tried adderall about 2 years ago and had some nasty side effects.

Vyvanse is supposed to supress hunger as well, but I have never noticed it happening to me. Im almost always hungry, lol. My nephew, who is on vyvanse as well, has gone 2-3 days without eating before and he has to set his phone timer to remind him to eat. Everyone reacts differently to meds.

Taking a non prescribed medication is never a good thing, especially a controlled substance.

Vyvanse is actually prescribed, off label, for binge eating disorder as well as ADD/ADHD.

I have been in vyvance for several months after finally going through a series of psychological and psychiatric evaluations. Vyvance was selected as it where my son ended after looking at straterra, concerta, biphentin.

As for appetite suppression. Most definitely. But the suppression is during the mid day...there will is no effect prior to taking the meds...or when they wear off. That being said, I can easily forget to eat a lunch...this was a main reason for me to start recording my meals to show that I am getting sufficient Calories.

Where I find the biggest aid, is the ability to control impulse...food is just one of them...