How to Detox From Adderall

South Shore’s Comprehensive Medical Detox Program for Adderall Addiction

Are you worried about the potential withdrawal symptoms that can surface when you decide to quit your Adderall use once and for all? It may not be an easy process to quit, but it’s rewarding to feel confident that you can live life sober. You need to know how to detox from Adderall safely.

Adderall is an addictive central nervous system stimulant that is abused for its help with energy and focus. Withdrawal symptoms are both physical and psychological, peaking within the first three days without the drug. Detox allows you to taper your drug use and offers care for severe depression that often follows.

South Shores Recovery provides you with a safe space for Adderall withdrawal. Our luxurious facilities give you the best in comfort and evidence-based care. If you’re thinking about giving up your Adderall addiction, keep reading to learn more about how detox can help.

Is Adderall Addictive?

While Adderall is a legal substance obtained with a prescription, it’s not without risk. Adderall abuse is common because it mirrors the properties of many illegal amphetamines. It has its role in treating some conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. But you also run the risk of becoming addicted.

To further highlight the dangers of Adderall, it should be noted that it is a Schedule II substance. This means that the federal government understands the high propensity for abuse and makes it harder for the average person to obtain.

It’s common to find students and athletes who use Adderall to enhance their focus and energy levels.

Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms for Quitting Cold Turkey

When it comes time to enroll in an Adderall detox, you should be aware of the risks and the potential for discomfort heading your way. The acute withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to manage on your own at home. If you’ve been abusing Adderall, expect withdrawal symptoms that oppose the effects of the drug.

For example, common symptoms of Adderall use include increased focus, a sense of well-being, and an influx of energy.

On the other hand, withdrawal from Adderall will be difficult with common physical symptoms like:

• Headaches
• Oversleeping, fatigue, or insomnia
• Increased appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Body aches

However, you’ll also experience withdrawal symptoms that affect your mood and can exacerbate mental health issues. You might experience an increase in anxiety, a depressed mood, mood swings, or sudden irritability.

Adderall Withdrawal Timeline: How Long Will the Adderall Crash Last?

If you’re thinking about giving up these central nervous system stimulants, you might wonder how long you can expect the severe withdrawal symptoms to last. When will they peak, and when will you finally start to feel improvement?

Stimulant withdrawal comes relatively quickly compared to some other drugs. Most people who give it up cold turkey will find that the initial withdrawal symptoms will begin within one to two days of the last dose. These symptoms may be mild initially and purely physical, with insomnia or even fatigue.

By the third day without the prescription drug, you’re likely to experience more intense symptoms that could mirror mental disorders like anxiety or depression. This is the time for peak symptoms to surface.

Physical symptoms subside within the first week for most people. However, your mood swings, anxiety, and drug cravings can linger for weeks.

Adderall XR versus Adderall: Managing Withdrawal Symptoms

Adderall withdrawal symptoms will vary depending on which form of the drug you have been taking. On one hand, regular Adderall is relatively fast-acting and also leaves the body relatively quickly. Most will find that the effects of Adderall wear off in about four to six hours after the last dose.

Adderall XR (extended release) will last for a longer period. It builds up in the body so that you can experience the effects of the prescription drug for longer. That being said, it also takes longer for the drug to leave your system. Your withdrawal from Adderall might last for weeks as opposed to days.

Adderall Detox: When is it Time for Addiction Treatment?

At some point, you might find that the severe symptoms of withdrawal are too hard to manage on your own at home. Whether you experience psychological symptoms or physical ones, treatment for Adderall abuse is best left to the medical professionals.

Here is why you should consider medical support for detox if you struggle with Adderall dependence.

Tapering Your Drug Use to Minimize Severe Withdrawal Symptoms

Serious Adderall misuse might require you to taper down your medications in addiction recovery to help minimize your withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve been taking Adderall for a long time or have been taking too much of it, going cold turkey might not be the wisest decision.

South Shores can offer tapering to make the withdrawal process gentler and more tolerable. This can reduce the amount of suffering due to physical dependence on the prescription and can ease you into recovery gently.

Under the care of a team of medical professionals, we’ll gradually take you down from your current dose to nothing. We’ll monitor you at every stage of the process to ensure you’re tolerating the taper well. We can also offer additional medications to improve symptoms, such as drugs to help you sleep.

Help for Severe Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

One of the major risks of going through the withdrawal period on your own at home is the risk of serious mental health issues. Many people with physical dependence on Adderall will experience depression or suicidal thoughts after they discontinue their prescription drug abuse. This is risky to manage alone.

On the other hand, medical supervision is helpful in a detox program. You’ll be monitored 24/7 so that you don’t run the risk of harming yourself in any way. Plus, our counselors can meet with you to discuss difficult emotions and experiences that pop up during your detox.

We’ll also give you a comprehensive assessment to see if you could benefit from medications for mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. This is hard to assess with your primary care physician, but Adderall detox offers you a safe space for observation and assessment.

Transition to Long-Term Adderall Addiction Recovery

Adderall withdrawal can last well beyond the point of those initial withdrawal symptoms. You might not have trouble sleeping forever, but you will need help to manage stress in your long-term recovery. Living without Adderall’s effects is challenging, especially if you’ve been taking higher doses for an extended period.

South Shores Recovery offers a long-term treatment center for anyone who is physically dependent on prescription medications. You’ll reside in our comfortable facility for thirty to ninety days, giving you a firm foundation to start a successful recovery.

Access to Therapy and Services

While you’re with us, we take care of your every need. You’ll eat nutritious foods, participate in individual and group therapy, and get to the bottom of your addiction. We even offer complementary therapies like yoga and surf therapy so that you have plenty of tools to prevent relapse upon your transition home.

Stopping Adderall is difficult, but South Shores Recovery makes it easy for you to get the medical care you need to thrive.

Another benefit of enrolling in residential care is having around-the-clock access to help. If you wake up in the middle of the night with intense cravings, someone is available to talk with you and offer the support you need to make it through. We understand that cravings aren’t always convenient.

Find Help for Adderall Abuse at South Shores Recovery

When you’re ready to face your Adderall addiction, it’s time to consider enrolling in treatment to get the help you need. Both physical and psychological symptoms will surface in the early days without it, so be sure you’re prepared for the fallout with South Shores Recovery.

We offer a luxurious treatment center in sunny Southern California. We offer a wide range of therapeutic services that provide support when you stop taking Adderall. Our enrollment team makes it easy for you to seek help for your journey toward sobriety.

Let us answer your questions and verify your insurance benefits in a quick, confidential phone call. We can tell you what to expect and help you reserve a spot in our recovery program today!

References

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2. Shoptaw, S. J., Kao, U., Heinzerling, K., & Ling, W. (2009). Treatment for amphetamine withdrawal. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2009(2), CD003021.
3. Cryan, J. F., Hoyer, D., & Markou, A. (2003). Withdrawal from chronic amphetamine induces depressive-like behavioral effects in rodents. Biological psychiatry, 54(1), 49–58.
4. Carneiro, L., Clemente, F. M., Claudino, J. G., Ferreira, J., Ramirez-Campillo, R., & Afonso, J. (2024). Surf therapy for people with mental health disorders: a systematic review of randomized and non-randomized controlled trials. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 24(1), 376.