Is it ok to quit Adderall cold turkey? Going cold turkey on Adderall will lead to withdrawal symptoms. So what are the risks of of stopping Adderall? And what to do if an individual wants to stop?
Quitting Cold Turkey
Excepting a medical necessity there is no real need to stop taking Adderall cold turkey. This is the case even if the individual is physically or psychologically dependent on the drug. The best way to stop taking Adderall is to slowly reduce dosage over a period of time. This is called ‘tapering’.
If an individual does quit Adderall cold turkey, they can expect dangerous health complications including seizures, depression and paranoia. Stopping Adderall cold turkey will lead to unnecessarily acute withdrawal symptoms, due to the brain and central nervous system being flooded with neurotransmitter chemicals which trigger rebound effects.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal from Adderall can be intense and uncomfortable and last a long time. An individual who quits taking Adderall cold turkey can expect to feel withdrawal coming on approximately 3 to 6 hours after the drug has left their system. After about 48 hours, acute symptoms are at their peak and can last for a couple more days.
Post acute withdrawal symptoms take longer to resolve, and the individual can expect to deal with them for several weeks after the final traces of the drug have left their system. Some of these symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Abdominal pain
- Cravings for the drug
- Dysphoria
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Panic
- Fatigue
- Increased heart rate
- Seizures
Risks of quitting Cold Turkey
Needless to say that stopping Adderall cold turkey comes with risks. If an individual chooses to quit taking Adderall this way, it is important to know the risks. It is also important to keep in mind that these risks can be hard to treat because symptoms can come on suddenly and without warning. Some risks of quitting Adderall cold turkey include:
- Psychosis
- Cardiac arrest
- Coma
- Extreme fatigue
- Death
While it is never recommended that an individual quits Adderall cold turkey, sometimes it cannot be avoided. The people best suited to stop taking Adderall abruptly are those who haven’t been using the drug for a long period of time. It helps if the individual is in optimum health without any other health concerns or complications, along with a genuine desire to quit the drug.
It is clear that, in most cases, tapering is the best way to quit Adderall. It is a slow process, but the individual will be able to deal with it much better than quitting cold turkey. Anyone wanting to stop taking Adderall must talk to a doctor or medical practitioner to find the route to recover that works best for them.
Recovery can be hard, but there is always help available. Call The Villa to find out how we can support your goals for sober living.