Adderall , Adults, and Cardio

S

sarahinva

Cathlete
Does anyone have any experience with adults taking adderall for ADHD? My sister-in-law began taking adderall in late September. Since then, she's lost about 40 pounds, going from a size 12 to a 6. I'm very concerned about her, because her weight loss isn't through healthy eating and exercise; it's through the appetite suppression of adderall. I've read a lot of conflicting reports concerning adults and ADHD drugs. Does anyone have any experience with stimulants such as adderall?? My sister-in-law has never been an exerciser, but now she's interested in beginning a running program and wants me to train with her. I'm worried because of the effects of stimulants on your heart. Currently, she's taking 30mg three times per day. Call me crazy, but I'm worried that if I get out there and start running with her, she'll drop dead of a heart attack at age 29! If it's not too invasive a question, do any of you take stimulants like adderall while maintaining a tough cardio workout??

Thanks!
Sarah
 
hi sarah, 30mg isn't to high of a dosage really(my daughter takes 20mg of ritalin LA and even the doctor thinks that might be low). granted there are side affects of loss of appetite etc. but is she still eating at least? and actually exercising might help. my doctor is very quick to tell me that exercise is the best whether she is on it or not to help with the symptoms of ADHD. but IMO i don't think adderal or ritaln as stimulants, but if you still concerned have you,your sister, and her doctor all sit down and dicuss it.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
Kassia,

Thanks for your response! To be honest with you, I'd take just about anyone's opinion over her doctor's. Since she has been on it, there have been two other ladies from our church who got appointments with him and got prescriptions for adderall. Yes, they could be adhd, but their primary motive was weight loss, and that's why they wanted it. Also, this same doctor put my brother in law on it, even though he knows that my brother in law is a 30 year old alcoholic who has a history of cocaine and crack abuse. Everything that I've read about adderall clearly states that those people with addiction problems should NOT take it. Anyway, I've tried to talk to her about it, but all she sees is the weight loss. And, no, she doesn't eat much at all, even now!

Sarah
 
sarah,

i would see if you could get another opinion then. b/c i didn't realize he was so quick to whip out that prescription pen. i would try to just keep an eye on the situation. exercise might help, like i said. viola cannot take this medicine everyday, so on those days she doesn't take it she get extra playtime to let out that anxiety. i really hope this doctor isn't abusing this priveledge of handing out prescriptions,b/c there are ppl that need this medication for serious issues. its not meant to be a weight loss drug and shame on ppl for going that route. and you are right b/c we have discussed this with our doctor, that adderall can be addictive. sometimes it gives ppl the effect of using downers. that is why we choose to try the ritalin family b/c i really don't need a 6 year old addicted to pills.

i really hopes things turn around but try some activites with your sister b/c if there is a problem she might open up to you or you can intervene when it gets to serious.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
Sarah,

My experience with Adderall was with my son not an adult, but I can say it affects people differently. My son was so nervous and on an emotional roller coaster when on this med. However, for many, as Kassia's daughter, it works. But drs prescribing it so loosely as you mentioned is scarey, and for probable weight loss?

There's a medication for ADHD that isn't a stimulant, Strattera, and my 11 yo son is currently taking this and it works beautifully for enabling him to focus on his school work and tasks with no side effects for him.

I understand your concern and hope you're able to convince your SIL to speak with her dr before beginning her exercise program.
 
WOW, I had no idea docs would prescribe Adderall only for weight loss. That's just great!x(

I have an aquaintance who takes it and says she really doesn't think she is truly ADD but was having a hard time studying so she got some. She says now the only reason she keeps taking it is cuz it keeps her up all night to study when she needs to. :eek:
 
I would think some monitoring of her HR will be necessary during exercise because a SE of Adderall is rapid heart rate. If she was just going out walking I wouldn't worry, but if you throw her into an IMAX, maybe you should slap a HR monitor on her. That is an idea!!! Then you can set it to a limit at which it will beep so she knows to slow down. Like others have said too, talk to her doc. Make sure the doc understands though the intensity of the exercise you do. When you ask most docs if you can start an exercise program they think of strolling in the park or yoga. LOL.

Hope you have an exercise partner soon. I'd love one!
 
Well, let me rephrase this about the doctor, although I have VERY little confidence in him as a physician. I don't think these two women went in and told him that they wanted a prescription to adderall so they could lose weight. They got a prescription for it around February, after they had seen a dramatic weight loss in my sister in law. I'm guessing that they went in and described having adhd-like symptoms. In my brother-in-law's case, however, I know for a fact that this physician (a family doctor, not a psychiatrist or anything like that) was well informed of the alcohol and drug addiction problems that my brother-in-law has experienced. In fact, he was on a dosage of 10mg 3 times per day of adderall when he relapsed into another crack binge. His fiance went to this family doctor with him and told him that Brad hadn't ingested any drugs for about six months, and that he had just succumbed to the temptation of crack. What did the doctor do, even though the literature for adderall clearly states that it shouldn't be taken by those with addiction problems? He increased his dosage from 10mg to 20 mg three times a day! No referrals to a psychiatrist or anything. Now my brother-in-law goes through a 30 day supply of the stuff in a week.

My intentions weren't to rant and rave about this doctor and my drug-addicted, alcoholic brother-in-law, though. Sorry for letting it get away! I'm just really concerned about my sister-in-law beginning a high intensity cardio program because she's never exercised before. I'm just concerned that now that she's lost so much weight, she'll think that she can elevate her heart rate more than she should be while on this medicine. I'm not a pharmacist, so I don't know much about it, but every time I read something about it, I keep thinking about ephedra and the dangers associated with it and elevated heart rates. And, I may be WAY off base by comparing ephedra to adderall, but all the stuff that alters your blood pressure and heart rate makes me nervous.

Thanks for the replies!
Sarah
 
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