Despite being a powerful amphetamine, Adderall is being prescribed more and more often to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, its illegal use is also on the rise. Adderall has become the drug of choice to help study and manage stress.

However, its effectiveness comes with an equal degree of risk. The crash that comes after Adderall’s effects wear off can be unpleasant and dangerous. Worse, it may only be a taste of serious withdrawal symptoms.

Key Takeaways: Adderall Crash

• Adderall can be addictive and cause physical dependence.
• Adderall crash is the first stage in withdrawal.
• Adderall withdrawal can be dangerous, causing both serious physical and mental side effects.
• Withdrawal from Adderall can last from about five days to several weeks.
• Contacting a doctor is the best first step when quitting Adderall.
• Other helpful quitting strategies include eating healthy, staying hydrated, exercising, a healthy sleep schedule, and therapy.

What Is Adderall?

Adderall is the brand name for mixed amphetamine salts, a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It is primarily prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It comes either in the standard immediate release or Adderall XR, or extended release.

ADHD is common both in childhood and adulthood, where most treat it with Adderall

While it is used most often to treat ADHD, Adderall use, or Adderall abuse, is also common among college students and professionals. Due to its ability to increase focus, it’s wrongly assumed it can also improve cognition generally. 

Drug abuse of this kind happens outside of a doctor’s supervision, increasing the odds of adverse reactions and Adderall addiction.

How Does Adderall Work?

Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant [1]. That means that it stimulates both voluntary actions like movement and autonomic functions like heart rate.

In the brain, Adderall ramps up the production of neurotransmitters, including dopamine [2]. Dopamine is critical to the function of the reward pathway in our brain, giving us a feeling of well-being when we solve problems, which in turn encourages focus.

Eventually, the drug’s effects run their course. The high levels of dopamine are no longer maintained. In fact, overworked processes may produce less, leading to fatigue and other ill effects that come with an Adderall crash, the first step in withdrawal. 

Adderall Side Effects

Prescription stimulant medications like Adderall are powerful drugs and potentially can do as much harm as they do good. At therapeutic doses, Adderall side effects are generally manageable and can include [1]:

• Higher blood pressure.
• Increased heart rate.
• Headache.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Weight loss.
• Upset stomach.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nervousness or agitation.
• Mood swings.

Adderall abuse that involves larger doses or using it unsupervised for an extended period can frequently lead to more severe side effects. Among those are:

• Heart attack.
• Stroke.
• Sudden death.
• Seizure.
• Hypersensitive immune reaction.
• Psychotic episodes.
• Behavioral changes.
• Dark red or brown-colored urine.

Additionally, while not strictly speaking a side effect, Adderall addiction is also possible, as is amphetamine withdrawal when users attempt to stop taking the drug.

Risks of Using Adderall

Aside from the side effects we’ve discussed, the chief risks when using Adderall may be tolerance, addiction, overdose, and, when attempting to stop use, withdrawal symptoms. 

The effects of the drug begin to lessen as you build up a tolerance, even when taking Adderall as prescribed by a doctor. When taking it illicitly, tolerance may build more quickly, leading quickly to dependence, addiction, and potentially Adderall withdrawal. 

The crash users experience as a drug wears off is a form of withdrawal. Stimulant withdrawal can be dangerous, particularly if someone used to large doses suddenly stops cold turkey. 

According to the FDA, it might be better for pregnant women to avoid using Adderall, as it can affect a developing fetus. Nursing mothers may also want to stop Adderall use [1].

Is Adderall Addictive?

Adderall, like all amphetamines, has the potential to cause addiction and make users physically dependent. Users may take more frequent and larger doses as tolerance builds, looking for the focus, energy, and well-being Adderall can provide. 

Substance use disorder (SUD) may quickly develop, as drug use begins to interfere with living life. Mild to moderate SUD is considered to indicate physical dependence. Stopping use at that point may be difficult, as Adderall withdrawal and reuse are a danger.

The potential for addiction is one of the primary reasons Adderall remains a controlled substance. Adderall and alcohol can also be a harmful mix. 

Roughly 24% of college students reported using ADHD medication to study, whereas 19.4% used it for recreational purposes

What Is An Adderall Crash?

The crash after using Adderall is the first phase of withdrawal. While the ‘crash’ phase may be less serious, amphetamine withdrawal syndrome always has the potential to be dangerous. Users may feel withdrawal begin within three to four hours after a dose, depending on a number of factors.

Physical Adderall withdrawal symptoms can be potentially life-threatening. However, there is also a psychological aspect to these symptoms that can also be dangerous. Withdrawal usually includes some degree of depressed mood and can even cause intense depression or suicidal thoughts.

Adderall withdrawal symptoms may drive further use, as the mood changes and health issues that result are often pretty unpleasant. 

How Long Does Adderall Stay In Your System?

Drug tests will return positive for amphetamines for a few days after your last dose, usually between one and four days [3]. Many factors may play into how long Adderall stays in your system, though dose size is one of the most important. Adderall XR may also stay in your system for longer.

Symptoms of an Adderall Crash

Common symptoms of withdrawal are similar to the adverse side effects already listed. However, the chief symptom is dysphoric mood, a state that’s similar in most respects to depression. In fact, the crash after Adderall wears off is colloquially known as “sadderall” due to this common symptom. Other symptoms may include [4]:

• Irritability.
• Body aches.
• Difficulty in social situations.
• Fatigue.
• Sleeping too much or trouble sleeping.
• Increased appetite.
• Unpleasant dreams.
• Agitation, including anxiety and panic attacks.

A crash may last one or two days. The complete withdrawal period normally lasts between a few days to a couple of weeks. However, some symptoms may last longer, with reports of depressed mood lasting as long as a year. 

Adderall Headache

Headache is a common side effect when taking Adderall. The relationship between Adderall use and headaches may not be entirely clear [5]. If you’re experiencing it as a side effect of taking your regular medication, taking it with some food might help [6].

Headaches may also be a symptom of serotonin syndrome, a potentially deadly complication of using Adderall. It’s more likely when taking large doses or when combining Adderall with other medications [1]. Symptoms include:

• Agitation.
• Hallucinations.
• Coma.
• Problems controlling movement.
• Fever.

After Quitting Adderall, How Long Does It Take Withdrawal Symptoms to Stop?

Withdrawal symptoms may last between five days and a few weeks. The length of withdrawal depends on many factors, including genetics, dose size, and others. 

Some aspects of Adderall detox may take longer to resolve. In particular, the low mood that is the most common symptom can last up to a year.

How To Cope With an Adderall Crash

The crash is the first part of withdrawal, so it may be only the first part of several challenges you’ll face in quitting. Withdrawal from Adderall can be dangerous, so it may be best to seek out an addiction treatment center to help. However, some strategies for managing a crash and withdrawal include:

1. Visit your doctor.
2. Eat healthy food.
3. Drink lots of water.
4. Exercise.
5. Get enough sleep.
6. Remind yourself that cravings are only temporary.
7. Avoid other stimulants.
8. Get therapy.

Visit Your Doctor

Talking over your options with your doctor is the best first step. If you’re weaning off Adderall after using it to manage ADHD, your doctor will certainly have some guidance. However, they can also provide medical advice if you’re quitting the use of Adderall outside a doctor’s direction.

They may have access to treatments that can help or be able to recommend an addiction treatment facility. Remember they have to keep everything confidential, so they are a safe resource for advice.

Eat Healthy Food

A common symptom of withdrawal is intense hunger. Eating can lead to a release of dopamine, particularly if the food is full of the fat and carbs our bodies always think we need. As a result, it can be a way to supply the boost in dopamine amphetamines no longer provided when you stop taking the drug.

You could satisfy cravings with junk food. However, that’s obviously not the ideal solution and if you’re quitting amphetamines, it might be best to start on a healthy path. If you can, stick to nutritious foods that haven’t been processed. 

Drink Lots of Water

While amphetamines or withdrawal may not cause dehydration directly, staying hydrated is a big part of being healthy. Additionally, the fatigue and apathy that come with withdrawal may make even simple tasks difficult. However, dehydration is only going to make you more uncomfortable.

Exercise

Regular exercise is good for you, of course. However, it may also be one of the best treatments for Adderall comedown and withdrawal, as well as for depression generally. Exercise is associated with lowered anxiety and improved mood, even when that down mood is caused by withdrawal [7].

Get Enough Sleep

Trouble falling asleep is a common problem when quitting amphetamines. Sleep aids may be necessary to help establish a regular, healthy sleep schedule.

Remind Yourself Cravings Are Only Temporary

Kicking an amphetamine addiction can be more difficult than quitting cocaine, to give you an idea of the problem. The cravings for amphetamines, food, or other things can therefore be very hard to resist.

One thing to keep in mind is that you won’t have to keep fighting them forever. Withdrawal symptoms may pass in as little as a few days. Even when they last a few weeks, they will eventually end, leaving you a healthier person.

Avoid Other Stimulants

Your body is really addicted to the high levels of dopamine in your brain that Adderall creates. Replacing Adderall with another stimulant might extend the mental and physical symptoms of addiction, and therefore, withdrawal. Even caffeine, a less potent central nervous system stimulant, might better be avoided.

Get Therapy (Especially If You Were Using Adderall Without a Prescription)

Hopefully, you won’t experience serious symptoms of withdrawal when using Adderall as prescribed by a doctor. Crash and withdrawal are much more likely among those who abuse Adderall. While the stated reason for using Adderall may be as a study aid, drug abuse is often associated with other struggles in daily life [8].

Drugs are often used to manage stress or even to mask the effects of mental disorders [9]. Working with a therapist, you can develop a treatment program so that you can learn to manage those difficulties in a healthier way. Common options include cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.

If you’re not sure where to start, the Mental Health Services Administration offers helpful resources.

Adderall Alternatives

While other drugs may provide some of the same benefits as Adderall, they almost always come with a similar list of risks. However, if you’re still struggling to stay focused and think clearly, there are a few supplement options that are effective and much safer options for OTC Adderall.

Mind Lab Pro

The chief ingredient in Mind Lab Pro is called citicoline. Its effects, including improving memory and focus, are backed up by science to the extent it is often known as over-the-counter Adderall [10]. 

Other ingredients maintain brain health over a long period. Some ingredients may not affect cognition but help in other ways. Nootropics for energy, such as Rhodiola rosea, may include reducing fatigue and improving mood [11].

Performance Lab Mind Nootropics

Performance Lab Mind has many of the same ingredients as Mind Lab Pro, though they are standardized so that every pill and every bottle has the same effects. The inclusion of ingredients is based on peer-reviewed studies, though some may need additional study before their full effects are understood.

FAQs

Looking for simple answers to common questions? We’ve got you covered.

Are There Drugs To Help Make an Adderall Comedown Better?

At the moment, there are no drugs approved for use in amphetamine withdrawal [12]. Despite that, some treatment programs have tried treating symptoms of withdrawal with medication. Antidepressants and antipsychotics are common. Benzodiazepines are sometimes used, though they can cause addiction as well. 

Other medications may include modafinil and mirtazapine [13].

How Long Does Adderall Last Before You Crash?

The length of Adderall’s effects will vary depending on many different factors, so it’s impossible to say for certain. However, the effects of immediate-release tablets usually last about four to six hours [14]. Adderall XR tablets may last from eight to 12 hours.

How Can I Stop an Adderall Headache?

If you get a headache sometimes when taking your regular dose of Adderall, taking it with some food may help relieve headaches.

Headaches that are the result of a crash or withdrawal from Adderall are more difficult to address. Contacting a medical professional for advice or visiting a treatment center is the best idea.

Is a Crash and Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms the Same Thing?

The crash is the first part of withdrawal when the effects wear off and your body is recovering.

Can Adderall Cause Extreme Fatigue?

Taking Adderall shouldn’t cause fatigue, though you may experience fatigue as the effects wear off. The effects will likely be worsened if you’re taking larger doses. Additionally, severe depression is the most common symptom of withdrawal, which can also cause fatigue.

Is It Normal To Crash on Adderall?

When taking it as a prescribed medication, there hopefully shouldn’t be a major crash. Ideally, your doctor is managing things so that the effects last without taking too large a dose. 

A crash is much more likely when taken illicitly as study drugs or otherwise outside a doctor’s care. 

Conclusion

In general, any medication that is effective enough to be helpful is also powerful enough to be dangerous. While Adderall has helped a lot of people deal with ADHD, it can also lead to addiction and dependence.

References:

1. “Adderall CII.” Access Data, Federal Drug Administration, www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/011522s043lbl.pdf.
2. Joyce BM, Glaser PE, Gerhardt GA. Adderall produces increased striatal dopamine release and a prolonged time course compared to amphetamine isomers. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 Apr;191(3):669-77. doi: 10.1007/s00213-006-0550-9. Epub 2006 Oct 10. PMID: 17031708.
3. “Amphetamine Screen (Urine).” Amphetamine Screen (Urine) – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center, www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=amphetamine_urine_screen.
4. Shoptaw, S. J., Kao, U., Heinzerling, K., & Ling, W. (2009). Treatment for amphetamine withdrawal. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2009(2), CD003021. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003021.pub2
5. Nitzsche, Claire. “Headache and Its Association with Adhd/Add and Stimulant Medication.” OpenCommons@UConn, 1 May 2021, opencommons.uconn.edu/srhonors_theses/821/.
6. “Adhd and Migraines Are Likely Partners.” CHADD, chadd.org/adhd-weekly/adhd-and-migraines-are-likely-partners/.
7. Segat, H.J., et al. “Influence of Physical Activity on Addiction Parameters of Rats Exposed to Amphetamine Which Were Previously Supplemented with Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat.” Brain Research Bulletin, Elsevier, 28 Sept. 2017, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0361923017300230.
8. Paloma, Sales, et al. “Burning the Candle at Both ENDS: Motivations for Non-Medical Prescription Stimulant Use in the American Workplace.” Taylor & Francis, 2 May 2019, www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687637.2019.1606895.
9. Lueck, Jennifer A, et al. “The Making of an Addiction: Examining PSYCHOLOGICAL Determinants of Prescription Stimulant Abuse among College Students.” Taylor & Francis, 16 Apr. 2019, www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10410236.2019.1598743.
10. Bruce SE, Werner KB, Preston BF, Baker LM. Improvements in concentration, working memory and sustained attention following consumption of a natural citicoline-caffeine beverage. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2014 Dec;65(8):1003-7. doi: 10.3109/09637486.2014.940286. Epub 2014 Jul 21. PMID: 25046515; PMCID: PMC4517431.
11. Ishaque, S., Shamseer, L., Bukutu, C., & Vohra, S. (2012). Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 12, 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-70
12. Siefried, Krista J., et al. “Pharmacological Treatment of Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Dependence: A Systematic Review.” CNS Drugs, Springer International Publishing, 17 Mar. 2020, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40263-020-00711-x.
13. scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; corporateName=Department for Health and Wellbeing; address=11 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide. “SA Health.” Amphetamine Withdrawal Management, Scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; CorporateName=Department for Health and Wellbeing; Address=11 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, SA, 5000; Contact=+61 8 8226 6000, www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/clinical+resources/clinical+programs+and+practice+guidelines/substance+misuse+and+dependence/substance+withdrawal+management/amphetamine+withdrawal+management.

Shoar, Nazila Sharbaf. “Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine.” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 June 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507808/.