Last Updated on December 10, 2019 by Valarie Ward

Adderall is commonly used to treat ADD and ADHD, but many youths abuse it as a study drug. Some 34% of college students admit to taking it illegally, and research indicates full-time college students are more likely to use it for non-medical purposes. The result is young people developing an addiction that may require detox and withdrawal. In this 6-step guide, we’ll cover six ways to cope with what is arguably the toughest challenge for users, Adderall withdrawal.

Step #1: Understand What’s Happening

The scariest part of withdrawal is not knowing what’s going to occur or why it’s happening. You can face fear head on by knowing what to expect ahead of time. The timeline of Adderall withdrawal depends on how long and intensively you’ve used. The average length of withdrawal is one week, but symptoms can persist for up to four. The good news is the physical impact dissipates the quickest. Here are some of the symptoms to expect:

• Cravings: Adderall suppresses appetite. It’s not uncommon for food cravings and extreme hunger to be a big part of withdrawal, but that’s not the only type of craving you can experience. Your mind and body can have major cravings for a fix because they’re accustomed to Adderall intake.
• Exhaustion: For people who don’t have ADD or ADHD, Adderall is an addictive upper. It spikes energy levels, which means detoxing is going to feel like one gigantic crash as your body adjusts to more normal levels of energy. Feelings of exhaustion are to be expected, and deep sleep for up to 48 hours can occur.
• Disrupted Sleep: During withdrawal, restlessness and insomnia often set in. It’s also normal for disturbed sleep to occur, and it can last for up to 48 hours as well.
• Mood Swings: Withdrawal is sort of like the worst day ever, but it lasts longer than one day. The good news, it’s temporary and will pass. The bad news, your moods are going to be erratic. You might feel depressed or react to things with anxiety. Psychotic reactions are also possible.

Step #2: Acceptance

Once you understand what withdrawal is, it’s time to accept it. It’s not going to be a walk in the park, but it’s going to be worth it. It may take you out of commission from school or work for a full week. You won’t be as energetic or productive as usual, and that’s okay.

Take steps before quitting Adderall use to recover. Addiction is a physical and mental disease. Treat withdrawal like you would a major illness or medical procedure and schedule time away from school or work via the applicable department or supervisor.

Step #3: Take Care of Yourself

How do you treat yourself when you have the flu? Chances are you hibernate in bed or on the sofa, binge on Netflix and Hulu, break out the chicken noodle soup (or your favorite comfort food), and do as little as physically possible. You rest and focus on something you like doing that doesn’t take a lot of effort.

As you enter withdrawal, take care of yourself just like you would if were sick. Overextension and overexertion will only make the symptoms worse. Your body needs time to detox and cope with the change.

Step #4: Replenish

Adderall drains the body of electrolytes. It’s common for addicts to have depleted levels of magnesium, potassium, and sodium. You can give your body what it needs and battle those extreme food cravings by stocking up on the essentials of a balanced diet. Drinks like Vitamin Water and Gatorade are also great ways to treat yourself while replenishing your body.

Step #5: Manage Adderall Withdrawal like a Comedown

Crashing off Adderall is no fun. In fact, you probably know exactly what it feels like when you missed a dose or used non-stop during finals and then quit. The comedown is rough, and withdrawal is going to be rougher. But you can use some of the same strategies for managing the comedown during detox and withdrawal:

• Create a Mood: Make your environment as stress-free as possible and create a sense of relaxation. Think low lighting, candles, and a luxurious warm bath. If the mood keeps getting high jacked by headaches, it’s okay to take a NSAID like aspirin to relieve an amphetamine-related headache.
• Vitamin C and Cranberry Juice: Unconfirmed evidence suggests that Vitamin C and cranberry juice promote Adderall clearance and lessen the length of detox. Vitamin C is an antioxidant capable of oxidizing stress related to amphetamine use. It could potentially assist in promoting relaxation, but if nothing else, the combo will help replenish electrolytes within the body and depleted vitamins and minerals.
• Try a Natural Anxiolytic: These are safe ways to take the edge off major withdrawal symptoms and promote relaxation and restful sleep. Natural anxiolytics include melatonin, magnesium, L-Theanine, glycine, and 5-HTP.
• Focus on Stress Relief: Anxiety can skyrocket during withdrawal, but you can bring it down by focusing on stress relief. Some sure ways to succeed include listening to relaxing music, drawing, painting, drinking green tea, deep-breathing exercises, meditation, gardening, and going for a walk in the park or woods.
• Get Moving: Studies have proven time and again that exercise supports recovery from psychostimulant use and abuse. Exercise can help manage the want to quit detox. Mustering the energy during withdrawal may be tough, but even low-key and low-impact movement does the trick.

Step #6: Leverage a Support Network

This is perhaps one of the most important steps because it carries over to your day-to-day after withdrawal. Some people use Adderall and get hooked without having an addictive personality. Others have just such a personality, which makes managing temptations now and later imperative. Apply the tips in step five and leverage a support network, such as a trained substance abuse counselor who offers individual and group counseling.

The key to surviving and moving on from Adderall withdrawal is determination. You can succeed, and you can lead a productive, meaningful life!