Tips & Remedies For An Adderall Crash & Comedown

Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant and consists of a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It’s used to help with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy but is often abused as a study drug by high school and college students. 

The symptoms of an Adderall crash can be as alarming as the symptoms of abuse, which is one of the reasons the FDA considers it a controlled substance.

When Does An Adderall Comedown Occur?

Adderall can remain in your system for up to 3 days after you’ve taken it, but a comedown can occur after a couple of hours since the last dose. 

Adderall’s half-life is between 9-14 hours. After a full day, half the drug remains in your system and the effects of a comedown show up.

What Factors Affect When An Adderall Crash Occurs?

How fast an Adderall crash occurs depends on a number of different factors, including:

• composition of your body
• how much you eat
• organ function
• if you’ve taken a low or high dose
• how long you’ve taken Adderall
• ​whether you took Adderall or Adderall XR

What Causes An Adderall Crash?

An Adderall crash occurs when you stop taking the drug or the drug moves through your system before the next dose. 

Since the drug causes the release of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine, when the drug wears off, those neurotransmitters are depleted and lead to a crash. 

Side Effects Of An Adderall Crash

Everyone’s crash looks different but there are some major symptoms of withdrawal that can occur, including:

• intense Adderall cravings
• insomnia
• psychosis
• hunger
• anxiety
• dry mouth
• irritability
• panic attacks
• suicidal thoughts
• difficulty concentrating
• mood swings
• depression
• body aches
• dehydration

Tips & Remedies For Dealing With An Adderall Crash

There are quite a few things you can do to help make an Adderall crash more bearable. With these tips, you can save yourself from experiencing all the symptoms of a crash.

Reach Out To A Healthcare Provider

When going through an amphetamine withdrawal, it’s best to consult a doctor. They’ll give you instructions to follow and be there if you’re struggling to detox from the drug. 

They may put you on an antidepressant if depression is hitting you particularly hard or benzodiazepines for insomnia or psychosis.

Remember The Effects Are Temporary

While going through a crash, the effects can feel permanent. It’s important to remember the side effects of the Adderall withdrawal are only temporary. The symptoms will go away once the drug is out of your system.

Hydrate & Eat Healthy 

When coming off Adderall, it’s important to drink lots of water and eat a nutritious diet. You’ll feel dehydrated and hungry so it’s important to satisfy those cravings in moderation. Unhealthy food will simply make you feel worse.

Limit Caffeine

Since you’re coming down from a prescription stimulant, you don’t want to add more stimulants like caffeine or nicotine into the mix. They tend to bring on anxiety, and that’s the last thing someone going through a crash needs.

Exercise

Exercise can help get you through the worst of the crash symptoms and give you a boost of serotonin and dopamine to help with your mental health. Just be sure you’re not doing too much.

Support System

When going through an Adderall crash, reaching out to a support system can be something that keeps you going. They can be there when you need to talk or when you need a distraction. They’ll ensure you never feel alone on this journey.

Restful Environment

While sleep is important when coming off of Adderall, that’s not so easy when insomnia is a major symptom. Combat this by making your sleeping space as comfortable as possible. Put the room at a cool temperature, block out any light, and create a sleep schedule.

Take A Bath

This may seem like it’s too simple a solution to work but it can help with the headaches that come with an Adderall comedown and with any poor circulation in your hands or feet. 

Adderall tends to constrict your blood vessels. A bath will not only give you a relaxing place to be, it will also help relieve the constriction of those blood vessels and regulate your body temp.

Vitamin C & Cranberry Juice

To help eliminate the leftover Adderall from your system, try cranberry juice and vitamin C. Together, they can acidify your urine which helps promote the further withdrawal of Adderall from the body. Vitamin C also works as an antioxidant to protect the brain from stress.

Addiction Treatment For Adderall Abuse

It’s never too late to seek treatment for an Adderall addiction. Call our helpline today to learn more about Adderall addiction and what type of treatment is out there for yourself or a loved one.