ive been on adderall for a month now... it makes me very hyper..anyways im gaining weight instead of loosing..i dont understand..anyone else havein this problem?
Adderall XR - anyone had weight gain while taking Adderall?
- Asked
- 2 May 2011 by fara35
- Updated
- 5 February 2021
- Topics
- adderall, adderall xr, obesity, weight
32 Answers
zev51104
10 Oct 2011
Hello, Fara. To answer your question, no, I have not, nor do I know of anyone who has gained weight because of adderall. On the contrary, and I'm sure you may have read this, adderall usually decreases your appetite and like you've already experienced give you that extra "pep" in your step. When I first started taking the adderall, I literally lost 60lbs or more in less than 6 months. Now that I've become used to it (after about 3 years now) I find that it doesn't affect my appetite as much so I tend to eat how i used to (and have gained most of that 60lbs back) however, not because of the adderall. Its possible in your case that the adderall has caused an OCD-like behavior (because of the hyperness) which I have read happens to many people, and makes you want to compulsively eat. For me pulling loose clothing threads and dismantling t-shirts became routine. Hope some or all of this helps.
bruce
3 Mar 2013
i am in my late thirties and have been on adderall for about 1 year and a half and I have put on 20+ pounds. initially it really killed my appetite during the day and then i was really hungry at night. now i have less appetite during the day, but can eat normally, but I still am hungry at night and eat. i will say that i have always liked to eat, but i was not over weight when i started on adderall. i am now at least 20+ pounds over weight and still have night time eating issues.
amyjacob08
21 Mar 2013
Ive been on adderall for about 8 months now. At first I was on the fast release 10 mg/day and I lost 5-7 few pounds. Then about a month ago I switched to the 10 mg xr and Ive gained 11 lbs!!! I also don't understand the weight gain, but I've also noticed that I cant even tell I'm taking the medication. It doesnt help with concentration anymore and am actually tired after a few hours of taking it. Im thinking I need a higher dose.
Suzapa1
7 Aug 2016
It is now listed as a possible side effect
nurse ratchett
18 Mar 2013
I to have been on adderall for a few months now and have gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks..
mseri
29 Apr 2013
I have been on 10-20mg of the XR for a little over a year and have gained about 20 lbs. Like most of you, I initially lost weight in the beginning though.
Suzapa1
7 Aug 2016
That sounds like me!!
Rgr2
17 Oct 2017
This is happening to me now. I am very confused. I am eating the same as I did a year ago but have gained 10-20 lbs in the last 6 months.
SteelCityGurl
19 Nov 2017
Hi there, My daughter is on 20mg Adderall XR (amphetamine salts) and 20 mg Prozac (fluoxetine) since April-May 2017. Since then she has gained about 20lb. She'll go to school & not be hungry but then come home and snack on food. She's also on glucophage for prediabetes & other issues but she's been on that since she was 6 yrs old, she's now 16. She was on Straterra 100 mg for about 4 1/2 yrs. The reason why she's changed meds is because we moved to a different state & they don't like prescribing the Straterra here for some reason. She was dealing with precocious puberty & which is another main reason for the glucophage and was a little overweight as a young child although she'd eat right. We didn't carry junk food and sugary drinks really in our house. She would eat though a big dish of broccoli, carrots, fish, steak, etc all good foods. After being put on medication we worked hard with her on meals añ snacks.
Her endocrinologist was always wanting her to snack on celery with a little peanut butter if she wanted. Later it went to cucumbers, celery & pickles. She lost a lot of weigh, trimmed up and was looking really good within 2 yrs atleast. The pictures of her with the difference is amazing. Now we're back at square one & she's16 in high school, in a new high school at that. We need to do something for her & I was thinking it's the medication changes. After reading some of these comments I'm really thinking more that the meds are helping her along with the weight gain. With Christmas coming up that'll give us about 2 solid weeks of working with her & maybe talking to Dr too.
Jezz71
1 Sep 2013
It is possible to gain weight if you are a woman with ADHD and taking Adderall and Wellburtin, regardless of the dosage, for the same reason diet pills don't work I.e. (phentermine) that has nothing to do with OCD. There are studies out there on APA and NIHM websites that have found hormonal differences between teenagers and women with ADHD obviously are different. Especially if you are in your late to mid 30's+ thyroid interaction,insulin, cortisol (stress hormone) also increase in women that have ADHD with anxiety. It's virtually impossible to be a woman with ADHD / ADD for over 30years and not have some level of anxiety. A good place to get some information is on APA.Org website if you search for studies on women with ADHD. I take 60mgs a day of Adderall and have gained 10lbs since April. You almost have to eat a Paleo diet above the age of 35 regardless of amphetamines if you want to loose / maintain weight.
mystars121212
29 Sep 2014
I've been taking the generic XR 15 mg for over a yr and have gained about 15 lbs. I notice it makes me feel swollen all over my torso an hr or so after taking it. At this point I would just like to STOP gaining weight. It's so discouraging and it doesn't work for me anywhere near as well as the brand name. My insurance won't pay any more for the brand name than it will for generic so it would cost me $245/mo. !! incredible. I did so well on the brand name for focus/energy, etc. My nurse also told my that the FDA allows generic drugs to be sold when they are only 70 % effective!!!
Jezz71
30 Sep 2014
Since this post I have switched to Vyvance it is a protein based stimulant that metabolizes longer, I am no longer gaining weight, I have lost weight, have greater focus, I am less anxious, and have less episodes of insomnia, in general I feel almost normal if that makes sense. If your insurance company covers Vyvance talk to your doctor about it.
smoran90
1 Nov 2014
I'm also taking Adderall XR 20mg once a day. Today is only my 3rd day of taking it. I'm keeping a journal on my phone to record how I'm feeling on it daily, any changes of it's effects, weight, etc. That way after a week of taking it then speaking with my doctor, I'll know how to explain things. Anyway, I feel hungry on it but I don't want to eat. I've noticed it's easier for me to eat dinner but if I try to eat in the mornings or mid day, I can only get a few bites down and it's almost difficult to swallow, like I have to concentrate on making myself swallow. I'm trying to figure out if there are easy things to eat that aren't too heavy on my stomach and will help me maintain my current weight before I start losing weight?
Cindybabyrn
28 Nov 2016
I have been on Adderall for a few years. I take it religiously and exactly how prescribed. I have gained 40lbs! I'm active also. After a while, it doesn't do a thing for appetite suppression. (Not on me anyway)
Grizzo5
6 Nov 2017
I too have been on Adderall for two months. A few years ago I was in it and loved it lost weight felt good. Now I started two months ago on 10mg twice a day and I have gained weight. I had to start taking a fluid pill because my body retains so much fluid. It is horrible. I have a thyroid problem and take levothyroxine for it. I didn’t know if it was a different manufacturer or what but it seems to have a ton of sodium or something in it. I really wished I could figure something out. I am suffering with bad anxiety along with the weight gain. So frustrating.
mehanjes
22 Apr 2015
My daughter has gained 30lbs in 6 months while on Adderall XR. We are scheduled to see her physician today hopefully I will have some answers as to why.
Suzapa1
7 Aug 2016
Oh I just saw the date! I wish that I had seen earlier... before I put on weight very quickly!!! I mentioned to my pcp and he told me how common it is in adults. I'm off as of 2 days ago!!
Jule32
14 Nov 2019
I do believe Vyvanse work alot better then adderall but I'm on Adderall again do to insurance.
Jule32
14 Nov 2019
Did you have any problem coming off. How is your concentration. Are you losing the weight you put on quickly? I was on Vyvanse had no problem. On Adderall for 6 mths and gained 40lbs. Not happy.
Elk1964
16 Sep 2016
I have been in Adderall XL for over a year. I am 52 years old and I've gained 40+ pounds! It makes me extremely hungry. The doctor put me on Contravene to take along with the adderall. It worked at first and I lost 30 of the 40+ pounds I gained originally. Now they upped my dosage to 40 MG a day and the weight has gone back up again. I just don't know what to do. I'm over 200 lbs now and I'm a short woman. The contrave no longer helps. I'm going back to my doctor today to see if they can take me off contrave and see if there is another option. I cannot gain more weight :(
Brimcd
21 Jul 2017
I have been on adderall xr 30 mg plus adderall 10 mg for about 2 years now. The first year I lost around 35-40 pounds and got back to my normal weight again that I had gained due to medications, health issues and my love for food. I also lost my appetite and cravings for certain foods and especially junk foods like soda, chips, and sweets. I was really happy about that. It makes me very anxious, very OCD, to the point I don't even realize the certain routines and silly patterns I do now and how slow it takes me to do things that never took me as long or that I never put as much time or effort into (especially cleaning or getting ready). I feel like I don't actually get as much done now because I spend so much time focusing on little things instead of the big picture. My weight was staying the same for a while then after a while I had to put a lot of effort in so it would stay around the same.
Now, not only am I putting in a lot of effort, doing more physical activity and eating better but my weight is constantly going up and the adderall has barely any effect on me, usually a couple hours, if any at all most days. I've gained almost 15 pounds back. Adderall is the only thing that makes me able to even get out of the bed everyday because of my fatigue and because of the pep of energy it gave me and now that I'm gaining weight on top of it, my depression and anxiety is just worsening. I wish my insurance would cover the real brand and not just the generic because there is a huge difference! I feel like I'm just stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Jessiejb85
9 Aug 2017
I feel for you! I have had a very similar experience and just wanted to share what has helped me get past it. You can take my input, or leave it, but I feel I must at least share it. I am not completely out of the woods, but my fatigue has gotten better to the point that it no longer rules my life. I started learning about lifestyle things that I could do to better my condition. At first it sounded ridiculous that it could have any real affect but eventually I decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. I gave it 100%. I stopped taking medications and started eating whole foods, limiting sugar and carbs (look up ketosis diet and it's effect on the brain). I also got my sleep in order. It took about a month before I felt a real difference. That month was really difficult, but in the end was worth the struggle. In the end, I realize medications were masking my symptoms but eventually made things worse. I gave my body the things it needs in order to be at its best possible function. As corny as it sounds, it has changed my life.
I wish you the best!
Momofbronco
15 Apr 2018
Thank you for sharing your experience!! I just may look up this diet and give it a try. Have you heard of Dr. Daniel Amen? He has written numerous books about the brain and how you feed it healthy foods and it can help ADHD, memory issues, diabetes, etc.. totally worth checking out. He also had TED Talks.
Medg
5 Mar 2018
I know this post is from November but I thought it was important for another input. I have gained close to 40lbs since being put on adderall. No it's not common but ,despite the know it all comments on here, it is possible as you and I have both experienced. I have read of other instances of weight gain as well.
TylerVincent85
19 Mar 2018
I have been taking Adderall for 8 years. At first, I dropped weight. Appetite was suppressed... about 6 months after starting the medicine I started gaining weight. It’s widely accepted that Adderall helps suppress appetite and lose weight... so I’ve never really put it together until now that Adderall has been the reason I’ve gained 80 pounds in 8 years. It’s pretty much wrecked my health everywhere but my brain. I think I’ve figured it out how and why. I feel like the reason why is because of what Adderall does to the CNS. It ignites it. Thus, your pleasure center is ignited. When you come off the drug... your body wants the pleasure back naturally. If you eat for pleasure, that’s where you can get in trouble. For some people it’s eating, others smoking, sex, whatever. Your body craves to have the pleasure center reignited once the drug wears off and I will warn you as someone that’s taken the drug for the better part of a decade that can be dangerous.
SteelCityGurl
20 Mar 2018
Yes! My daughter is in this and I hate what it's doing to her health. She's under 18 and we moved to another state where the drs here weren't comfortable keeping her on the ADHD med, Strattera (80mg), she was on for over 5 yrs, which really worked for her. Instead they put her on 20 mg Adderall XR where she has gained about 46lbs now in under 5 months! We've brought it up to the doctor and are told "she just needs to be more active". She is no different than what she was before and has issues already (pre-diabetes,high cholesterol, etc) since she was 4-5 yrs old and we've kept up pretty good with things. The doctor then tells us "it doesn't cause weight gain but can cause weight loss so it's not the medication". I took her today for an infection to see pediatrician & spoke with them about it.
They would like to see her back on what she was on before,since it worked,and have ordered extensive labs too because with the other issues she has this can be the culprit, especially since she's done so well in almost 11 yrs and this is the only change. They also want her to see a different endocrinologist but I'm still skeptical plus I have in my head what the endocrinologist told us back where we are originally from in regards to the doctors here in certain medical fields including psychiatry & endocrinology. So far I'm finding her to be very correct & it's sad. We are in the southeastern part of the US and originally from the very northeast. Hope this helps. I would suggest also maybe keeping a food diary/log of sort as well to show them. My daughter's eating habits have not changed & she does not eat candy, etc. We rarely have any junk food in the house. I wish you the best of luck.
Momofbronco
15 Apr 2018
I have been taking Adderall for ADD for just over a year-I previously took a different medication. Since taking Adderall I’m tired and hungry a lot!! I take generic Adderall and am going to try non-generic to see the difference. I don’t see that it is helping my ADD at all.
Dimples57
15 Apr 2018
Yes, I have been on Adderall XR for 5 weeks and I have gained about 5 lbs. Seems like I can't get enough to eat and I am always tired too. Dr says they never heard of it. I have had adverse reactions to different medication and this one seems like one. What causes this and wonder what I should take. I won't keep taking it if I'm going to keep gaining.
Lisa115
3 Jun 2018
I have gained 30lbs in the last 2 years.
ala1978
3 Jun 2018
About 8 years ago I was put on Adderall 30mg twice a day. But almost immediately I began to loose weight. I started to have suicidal thoughts. I ended up in the hospital where they found out that the Adderall was affecting my thyroid and that was causing alot of different issues. My Dr took me off of the Adderall right then and started me on 50mg Vyvanse. It has worked out great for me. Different things work for different people!
DyJay
31 Oct 2018
I think I'm having thyroid problems too from adderallxr 30mg I'm also taking Prozac 20mg. I'm eating like crazy and tired all day and the adderallxr makes inside my left ear down to the left side of my throat hurts. I feel horrible. Anxiety is through the roof. Drinking so much caffeine during the day (coffee) just to get me through the day before I crash. Idk what happened. When I first started off I felt amazing great energy losing weight getting things done now I'm lazy tired asl eating for comfort. Don't want to clean want to sleep all day but I can't. And I have toddler twins that I'm raising alone. I'm losing it. I miss how affective the meds was my first 2 months. I'm scared about this thyroid thing. Im finding bald spots in the top front of my head. I hope to find a medication that will help me be the best version of me. Not depressed and over weight and lazy. Adderall makes my sleepy.
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