Adderall XR - anyone had weight gain while taking Adderall?

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.

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.

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 :(

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!!

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.

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.

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.

I to have been on adderall for a few months now and have gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks..

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.