Side effects - Picking and scratching

[*ChemBabe*]

SWIM finds that one of the side effects from being on her adderall (for ADD) is constantly scratching her scalp. For no reason at all she just feels the need to do it all the time. She has read before that this isn't uncommon among amph users. SWIM does it mainly when shes relaxed while studying or laying in bed trying to fall sleep. The thing is, once SWIM starts she can't freaking stop! Its actually kinda time consuming after awhile and its driving her nuts . Does anyone else experience similar side effects from their adderall, and how does SWIY keep from doing stupid habits like this?

[julian]

Stimulants such as Adderall have been known to increase the severity of symptoms in people who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Though swim does not scratch his scalp, he has other compulsions that increase when he uses his medication (20 mg Adderall XR 1x/day).

The first step to break a habit such as this is to be consciously aware of the compulsion. If you find yourself scratching your scalp without even thinking about it, the compulsion is not in your conscious awareness.

If the problem gets worse, swim would recommend seeing a behavioral therapist. Behavioral therapy is probably the most successful treatment for OCD. If it is just an annoyance and it is not significantly affecting your day to day life, then swim would suggest trying to manage it on your own by becomming consciously aware of the compulsion.

[RFIM.]

SWIM has never been itchy in general from Adderall...
Maybe SWIY has dandruff? ._.;;;;

[humdroid]

Base is speed. Addreall is speed.
Y hasnt had any speed for months, but his picking and scratching are worse than ever.
Maybe base just masked them, as he had bad picking and scraching all his life.

[100mg Methylphenidate]

Swim's skin starts looking all gross and extra pale and dry after an adderall binge. Usually if swim spent a lot of the time masturbating(which causes uber sweating along with any exercise on adderall. And normally he hardly sweats at all, even while running). If something on swim itches though, he will itch it and think about it and itch it over and over and over again. Don't let swim do that with her eyes. Swim will have uber bloodshot red eyes with cuts around them sometimes after an adderall binge(he learned not to wear his contacts anymore while he stays up for days at a time. they dry out).

[*ChemBabe*]

Ya actually, thats the thing, SWIM's head doesn't itch or have dandruff. It's weird...its just like something to do with her hands. SWIM forgot that adderall makes OCD worse. She actually has a mild case of OCD so that must be why because she definitely feels like she has to do it.
In regards to Humdroid's post, SWIM knows how it is. She too has always had a thing with picking, scratching, and even tweezing. Its such a weird little problem to have, isn't it?
SWIM's skin doesn't get dry and itchy tho so she doesn't have that problem. SWIY should just put lotion on before and after a binge maybe.

[mykeamine]

oh, aren't side effects just awesome?

SWIM has been a tapper since 2nd grade. He's always tapped his finger, and always had a song in his head. When amp'ed the tapping can get so mind controlling. As in, if he didn't tap the right way to a specific song he'll practice the "right" way to tap it until he develops arthritis.

SWIY say hand occupation is the need? SWIM relates completely. If not tapping he's, rubbing his hands, playing with pens, anything to do something.

[fatkidzonmopedz]

word of advice: don't look in mirrors or look at ur arms while binging. you can turn a molehill into a mountain, lol

[dark12]

SWIM had a similar problem.
When SWIM takes large amounts of amphetamine he will stare at himself in the mirror and pop zits on his face. He recently forced himself to discontinue this habit and has noticed his skin is completely zit free. SWIM would sometimes pop his zits until they bled so they probably never got a chance to heal. Now SWIM knows not to stare at the mirror when taking his ADHD meds.
So if anyone else has this problem, just keep your hands off your face and you soon won't have anything to pick at!

[mykeamine]

SWIM can't believe he forgot..

First summer he was introduced to Adderall he binged for about 4 months. During that time he'd pluck his eyebrows from about 4:00 - 5:30 every morning. ahaha yeah.

[*ChemBabe*]

Yes, side effects are quite fun aren't they?! SWIM's head is so sore cuz its kinda scarred up ......try blowdrying SWIY's hair like that...wooh, not fun!
So is this why meth addicts have a picking/scratching problem? It must be due to the fact that it's an amphetamine and OCD is worsened, right? When SWIM was younger, she always thought it was the actual drug that caused the person to have bad skin...

[mykeamine]

well SWIM can protest that the drug itself does cause dry skin, in some cases severe dry skin. This is probably due to dehydration.

[dark12]

Well, there does seem to be some truth to amphetamine induced acne. I believe it indirectly has to do with increased levels of dopamine. This will cause lowered levels of prolactin and higher levels of testosterone, which can lead to acne breakouts.

[TruLadyRed]

Can SWIY focus their attention on something else? SWIM picks at the skin around her nails until they bleed if she doesn't have something else in her hand like a stress ball or a rock or a rubber band.

[RX420]

my friend found certain generics made her more itchy, but ampths side effects def can be rash and the itches. swim thinks she got over that though, since she no longer notices it. maybe a benedryl??? not sure of interactions though.

high doses can make swiyou all tweaked though and scratch everything. at least swim has noticed meth heads and ampth abusers seem to do that a lot. my friend doesnt really abuse them. so just going by what swim has seen and heard.

RX420 added 1 Minutes and 18 Seconds later...

Originally Posted by dark12

Well, there does seem to be some truth to amphetamine induced acne. I believe it indirectly has to do with increased levels of dopamine. This will cause lowered levels of prolactin and higher levels of testosterone, which can lead to acne breakouts.

def...swim has friends that have broken out in bad neck acne from excess use of adderall.

[*ChemBabe*]

Can SWIY focus their attention on something else? SWIM picks at the skin around her nails until they bleed if she doesn't have something else in her hand like a stress ball or a rock or a rubber band.

Wow, doesn't that hurt SWIY once the addy has worn off? Its funny how you don't realize things like that til after.
Thanks, SWIM will look into the stress ball.

*ChemBabe* added 2 Minutes and 53 Seconds later...

Oh btw Tru Lady Red, SWIM feels so bad that adderall has caused so many problems for SWIY . If she doesn't mind SWIM asking...In hindsight, what would SWIY do differently regarding her health and adderall, if she can go back and do it again?

[TruLadyRed]

Originally Posted by *ChemBabe*

Wow, doesn't that hurt SWIY once the addy has worn off? Its funny how you don't realize things like that til after.
Thanks, SWIM will look into the stress ball.

*ChemBabe* added 2 Minutes and 53 Seconds later...

Oh btw Tru Lady Red, SWIM feels so bad that adderall has caused so many problems for SWIY . If she doesn't mind SWIM asking...In hindsight, what would SWIY do differently regarding her health and adderall, if she can go back and do it again?

SWIM had the health problem before taking adderall and that's why it's prescribed. She has a condition called pure autonomic failure and is given a lot of cool drugs and a lot of free reign to play around with them as she wishes

And YES it hurts like HELL when SWIM's Adderall wears off and her hands are bleedings, so look into the stress ball, it helps a lot!