Stop Using Someone Else's Adderall and Seek Proper Psychiatric Evaluation Immediately
You must discontinue using your relative's Adderall immediately and schedule an urgent appointment with a psychiatrist for comprehensive evaluation of possible ADHD and appropriate treatment. Using someone else's prescription stimulant is illegal, dangerous, and prevents proper diagnosis and treatment of your underlying condition.
Why This Matters
The Clonazepam Concern
Your current use of clonazepam for racing thoughts raises significant red flags. Benzodiazepines like clonazepam are listed on the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria as potentially inappropriate medications, particularly for long-term use 1. The FDA drug label explicitly warns that clonazepam carries risks of:
- Abuse and dependence - it is a Schedule IV controlled substance 2
- Cognitive impairment, sedation, and falls 2
- Withdrawal seizures if stopped abruptly 2
- Suicidal thoughts or actions 2
While clonazepam has legitimate uses for certain seizure disorders and REM sleep behavior disorder 3, using it for "racing thoughts" without proper psychiatric evaluation may be masking an underlying condition like ADHD, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorder that requires different treatment.
The Stimulant Misuse Problem
Taking someone else's Adderall is prescription drug diversion, which is illegal and carries serious health risks 4. The fact that you felt better on Adderall suggests possible undiagnosed ADHD, but this requires proper evaluation. Stimulant misuse is associated with:
- Cardiovascular complications including myocardial infarction and sudden death 5, 6
- Psychiatric complications including psychosis, anxiety, and paranoia 6, 7
- Development of substance use disorder 5
- Legal consequences - stimulants are DEA Schedule II controlled substances 4
What You Need to Do Now
1. Immediate Actions
- Stop taking your relative's Adderall immediately
- Do NOT abruptly stop clonazepam - this can cause withdrawal seizures 2
- Schedule an urgent appointment with a psychiatrist (not just primary care)
2. Proper Psychiatric Evaluation
You need comprehensive assessment for:
ADHD evaluation - The fact that stimulants helped your racing thoughts suggests possible ADHD, which affects 3-4% of adults 4. Proper diagnosis requires:
- Detailed psychiatric and medical history
- Documentation that symptoms cause moderate-to-severe impairment in at least two settings (work, home, social) 4
- Collateral information from family members or significant others when possible 4
- Mental status examination
- Ruling out other conditions that mimic ADHD
Differential diagnosis - Racing thoughts can indicate:
- ADHD (inattentive or combined type)
- Bipolar disorder (hypomania/mania)
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Major depressive disorder with agitation
- Substance-induced symptoms
3. If ADHD is Confirmed
Stimulant medications are first-line treatment for ADHD in adults with moderate-to-severe symptoms 4, 8, 9. The evidence shows:
- 65-75% of patients respond to stimulants versus 5-30% to placebo 4
- Stimulants reduce ADHD symptom severity with effect sizes of SMD -0.80 to -1.06 for clinician-rated symptoms 10
- Both methylphenidate and amphetamines are effective, though individual response varies 4, 9
If prescribed stimulants, you would receive:
- Proper dosing titration starting low and adjusting based on response 4
- Regular monitoring for efficacy and side effects 4
- Appropriate formulation (immediate vs. extended-release) based on your needs 9
4. Addressing the Clonazepam
Your psychiatrist needs to evaluate whether clonazepam is appropriate for your actual diagnosis 1. If you have ADHD:
- Stimulants alone may resolve the racing thoughts without needing benzodiazepines 4
- If anxiety persists after treating ADHD, evidence supports adding SSRIs rather than continuing benzodiazepines 4
- Clonazepam may need to be slowly tapered to avoid withdrawal symptoms 2
The combination of clonazepam and stimulants has been used clinically (clonazepam for stimulant-induced insomnia), but this requires medical supervision 4.
Critical Warnings
Comorbidity Considerations
If you have comorbid conditions, treatment becomes more complex 4:
- Depression/anxiety with ADHD: Stimulants should be tried first; if ADHD improves but mood symptoms persist, add appropriate antidepressant (not benzodiazepines) 4
- Substance use history: Requires careful evaluation; long-acting stimulants preferred if stimulants are used 9, 11
- Bipolar disorder: Stimulants can trigger mania and are relatively contraindicated without mood stabilization first
Why Self-Medication Fails
Using unprescribed stimulants prevents proper diagnosis and treatment because:
- You don't know the appropriate dose for your body weight and metabolism
- You can't distinguish therapeutic response from euphoria or placebo effect
- You miss monitoring for cardiovascular effects (blood pressure, heart rate) 8, 9
- You risk developing tolerance or dependence without medical supervision 4
- You may have contraindications (cardiac history, hypertension, psychiatric conditions) that make stimulants dangerous 8
Bottom Line
The paradoxical response you experienced - feeling calmer and better on a stimulant - is actually classic for undiagnosed ADHD 4, 7. However, this does not justify continued self-medication. You need proper psychiatric evaluation to:
- Confirm or rule out ADHD through comprehensive assessment
- Evaluate whether clonazepam is appropriate for your actual diagnosis
- Receive properly prescribed and monitored stimulant therapy if ADHD is confirmed
- Screen for and treat any comorbid conditions appropriately
The combination of racing thoughts responsive to both benzodiazepines and stimulants suggests a treatable psychiatric condition, but only proper evaluation can determine the correct diagnosis and treatment plan. Do not continue self-medicating with diverted controlled substances.