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AIBU?

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AIBU for wanting to try Adderall for age-related fatigue?

41 replies

aquamaryne · 10/07/2026 18:08

I don't have caffeine all the time, only when I'm going out with my boyfriend or with friends, but even at 400 mg of caffeine I don't feel buzzed or hyper, I feel about 70% to what I felt like at 20. I'm 31, I've had every single blood test under the sun, and they are all normal.

I am slurring my words and messing up my grammar constantly, and feel so tired I don't want to do anything, even my oldest hobbies. I'm sleeping 10 hours a day and wake up feeling just how I did when I was going to bed. I feel the constant urge to nap and people think I'm getting annoyed with them talking to me when really I'm trying to save my energy. I find it very difficult to explain simple things.

I have not had kids, and my BMI is 21, so I'm not overweight.

The 400 mg of caffeine is good (I got pills) but I feel like I need something stronger. I've heard Adderall is much more effective than caffeine is, but my friend told me I should just take more than 400 mg of caffeine instead. AIBU?

Sidenote: Ageing is so normal, yet sucks so much, I miss the old me that had so much energy! And why is it that men seem to age differently to women and still have so much energy at my age? Bleh! My point is, even though it's normal given my age, why suffer when there are things you can take to alleviate it, even if it's temporary?

OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 10/07/2026 18:35

Since all your blood tests are normal, you need to ask your doctor if you might have ME/CFS or some other condition that causes fatigue and doesn’t show up in blood tests. Being that fatigued in your 30s in not age-related.

You’ll find info about ME/CFS here:

https://meassociation.org.uk/

The ME Association - The ME Association

Living with ME/CFS or Long Covid? The ME Association offers expert support, research funding, free resources & a helpline. Here since 1980.

https://meassociation.org.uk/

aquamaryne · 10/07/2026 18:35

JLou08 · 10/07/2026 18:19

Have you had a sleep study?
This is not normal for a 31 year old. You're still young and should be in peak health. It could be sleep apnea.

Hi! It's very normal! All my blood tests, hormone tests, etc have come back normal. I'm not overweight as my BMI is 20. I also do not snore/have sleep apnea as my boyfriend has watched me sleep.

OP posts:
Winefride · 10/07/2026 18:34

aquamaryne · 10/07/2026 18:33

I've had loads of blood tests this year and I do not have any vitamin deficiencies. I sleep very well! And my thryroid hormones and oestrogen have been checked too and are all normal!

But you might think you're sleeping well but not getting REM etc due to not breathing correctly or being so caffeinated you can't get enough restorative sleep. It's worth asking before going down the route of Adderall at such a young age.

Portmore · 10/07/2026 18:33

That's not right at all. You don't get age related fatigue at 31. That should be your peak in terms of energy.

If your tests are all clear it could be long-covid, chronic fatigue/ME or possibly Lyme disease.

It could also be a caffeine addiction if you are using large doses. Causes rebound fatigue & poor sleep.

You need to go back to your GP & cut out the caffeine.

aquamaryne · 10/07/2026 18:33

Winefride · 10/07/2026 18:22

Sleep study is a great suggestion by pp. You could have sleep apnoea. Vitamin deficiencies can make you very tired. Thyroid dysfunction. Do you sleep well at night after all of the caffeine? Maybe you think you're sleeping but the caffeine is preventing you from restorative sleep.

I've had loads of blood tests this year and I do not have any vitamin deficiencies. I sleep very well! And my thryroid hormones and oestrogen have been checked too and are all normal!

OP posts:
aquamaryne · 10/07/2026 18:31

JLou08 · 10/07/2026 18:19

Have you had a sleep study?
This is not normal for a 31 year old. You're still young and should be in peak health. It could be sleep apnea.

No, but I don't even snore. My boyfriend has watched me sleep.

OP posts:
Shinyhappyapple · 10/07/2026 18:29

I don’t think it’s normal to have ‘age related fatigue’ at 31. I would consider fatigue to be age-related if it was hormonal due to menopause (peri and post), or if you were actually old.

Forget taking in more caffeine - you are probably getting a bounce-back from what you are already taking. And people are unlikely to say taking unlicensed
medication is a good idea. Give up the caffeine and go back to your GP.

EmeraldRoulette · 10/07/2026 18:26

Zippidydoodah · 10/07/2026 18:23

You don’t sound very well. Maybe go and get some blood tests done.

edited to add: oh crap, you’ve had the tests! Still doesn’t sound normal for 31, though. Can you go back to the doctor?

Edited

there are probably lots of suggestions that people could make, but I think we're probably a bit suspicious of your post so we'll wait and see.... 👀

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/07/2026 18:25

Don't be so fucking ridiculous. Doing speed because you're a bit tired is a really, really shit idea - and not just because you'd be getting it illegally, but because of the very real risks of taking a medication/drug that isn't appropriate outside specific medical diagnoses.

Zippidydoodah · 10/07/2026 18:23

You don’t sound very well. Maybe go and get some blood tests done.

edited to add: oh crap, you’ve had the tests! Still doesn’t sound normal for 31, though. Can you go back to the doctor?

Dermatologically · 10/07/2026 18:22

That isn't age related fatigue. I'm 50 and I'm not tired like that and neither are any of my friends.

Your sidenote makes me suspicious you're actually about to try and direct us to some dodgy site selling these pills, which are basically amphetamines

Winefride · 10/07/2026 18:22

Sleep study is a great suggestion by pp. You could have sleep apnoea. Vitamin deficiencies can make you very tired. Thyroid dysfunction. Do you sleep well at night after all of the caffeine? Maybe you think you're sleeping but the caffeine is preventing you from restorative sleep.

EmeraldRoulette · 10/07/2026 18:21

How is 31 linked to age related fatigue?!

TheSlantedOwl · 10/07/2026 18:19

It’s not normal to be so fatigued at 31 - that’s still very young. Frustrating the blood tests gleaned nothing.

I had post viral fatigue for months at one point, I found acupuncture helped plus crazy high doses of vitamin C.

JLou08 · 10/07/2026 18:19

Have you had a sleep study?
This is not normal for a 31 year old. You're still young and should be in peak health. It could be sleep apnea.

ColdAsAWitches · 10/07/2026 18:17

Adderall isn't even licenced in the UK, so if you live there, you've practically no chance of getting it without spending a fortune. There are also very serious potential side effects, so it's not something to start on lightly.

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