Nicole Richie is rumored to be relying on the attention deficit disorder drug Adderral to keep her appetite down and her weight low. In Touch, not the most reliable source, says her hospitalization after collapsing on the set of “Simple Life Five: Stay Alive” (please forgive that title) was due to complications from overuse of the prescription medication and not from the catch-all excuse “dehydration” that was given at the time:
When Nicole Richie was hospitalized on March 2 for dehydration, one friend worried Nicole was back on heroin. But In Touch can reveal this is not true.
Insiders say Nicole has been using Adderall – a prescription drug normally used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is a powerful appetite suppressant. “She loves Adderall because she stays awake, and it makes her not want to eat,” says a close pal. “And she takes it even more when she’s filming.”
That wouldn’t be surprising. Last year Nicole was rumored to be addicted to horse steriod Clenbuterol, a popular and dangerous easily-obtained drug that raises the metabolism to help users lose weight fast. Clenbuterol has serious side effects including dizziness and palpitations.
Adderrall is said to lessen the effects of alcohol and to be used by some to allow them to party later into the night with less sleepiness than with just booze alone. It also has potential side effects including anxiety, palpitations, convulsions and muscle twitching. It should not be used for off-label reasons and only when medically necessary.
Here’s a story from CBS News of a woman who took the drug for weight loss, feigning the symptoms to receive a prescription. She ended up with psychotic episodes:
Maria, who asked that her last name not be used, weighed only 120 pounds when she decided that she needed to be thinner.
She started taking Adderall, which, like Ritalin, is a stimulant typically prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactive disorder. Maria studied reference books, went to the doctor, and faked the symptoms of ADHD. She fidgeted and changed topics while talking to the doctor and was prescribed her pills. But after six months of high energy and consistent weight loss, Maria started having problems.
“I found it didn’t have the same effects as it did before, especially on my weight,” she said. “So, logically, I asked for an increase from my doctor. And he said, ‘But, of course.’ ”
Maria continued to take Adderall even though she couldn’t sleep and her weight was getting dangerously low.
“I got fatter, in the mirror, while I was losing weight,” she said.
Maria became chemically dependent and psychotic episodes followed.
“I thought that my boss was tracking my thoughts and what I was doing through my computer,” she said. “Toward the end it was, ‘I can’t stop taking this. I can’t stop this process. Something bad is happening.’ ”
By the time Maria got help she was 80 pounds. It took time to get back to health, but she’s studying for her doctorate, and has come to terms with her weight.
“I had this ideal, this person I wanted to be, and who I am today is nothing like that ideal,” she said. “And I could’ve never imagined this. Yet, I am so happy and so fulfilled.”
It seemed like Nicole was doing better as she gained a little bit of weight recently since she started dating Joel Madden. If this is true I hope she is able to be drug-free soon. She went to rehab four years ago after a felony herion possession charge, so this seems to be an ongoing problem for her.
She may not have a choice in the matter, though, and could be forced to go off all drugs that aren’t legally prescribed to her. She’s still due to be tried for her second DUI offense in four years, and if she’s convicted she faces a mandatory five days in jail. Richie’s lawyer entered a not guilty plea for her on February 21st. There is a pretrial hearing set for April 2nd.
Here are Nicole Richie and Joel Madden out in LA on 3/7. [via]
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