You’re more likely to experience side effects when you take Adderall at higher doses, or if you aren’t taking Adderall to treat a specific condition. Let your doctor know about any existing health conditions before you start taking Adderall. You shouldn’t take Adderall with some medications or if you have certain health issues. Over the long term, Adderall can sometimes cause changes in mood and behavior, especially when used in high doses. These changes may affect interpersonal and romantic relationships. Regular visits with a provider are also key to controlling blood pressure.
Missed Dose
Adderall can improve focus, decrease restlessness, and help control impulsive behavior (including the hard-to-stop habit of interrupting people). But like other medications, it comes with possible side effects. (Misuse is sometimes referred to as “abuse,” but this is an outdated term.) With misuse, a drug is taken differently from how it was prescribed.
Recommended dosages
Here, we discuss a rare case of AMI and atrial fibrillation in an adult who was on mixed amphetamine salts and briefly review pertinent literature. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially weight loss. The doctor may recommend temporarily stopping the medication from time to time to reduce this risk. Misuse or abuse of amphetamine may cause serious (possibly fatal) heart and blood pressure problems.
Adderall Withdrawal Side Effects
You’ll eventually need more Adderall to get the same effect. Another significant long-term effect of heavy Adderall use is dependence ketamine addiction: definition symptoms effects and treatment on the drug. Rarely, Adderall can cause serious side effects like delusions, hallucinations, or other symptoms of psychosis.
If your child is taking Adderall, their doctor will monitor their height and weight during their treatment. If the child’s growth seems to be affected, their doctor may suggest taking a break from Adderall treatment. Adderall and other stimulants have some similarities and some differences. There are simple things you can do to make taking these medications less of a problem. Simply put, there is no way to predict how a patient will respond to Adderall or any stimulant, whether a methylphenidate (MPH) or amphetamine (AMP), until they try it.
Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Serious side effects can include fever and weakness or numbness of the limbs. You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Adderall. Before prescribing Adderall, your doctor will assess your risk of misuse and dependence.
You should limit the amount of caffeine you consume while taking Adderall. Adderall has a boxed warning for the risks of misuse and dependence. Janet’s experience is becoming less common, though adults with ADHD do still encounter professionals with questionable prescription practices. Be a smart health-care consumer, and take note of these red flag statements (and medically reviewed rebuttals) surrounding Adderall and other popular ADHD medications. College students and other people who need to stay awake and focus on work or study often take Adderall without having ADHD.
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking amphetamine/dextroamphetamine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Adderall has been linked to serious side effects, including heart attack and stroke, in people with heart defects. But Adderall and other stimulants also have side effects.
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They’ll also determine whether you should keep taking Adderall. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Some people reported aggressive behavior in clinical trials of Adderall. Aggressive behavior is an act with the purpose of harming a person, animal, or property. New or worsening aggressive behavior was seen with stimulant drugs, including Adderall.
Adderall isn’t considered safe for use during pregnancy. Long-term use of Adderall at high doses can cause significant side effects, including changes in how your brain produces neurotransmitters. But many of these side effects may be reversible once you stop taking Adderall. Some men who use Adderall feel less interested in sex or experience erectile dysfunction, especially if they take high doses for a long period of time. These side effects can also affect romantic relationships. They might also lead to frustration or other emotional distress.
- Adderall has a boxed warning for the risk of drug misuse and dependence.
- Adderall and Concerta are both stimulant medications prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- HR and BP should be measured before initiating medications and routinely during treatment.
However, Adderall is not approved by the FDA as a weight-loss medication and can have serious side effects that outweigh the benefits of weight loss. Caffeine can increase the stimulant effect of Adderall. This may raise your risk of side effects such as insomnia (trouble sleeping), nervousness, and anxiety.
Before taking Adderall, be sure to tell your doctor about any heart-related conditions you have, including high blood pressure. This includes having a family history of addiction relapse heart problems or high blood pressure. Your doctor can help determine whether Adderall is safe for you. They can also recommend other treatments for your condition.
If you continue to have trouble sleeping, your doctor can advise whether Adderall is right for you. Many people are familiar with the effects of salt on blood vessels, but not as many are familiar with the effect of sugar on blood pressure. Sugar can inhibit the production of nitric oxide, which affects the flexibility of blood vessels. Drinking enough water on a daily basis and staying hydrated is an important way to manage your health and blood pressure. Most health providers recommend drinking six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day to supplement the water you get from the foods. If Adderall causes unwanted side effects that affect your day-to-day functioning or quality of life, your doctor may lower your dose or suggest a different drug.
This may be more likely in patients who have a family history of heart disease. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or a fast, irregular heartbeat while using this medicine. Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol).
The problem is that Adderall overstimulates a brain that already has normal levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. You might feel jittery, alcohol intervention lose your appetite, and experience greater insomnia. Its main ingredients are a mix of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine.
It may help people with ADHD maintain their attention and focus and decrease hyperactivity. In people with narcolepsy, Adderall may help prevent daytime sleepiness. An allergic reaction to Adderall may cause swelling of the tongue, throat, or face. This is a medical emergency and requires prompt emergency medical treatment.
If you have a serious heart problem, Adderall could raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death. And if you have high blood pressure, taking Adderall could make it worse. Your doctor may want to check your heart and blood pressure before prescribing Adderall to make sure it’s safe for you. Adderall is a stimulant drug prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Other stimulant drugs used for these conditions include methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana, others) and dexamphetamine (Dexedrine).
While the drug can help you remain more focused and alert as well as control impulsive behavior, it does have some side effects. These can be mild, such as dry mouth, or more serious, such as rapid heartbeat or a psychotic episode where you start hallucinating. The serious side effects are rare, but Adderall may cause you to become dependent on it. This is more likely if you take it for nonmedical reasons.