Adderall Side Effects

Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) or Adderall XR (extended release version) is currently classified as a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Weight loss is a common side effect of taking Adderall. In fact, losing weight may be one of the reasons why so many people abuse Adderall.

Many users mistakenly believe that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take Adderall at much higher doses than normally prescribed. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because administering a drug in this manner permits direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous.

Snorting Adderall effectively fast tracks it to the brain. The resulting blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems. A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible.

Adderall: Celebrity weight loss pill?

According to a recent report in the New York Daily News, a number of female celebrities have used prescription Adderall as a weight loss supplement. Reports even suggest that some of these celebrities have resorted to crushing and snorting these pills as a way to deliver a quicker effect. And this is probably just the tip of the iceberg of Adderall abuse.

Side effects of Adderall

Amphetamines like Adderall are often abused. Taking amphetamines for long periods of time can lead to dependence.

As with any prescription drug, there are side effects in taking Adderall at the recommended doses. When side effects do occur, they are often minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by a healthcare provider.

Adderall has been extensively evaluated in clinical trials. Headaches (including migraines) have been reported in up to 26% of adults taking Adderall XR (data for Adderall is not available). Headaches were not as common in children taking Adderall XR.

For people taking Adderall, depression is a reported side effect, although the specific frequency has not been determined. Depression has not been recorded as a common side effect in short-term studies of Adderall XR. However, about 1% of children stopped taking the medicine because of depression. At this time, it is difficult to say how common it is for people taking Adderall or Adderall XR to experience depression.

The most common side effects of Adderall include:

• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Dehydration
• Hot flashes
• Stomach pains
• Nausea
• Heavy sweating
• Involuntary movements

You should talk with your healthcare provider before taking Adderall or Adderall XR if you have:

• Heart problems of any kind
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Mental illness, including bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders (such    as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder)
• Seizures
• Tourette syndrome
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Glaucoma (a condition of the eye)
• Any allergies
• Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Are breastfeeding
• Drink alcohol regularly

Symptoms of Adderall overdose

Taking too much Adderall or Adderall XR could lead to symptoms that could include:

• Hyperactivity (trouble sitting still)
• Fast breathing
• Confusion
• Fever
• Muscle pains
• Shakiness
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)

If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Snorting Adderall

In addition to achieving weight loss, Adderall is frequently taken as a study drug because of its ability to enhance concentration and mental focus for long periods of time.

Many users mistakenly think that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take it in very high doses, much higher than normally prescribed. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because snorting or injecting drugs permits direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous.

Snorting Adderall effectively fast tracks it to the brain. The resulting blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems. A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible. Combining Adderall with alcohol further increases the risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

Adderall and pregnancy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) utilizes a pregnancy category system to quantify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans, but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Additionally, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.

Adderall was given a pregnancy Category C rating because it was shown to cause birth defects and miscarriages in mice. Other studies in rodents have demonstrated that when Adderall was administered during pregnancy it caused problems with brain chemicals. This resulted in long-term learning and memory problems.

Adderall can also cause a temporary slowing of growth in children. This reduction in growth rate is usually minimal (less than an inch in height). In time, children usually catch up to within normal height levels.

Adderall side effects that need to be reported

There are a number of serious side effects in taking Adderall that need to be reported to a healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:

• Suicidal tendencies
• Mental confusion
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Depression
• Strange or more aggressive behavior than normal
• Hallucinations
• Agitation or restlessness
• Fainting
• Seizures
• Unexplained rash
• Hives
• Uncontrolled movements of the head, neck, mouth, arms, or legs (known as tics)

Less common Adderall side effects

There are other rare Adderall side effects that have been reported. These include:

• Fatigue or tiredness
• Constipation
• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Impotence
• Decreased sex drive

If you have seizures, heart problems, or mental problems, Adderall can aggravate the symptoms of these conditions.

Adderall drug interactions

Adderall can potentially interact with many drugs. Some of the drugs that may lead to Adderall interactions include:

• Acetazolamide (Diamox®)
• Amitriptyline (Elavil®)
• Ammonium chloride
• Certain antacids, such as sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate (Tums®)
• Certain sleep medications, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®, Tylenol PM®)
• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine®)
• Clomipramine (Anafranil®)
• Desipramine (Norpramin®)
• Doxepin (Sinequan®)
• Ethosuximide (Zarontin®)
• Haloperidol (Haldol®)
• Imipramine (Tofranil®)
• Isocarboxazid (Marplan®)
• Lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®, Lithonate®)
• Medications for high blood pressure
• Meperidine (Demerol®)
• Methenamine (Hiprex®, Urex®)
• Norepinephrine (Levophed®)
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor®)
• Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
• Phenytoin (Dilantin®)
• Propoxyphene (Da rvocet®, Darvon®)
• Protriptyline (Vivactil®)
• Reserpine
• Selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Zelapar®)

Several herbal and nutritional supplements can also interact with Adderall. Examples of these include, but are not limited to:

• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• Glutamic acid
• Guarana
• Melatonin.

This list of Adderall drug interaction is not fully comprehensive. Therefore, it is advisable to talk to healthcare provider if taking another drug or compound in combination with Adderall.

Related article: Adderall: Celebrity Weight Loss Pill

Disclaimer: This website and its contents are intended for information purposes only, and are not meant to diagnose any disease.