Author: James Anderson
ADHD Medication Mistakes and Dosage Myths: Adderall and More
Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Adderall, including details about its uses, see this article. Seek immediate medical care for serious side effects like an allergic reaction. If you’re sensitive or allergic to other stimulant medicines, you should not take Adderall. Side effects like loss of appetite and weight loss can also occur while taking Adderall. In children, this can cause slow weight gain and growth.
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Adderall. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. Many people do take both but try and keep a few hours away from each other the doctor should know all of this and which medications you can take to lower your blood pressure.
- If stimulants cause troublesome side effects or don’t work well enough, doctors may prescribe a nonstimulant drug for ADHD.
- If you have a condition that causes seizures, such as epilepsy,Adderall could make your condition worse.
- To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
- It’s also approved to treat narcolepsy in children ages 6 years and older.
- Serious side effects of Adderall can include heart attack and stroke.
If you have kidney problems, Adderall could build up in your body. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Adderall for you. If you have an overactive thyroid gland, your doctor will likely not prescribe Adderall because it could make your symptoms worse.
“If you think that Adderall (or another stimulant) has stopped working, we should try something else.”
Alcohol may also increase your risk of side effects with Adderall. If you have had an allergic reaction to Adderall or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe the drug. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you. This drug has a boxed warning for the risk of drug misuse and dependence. For details, see the “Adderall misuse and dependence” section below. This is because Adderall XR is an extended-release form of the drug.
If you’re prescribed Adderall, a doctor will most likely start you off with a low dose to make sure you can tolerate it. One large study found no link between ADHD medications — including stimulants like Adderall — and a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke. In the short term, Adderall can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and cause you to breathe harder. If you take too much of it, you could put your heart and your health at risk. The dosage of Adderall or Adderall XR your doctor prescribes depends on various factors. These include your age, kidney function, and the condition you’re taking the drug to treat.
“Sure, continue consuming caffeine, if you like.”
Talk with your doctor before stopping Adderall treatment. To help prevent withdrawal symptoms, your doctor will likely reduce your Adderall dosage slowly before stopping your treatment. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing. Some people may have an allergic reaction to Adderall. Adults who are diagnosed with ADHD later in life typically develop the habit of paying attention only to the exciting or new.
Reduced appetite was reported in clinical trials of Adderall. This is because stimulant drugs, including Adderall, decrease appetite. For some people, the lack of appetite can lead to weight loss.
“My adult ADHD patients do best on Adderall (or this other stimulant medication).”
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact a doctor or emergency medical services immediately. When prescribed and taken as directed, Adderall’s effects on the central nervous system can provide some positive effects. You may feel more awake during the day as well as become more focused and calm. The generic type costs less, but that’s about the only difference you’ll notice. Generic dextroamphetamine/amphetamine has the same risk of side effects as brand-name Adderall.
It’s also approved to treat narcolepsy in children ages 6 years and older. Side effects of Adderall in children and adults are similar. Serious side effects of Adderall can include heart attack and stroke. Adderall can lead to sudden death in people with preexisting heart conditions. Adderall has a boxed warning for the risks of misuse and dependence. The adrenergic activation caused by stimulants and stimulant-like drugs may have a larger impact on autonomic regulation in patients with compromised cardiovascular function.
If initiated, caution must be exercised as detailed in regulatory warnings, with monitoring of cardiovascular parameters and use limited to short durations and lowest effective doses. In addition, the studies were not powered due to inadequate sample size or follow-up duration to determine risk of clinical cardiovascular events. There are inconsistent findings to whether the side effects of Adderall are dose related.
Adderall can cause the pupil of your eyes to dilate (widen). Due to this risk, doctors typically will not prescribe Adderall to people who have glaucoma. If a side effect continues during treatment, talk with your doctor. This is because they may want to check whether your ADHD symptoms are still present. They may also stop the drug to evaluate whether the Adderall side effect eases. In some cases, they may advise to stop taking Adderall and recommend a different drug for your condition.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Adderall. Drinking fruit juices while taking Adderall can reduce the amount of the drug your body absorbs. You should not drink fruit juices such as orange juice within 1 hour of taking Adderall. Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. In addition, tell your doctor if you’re taking any medications. This is important to do because some medications can interact with Adderall.
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. Adderall has some common side effects that are typically mild. If you’d like to learn more about Adderall, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Treatment may be stopped if there’s a problem with growth. 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.
But it’s important to note that Adderall may cause slowed growth in children. Neither form of Adderall should cause long-term side effects. If you have side effects with these drugs, they usually get better as your body gets used to the medication. Or they’ll likely get better quickly after stopping treatment.