Adderall is commonly prescribed as a psychostimulant treatment for children and adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Depending on dosage, the beneficial effects of stimulant medications can last several hours, allowing improved performance throughout the day. Compared to the similar medication methylphenidate (sold under the brand name Ritalin and others) studies have suggested that Adderall is slightly more potent and has a longer period of efficacy.
Adderall has a powerful effect of increasing blood pressure, it carries the same risk of sudden death, stroke, and heart attack, as does methylphenidate and other stimulants used to treat ADHD.
Adderall is a brand-name psychostimulant medication composed of racemic amphetamine aspartate monohydrate, racemic amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharide and dextroamphetamine sulfate, which is thought to work by increasing the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
Adderall is widely reported to increase alertness, libido, concentration and overall cognitive performance while decreasing user fatigue.
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Adderall XR, a widely used drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was pulled off the market in Canada after regulators linked the drug to 20 sudden deaths and 12 strokes. Fourteen of the deaths and two of the 12 strokes were in children.
The adverse reactions were not associated with overdose, misuse or abuse of Adderall XR, Canadian regulators said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory to alert providers to the withdrawal. But the agency also said it had evaluated the same reports as Canadian regulators and did not think the data warranted pulling the drug from the U.S. market.
WARNING
AMPHETAMINES HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE. ADMINISTRATION OF AMPHETAMINES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME MAY LEAD TO DRUG DEPENDENCE AND MUST BE AVOIDED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SUBJECTS OBTAINING AMPHETAMINES FOR NONTHERAPEUTIC USE OR DISTRIBUTION TO OTHERS, AND THE DRUGS SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED OR DISPENSED SPARINGLY.
MISUSE OF AMPHETAMINE MAY CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR ADVERSE EVENTS.
Adderall and Adderall XR are powerful blends of four amphetamines that includes Dexedrine and Benzedrine
Used For
•Attention deficit disorder
•Narcolepsy
•Depression
•Obesity
In small doses amphetamines can banish tiredness and make the user feel alert and refreshed. However, the burst of energy comes at a price. A “speed crash” always follows the high and may leave the person feeling nauseous, irritable, depressed and extremely exhausted.
Common Side Effects
•Dry Mouth
•Loss of appetite
•Headache
•Difficulty falling asleep (insomnia)
•Nervousness including agitation, anxiety and irritability
•Addiction
Less Common Side Effects
•High blood pressure
•Rapid pulse rate
•Tolerance (constant need to raise the dose)
•Feelings of suspicion and paranoia
•Visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not there)
•Depression
•Cocaine craving
•Dermatoses (infected or diseased skin)
•Urinary tract infection
•Infection or viral infection
•Elevated ALT enzyme levels in the blood (signaling liver damage)
I had my son’s second grade teacher try to convince me that my son had ADHD and needed to be on Adderall or Ritalin, and she named those two specifically. The reason: after she assigned the math homework, he was very fidgety and talkative and disruptive. Turns out, it was because he was getting the math assignments done in under 5 minutes and she expected this 8 year old normal boy to sit quietly at his seat for 20 minutes with nothing to do. I pinned her ears back on that one lickety-split.