A Beginner’s Guide to Adderall: Everything You Need to Know
We’re sure you or someone you know has used Adderall at some point. Indeed, this drug has become incredibly common due to its ability to help people focus. Adderall use has also been up due to the sheer number of people who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, Adderall use isn’t exclusive to people with ADHD. So much so that even people who aren’t prescribed Adderall find a way to get their hands on it as they believe that it can help them become more productive. This is quite worrisome as Adderall abuse can be rather hazardous.
While Adderall may seem harmless, there’s more to this drug than meets the eye. Just like any drug, Adderall can be quite dangerous when misused and abused. Considering this, we thought it would be useful to spread awareness on Adderall to help with harm reduction. If you want to learn more about Adderall, read on as we break down everything that you need to know about this drug.
What Is Adderall?
Adderall is a type of prescription medication used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, both of which are central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Adderall can improve focus, attention span, and concentration.
What Are the Side Effects of Adderall?
While Adderall can be extremely helpful when used correctly, it’s important to understand that there are also a multitude of different side effects attached to this drug. Here are some of the most common side effects associated with Adderall use:
- Loss of appetite
- Dry mouth
- Stomach pain
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Inability to sleep
- Nervousness
Despite how alarming these side effects may be, remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because they estimated that the benefits of taking it are greater than the risk of side effects.
Is There a Connection Between Adderall and Anxiety?
As we’ve already mentioned, Adderall causes nervousness and shouldn’t be used by someone with severe anxiety. With that being said, it wouldn’t exactly be accurate to say that Adderall causes anxiety.
Adderall raises the levels of the brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which can boost a person’s mood and cause people to feel high while under the effects of Adderall. Increased brain activity caused by stimulants such as Adderall can lead to anxiety. Some people experience withdrawal effects when they stop taking Adderall. When the drug increases the levels of neurotransmitters in their brains, they feel more confident and energetic, but when the drug wears off and their levels return to normal, they experience a drop in these feelings. When they no longer feel as confident and energetic, they feel lower self-esteem and sometimes more anxiety
Despite this, there’s still more to this topic that needs to be discussed. While Adderall may cause anxiety indirectly, there are also some cases wherein Adderall can help with anxiety. In fact, some doctors even prescribe Adderall to people with anxiety to help them deal with their condition more effectively. Now, Adderall isn’t an anti-anxiety medication but is a stimulant that boosts an individual’s ability to focus and overall energy. With that being said, depending on the type of anxiety a person has there is a case to be made to utilize Adderall as a form of short-term relief.
What Are the Precautions You Need to Take Before Using Adderall?
Aside from these side effects, you should also never use Adderall if you have taken an MAO inhibitor within the last two weeks. A dangerous drug interaction could occur with an MAO inhibitor as it contains isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.
Some medicines can interact with amphetamine and dextroamphetamine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your doctor will want to know if you are using any other medications. Be sure to mention any opioid medicine, herbs, or medications. Let your doctor know if you intend to make any changes in how or when you take your medications. You’ll also want to let your doctor know if you have any underlying conditions such as depression, mental illness, Parkinson’s disease.
You may not be able to use Adderall if you have any of the following conditions:
- Glaucoma
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Vascular disease
- Overactive thyroid
- A history of drug or alcohol addiction
- Severe anxiety
Can You Get Addicted to Adderall?
Some of you may be surprised to know that Adderall is actually one of the most addictive prescription drugs that are out on the market. Over time, habitual Adderall users build a tolerance to the drug and begin to depend on it to function normally. When someone is addicted to Adderall, the brain depends on Adderall in order to stay alert and productive. Without Adderall, the person often feels tired and mentally foggy. These symptoms are a sign of Adderall withdrawal, indicating an addiction.
Here are a few of the most common signs associated with Adderall addiction:
- Increasing drug usage
- Inability to cut down on drug use
- Irresponsible and harmful drug usage
- Dependency on Adderall to stay productive
- Spending a lot of time and money getting, using, and recovering from the drug
- Inability to stay alert without the drug
- Neglecting other activities in favor of using Adderall
Despite no one really intending to become addicted to Adderall, it can be rather easy to slip into dangerous habits. This is because Adderall is used to stay productive, which means that people are incentivized to use it to help them get through a stressful day at work.
What Are Adderall’s Withdrawal Symptoms?
Long-term Adderall users or abusers may experience one or more of these symptoms after they stop taking the drug:
- Depression, irritability, or other changes in mood
- A hard time sleeping
- Unusual tiredness (fatigue)
- Nausea
- Stomach aches or cramping
- Vomiting
Most withdrawal symptoms start to appear a day or two after you stop taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can last a few days to several weeks. It’s difficult to come up with an accurate timeline as it’s really different for everyone. If you’ve taken the drug every day for a long time, your body and brain may have started to depend on it. The more often you take it, the harder it can be to stop.
Adderall withdrawal can be particularly difficult to deal with due to how debilitating the symptoms are. This is why we don’t advise quitting Adderall cold turkey. Instead, we recommend working with a medical professional so they can help you safely and effectively get off the drug.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to furthering your understanding of Adderall. While the drug (like other drugs) isn’t necessarily “bad”, you have to exercise care when dealing with prescription drugs. Despite its usefulness in helping people deal with their condition, it would be best to steer clear of this drug unless it’s prescribed by your doctor. Be sure to keep all of the information that we’ve mentioned in mind so you can make the most informed decision when it comes to Adderall.
Sources: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/adderall/long-term-effects