Adderall is a medicine that is taken by the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) patients normally. This medicines helps in boosting brain cells that help you concentrate. This medicine is also helpful in giving you the extra energy needed for the work.
It is a medicine that is made from four types of salts. It may be helpful for many patients but it can also be dangerous because of the side effects it may cause. It is an addictive medicine that cannot be easily withdrawn.
Adderall helps in concentration levels due to which this drug became very popular among teenagers and young adults. Because of its growing popularity it was being misused and people started overdosing on it.
This medicine is used for the treatment of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy, but people started using it even when they don’t have these medical problems.
The use of this drug caused a lot of problem for the teenagers and young adults because once you starting taking it your body tends to start adapting it which makes it difficult for you to stop the use of it. Even when you stop using it there are withdrawal symptoms that cause physical and psychological troubles for you.
The widespread use of this medicine worldwide is causing a lot of trouble for the young adults and teenagers. These stimulants like Adderall are the second most common drug used on college campuses.
There are teenagers who are taking Adderall for better grades and to gain academic advantage, this academic advantage can be very harmful for their life because Adderall is no joke. The over dose of this drug can even take your life.
Side effects of Adderall:
Everything that is has some useful effects carries with it its cons. There is nothing in the world that is effective and doesn’t have any side effects.
Common side effects caused by the use of Adderall are:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Nausea
- Trouble sleeping
- Stomach ache
- Restlessness
- Nervousness
- Loss of interest in sex
- Weight loss
- Dry mouth
- Decreased appetite
- Headache
- Dizziness
These are some common side effects that can be seen in a person who starts using Adderall. When one starts using this drug more than prescribed dosage than the side effects get severe like:
- Difficulty swallowing or talking
- Severe skin rash
- Aggressive behavior
- Uncontrolled movements or voice sounds
- Fainting
- Chest pain
- Changes in vision
- Irregular heart beat
- Swelling of face lips or tongue
- Uncontrollable behavior
- Hallucination or delusions
- Severe weakness or numbness
- Trouble breathing
- Seizures
These are some severe symptoms that you might see if you take over dose of the medication.
Who should not use Adderall?
This medicine in not to be used by every person. It is medication that is recommended to patients who are suffering from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy.
Patients suffering from glaucoma, severe anxiety or agitation, family history of tics and Tourette syndrome must avoid the use of Adderall. People with serious heart problems must not take this medicine because it can cause their death.
Patients must tell their doctor about their medical condition in detail when they are being prescribed a medicine by the doctor.
Adults who are above 65 should not take Adderall because it can be harmful for them.
Children must not be given this medicine unless they are suffering from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy. In that case children aged 3 years and above can be given Adderall and for children aged above 6 years can be given Adderall XR.
Abuse and addiction to Adderall:
Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance which means that there is a high risk for addiction and abuse, this is why the use of Adderall must be closely monitored. Adderall must not be taken for a longer period and in high doses. And you should also not stop using the medication abruptly because it may cause depression, fatigue and sleep problems.
People have also started using Adderall at college and school parties because of its easy availability and because it is a cheap drug. There is also a report that says that people tend to take Adderall when drinking alcohol to offset the effects of latter drug.
Adderall can be very addictive once you start taking it. You must contact your physician before taking Adderall because the side effects may put your life in danger. And when you are planning on stopping the consumption of Adderall you must make sure that you contact your physician in that case too. You might not be handle the withdrawal symptoms on your own.
If you see any serious side affects you must immediately get medical help. Shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, blurred vision, slurred speech, confusion etc., these are some symptoms that you must not take lightly and take some serious action on it.
Missed dose:
If you have missed a dose of Adderall take it as soon you remember. If you have skipped it and it’s the time of the next dose than skip the missed dose, don’t double the dose to catch up the missed dose. And start taking your next dose at regular times. But make sure that you never forget to take your dose because skipping a dose can cause trouble for you.
Precautions:
You must tell your doctor your medical history and any kind of allergies that you have before they prescribe you the medication. Adderall contains some inactive ingredients which can cause allergic reactions and some other kind of problems.
You must tell your doctor if you have any heart problems, or anxiety issues. You must avoid driving and using machinery because this drug may make you dizzy.
This drug has the tendency to slow down a child’s growth so mostly doctors recommend temporarily stopping the use of the medication from time to time to reduce this risk. You must closely monitor your child’s height and weight when he is on Adderall.
Avoid using Adderall during pregnancy. If you are dependent on it than only take it when highly needed otherwise avoid its use. If you continue taking it than there are high chances that you may have a premature baby and might have low birth weight. You might see some withdrawal symptoms in your baby and if that happens make sure that contact your doctor urgently.
If you are using Adderall than it is recommended that you avoid breast feeding, because medication is passed into the breast milk.
How does Adderall work?
The amphetamine in Adderall is used in low doses primarily to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The majority of the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) drugs helps stimulate the nervous system.
It is said that people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) tend to have lower levels of dopamine, a key chemical in the brain’s reward center. This lack of dopamine means that people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are constantly seeking stimulation. Amphetamine stimulates the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain so those minor distractions don’t cause you to lose focus.
To gain focus and to for concentration Adderall is taken by some people. Some take if because they are suffering from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and some take this medication just to get good grades or good business.
A drug might look useful for just a little time but the damages it might have on your body can not be seen initially. So it is better to avoid any kind of drug if you are healthy and are not in need of the drug.
And someone who is using a drug and shares it with other people, must know that it is a crime that they should not do in any case. Every kind of medication must be taken with the recommendation of a doctor.
