Sometimes the doses of other medicines will need to be changed during treatment with Adderall®. When managed properly, certain medications can be taken alongside Adderall. You should keep a list of all supplements, prescription, and over-the-counter products you take, and discuss your treatment plan with your physician and pharmacist to prevent any dangerous drug interactions. Drug interactions can either change the effectiveness of the medication or put you at risk for dangerous side effects. Doctors also sometimes prescribe Adderall for other conditions, such as narcolepsy – a sleep disorder whose symptoms include sudden attacks of daytime sleep and excessive sleepiness.

Condition Spotlight
Weight loss in adults can be a temporary side effect of Adderall, and appetite should increase as your body adjusts to the medication. Adderall is also used in the treatment of a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital.
1 Clinically Important Interactions With Amphetamines
This can cause higher levels of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine in your blood and increase the risk of side effects. Talk with your health care provider before drinking alcohol while taking amphetamine/dextroamphetamine. Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if amphetamine/dextroamphetamine is right for you.
Misusing amphetamine/dextroamphetamine can lead to serious side effects, such as substance use problems, overdose, or death. Misuse means taking a medicine in a way other than how it was prescribed. Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine can also cause physical dependence, which means your body relies on the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you feel that amphetamine/dextroamphetamine is not working. Call your health care provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following serious symptoms. The typical starting dosage of Adderall XR for children ages 13 to 17 years is 10 mg taken once per day in the morning when they first wake up.
The ADHD-Eating Disorders Link

These chemicals play a role in attention, alertness, and wakefulness. These uses may vary depending on the specific amphetamine/dextroamphetamine product prescribed. Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider. At sentencing, Miller noted customers didn’t know the pills they thought was Adderall instead had methamphetamine. Adderall is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but can create a euphoric effect in people who do not need it. Its main ingredients are a mix of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Do not take more or less of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If you take too much, the medicine may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence). Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis by a healthcare professional.
Overdose Symptoms
Drinking alcohol while taking Adderall can decrease the benefits of the medication while increasing adverse effects like sedation. Serious side effects can include fever and weakness or numbness of the limbs. A total of 220 medications are known to interact with Adderall. See “What is the most important information I should know about Adderall? Do not start any new medicine while taking Adderall without talking to your doctor first. Your doctor will decide whether Adderall can be taken with other medicines.
Will I Need To Use This Drug Long Term?

This date is typically one year from the date the medication was dispensed. Adderall can pass through breast milk and cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. There haven’t been enough studies done in humans to be sure about how Adderall might affect a fetus if taken during pregnancy. Some research in animals has shown negative effects to a fetus when the drug was given during pregnancy.
View Labeling Archives For This Drug

Also, anxiety can contribute to sleep problems, and lack of sleep can make it difficult to stay attentive. Adderall allows a person who suffers from anxiety to focus long-term even when they have lost sleep because of anxious thoughts. For some people, the effect that Adderall has on the dopamine receptors can give a sense of pleasure and boosting emotions.
What Is Adderall XR? Is Adderall XR A Narcotic?
- Taking can also cause dependence, which can lead to withdrawal symptoms.
- A person can minimize the symptoms of withdrawal by gradually reducing the dosage over time.
- Store in a cool, dry, and safe place, such as a locked cabinet.
- Long-term effects of amphetamines in children have not been well established.
- Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Adderall.
Advise patients that there are potential risks to patients with serious cardiac disease, including sudden death, with ADDERALL use. Instruct patients to contact a healthcare provider immediately if they develop symptoms such as exertional chest pain, unexplained syncope, or other symptoms suggestive of cardiac disease see WARNINGS. CNS stimulants, at recommended doses, may cause psychotic or manic symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusional thinking, or mania) in patients without a prior history of psychotic illness or mania. CNS stimulants may induce a manic or mixed episode in patients. Prior to initiating treatment, screen patients for risk factors for developing a manic episode (e.g., comorbid or history of depressive symptoms or a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, or depression).
During or within 14 days following the administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (hypertensive crises may result). Amphetamine is reported to be oxidized at the 4 position of the benzene ring to form 4-hydroxyamphetamine, or on the side chain α or β carbons to form alpha-hydroxy-amphetamine or norephedrine, respectively. Norephedrine and 4-hydroxy-amphetamine are both active and each is subsequently oxidized to form 4-hydroxy-norephedrine. Alpha-hydroxy-amphetamine undergoes deamination to form phenylacetone, which ultimately forms benzoic acid and its glucuronide and the glycine conjugate hippuric acid. Although the enzymes involved in amphetamine metabolism have not been clearly defined, CYP2D6 is known to be involved with formation of 4-hydroxy-amphetamine.
Can Adderall Be Used For Weight Loss, Depression, Or Anxiety?
Adderall may cause mental health issues such as mania and psychosis. If you already have a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, you may have a higher risk of these side effects. Misusing Adderall can cause serious side effects, including heart problems and even sudden death.
It may help people with ADHD maintain their attention and focus and decrease hyperactivity. In people with narcolepsy, Adderall may help prevent daytime sleepiness. Serious side effects of Adderall can include heart attack and stroke. Adderall can lead to sudden death in people with preexisting heart conditions. Adderall is the brand name for the combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It’s a prescription stimulant approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating ADHD or narcolepsy.