Adderall and Ritalin, both amphetamine-based attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, are popular mainly on college campuses with peak use times at midterms and finals. These are drugs once mostly prescribed for children and teenagers. Now prescriptions for adults diagnosed with ADHD have skyrocketed to 16 million scripts for adults 20 to 39 years of age in 2012. What is Adderall, and what does it do for those with ADHD? And for those who don’t have ADHD?
What exactly is Adderall?
Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant. Ritalin, a similar drug, was first marketed in 1957 as a cure for depression because it increased dopamine and serotonin production in the brain. Adderall was found useful in reducing symptoms of ADHD such as difficulty focusing, remaining quiet and controlling actions.
Adderall is a combination of two stimulants, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. This combination is also prescribed for narcolepsy. Though stimulants may seem contrary to the aim of treating ADHD, these drugs affect the way the brain treats chemicals that help transmit brain signals from one neuron to the next. These amphetamines block the reabsorption of dopamine, a brain messenger chemical, by some cells while enhancing uptake in other brain cells. Increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine seem to reduce attention deficit and hyperactivity. Sixty percent to 80 percent of prescribed users are children or teenagers.
Adderall and Addiction
With any drug, addiction is always a danger. And long-term effects of amphetamine isn’t known for children and teens, so Adderall’s extensive use has been questioned because of this issue. Some studies have shown that the efficacy of Adderall may plateau after a year of use.
For adults using Adderall, the increased amount of dopamine and norepinephrine is highly seductive because it induces euphoria and the feeling that one is awake and focused on life and work tasks. This is when college students enter the picture.
College Students and Study Aids
Students going to school full-time are two times more likely to use Adderall recreationally when compared to the part-time student. Of those with legal prescriptions of the ADHD drug, 14 percent were offered money or favors for their pills by other students. These drugs are used to stay awake and focused.
A finding by the University of Puget Sound found that in times of low stress, few students took amphetamines, presumably only those with prescriptions. But at exam time, amphetamine use increased eight times, with an estimated 25 percent of students using Adderall or another amphetamine. Only 2 percent of undergrads who used Adderall thought of it as a drug. The rest considered it an innocuous “study tool.”
There is also a disturbing pattern regarding students -- Adderall and drinking. Those college students who abused Adderall were more likely to be binge drinkers. In fact, 90 percent of college students who used Adderall without a prescription were described as binge drinkers, and half considered themselves heavy drinkers.
Side Effects
Though Adderall is approved for use in children as young as three, there are a multitude of side effects parents and others should consider before using the drug. Children reported side effects 84 percent of the time with 35 percent deciding to stop taking Adderall. The mild side effects that will probably go away after a period of acclimation include loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, fever, nervousness and trouble sleeping. Very rare side effects include heart attack, sudden death, high blood pressure and a racing heart rate.
The risks students take when consuming Adderall without a prescription include high blood pressure, low libido, tremors, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, constipation, fainting and dangerously high body temperatures. There are also erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular failure, hostility, paranoia, depression, suicidal thoughts and hallucinations to consider.
Talk to a Physician
If you have any of the following conditions, it is highly recommended that you discuss Adderall use with your doctor if he or she decides to prescribe it for you: congenital heart defects, high blood pressure, heart failure, heart rhythm disorder, recent heart attack, personal or family history of mental illness, psychotic disorder, depression, suicide attempts, tics, or Tourette’s syndrome. It may be advisable to find an alternative to Adderall.
Side effects that need the attention of a physician right away include bladder pain, rapidly pounding heartbeat, frequent urge to urinate, bloody or cloudy urine, difficult, painful urination, irritability, anger, or manic behavior. Research has shown that college students typically take higher doses of the drug than recommended. Overdose is a very real concern.
Call 911 in These Cases
If someone you know is on Adderall and begins to feel the following, call emergency services right away. These are signs of an Adderall drug overdose.
Feelings of panic, uncontrollable shakes, dizziness, hallucinations, restlessness, quickened breathing, coma, and an irregular heartbeat. This could lead to a heart event like heart failure or a heart attack.
When Not to Use Adderall
If you fall into any of the following categories, you should not use Adderall, at all. Don’t use it if you have stopped taking an MAO inhibitor within the last two weeks. With this, as with all drug interactions, there are serious to fatal side effects. So don’t use Adderall if you are allergic to amphetamines or dextroamphetamines, have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, overactive thyroid, heart disease, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), glaucoma, severe high blood pressure, severe anxiety, or agitation. Adderall is highly addictive and will exacerbate certain physical and mental illnesses in the user.
Now that you know a few things about Adderall, you as a parent or patient can make an informed decision about this drug’s usefulness. Remember, your doctor is there to answer any questions you may have about any drug, not just Adderall. With careful assessment, Adderall may be the drug of choice for you.