Answers to your questions about treating ADHD with Adderall: side effects, dosages for children, warnings, stimulant information, and more.
by ADDitude Editors
Adderall, approved by the FDA for ADHD in 1996, is a mixture of four different amphetamine salts - Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate, and Amphetamine Sulfate - that is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Tablets are taken orally once or twice a day. Adderall comes tablets of 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 30mg.
Some patients feel that Adderall has less of a drop- off effect than Ritalin, which means fewer side effects as the medication wears off. Also, a dose of Adderall is typically longer lasting than a dose of Ritalin.
Adderall has been approved for use in patients age 3 years and older. People with even mild cases of hypertension should avoid Adderall use. Amphetamines can cause mania in people with bipolar disorder. People with a history of drug abuse need to use extreme caution when taking this medication.
Common side effects include restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, headache, dryness of the mouth, weight loss. These usually wear off with time.
Less common side effects of this medication include euphoria, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, other gastrointestinal disturbances.
There have been 11 reported cases of psychotic reaction from among 7,000,000 prescriptions for Adderall written since 1996. Allergic: Urticaria. Endocrine: Impotence. Changes in libido.
Adderall has a high potential for abuse and addiction, especially among people who do not have ADHD.
"Schedule II" is the classification used by the Drug Enforcement Agency to indicate drugs with a high potential for abuse. Other Schedule II Drugs include Dexedrine, Ritalin, and cocaine, all of which have a high potential for abuse.
The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis by a health care professional. Discuss your questions about medications with this person and come to a decision that works for you.
Leave your review of Adderall in the ADDitude forums.
For more information about Adderall, see HAHALOGY.com