What is Adderall?
Adderall 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. The medication was approved by the FDA for ADHD in 1996.
How is Adderall taken?
Tablets are taken orally once or twice a day. Adderall comes tablets of 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 30mg.
Why would someone take Adderall instead of Ritalin?
Some patients feel that Adderall has less of a drop off effect than Ritalin, which means fewer problems as the medication wears off. Also, a dose of Adderall is typically longer lasting than a dose of Ritalin.
For whom is this medication intended?
Adderall has been approved for use in patients age 3 years and older.
Who should avoid this medication?
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.
What are the side effects of Adderall?
Common Side effects (which usually wear off with time): Restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, headache, dryness of the mouth, weight loss </dd> <dt>
Less common side effects of this medication: Euphoria, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, other gastrointestinal disturbances.
Contact a doctor if any of the following occur: Palpitations, tachycardia, elevation of blood pressure , psychotic episodes at recommended doses (rare), overstimulation, dyskinesia, dysphoria, tremor, exacerbation of motor and phonictics and Tourette's syndrome.
Allergic: Urticaria. Endocrine: Impotence. Changes in libido.
I've heard about severe reactions to Adderall. What are the statistics on that?
There have been 11 reported cases of psychotic reaction from among 7,000,000 prescriptions for Adderall written since 1996.
Is Adderall addictive?
Adderall has a high potential for abuse and addiction, especially among people who do nothave ADHD.
Adderall is a "Schedule II Stimulant." What does that mean?
"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.
How can I decide if Adderall is the right medication for my child?
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.
For more information about Adderall, see HAHALOGY.com (Note: this link will open a new browser window. Close the window to return to additudemag.com)
