So today we re talking about Adderall. One of the most used and most abused prescriptions
medications out there. It s the kind of medication that can be a life changer for those who truly
need it and create a mess for those who don t. Today though we ll go over what this medication
is, why your doctor may be prescribing it and what kind of side effects you need to
be watching for as well as some tips that can help you be more successful on it.
Adderall is actually the name brand of a medication that contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
These two medications are what we call stimulants. Adderall is approved to treat Attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder and sleep disorder called narcolepsy, where you will can get
sudden overwhelming drowsiness as well as attacks of sleep.
Adderall helps increase the availability of a chemical in the brain called dopamine. In
ADHD it is felt that there is a deficiency in this chemical. Medications such as Adderall
help to increase the availability of dopamine in the brain which aids among other thing
our ability to concentrate, stay awake and gives us a feeling of wellbeing.
Adderall comes in two different forms, an immediate release and an extended release
pill. The immediate release can be given every 4-6 hours and extended release once a day
which will last for around 10-12 hours. These both are available as generic medications
in the united states and can be more affordable. There is a brand name version of an extended
release formulation called Mydayis which is designed to last 16 hours.
Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States which means you need
to have a hand signed prescription or your doctor has to send it through a special secure
electronic form. It also means you can t get refills and every prescription has to be a
new one. It also means that this is not a prescription that you should be taking or
sharing without a prescription. Doing so can potentially land you in serious legal problems.
Because you can t do refills and you need written prescription, Adderall and the other
stimulant medications can be kind of a pain to take because if your doctor is taking it
serious it means that you need to be seen every 1-3 months to get a new prescription
and for most doctors, if you run out early or lose or have your medication stolen you
are out of luck until it s time for a new refill.
So let s dive into the subject you are probably most concerned about, What are the Side Effects?
To best understand that though, maybe it would be helpful to understand what you should feel
like if you are taking this medication so you can better tell if you are having a side
effect. If you are taking it for ADHD symptoms the main thing that we are looking for is
an improved ability to focus, complete tasks, sit still, less impulsiveness, improved behavior
and overall improved ability live your daily life free of your ADHD symptoms. If you are
taking it for narcolepsy, we are looking for improvement in fatigue, alertness and decreased
frequency of episodes of falling asleep.
In general, for those who are taking this medication at the prescribed doses, these
are the things that we see, and side effects tend to be quite minimal.
For Children on this, there are some specific things that you need to know about. Becausue
it is a stimulant if it is being given too late, the effects can last into bedtime and
keep them from falling asleep. Another one that can be quite common is a
decreased appetite. It is an appetite suppressant and is probably the most common reason that
in younger children we end up stopping it. Not only can cut down their appetite but over
time if that continues it can actually cause some growth delays. That s why in children
especially, they need to be monitored closely for any weight or growth issues.
Beyond that we can see some headaches, stomachaches, mood swings and irritiblity and rarely some
tics. These side effects tend to be more related to the dose of the medication, so by working
closely with your doctor we can usually find a solution.
In adults, some of the things that we watch for are an increased risk for high blood pressure.
WE can see erectile dysfunction, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea and nausea.
We can also see appetite loss, blurry vision, dry mouth and an increased risk of seizures
and tics. It can also cause some issues with making it difficult to urinate.
Where most people tend to get into trouble with this medication is when it is taken at
excessive doses or not under the care of a physician. I hear quite frequently from my
patients how they tried a friends Adderall and it seemed to help them. This always makes
me , because you are really putting yourself at risk by taking or giving a controlled substance
like this. If you think you have an issue that you may need this, go into your doctor
and talk about it, don t go taking medications on your own.
As I mentioned in the intro, abuse is a very common problem with Adderall. It is really
popular in highschool and college as a study aid. For many they feel that it helps them
stay up longer and focus better for studying and test. Or others may take it as an appetite
suppressant to help with weight loss. Beyond that, it also has the ability to cause a high.
The problem with using these medications not under the care of a doctor is that it significantly
increases your risk of more severe side effects and addiction.
The most common side effects of abuse are nervousness, restlessness, difficulty with
sleep, shaking, headaches, changes in libido, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting and loss
of appetite. This medication also has a very high potential for overdose which can be very
dangerous. Symptoms of an overdose can be hyperactivity, hallucinations, agitation,
rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, increased body temperature, dilated pupils and loss
of consciousness. It can also affect the rhythm of the heart causing an irregular heartbeat,
a heart attack and even death. It really isn t something that is worth messing around with.
Now if that s not enough, when you are taking other medications, especially ones for your
mental health like antidepressants there can be some significant interactions that if you
are not aware of, can make you pretty sick.
Now if you end up needing to take Adderall, I m going to go over a few tips that may help
you be more successful.
The first thing you need to do is identify what issues you hope that this medication
can help with. Talk to your doctor about these things and use those to measure how effective
it really is. Along these same lines, if you are considering treatment for one of your
children it s important to have proper expectations on what this medication should be helping
with. One of the most important reasons in the setting of ADHD that you would consider
giving them these kinds of medications is so they don t get behind and school and to
help them be successful long term. You shouldn t look for this medication to fix all their
behavior issues because it won t. Use all the tools available like counseling, diet
and sleeping changes, limiting screen time and even taking some parenting classes.
Second is start with the lowest dose and work your way up measuring the improvement in the
symptoms that we just talked about.
Third is consider giving a trial to non-stimulant medications first. Atomoxetine or Strattera,
although not as effective for as many people as the stimulants may be, can be very effective
for a lot of people. It doesn t have the same issues with appetite and growth and it isn
t controlled like the stimulants and can be a lot easier to take.
4th is make sure that you take it early enough to avoid issues with sleep. If you are having
issues with sleep try decreasing the dose or taking it earlier before reaching for sleep
aids.
5th is if it s not prescribed to you, don t take it. It s illegal, dangerous and The
risks just aren t worth it.
Well, that s a quick overview Adderall. It can be a helpful medication for the right
conditions and right people. It isn t without risk though so make sure you are taking it
under the care of your doctor. I really hope this has helped you understand Adderall better
so you can make a better, informed decision with your doctor. That s our aim here at FamilyMed,
to give you practical and evidence based information so you can make a better decision about your
health. And with that, we thank you for the time you ve spent with us today and hope to
see you in the next video.