Before taking Adderall, be sure to tell your doctor about any heart-related conditions you have, including high blood pressure. This includes alcohol poisoning symptoms, causes, complications, and treatment having a family history of heart problems or high blood pressure. Your doctor can help determine whether Adderall is safe for you.
Typically, a person who takes Adderall as prescribed by a physician will not develop heart problems. Even people who have taken Adderall or similar stimulant medications to treat ADHD since childhood, and continue into adulthood, are not at risk for developing heart problems. Oversight from a medical professional makes these drugs safe and effective to treat ADHD. Most cases of heart palpitations are not considered serious unless you have underlying heart disease. Your doctor still needs to know what you’re experiencing, but your heart palpitations may not need special treatment beyond lifestyle changes. Avoiding triggers of heart palpitations may help reduce or eliminate your symptoms.
Typically, weight loss occurs because of a decrease in appetite, another side effect with Adderall. Keep in mind that appetite loss and weight loss can be temporary for some people. This is because Adderall XR is an extended-release form of the drug.
If you continue to have trouble sleeping, your doctor can advise whether Adderall is right for you. If you have questions about sexual side effects during Adderall treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you develop serious side effects while taking Adderall, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think it’s a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. We talked with Dr. Singh about ways you can stop palpitations from home — and when to see a healthcare provider STAT.
Never take more than is prescribed and never take it without a prescription. In extreme cases, Adderall can cause psychosis and sudden cardiac arrest. However, there have been reports of these issues happening at normal dosages, too.
- Seek immediate medical care for serious side effects like an allergic reaction.
- The rise in stimulant prescriptions in older adults may reflect greater awareness of ADHD in adults.
- Despite the significant gap, the overall prevalence of cardiomyopathy was still quite low in both groups.
- Things like too much caffeine, nicotine, stress and anxiety can kick your fight or flight mode into high gear.
- When discussing therapeutic options, his mother raises a concern.
- Talk to your doctor about effective ways to stop taking the drug.
The generic type costs less, but that’s about the only difference you’ll notice. Generic dextroamphetamine/amphetamine has the same risk of side effects as brand-name Adderall. Regular exercise is important meth withdrawal: symptoms duration coping tips and more for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly.
Reduce stress levels
Adderall is a combination of drugs that includes dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It is commonly used to treated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the sleep disorder known as narcolepsy. Stopping Adderall suddenly can cause a “crash.” This causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including trouble sleeping, depression, and sluggishness. If you need to stop taking this drug, you’ll have to work closely with your doctor. You may also want to know the other side effects that can happen with Adderall use. In the short term, Adderall can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and cause you to breathe harder.
How Long Do the Symptoms Last?
Concerta boosts levels of a chemical in your brain called dopamine. It does this by blocking transmitters in your brain that reabsorb it after it’s released. This lets the neurons in your brain send and receive signals better, so you can focus. When the drug leaves your system, your brain can’t process the signals as well, and your symptoms come back. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Low electrolyte levels may be an indicator of heart disease and other conditions that may cause heart palpitations. Adderall is a prescription medication that doctors use to improve concentration in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. One large study found no link between ADHD medications — including stimulants like Adderall — and a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke. Adderall is an amphetamine-based prescription stimulant medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.
Preventing Withdrawal
They can also recommend other treatments for your condition. Adderall can cause cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack and stroke. You may have an increased risk of these side effects if you already have heart problems. Due to this risk, doctors typically will not prescribe Adderall to people with heart problems. Reduced appetite was reported in clinical trials of Adderall.
Avoid excessive alcohol use
Misuse of prescription stimulants medications can “age” the heart, resulting in high blood pressure which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Adult ADHD is significantly impairing and the use of CNS stimulants among adults is on the rise. It is likely that in coming years increasing number of unhealthy adult ADHD population is going to be exposed to CNS stimulant treatment. Definite conclusions regarding the overall cardiovascular safety of these agents cannot currently be made for patients at varying risk for cardiovascular disease or in relation to chronic treatment exposure. At present, there is less data available to guide and inform clinical practice in many patients with adult ADHD and concomitant cardiovascular disease and/or risk factors. However, these types of observational studies can’t prove cause and effect, Dr. Cohen cautions.
Multiple trials (2,3) have shown Adderall to be an effective treatment for ADHD compared with placebo, with the added benefit of once daily dosing. In addition, it is as effective or more effective when compared with other stimulants and nonstimulants used in ADHD treatment (3–6). Adderall is a preparation of mixed amphetamine salts indicated for the treatment of ADHD. Although the use of generic names is normally preferred, the authors elected to use the proprietary name, Adderall, in the present manuscript for brevity.