Adderall Side Effects - What May Happen After You Swallow The Pill

Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine or more commonly known as Adderall is a psychostimulant drug. It is used as part of the treatment for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and those who experience sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep or narcolepsy. Although it is a stimulant, at lower doses it reduces restlessness and has a calming effect for individuals with ADHD. ADHD patients experience improved concentration and focus which helps with their challenges regarding over activity, unstable emotions and being easily distracted. As a treatment for narcolepsy however it is often used in higher doses and will then work as a stimulant which keeps the patient from falling asleep unexpectedly. Adderall is able to bring about these results by increasing dopamine as well as norepinephrine levels in one's brain. Central nervous system stimulants like Adderall are quite potent and it is to be expected that some Adderall side effects are more serious than common over the counter drugs.

Due to the potency of this drug it may only be taken when prescribed by a doctor. And that with the benefits it can give certain patients there may also occur unwanted side effects. In addition, a patient's prescription cannot be refilled. A doctor must make a new prescription each time more medication is necessary. These precautionary steps that the government has mandated highlights the possibility that Adderall can cause serious problems if it is not used according to the doctor's instructions.

Not all Adderall side effects mean one must discontinue the medications. Some of them do eventually lessen as one's body adjusts to the drug. Some examples of these common side effects are loss of appetite, nervousness, headache, nausea, dry mouth, fever, having trouble sleeping and weight loss. It is however not these side effects that have now caught the attention of not just health professionals but law enforcement as well. It is the fact that one of the side effects of stimulants such as Adderall is that it is habit forming and is now being used for nonmedical purposes by more than a million people in the country.

Reasons why Adderall is being used nonmedically

• Used by students to boost their ability to study-In a survey that the Addiction Journal spearheaded a quarter of their respondents from top universities said they used this drug to help them study for exams. Accordingly it helps them concentrate, focus and keep awake when reviewing.
• Used by adults to boost their energy-There are people who use stimulants in order to better cope with the demands of their everyday lives. To their mind they will be able to manage their jobs, family and social life better if they have more energy. The use of stimulants like Adderall by women for this purpose has increased by more than 264% in the last decade for women aged 20 to 44.
• It is used as a recreational drug-Adderall and other stimulants have become a gateway drug. This means that it is the first drug a person experiments with when he or she want to experience becoming high. Because it is a prescription drug some assume it is safer than street drugs like cocaine or heroin.

Serious Adderall Side Effects

If used as prescribed the side effects of this medication do not usually require that the person discontinue its usage. The problem begins when people abuse the drug and use it for the nonmedical reason mentioned above.

• Possibly fatal blood pressure and heart problems
• Addiction and withdrawal symptoms when usage is discontinued
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Irregular heart beat
• Seizures
• Fainting
• Confusion
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme fatigue

The abuse of prescription medications like Adderall is fast becoming a major government concern as these drugs in general have overtaken marijuana as the new gateway drug of choice for young adults. The sad fact is that many who now abuse medications such as Adderall started taking it with good intentions like having more energy for the family or to get better grades. The fact that it is highly addictive and that people ultimately build a tolerance for the drug increases the probability or an individual overdosing on it. This is compounded by the fact that with the rush of intense feeling a person experiences with Adderall it also creates an intense need to sustain that level of emotion. This further increases the probability that a person will overdose on the drug.