This may be more likely in patients who have a family history of heart disease. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or a fast, irregular heartbeat while using this medicine. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label.
How Does Adderall Affect The Brain?
Long-term use of prescription stimulants such as Adderall can lead to tolerance, which is when a person needs increasing amounts of a drug for it to be effective. Do not start any new medicine during treatment with ADDERALL without talking to your healthcare provider first. Tell your healthcare provider about any mental problems you or your child have or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression. Your healthcare provider should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting treatment with ADDERALL. Reported behavioral effects include learning and memory deficits, altered locomotor activity, and changes in sexual function.
Before Taking Dextroamphetamine And Amphetamine,
Some research in animals has shown negative effects to a fetus when the drug was given during pregnancy. However, animal studies don’t always predict the way humans would respond. The half-life of Adderall varies depending on a person’s age, liver and kidney function, and other factors.
Adderall tablets are also approved for treating narcolepsy in children ages 6 years and older. The FDA has approved Adderall to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Both medications can cause psychological and physical dependence and can be misused.
Tell all of your health care providers that you are taking this medicine before any lab tests or bloodwork. If you were misusing Adderall, the withdrawal effects will be similar to those above, though they could be more pronounced if you weren’t taking the drug for a medical reason. Fortunately, the withdrawal symptoms are mild and not life-threatening, though they could be worse if you were on a high dosage of Adderall over a long period.
Boxed Warning: Risk Of Misuse (also Called Abuse)
A search at a second residence in Fulshear led to the discovery and seizure of an additional five kilograms of counterfeit Adderall pills. There aren’t any medications to treat Adderall withdrawal, though you may be given an antidepressant if your depression is long-lasting. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech.
- They may increase the daily dose by 5 mg each week, stopping when they find the optimal dosage.
- Adderall® is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence.
- Characteristic symptoms include hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and difficulty paying attention.
- Adderall is a prescription medication that doctors commonly prescribe to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
Adderall Dosage

The other component, dextroamphetamine, is another version of amphetamine with slightly different molecular properties. This class of drugs helps boost mood, alertness, attention, and energy by raising the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. The effects of the medication can be positive when Adderall is taken as intended, but for people who may use the drug without medical supervision, the effects can be dangerous. If you miss your dose of the extended-release capsule the morning, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time the next day. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking dextroamphetamine and amphetamine from time to time to see if the medication is still needed.
ADHD Download

It’s not currently recommended for treating ADHD in guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Both Adderall and Concerta are FDA-approved for treating ADHD. Adderall is also approved for narcolepsy, but Concerta is not. In some cases, the brand-name drug and the generic version may be available in different forms and strengths.
More Info On This Drug
- In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
- Some people are very sensitive to the dose of Adderall IR and Adderall XR, discerning a 2mg or 3mg difference in the dose.
- It is not known if ADDERALL is safe and effective in children with ADHD under 3 years of age.
- Adderall tablets are also approved for treating narcolepsy in children ages 6 years and older.
- Usual dose 5 mg to 60 mg per day in divided doses, depending on the individual patient response.
This means that it’s not FDA-approved for this purpose, but there is some scientific evidence that it might help. Adderall and Ritalin (methylphenidate) are both commonly used to treat ADHD. However, there are some differences that might make you prefer one over the other. Because Adderall and Vyvanse are very similar medications, they also have similar side effects and drug interactions. Vyvanse is available as a delayed-release capsule and a chewable tablet, both of which are taken once daily.
To learn more about treatments for weight loss, talk with your doctor. Like most drugs, Adderall may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Adderall may cause.

Children’s Dosages
Use this printable medication log to keep track of how well any ADHD medication is working for your child. And learn what steps to take if your child’s ADHD medication isn’t working. Putting your child on any type of ADHD medication is a personal choice.
To learn more about taking Adderall with antidepressants for depression or anxiety, talk with your doctor. People who are taking Adderall should talk to a doctor if they have concerns about the side effects or risks of the drug. The doctor may adjust the dosage or recommend an alternative medication if necessary. In some cases, people who take large doses of Adderall for an extended period may become physically dependent on the drug.