Headache after adderall wears off


Adderall Headache: Causes & Science-Backed Solutions

Adderall is a powerful stimulant prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But it can cause headaches, and sometimes those headaches can be severe.

But can Adderall cause high blood pressure? Does Adderall increase heart rate? Does Adderall cause dry mouth?

Let us discuss all these.

Here's what you need to know about Adderall-induced headaches, the causes, and the science-backed solutions.

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a prescription medication often prescribed to people diagnosed with ADHD. Many people have prescribed Adderall because it is the most effective treatment for ADHD. However, Adderall is also known for its side effects, including headaches.

Lazăr Edeleanu, a Romanian chemist, was the first to synthesize amphetamine in 1887. Edelman researched amphetamine extensively but never discovered its physiological effects. Gorden Alles, a biochemist in California, injected himself with 50 milligrams of the substance to test its physiological effects in 1929. He was working on a medicine that would be more effective than ephedrine, which was previously used to treat asthma, allergies, and colds.

Alles kept a journal of his amphetamine encounters. He reported that his nose had dried up and he felt "well-being," but that he had a "very restless night" the next day because his mind was racing. He was the first to publish the effects of amphetamine sulfate and amphetamine hydrochloride, which he patented in 1932.

By 1934, Alles had joined Smith, Kline, and French, a pharmaceutical business, and had helped introduce Benzedrine, a decongestant inhaler. This is where the college students enter the picture. The Adderall of that time had taken over the academic world by the end of the 1930s. Students from all walks of life used Benzedrine to stay awake late at night to do their schoolwork.

Adderall was created in the 1950s by a pharmaceutical company called Burroughs Wellcome. It was the first amphetamine-based ADHD medication ever made. It was later renamed Adderall.

Why Do People Take Adderall?

There are many reasons why someone might take Adderall, but most involve a desire to feel better.

One of the most common reasons is because they want to study. Adderall is a stimulant drug used to increase focus and attention. The effects of Adderall last for about 4 hours.

It can be helpful for students who are struggling to pay attention in class. However, it can also cause a person to become hyperactive and lose control of their actions.

Adderall Headaches and Adult ADHD Medications Side Effects

The most common side effects of Adderall use include headache, dry mouth, increased appetite, anxiety, and insomnia. While the cause of these side effects is not particularly known, the most likely culprit is the amphetamine in Adderall.

There are no specific side effects of Adderall in females, but others say it is good to answer the question, "can Adderall cause seizures?", "does Adderall cause diarrhea?" and "why does Adderall makes me angry?"

While these are relevant questions, these post focuses more on the overall side effects of Adderall.

One ADHD patient stated, "Adderall gives me a headache." Let us find out why.

Headache

There are several reasons why Adderall-induced headaches can occur.

There are two types of Adderall-induced headaches: acute and chronic. Acute headaches occur within 24 hours of taking Adderall. Chronic headaches occur days, weeks, or months after taking Adderall.

Some people experience a headache after taking Adderall without any other symptoms. Other people take Adderall for an extended period and eventually develop headaches.

How to get rid of Adderall headache? How to get rid of nausea from Adderall? Read on.

Reason

The drug changes the chemical balance of your brain, making it more sensitive to pain. Adderall interferes with your body's ability to regulate blood pressure, thereby causing a headache. That's because Adderall increases the amount of dopamine in your brain.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating blood pressure. Adderall can also cause lactic acid buildup in your brain, triggering headaches.

Anxiety

One of the side effects of Adderall is that it can cause anxiety. It is also a severe side effect, leading to panic attacks. But this is not a common side effect of Adderall. However, it is something that you need to be aware of before you start taking the drug.

Reason

Some people think that using Adderall is a sign of being "high functioning" or "successful." On the other side, it can also signify anxiety, depression, and even bipolar disorder due to the combination of chemicals and their corresponding effects on the brain.

For many people, Adderall is a way to cope with a stressful situation or stay awake during a long meeting or exam. But, as with most drugs, Adderall can have some side effects. The most common side effect of Adderall is anxiety.

Dependency

Some studies have shown that up to 80% of children who take Adderall will depend on the drug. This is especially true for kids who have been prescribed the medication for ADHD.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that "Adderall is the most commonly abused prescription medication among high school students." This fact has caused some issues ad movements among medical professionals, yet, no one can deny the positive effects of Adderall.

A study was done to see a correlation between taking Adderall and developing a dependency on it.

Reason

Adderall is an amphetamine and is classified as a central nervous system stimulant. It is a controlled substance, so the effects vary from person to person.

If someone is taking Adderall for medical reasons, they will most likely be prescribed a small amount that will not cause them to become dependent on it.

The person taking the drug gets a feeling of relaxation and "happiness" due to its amphetamine content. The said chemical makes the person want always to feel calm, so the effect is always to take Adderall for this purpose. Thus, causing dependency.

Dosage: Tips When Taking Adderall for the First Time

A recommended dosage of Adderall is 5-20 mg/day. The most common dosage is 10mg/day. This can be split into two doses, either 5mg or 10mg per dose. The 20mg dose should be taken only as needed.

The dosage depends on your age, weight, and medical history. Consider lowering your dosage if you experience side effects, such as increased heart rate or trouble sleeping. If you want to use Adderall to improve your focus and concentration, you should take it at least twice a day, every day.

Does Adderall work right away? Adderall has a short half-life. After you take it, it will take effect right away, but it will be gone within a few hours. That is why you should take it at the same time every day. You should also make sure that you don't take too much. Too much Adderall can cause problems, including nausea and vomiting.

If you have any questions about taking your medication or any concerns about side effects, discuss them with your doctor.

How to Treat Adderall-induced Headache, Stimulant Headache, or Amphetamine Headache

The best thing to do when you have a headache after taking Adderall is to drink lots of water. This will help to reduce blood pressure and decrease the pain. You should also take some aspirin or ibuprofen. These medications can help you to feel better.

Does Adderall Raise Blood Pressure?

An increase in blood pressure causes Adderall-induced headaches. As blood pressure increases, the arteries in your brain expand, causing headaches. The headache may be accompanied by nausea, dizziness, or light-headedness.

You can also prevent headaches by knowing how to control your blood pressure. Eating healthy foods, exercising, and drinking plenty of water are natural ways to lower your blood pressure.

Adderall Interactions with Caffeine

When you are taking Adderall, you should avoid caffeine. Caffeine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. It can also affect your sleep cycle. When you take Adderall, you should avoid caffeine for the same reason.

If you drink coffee, limit your intake to one cup of coffee per day. If you drink other caffeinated drinks such as tea or soda, limit your intake to two cups of coffee per day. Also, try to avoid alcohol when you are taking Adderall. It can make you feel drowsy.

Contraindications & Warnings of Adderall

Adderall is a controlled substance, and there are many dangers associated with taking it. If you or your child are taking Adderall, it is essential to discuss this with your doctor and find a treatment plan that works for you.

If you have any of these conditions, you should not take Adderall: liver disease, heart disease, kidney disease, or high blood pressure.

It's not recommended that you take it for more than ten days at a time. Adderall is not recommended during pregnancy because the baby will be exposed to the drug and may have congenital disabilities, but it's infrequent.

You cannot also take Adderall while you are breastfeeding. The drug can pass into your breast milk and harm your baby.

If you feel like you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Adderall immediately.

Adderall's Effects on the Brain

Adderall is an amphetamine that is prescribed to treat ADHD. It works by increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for regulating motivation and reward-seeking behavior. This explains why the drug can make people feel energized and motivated.

In essence, Adderall helps increase the amount of dopamine in the brain so that you can get more pleasure out of your daily activities.

The effects of Adderall on the brain are similar to those of other stimulants such as caffeine. The effects include increased energy, improved focus, and decreased appetite.

The drug also affects the way that the brain processes information. The drug increases the number of connections between different brain areas, improving memory.

Adderall also affects the function of other neurotransmitters. It can increase the activity of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain.

Is There an Adderall Crash?

Yes. Many people who take Adderall experience a "crash" after taking their last pill. This is because the effects of the drug wear off, and the user is left feeling very tired. The headache after Adderall wears off at the same time.

The Adderall crash is when the user experiences a sudden and extreme drop in energy. Some people describe this as feeling like they have hit the wall. The Adderall crash can be quite scary. It can even be dangerous if you don't know what to do.

The Problem with Adderall Chronic Abuse and Misuse

Adderall chronic abuse is a condition that results from using Adderall excessively over an extended period. It can lead to the risk of severe health problems such as psychosis, depression, and other psychological disorders.

There is no cure for Adderall chronic abuse. However, the condition can be treated with medication and psychotherapy.

Adderall Withdrawal Headache Symptoms, Treatment & Medications

If you take Adderall, you will probably have to withdraw from it, which means you will need to go off the drug for some time. The withdrawal symptoms of Adderall are similar to the signs of amphetamine addiction, so you should be prepared for them.

The first thing to do when trying to withdraw from Adderall is to reduce the dosage. This will help you avoid withdrawal symptoms. Then get some rest.

If you are withdrawing from Adderall, you may experience nausea, irritability, fatigue, sweating, and anxiety. You may also have a loss of appetite. These are all symptoms of a withdrawal from amphetamines. They will go away after a few days. You can use over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the pain.

You can also ask your doctor for advice on managing the withdrawal symptoms.

Is There an Alternative to Adderall Drug Not Causing Headache?

Adderall is a synthetic amphetamine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But if you want to avoid throbbing headaches, you can look for over-the-counter supplements instead. You can take a look at the alternative drug Vyvamind.

This supplement contains no amphetamines, and therefore, you won't have any side effects. It has been proven to be effective in treating ADHD.

Final Thoughts on Adderall Causing Headache

In conclusion, while you should not have any problems taking Adderall for a short period, you need to know the side effects if you take it regularly. Some of the side effects include insomnia, anxiety, nausea, and headaches.

If you experience severe headaches, you may want to consult your doctor. You can also withdraw from using Adderall, take a few weeks off the medication, and try Vyvamind as an alternative.

Adderall Headaches: Side-Effects & Abuse Potential

Adderall is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for children and young adults to mitigate the effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Adderall helps promote focus and concentration in individuals with diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder while usually only contributing mild to moderate side effects. 

Adderall is a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system and changes the levels of some crucial neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. This causes a lessening of ADHD in those prescribed, but it can cause a rush of euphoria and incredible alertness and concentration in illicit users.

While most people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are diagnosed in their childhood, many still deal with the effects and symptoms of the illness well into adulthood. This can lead to a lifelong relationship with Adderall and Adderall headaches. In addition, these symptoms are often challenging or even difficult to manage with many other medications, so Adderall is often the first suggested treatment option.

Adderall Headaches & Other Side Effects

Adderall has many potential symptoms that both legitimate and illicit users experience. Adderall is available in both a tablet and a capsule. Many users take the pills by swallowing them like normal, and many users crush the pills and capsules, then either snort or inject them. Taking it these ways allows the drug to hit the user’s system much quicker than traditional oral administration. This super-fast onset is a major draw to abusing the drug to stop Adderall headaches.

Adderall has formulations that release the drug’s full effect immediately, as well as formulations that give relief over an extended period. When trying to stop Adderall headaches, the user will often use either formulation, though the extended-release capsules are nearly always crushed to bypass the time-delay feature.

Once taken, the user will often find relief from their Adderall headaches for 4 to 6 hours after the drug takes effect in a few minutes. On the other hand, those who abuse the formulation that extends the drug release without bypassing that feature will find that they can mitigate their Adderall headaches for a 10 to 12-hour period.

Adderall has the following possible side effects during legitimate, prescribed use:

  • Agitation and irritability
  • Anxiety and nervousness
  • Restlessness
  • Headache
  • Stomach pains
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dry mouth
  • Insomnia
  • Impotence
  • Lower libido or sex drive
  • Difficulty achieving orgasm
  • Weight loss
  • Hair loss

These symptoms can present in anyone taking Adderall as directed by their medical professional. But in most cases, this will not be for any significant duration. Long-term and limited heavy use can seriously harm the user’s health. Short-term alterations to a patient’s serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels are not necessarily harmful and will not generally result in serious issues.

When used for long periods, Adderall, just like many other stimulants, can cause severe changes to the parts of the brain that deal with pleasure, motivation, and reward. Over time this can lead to challenges in feeling or experiencing happiness or enjoyment by the user. Eventually, Adderall builds a dependency, and when the levels in the bloodstream drop too much, the user begins to feel the various effects of withdrawal.

Abuse Potential for Adderall

Adderall is a popular prescription medication, but it is also extremely likely to be abused frequently, especially for concentration and focus. It can start as a legitimate prescription or even a friend sharing pills as a study aid, but it can soon spiral out of control into a serious dependence.

Since Adderall is an amphetamine, it can significantly and consistently alter the user’s brain chemistry and neurotransmitter levels and function as a central nervous system stimulant. A central nervous system stimulant will often generate a serious chemical dependency, particularly when used longer, more frequently, or in higher doses than prescribed.

Not only does Adderall work on the pleasure and reward centers of the brain, but it reinforces the use and reward cycle with some serious withdrawal symptoms. Within 30 minutes or less of taking Adderall, the user will feel a rush of euphoria, intense focus, improved concentration and retention, and a productive burst of energy.

Once the effects wear off, however, the user will begin to feel varying intensities of:

  • Stomach or abdominal pain
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, or malaise
  • Headaches that can become very severe
  • Weight loss
  • Cardiovascular problems
  • Elevated risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke
  • Mood swings, anger, panic, depression, and anxiety are common
  • Feelings of addiction

How to Get Help for Your Adderall Headaches or an Addiction to Adderall

If you think you might be experiencing Adderall headaches due to withdrawal or someone close to you may be, it’s important to reach out when you first suspect. The cycle of addiction and dependence can be very lonely, and those stuck in the depths of it may feel like there is no way out. However, the first vital step to their recovery is knowing they are not alone.

After admitting they have a problem and asking for help, one of the best options is to speak with a treatment center. They are a powerful resource in recovery and maintaining sobriety. 

Not only will they offer a range of various inpatient and outpatient services, but those services will often be tailored to the person receiving them. No matter the individual’s needs, they can be met with discretion and care. Working with a treatment center is ideal when the chemical dependence has reached a point where a detox period may be needed. They will have medical staff on hand if there are any urgent needs. In addition, they will be able to start working with the individual to build better coping techniques, helping them maintain their recovery as we advance.

At Infinite Recovery, we help individuals struggling with addiction get the treatment they need to begin their recovery journey. Our detox centers are the first step toward safe, sustainable sobriety. Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You deserve the satisfaction and fulfillment that a life free from the bondage of a drug can provide you. 

Like this article? Follow our blog for helpful resources and information about addiction and drug abuse. Recent posts include topics such as Indica effects, drinking binge side effects, and types of substance abuse. 

Sources:

Infinite Recovery has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations for our references. We avoid using tertiary references as our sources. You can learn more about how we source our references by reading our editorial guidelines and medical review policy.

  1. Hobbs H. The Effects of Adderall on Your Body. Healthline. Published May 24, 2022. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.healthline. com/health/adhd/adderall-effects-on-body

Last medically reviewed June 25, 2022

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Headache after pills: reasons, what to do

What does a person who has a headache do? The options are different. Someone is looking for the cause of the pain, someone “drowns out” the pain with pills. But did you know that the head can hurt when taking certain medications, and even those that are supposed to help with a headache?

What does a person who has a headache do? The options are different. Someone is looking for the cause of the pain, someone “drowns out” the pain with pills. But did you know that the head can hurt when taking certain medications, and even those that are supposed to help with a headache?

Which tablets can cause headaches and why? Anna Petrovna Stamo, a neurologist at Expert Clinic Stavropol, told us about this and many other things.

— Anna Petrovna, there are many causes of headaches, and they are varied: from banal overwork to serious circulatory disorders and tumors in the brain. Can pills give you headaches?

- Of course, it can. This is the so-called drug (or drug-induced, abuse) headache. It accounts for up to 15% of all headaches. May appear from improper or excessive intake of pills. However, it must also be remembered that the head may hurt even when the patient takes the medicine in full accordance with the doctor's prescription. Therefore, in each case, competent selection of therapy for various types of headache is important.

Headache is called "cephalgia" in medical parlance.

— Please tell me which pills can cause headaches?

- There are many of them. Oddly enough, most often drug headache develops due to prolonged uncontrolled use of painkillers. In addition, abuse cephalgia is observed when taking medications from the group of calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), amino acid inhibitors, and others. The list of these drugs is long, many of them are available without a prescription, so more and more often we have to deal with drug headaches due to the uncontrolled use of medications.

— Why do pills give me a headache? Is this common to all people?

- Anyone can develop a drug-induced headache, but some experts say that people with migraine, depression, increased anxiety, people who are overweight and highly sensitive to pain are more likely to suffer from it. Headache may be the result of the direct pharmacological action of the drug (for example, vasoconstrictors can cause an increase in blood pressure and, as a result, cephalgia). Also, pain can occur as a side effect due to long-term use of symptomatic painkillers.

In some people, headache develops after improper discontinuation of a number of drugs, namely: analgesics, exogenous hormones, antidepressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A kind of "withdrawal syndrome" develops.

— Can you have a headache, for example, from hormonal contraceptive pills? And if so, why does this happen?

— Maybe. Some women experience headaches after taking birth control pills because these drugs contain the synthetic female sex hormone estrogen.

I would like to note that a contraceptive is always selected by a doctor after a complete medical examination. If a woman started taking birth control pills and she began to have a headache, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist.

- How to recognize that the head hurts precisely from taking pills, and not for some other reason?

— It is important to remember that when headaches occur, it is necessary not only to eliminate the symptom, but to find the root cause of the disease. In this case, consultation of a specialist (neurologist, cephalologist) is mandatory.

To recognize a drug-induced headache, the doctor first of all collects an anamnesis (information that precedes the onset of a symptom or pathological condition). It is mandatory to collect a drug history, which includes all the details about the medications taken by the patient, their dosages, frequency of use. I recommend that patients keep a diary of headache and medications taken - this allows you to identify the connection of a headache with one of them. If, for example, the head hurts for more than 15 days a month, or the patient has taken more than 10 tablets of analgesics during this period, this is a signal of a possible drug cephalalgia.

Another important sign indicating the possible medicinal nature of the headache is the number of consultations of the patient with different doctors and the number of unsuccessful attempts to prescribe treatment. The more of them, the higher the likelihood of such a diagnosis.

If necessary, additional examinations are ordered to rule out other types of cephalgia.

— What should I do if the patient has a headache after taking the pills? After all, if the doctor prescribed them, then the patient needs them?

— First of all, you should make it a rule: in case of any changes in your health, you should consult a doctor. The trouble is that often patients self-medicate. Especially in cases where it is necessary to get rid of pain of any kind, which reduces the quality of life. It is important to remember that the wrong selection of the drug, its dosage, frequency of administration can not only be useless, but also worsen the condition. You can not start taking medications without consulting a doctor, relying on the experience of relatives and friends. If a person takes drugs uncontrollably for a long time, this is fraught with the development of drug abuse, requiring serious treatment.

Now about the appointment of pills by a doctor. As I said above, there is an individual reaction of the human body to the active substance of certain drugs, their dosage. Therefore, the doctor always controls the dynamics of treatment. For example, if a patient with hypertension is prescribed therapy, and after these “pressure pills” he has a headache (as they are often called by patients), you should definitely contact your doctor to adjust the treatment regimen.

— Are there ways to treat drug-induced headaches? If so, which ones?

— Of course, they are. First of all, you should stop the uncontrolled use of painkillers. If headaches are caused by other drugs, you should consult your doctor. Sometimes it is enough to change the dosage or replace the drug with analogues to save a person from excruciating pain. If necessary, detoxification therapy is carried out.

I would like to note that medications are prescribed based on the intensity of the headache. It is evaluated on a scale from 0 to 10 points. With a headache intensity of up to 5 points, non-drug methods of correction are used (rest, walking, sleep, exercise therapy, massage, acupuncture, yoga, etc.). If the patient evaluates his pain above 5 points, appropriate drug therapy is selected.

Talked Sevila Ibraimova

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Reference:

Stamo Anna Petrovna

Graduate of the Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy of the Federal Agency for Health and Social Development with a degree in General Medicine in 2009
In 2015, she took refresher courses in the specialty "Neurology"
Currently works as a neurologist at the "Expert Clinic" Stavropol. Accepts at: st. Dovatortsev, 39A

Long-term effects of Adderall | The best rehab in the world

Long-term effects Adderall

09/25/2022 , Alexander Bentley, CEO Worlds Best Rehab Magazine Substance abuse 0

Long term effects of Adderall

Over the past few decades, more and more children and adolescents have been diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, it is very common for some adults to be diagnosed later in life if they and their healthcare professionals believe that the diagnosis can help them live their lives better than without it. And this diagnosis usually comes with medication. 1 Lahan, Shaheen E. and Annette Kirchgessner. "Prescription Stimulants in People with and Without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Misuse, Cognitive Impact, and Adverse Effects - PMC". PubMed Central (PMC) , July 23, 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3489818. . What medication is commonly prescribed for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Adderall.

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a stimulant drug. It is actually a combination of two stimulants: dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. 2 Briars, Leslie and Timothy Todd. "A Review of Pharmacological Treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - PMC". PubMed Central (PMC) , www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4956327. As of October 11, 2022. The combination of both of these substances helps to increase the activity of the central nervous system. Your central nervous system is what controls your brain and spinal cord, and both are responsible for most of your daily bodily functions.

This medicine is most commonly prescribed for ADHD, but it can be used for other conditions such as narcolepsy. The drug works by changing the chemistry in your brain. It is hypothesized that ADHD is caused by an imbalanced amount of neurotransmitters in the brain. The condition is usually caused by an imbalance in the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine. Improper levels of these neurotransmitters lead to the symptoms of ADHD.

ADHD symptoms:
  • act without thinking
  • inability to concentrate
  • inability to sit still
  • concentration interruption
  • hard time to stay on task

ADHD is not limited to these symptoms, and not everyone has all of these symptoms.

Adderall helps relieve these symptoms by:
  • increased alertness
  • improved focus
  • higher energy levels
  • anxiety reduction
  • more attention

Relief of these symptoms helps people with ADHD focus better and perform better in school, but there are risks associated with treatment - even if it has been prescribed to you and you are taking it correctly. It is highly addictive, so those who were prescribed the drug at a young age may become addicted and rely on Adderall. 3 Wilson, H. Kent et al. “Effects of Long-Term Stimulants on the Neuropsychological Functioning of Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder—ScienceDirect.” Effects of Long-Lasting Stimulant Drugs on Neuropsychological Functioning in Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - ScienceDirect , October 17, 2006, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887617706001363. when used, it may affect the heart in the future. Part of what helps the user focus on tasks is the increased heart rate. This increased heart rate can affect heart health later in life.

Why is it important to know the long-term effects of Adderall? Well, as mentioned earlier, even those who correctly prescribe and use the drug as directed can become addicted to the substance. Prolonged use may have adverse effects on the user. It's also important to talk about long-term effects because it's an extremely common stimulant, even if you haven't been properly prescribed medication. Those who want to be more successful at school or at work can use Adderall to help them focus and achieve more than they could without it.

Adderall gives many people the opportunity to work through the night after another without distraction. This has given the drug a reputation for successfully helping people with high levels of stress achieve greater success. While this may technically be true for some, the crash that occurs after an Adderall high or after someone stops using the drug can be detrimental and lead to a host of other conditions.

While Adderall is extremely beneficial and life changing for some, it is important to know how the long term effects of Adderall affect you or affect your life in the long run.

Long-term effects of abuse Adderall

Dependence and other behavioral or mental disorders.

Adderall is highly addictive and long term users can often become very dependent on this drug. Addiction associated with Adderall may eventually lead to other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety. The change in physical chemistry that Adderall has on the brain usually causes these problems. Ideas of suicide are not uncommon in those who abuse Adderall or stop using it after long-term use.

1. Long-term effects of Adderall: damage to the heart.

Adderall increases heart rate, improving concentration. While beneficial for many, long-term use has a serious impact on heart health, especially if you already have pre-existing conditions related to your heart. Many long-term users may experience a heart attack or stroke due to its effects on the cardiovascular system. The damage to the heart caused by the abuse of Adderall is irreversible, as are some of the other symptoms associated with the abuse of this drug.

2. Long-term effects of Adderall: Mood/emotional disturbances.

Adderall can usually cause panic attacks and other serious behavioral changes. Adderall often causes a manic state during use and can make a condition such as bipolar disorder worse than it would be without it.

3. Long-term effects of Adderall: lung problems.

Adderall has the ability to damage the lungs and regular breathing. This is often associated with cardiovascular problems caused by Adderall, but Adderall can also damage the lungs and potentially cause lung disease.

4. Long-term effects of Adderall: psychosis and paranoia.

Long-term use of Adderall has been reported to cause hallucinations, paranoia, schizophrenia-like symptoms, and psychosis. This can sometimes be resolved by spending time in a clinic or hospital clearing medication, but often does not resolve on its own.

Long-term effects of Adderall on the brain and body

  • Sleep difficulties
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Lack of motivation
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Lethargy
  • Fatigue
  • Aggression
  • Thoughts of suicide
  • Mood swings
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Alarm
  • Panic attacks
  • Heart disease
  • Weight loss
  • Headaches
  • Tremors
  • Constipation

Adderall, like many drugs prescribed for mood or behavior disorders, has its own side effects. The drug can really change the lives of those who are diagnosed and properly prescribed, but the chances that even those who are prescribed the drug to become addicted to it are very high. Thus, those who use a controlled prescription drug often face serious long-term consequences that come along with its use. 4 Weyandt, Lisa L., et al. "Neurocognitive, Autonomic, and Emotional Effects of Adderall: A Pilot Study of Healthy College Students - PMC." PubMed Central (PMC) , June 27, 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6165228. The most worrisome of these are often Adderall-related heart disease and injury.

Even those with no previous history of heart disease may end up with some Adderall-related heart damage after using it. And if someone has not been prescribed a medicine by a doctor, they are often unaware of the risks involved. Some behavioral and mood disorders may resolve upon discontinuation of use, but the damage to the heart is irreversible. Adderall is best used under the watchful eye of an experienced physician and should not be taken lightly.

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  • 1

    Lahan, Shaheen E. and Annette Kirchgessner. "Prescription Stimulants in People with and Without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Misuse, Cognitive Impact, and Adverse Effects - PMC". PubMed Central (PMC) , July 23, 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3489818.

  • 2

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Alexander Bentley, CEO Worlds Best Rehab Magazine

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Alexander Bentley is the CEO of Worlds Best Rehab Magazine™ and the creator and pioneer of Remedy Wellbeing Hotels & Retreats and Tripnotherapy™, using NextGen psychedelic biopharmaceuticals to treat burnout, addiction, depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.

Under his leadership as CEO, Remedy Wellbeing Hotels™ received the Overall Winner: International Wellness Hotel of the Year 2022 award from International Rehabs. Thanks to his incredible work, Selected Luxury Hotel Retreats are the world's first over $1 million exclusive wellness retreats providing relaxation for individuals and families demanding absolute privacy such as celebrities, athletes, executives, royalty, entrepreneurs and those in need.


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