The chart below lists the usual dosages of Adderall for treating ADHD in adults. This article describes the dosages of Adderall, as well as its strengths and how to take it. Adderall XR is approved to treat ADHD but not narcolepsy. How often you take the medication depends on various factors. The drug comes as both an oral tablet and oral capsule.
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In this article, we outline the uses, side effects, dosage, and risks of Adderall. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. Adderall is available as the generic drug amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts. Adderall also helps people with narcolepsy feel more awake and alert during the day.
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Adderall is a common stimulant medication for ADHD. Get the in-person or virtual care you need. Need a primary care doctor or a specialist?
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These include your age, the form of Adderall you’re prescribed, and the condition the drug is being used to treat. Adderall is used in adults and certain children to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop new or worsening symptoms of mental health conditions while taking Adderall. Other symptoms include behavioral or personality changes, such as increased aggression or hostility. Let your doctor know if you experience sexual side effects while taking either drug. If they do prescribe Adderall, they’ll monitor you closely for symptoms of drug misuse or dependence.
Stimulants can be addictive, and it’s possible to become dependent on them if your dosage isn’t monitored by a doctor. They’ll be able to help adjust your dosage or suggest alternative remedies for your concerns. Talk with a doctor if you’re experiencing any side effects from Adderall.
Our longest surveillance of the safety of amphetamine (Adderall) comes from following people with narcolepsy for their entire lives. Before taking Adderall XR, discuss all other active prescription medications with your doctor. Your doctor may adjust your daily dose by 5mg increments until you or your child experiences the best response — that is, the lowest dose at which you experience the greatest improvement in symptoms without side effects. As with all medications, follow your Adderall XR prescription instructions exactly. This includes some dietary supplements, prescription drugs, and black-market substances that impact serotonin.
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If a person has a preexisting heart condition, the psychiatrist may require a cardiology consultation. Stimulants can constrict your blood vessels, raise your blood pressure, and make your heart beat faster. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact a doctor or emergency medical services immediately. This is a medical emergency and requires prompt emergency medical treatment. In people with ADHD, this calmness can also sometimes result in greater sleepiness rather than alertness. You may feel more awake during the day and become more focused and calm.

If you have questions about your Adderall dosage or dosing schedule for ADHD, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. In most cases, a daily maximum dose of more than 40 mg is not needed. Do not take Adderall late in the day or in the evening, as this may affect your sleep. Any additional daily doses may be taken every 4 to 6 hours. You’ll take the first dose of Adderall in the morning when you first wake up.
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Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific amphetamine/dextroamphetamine products they stock. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take amphetamine/dextroamphetamine. Call your health care provider right away if you have any new or worsening tics. Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine may cause or worsen tics, which are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that can be hard to control. Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine may cause serotonin syndrome when it is taken alone or with other medicines that affect serotonin. Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine may cause or worsen psychotic-like behaviors, such as hallucinations or mania.

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Children should have height and weight checked often while taking this medication. Talk to your care team if appetite loss persists. Loss of appetite is common when starting this medication. Do not take this medication close to bedtime.
Adderall Side Effects In Children
It is not known if or how amphetamine/dextroamphetamine could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you have or have had any of the following. Tell your health care provider if you or anyone in your family has had mental health problems, including psychosis, bipolar disorder, mania, depression, or suicide.
- If necessary, a doctor may increase the daily dose by 2.5 mg at weekly intervals to establish the minimum effective dosage.
- Adderall can also help treat narcolepsy, which is a sleep disorder.
- Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.
- The other component, dextroamphetamine, is another version of amphetamine with slightly different molecular properties.
- They’ll be able to help adjust your dosage or suggest alternative remedies for your concerns.
- Stimulants are the most widely prescribed drugs to treat ADHD (also known as ADD).
One Done patient later died after receiving an Adderall prescription, despite having a known history of opioid addiction. A patient testified she received an Adderall prescription after an appointment lasting "less than five minutes," the report added. The WSJ report said that several clinicians described minimal oversight, including one who admitted she issued prescription renewals without follow-up visits. Defense attorneys countered that He and Brody were trying to expand access to mental-health services amid a nationwide shortage of providers. Done has repeatedly argued that it operates as a technology platform that connects patients with medical professionals, not a prescribing entity. Those reports detailed claims from some Done clinicians who said they felt pressured to quickly approve stimulant prescriptions, often in minutes, without thorough evaluations.
For example, all stimulants can cause similar side effects. Another stimulant used specifically for narcolepsy is modafinil (Provigil). They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.