Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) is prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. When taken in addition to Adderall, certain medications can interact and cause serious side effects. Like other medications, individuals who take Adderall may experience some side effects. The risk and benefit ratio of untreated ADHD versus the medication’s effects on the unborn child have to be carefully monitored by your practitioner. Misuse of amphetamines may cause serious health effects, including cardiovascular events and even sudden death. It’s worth noting that Adderall is an amphetamine medication, which is categorized as a stimulant.
Long-term Treatment
(The prescribing information for Adderall tablets has not recorded rates of side effects.) For details, see the “Side effects explained” section. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article. Keep reading to learn about common, mild, and serious side effects that Adderall can cause. (“XR” means “extended release.” With this, the drug releases into your body slowly over time.) Specifically, Adderall and Adderall XR are used to treat ADHD in adults and certain children.
1 Controlled Substance
For updated information about dosages, interactions, and precautions, see the Adderall drug monograph on WebMD. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Use with medications that increase stomach or urine alkalinity, including sodium bicarbonate should be avoided.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage. Adderall XR capsule is approved to treat ADHD in children ages 6 years and older. Always follow the dosage the doctor prescribes for your child. After a week, your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage to 20 mg daily. Adderall tablet is also approved to treat narcolepsy in adults. For more information about your specific dosage for ADHD, talk with your doctor.
Other Medications For ADHD
Urinary excretion of amphetamines is increased, and efficacy is reduced, by acidifying agents used in methenamine therapy. Amphetamines may antagonize the hypotensive effects of antihypertensives. Examples of alkalinizing agents include gastrointestinal alkalinizing agents and urinary alkalinizing agents. Increase blood levels and potentiate the action of amphetamine. Examples of acidifying agents include gastrointestinal acidifying agents and urinary acidifying agents. If serotonin syndrome occurs, discontinue ADDERALL and the concomitant serotonergic drug(s) see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS.
Dextroamphetamine is a more potent CNS stimulant than levoamphetamine, but levoamphetamine has slightly stronger cardiovascular and peripheral effects and a longer elimination half-life than dextroamphetamine. Recreational doses of Adderall are generally much larger than prescribed therapeutic doses and also carry a far greater risk of serious adverse effects.sources 1 The routine use of Adderall at higher-than-prescribed doses poses a significant risk of addiction or dependence due to the pronounced reinforcing effects that are present at high doses.
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The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Adderall may cause. “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time. “Immediate release” means the drug is released into your body right away. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker
If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
Adderall Side Effects In Children
In this case, they’ll develop a plan to lower the risk of withdrawal symptoms so you can safely stop taking the medication. You may be at higher risk of this side effect from taking the drug if you have an existing mental health condition. New or worsened symptoms of mental health conditions with either drug are rare. Certain people may be at higher risk of these side effects based on other medical conditions they may have. The following sections include more side effects of the drug.
Before Taking Dextroamphetamine And Amphetamine,
Adderall is the trade name for a drug known as mixed amphetamine salts, which is a combination of two forms of amphetamine and two forms of dextroamphetamine. Adderall is a drug prescribed for the treatment of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy. Administer amphetamines during waking hours and avoid late evening doses to avoid insomnia.
Our Adderall Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication. People who are taking Adderall should talk to a doctor if they have concerns about the side effects or risks of the drug. While Adderall is a safe treatment option for many people, there are several possible risks. We also list some alternative medications for ADHD and narcolepsy.
ADHD Doctors Weigh In On Taking Medication While Pregnant
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with dextroamphetamine and amphetamine and each time you get more medication. On June 30, 2025, FDA issued a drug safety communication about a risk of weight loss in patients younger than 6 years of age taking extended-release stimulants for ADHD and will be revising the labeling for all these products to reflect this new safety information. ADDERALL is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it contains amphetamine that can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. Advise patients that ADDERALL, at recommended doses, can cause psychotic or manic symptoms, even in patients without prior history of psychotic symptoms or mania see WARNINGS.
- Other symptoms include behavioral or personality changes, such as increased aggression or hostility.
- Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines.
- Keep all appointments with your health care provider to check your child’s height and weight before starting and during treatment with amphetamine/dextroamphetamine.
- Consequently, both hepatic and renal dysfunction have the potential to inhibit the elimination of amphetamine and result in prolonged exposures.
- Cardiovascular side effects can include hypertension or hypotension from a vasovagal response, Raynaud's phenomenon (reduced blood flow to the hands and feet), and tachycardia (increased heart rate).
Or they may recommend other ways to manage your symptoms or prescribe a different ADHD medication. If you’re taking Adderall as prescribed but your ADHD symptoms aren’t improving, it’s possible that your dosage is too low. Taking this form of the medication in the afternoon isn’t usually recommended because the drug may disrupt your sleep.
What Are The Most Common Side Effects Of Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine?
If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. While it may be prescribed for children as young as 3 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Alpha-hydroxy-amphetamine undergoes deamination to form phenylacetone, which ultimately forms benzoic acid and its glucuronide and the glycine conjugate hippuric acid. Norephedrine and 4-hydroxy-amphetamine are both active and each is subsequently oxidized to form 4-hydroxy-norephedrine. Amphetamine is reported to be oxidized at the 4 position of the benzene ring to form 4- hydroxyamphetamine, or on the side chain α or β carbons to form alpha-hydroxy-amphetamine or norephedrine, respectively. The mean elimination half-life (t1/2) for damphetamine was shorter than the t1/2 of the l-isomer (9.77 to 11 hours vs. 11.5 to 13.8 hours).
